Tomoki Iwata

Struggling to decipher why he hasn't played more. Can only assume it's because he just finished a full season and we want him fresh for the next campaign.

I think he has looked decent in his fleeting appearances, but I also think some fans have hyped him up a bit too much so far. Dare I say it similar to how the huns have done with Raskin.

Really hope he comes good though. We basically need him to or else we'll in the market again for another DM (if we aren't already).

 

You are right. He's played right back aswell and part of a back 3 with Japan i'm sure. When we were first linked with him I compared him to CCV cos I thought his defending style was similar. He's been a CB most of his career and DM was a recent move.

 

He needs to play the remaining 4 games alongside McGregor and Hatate, I think he's good enough to start next year, but we won't know that unless Ange starts playing him more.

 

I can only see him starting in Europe if we switch to a double pivot. Domestically I don't see any need or benefit in Cal moving out of his current role to play further forward when he is so effective where he currently is. He can't dictate the play or distribute the ball futher forward and Tomoki has a long way to go to prove he can do either of those things to the standard that Cal can. All he would give us is maybe a bit more defensively and domestically apart from against them we don't need that.

 

The only thing domestically is if we were to sign an out and out 10 type player it would maybe make more sense to have two more box to box midfielders like McGregor and Iwata.

Just like at CB they could build a partnership where one goes and the other sits.

That way it would essentially give you an out and out attacking 4. Leipzig played that way with Haderia and Schlager playing box to box and Szoboszlai, Nkunku, Werner and Silva playing high at all times. It also worked well in Rodgers first season when we had an Armstrong type playing as one of the deeper midfielders next to Brown who could break forward and Rogic as an out and out 10 behind Dembele, Sinclair and Forrest.

For me despite how good Hatate is he doesn’t have the defensive discipline for that role he often drops runners. O’Riley doesn’t have the engine or pace for that. As yet I am not sure if Iwata has the attacking side to his game for that role.

McGregor did previously but isn’t getting any younger, although as he showed for the opener against Hearts when he gets turned he can play top quality forward passes, he probably doesn’t get turned and do that as often as I would like.

 

McGregor is as close as we have to the skill of someone like Rogic.

If Iwata can get a strong preseason in and Ange sees a benefit of playing Iwata as the deeper CM of the three.

Then I feel we would have a far more mobile and fluid midfield with the engines, running power and attacking threat of McGregor and Hatate. Then Iwata sitting behind the two connecting defence to attack.

 

Doesn't look like a CB either..

 

I'm a big fan of his but disappointed in him as he was far from good today. I know he's much better than that.

 

Says more about Welsh today under Ange than Iwata

 

I'd be interested to see him at right side of a back 3 if we change it for the last couple....or out and out right back..

He may be a better choice of backup than Ralston moving forward..

I like him but he's struggling to nail anywhere..

 

Shocking performance bar the pass in the build up to Kyogo's goal. He may look like a tank but he was weak as * today.

Don't want to be too harsh on him considering he was thrown in at CB but if I'm honest I haven't seen anything from him yet that makes me think he can be a starter for us.

 

Welsh is injured is he not?

 

Welsh is injured he wouldn’t be a * bag like the other 2 who have played in there says more about lawal to me. Looks a big lad but miles out of the picture

 

Nah he is fine

 

Hoping he has a good pre season and starts right away next season in the midfield. Never a centre half in a million years.

 

Never ever play at CB again. Ever. That free kick we got when him and main got into a foot race….should never have been a free kick. iwata could see he was gonna be beat for pace…Stepped across and just got outmuscled. Can’t believe there’s no young centre half’s to give opportunities to if the likes of Welsh are for the off

 

Didn’t realise

 

I would persist with Iwata at CB for the Cup Final, we don't have any real options.
Welsh and Kobi are bombscares.

 

Welsh is more than capable of playing CB against ICT.

 

I don't think so. I don't trust him anymore. Plus he would be very rusty for a one off Cup Final like this.