| Reality check people 23:55 - Sep 18 with 11125 views | QPR1506 |
We're top of the league, unbeaten in the league, not conceded a goal for 5 games. Agree we need some help for Austin but I'm sure we all would have taken this at the beginning of the season. |  |
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| Reality check people on 02:23 - Sep 19 with 9129 views | SonofNorfolt |
Of course you are right, aren't you?
Points wise yes, performance and selection wise I'm not so sure.
Let's face it, we have at our disposal the best squad in this division by a mile.
Yet, to many, especially myself, the formation and starting eleven are at odds with what is required and also what Mr HR has himself declared as his preferred style.
I can't help feeling that we are due for a major fall, hopefully my gut feeling is completely misplaced and everyone can point at me in eight months as a clueless pessimist, but, it still remains............. |  | | |
| Reality check people on 02:33 - Sep 19 with 9127 views | Grifter |
| Reality check people on 02:23 - Sep 19 by SonofNorfolt |
Of course you are right, aren't you?
Points wise yes, performance and selection wise I'm not so sure.
Let's face it, we have at our disposal the best squad in this division by a mile.
Yet, to many, especially myself, the formation and starting eleven are at odds with what is required and also what Mr HR has himself declared as his preferred style.
I can't help feeling that we are due for a major fall, hopefully my gut feeling is completely misplaced and everyone can point at me in eight months as a clueless pessimist, but, it still remains............. |
Starting eleven and formation were spot on today. It's all very well saying we're the strongest squad in the league, but we're currently missing Johnson, Onouha, Hoillet and Kranjcar. We have 2 fit centre backs, and one fit senior striker. We don't have a "right" to be beating any teams in this league, and I thought Brighton were the best opposition we've faced yet. Much better performance than the Birmingham game.
Incidentally, it was different 11 + formation V the blues, I hope you're not suggesting Harry should of stuck with that Norfolt? |  | | |
| Reality check people on 02:47 - Sep 19 with 9120 views | SonofNorfolt |
Definitely not.
Some of his choices are strange, certainly against Brum, and tonight, when surely Faurlin was the man who could have at least tried to thread a clever pass through ahead of others who ended up on the pitch? | | | |
| Reality check people on 03:01 - Sep 19 with 9111 views | Nov77 |
Injuries to Austin, and Dunne or onuaha would leave us badly exposed. We are top heavy in midfield, with no cover at centre forward or centre back, and no real cover now at goalkeeper either. |  |
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| Reality check people on 03:07 - Sep 19 with 9110 views | Grifter |
| Reality check people on 02:47 - Sep 19 by SonofNorfolt |
Definitely not.
Some of his choices are strange, certainly against Brum, and tonight, when surely Faurlin was the man who could have at least tried to thread a clever pass through ahead of others who ended up on the pitch? |
I'd agree that Faurlin was a better option from the bench than Jenas (when has this guy ever performed well for us?). But from what I saw of Ale versus Swindon, he's not recovered his form yet.
Today was all about pressing Brighton high up the pitch to stifle their passing game, which isn't really Faurlin's style. Henry + Barton have formed a great partnership so should be first on the team sheet. That leaves one starting CM spot, which had to go to the hardworking O'neil. His pressure on their back 4 today was as much responsible for our clean sheet as any one of our defenders. [Post edited 19 Sep 2013 3:08]
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| Reality check people on 04:00 - Sep 19 with 9092 views | Loft1979 |
| Reality check people on 02:33 - Sep 19 by Grifter |
Starting eleven and formation were spot on today. It's all very well saying we're the strongest squad in the league, but we're currently missing Johnson, Onouha, Hoillet and Kranjcar. We have 2 fit centre backs, and one fit senior striker. We don't have a "right" to be beating any teams in this league, and I thought Brighton were the best opposition we've faced yet. Much better performance than the Birmingham game.
