Exciting Under-the-Radar Signing Boosts Birmingham City’s Squad
The start of Tomoki Iwata’s Birmingham City career came in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Tuesday night. Iwata, a four-cap Japanese international, has played in much more glamorous competitions in his career. Indeed, his first outing for Celtic last season came in a Champions League group stage match with Feyenoord. But, like the other 16 summer signings, Iwata was swayed by the project. Blues don’t intend to stick around in League One for more than a season, and that means midweeks in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy will be a novelty.
A New Chapter Begins
Iwata made his debut on the same night as Blues’ record signing Jay Stansfield. The spotlight was never going to be on the 27-year-old who arrived from Celtic a matter of hours before Stansfield on deadline day. Despite the lack of immediate attention, Blues manager Chris Davies had high praise for the new signing, stating, “With Jay coming in, it has gone under the radar a little bit but he’s a quality player. He’s been playing at Celtic for a few years now and he’s a really strong, powerful midfield player. He’s technically good on the ball as well.”
Impressive Performance on Debut
In his first match for Birmingham City, Iwata showcased his combativeness in midfield, while also displaying his quality in possession once Paik Seung-ho had been introduced. The Japanese midfielder started the game ahead of Marc Leonard, but with Paik’s introduction, he was able to shift into his preferred number six position. Davies added, “His role in the early stages was to be a little more advanced because we had Marc Leonard on the pitch, and then after that, it was more about him dropping back into the defensive pivot position with Paik on. He can do a bit of both, but he’s more of a six.”
Blues found themselves pressing in Walsall’s half in the final 30 minutes, seeking an equalizer after Charlie Lakin’s opener for the Saddlers. Iwata played a crucial role in the attack, forcing a corner with a powerful drive that needed to be tipped over, ultimately leading to Christoph Klarer’s equalizer. He continued to be heavily involved in the onslaught that followed, as Blues searched for a winning goal.
Looking Ahead
Iwata’s performance in his debut match showed glimpses of his quality, despite a sluggish overall team performance. As Birmingham City prepares for their upcoming fixtures, Iwata will be competing with Leonard on the training ground in a bid to secure a spot in the starting XI alongside Paik after the international break. The question remains, will Iwata be able to force his way into the lineup and make a significant impact for the team?
In conclusion, Tomoki Iwata’s arrival at Birmingham City has brought excitement and depth to the squad. With his experience and technical abilities, he has the potential to become a key player for the team as they strive for success in League One. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Iwata as he looks to make his mark and contribute to Birmingham City’s journey towards their goals.