| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 13:09 - Jan 22 with 3333 views | Antti_Heinola |
Last week we were looking up, this week we're looking down again.
1. OUTCLASSED: There are games sometimes when you've been heavily beaten and you're disgusted: the effort wasn't there, the belief wasn't there, the pride wasn't there, perhaps they gave up after just going a goal down and then pathetically capitulated and it's all a load of sh!t and why do you bother and how much is this costing and fk me this makes me miserable and it's raining and what's the point we never win anything anyway and we're going to get relegated and I HATE THE WORLD!
But Saturday wasn't one of them. I looked around after the game and thought, well, no one played what I wuld consider to be 'well' (a 7/10), but on the other hand no one was that poor either, and if they were, it wasn't through lack of effort. Until their goal, which, while annoying for it to come from a set piece, was very well-worked and almost impossible to defend if you don't win that near post ball, we'd even been marginally the better side. After that, though, they just looked bigger, stronger, faster and even seemed to have a man more than us at times. They moved the ball well, shifting us one side then exploiting space on the other, and in the end, it was a very good, professional performance from them that we had no answer to. There are reasons and failures for that, of course, but they were just too good.
2. ROBINSON: My Man of the Match. I do hope we can get him to rejoin this summer because he's turning into a very decent player who is also quite versatile. On Saturday he had our three best moments: A thunderous effort from range that would have been a match for Friend's later goal had it been a couple of inches lower; An absolutely superb slide rule pass in the second half that went in behind the Boro full back, and split their defence and which should have led to a goal; a fine goal-saving, goalline clearance. Had he scored with a diving header (which he really should have done - even Lee Cook put two of those in during his career, and they were literally the only two times he headed a ball), it would have capped another very good display from someone who must be moving into the reckoning for player of the season. Thought he, Onuoha and Lynch actually played pretty well, considering we let in three, with Assombalonga the quietest I've seen him against us.
3. ADAMA TRAORE: Boro probably had at least four of the top five performers on the pitch on Saturday (Ayala, as usual, superb against us, Shotton also excellent), but Adama (one of five footballers in the world called Adama Traore, apparently) was the pick. I couldn't believe it when I did a bit of research after the game and discovered it hadn't really worked for him at Villa and his richly deserved goal on Saturday was his first for Boro. Because he looked like he had the lot - pace, power, skill, a willingness to track back, almost impossible to knock off the ball (Robbo tried two reducers near the end, one of which was two-footed and he was lucky to get away with, but it made little difference) and he scored a great goal. He was excellent. Far too good for us, and if he continues that level of performance, far too good for this league. Really impressive.
4. FORWARD LINE: Clive said in his Burton report that Ollie's decision to play two smaller, quicker forwards against Burton's big man defence was a brave choice, but one that worked. He went with the same on Saturday, but sadly Boro's defence, especially now under Pulis's eye, is a totally different proposition. Oteh struggled to establish himself, although at times he showed good willingness to move around and receive the ball. Washington was really no better than he's been all season - in fact, his first three touches were all in good areas and he failed to find a QPR shirt with any of them. It was really frustrating. In the end, he was lucky he wasn't hooked at half time, and while after the break he did perform one good take down of a long ball before firing wide, he was never a threat to the Boro backline. In retrospect it seems obvious we needed more strength up there, and with our chronic lack of goals continuing, it really might be time to try a 4-2-3-1 (as we had in the second half, with some limited success) so that we can perhaps get Pav and Osayi-Samuel wide on the wings putting balls into the box for Smith/Sylla (with the option of Freeman shifting wide to accommodate Eze if needs be). On Saturday, it was mostly too easy for Ayala and chums. We were too small, too weak, and with not enough guile to trouble them enough.
5. CHANCES & PENALTIES: Which does bring us onto this. Although we were well beaten, the fact is, this should have been a lot closer. Boro scored a good set piece, a worldy and a well-worked final goal as we searched for a way back. Smithies made one other fine save that I remember, but the fact was Boro weren't rampant. They didn't need to be, you could argue, but shots weren't raining down every 10 seconds. Meanwhile, we did have chances, particularly one for Lynch that he should have put away and a header by Smith from a perfect Freeman corner that really should have been a goal. And then there were the penalty shouts - three of them, all against Smith - at least one of those was a pen. I know you can't add up small infringements, but one in particular he was blatantly impeded from getting to the ball. The final one, he appeared to take an elbow to the face. So there was bad luck here, but also an inability to punish teams when we do make chances. It's been a problem all season, and doesn't look like it's going to change any time soon, sadly.