Incidentally, it was different 11 + formation V the blues, I hope you're not suggesting Harry should of stuck with that Norfolt? |
1. I think Leicester, reading and Wigan are just as strong. Why are we top? Because Nedum, Dunne, green, Simpson and Gary oneal have been better than expected. plus Joey has come back well.
2. hR:is still tinkering. Zamora has been hobbled since day1. Andy is a huge loss. we need a striker and we knew this weeks ago.
3. I wish I was there, but as I heard it alot of Good points. I think to solve the strike issue, I would put Tom Carroll left and play Matt behind Charlie Austin. | | | |
| Reality check people on 04:07 - Sep 19 with 9090 views | Kendo_Nagasaki |
The "old" game against Swindon line.
Who came out of that game with top marks? |  |
| Psycho killer Qu'est-ce que c'est? |
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| Reality check people on 07:00 - Sep 19 with 9034 views | Rs_Holy |
Austin needs support from another mobile striker... its the missing part of the jigsaw.
2 goals conceded so far is incredible... now we just need Phillips/SWP/Junior to do what they are paid to do and another fit striker to help Austin. |  | | |
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| Reality check people on 07:49 - Sep 19 with 8955 views | Neil_SI |
I think Jermaine Jenas needs to take a hard look at himself, because he was so uninvolved after he came on that I actually forgot he was on the pitch, and I really can't remember the last time that ever happened to me. I remember him taking a couple of early touches, and then I remember him making a couple of touches right at the end. I don't remember anything else about his performance in between, which for me is very surreal, as I often look at all of the players around the pitch, where they are, what they're doing, etc.
He needs to do a lot more if he wants to be in the first-team, or the one who is chosen off the bench at the expense of others. But, given his experience in the game, if he can't challenge the likes of Karl Henry for a first-team place then it says a lot about his desire and determination.
As for us, I was disappointed with our lack of ambition. Here we played a team who played with one man up top, who clearly had limited attacking problems due to injury and suspension, were away from home and had one day less to recover, and yet, we didn't once look like we really wanted to try and take the game to them and go for it. For a team playing at home, we needed to show a lot more courage and desire to move the ball forward and get it into dangerous areas, and that's whether we won, drew or lost the game.
You can't knock five clean sheets on the spin of course, but at some point, we've got to realise that if team's continue to play five in the middle against us and offer little threat up top, then we need to make a more creative move rather than just let the match pass us by and be content with it. And I'm sure that with other team's packing their midfield against us, it's part of the reason why we've not conceded many goals, because when it comes to playing against us, a lot of these team's don't have enough ambition either. |  | | |
| Reality check people on 07:59 - Sep 19 with 8945 views | TW_R |
| Reality check people on 07:49 - Sep 19 by Neil_SI |
I think Jermaine Jenas needs to take a hard look at himself, because he was so uninvolved after he came on that I actually forgot he was on the pitch, and I really can't remember the last time that ever happened to me. I remember him taking a couple of early touches, and then I remember him making a couple of touches right at the end. I don't remember anything else about his performance in between, which for me is very surreal, as I often look at all of the players around the pitch, where they are, what they're doing, etc.
He needs to do a lot more if he wants to be in the first-team, or the one who is chosen off the bench at the expense of others. But, given his experience in the game, if he can't challenge the likes of Karl Henry for a first-team place then it says a lot about his desire and determination.
As for us, I was disappointed with our lack of ambition. Here we played a team who played with one man up top, who clearly had limited attacking problems due to injury and suspension, were away from home and had one day less to recover, and yet, we didn't once look like we really wanted to try and take the game to them and go for it. For a team playing at home, we needed to show a lot more courage and desire to move the ball forward and get it into dangerous areas, and that's whether we won, drew or lost the game.
