Hopper

Pretty much, same design. Away shorts are Navy with Yellow. Pretty sure its a UEFA/EPL rule that prohibits striped backs. Has been since 2015 ish I think.

I think the badge is stitched by the looks. Just small thread.

CALLED IT!

Chances of a kit and Downes reveal combo? Lad comes strolling out in the new home kit 💥

Not to mention he'll be ready for some real agressive, front footed football... God willing.

Too soon to put the armband on him? 🤔😂

Yeah exactly that. A habit of being in the right place at the right time. I've not heard of him before but like what I see in this lad from the Strikers who would you get ? thread

For me Broja was a great fit for Ralphball until he lost interest but I'm not convinced he's got the attributes that we would want to fit into Russ' side. Ideally we need someone with a great sense of positioning who is able to play in tight spaces and recieve the ball to feet... not a big ask then 😅 I hate myself for saying it but someone in the mold of an Ings 💀 (I don't want to see Ings back)

Interesting read. Sugawara definitely looks like a more well rounded player. KWP's pass completion rate is absolutely immense. I wonder how Russ ball would shape these figures moving forward. You've got to assume that the tighter play style would mean an improvement in pass completion for Sugawara at the expense of his crossing and long passing game. (Altough looking at those stats I wouldn't mind him pinging the occasional long diagonal to break up our predictablility!)

Watched a couple of Interviews with Sugawara and he speaks very good English which bodes well for him settling quickly. I think that was a big barrier for Charly (Maybe still is)

My dyslexia kicked in reading the link and for a second I thought we were back in for Matt Targett 😅

Great hair though.

Need to invert the red and white for me. Feels far more Saints.

Smallbone has been so static. Isn’t getting into positions to be the out ball.

Charles for Rothwell and Mara for Brooks. Charles is playing in slo mo right now.

On balance a good half and JUST about deserve to be ahead. Need to get the second to make the game ours. Bench might be needed to add some quality when legs start to tire. Charles in particular started to look a half step slower at the end of that half.

Manning has been beyond poor and maybe he feels Jack will give better defensive cover. The rest of the team is pretty solid and kind of picks itself with Donwnes out and Brooks banged up.

Feels like the type of match that might call for Stephen’s’ shithousery at some point... Hopefully he doesn’t get too adventurous and everything wide from us comes through KWP and Arma.

There's some real intent with that team selection. Hope the midfield has the right balance!

Seems like a lot of people forget just how poor the team and the football was last season. We're not going to walk the league, we've come off the back of season after season of getting beaten into the ground. We had an abysmall squad completely bereft of confidence who had no style of play and no personallity. No mistakes about it, the size of the job in front of RM coming in was massive. We're not playing electric football but we're a mile away from how we finished up last season. The reaction to Baz's save and goal show just how much work has been done to get this group playing for each other. We are scoring late goals, which is obviously not ideal... but the team are battling until the death and that's more than I can remember in maybe the last 4-5 years. It's wasn't a great performance. Holgate was abysmall again and should be nowhere near the first team. Stephens can't come back soon enough! But we scrapped and took a difficult point away from home against a team in 4th.. Just for a bit of perspective.

Captain Arma... I don't hate it. 😅

The club has navigated a difficult window superbly. Exceeded my expectations and now I'm looking forward to some football.

I think the strategy is basically that a committed team is stronger than a talented individual. For that reason I've got no issues with ABK or anyone else leaving that doesn't want to play for us. Looking at where we're at right now I'd say we need a Striker in if Che and Tall Paul are gone. Stewart, Arma, Seku and another would be plenty of competition there. Wings provided we can get Roberts I think is more than covered even if Kamaldeen goes. Midfield is probably the strongest part of the team right now, no need for anything new there. O'Riley would be a bit of a Luxury signing. Fullbacks are fine provided KWP stays and as mentioned above I think CB is fine even with ABK on his way. You could argue a backup keeper would be great to replace McCarthy but seems he's going nowhere with his wages. I think we look stronger as a unit all told and I'm really excited by a few of the guys we've brought in. A fit Ross Stewart is a hell of a signing.

The sheer volume of player movement in both directions is the most I can remember in a very long time. Feels like the dawning of a new era tbh. Bring it on.

Russ gave a very wry smile at the presser when asked about captain for Saturday. What are the odds it's Che and he's renewing? Felt there was a bit more to his answer than he let on there.