I havent misunderstood anything, it is quite patronising to assume that I simply dont understand what he is being asked to do. I appreciate that he isnt expected to be an out and out wide player, to be honest the majority of our wingers come inside to varying degrees. But Baker at least started wide left, obviously he isnt going to stay out wide taking the full back on, thats not what I am expecting. But either way, I thought he was poor and ineffective in the role he was asked to play. He struggled to get involved and I dont think the role he was asked to play suited him. I would hope that with other players we have, that it wont be an experiment that will be repeated. To be honest, he struggled beyond issues through his position, set pieces is usually a strength of his but they were poor yesterday.

I think its unfair to make out as many have that JRC was only so good at right back doing that very specific role, and that he couldnt play any other variation as he is so one dimensional. He is a better one on one defender than Brittain who is really poor at stopping crosses etc. He also can get forward down the wing, he didnt only do good work in central areas. Hes not a similar player necessarily but he seems to be stronger like Emerton was with room to run into rather than getting the ball high up. Ive never been convinced by him in a more central midfield role either. I remember him mentioning when he first played the role that he would need to adjust off the ball and I never felt that he did. Its not "slagging" Baker off to suggest that he isnt suited out wide and I thought he was poor yesterday. He looked like what he was, a player playing in an unfamiliar position and even the basics outside of that (set pieces, passing) were not good. Hopefully it was not something that will be repeated as we have a number of more suitable wide players either who missed out or were not considered for starts.

No but he wasnt in the position that he has proven himself to be a top Championship performer.

Im not sure, he had missed a bit of training before the Derby game but that was 5 weeks ago. He started the following 2 league games and the cup game v Blackpool and hasnt played a minute for 2 and a half weeks since. I dont see in which position he will play in. Out wide, after struggling there, he has since seen others move ahead in the pecking order. Cozier Duberry has come in, Weimann seems ahead of him (wasnt fully fit to start today but still came on), Sigurdsson scored v Oxford so may be ahead of him, Hedges has moved back to the right and even Baker for some reason is considered out wide before him. He only played in central midfield once this season, in the cup when we rested Travis/Tronstad who are automatic picks and we also have Buckley and Baker there. And he isnt being considered it seems at right back which has been by far his most effective position at senior level.

It seems that the performances of Baker and Carter have caused the biggest split. Baker was by far our poorest performer and I really hope that Eustace doesnt see him as a wide man going forward. You could tell he wasnt comfortable there and he also played there v Burnley in totally different circumstances, but he doesnt have the attributes to play there. That being said, even his set pieces and general use of the ball was poor which cant be put down to his position. Carter I thought was very good however, even going forward and Batth slotted in very nicely too. With Cantwell doing that failed rabona, I am wary of the fact that the game is becoming more sanitised and a lot of individuality is being taken away, especially in this data driven modern game which is to the detriment of entertainment in a lot of ways. But I did feel like it was totally unnecessary and he wasted a good opportunity. It would be interesting to know how Rankin Costello is feeling at the moment. After lots of talk about him V Duru recently for RB cover, it was a surprise to see neither start. He hasnt suited or played well out wide but it feels like he has really dropped down the pecking order when even though Cozier Duberry wasnt considered to start, Weimann wasnt deemed fit enough to start and Sigurdsson was ill, Eustace opted for Baker there and he didnt get on. I cant help but feel like he is a talented player that we may not utilise with him becoming a utility man to his own detriment.

He wont drop Ohashi after 2 goals.

Fantastic result and the continuation of a brilliant start. The key today was the defence and it is satisfying to get a clean sheet. Beck was unfortunate not to get man of the match as going both ways he was absolutely outstanding. Carter did very well adapting as a right back and Batth slotted in very well alongside Hyam who both did well. Fair play to Pears too who didnt have that much to do but provided a great save at a crucial moment, got some deserved luck after the ball was then blocked, and also did well to smother Armstrong later on. One swallow doesnt make a summer but he deserves credit for his performance today and also earnt a clean sheet. Tronstad and Travis are a really good pairing in midfield too. Ohashi is obviously the star of the show, his overall game is quite poor in that hes slow, the ball often bounces off him and he gave the ball away a few times. But in front of goal all of his goals have been brilliant, both of his finishes were outstanding and considering the nominal fee, what a find to unearth someone who possesses such a goal threat. The overall balance of the attack was not right and that is a concern that can hopefully be remedied by a change in personnel. Baker on the left wing was very (understandably) poor playing a role he isnt used to. Dolan and Hedges both frustrated and are probably no more than squad players. I can understand not starting Cantwell who doesnt look close to being fit (and did a stupid rabona that ruined an attack) and Cozier Duberry was only on briefly (but looked very sharp) but I hope that those 2 can really transform the balance of the side. In regards to Eustace, there was a genuine and valid concern in regards to his inability to win a home game last season as we came into this season. We have had 3 favourable home games in which we were favourites to win, to win all 3 is really impressive and he deserves plenty of credit for that.

