Dusic

I don't think we used any so could get two. Was seemingly part of the plan to avoid reliance on them for key players - good idea and now can use them for more specific short term again.

Most of our other signings of decent cost (Azaz, Jander, Scienza, Fellows) have been at worst decent (Azaz) or at best outstanding (Scienza). No club gets all of them right and considering Downs supposedly has multiple Bundesliga clubs interested then he obviously has something - he has just never really got going at Saints.

Yeah certainly seems keen on the 3CBs, but IMO it wasnt really a factor today and actually helped us completely dominate the ball. Far bigger issue was that when we regularly worked the ball wide to the space we had no targets to hit in the box - more personnel than tactical

Will comfortably get top 6 IMO. Why is relying on your attacking talent having moments of brilliance a bad thing?! Its the whole point of having them. Besides, a lot of our goals under Eckert have been good team player rather than some kind of unsustainable worldy.

I waant bothered about keeping the 3 CBs because initially it helped us get total control as their only tactic was the physicality of Wright and then Simms and we dealt with that very well. They did absolutely nothing 2nf half which isn't always the case for teams down to 10. Then later on the set plays were one of our main threats and those guys most likely to score. Not convinced what we needed in latter stages was Fraser, Aribo or Robinson. We had enough of the ball but lacked a presence to cross to which they knew so were happy to defend narrow and leave the space out wide. Don't see that as some kind of big tactical error really.

Far too soon for that concern IMO. He said himself he couldn't really get a good loan move in the summer. If he suddenly becomes a key player then we will have a good chance to extend it again but he isn't getting games ahead of Downes, Charles, Jander or Romeu this season in my opinion so would benefit far more from a January loan (assuming we have players fit by end of Jan) as he still hasnt played much senior football at all.

Why? Its suits both parties perfectly seeing as he is unlikely to play a huge amount this season but gets a bit more security. A loan to L1 in Jan would be great for him, as long as he plays regularly.

Probably time for SR to get Rasmus more involved at Valenciennes after seeing how well Goztepe have done under his leadership.

He has probably struggled in the football goldfish bowl that is Newcastle. They bleed black and white up there and it can be suffocating if you aren't used to such a football mad city. Remember talking to @maggo who said some players would drive an hour outside the city on a day off just to breathe in less pressurised air. Ramsdale wouldn't be the first who just couldn't cope with the intensity of it, he may just suit a city that is less passionate about their club.

Amass' uncertain future - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cx2dpmggl61o Would be all over this.

I think there is probably an element with some that they were adamant that we needed this mysterious, hewhocannotbenamed experienced Championship manager which is just cliched bollocks and now they will pick holes in anything to show that they were a teeny, tiny bit right. #gamemanagement #wankerson

Starting GK and impact sub #10 option for me. If Jelert is seen as being made of glass then might as well return and replace him which would also free up Fellows to play as one of the #10s as needed.

Not good (M.Svensson) or bad (A. Jakobsson) but just most bang average? I will go for Mikael Nilsson. As the name suggests just a nothing player, despite 60+ Sweden caps.

Yes, he talks through it here: Very clear that he is intelligent, has received opportunities on merit and is well connected in football circles, particularly in Germany. Understandably becoming more confident in front of the camera too. His english is excellent - mentioned spending a year in the US.

Seen on Twitter there is a plan to sing "Super Philly Parsons" in the first minute tomorrow to celebrate his role in the Level1 development. Perhaps they heard the same?