Dusic

Agree on the white ball comments but in red ball it feels like some youngsters are mentioned about "stepping up" every season when a few have played 2 or 3 full seasons, or in some cases more now, without ever really doing so.

End of an era vibe for Hants with Dawson surely considering whether to go white ball only from now onwards since his England hopes are pretty much over? Feels like poor batting recruitment has caught up with the hierarchy and some new leaders need to emerge within the squad. A lot of lads who now have a decent amount of games under their belts, are they good enough to really step up and nail four day cricket - the likes of Prest, Middleton, Orr, Albert (who is hugely talented in the shorter form), Jack, Turner, Baker? Players like Wheal and Organ are mostly bit part and surely expendable? I guess they tried with Northeast and Gubbins (who has been mostly successful) but shame they havent really recruited any batters in the last few years who have nailed it, especially at the top of the order. Will also be interesting to see what profile of coach they get, someone who knows the domestic game or an ownership pick?

Looks like relegation very likely now. As mentioned above the biggest error was not replacing Vince properly and then compounding it by letting Abbas go to then strengthen the batting and ending up with Brett Hampton who neither batted nor bowled well.

The irony being that so far what Still needs to add is actually a little bit of Russball - more composure and patience on the ball to play forward in a much more considered and targeted way than we have seen so far.

Once we create more chances for them then our forwards will score more goals. Simple but accurate representation of the problem.

I think some of it is confused instruction. After the game Still clearly said, and Bazunu repeated it, that the plan for the first 10mins was to not take risk, to play it in behind their defence to stretch them and then after that try to find the pockets to play in. In reality we played hoofball whenever we did have it early on to the point that it was about 6 or 7 mins in before we actually strung a sequence of 5 or 6 passes together, and on the rare occassions we did it produced our best moves. There were multiple times the ball went to our CBs and instead of chesting down and playing they just punted it forward. Felt sorry for Archer as the service he got was non-existent. We know THB is good at breaking lines from CB, his passing numbers for that even last year were very strong and we also know Downes excelled playing a high risk playing out from the back style. They can do it. Yesterday they were told not to play for the first 10mins and it basically handed the momentum to Pompey, took the energy out of the crowd and we didn't recover. I get that we don't want to go back to RM style passing across the back for the sake of it, but equally any good side passes the ball well - whereas we seem to be hellbent on being direct without really having any control or purpose to it.

Clueless in attack, way too many aimless hoofs surrendering possession. Seems like we really lack attacking pattern of play and connection between players - which is to be expected to an extent. Not at all impressed with Roerslev, seems like a slightly more agile James Bree. Still needs to work out his best combination of attacking players fast.

Convinced it plays like shit, whatever it looks like. Ball always seems to get stuck under foot, loads of bobbly passes and just seems to play very slow. Certainly miles off where it was 10 years ago. Not saying its a reason for not winning today but don't think it helps us as a home side.

Still said Downs was coming back very late after Intls so not a huge suprise. Quarshie has also been away. With pretty much everyone fit some good players who would start for most teams in the league won't make the bench.

FFS could have done without him giving Ipswich a boost after being poor start but yeah he is done.

Of course we are favourites. We have better players and are playing at home.

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25454357.kieran-scott-explains-rav-van-den-berg-finn-azaz-middlesbrough-exits/ Interesting comments from Boro DoF that Azaz was aware their fans were a bit indifferent about him. Hopefully he gets off to a good start here.

Forecast looks awful during the game - high winds and heavy rain.

Top - deepest squad, good manager and have loan spaces for a push in January if needed.

I reckon some kind of disciplinary issue otherwise makes no sense. If you want more senior football then just go out on loan. There is surely more to it 8mths into a 3.5yr deal. But seems no real loss.

Spertsyan is clearly a very good player. Shame he will likely play his whole career in Russia but he doesn't seem too bothered. Whilst they play in a similar position I think he and Azaz are quite different profiles.

Pretty sure Edozie stays. It seemed he was going to either Bruges or Strasbourg but then both signed other players in his position and there hasnt been a strong link for ages for a move for him. Aribo hasn't been strongly linked with a particular club all summer really - potentially could move to one of those leagues but still think he is most ljkely to stay as well. Given the volume of games I am sure both will end up with some minutes and then it can be reviewed in Jan. Hardly disasterous as both decent at this level.

He is currently the definition of crapid but if he can develop slightly then his physical characteristics would make him interesting. Remember him causing us a lot of problems for QPR at St Marys last time in the Championship. Would be interesting to see how he does if that move happens.

Would have been better off picking Cardigan Connor than Tom Prest, who just seems like he can't buy a run.

Downes was pretty much the best player in his position last time in this league. I wouldn't be dropping him as soon as there is another viable option but rather hoping the presence of that option will see him up his game. In that position I am more interested to see whether we can get Shea Charles to extend his contract to avoid being forced into a sale next summer (regardless of whether we go up or not). He looks like he can be a very good box to box midfielder and seems durable as well.

My starting XI would be the first one you have listed. Fellows knows the Championship so fine to throw him straight in but I don't think Scienza is even training with us yet and Fraser certainly doesn't deserve to be left out and you know he will be defensively switched on too. Good to have a stronger bench and some good options there but no need to throw in every new player to start at this stage.

Don't really see the point in making comparisons like this, especially as Dibling played a season of PL football whilst Robinson has only made a handful of pro apps to date. He has done well at times this season but shouldn't be put under pressure. Dibling is a top talent who has the physical power alongside high level technique to be a really standout player at the top level. He had moment lsst yesr against top defenders that most players would not be capable of, probably Robinson included. Shame they couldn't have played together for us this year but that is what relegation does.

Will take issue with these points: KWP we were extremely fortunate to have last time in the Championship and have replaced him with Roerslev who has been promoted from the Championship and played lots of games in the PL. In Armstrong's position we have Azaz who has the most goals and assists in the Championship since the start of 2023/4 season plus Fellows who got 14 assists in the league last year. In Adams' position we have Archer who has regularly scored at this level when he played for Boro, plus another two strikers in Downs and Stewart so more depth than we had last time out. CB we have kept THB who has successive promotions from this league plus currently have Ronnie Edwards as 5th choice CB - he would start for many teams. I wouldnt say that most of those mentioned haven't performed at this level - they all have and some have been amongst the best in their position in the league! Then depth wise it is ludicrously strong as emphasised by Edwards being 5th CB. We will have players not even making the bench who would start in almost every other team. Aside from the points above, IMO overall we have a stronger squad than last time, certainly in attacking areas and some players like Charles are significantly better than 2 years ago.

Is that actually him? Only 600 odd followers and mostly used to have a pop at people?

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/transfers/wettbewerb/GB2 When you take a look at the overall ins and outs for the Championship it really highlights that our spending (and fees received) is, alongside Ipswich, a huge outlier when compared to the remaining teams. Many have only paid a fee for max of one or two players and some none at all. We can moan about not having an upgrade in goal or another striker but compared to the majority of squads we are ludicrously strong and certainly should have a massive chance to get automatic promotion.