Tomoki Iwata 'issue' raised at Birmingham City - Tommy Doyle decision can help take 'flak off' | OneFootball

FLW's Blues fan pundit has stated that Paik may be able to shine next to Tommy Doyle instead of Tomoki Iwata

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

After such an impressive, dominant display in the Championship, some Birmingham City fans have been underwhelmed with the performances of some of their League One heroes.

The likes of Christoph Klarer, Alex Cochrane and Tomoki Iwata, who all made the third tier look so easy, haven't had their way too much in the Championship as the competition increases.

Paik Seung-ho has also taken some stick over his performances by Birmingham fans too, and with Wolves loanee Tommy Doyle being used primarily as a substitute by Chris Davies so far this season, many are clamouring for the former Championship promotion winner to be given more of an opportunity from the off.

The vast majority of Blues fans want Doyle to replace Paik, but Jason Moore, FLW's Birmingham fan pundit, feels that it should be Iwata who makes way for the Englishman.

Birmingham City fan pundit asks for a Paik Seung-ho and Tommy Doyle midfield partnership

Moore initially admitted that he feels that those who starred in their League One title-winning campaign haven't found the step-up to the Championship easy, and the strength in depth available to Chris Davies makes it difficult not to want to see changes.

"Paik's not been what he was last season, but to be fair, like Christoph Klarer, I don't think any of them have been what they were last season," Moore said.

"It's probably that jump in quality. He's definitely got it, but he's got to show it now that he's playing in a better league. I do feel that there's more to come from him, as I've not been very impressed.

"It doesn't help that there's such quality on the bench now in Tommy Doyle, and a lot of people are asking the question as to why he's not starting, but Paik still is."

Whilst Moore does want to see the former Manchester City youth product starting more league games, he believes that, if both he and Paik can play together, that should be the partnership, leaving Iwata to drop to the bench.

"My biggest argument would be whether Paik and Doyle could play together, and you drop Iwata, because that's where my issue is — I feel he's been very poor," he added.

"Iwata isn't the player to turn on the ball and get us up the pitch, which is what our issue is now. Paik can do that, but because we play such a rigid system, he's operating on one part of the pitch, and he gets a lot of criticism for that, but for me, the issue is with Iwata.

"I think if you put Doyle in there with Paik, it'll take some of the flak off of him, so that's what I'd like to see.

"Paik's performances haven't been great this season, but like I said, not everyone's has, and I think there's more to come from him, so I'd like to see him and Doyle play together at some point."

Tommy Doyle must be close to regular starts for Birmingham City

It can be quite difficult to move away from a midfield duo who dominated week in, week out in League One, but for Birmingham to move up the table and start to compete in the top six, you get the feeling that Doyle must be in the starting eleven more regularly.

The 23-year-old has started just two games so far this season, and has come off before the hour mark in both. Against Stoke City, he was actually used ahead of both Paik and Iwata, but the Blues were still unable to progress up the field significantly.

Paik and Iwata have been the midfield duo for seven of Birmingham's nine league games so far. Doyle started with Iwata against Sheffield Wednesday, and against Wreham, Paik played in the middle with Marc Leonard, whilst Iwata started at full back. However, the Blues were still creatively frustrated at times in both outings.

Given Doyle's experience in top Championship teams and in the Premier League, his presence can only be seen as a positive, and it shouldn't be long before he is given a run of games in the side from the off, especially if Birmingham continue to lack that creative edge going forward.