You can't knock five clean sheets on the spin of course, but at some point, we've got to realise that if team's continue to play five in the middle against us and offer little threat up top, then we need to make a more creative move rather than just let the match pass us by and be content with it. And I'm sure that with other team's packing their midfield against us, it's part of the reason why we've not conceded many goals, because when it comes to playing against us, a lot of these team's don't have enough ambition either. |
I think this is where Harry sees Kranjar fitting in. He's comfortable on the ball, can actually beat a man in midfield, can make incisive passes and can score a few goals. Hopefully he'll get a free role in a midfield 5 and given license to get forward and support Austin. |  | | |
| Reality check people on 08:37 - Sep 19 with 8867 views | Neil_SI |
| Reality check people on 07:59 - Sep 19 by TW_R |
I think this is where Harry sees Kranjar fitting in. He's comfortable on the ball, can actually beat a man in midfield, can make incisive passes and can score a few goals. Hopefully he'll get a free role in a midfield 5 and given license to get forward and support Austin. |
I hope so, I've always been a fan of Niko Kranjcar, but I think there's a small question mark about him that he needs to answer. He could have went to a lot of better clubs when he left Tottenham, so why didn't he? Why did he choose Ukraine?
So I hope he still has the desire, because he's technically very competent indeed and should be a major asset. | | | |
| Reality check people on 08:50 - Sep 19 with 8826 views | Vish |
| Reality check people on 08:37 - Sep 19 by Neil_SI |
I hope so, I've always been a fan of Niko Kranjcar, but I think there's a small question mark about him that he needs to answer. He could have went to a lot of better clubs when he left Tottenham, so why didn't he? Why did he choose Ukraine?
So I hope he still has the desire, because he's technically very competent indeed and should be a major asset. |
the problem is we're already relying on Kranjcar, and he hasn't even played a game for us yet. We need more from our wingers in terms of creativity and chipping in with goals. Hoilett can create and score, but we have to keep him fit. Matt Phillips looks he can offer more once he's fully fit. SWP is doing a workmans like job on the wing, but creating chances he really doesn't offer anything. | | | |
| Reality check people on 09:14 - Sep 19 with 8782 views | TW_R |
| Reality check people on 08:50 - Sep 19 by Vish |
the problem is we're already relying on Kranjcar, and he hasn't even played a game for us yet. We need more from our wingers in terms of creativity and chipping in with goals. Hoilett can create and score, but we have to keep him fit. Matt Phillips looks he can offer more once he's fully fit. SWP is doing a workmans like job on the wing, but creating chances he really doesn't offer anything. |
I think SWP has been alright this season. He created the goal against Ipswich and he won the free kick we scored from against Birmingham, hit the bar against Exeter. | | | |
| Reality check people on 09:33 - Sep 19 with 8757 views | loftus77 |
2 points from me:
1) Andy Johnson - call me cynical, but is he being punished by Harry, does anyone think? He (allegedly) tried to force a move to Palace through in the window, and since then he has developed 'an ongoing knee injury.' Is this just co-incidence? I know he's a perpetual crock but I can't help but wonder.
2) So far, our season reminds me very strongly of the 1997-1998 Championship (old Div 1) campaign. Then, as now, we were favourites (along with Forest) and everyone said we were the team to fear (Spencer, Sheron, Sinclair etc). I also remember us going on an early run of 4 wins (including a unconvincing 1-0 over Portsmouth that put us joint top). After that it all unfolded horribly (Houston, despite being backed by funds from Chris Wright, departed in Nov (after a freezing afternnoon at Middlesbrough - I'm still thawing out now)), and we ended up on the brink of relegation. No repeat please!!! [Post edited 19 Sep 2013 9:33]
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| Reality check people on 09:43 - Sep 19 with 8735 views | TheBlob |
| Reality check people on 09:33 - Sep 19 by loftus77 |
2 points from me:
1) Andy Johnson - call me cynical, but is he being punished by Harry, does anyone think? He (allegedly) tried to force a move to Palace through in the window, and since then he has developed 'an ongoing knee injury.' Is this just co-incidence? I know he's a perpetual crock but I can't help but wonder.
