Robins does have a bit of a habit of freezing players out. He froze out Bidwell for the first 15 games for no reason, he came back in and has been virtually every present since. He's done it with other player in previous seasons too.
He seems to shoehorn Lati in any position possible to play him.
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He didn’t freeze out Bidwell but it was apparent that he was 2nd choice - that isn’t the same thing. Bidwell worked his way into the team through better performances than JDS.
Since Sakamoto’s injury, we’ve struggled to make 4-2-3-1 work because we just don’t have wingers. Palmer, Tavares and MVE are just not wingers. Lati‘s inclusion in the team is forced, he was the best option for CM at the time to cover Sheaf was injured and the best option at RB if MVE is playing RM.
Like last season, we’ve ran out of squad and we don’t have 2 superstars in our team to grind out results. We need a good 5-6 signings in the summer at least.
Bit churlish. Fairly normal pov that he should start in our team, and find it odd how much he’s questioned.
Well I suspected it, and hasn’t Saddlebrains confirmed that’s the case?
But what do you want? Him to dominate every game? He was fine against Leeds. Southampton murdered us.
He’s better than Palmer. He should start. For me it’s as simple as that.
He hasn’t dominated a game since Jan and he hasn’t really done anything to force himself back in the team. If he scores off the bench or creates lots of opportunities, it forces MR’s hands.
Robins has some clear advantages that is fans do not have. 1. The daily interactions with the team in training. 2. The analytics team who are measuring performances.
It’s not in Robins’ nature to arbitrary decide he doesn’t like a player anymore if he feels they are best for the team. JCH was mentioned earlier, he wasn’t a good fit and after a purple patch at P’boro is being forced out of there too.
The bottom line is that he wouldn’t sacrifice a playoff berth to play Palmer ahead of him if he didn’t believe it gave us the best chance.