6. POSITIVES: Well there weren't many, but I thought Furlong had a good game, particularly up against Adama - and it said a lot that he switched wings, I thought. Oteh tried hard and it will be good to see more of him. Eze clearly has talent - he's so comfortable on the ball, and is strong and confident. Cautiously optimistic. And we had Manning on the bench too. There are some green shoots. We might look back on these days as the start of something exciting. This level of penetration into the first team picture is unheard of for many, many years. Not all of them will make it with us - but even if one does, that'll be something. |  |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 13:35 - Jan 22 with 3255 views | enfieldargh |
Thanks for that Anti, I've binned the Valium thanks to your always considered jerky things.
Onwards & upwards.
One thing I feel that Freemans most dangerous work comes down our left? Why not play im left, Pav right with 2 strikers. We might get hit on the break but we do anyway and often outnumbered |  |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 13:53 - Jan 22 with 3208 views | Match82 |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 13:35 - Jan 22 by enfieldargh |
Thanks for that Anti, I've binned the Valium thanks to your always considered jerky things.
Onwards & upwards.
One thing I feel that Freemans most dangerous work comes down our left? Why not play im left, Pav right with 2 strikers. We might get hit on the break but we do anyway and often outnumbered |
Robinson: I've been very impressed with him this season. But if I remember correctly he could have done better on two of their goals - lost his man at the back post for the free header on the first and got turned too easily for the second.
Agree with you overall though, just one of those days at the office |  | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 14:04 - Jan 22 with 3171 views | dannyblue |
I don't know who lost Ayala for their first. I did see that Lynch was marking him at the next corners, so presume he was probably supposed to be marking him at the first one too? |  | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 15:17 - Jan 22 with 3060 views | PinnerPaul |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 14:04 - Jan 22 by dannyblue |
I don't know who lost Ayala for their first. I did see that Lynch was marking him at the next corners, so presume he was probably supposed to be marking him at the first one too? |
No - that was Furlong.
He started by standing on edge of box - Furlong with him - so far, so good.
However PF lost him on his run to the near post.
Accept I might be in a minority of 1 (!) but I thought Furlong had a poor game.
Apart from the goal, he was one (of a few) who should have closed down the 2nd goal.
In 2nd half players and fans were getting frustrated he wasn't getting forward enough and to cap it all his 'long' throws were poor including a 'foul' throw - inexcusable at this level really. |  | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 15:50 - Jan 22 with 3020 views | bosh67 |
I am struggling to understand how Manning doesn't get more games. We need players who can get down the left and cross. We brought the guy in from Ireland where he was a left winger. He's played centre midfield, left back and wingback but never his favoured position of left wing. That is because our club is full of tactical morons, but to be fair, it mostly has been over the years. |  |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 15:54 - Jan 22 with 3018 views | Antti_Heinola |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 15:17 - Jan 22 by PinnerPaul |
No - that was Furlong.
He started by standing on edge of box - Furlong with him - so far, so good.
However PF lost him on his run to the near post.
Accept I might be in a minority of 1 (!) but I thought Furlong had a poor game.
Apart from the goal, he was one (of a few) who should have closed down the 2nd goal.
In 2nd half players and fans were getting frustrated he wasn't getting forward enough and to cap it all his 'long' throws were poor including a 'foul' throw - inexcusable at this level really. |
one of our best chances of the game came from one of his long throws. He was often available going forward 2nd half, but rarely passed to - same as BOS.
As for the goal, not sure what you mean? Furlong is with Ben Gibson on the back post - on the line, not the edge of the box. Gibson makes a very good quick run across the goal to the near post, Furlong follows, but too late (and even if he had run with him he had no chance of winning that ball), and the two front post players, Freeman and another, are caught napping, and Gibson flicks on. It's then Robbo who loses Ayala, and clearly knows it. As always, it's rarely one person's fault, much as fans want it to be sometimes. And difficult to blame Furlong for that. As I said above, it's a great corner routine, good movement, but also an extremely accurate near post corner - just above our first man's head, but low enough for a flick on - like putting a ball through a tyre from 20 yards. And once it's flicked on, it's hugely difficult to defend. When people complain about near post corners hitting the first man, that's what they're aiming for, and with good reason.
I have sympathy for the second as well - Traore intelligently pulled wide, so Furlong held off because if he committed, then their most dangerous player would have been in and on the byeline in a flash. Really, when a left back has it, one of our midfield three should have been there, or perhaps Oteh/Washington. Looking at it now, you're screaming at Furlong to attack the ball, but he was in a no-win there with no real cover.
