Birmingham City have agreed to loan out Ayumu Yokoyama for the rest of the season

[www.birminghammail.co.uk]
Blues winger heads to Belgian side on loan for remainder of the season

[bcfc.com]
08:38, Tue 4 Feb
From League One to top of the Belgian league, not a bad move for him. Genk are very good at developing players too, so be interesting to see. It's not mentioned there but you'd assume there's an option for them to sign him permanently if all goes well.

Good luck to the lad.
08:45, Tue 4 Feb
1951vintage
Thrillhouse
Just yet again people projecting problems that don’t exist because we don’t have any real ones

“I bet Yokoyama is homesick”

“I bet Bielik is upset because he’s not starting a couple of games and has competition”

“I bet Leonard hates Chris Davies and wishes he’d have not signed”

“I bet May and Stansfield don’t get on because they both like goals”

Wonder which one will be next.

I bet there’s no cow in bovril at the Newcastle game!

Just about every match day thread has asked why Yokoyama isn’t on the bench, if he was the manager’s been implored to play him more, some have said he should be in the team.

If it is true that he’s going out permanently (going on loan would be a question in this context anyway) then if it’s not exactly ‘a problem’ it’s an interesting perspective in terms of what many fans want (and would presumably like to see) and what the manager sees and does:
Chris
From League One to top of the Belgian league, not a bad move for him. Genk are very good at developing players too, so be interesting to see. It's not mentioned there but you'd assume there's an option for them to sign him permanently if all goes well.

Good luck to the lad.

According to their website, he'll be mainly used for Jong Genk (their U21's/B Team)


With Yumeki Yosinaga and Kenshin Yasuda, the Japanese promising international meets two compatriots at Jong Genk. Yokoyama should mainly have an impact on Jong Genk in the short term.
08:59, Tue 4 Feb
It can further develop him and get him more minutes. We can take a call on it at the end of the season. We will either make a profit on him via transfer or profit from him with respect to having him as another option next season. Who knows! Good luck to the lad.
09:00, Tue 4 Feb
I was making this point to some others at the game on Saturday.

We all like to see flair players who have the ability to provide that 'spark', but you're just not going to get them in a Chris Davies team, unless they quickly learn to adapt to his requirements.

Fans see players completely differently to professional managers.
There's too much opinion and not enough fact.
Bit of a rubbish move if he's going there for the B side, looks like he will be leaving permanently in the summer.
09:14, Tue 4 Feb
I don't get this really.

He's averaging better than a goal every four games from the wing and is a young prospect.

Weird.
09:15, Tue 4 Feb
I'm a bit disappointed with this, but I go get it. He would very likely have been sent out on loan next season anyway, and CD just doesn't seem to trust him. Personally I feel he's been quite hard done by, whilst others have been given multiple chances to stake their claim. Good luck to him!
09:16, Tue 4 Feb
Nikola Zigic
I don't get this really.

He's averaging better than a goal every four games from the wing and is a young prospect.

Weird.

It's not that hard to understand, really.

Davies clearly doesn't trust him to play the role he wants his wingers to play.

He clearly has potential but if he's only going to get a few more games for us this season (in the Cup) then it's not doing either party any favours. He'll be moving there permanently in the summer and the fee will go into next year's accounts.

I bet we'll make a decent little profit on this so it's good business all round really.
09:18, Tue 4 Feb
I'm fine with all of the above apart from selling him next summer.

What did we expect? Him to come over as a kid and hit the ground running? Surely we invest more than 4 months in his development?
09:19, Tue 4 Feb
Nikola Zigic
I don't get this really.

He's averaging better than a goal every four games from the wing and is a young prospect.

Weird.

That's not how Davies sees it though, presumably?

His stats going forward may be fine, but it's the other areas of his game where he just doesn't measure up.
There's too much opinion and not enough fact.
09:23, Tue 4 Feb
El Hijo de Quarkio
I'm a bit disappointed with this, but I go get it. He would very likely have been sent out on loan next season anyway, and CD just doesn't seem to trust him. Personally I feel he's been quite hard done by, whilst others have been given multiple chances to stake their claim. Good luck to him!

I appreciate what Davies wants is different to what Yokoyama produces but agree with this. Hansson has probably been the most disappointing signing from a fans perspective but I guess he holds the width and does his defensive work.
09:33, Tue 4 Feb
Nikola Zigic
I'm fine with all of the above apart from selling him next summer.

What did we expect? Him to come over as a kid and hit the ground running? Surely we invest more than 4 months in his development?

If he's not trusted in a top League One team, he's going to really struggle to get near a (presumably) mid-table Championship outfit in six months' time.

There is definitely something there with him, and he's an exciting player for sure, but if Davies doesn't see him progressing as quickly as expected, it's best for the player to let him try elsewhere.

Good luck to him.