Yu Hirakawa - OFFICIALLY SIGNED

[Mr Popodopolous]

9 minutes ago, Hartleysbeard said:

I find it incredibly difficult to understand why there’s been nothing definitive announced yet. You’d expect for him to have been properly assessed by now. 

My suspicion here is it is bad news and people break bad news gently and not exactly quickly.

We are also sketchy at comms as a club...remember the Afobe stuff mid September 5 years ago. A week of speculation and then??

Out for the season, injured in training.

Afobe I mean, 5 years back. September 2019.

Edited July 30 by Mr Popodopolous

[chinapig]

10 minutes ago, Hartleysbeard said:

I find it incredibly difficult to understand why there’s been nothing definitive announced yet. You’d expect for him to have been properly assessed by now. 

The delay is because Tinnion is taking a crash course in Japanese. Or possibly English.

[Ashtongreight]

18 minutes ago, chinapig said:

The delay is because Tinnion is taking a crash course in Japanese. Or possibly English.

Or maybe both? 

[Steve Watts]

On 27/07/2024 at 21:54, joe jordans teeth said:

So he could be injured or he couldn’t is basically what you are saying 

Schrödinger's Yu?

1 hour ago, Red-Robbo said:

If it's a hamstring they can take up to 6 weeks to settle (if the injury was large). 

Why would it be a hamstring? He was practically amputated at the ankle!

As for the translation, no-one has confirmed the language barrier is Japanese or Geordie based, have they?

[Red-Robbo]

Just now, Steve Watts said:

 

Why would it be a hamstring? He was practically amputated at the ankle!

As for the translation, no-one has confirmed the language barrier is Japanese or Geordie based, have they?

Was quoted somewhere, though I admit I have no more idea of what the injury is than others here. If you pull up suddenly for whatever reason, including an agricultural foul, you can pull your hamstring. 

[Steve Watts]

9 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

Was quoted somewhere, though I admit I have no more idea of what the injury is than others here. If you pull up suddenly for whatever reason, including an agricultural foul, you can pull your hamstring. 

Yeah, it wasn't a sudden pull up though.  He was barely moving when he was taken out, so i think he'd be safe from that, thankfully.

[phantom]

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

 

While I tend to agree, unless you're Ian with Tinnion- compromising sources by revealing more than is permitted could see the source dry up, the source get in trouble internally or both.

Basic journalism principles applied here. @phantom appears to be able to reveal up to a certain point but not beyond potentially.

Expect him to be out for at least 2 months

28 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

Was quoted somewhere, though I admit I have no more idea of what the injury is than others here. If you pull up suddenly for whatever reason, including an agricultural foul, you can pull your hamstring. 

Did you not see the tackle that injured him, it was on his ankle

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, phantom said:

Expect him to be out for at least 2 months

Damn.Thanks- disappointing news but about my guesstimate.

Better to get the recovery right and firmed up rather than ooh maybe then pulls up in a game or training and out for months and months I guess.

[Red-Robbo]

1 minute ago, phantom said:

Did you not see the tackle that injured him, it was on his ankle

See my reply above. Your hamstring can be injured by a foul anywhere. It has more to do with your action than where impact occurred.

But, no, I didn't watch that match. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

I think based on the consensus, mid October maybe?

Given there is an International break in October itself we won't see him IMO this side of mid October or so.

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, Port Said Red said:

Similar to Nakhi's ankle injury last season? How long was he out?

Wells was out for 10 league games / 10 weeks inc international breaks.  Injured v Leeds, returned against Sunderland.

[Eddie Notgetinya]

Didn’t we hire someone specifically to improve communications? Glad they’ve hit the ground running. I’d expect them to monitor forums like this and make the club aware of what the fans are wanting info on so some sort of response can be prepared even if it’s just an official holding statement 

[Wanderingred]

39 minutes ago, phantom said:

Expect him to be out for at least 2 months

That’s not bad at all by Bristol City standards. I was expecting that we wouldn’t get to see him play for us at all.

[Cov 77]

42 minutes ago, phantom said:

Expect him to be out for at least 2 months

Did you not see the tackle that injured him, it was on his ankle

You obviously have a source for this of some sort , why the cryptic posts ? what is it you actually know? 

