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Reply | Norwich Reflection
at 18:53 1 Jan 2026
Well, at least that puts to bed any illusions about the play offs. We were second best for most of the second half, lacked energy and were too easily muscled off the ball. We do need to have a bit of sympathy for the team. Mbengue, Poku, Kone, Burrell have not played much or at all at Championship level before this season and Dembele, Morgan and Kolli are also pretty inexperienced. Madsen didn't show much last season so in some ways this is his first proper season and as others have said he needs a rest.
Playing 2 in the middle, nearly always Madsen and Varane, was always likely to see us over powered there at some point, something much debated last season but not really discussed this year. I thought Hayden was ok and Morgan a bit hyper when he came on, though he did manage one lovely through ball to Poku. Both are worth more time on the park in my view.
I wonder about the pre-season fitness work. Nourry said they'd upped this compared to last year, but I suspect Stephan had little to do with that. They don't look as strong as some of our opponents at the mid point of the season.
Although today was poor and we're obviously on a bad run with several players out of form overall this does feel better than the same point last year. But I am dreading Sheffield Wednesday. |
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Reply | The Annual Gong Fest
at 10:15 30 Dec 2025
Enough people have refused an honour for there to be a Wikipedia page of names. Some interesting ones, although some declined the first time, but accepted when they were offered a second time.
List of people who have declined a British honour - Wikipedia https://share.google/wT0M1ZjUt |
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Reply | Baggie ball bags - Match Thread
at 23:00 29 Dec 2025
Our performance was dreadful, but bad in a different way to some other bad games. We've put in a few dud efforts in the last couple of years, but they've usually been miserable, lifeless, inert performances. Although we passed out from the back, or failed to pass out from the back on far to many occasions tonight I didn't think we were lifeless, just bad. Have we ever given the ball away so often or played a team mate into trouble as frequently? Just rank bad decision making.
Of course given all the changes this may have been inevitable, but I've since been thinking Stephan has to try some of these options otherwise he'll never know how they work. Can we play without Burrell chasing everything up front? Clearly not, but we have to rest him sometimes. Can we rely on Esquerdinha at LB? Not yet. Can Morrison cover in defence and if not why is he in the squad? Well I didn't think he was one of the main problems tonight or at least no more than you might expect from someone who hasn't played for months. Can Sam play as a No 10 or off the striker? He'll always try, but no. Etc, etc.
I thought Koki could have played the Burrell role, but he hasn't been at his best recently. Poku showed flashes but needs more time to develop. One thing that Stephan seems absolutely wedded to is the 2 man midfield. We have options there (Hayden, Field, Morgan and maybe others) and when we need to stretch our resources over 4 games in 10 days shouldn't we try this?
No reason to panic but disappointing when we can do so much better. |
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Reply | Merry Christmas my R’s – Preview
at 14:13 25 Dec 2025
"cleverly disguised as a responsible football club". Like it!
But when the disguise comes off... Are we just the same old battered Ford Cortina owned and run by charlatans or that sleek new Kia EV purring towards the playoffs? Answers in May please. |
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Reply | Chair
at 11:38 24 Dec 2025
Chair carried this club for 2 or 3 years and works hard all over the pitch and in training according to Madsen. I think we would have been relegated without him. I wonder if his recent injury problems stem from some of that workload.
Still one of the first names on the team sheet for me, as recent performances have shown, but it's good to have choices. |
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Reply | Afcon
at 21:26 22 Dec 2025
He's looked quite lively - a couple of half chances - but I think I'll stick with Rumarn Burrell for the Rs. |
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Reply | ELO theres a big blue nose approaching-birmingham match thread
at 22:52 9 Dec 2025
It was an impressive performance up until the 80th minute, although we should really have put the game to bed by then. We were well organised and worked hard all over the pitch. Then we started giving the ball away, sitting too deep and maybe the Brum subs worked. We really needed another body in midfield to give us some control.
But in the end who cares.