2) So far, our season reminds me very strongly of the 1997-1998 Championship (old Div 1) campaign. Then, as now, we were favourites (along with Forest) and everyone said we were the team to fear (Spencer, Sheron, Sinclair etc). I also remember us going on an early run of 4 wins (including a unconvincing 1-0 over Portsmouth that put us joint top). After that it all unfolded horribly (Houston, despite being backed by funds from Chris Wright, departed in Nov (after a freezing afternnoon at Middlesbrough - I'm still thawing out now)), and we ended up on the brink of relegation. No repeat please!!! [Post edited 19 Sep 2013 9:33]
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Which all goes to show that Reality has different interpretations.
I don't see the correlation between that clown Houston who has done bugger all subsequently,and an experienced warhorse like Harry. |  |
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| Reality check people on 09:57 - Sep 19 with 8713 views | isawqpratwcity |
| Reality check people on 09:33 - Sep 19 by loftus77 |
2 points from me:
1) Andy Johnson - call me cynical, but is he being punished by Harry, does anyone think? He (allegedly) tried to force a move to Palace through in the window, and since then he has developed 'an ongoing knee injury.' Is this just co-incidence? I know he's a perpetual crock but I can't help but wonder.
2) So far, our season reminds me very strongly of the 1997-1998 Championship (old Div 1) campaign. Then, as now, we were favourites (along with Forest) and everyone said we were the team to fear (Spencer, Sheron, Sinclair etc). I also remember us going on an early run of 4 wins (including a unconvincing 1-0 over Portsmouth that put us joint top). After that it all unfolded horribly (Houston, despite being backed by funds from Chris Wright, departed in Nov (after a freezing afternnoon at Middlesbrough - I'm still thawing out now)), and we ended up on the brink of relegation. No repeat please!!! [Post edited 19 Sep 2013 9:33]
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Thanks for the observation. It's difficult to point out on this site that we are not playing well and our squad has some serious problems without being slapped with a league table and the label of malcontent.
Well at least Harry is now agreeing with what some of us have been saying since early August. |  |
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| Reality check people on 10:05 - Sep 19 with 8680 views | Loft1979 |
| Reality check people on 09:14 - Sep 19 by TW_R |
I think SWP has been alright this season. He created the goal against Ipswich and he won the free kick we scored from against Birmingham, hit the bar against Exeter. |
Ok, fine. But he is picked for his defense! With BAE in, I think SWP is a sub and energy of the bench. I thought Tom Carroll being lifted footed has an advantage on the Left. If he is Not picked I think it's because Junior is fit and you chose speed. I agree with a poster who thought that introducing traore was a move we have been waiting for! We all see him as an offensive player, not defensive.
Karl has won the old Sean Derry job, with Ale his back up. And if JB sat, I think you put Oneil there.
Agreed we need a big striker. | | | |
| Reality check people on 10:45 - Sep 19 with 8634 views | isawqpratwcity |
| Reality check people on 09:43 - Sep 19 by TheBlob |
Which all goes to show that Reality has different interpretations.
I don't see the correlation between that clown Houston who has done bugger all subsequently,and an experienced warhorse like Harry. |
You're missing his point, Blob. he isn't comparing Harry to Houston. Quite the contrary, he is pointing out that being top after a handful of games is no guarantee that there aren't serious problems. | |
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| Reality check people on 11:05 - Sep 19 with 8604 views | TheBlob |
| Reality check people on 10:45 - Sep 19 by isawqpratwcity |
You're missing his point, Blob. he isn't comparing Harry to Houston. Quite the contrary, he is pointing out that being top after a handful of games is no guarantee that there aren't serious problems. |
Nope I'm not missing anything.There's a wealth of difference between the two.But as a general point there are always pitfalls......if you persist in being pessimistic you'll always find them lurking in the darkest recesses of the brain.
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| Reality check people on 11:20 - Sep 19 with 8580 views | isawqpratwcity |
| Reality check people on 11:05 - Sep 19 by TheBlob |
Nope I'm not missing anything.There's a wealth of difference between the two.But as a general point there are always pitfalls......if you persist in being pessimistic you'll always find them lurking in the darkest recesses of the brain.