As time goes on obviously last season will become less and less relevant to any judgement. If I wrote off last season entirely, I would be judging Eustace off 4 games and thinking that he is incredible. Once we are 20 or 30 games into the season, at that point I would obviously be judging on this season seeing as the league table would have taken shape. As it stands, he has still to prove himself either way, but the first 4 games gives me some emerging hope and optimism.

I think the standard of the league is poorer this season. We clearly cant expect to make the play offs or anything like that, but I think we should be in that middle group of teams who should be aiming up towards perhaps that top half, in which case I would at least think its reasonable to have an eye on sneaking into the top 6, although 6th certainly isnt the minimum expectation. So top half perhaps, or at the very least mid table miles away from relegation concerns.

You are so keen to go down your regular route of casting people as negative, which isnt a constructive argument. Your analysis beyond your desire to call me negative is pretty similar to what I said. People seem to have interpreted what I said as me criticising the manager or suggesting that I am not a fan. My stance is that its still quite early and thus of course there are still doubts either way, but then I acknowledged that a good start to the season which gives hope that he can go on to do really well. Last season his points tally wasnt great, he failed to win a number of winnable home games and he will need to improve on winning 5 in 20. And I think he likely will. The stuff on interviews I take with a huge pinch of salt. Its about results, players are not going to slag off the current manager. Gueye I like the look of, but again he has to prove that he can score a decent amount of league goals.

Ok. Not really relevant, and Gueye has scored 0 goals and has 1 red card in his 4 league games for all the promise. He might have good man management, my point was that we need to see an upturn in results compared to his first 20 games. The final 4 of those 20 hopefully will be indicative of what is to come.

I dont know exactly where we should be finishing. With the 5 losses, I would also argue that 5 wins in 20 is not great and that 25 points from 20 is very average. But there are enough signs from the limited sample of 4 games that hopefully he can improve on that. The point that he has still to fully prove himself was not necessarily a criticism. Just a point that he as manager is one of a number or variables that at this stage we cant be sure which way it will go.

My point is merely that he is yet to prove either way. His record overall of 5 wins, 10 draws, 5 losses (that stat may not be accurate so worth double checking) does not at this stage prove without any doubt that he definitely IS the man for the job. But as I said, so far so good this season. If he carries on, then he potentially will prove that.

How you have got that conclusion from me saying that I still dont know for sure whether he is up to the task of taking us forward, but the signs this season have been positive, is beyond me.

Youve typically taken my points out of context and manipulated conclusions based on things I havent said. Ive acknowledged the good start of 4 games. Last season obviously the primary and minimum objective was survival which we just about achieved. We ended closer to the drop zone than when he came in, it was hardly the miracle he portrayed and there were concerning aspects last season. There is enough emerging evidence to suggest that Eustace is capable, but not enough evidence yet factoring in his overall record to be totally sure either way.

Perhaps, but it doesnt alter the opinion I hold that he has still to prove his competence in terms of how I mentioned. His record thus far overall is unremarkable. Thats not a dig and from a very small start of only 4 games, there are clear positive signs. But I am not wholly sure either way so far.

Football is obviously very much a squad game these days and as I said, the squad is stronger now. But the discussion started with discussions on how the starting 11 AND the squad are potentially stronger, and at the moment, I wouldnt necessarily agree with the former. Its not as if a strongest 11 is totally wrong, if everyone was match fit and we had a cup final tomorrow, I suspect there would be a side that Eustace would know almost 1 to 11 that he would pick. Id guess at something like Pears / Brittain Carter Hyam Pickering / Travis Tronstad / Hedges Cantwell Dolan / Gueye. That could change and it could develop into a situation where our best 11 is stronger too. Mainly in goal where I think Pears will unfortunately be number 1 for the forseeable, but if Toth became number 1 and was a big improvement, and/or if say Cozier-Duberry hits the ground running and becomes a regular, then maybe our first could also become stronger.

I was just wondering if Carsley called up a number of that under 21 squad in an attempt to get players he already knows as he looks to settle into the role. Im not convinced that the likes of Gibbs White and Madueke have that much chance of being in the World Cup squad. England are at a point now where much of the team is settled and off the back of a period of playing together and many at the highest level. It needs trimming, players (Maguire, Walker and one or two others) and I feel like we are limiting ourselves if we rule out foreigners. Spain needed more of a revamp and I am guessing that winning the Euros was not necessarily expected. A Guardiola is the dream but even someone like Tuchel with a track record in top level knockout football.

Which is why I said that it is important that our overall squad has been made deeper in the window. But specific to the first 11, I am not sure if it has necessarily been improved, unless some of the signings who may not initially be in the first 11 break into it. Toth is a big one, Cozier-Duberry and Beck are also potential candidates. Cantwell has had a reputation as a player who can cause problems. Hence why we got an undoubtedly talented player for so cheap. If we can get him settled then he could be a very good signing. Im not sure that Gueye can or will get 10-12 goals. No doubting other parts of his game are strong but his finishing and technical ability from a very small sample size seem (in line with comments from an expert of the Belgian League) is quite poor. Not that he isnt an asset in other ways. So yes, as it stands. I see a stronger squad, not necessarily the first 11 but that hopefully will change especially if Toth gets into the team and solves a problem position.

