| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 22:21 - Oct 23 with 2603 views | Antti_Heinola |
A game heavily marred by the actions of one man, who seemingly just wanted to be noticed. Not the ref, I'm not animal. Bloke behind me. Constant 'coaching' throughout the whole game, his head ready to explode at every misplaced pass from minute 1 to 90. CHANNELS! HIT THE CHANNELS! Gave me an earache.
1. DEFENCE: Had an interesting debate on the way out. Why exactly are we conceding two goals per game? Is it that we are poor at defending? Is it that we are too gung-ho? Are we poor positionally? Or are we actually pretty ok at all the above, but have two or three mind-blowing moments of defensive weakness per game that basically gift goals? I honestly don't know. Asking for a friend. And for me.
First goal we were caught cold, we were high up the pitch and Puscas timed his run beautifully after a great ball from the outstanding Ejaria. It was a really good goal. I've seen some criticism that we were defending too high there, but BFG was on the halfway line and we were in possession - I'm not sure that was particularly wrong, although I'm no expert on defence, trust me. However, as with Hull on Saturday, I did feel Kelly, who had made one superb save earlier for what should have been a goal, was a long way out. Had he been further back, Puscas couldn't have shot and Leistner would have likely headed him off as he cut in. Still, harsh to be too critical there. Second goal, I'm with Warbs on. It wasn't so much the unmarked players as the three players who failed to close down Swift getting the cross in. And that is certainly a real problem on our part at the moment - we do not stop crosses very often, particularly from down our left hand side.
But are we a poor defensive side? Or one that lacks concentration? I just don't know. Hard to be too critical because we are in the play-off spots and it's exciting to watch, but we can't keep shipping two a game, surely?
2. FORMATION: It was an odd line-up when I saw it. I expected Hugill to come in at the expense of Wells, but didn't expect a change of formation. Whether that was to surprise Reading, or perhaps to give ourselves more protection down the flanks, or because he felt two strikers would really hurt them, I'm not sure. But it didn't work - although when you give the ball away as frequently as we did in that first half, you'll find most formations won't work. Still, it was an odd one, and it must've been a boost to Reading following Saturday's performance to see Eze placed out wide, where surely he would have less influence. And so it proved. They were able to box him in out there and pretty much the only time he got away in the first half was when he nutmegged a defender to set up Wells's sweet finish. It didn't really work anywhere. We lost the midfield battle, no one got hold of Ejaria or Swift, we were out-paced by their forwards and generally, it has to be said, were second best throughout. The move to 3-5-2 did help for sure, but it's always difficult to drag yourselves back when you've started so slowly.
3. SUBS: Warbs's subs have been overwhelmingly good this season. Last night, they didn't have much effect - at least not a positive effect. Kane for Rangel was the right call, even if it was possibly enforced by injury, but while the change in shape helped to some degree, Kane himself had a bit of a shocker, giving the ball away too many times under little or no pressure, and worse still giving it away in key areas by opting for a pass back towards goal - usually to a Reading forward. The shape change did at least help us get a better grip on Ejaria, as Scowen looked to be detailed to sit on him, but did little to halt Swift, who sat deep and was almost always available to receive the ball and very, very rarely wasted it as he showed an impressive range of passing.
Contrary to some opinon on here, I didn't mind Amos for Wells as I thought it might help us tighten space in midfield, where we were struggling somewhat, but sadly Amos couldn't get to grips with the pace of the game. I don't think there's much doubt he's a very decent player, but at the moment, possibly thanks to a stop-start season for him, he's looking a little lost. It's not for want of trying - last night he berated himelf several times for errors, but that in itself shows he's frustrated at his own form. The problem is, we haven't really got the luxury of him playing himself into form, so somehow, if he is to make the impact we expected this season, the sort of impact Ejaria was making, he needs to find a way of finding form quickly when his opportunities do come.
Then finally Pugh, who I really like, was again unable to really change things very much. He charged round looking for the ball, but never really got on it - only once, when he nearly went through did he threaten to make a real positive contribution. I think the ideas behind all subs were sound, but as a team we weren't quite there last night.
4. PERSISTENT FOULING: King Pep himself instructs his slick City team to foul, foul and foul again. Stop attacks, take turns, don't be afraid to make niggly fouls. It's not something we do (according to the BBC, our first actual foul we committed was, astonishingly, in the 54th minute, before the dam broke somewhat (Hugill being the main culprit). Reading, however, were all about the fouling and that was a big secret to how they managed to contain Eze and the rest of our team fairly well. They were helped by a referee trying to be lenient. But if you are as lenient as he was, teams continue to take more and more rope. The idea he was being bullied a bit was not helped by the fact that three or four Reading players were in his face for many decisions - acts he did little or nothing to dissuade.