[Nathandao]

20 minutes ago, Eddie Notgetinya said:

Didn’t we hire someone specifically to improve communications? Glad they’ve hit the ground running. I’d expect them to monitor forums like this and make the club aware of what the fans are wanting info on so some sort of response can be prepared even if it’s just an official holding statement 

I don't they need to look on a forum to know that fans might want to hear information about a fan favourite new signing. I have a feeling they just don't want to tell us the bad news. Hope I'm wrong...

[MythikRobins]

This seems like a good sign?

[Mr Popodopolous]

Yes I saw that just now on BS3 City.

What do we think? 

[Bazooka Joe]

6 minutes ago, MythikRobins said:

This seems like a good sign?

It does if it's true.

But it would be better for us if he wasn't get selected again.

 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, Bazooka Joe said:

It does if it's true.

But it would be better for us if he wasn't get selected again.

 

Yes very much so.

Wrapped up in cotton wool I hope until such time as he is released from the Japan squad.

[Rocking Red Cyril]

13 minutes ago, Bazooka Joe said:

It does if it's true.

But it would be better for us if he wasn't get selected again.

 

So hold on after all this speculation on translation differences. Is it an ankle or hamstring ?

He is fit to play for Japan ?

So will be back with us after the international fit and raring to go ?

All that seems to be accurate is Tinnion is G******e

Edited July 30 by Rocking Red Cyril
Can't spell

[Mr Popodopolous]

However if he is fit then Japan would likely pick up as you will pick your best players whenever possible. Subject to how fit he is.

[Hartleysbeard]

Was @phantom just being super cryptic earlier then? ‘We won’t see him play for a while’ meaning he’s going to be playing in the Olympics for a while? 

[David Brent]

I hope he is available for the next game. If only to sort the wheat from the chaff. 

Would be nice to know either way. 

[phantom]

20 minutes ago, Hartleysbeard said:

Was @phantom just being super cryptic earlier then? ‘We won’t see him play for a while’ meaning he’s going to be playing in the Olympics for a while? 

I did get a message earlier today telling me he was injured, I passed that on in good faith 

Person is usually reliable with information. 

I've sent a reply for clarification 

[mozo]

Hope he's okay. This is the signing I've been most excited about since, well Tomlin 

[Port Said Red]

1 minute ago, phantom said:

I did get a message earlier today telling me he was injured, I passed that on in good faith 

Person is usually reliable with information. 

I've sent a reply for clarification 

I am the same and have done the same

Lost in Translation??

[Hartleysbeard]

1 minute ago, phantom said:

I did get a message earlier today telling me he was injured, I passed that on in good faith 

Person is usually reliable with information. 

I've sent a reply for clarification 

Good stuff. Appreciate you passing on what you hear, albeit I read your posts today as a little guarded/cryptic. Others have clarified why there might be a need for that, so all good

[pongo88]

5 hours ago, Major Isewater said:

Or George Elokobi . 

Or Danni Rodrigues . 

I’ll raise you John Galley. After he was signed he turned up at the ground with his leg in plaster. But, as the Bard, said “all’s well that ends well”

[RedRoss]

Looks to be legit. It's coming from a Japanese source with 500k followers with those images. 

That's brilliant news. Hope he stays fit until his return.

[Johnny Musicworks]

Not in the squad tonight so no nearer knowing how serious an injury as yet

[Mr Popodopolous]

Yep just checked. Neither the side nor the bench.

Edited July 30 by Mr Popodopolous

[Sleepy1968]

8 minutes ago, Johnny Musicworks said:

Not in the squad tonight so no nearer knowing how serious an injury as yet

I just saw that.

They won their first two games so I guess they are through to the next round (?).

Tonight 8pm v Israel if anyone is interested. I've been watching via a link on fawanews.com

[phantom]

Just looked back at the tweet, someone claiming that they are old pictures

[Betty Swallocks]

7 minutes ago, phantom said:

Just looked back at the tweet, someone claiming that they are old pictures

Looks like they come from this website via the twitter account below.

 

[P'head Red]

3 minutes ago, Betty Swallocks said:

Looks like they come from this website via the twitter account below.

 

This does seem all very strange, why would such a reputable (seemingly) Japanese site use outdated images and write a false story?

[!james]

6 minutes ago, P'head Red said:

This does seem all very strange, why would such a reputable (seemingly) Japanese site use outdated images and write a false story?

