This feels like it's from a different season

I looked up the match report from the Reading fixture last night, to check whether or not it was Helik's debut game in which he was sent off (NB: it wasn't, he'd played in the League Cup game before this).

I was surprised at how different the line-up was that day, compared to the team that we'll put out against them in our next match. The scale of changes since then makes this look more like a team from last season, than this.

The result wasn't helped by Helik and Andersen both being red-carded that day, but if anything summarises how much the squad has improved this season, it's the fact that seeing this line-up now sent a shudder down my spine (to be fair, seeing Ritzmaier's name in the starting line-up was enough for that).

That's not meant with any disrespect to those who are now mainly backups in the squad, who were in the starting line-up on the day.

Walton, Ludewig, Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen, J.Williams, Mowatt, Ritzmaier, Thomas (Styles), Chaplin (Halme), Frieser (Schmidt).

Unused: Collins, Miller, Adeboyejo, Woodrow.

 

Barring Ritzcracker. It's like that Morecambe and Wise sketch. We were playing all the right notes but not in the right order. I'd say based on your post alone it's a godsend New York came in for Struber.

 

Up until the sending off, we were on complete control in that game

 

Aye it was silly season

 

I agree with that. The result was completely influenced by the sendings off, and I thought Helik's was harsh. 11 v 11 we would have got something from that game.
It has been pointed out on here that the ref at that game was the same ref we had at home to the pigs.

 

I thought both were a little harsh. Helik was sent off for preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity, despite Walton getting to the ball ahead of Joao, 45 yards from goal. Andersen's hand ball was accidental at best, and the player he prevented from receiving the pass from, was offside.

 

Agree but we weren't good enough on either occasion to press home our dominance. I don't think we were poor against Wednesday we just didn't go that extra yard. I also don't think the ref made a difference like he did in the Reading game. About dominance we were well on top before the card but that profigilence and panicking in front of goal has cost up until the arrival of Dike and Morris.

 

Just look at that "forward line".
Hardly anyone over 5 foot nowt and 10 stones wringing wet.
I think we have the better end of the stick now.

 

Woodrow on the bench????????