I'll start by acknowledging that selection may have had a limited bearing on the result today - we were that far off the game that it probably didn't matter who played. Equally, you could say that Struber has got improved results playing his way, and with his selections. But I'm going to make the points anyway. I reckon Preston found us out today, and way, way too easily. We have very limited options, but we're also limiting ourselves with the inflexibility of the way the coach is setting us up and the selections he's making. I think the way Preston picked off our defensive mistakes today has been coming for a few weeks - their game plan was simply to wait for us to give them their opportunities. Which sure as anything, we did. I don't think Radlinger should have claimed back the no.1 spot from Collins, and I very much disliked his response to the Ponty End at half time. We brought in a new right back at the start of Jan, presumably because we identified right back as a key area to improve - quite rightly. The new right back didn't get in the side the first two games, and started tonight at left back. We brought in a new midfielder, presumably because we identified a need to add something extra in midfield. As a result, we've shunted out best midfield player out of his best position, seen him much less effective as a result, and seen virtually nothing from the replacement. Our best centre forward continues to play deeper and deeper by the week. I reckon he'd have been better served sitting out that 2nd half to get properly fit for the Charlton game, rather than patrolling the halfway line. If the best option from the bench is Schmidt, we may as well play with 10 men. Wilks, even Thiam - how could either of them have less of an impact than he has each week when he comes on? And how can anyone sit and watch the Radlinger to Anderson goal kick farce over and over, and think that's worth persevering with? Like I said, I'm not sure there's much anyone can do with this group of players to make us competitive in the Championship, but despite the improvements in results Struber got short term, there are a lot of questions to be asked about the way we're going about things right now.
Thiam, regardless of some of the opinions on here is, in my opinion, way better than the players keeping him out. I don’t like criticising individuals, and I can only assume that Schmidt shows something in training that justifies his continued appearances off the bench.
I agree, Thiam is better than Schmidt for sure. Don't understand playing Mowatt behind the front 2 or bringing Woodrow on, or playing Radlinger - thought the manager had a bad day all round, can't afford many more like that, but not sure he's going to pick the right players (albeit from a limited bunch tbf).