The stats do not make great reading for the ref. Reading's persistent fouling was pointed out on TV, I'm told, and yet it took him until the 56th minute to finally show a yellow. This was Reading's 13th foul of the match, and it took Rinhomota four fouls to finally pick up that one yellow. Overall, they committed 23 fouls and just two bookings were issued. One fot Rinhomota and one for Miazga for bodily throwing Hugill to the ground - an offence which could have easily counted as violent conduct and a red card. Miazga, incidentally, was not booked for any of his four spoiling tackles, and his elbow in Rangel's face was ignored. Lucky boy. McCleary managed three fouls in just 23 minutes after coming on, but despite all three arguably being bookable, got away scot free. Puscas managed four without a yellow. And perhaps worst of all was Yiadom, who five times committed fouls, twice with clear and deliberate handballs, and yet was never booked. And that leaves aside his other clear and deliberate handdball that should have led to a penalty and a yellow card, but was ignored.
Fair play to Reading - their tactic to disrupt worked very well, even if it couldn't stop two moments of very good football for two good goals. But they were aided by a weak referee who compounded his lenience with the booking of Eze - his first foul of the night, and while I agree it was a yellow, the fact he was continually fouled deliberately and cynically, just as his attempted trip was, but the perpetrators were never once carded, only shows the poverty of the refereeing display we had to endure.
5. HUGILL: Quick word on Hugill, who I thought grew more and more into the game. I love his attitude, I love he's a bit nasty and doesn't mind getting in where it hurts, and I love that he doesn't hide. In most games he's missed decent chances (again here he spooned a presentable chance over the bar), but he keeps going and also, generally, gets his reward, as he did last night with a very fine, if deflected, goal. I thought he did particularly well on the air, and he shielded the ball well too. A really dangerous player who has already surpassed his total goals for last season with his goal last night. Hardly surprising - chances don't come often in a Pulis team, but they are rarely rare in a Warburton side.
6. DANCING: That was the groundsman was it? More of this, please. Was like some kind of fever dream to watch at half time. The cat v the groundsman dancing to the music of a noted paedophile.
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 23:41 - Oct 23 with 2454 views | nix |
Thanks Antti
Another really enjoyable Kneejerks. Couldn't degree with much there, apart from you were even a bit generous to Mr Simpson...And I'm a big fan of Hughill too. |  | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 08:13 - Oct 24 with 2247 views | enfieldargh |
Great ASKJ's abd thanks for always giving such a considered view.
Yes, could see a great big hole had opened up in our midfield, in hindsight Dom Ball's no nonsense approach may have been the better choice but then Amos needs game time.
Reading had built up a good rhythm to their play and seemed a lot stronger physically in all departments, this would have been a defeat last year.
This weeks results show that this season not one team can be taken for granted (Bolton/Rotherham last year the exceptions but not for us!!).
E drew and still are 3 points behind massive spenders WBA. |  |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 11:07 - Oct 24 with 2051 views | PinnerPaul |
Thanks AH.
'Interesting' stats re the ref and as you say, shows that he should have cautioned a few more Reading players.
Difficult if a team uses different players to foul, but those stats show they didn't and from my view he didn't even issue any public warnings, which led to the rather 'frantic' end to the game Clive mentions in his match report.
Now always makes me laugh/annoyed (depending on my mood) when the players lose control and people say the referee has lost control, but in this match a few public rebukes, if he had decide to try and avoid cards would have helped. Glad to see you agree with the Eze yellow - fact he's been fouled all night doesn't give him a free go! |  | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 11:33 - Oct 24 with 2001 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Excellent stuff, Antti.
Where the goalkeeper sets up is subjective, I know. By coming out so far the only fear is the lob and Kelly gambled that a player at full pace wouldn't execute a good lob for a goal, as he had no pass on inside. But by coming that far out he narrowed the angle and the shot was a superb one hitting the bottom of the post before going in. I think it was the right thing to do on this occasion, being honest. Put it this way, and for what it's worth, I coach goalies in Gaelic football and we review every incident on video afterwards. My initial view on this goal was that it was good goalkeeping and having reviewed it I still think that. I would, though be looking out for a pattern in training and future games, as I think there may be one emerging, and these gambles are often right for one moment or too dangerous for another eg Hull's second goal.
Anyway, subjective without doubt. |  |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 11:47 - Oct 24 with 1979 views | robith |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 11:33 - Oct 24 by BrianMcCarthy |
Excellent stuff, Antti.
Where the goalkeeper sets up is subjective, I know. By coming out so far the only fear is the lob and Kelly gambled that a player at full pace wouldn't execute a good lob for a goal, as he had no pass on inside. But by coming that far out he narrowed the angle and the shot was a superb one hitting the bottom of the post before going in. I think it was the right thing to do on this occasion, being honest. Put it this way, and for what it's worth, I coach goalies in Gaelic football and we review every incident on video afterwards. My initial view on this goal was that it was good goalkeeping and having reviewed it I still think that. I would, though be looking out for a pattern in training and future games, as I think there may be one emerging, and these gambles are often right for one moment or too dangerous for another eg Hull's second goal.
