Before his loan move to Ipswich, if I remember rightly, there were rumours that he fell out with the manager. I have no idea what went on but in the end Travis didn’t make the cut at Ipswich and all was forgiven, it seems, when he came back.

I think he would be delighted by the move. A four-year contract for someone who has struggled with injuries is a coup. Unless he surprises us, he'll have one more contract in him after that before he has to pack it in.

Notable absences today, Matty Litherland (RB/CB), Duru (RB) (but believe he may be recovering from injury) and James Edmondson (our best U21 central midfield option?). Instead Mullarkey-Matthews gets a game having been out for most of last season. A forward is probably needed, as I don't think Tyjon is ready (he wasn't prolific for the U21s last season. albeit in a poor team) and Leonard is injury-prone.

Joe Rankin-Costello still only 25 but injury-hindered, over the years, leaves for Charlton. My overriding thought is where is the next JRC coming through the ranks? In his early days, he was a real prospect and contributed 100+appearances having some decent runs in the team. He came through with likes of Travis and Buckley, so an end of a cycle may be arriving. He had some tremendous moments, as well as falling away badly. One game sticking in the mind was the Newcastle tie in a cup when he played in a back three, if I remember rightly, and looked impressive on the ball, albeit, his lack of pace wasn’t tested.

I think this is part of the bigger issue that has been described here as a managed or intentional decline. Letting so many players of value go for free is hurting the club. Dolan would've been an ideal candidate for a sale, assuming someone was interested a year or so ago. Not integral but catches the eye in highlights.

Not sure about Rothwell. It took him so long to find his feet at Rovers. Not sure how he's done since but he strikes me as someone who requires a lot of patience and I don't know if Rangers will give him that time. His best form, ironically, as a fairly deep central midfielder, in a pivot. His passing was as impressive as his ball running.

A rather irrelevant point given the tragedy, but the modern game means players lack something of their game identity. Will we remember Diogo as a great winger or striker or an amalgam?

Keep them at the club or send out on meaningful, season or half-season loans. Instead, I expect, unless there is a change in policy, the monthly/weekly revolving doors to non-league, injury and unexplained disappearance will continue.

Coming up through the ranks behind them are Stritch, Doherty and Mafoumbi - wingers who could barely muster 5 goals in the U21's season. They're young and may well improve but the standard is really looking weak. The new crop from U18s will come in too but, to my mind, the club had/have to invest in recruits specifically at U21 level to improve the standard. That said, Doherty and Mafoumbi were recruits, along with goalie, Barrett, last season.

Would be interested to know if there is any statistical correlation between young players going on short loans to non-league and getting injured. Hard to say without data (maybe even with), but I would imagine that a young player unaccustomed to the physicality of that level, who's dropped in suddenly, might well be more likely get injured. Throw in poorer pitches and training methods as well. That said, the likes of Gilsenan, Alex Baker, midfielder whose name evades me who was out for 2 years et al, were getting seriously injured regularly without going away on loan. It seems, from an outside perspective, like a problem for the U21s.

I appreciate that players were missing, like Delap, but only 4 of the starting England U21 side were from a top 5 side. Of those four, Quansah and Harvey Elliott might be dropping down a bit soon (albeit both possibly still at Champions League level). A sign that these young English players are finding it hard to make the grade at the very top of the Premier League? Though, perhaps, that is part of their strength, with more humility and desire to work together.

A last chance in the attacking role in a midfield three? Not sure he has the consistency to play deeper but with a freer role, I just wonder if would improve. I am sceptical, of course. Ideally, he'd be replaced but when the rest of the squad looks so poor and incomings underwhelming, I just wonder if keeping him might be preferable.

Southgate was a good ambassador for the England team and, I feel, a focal point for some sort of unity. However, (without triggering the debate now as tiresome as any) it cannot be forgotten that Southgate presided over a time when the Premier League football style shifted towards the continental, especially, I think, due to Pep Guardiola's influence - and, no doubt, due to many an unrecognised work of grassroots coaches. This made competing internationally more possible than the days of Stevie Kick-A-Ball-40-Yards and 4-4-fucking-2. Though, arguably, for England to take the final step, they need to reconnect with their traditional strengths, alongside the new found ability to keep possession.

We effectively have a Super League without relegation as the promoted teams are increasingly likely to go straight down. This will be even more likely if players get picked off like Jobe Bellingham and James Trafford, before a ball is kicked.

If they're kept on as back-up, that's one thing. Wood has been fairly prolific when fit. However, this season showed that the standard needs to be drastically improved at U21s level. The level sunk so low that the team were struggling to beat non-league second strings. To my mind, the club needs to recruit externally, to support and challenge players like Tyjon and Boggan (maybe Joseph) who are the next hopes.