They haven't... The Robins zone page just says they posted the photos but not the link to actual post... Someone would need to scroll through and translate each post to find the training photos post and see if they match...

Edit: found it

 

 

For interest this was an old post of Yu training pre injury:

 

 

Edited July 30 by !james

[!james]

First image is Yu from today's post....

 

[Mr Popodopolous]

I suspect we won't see him in a City shirt this side of mid October when we factor in the October International break but I hope to be quite wrong.

[phantom]

11 minutes ago, Betty Swallocks said:

Looks like they come from this website via the twitter account below.

 

Pictures you link to are a different person 

[Merrick's Marvels]

2 hours ago, phantom said:

I did get a message earlier today telling me he was injured,

You did.

But you said "we won't be seeing him for a while" - which spooked the horses.

So we all ended up thinking - Jesus Wept!

Do our hearts a favour!

Edited July 30 by Merrick's Marvels

[Cov 77]

3 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

I suspect we won't see him in a City shirt this side of mid October when we factor in the October International break but I hope to be quite wrong.

Based on what ? 

[phantom]

1 minute ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

You did.

But you said "we won't be seeing him for a while" - which spooked the horses.

So we all ended up thinking - Jesus Wept!

Do our hearts a favour!

I was told since, two months on the sidelines 

Who knows after today's game of guess who with various photos lol

Just now, Cov 77 said:

Based on what ? 

Probably best to reread the past few pages 

[P'head Red]

8 minutes ago, !james said:

They haven't... The Robins zone page just says they posted the photos but not the link to actual post... Someone would need to scroll through and translate each post to find the training photos post and see if they match...

Edit: found it

 

 

For interest this was an old post of Yu training pre injury:

 

 

FWIW I wasn't suggesting the article is false, I was writing from the angle that it surely must be true that he is infact going to be fit soon

[!james]

2 minutes ago, P'head Red said:

FWIW I wasn't suggesting the article is false, I was writing from the angle that it surely must be true that he is infact going to be fit soon

Got it it was a confusing post from the one who re tweeted it! I don't why they didn't just quote the original post. 

It's encouraging from those photos that he is training without strapping 

[RedRoss]

10 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

I suspect we won't see him in a City shirt this side of mid October when we factor in the October International break but I hope to be quite wrong.

Why do you think that? 

If Japan progress all the way to the final that's on the 9th of August. If he's fit why wouldn't he play after that date. 

[Cov 77]

6 minutes ago, phantom said:

I was told since, two months on the sidelines 

Who knows after today's game of guess who with various photos :laugh:

Probably best to reread the past few pages 

I have , tbh so  complicated it’s unreal , hopefully can hear something certain soon 

[Cidre Monita]

Do we know if he will be playing for Japan in the Asia Cup next Jan/Feb 25? 

[phantom]

6 minutes ago, !james said:

Got it it was a confusing post from the one who re tweeted it! I don't why they didn't just quote the original post. 

It's encouraging from those photos that he is training without strapping 

Haven’t we established his training pictures were from 22nd July? 

I'm going to need a lie down lol

Just now, Cidre Monita said:

Do we know if he will be playing for Japan in the Asia Cup next Jan/Feb 25? 

Assume that's full international? 

[Mr Popodopolous]

9 minutes ago, RedRoss said:

Why do you think that? 

If Japan progress all the way to the final that's on the 9th of August. If he's fit why wouldn't he play after that date. 

The suggestions are that they are or might be old pictures and Phantom has suggested that Yu might be out for 2 months. At best we are talking early October.

Let us hope he is fit and sustainably so at the earliest.

[RedRoss]

5 minutes ago, phantom said:

Haven’t we established his training pictures were from 22nd July? 

I'm going to need a lie down :laugh:

Assume that's full international? 

This 500k twitter account posted these images today referencing he's back on the field in his boots:

 

On one of the images he has slight strapping:

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, RedRoss said:

This 500k twitter account posted these images today referencing he's back on the field in his boots:

 

On one of the images he has slight strapping:

Checked the team and subs he appears not to feature.

[!james]

8 minutes ago, phantom said:

Haven’t we established his training pictures were from 22nd July? 

I'm going to need a lie down :laugh:

Assume that's full international? 

