Lee leaves Saints on loan

10:03am Thursday 14th February 2013 in Saints News

Tadanari Lee Tadanari Lee

Saints striker Tadanari Lee has returned to Japan on loan for the remainder of the season.

Lee has yet to make single Premier League appearance for the club and the return from the African Cup of Nations of Emmanuel Mayuka means chances will be strictly limited with Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez also competing for the striking berth.

As a result Mauricio Pochettino has allowed him to join former club FC Tokyo until June.

The 27-year-old joined Saints in 2012 and has made 12 appearances since.

Nine of those came last season, with only three cup appearances in this campaign.

Lee scored two goals in that time, one against Derby last season and one against Stevenage in the Capital One Cup.

Comments(41)

MGRA says...
10:12am Thu 14 Feb 13

he won't be coming back then.... adios amigo....

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Dickosfc says...
10:14am Thu 14 Feb 13

Strange one this! I rate Lee and think he could do a good job in the Prem. I guess it’s all down to the pecking order.

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Clever Dick says...
10:16am Thu 14 Feb 13

Seems to have been a Tad unlucky!

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InCortesewetrust says...
10:28am Thu 14 Feb 13

Clever Dick wrote:
Seems to have been a Tad unlucky!
It's like-Lee your right clever dick.

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SaintAsh1964 says...
10:32am Thu 14 Feb 13

And he comes back 1st week in July when the squad will return for pre season training, fully fit, fired up and ready to go.

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tomw1234 says...
10:39am Thu 14 Feb 13

One good goal doesn't mean he's a fantastic player. If he was that great I'm sure Pochettino would have at least put him on towards the end of the game.

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St.Yorkie says...
10:41am Thu 14 Feb 13

He didn't impress me at Leeds in that Cup game. I guess it's like all players they need a run of games.
Anyway we have Joshida now to attract all the Japanese fans!
When are going to sign that new player from China?
Trik-hi Wing-ho?

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Alicesdad says...
11:01am Thu 14 Feb 13

I wish him well.

Now they really will have to change the front window at The Saints shop in West Quay. Tadanari has been centre stage there since the new shirts were announced. It's a fickle world.

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milton road says...
11:09am Thu 14 Feb 13

Unfortunately he got injured at the wrong time and has struggled after that.
Several players out now in the shop window and don't see them coming back to be honest. The decks are being cleared for our young talent and some good young signings in the summer.

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milton road says...
11:09am Thu 14 Feb 13

Unfortunately he got injured at the wrong time and has struggled after that.
Several players out now in the shop window and don't see them coming back to be honest. The decks are being cleared for our young talent and some good young signings in the summer.

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only1chopper says...
11:21am Thu 14 Feb 13

I agree, bit of an odd one. He def needs some game time, he is maybe a bit homesick, so to kill 2 birds with one stone, send him back for a wee bit and then saints can reep the benefits next season with some goals, or a transfer fee!

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Jesus_02 says...
11:29am Thu 14 Feb 13

It's a loan, and a very sensible move for all involved.

I still rate him

He has all the basic componants of a good player. Just needs game time

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sotonman2012 says...
11:52am Thu 14 Feb 13

How can you rate him after a handful of games ? He is poor even at under 21 level he is poor,Gets bullied all over the shop,Terrible injury problems,The fact he injured himself for like 4 months through kicking the floor & not the ball would suggest he is a plonker !

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St Mark says...
12:03pm Thu 14 Feb 13

sotonman2012 wrote:
How can you rate him after a handful of games ? He is poor even at under 21 level he is poor,Gets bullied all over the shop,Terrible injury problems,The fact he injured himself for like 4 months through kicking the floor & not the ball would suggest he is a plonker !
No - I suggest that would be you.

I thought he looked really sharp - remember the header to set up Rickie for the crucial goal at Leeds last season?

I agree with others who say he needs more match practice. Could still come good for us, although things are looking pretty positive at the moment - we shouldn't fear anyone just now!

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aldermoorboy says...
12:08pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Good luck, I loved your goal for Saints, great strike

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saint_rednwhite says...
12:32pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Proving he was actually rubbish whilst being free... think our chants were different mind.

One good goal and about it. My thoughts he wont be coming back... no real loss to us now

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CB FRY LIVES says...
12:56pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Needs a spell of regular first team football.hopefully he will come back a fitter and more robust player.Will mean that MAYUKA will move up the pecking order.But to cover injuries we will need Ramirez and GULY back fit pretty quick.COYR

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right back in the bar says...
1:04pm Thu 14 Feb 13

That goal against Derby was something else but that was it - not strong enough and not fit enough.

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saintray says...
1:11pm Thu 14 Feb 13

One sunny day dosnt make a summer,great day though but i fear never likely to be repeted on this planet,sorry Tad.

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AndyAndrews says...
4:47pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Watched him play for Saints U-21s v Newcastle U-21s at Eastleigh and was unimpressed. Surplus to requirements...

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abbiscuits says...
5:03pm Thu 14 Feb 13

upset to see him go, was a good player and now we only have 3 established strikers : lambert, j-rod, mayuka, so... hoping either he comes back at the end of the season or we buy someone who can finish

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legh_langston says...
5:48pm Thu 14 Feb 13

That run down the wing & cross against Barnsley last year was great!
Can Lambert go on for ever? Probably
but a fit Tad would be a useful backup.