In a three game week I assume there'll have to be changes for Saturday so it will be hard against a top team to maintain momentum.
But lets just enjoy now! |
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Reply | West Brom Reflection
at 20:46 6 Dec 2025
Dreadful first half. Two poor teams but we managed one moment of skill to take the lead. Second half was better, but both sides made bad mistakes in defence. Fortunately their mistakes were catastrophic,, Nardi got us out of jail when we messed up.
Koni was excellent to create the third when I'm sure we all feared Rs were going to throw the game away.
We all love Rumarn Burrell for his running and goal scoring, but I wanted to mention his fitness. He runs for 90 minutes, nearly every game, is rarely subbed and hasn't been injured. A complete gem. Just hope I haven't landed him with an injury jinx. |
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Reply | Madsen
at 19:52 6 Dec 2025
Over the last couple of games Madsen hasn't been at his best, by what strikes me is no one thinks he's a weak link. Today he got stuck in on more than one occasion, didn't shirk, covered gaps in defence and closed players down. I think he's getting less time on the ball so his passing isn't quite so good, but it's still better than anyone else in the team. He is more likely to find a creative forward pass and does his fair share in defence.
He no longer stands out, but is a fully functioning member of the team, with a touch of class. |
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Reply | Ashes thread
at 16:02 4 Dec 2025
Someone should tell Brook he is allowed to move his feet. |
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Reply | Furs leaving
at 12:56 29 Nov 2025
We'll always have Oldham! |
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Reply | Chair…since he’s come back
at 12:48 6 Nov 2025
There are always fans around where I sit who criticise Chair. He has his faults, but for a couple of seasons he carried this club and we'd have been relegated without him. Since coming back from the latest injury I think he's been as good as anyone on the pitch with the possible exception of Burrell. His corners and crosses created more danger than any other QPR player. Yes, he sometimes holds on to the ball too long looking for the cut in and shot, but as we struggle to find any other way to score not sure I blame him. He certainly didn't gift 2 goals to Southampton last night. |
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Reply | Burrell
at 12:36 6 Nov 2025
My wife had and still has a bit of a crush on Jamie Mackie. Will watch to see how she feels about Burrell. |
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Reply | Kolli
at 12:28 6 Nov 2025
If this is true I'm appalled. We've all worked in organisations where individuals don't get on/don't like each other or words are said. But people have to be professional and find ways of getting along or managing differences. There have been many football teams where some players disliked each other but they've found ways to play together. Football clubs aren't like other companies but this is just unacceptable. |
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Reply | tonight
at 12:08 6 Nov 2025
We played well in spells and the stats support that. I know they don't tell you everything but we won the xG, had 20 shots to 9 and Nardi didn't have to make a save. We had over 3 times as many touches in the area and even our passing accuracy was better. Their keeper was busier and they only had 2 shots on target. I do know that it's goals that count.
But, very big but, some of those passes and touches in the area were predictable. When Saints controlled the ball they could pass more accurately, finding better angles and moved the ball quicker. Our defence has become very iffy. Mbengue, surprisingly, can be barged off the ball quite easily and Morisson never quite convinces. He was arguably at fault for both goals not getting close enough and not making a strong enough challenge. I like him but he doesn't dominate situations, although he has made some terrific goal line stops.
And then we come to the midfield. Clive has spent much of the last 2 seasons, maybe longer, explaining why a 2 man midfield doesn't work. We've got it away with it for the first few games when our new strikers, the pace in the team and Madsen's passing made teams wary. But now we're being worked out and players who haven't played at this level are now struggling, with the exception of Burrell. So, surprisingly, a 2 man midfield isn't enough to protect a vulnerable defence. Decisions for Stefan, but I can't see him putting more bodies in midfield yet.
In spite of that we were much better tonight. So we're 16th, our natural position. |
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Reply | Andy Sinton
at 15:41 24 Aug 2025
Family might have wanted to keep it private at least until they're got over the initial shock |
| | Geoff78
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