Ultimately, it is the Coaches job to garner a win over the period of the game, people can have an opinion and criticise the starting team etc but if he gets the result he has done his job.
We arent Man City, we can't play a whole 90 minutes hammering every side. Struber's working with what hes got. So far he's worked miracles and I, for one, am amazed at his tactical nous. If we play predictable tactics as you suggest, Nudger, we'll get found out within 10 minutes.
Wow did we win a very good side or what ?. At the end of the day it's a matter of opinion. I'm just glad the coaches who pick our side are not on here. Oh by the way I'm glad that ***** full back Ben Williams had another good game. I see a good young un in him. Oh but its a matter of opinion. Maybe the crowd not shouting abuse is helping the young guns. But then again opinions. Onwards and upwards. Well done young Reds
Seems to be a lot of ‘what ifs’, ‘buts’ possibly a ‘maybe’. The facts actually say much more than speculation and scenarios. Both teams missed good chances first half and we went in at HT 0-0. The current rules on number of subs change tactics and managers thinking. Struber made changes we already had some 2nd half momentum and scored 2 goals after making tactical changes. We won with a clean sheet, scored 2 and showed good game management to lock down the win. Struber started with what he decided to be his best line up and finished with what he felt was his best line up, in the context of the game.
Whilst I would’ve also started Chaplin & Styles tonight it doesn’t mean we would’ve been in control all game like we were in the second half had they started. Some players are better suited to been subs, Thomas has looked far better off the bench than when he’s started as has Styles (although he’s only had a few starts to judge). Maybe Chaplin doesn’t have the same impact if he starts & doesn’t have a fitness advantage over the defender. And surely it’s too early to judge Palmer either way? You’ve never seen him come off the bench so how can you say he’s a good substitute?
Agree - except - if you start with a weaker side and the opposition scores - which very nearly happened against Blackburn - and because the confidence of the team is so fragile - then there is very little chance of coming back into the game.
Genuine question. Is the confidence fragile? We’ve kept more clean sheets in the last 8 Championship games than the previous 50. We look defensively more resolute. Some of that could be down to lack of sharpness of other teams but you can only capitalise on what’s in front of you. Some could be down to improvements on the training field and some on the lack of crowds effecting confidence. There are a myriad of reasons but whilst we’re winning, keeping clean sheets and playing some decent stuff at times there doesn’t appear to be a fragility in confidence.
Think fitness is the key thing so a shout out to the physios and sports scientists that helped the players through the lockdown period. I know Stoke fans for eg are saying their team seem unfit.
That confidence hasn’t been tested yet. Let’s see what happens if we go 1 nil or 2 nil down. IMO for player confidence reasons we cannot risk doing that with a team that has been anchored to the bottom of the league for months. Hence the reason we need our best eleven on the field from the start. The game against Blackburn should have been put to bed in the first 15 minutes of the 1st half. We needed our best players on the field to get the game over the line during that period. But we didn’t score during that period - and what happens when a team dominates but dosen’t score - it builds confidence in the opposition. And you could clearly see this happening as the 1st half moved on.
It worked out for Struber last night but not so much on Saturday when the subs didn`t change anything. Swings and rarndabarts.