I agree on the squad, which I acknowledged the importance of. But in terms of the starting 11, I have assumed for the time being that Gueye and Cantwell are the only 2 likely to be at least initially in our best 11. I think the key to changing that is if any of the others break into the side which they may well and hopefully will do. Toth is the key one, if he does become our number 1 and surely improves that position then the discussion potentially changes. Cozier-Duberry is totally untested but again with his pace if he can settle as a regular at this level then again, thats a game changer. Beck impressed on debut but I dont think it is "clear" that he is an upgrade on Pickering just yet, I personally rate Pickering and he himself started this season well, but even if Pickering is first choice we look good in that position. Baker, Batth and Weimann will likely be squad players and ones with experience, so undoubtedly a big help. I am not downplaying the Cantwell signing, he is an exciting signing and if we can get him focused then he undoubtedly has loads of ability. I also think Gueye is going to be an obvious upgrade on Gallagher even if I am unsure of how many goals he is capable of scoring. But its impossible to ignore how big a hole Szmodics will leave, he is irreplacable as no way could we sign a player in his position to score 27 league goals. Cantwell and Gueye may prove to be an exciting duo but they wont get 30 league goals between them.

The common support for him will be comparisons to Spain appointing their under 21 manager but to me that is a lazy one. If that was the reasoning, then just copying that as if the individuals and situation are the same. I found it a bit strange that Carsley called up a big chunk of his former under 21 squad, giving debuts to the likes of Gomes, Gibbs White and Madueke, giving 2 games to Colwill in from the cold and starting Gordon twice. Had there not been those links, then it may have been seen as thinking outside the box, but I wonder if there was an element of getting people he knows in to help him get his feet under the table. Unfortunately, English coaches are sub par compared to other countries for whatever reason. It seems archaic to not feel able to look further afield.

I suppose it is only important to an extent how strong the first 11 are in that over the course of a season, you will make so many changes both in games and from game to game. We definitely appear to have more options and more experience. There are obviously a lot of question marks. With Eustace, he still has some proving to show that he can push us on IMO. His record im sure I read was 5 wins, 10 draws and 5 losses so its not great, but results this season have shown improvement. Reaction to the window has been very positive, I think it is certainly better than we expected but perhaps thats partly down to low expectations. We also dont truly know how good some of them are, we assume as understandably we will that they will all live up to expectations. The 2 strikers have captured the imagination but how many goals will they get between them to help make up the Szmodics hole? Is Toth going to play and be good as otherwise we are already accepting with Pears that he is going to cost us points? And can Cantwell and Cozier-Duberry give us an upgrade on Dolan and in particular Hedges who have proven not really to be more than solid squad options. With the others, I think they should help to provide some further depth, having a bench filled with players like Telalovic, Garrett, Markanday etc last season caused a real unhealthy dependance on the first 11. Its obviously not as straightforward as looking on paper as you touch on. Travis for example had fallen well out of favour under Tomasson, now with the foil of Tronstad he looks like a real asset. On the flip side, JRC has gone from being a brilliant Championship right back to an out of form utility man who Eustace cannot really justify a place for anymore.

Of course it is, and always was. The lazy, easy option of an FA man trying to be justified by 2 drab glorified friendlies wins v crap sides.

Im not actually sure we have improved our starting 11 this summer in that I only would say/guess at this point that Cantwell and Gueye are probably going to be first 11 players in the near future. The rest will mainly be the usual suspects, a lot of average to decent Championship players, and those 2 would technically be replacing Szmodics and Gallagher. And even though Cantwell is as good as we could expect in that position and Gueye seems an upgrade on Gallagher, simply because of Szmodics being so good and scoring so many, they wont match the 30 goals those 2 had "between" them. Travis being back is key but we did have Wharton until the end of January. The 3 most important signings are perhaps the foreign ones, we need Gueye and Ohashi to score plenty to somewhat offset the Szmodics loss. Amidst the excitement of signing 2 foreign strikers who already are becoming cult heroes, and there are clear positive signs with both, they both do have question marks in certain areas and its hard to tell especially with Gueye how many goals we will get. Toth is the crucial one, if hes no good and/or just a back up, one of our big 2 issues (on the field) last season was in net, both keepers were shocking and cost us so many points. If Toth comes in and proves to be up to the job however, then different story. The second big issue from last season was the lack of depth, no side in the league was as thin as ours. The first 11 (well outfield 10) was competitive but it was beyond that when the problems started. Experienced squad players like Baker, Batth and Weimann might start less than half of the games but they reduce the strain on the first 11. Hopefully the loans such as Cozier-Duberry and Beck can also ensure that the overall squad is much deeper and more well rounded. That will be important because using your subs is so important when you get 5 and we rarely did last year because there was no real options. But moreso as the games go by, injuries and suspensions crop up and we are not having to regularly use players like Garrett, Markanday and Telalovic.

It was standard fare for a game like this. Nothing riding on it, flat atmosphere, very slow football and England just having far more individual quality than a very poor Finland side. Didnt see anything noticeably different to home games under Southgate. Not that I expect such a sudden difference, but that is what you tend to get in these games. Thank god the internationals are over.