I felt like a lot of the times Tomasson mentioned a project, he was doing so almost sarcastically especially when he was not backed. I certainly never got the impression that he was happy just existing to be a development club. Regarding Eustace, I know the arguments about coming in to do a job and not having his own squad/a squad deep enough to trust etc, but that didnt excuse repeatedly failing to win even one of a group of very winnable home games. Until that was rectified, you are never going to achieve anything, and it was a fundamental reason why we ended up closer to the relegation zone at the end of the season in a last day scrap compared to when Eustace came in. This seasons fixture list presented him with 3 very winnable home games. They have to be your bread and butter, and 2 promoted sides and a (to be generous) very average Bristol City gave him the perfect opportunity to change that narrative. To win all 3 very much does that and fair play to him for doing so.

Even if Brittain and Pickering are back, we should stick with the defensive set up who played yesterday. That includes Pears as much as I dont rate him. The attack is the area that needs tinkering to find a balance. Made my opinion on the Baker experiment clear, not one to be repeated. I think starting Cozier Duberry is a no brainer, we are dying for some pace especially away on the counter attack, and Cantwell doesnt look fit enough yet. Dolan justifies another start, and although Ohashi's all round game has weaknesses, you cant drop him after 2 brilliant goals so its just who starts in that 4th place. Pears Carter Batth Hyam Beck Travis Tronstad Cozier Duberry Dolan Weimann Ohashi Subs: Toth, JRC, McFadzean, Pickering, Baker, Buckley, Cantwell, Hedges, Gueye The bench is an area where people will have to miss out. Ive chosen Brittain as I would prefer JRC as RB cover and Sigurdsson with others better placed. So 2 changes but I dont think he will make any.

I know you like to parrot the cliches about the team being first, obviously that is the case. I dont see how it beneficial to the team to have a player in a role where he is ill suited and struggled to have an impact in, you will have to enlighten me on that. I know regarding all of those players and why they werent considered to start. My point is going forward, hopefully their availability to start games will mean that we wont repeat the Baker on the left idea. Its not just 3 poor performances in that position. I just dont think it suits JRC as a player to do that role, nor the team. My hope is that Cozier Duberry ends up being a regular there, a player who naturally plays from the right and who is the only player in our squad with any pace.

Sometimes ideas in practice dont work as well as they do in theory. Many thought £10m man Buckley would thrive playing deeper in midfield and thats where we would get the best out of him. Many also assumed that playing Trent Alexander Arnold in midfield would suit him more than right back. Again, not so. Even allowing for the fact that neither Baker nor JRC were expected to play as actual wingers. Both players struggle taking the ball in higher areas, neither are in any way dynamic and both are used and more suited to having more space in front of them.

Well yes, it is incredibly patronising to repeatedly (again here) tell someone that they simply dont understand. Especially when they have told you that they do understand and have acknowledged what the idea of the role is. To understand, it doesnt mean that you have to agree with it. My point is that I dont feel like either of these specific roles, especially the Baker one, suits the players in question. I know that Baker wasn't expected to play like Ryan Giggs in his pomp, beating his full back one on one on the outside. Me saying he didnt play well isnt based on a warped view that he wasnt doing things that perhaps a more traditional wide man would. I dont think specifically within the remit that he would have been given, that he had any real effect on the game. I dont think he is suited to playing initially (again, I know he wont be getting chalk on his boots) from the left, I dont think it suits him or the team. And I hope that it was a decision made purely because of availability issues, with Cozier Duberry deemed not ready to start, Weimann deemed not ready to start, Cantwell not ready to start (Dolan could play left) and Sigurdsson ill. I think we still need another left winger but even then, I would even prefer to see any of Dolan, Hedges, Weimann or even Sigurdsson start from that role, and most of them would come inside so that isnt my issue. I also know that Rankin Costello playing wide right isnt a choice made with an expectation of seeing a flying winger, I fully understand the plan to ask him to move inside and have say Brittain keeping the width. I understand, I have repeatedly outlined that plan and yet still apparently dont understand. But I dont AGREE with that plan even though I UNDERSTAND.

Again, you are also being patronising by suggesting that I am simply too thick to understand what the expected role in this case of JRC is. I am aware that when he has played wide right, he is not expected to run on the outside. The idea is for him to drift in and not hold the width. But even allowing for the specific remit of the role he is given, I think he has played poorly there doing that role and I dont think it suits him. I think he plays better with space in front of him which he has at right back, where he linked with the players in front of him. An example would be his goal at Millwall away last season where he ran forward, played a one two with Brittain and shot. Some players struggle when taking the ball in more advanced areas but thrive with space to move into, I know he isnt as athletic as Emerton was but he was the same. No, he hasnt played as a right back under Eustace. But he is at risk of being down the pecking order in all positions as he seems to be now, and its a shame to see a talented player in that position. Baker had a poor game and looked like someone who didnt look comfortable. Hopefully due to the availability issues we had out wide that you touch on, it will be an experiment that goes in the bin.

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.