Thought he was one of our better players, although as i said, by better I mean a 5/10. | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 16:09 - Jan 22 with 2990 views | BklynRanger |
Robinson also hit an absolute peach of a crossfield pass in the first half - I was sat right behind him when he launched it and watched it land like an asteroid on the far side. Majestic. |  | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 18:43 - Jan 22 with 2849 views | PinnerPaul |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 15:54 - Jan 22 by Antti_Heinola |
one of our best chances of the game came from one of his long throws. He was often available going forward 2nd half, but rarely passed to - same as BOS.
As for the goal, not sure what you mean? Furlong is with Ben Gibson on the back post - on the line, not the edge of the box. Gibson makes a very good quick run across the goal to the near post, Furlong follows, but too late (and even if he had run with him he had no chance of winning that ball), and the two front post players, Freeman and another, are caught napping, and Gibson flicks on. It's then Robbo who loses Ayala, and clearly knows it. As always, it's rarely one person's fault, much as fans want it to be sometimes. And difficult to blame Furlong for that. As I said above, it's a great corner routine, good movement, but also an extremely accurate near post corner - just above our first man's head, but low enough for a flick on - like putting a ball through a tyre from 20 yards. And once it's flicked on, it's hugely difficult to defend. When people complain about near post corners hitting the first man, that's what they're aiming for, and with good reason.
I have sympathy for the second as well - Traore intelligently pulled wide, so Furlong held off because if he committed, then their most dangerous player would have been in and on the byeline in a flash. Really, when a left back has it, one of our midfield three should have been there, or perhaps Oteh/Washington. Looking at it now, you're screaming at Furlong to attack the ball, but he was in a no-win there with no real cover.
Thought he was one of our better players, although as i said, by better I mean a 5/10. |
Have to agree to disagree - not a biggie, but PF definitely started on edge of box - I saw it myself live.
As you say no one played that well, although like you, oddly because we conceded three, I didn't think Lynch, Ned and Robinson did too badly either.
Pens - thought the one where Smith was blocked off was a pen - others I didn't see clearly and suspect ref didn't either. As we have seen refs only tend to give pens when 'culprit' is isolated - Bristol City and Cardiff. | | | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 18:56 - Jan 22 with 2822 views | ozranger |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 15:54 - Jan 22 by Antti_Heinola |
one of our best chances of the game came from one of his long throws. He was often available going forward 2nd half, but rarely passed to - same as BOS.
As for the goal, not sure what you mean? Furlong is with Ben Gibson on the back post - on the line, not the edge of the box. Gibson makes a very good quick run across the goal to the near post, Furlong follows, but too late (and even if he had run with him he had no chance of winning that ball), and the two front post players, Freeman and another, are caught napping, and Gibson flicks on. It's then Robbo who loses Ayala, and clearly knows it. As always, it's rarely one person's fault, much as fans want it to be sometimes. And difficult to blame Furlong for that. As I said above, it's a great corner routine, good movement, but also an extremely accurate near post corner - just above our first man's head, but low enough for a flick on - like putting a ball through a tyre from 20 yards. And once it's flicked on, it's hugely difficult to defend. When people complain about near post corners hitting the first man, that's what they're aiming for, and with good reason.
I have sympathy for the second as well - Traore intelligently pulled wide, so Furlong held off because if he committed, then their most dangerous player would have been in and on the byeline in a flash. Really, when a left back has it, one of our midfield three should have been there, or perhaps Oteh/Washington. Looking at it now, you're screaming at Furlong to attack the ball, but he was in a no-win there with no real cover.
Thought he was one of our better players, although as i said, by better I mean a 5/10. |
Just a note on Furlong in the second half. It was quite evident that he was told to play as a defensive right full back. On too, and I mean too, many occasions he had a chance to bomb down the right towards the corner and provide an avenue for the ball to be played wide when Osayi-Samuel went inside. Why Olly chose this tactic is a different question, but the fact he was held back stifled a lot of possibilities. |  | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 22:46 - Jan 22 with 2608 views | Antti_Heinola |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 18:43 - Jan 22 by PinnerPaul |
Have to agree to disagree - not a biggie, but PF definitely started on edge of box - I saw it myself live.
As you say no one played that well, although like you, oddly because we conceded three, I didn't think Lynch, Ned and Robinson did too badly either.
Pens - thought the one where Smith was blocked off was a pen - others I didn't see clearly and suspect ref didn't either. As we have seen refs only tend to give pens when 'culprit' is isolated - Bristol City and Cardiff. |
not a biggie, but watch the highlights.
23 seconds in, mate. he's on the back post before it's taken. red boots. can't miss the lad.
