What surprises me is how conservative your prescription is, given how critical you usually are of Herbert.
If I look at that list and take away things that Herbert simply can't control like injuries (Sanchez) and a chronic lack of form from his star player (Ifill) then all you are really offering that's different is "get Alex Smith off the books and replace him with a playmaking midfielder" plus some minor tactical tweaking.
Yes, you can obviously say that Herbert should have recruited better in the midfield in the first place, and I would agree, but neither of us know what kind of constraints were even put on that. I do remember that Smith was made to wait a long time to re-sign for another year so I'm pretty sure they did take a serious look out there and couldn't come up with anything better. Money almost certainly came into it and again that's not something Herbert can directly control.
And throwing Clapham's name in there is by your own admission just desperate and, to be honest, if you are effectively saying that Clapham is better than Smith and would make a positive difference in mid-field then that's a highly subjective statement and I think a lot of people would dispute that.
Is the lack of any radical change in your post a tacit admission that Herbert is actually doing a pretty good job within the constraints he has?
I'm suggesting what I'd do with the players available as they are now - and something that is actually achievable.
This is not just where you play the players, it's actually about a plan for how to play which differs right now from our so called "tactics". Compared to what we're currently doing this would be quite a significant change of approach so I disagree that it is minor tactical tweaking. I'd also note that Sanchez was available on the weekend and not included in the squad. Right now we look like a team that hasn't been coached - this would aim to do something about that.
The stuff you've written on Smith is just rubbish. We've not had a single suggestion that Ricky is unhappy with any of the funds allocated, or any other so called constraints ultimately he has to take responsibility for players signed on his watch. That includes re-signing Lia then wanting to play him at RB, then now deciding he's a starting central midfielder. You're just making up excuses for why he signed a player patently not good enough. You're now just making up excuses for why he signed a player patently not good enough.
I'm suggesting Clapham because (a) he's kiwi therefore we can sign him and (b) he'd fit within the cap space of Pavlovic. Right now our midfield isn't working and that needs addressing. I don't think it can be done from within our current squad.
"Is the lack of any radical change in your post a tacit admission that Herbert is actually doing a pretty good job within the constraints he has?"
Of course not. Any constraints Herbert has are one he has inflicted on himself. He signed these players, he is the one picking the team and he is the one who has got us into this mess (and let's be clear this is a mess - I pity whoever has to take over next season). The guy has clearly run out of ideas but at least if we do this we might salvage something from the season possibly.
I ask you this, what "constraints" could you possibly think Herbert has? He has the full salary cap available