Anyway, subjective without doubt. |
I agree Brian - their first goal was simply really good - often little you can do about that. You can say we're too far up the pitch but 9/10 a player in the championship can't execute that pass and 9/10 a striker in the championship can't execute that shot at the pace he was travelling.
Was more concerned at his weird lack of control of the space for the second. Seemed a bit in limbo |  | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 13:14 - Oct 24 with 1841 views | Antti_Heinola |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 11:33 - Oct 24 by BrianMcCarthy |
Excellent stuff, Antti.
Where the goalkeeper sets up is subjective, I know. By coming out so far the only fear is the lob and Kelly gambled that a player at full pace wouldn't execute a good lob for a goal, as he had no pass on inside. But by coming that far out he narrowed the angle and the shot was a superb one hitting the bottom of the post before going in. I think it was the right thing to do on this occasion, being honest. Put it this way, and for what it's worth, I coach goalies in Gaelic football and we review every incident on video afterwards. My initial view on this goal was that it was good goalkeeping and having reviewed it I still think that. I would, though be looking out for a pattern in training and future games, as I think there may be one emerging, and these gambles are often right for one moment or too dangerous for another eg Hull's second goal.
Anyway, subjective without doubt. |
Great post Bri - I can't claim to be a goalkeeping expert at all! Just felt, possibly, as with the weekend, Kelly made the striker's mind up for him a bit, but it was a superb finish. But then, what do you expect from your £7.5m forward?! | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 13:15 - Oct 24 with 1836 views | Antti_Heinola |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 11:07 - Oct 24 by PinnerPaul |
Thanks AH.
'Interesting' stats re the ref and as you say, shows that he should have cautioned a few more Reading players.
Difficult if a team uses different players to foul, but those stats show they didn't and from my view he didn't even issue any public warnings, which led to the rather 'frantic' end to the game Clive mentions in his match report.
Now always makes me laugh/annoyed (depending on my mood) when the players lose control and people say the referee has lost control, but in this match a few public rebukes, if he had decide to try and avoid cards would have helped. Glad to see you agree with the Eze yellow - fact he's been fouled all night doesn't give him a free go! |
Yeah it was a frustrating yellow, but it was a yellow. Yiadom was a prime culprit of that sort of thing all night though, and got nothing - same with MCleary when he came on. | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 13:32 - Oct 24 with 1793 views | PinnerPaul |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 13:15 - Oct 24 by Antti_Heinola |
Yeah it was a frustrating yellow, but it was a yellow. Yiadom was a prime culprit of that sort of thing all night though, and got nothing - same with MCleary when he came on. |
Interestingly on' Ref Chat' the two big no's no's are the whistle to the mouth AND the violent conduct on Angel.
'Informed' view is that either he should have kept looking at the players for a split second longer and/or AR should have helped with the elbow to Rangel. | | | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 13:58 - Oct 24 with 1747 views | Rangers67 |
Good report apart from the Eze booking conclusion, was never a booking going by the previous 85 mins. But shows what a small minded useless individual we had as a referee. | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 14:56 - Oct 24 with 1674 views | Antti_Heinola |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 13:58 - Oct 24 by Rangers67 |
Good report apart from the Eze booking conclusion, was never a booking going by the previous 85 mins. But shows what a small minded useless individual we had as a referee. |
well that was both mine and Pinner's point mate - objectively, it was a yellow. But by the standards of the game set by the ref, it shouldn't have been! | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 16:07 - Oct 24 with 1589 views | PinnerPaul |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 14:56 - Oct 24 by Antti_Heinola |
well that was both mine and Pinner's point mate - objectively, it was a yellow. But by the standards of the game set by the ref, it shouldn't have been! |
Don't start back tracking! 
Its not only us - as someone said on another thread he had two goes at him - classic 'breaking up promising attack' yellow. | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 16:42 - Oct 24 with 1557 views | Benny_the_Ball |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 11:33 - Oct 24 by BrianMcCarthy |
Excellent stuff, Antti.
Where the goalkeeper sets up is subjective, I know. By coming out so far the only fear is the lob and Kelly gambled that a player at full pace wouldn't execute a good lob for a goal, as he had no pass on inside. But by coming that far out he narrowed the angle and the shot was a superb one hitting the bottom of the post before going in. I think it was the right thing to do on this occasion, being honest. Put it this way, and for what it's worth, I coach goalies in Gaelic football and we review every incident on video afterwards. My initial view on this goal was that it was good goalkeeping and having reviewed it I still think that. I would, though be looking out for a pattern in training and future games, as I think there may be one emerging, and these gambles are often right for one moment or too dangerous for another eg Hull's second goal.
