Tomoki Iwata

Same midfield for the weekend, please. You could see him being in the team allowed O’Riley and McGregor far more freedom to play the way they wanted.

Very impressed.

 

It's only his 3rd start ever in midfield, started 2 games in April against Kilmarnock and Motherwell and then tonight, his 4 other starts were in defence.

 

Could on the ball a few times but that’s probably due to a lack of game time. Definitely needs played, as we’ve all been screaming out for all season.

 

Done well, kept it simple, neat and tidy. Just feel he was playing a tad reserved, like not wanting to take risks as it was his big chance, hope we stick with him for the next few games, seemed to bring out the best in Cal and Matt.

 

Thats all his remit would have been. Just play it simple, keep his positional discipline and get the ball to the players who can open up play.

It isnt to say that he cant do it also, he has shown in previous games he can contribute in attack, but he came on in place of other players who had more freedom.

With Iwata there it frees up Cal to make penetrative runs with and without the ball and he gives our midfield balance.

 

Surely his spot to lose now his athleticism is so good

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Looking ahead a wee bit now but Iwata sitting and freeing up O’Riley and McGregor against the Huns could wreak havoc on them.

 

Shame he missed the sitter at the end, it would have capped a great performance.

Someone to free up McGregor is what we’ve been crying out for for ages. Even O’Riley looked like he was playing with a bit more freedom last night.

 

Frustrating in a way. Should’ve been in and around the team a long time ago, with more opportunity coming his way.

Onwards and upwards. Really want to see us line up with a proper DM in Europe.

 

If McGregor comes onto a game now that Iwata should hopefully be taking the CDM role... Hatate could struggle to get back in the side.

Unless Rodgers decides to go with a fairly narrow and central 4231

 

That was the midfield 3 we should have been playing in Europe (with Hatate out), looked far more solid and competetive.

Nice to see CalMac getting forward more and making good runs in and around the box.

 

Having a naturally minded defensive player playing as your holding midfielder giving a better balance to the midfield. Who’d a thought it.

McGregor is a far better player when he is in areas where he can hurt teams with his passing and his ability to get goals because he is capable. O’Riley is also a player that we want playing high up the park. Having Iwata in the team allows this because he isn’t really the type to bomb forward and leave us exposed. He is disciplined and will sit and protect. He is also decent on the ball so we aren’t losing loads in terms of transitioning by not having McGregor as the holding midfielder. Should have seen this long ago. Especially in Europe as it’s a position that has cost us in my opinion.

 

Could work if we got an athletic full back to get down the wing on the left but then where does that leave maeda Abada palma…. IF and it’s a big IF we have a full strength no injury team we have a great line up right now. We’re just * by injuries constantly

 

He positions himself naturally, he's strong, fast and good on the ball.. if he can keep doing what he's doing it gives us a great option..

Seems a far better fit there in BRs system..

There will be times McGregor will be better suited there when Hatate returns, but if Iwata can maintain this form he's an excellent option..

He was delighted to get 90mins last night and must be loving it, to be finally starting in the position that he won player of the year in Japan..

 

I could see Palma getting started in that of formation I stated but the right side would be a little unbalanced as you'd have our RB being the wide option and Hatate stays more infield.

But like you say, of the scouting department is up to snuff, if we could magic out of nowhere two fullbacks in the vein of Frimpong for LB and RB, then a midfield of Iwata, McGregor, O'Riley, Hatate and Palma could be ridiculous.

 

Mental it’s taken this long into the season for him to finally get a start but he was excellent last night and was pretty much everything we’ve missed in the midfield.

He needs an extended run in the team now and assuming we don’t get any injuries in the meantime that has to be the midfield 3 for the hun game at the end of the month.

 

I feel a kinda Deja vu with ismael Sorro

we all cried out for him got his chance at home to Betis but for some reason it never worked out in the long term

 

Do you kiss your mother with that filthy mouth?

 

Nah, Soro had his moments and some good attributes but he was still very raw and prone to really rash tackles, had Brown ahead of him when he first arrived, and wasn't really technically good enough for Ange's system when he came in, clear reasons why he didn't make it here.

Iwata is much more the finished article and hasn't really put a foot wrong when given a chance, if he doesn't get more gametime now it'll be absolutely baffling.

 

Iwata is a far better player than Soro, though.

Composed on the ball and reads the game well.