Tomoki Iwata

He might play both Iwata and McGregor. It's then between O'Riley and Hatate.

 

don’t think hatate will play full 90 so maybe give McGregor last half hour depending on how things are and if we’re in front might be good to have to ok and McGregor to sit

 

Good options, hope he gets it right..

 

I'm leaning towards starting the team that started today with McGregor to come at some stage most likely for hatate if ahead or iwata if behind

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

 

McGregor has to start and I think he will..

Iwata's a good player but will dally on the ball and be a bit too slow for that game away at them, in my opinion. Was the same at Tynecastle at a frantic pace..

 

Aye, that's definitely the concern, was just coming on to post the same.. could be important from the bench but if McGregor can play a part he starts.

 

I struggle with dropping him.

For the most part in games, I just feel like unlike the rest of midfield, he just seems to know where to be when on the defence and stopping attacks and blocking passes or shots.

Something I feel we will need against the huns as they will likely try and play around out central midfield

 

There is no way BR is going to change shape for Huns game.
I would stick with the starting 11 from today. Iwata does not deserve to be dropped.

 

Nor sure about that a fir McGregor makes it a difficult decision..

 

Midfield will be McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley mate. No surer thing

 

Iwatas performance away to Hearts is what worries me about starting him on Sunday

 

If McGregor is fit he will play from the start. We would then likely see Iwata and Bernardo off the bench at some point. If we can do what we did at New year and get in front that could be very effective as you then have two very solid players with decent engines to bring on and shut out a game.

 

Late to the party but came to post exactly this. Even in games that are extremely comfortable he can take an age on the ball, time he simply won’t have at the weekend.

They’ve given McGregor the freedom of the park in both games so far and been destroyed so there’s no chance they make that mistake again and Iwata just isn’t as good/clever that he’ll be able to create that space for himself.

I’d be tempted to go with McGregor, O’Riley and Hatate tbh. Tell Hatate to completely go at them right from the off, empty his tank as quick as he needs to knowing Iwata is there to come on and is more than reliable.

 

Iwata is far too passive for this match.

 

Think he will give way, just worry about starting two players not fully fit.

 

No chance Hatate starts against Rangers after just recovering from an injury. Iwata will also be needed to plug leaks.

 

Mental take..

He was thrown in on arguably the worst pitch in Scotland on Sunday and played around 70 minutes (including first half injury time) with absolute ease..

There's no way he won't be starting..

 

Hatate 100% starts against the Huns. Our best player when he’s on form and they can’t handle him at all. The difference he made Sunday was night and day to the creativity the other cms have brought last few months. It will be Mcgregor, Hatate and O’Riley starting in the middle

 

I sure hope you're wrong. We don't need to risk everything with such a midfield, not with 2 of the players lacking sharpness.