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Benali76 says...
6:11pm Thu 14 Feb 13

sotonman2012 wrote:
How can you rate him after a handful of games ? He is poor even at under 21 level he is poor,Gets bullied all over the shop,Terrible injury problems,The fact he injured himself for like 4 months through kicking the floor & not the ball would suggest he is a plonker !
How can you judge him after a handful of games you say then promptly go on to judge him in the very next sentence.

I thought he looked one of our best players with pace class and energy before he got injured. Maybe he will be back firing and fit for the start of next season. I hope so.

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100%Saint says...
6:13pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I was there for the Derby game, very good goal and apparently he got a better celebration with us than he did at japan when he scored the winning Asia cup.
COYR!!!

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SouthamptonLegend says...
6:30pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I rated him massively! Thought he looked more class than Mayuka but, obviously there's more to come!

The reason why he's gone is the £23k a week salary he's on. Not Bad for only 12 appearances!

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loadcee says...
6:38pm Thu 14 Feb 13

He was never that good really and I don't think he is fit enough to play the way Saints play with the attacking push system .. seeya Tad

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Confucious says...
6:41pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I heard the Japanese governent had declared 2 March as "erection day" and thought Tad might go back for that.

I think he may be happy to go straight away, however, as the food over here has made him rather constipated.

It's made him look like this a lot....

(>___

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Confucious says...
6:46pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Confucious wrote:
I heard the Japanese governent had declared 2 March as "erection day" and thought Tad might go back for that.

I think he may be happy to go straight away, however, as the food over here has made him rather constipated.

It's made him look like this a lot....

(>___
After Tad tried one of my laxatives his face gradually improved.....

From (>_

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TheJoiners says...
6:46pm Thu 14 Feb 13

He was rubbish. Headless chicken, lets be honest.

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Confucious says...
6:47pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Confucious wrote:
Confucious wrote:
I heard the Japanese governent had declared 2 March as "erection day" and thought Tad might go back for that.

I think he may be happy to go straight away, however, as the food over here has made him rather constipated.

It's made him look like this a lot....

(>___
After Tad tried one of my laxatives his face gradually improved.....

From (>_
Oh well, Echo system obviously doesn't like that.

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Stroppy_gramps says...
8:46pm Thu 14 Feb 13

good move for him - possibly one for the future.

just unfortunate for him that so much changed while he had that injury

good luck to the lad, hope to see him back

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Buddy SFC says...
9:26pm Thu 14 Feb 13

only1chopper wrote:
I agree, bit of an odd one. He def needs some game time, he is maybe a bit homesick, so to kill 2 birds with one stone, send him back for a wee bit and then saints can reep the benefits next season with some goals, or a transfer fee!
I think a Permanent return back home is already on the cards .....

One of the highlights of last season was his goal against Derby and his celebrations as he was taken of by NA with 5 mins to go ........

Quality !

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St Retford says...
10:11pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I don't think I really saw enough of him to pass judgement either way.

I would, however, like to raise an issue with 5-Live pundit who has speculated on air whether Gareth Bale can be a one-club man. NO HE CAN'T YOU DOZY FCUK. IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE.

That is all. Cheers.

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City Saint says...
10:21pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Sorry to see him go, he had one of the best celebrations ever.

But he seems to be a bit of a sicknote.

So, Cheerio.

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Puddletown Saint says...
10:35pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Lets be honest here. All our loans out with the possible exception of Sharp are not going to cut it in the Prem.
Forecast Dickson Seabourne Hammond Forte De Ridder Reeves Hoskins Lee Barnard. We can also let go Davis (K) Martin Richardson Butterfield Chaplow Guly. That is 17 out and we would only need 4/5 top drawer in.

Good luck Tad Lee - was not meant to be.

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abbiscuits says...
11:12pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I think in the summer we have to get rid of:
barnard, butterfield, hammond, forecast, dickson, forte
loan: chappers, de ridder, guly, lee

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sarfhamton says...
9:54am Fri 15 Feb 13

Tandanari Lee,
Tandanari Lee,
Tandanari Lee,
Got him on a free,
home did he flee,
Tandanari Lee!

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TheSaintsMan says...
4:28pm Fri 15 Feb 13

I find this quite sad as I strongly thought he would be a success at Southampton. Sadly it wasn't to be, but I still think he could and will be a big player for the Premier League.

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BracknellSaint says...
4:32pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Think it's a shame, as still think with his pace and workrate he'd be an asset.
That said, World Cup next year, and at 27 now he's desperate to play for Japan, so this allows him game time, and also to be very much in the manager's sights too.
Hopefully he'll be back for pre-season, and with some regular footy under his belt, would be a benefit for us going into the new season

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Crossley Place Saint says...
6:49pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Something very mysterious has been going on here. Like most people I was excited when he arrived (remember that thread when we all proposed songs about him?). But he hardly ever played. Yes he was signed on a free transfer, but that doesn't mean he didn't cost us anything - don't forget his WAGES which were reliably reported as £20K/week. That is £1M plus paid out for very little in return.

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joelster says...
9:59pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Sorry to see him Lee-ve

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