Tomoki Iwata

He's here and he's lovely.

Got to admire the commitment from those Japanese lads. They have literally moved from the other side of the world and have to travel back to Asia every couple of months to play for their international team. Must be draining.

 

Wonder why he's decided to have Iwata on his shirt instead of Tomoki.

 

Lots of Japanese and Korean lads do this mainly cuz so.many have the same second name

 

Ange's 4th attempt in finding a real DM..

 

In fairness he did say he wanted Iwata last summer but didn't go for him out of respect to his old club after already signing Daizen. I'm still a bit baffled about ideguchi and abildgaard though.

 

Tomoki Iwata had his first experience of what his new life will be like as a Celtic player on Saturday, as the J-League Player of the Year for the 2023 season stepped out on to the Celtic Park at half-time of the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock.

Joining from Yokohama F Marinos where he played alongside Daizen Maeda and was managed by Ange Postecoglou, Iwata arrives in Glasgow as a league winner this year and he can’t wait to get started and win with Celtic.

Speaking to Celtic TV, he said: “I’m really honoured and I'm really happy to be at a great club such as Celtic and I’m just excited.

“I was really excited (to be on the pitch) and I felt the passion of the supporters.

'Compared with Japan, the supporters are very passionate and I’m really looking forward to playing on that pitch with fans.'

“I have been following the Celtic games, especially old highlights as well as checking the results.

“I was playing with Daizen at Marinos, so yeah, I was interested in the results of Celtic.”

On signing for the club, Ange Postecoglou highlighted the 25-year-old’s ability to play in a number of positions, primarily in the middle of midfield and defence.

Talking about what he can bring to the football club and how he can impact the starting XI, Iwata said: “The team has been winning a lot of games and is in first place in the league so this is why I’m thinking how I can contribute to the team.

“I think my strong point is stealing the ball and my fitness and I think once I fit into the team I can contribute to achieve more success.

"I think my strong point is also working hard and in terms of my playing style then dealing with balls under pressure and this is what I would like to express.

“I also played with the manager in Japan so I would like to show my play on the pitch and contribute to the team.”

 

Kouassi, Soro, Mccarthy, Ideguchi, Abildgaard.

We've wasted some amount of money over the years in that position.

 

Fourth? Who am I missing - Ideguchi, Abilgaard and…?

To be fair to Ange, I think this is the one he really wanted from day one.

 

McCarthy

 

Oh let Tomoki singggggg

 

Watched another game out of boredom.

Good player this boy...

 

I agree; Desmond special written all over it. I think there was a gentleman's agreement already in place for the end of his Palace contract.

 

This is one that when we were first linked I wasn’t that bothered and felt we needed a more attacking midfielder but the more I read and see of him the more I look forward to seeing him.

I hope he can bring his physical approach to our play and the translates from the less physical J league.

Personally I am hoping he would be like our Schlager from Leipzig, that type of player that allows your other midfielders and forwards to go and make things happen and press while having the ability to get the ball to them when trying to build play.

 

There’s maybe 7/10 signings from that window that definitely weren’t and ange hasn’t given most a look in. From all the team interviews and player specials it seems like they all love McCarthy so would be interesting to see what wage he’s on and whether morale is more important than him actually playing regularly. He was a free….but with mooy we can see what a free should actually bring playing wise too