Is our game plan sustainable

[WTF11]

Best comparison might be with Heckingbottom as he largely took that squad and turned it from non hopers to playoffs with only a few additions and converting players many didn’t rate into amongst the best in the league.

Not sure what you were expecting Oz but I think we have done okay so far and have been in the top 4.

Would much prefer us to give it a go and sometimes get thumped than play park the bus and hoof ball.

Rodrigo being back with Llorente maybe fit and an outside chance for Phillips will add a lot to the team.

Will also mean Dallas can stick to LB.

Will be interesting to see who plays from the start out of Costa, Rapha, Harrison and Poveda.

Think Pablo can still contribute but probably more in the games where the other teams defend. Few games this season where in open games he has struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.

He came out and publicly apologised for his reaction to being subbed so suspect he will be back in the fold.

Wonder if Gelhardt will get a chance from the bench soon.

Heckingbottom took us to playoffs? Err, when, in the four months he was with the club, and with us finishing in 13th?

As to what is/was expected, I suppose that depends on where you want us to b come seasons end. It's all very well playing "the beautiful game" but "sometimes getting thumped" can easily turn into a fight for survival. Teams get into a rut and even Bielsa might not be able to get us out.

Sometimes grinding out results (like Spurs did against Baggies, (very uninspiring game), or Leicester v Wolves (how they both beat us on the basis of that game I don't know), is necessary, and sometimes changing tactics is necessary. Trouble with Bielsa is he doesn't change, does he? Fine for continuity, stability of squad and team relationships when things are going well, but not when things go awry and "parking the bus" is required. Given our fitness levels, (which are off the scale compared to most), just what is wrong with adopting the counter-punch strategy, rather than always being on the front foot?

Lots of comments about how things will be better when we get Phillips back and Llorente is fit. Neither played in the shellacking we gave Villa, nor the shafting we got (twice) since, so why should their return be so significant? Individual players are important, true, but it's a team game, and the tactics the team employs will always be more significant than any single player (or couple of players) who are in any particular line-up.

And it appears that Llorente is flagged as "long term injured" at present.

https://motleedsnews.com/comment/mot...-injured-list/

As for Gelhardt, I hope he doesn't have to wait until injuries force Bielsas hand, (or until we feature in the FA cup!). Deserves an opportunity, as much as Meslier did (and still does).