Tomoki Iwata

Good debut,always on the move.
Finds himself space,but also willing to take the pass when an opponent is close by.

Looks promising

 

Looked solid enough.



Can see him being used so McGregor can be moved further up the park in some games as I don't think McGregor will be dropped a he just seems to want to play all these games

 

maybe it’s time to send Gucci home as he has been here for 1 year and made no impression on the first team and I do appreciate he has been unlucky with injuries.

 

Gonna be exciting ti see how the spine of the squad develops when we could potentially be having 4 or 5 Japanese players in the 11.

Won't happen often but will look forward to see how it works with Kobi in defence, Iwata and Hatate in midfield and either one or both Maeda and Kyogo in attack

 

This chap looks very comfortable on the ball. Hard to gauge against such weak opposition, but he found his passes well.

 

Watched about 25 mins of footage which was just Iwata dealing with the ball under pressure.

I think he's going to become a fan favourite...

 

If he can deal with the ball as well as Cal, then we have a very useful midfield 3 of McGregor, Iwata, Mooy who won’t give the ball away carelessly at the European level. Once the game opens up later then bring on Hatate when his passes are less likely to get intercepted.

 

He's excellent at taking care of the ball tbh - he's absolutely up there with McGregor in that regard. Technically gifted and quite fleet footed with a good awareness of the game around him.

 

Well hopefully he can make that step up to the European level.

Cal is definitely European level proven, Mooy has played against the best at international level and in the PL, so I have no doubt he steps up.

We’ve just lacked that 3rd midfielder, granted Mooy wasn’t up to speed this year, Hatate is close but a bit too careless at that level, O’Riley isn’t at that level yet, so for me, it’s about getting 3 midfielders on the pitch that are up to European quality. Once that happens, I think we start to find we can compete and even dominate in games to a higher level.

We aren’t far off a cracking team that could do something in Europe.

 

I think Mcgegor and Iwata in a double pivot with each taking turns to roam forward sometimes whilst the other sits back would be ideal in Europe next season. Would give us that extra bit of cover when we get countered. That's where we're most vulnerable

 

That’s why I really like a midfield 3 of McGregor, Iwata and Mooy. Both McGregor and Mooy can play the double pivot role, while both are creative enough in the final third.

Watch Mooy come deep for the ball when they try man mark McGregor, unless the opposition goes to full man marking, it will help us keep the ball if either of McGregor or Mooy can drop in to help in that second pivot, if Iwata can burst forward then we’ve taken out their man marker. If that man marker is a midfielder then we will open teams up.

I think there’s potentially a lot to be excited about with the introduction of Iwata to the squad/team.

 

Aye wouldn't mind that midfield 3 mate, Mooy against the better opposition, Hatate against the "Shakthar" kind of opposition lol would like to see Ange mix it up a bit up a bit in CL next season and do setting a wee bit different too but I doubt he will

 

It’ll be brilliant if Hatate kicks on in Europe and Iwata turns out to be the 6 we’ve needed.

 

I think Iwata can make that step up in Europe. He's absolutely got the ability and pace.

 

Went through a * ton more wyscout footage of him. Can see why he got J League player of the year now. He's top notch

So excited for this signing!

 

Same I've watched his videos about 5x each hahaha he's a baller

 

He's got a lot of stuff I like in a midfielder.

Comfortable on either foot, quick, pass and moves, reads the game well, timing, never panics, technical, good vision and quite press resistant.

Can't really dribble though but a bit like Mooy he uses the ball so well he doesn't really need to. Jury is out whether he can shoot as he seems reluctant to take shots on though.

When he plays CB he's excellent playing out from the back aswell and provides good cover.

 

I would like to see a double pivot in Europe and it shouldn’t be unreasonable to think that could happen now we potential have the right players. Look at Leipzig and Real they both had it, in fact a lot of teams that play a 3 man midfield do at that level.

Ange’s Marinos team did as well when he played 4-3-3 there, one of the guys was a hard working, break up the play type and the other more a deep lying playmaker, with one more attacking centre midfielder.

If we played that way I think Hatate could easily play as the attacking Centre midfielder or if you were looking to go safer Mooy or O’Riley (if he was still here).

Personally I would like to see another centre midfielder brought in either a box to box option with a lot of legs and the ability to time that late run into the box, a bit like Armstrong was in the 16/17 season or even McGregor in his younger days, or Christie in 19/20. Side tracked slightly but I don’t think Armstrong ever got close to that season again here or at Southampton he was brilliant and got something like 15 goals.

I know Turnbull doesn’t have his energy but is probably a better finisher and used to make those good runs in to the box, hopefully his couple of goals give him confidence. I mentioned Jason Knight in the player suggestions and think he would be a good fit on a bosman as he is still young at 21 (22 next month), but has 150 senior games mostly at English Championship and 15 international caps. He would also have good sell on value as he will count as English FA trained as he has been at Derby for more than 3 years before his 21st birthday.

 

Probably been shared already but KDS put up quotes from Ange's presser where he intimated he'd use Iwata and McGregor in a double pivot in the future. Spoke about how he sees the two of them playing together and how it opens up new options for how we set up in the middle of the park long-term.

I think him and McGregor will definitely start away from home in Europe next season, and at home against the really tough sides.

 

Those 2 as a midfield engine...