Noah Eile is one of the most intriguing and enticing Centre Back profiles I have ever seen. He is a contradiction of all of the usual stereotypes around Scandinavian Centre Backs who stand at 6"5'. He is the antithesis of Nathan Baker. A Rolls Royce of a player who exudes elegance and class in his play. 

The first thing to notice about Noah is that despite his monstrous stature, he is not your atypical "first contact" defender. He's very capable of using his height and body to deal with long balls, but his natural instincts are to cover and be patient to time an interception rather than run through people to get his head on the ball. Joining a Centre Back class of McNally, Dickie & Atkinson, this is probably a good thing. We have plenty of first contact defenders and the loss of our only natural covering defender (Zak Vyner) has left an opening that Noah Eile would fill. 

Eile is comfortable in both a back 4 and a back 3. Having played both formations over the last two seasons in MLS. The 3-box system was a big part of NYRB's run to the MLS Cup Final in 2024 and is a major aspect of the RB/Gerhard Struber identity. 

In terms of his defending, Eile uses his anticipation to cut off through balls rather than initiating duels on a regular basis. Whilst he doesn't utilise his height in aerial duels often, he does use his "length" on the floor, sweeping into action to cut the ball out with sliding interceptions. 

Eile likes to stay on his feet when engaging in a defensive duel. He is a patient defender who will use his body to control opposition players when the ball is "loose". He is especually patient when being approached by a dribbler, using his body positioning to allow him to steal the ball off the toes of defenders and take control of the ball immediately. This approach is also evident when he goes to ground, looking to hook around the ball and keep it rather than a bludgeoning tackle like City fans have expected to see from the likes of McNally, Atkinson and the aforementioned Nathan Baker. 

It is on the ball that Eile really shines. He likes to bait the press before dropping his shoulder and beating a man to create the space for a progressive pass or carry. His carries are exceptional, using his long strides to cover ground without ever looking like he's sprinting. But with that comes a deftness of touch and an agility that wouldn't be out of place in a winger. 

When passing, Eile is more of a "High, hanging switch" type than a line breaker like Zak, however his passing technique is lovely. He hits a spinning ball as well as a flatter "ping".  He is also keen to follow his passes (when playing shorter, vertical passes into midfield), looking to add numbers to the attack with third-man runs or offering support as a roaming pivot.

His first thought on winning or receiving the ball is to look forward, either by getting the ball out of his feet to hit a long pass or to drive forward into the midfield to create a central overload. This is a perfect fit to Struber's tactical philosophy. 

What really stands out is his composure and technique in tight spaces and under pressure. He actively baits the press but also likes to perform take-ons when travelling with the ball. With that comes risk of course, but his awareness of his surroundings is very good. 

He is comfortable with both feet too, which is a massive help when he looks to release players further forward. 

The main concerns are that the MLS is a fairly passive league, Eile's tendency to bait the press is probably made easier by that passiveness and in the Championship it's likely that it won't just be one guy closing him down but several. Eile's pace seems good when up to full speed (Like McNally) but there's a question mark over his acceleration and ability to cover the first couple of yards which is often where games in this division are won and lost. That said, his anticipation and body position is usually pretty good. 

Eile looks to be the sort of player who could be a real difference maker, especially in possession. That was always going to be important in light of losing Zak. I think he might take time to adjust to the Championship should we complete the signing, However I am quite excited by this one. If it comes off he could be a really quality addition. Just expect to hear the Dolman groan when he starts baiting presses and taking players on in his own half (Kal Naismith style!).