Nope I edited my post, I found the post from today which shows Yu training 

[RedRoss]

Just now, Mr Popodopolous said:

Checked the team and subs he appears not to feature.

Doesn't mean he's ready to play a match already. He's back on the field all that post is essentially saying. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

1 minute ago, RedRoss said:

Doesn't mean he's ready to play a match already. He's back on the field all that post is essentially saying. 

See the posts by Phantom otherwise we are all just repeating ourselves.

The pictures appear to have been from 22nd July.

Unless or until the Club or the Japan side or the media or whoever come out to clarify we don't know for sure.

[!james]

Just now, Mr Popodopolous said:

See the posts by Phantom otherwise we are all just repeating ourselves.

The pictures appear to have been from 22nd July.

Unless or until the Club or the Japan side or the media or whoever come out to clarify we don't know for sure.

Those photos are from today! 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, !james said:

Those photos are from today! 

Pretty sure they aren't.

[Rudolf Hucker]

14 minutes ago, Cidre Monita said:

Do we know if he will be playing for Japan in the Asia Cup next Jan/Feb 25? 

Depends on whether he recovers in time. 

[RedRoss]

Just now, Mr Popodopolous said:

Pretty sure they aren't.

They are! They are different pictures. 

[!james]

Just now, Mr Popodopolous said:

Pretty sure they aren't.

Why would a reputable Japanese football account with 500k followers have any reason to lie?! 

 

[Mr Popodopolous]

I'll go back and re-read but it doesn't augur too well but we'll see.

You'd think he would be on the bench at least but I suppose match fit vs actual fit etc.

Edited July 30 by Mr Popodopolous

[Northern Red]

Dear God.

[Mr Popodopolous]

I'm inclined to believe @phantom although I hope that is on the pessimistic side and that we'll see him sooner.

[!james]

Just now, Mr Popodopolous said:

I'm inclined to believe @phantom although I hope that is on the pessimistic side and that we'll see him sooner.

I'm inclined to believe the actual photos I can see with my eyes

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, !james said:

I'm inclined to believe the actual photos I can see with my eyes

We shall see...

I don't think the source has lied but he isn't the Matchday squad so the jury is out.

[maxjak]

13 minutes ago, RedRoss said:

Doesn't mean he's ready to play a match already. He's back on the field all that post is essentially saying. 

Go Yu!....................... Or should it be Yu Go? 

 

[Merrick's Marvels]

45 minutes ago, phantom said:

I was told since, two months on the sidelines

Who by?

Ian ******* Gay

(I know you won't say who as likely it's from inside somewhere - the perks of going to meetings about, for instance, moving the singing section and being told, in not so many words, to f off, eh! A thankless task but one we're all grateful you're prepared to do, btw.)

Meanwhile, no-one's the jeffing wiser about whether the best player we've signed this summer is fit/temporarily incapacitated/or dead.

The news that Manning suddenly once 2 more, rather than just Twine, doesn't fill me with confidence.

Unless the one more is another goalkeeper. Then I'd start thinking he knows what he's doing. Which is a plus.

Up the City!

Edited July 30 by Merrick's Marvels

[Gillies Downs Leeds]

7 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

We shall see...

I don't think the source has lied but he isn't the Matchday squad so the jury is out.

Japan have qualified for next stage so I didn't expect him to be involved tonight even if he was fit.

[W-S-M Seagull]

13 minutes ago, !james said:

I'm inclined to believe the actual photos I can see with my eyes

All the pictures show is him training. 

What the picture doesn't show is if the pictures were today or another time. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

All the pictures show is him training. 

What the picture doesn't show is if the pictures were today or another time. 

Yeah exactly.

Hopefully the Japan Olympic Coach will update or has updated on him.

[View from the Dolman]

So the embedded metadata within the file https://f.image.geki.jp/data/image/news/2560/413000/412266/news_412266_1.webp?time=20240730175506 says that:

• was shot using a Nikon Z 9 using a 400mm lens
• was taken at 16:43:26 yesterday (29/07/2024)
• was edited at 23:24:36 yesterday (29/07/2024) using Adobe Photoshop 25.11 on a Mac
• the above times appear to be UTC + 02:00 (which matches Paris's timezone)

Other images in the gallery appear to share very similar metadata barring a change of lens.

Edited July 30 by View from the Dolman