Disco Stu

Yes.

Newcastle are better than us in every position so if our plan is to go up there and outplay them, the result will be ugly. With that in mind, this is how I'd set us up with our current squad based on what I've seen so far: McCarthy Harwood-Bellis - Bednarek - Stephens Sugawara - Smallbone - Downes - Aribo - Walker-Peters (clearly a better player than Taylor, if we're still paying his salary come the 17th, he must play) Armstrong - Brereton-Diaz If we have to play Taylor instead of Walker-Peters, 3-5-2 won't work as he lacks the pace required to bomb up and down the wings. In that case, I'd go 4-3-3: McCarthy Sugawara - Harwood-Bellis - Bednarek - Taylor Smallbone - Downes - Aribo Armstrong - Alcaraz/Dibling - Brereton-Diaz I'd expect Alcaraz or Dibling to play that role as more of a false 9 creating space for Armstrong and Brereton-Diaz. Ultimately, we still need a CF. Serious lack of pace down that left side but I don't trust Edozie to get us goals and Taylor is a better full-back than Manning. Need to avoid unnecessary tika-taka in our own box particularly if we still have McCarthy between the sticks. GK, DM, Winger, AM and CF are still essential signings we need to make in my opinion. Lacking depth and a couple of injuries (especially another Downes injury) would finish us right now.

Our tempo is still far too slow at the moment. I've been watching the other Premier League teams pre-seasons and we're noticably more ponderous. Still lacking finishers and that focal point up front. Right now, Dibling is probably best placed to play that role.

Remarkable the difference Dibling has made.

Keeping error, 0-1 Saints.

Cameraman starting to nod off now.

Proper boring half that. Presumably, Russell will tell us they're fatigued?

Reminded me of this offside goal

It was going in anyway but their player on the post in an offside position toed it in 😂

Edozie's finishing is awful.

Unfortunately, that boat has sailed. https://www.asmonaco.com/en/lamine-camara-is-monegasque/

I hadn't realised he was ill so this has come as a shock. Very sad news.

Just want to finish above 3 clubs. Not fussed who.

That enforced change of system got us over the line. Completely agree.

That would be more than decent with our squad.

Well, we'll have half of those things this time.

Spent most of the second half of the la liga season as a CF and banged in a few in that role.

I'm still hoping we go after Myrto Uzuni.

If he's still available against Newcastle, he must play because he's our best player.

We aren't half boring to watch when the opposition has us sussed.

We will if we continue faffing around at the back against the quality and athleticism we'll be facing. Especially if we don't sort out the goalkeeping position.

Only thing that might be gained from that half is opening Russells eyes to his goalkeeping blindspot.

McCarthy 😂

Could do with upping the tempo a bit. Zipped it about very well against Montpellier.

Sulemana going down without contact can't be good. Nobody will want to buy him if he's crocked.