joey_big_nose

I think the key was playing the two technical players as the centre mids, total game changer as they could find the right forward passes which has been our big problem. I imagine we'll play the same way on Saturday. Why change it? Especially when Swansea are exactly the sort of team who will try and get on the front foot.

Really impressed with everything about how Eustace approached the cup game today. Made some innovative decisions like starting Buckley and Moran together in a two which worked very well, made us very organised and compact, and had the team well motivated. If he carries that into the Championship games I think we might have made a very good choice as manager.

Well absolutely amazing effort - think how well we were setup and motivated is a very very good sign about Eustace. Want to see exactly the same on Saturday against Swansea.

Think I might be more excited about Eustace than JDT

Are Koumetio and Chrisene both playing left wing back?

He had an awful first 5 mins but I think hes done pretty well since then.

Do we gave more subs?

Koumetio seems to have found his legs, no longer absolutely abject.

Tell you what, Pears has been first rate. Never thought Id say that.

How many more subs do we have?

Markanday might look like hes from the number 9s but he cant half strike a ball.

Yeah Moran and Buckley have been great - want them fresh for Swansea.

Markanday does look like hes snuck on from the under 9s

Fucking hell Sigurdsson is just jogging about while everyone is pressing

Sigurdsson on. Please please please put the effort in.

Think hes done really well, hes looked after the ball well and found some good through balls. I can see if we had Garrett in there we just wouldn't be able to break so well. Buckley however has looked different gravy. Looks top notch, sure a few Newcastle fans will be saying "whose this guy"?

Yeah its mad isnt it, but take him out of the side and we have a big problem defensively. And all our other strikers are just as bad offensively so we might as well stick with him.

Without the ball hes been excellent...

Moran and Buckley has worked really well. Humble pie for me and a few others...

Have to say been very impressed tactically by Eustace. Were so compact but breaking with some really slick football. Nothing at all like the hoofball nonsense thats been peddled around.

Well if nothing it is bold...

Crikey is it really Moran and Buckley as a midfield two? I mean that is asking for serious trouble...

I dont think its an english thing per se - fans dont integrate in football generally globally (Italy, Spain, Argentina, Germany etc). Rugby, cricket etc all integrate fine in the UK and abroad. Why that is? Not really sure... I would guess combination of being very popular and teams tending to be geographically very close to each other meaning very easy for huge numbers of away fans. In US sports teams tend to be located very far away from each other. Rovers have 12 professional clubs within an hours drive...

Yeah - also from a morale perspective if the best players are not allowed to play in the most anticipated game of the season I can see that being a big problem. Resting one or two knackered players we can get away with, but wholesale dropping the first team and playing kids in a game all the senior pros will be chomping at the bit to play is asking for disillusionment. I think we will probably play close to our best side.

Hes been absolutely useless under JDT as well. I have seen absolutely nothing from him outside the box, he cant beat a man, his passing and link up is poor, he cannot physically compete at all. Only thing hes done well is find a bit of room and ability to finish in the box. Id stop playing him as a wing back or wide forward as he offers less than nothing, and try instead subbing him on through the middle in a two up front as we need him to get in the box. He will get bullied but might be able to drift about and find something to work with.