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/championship/1
He may have been on the edge of the box before that, but certainly was nowt to do with Ayala. | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 06:38 - Jan 23 with 2481 views | jonno |
Robinson was marking Ayala for the corner, and didn't stay with him when Ayala ran to the back post, making it an easy finish. Had Robinson stayed with him he may have been able to head the ball away before it reached Ayala. You can see Robinson realise he's made the mistake as the goal is scored. |  | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 09:36 - Jan 23 with 2377 views | PinnerPaul |
He was 'marking' the guy who made 1st contact at front post.
Not having a row but don't have to check video (which as you say doesn't show whole thing) as I was there and saw it with my own eyes! | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 12:21 - Jan 23 with 2278 views | Antti_Heinola |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 09:36 - Jan 23 by PinnerPaul |
He was 'marking' the guy who made 1st contact at front post.
Not having a row but don't have to check video (which as you say doesn't show whole thing) as I was there and saw it with my own eyes! |
Yeah, you're absolutely right! You confused me because your original response was replying to someone asking who lost Ayala and you said that was Furlong. It wasn't. Furlong lost Gibson (for the first ball as you say), who darted from the back post to the front - although as I also said, at that point, we had two at the front post and neither stopped Gibson or won the ball, partly because of the quality of the ball in.
In reality, to have won that first ball, Furlong would literally have had to guess Gibson would make that run, and then make that run before Gibson even started to move, which would have been an incredible feat of prophecy.
It's a perfectly executed corner and really, there's not a lot anyone could have done about it when you properly watch it. | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 12:52 - Jan 23 with 2238 views | simmo |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 12:21 - Jan 23 by Antti_Heinola |
Yeah, you're absolutely right! You confused me because your original response was replying to someone asking who lost Ayala and you said that was Furlong. It wasn't. Furlong lost Gibson (for the first ball as you say), who darted from the back post to the front - although as I also said, at that point, we had two at the front post and neither stopped Gibson or won the ball, partly because of the quality of the ball in.
In reality, to have won that first ball, Furlong would literally have had to guess Gibson would make that run, and then make that run before Gibson even started to move, which would have been an incredible feat of prophecy.
It's a perfectly executed corner and really, there's not a lot anyone could have done about it when you properly watch it. |
#PULIS |  |
| ask Beavis I get nothing Butthead |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 17:04 - Jan 23 with 2096 views | PinnerPaul |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 12:21 - Jan 23 by Antti_Heinola |
Yeah, you're absolutely right! You confused me because your original response was replying to someone asking who lost Ayala and you said that was Furlong. It wasn't. Furlong lost Gibson (for the first ball as you say), who darted from the back post to the front - although as I also said, at that point, we had two at the front post and neither stopped Gibson or won the ball, partly because of the quality of the ball in.
In reality, to have won that first ball, Furlong would literally have had to guess Gibson would make that run, and then make that run before Gibson even started to move, which would have been an incredible feat of prophecy.
It's a perfectly executed corner and really, there's not a lot anyone could have done about it when you properly watch it. |
Fair enough AH | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 17:11 - Jan 23 with 2081 views | Antti_Heinola |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 17:04 - Jan 23 by PinnerPaul |
Fair enough AH |
Did you fart at the end of typing that? | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 17:21 - Jan 23 with 2068 views | PinnerPaul |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 17:11 - Jan 23 by Antti_Heinola |
Did you fart at the end of typing that? |
??????????????????????? | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 18:51 - Jan 23 with 2021 views | Antti_Heinola |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 17:21 - Jan 23 by PinnerPaul |
??????????????????????? |
shit gag, sorry ;) just the 'AH' as if you'd gone 'AHH' after a nice fart.
I'll get me coat! | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 20:00 - Jan 23 with 1950 views | enfieldargh |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 18:51 - Jan 23 by Antti_Heinola |
shit gag, sorry ;) just the 'AH' as if you'd gone 'AHH' after a nice fart.
I'll get me coat! |
from now on when the crowd goes ah when we nearly score then we should assume Anti has let rip. | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 0 Boro 3 on 21:27 - Jan 23 with 1894 views | TacticalR |
Thanks for your knee jerks.
5. CHANCES & PENALTIES:
'Which does bring us onto this. Although we were well beaten, the fact is, this should have been a lot closer. Boro scored a good set piece, a worldy and a well-worked final goal as we searched for a way back. Smithies made one other fine save that I remember, but the fact was Boro weren't rampant.'
Agreed. I didn't think they looked that good up front. They did to us what we did to Birmingham a couple of weeks ago when we scored from a set piece and then Robinson hit one from outside the area. |  |
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