Anyway, subjective without doubt. |
Completely agree with this. Sometimes all a keeper can do is limit the options and force the striker to come up with something special to score. Kelly did everything right to make life difficult for Puskas but the finish was just too good. Sometimes you just have to give credit to the opposition. [Post edited 24 Oct 2019 16:46]
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 16:46 - Oct 24 with 1549 views | PinnerPaul |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 16:42 - Oct 24 by Benny_the_Ball |
Completely agree with this. Sometimes all a keeper can do is limit the options and force the striker to come up with something special to score. Kelly did everything right to make life difficult for Puskas but the finish was just too good. Sometimes you just have to give credit to the opposition. [Post edited 24 Oct 2019 16:46]
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Have to agree - if their first is a GK 'error' then so is ours! | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 17:01 - Oct 24 with 1534 views | Benny_the_Ball |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 16:46 - Oct 24 by PinnerPaul |
Have to agree - if their first is a GK 'error' then so is ours! |
Indeed. To blame Kelly for the first Reading goal is frankly laughable. What I would say is having gone 1 up moments earlier, QPR were a little naïve by pushing too many players forward immediately. As a result they got caught cold by 1 pass when they coughed up possession on the edge of Reading's box.
Having been largely second best for the first 30 minutes, the experienced pros should've realised that we were fortunate to be ahead and galvanised the team for a few minutes. Instead they went gung-ho and flooded Reading's penalty area. [Post edited 24 Oct 2019 17:02]
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 17:14 - Oct 24 with 1510 views | PinnerPaul |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 17:01 - Oct 24 by Benny_the_Ball |
Indeed. To blame Kelly for the first Reading goal is frankly laughable. What I would say is having gone 1 up moments earlier, QPR were a little naïve by pushing too many players forward immediately. As a result they got caught cold by 1 pass when they coughed up possession on the edge of Reading's box.
Having been largely second best for the first 30 minutes, the experienced pros should've realised that we were fortunate to be ahead and galvanised the team for a few minutes. Instead they went gung-ho and flooded Reading's penalty area. [Post edited 24 Oct 2019 17:02]
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That's exactly what the 'experienced pros' seemed to be doing the post goal huddle - just didn't translate into action! | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 17:17 - Oct 24 with 1508 views | CFW |
As usual a very detailed and objective post. Puscas goal was very good - he still had a lot to do when he got the ball and got it just about perfect. Unfortunately the game just seamed to pass Eze by and especially in the first half really did not see as much of the ball as he and we would have liked.
Our defending is a worry and if we look back on the goals we have let in so far this season many of them have been through an individual error (which happens) or simply poor defending. I totally agree that Manning this season has been brilliant but an awful lot of goals against have come from crosses on the left hand side of the pitch. | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 17:25 - Oct 24 with 1500 views | Benny_the_Ball |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 17:14 - Oct 24 by PinnerPaul |
That's exactly what the 'experienced pros' seemed to be doing the post goal huddle - just didn't translate into action! |
Indeed but there were some experienced pros in the box when QPR lost possession! Pointless telling the kids to reel it in if you're then not going to lead by example. | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 17:44 - Oct 24 with 1481 views | Antti_Heinola |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 16:07 - Oct 24 by PinnerPaul |
Don't start back tracking!
Its not only us - as someone said on another thread he had two goes at him - classic 'breaking up promising attack' yellow. |
sorry mate, my poor expression of thought there - not back-tracking ;)
(have i sat on this fence long enough?) | |
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| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 17:57 - Oct 24 with 1465 views | PinnerPaul |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 17:44 - Oct 24 by Antti_Heinola |
sorry mate, my poor expression of thought there - not back-tracking ;)
(have i sat on this fence long enough?) |
No need to apologise at all - at least YOUR criticisms of the officials have some thought process behind them and are not just a foul mouthed rant at them with me, bizarrely, getting the blame from some  | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 11:06 - Oct 25 with 1194 views | francisbowles |
We are just going to have to teach Eze to foul properly. He had three goes at it. Had he got him first time he might not have been booked! Lol | | | |
| Antti's Six Knee Jerks: QPR 2 Reading 2 on 10:08 - Oct 27 with 964 views | TacticalR |
5. HUGILL: 'A really dangerous player who has already surpassed his total goals for last season with his goal last night. Hardly surprising - chances don't come often in a Pulis team, but they are rarely rare in a Warburton side.'
I know it was Pulisball, but it really is astounding that Hugill only got 6 goals in 37 games for Middlesbrough.
The great thing about Hugill is that he gives us a bit of rough with the smooth (Eze, Chair, Wells etc). |  |
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