Tomoki Iwata

Becoming my favourite player. Class act.

 

Can I ask you about Tomoki Iwata? He’s came back from injury and has been very impressive over the last couple of games. What does he give you, as well as a chance to push Callum on?

He anchors that midfield for us, and allows us to move on. He’s a very good player but he’s missed a lot of moments this season. It looked as if he was going to get his run in the team but he was out injured. That’s been a challenging time for him, and then it’s just about getting him up to speed and trying to get him in at the right time. I’m really pleased for him because he has given his all in training, he’s just waited for his opportunity. This was a midfield that was very difficult to get into. You look at Matt O’Riley, with all due respect he wasn’t starting last year! You had Callum, Reo Hatate and Aaron Mooy, who were the players that were playing a lot of games. He has come in and had a fantastic season, Matt. Tommo (Iwata) has had to be patient but I trust him when he comes in. He plays the game simple, is dynamic at winning the ball back and he’s performed really well in these last few games.

 

Tomoki Iwata admits Celtic fans left him confused and fearing booing was aimed at him
Japenese midfielder reflects on moment that irritated manager Brendan Rodgers


Tomoki Iwata admits he wondered if the boos from the Celtic fans were for him when he was taken off against Motherwell last weekend.

The large travelling support jeered the decision to replace him with Paulo Bernardo given the strength of the Japanese midfielder’s performance in his first appearance since December. That reaction irritated manager Brendan Rodgers, especially given Celtic went on to win 3-1 thanks to two injury-time goals

Iwata was left bemused, too, and feared it was a negative response to his own display


At the beginning I was confused,” he revealed through a translator. “Like ‘is it toward me?’ or what? But then I think it was, in a way, a compliment and I took it very well.

"I just want to meet the expectations now. Now I’m starting to feature in games and really happy about it. Hopefully I can look to contribute more towards the team winning.

“Before that I was obviously frustrated at not being involved in the team because of injuries or different situations.

“I was hoping that I would get opportunities so, yeah, it was a difficult moment but now I’m happy. The only thing I was thinking about was how I was going to get the time on the pitch here – how I can improve myself and how I can contribute to the team.”


Iwata thanked his family for supporting him during those difficult moments on the sidelines. “I didn’t feel it was as difficult as maybe it could have been because my family supported me very well,” he added. “I’m very settled in Glasgow.”

 

Criminal how slow he was today to move the ball..

Was miles off what we need from a 6 at them. Look at their offside goal for a prime example..

Riddy..

 

Not helped by the ridiculous lack of movement from that brainless * at left wing. He's looking for him to make a run but as usual he showed absolutely * all game awareness.

He's a defensive midfielder his job is to break up attacks and move the ball on to the creative players. If we want a deep lying playmaker in there again play mcgregor but then folk will complain that we get played thru and have no dig. Can't have it both ways unless u go and spend 20 odd million on 1 of the rare ones who can do both

 

So when he's got 10 yards free on the ball and Taylor in acres of space no one near and he takes no 1, no 2 but 3 touches to deliberate over what he's gonna do..

What a loada *..

Lost count the amount of times he got the ball and he was desperately trying to tackle on his second touch..

 

Didn't look fit at all.

 

He was poor today. Thought he looked injured and should have been off at halftime.

 

Very poor today. We lacked structure when down to 10 men and he didn’t help.

 

Wasn't great today. But having just come back from injury then playing 70 mins on Sunday, 90 mins on Wednesday then playing almost a full game with 10 men, I'm not surprised he was slowing down.

 

Went * ballistic at him wae this, unforgivable that. Perfect opportunity for a quick counter attack, pass to Taylor and we're away yet he * about too many touches gets the ball whipped off him. What a * shitebag moment that was. Disgrace.

 

How many times does he look up waiting for Maeda to move?

 

Maeda's a donkey but no the only one on the park..

 

It was probably his poorest performance for us but being down to 10 men and losing all kinds of shape didn't help.

We went 4221 2nd half but it appears after 2 mins o'riley forgot and then continued to play as a wide number 8 the way he does in a 433 which essentially left Iwata in middle of the park on his own.

Got a bang on his ankle again early on which maybe didn't help. That will no doubt be him the scapegoat tho and him dropped while Maeda and O'riley continue to turn in * displays on a weekly basis.

 

I really like him and have wanted him in the team for a while but he was * poor today

 

Good player, questionable mentality.

 

As much as I was going tonto at him today, if McGregor is in front if him it's a totally different scenario for him. Cal was a monumental miss for both the team and Iwata today.

 

Wanted too much time on the ball.