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Who's being pessimistic? I'm not saying that the wheels are going to fall off. What I am saying is that our current position owes a sh*tload more to luck than it should, but we can change that by addressing several, arguably self-evident points.
And none of the recesses of my brain are anything but dark. | |
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| Reality check people on 11:25 - Sep 19 with 8569 views | TheBlob |
| Reality check people on 11:20 - Sep 19 by isawqpratwcity |
Who's being pessimistic? I'm not saying that the wheels are going to fall off. What I am saying is that our current position owes a sh*tload more to luck than it should, but we can change that by addressing several, arguably self-evident points.
And none of the recesses of my brain are anything but dark. |
So you're saying prevention is better than cure?Beware the "cure" maybe more draconian than the complaint.Remember what happened to Magilton with his constant tinkering? | |
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| Reality check people on 11:25 - Sep 19 with 8568 views | Juzzie |
Did AJ try and force a move though? I understood it to be that we were looking for a striker and were happy to let AJ talk to Palace. We pulled the plug late in the evening when our target fell through.
Still, we've known all summer we needed more than just one striker to come in. |  | | |
| Reality check people on 11:35 - Sep 19 with 8548 views | bosh67 |
It's hard to knock a team that are top BUT the strange thing is that at this level you put the ball quickly into the channels and you let your wingers outpace defences. We have those players. Last night had we tried to not play so much tippy tappy passing at the back and got the ball forward quicker and more simply to stretch Brighton, with Hitchcock alongside Austin, rather than ONeil, who I felt terribly sorry for as he'd obviously been asked to sit behind Austin, or somewhere, or anywhere, we would have got a better result. 2 wingers, 2 forwards, balls into the wide channels, less 'let's try and play it from the back for hours' stuff, we would have stood a chance of 3 points.
Last night we never looked like losing to be honest, I could have played in goal for us, but we never looked like winning - and if I was Austin, who probably covered about 15-20KM last night with zero service and support, I'd be getting a little concerned that a kid like Hitchcock, who is a forward, or Ale, who can pass were being overlooked for Traore and Jenas. At which point we totally lost shape. Not because either is that bad, it's just they came onto the pitch and clearly hadn't been told what their role actually was. |  |
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| Reality check people on 11:39 - Sep 19 with 8542 views | isawqpratwcity |
| Reality check people on 11:25 - Sep 19 by TheBlob |
So you're saying prevention is better than cure?Beware the "cure" maybe more draconian than the complaint.Remember what happened to Magilton with his constant tinkering? |
Harry definitely needs to keep tinkering with the formation. He definitely needs to add to the squad. Last night suggested that his team choices (specifically the substitutions) could take a fair bit of tinkering.
Hey, no need for change here. | |
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| Reality check people on 11:41 - Sep 19 with 8533 views | adhoc_qpr |
| Reality check people on 11:35 - Sep 19 by bosh67 |
It's hard to knock a team that are top BUT the strange thing is that at this level you put the ball quickly into the channels and you let your wingers outpace defences. We have those players. Last night had we tried to not play so much tippy tappy passing at the back and got the ball forward quicker and more simply to stretch Brighton, with Hitchcock alongside Austin, rather than ONeil, who I felt terribly sorry for as he'd obviously been asked to sit behind Austin, or somewhere, or anywhere, we would have got a better result. 2 wingers, 2 forwards, balls into the wide channels, less 'let's try and play it from the back for hours' stuff, we would have stood a chance of 3 points.
Last night we never looked like losing to be honest, I could have played in goal for us, but we never looked like winning - and if I was Austin, who probably covered about 15-20KM last night with zero service and support, I'd be getting a little concerned that a kid like Hitchcock, who is a forward, or Ale, who can pass were being overlooked for Traore and Jenas. At which point we totally lost shape. Not because either is that bad, it's just they came onto the pitch and clearly hadn't been told what their role actually was. |
Austin came to us with a reputation of a clinical and prolific goal scorer - and although we're a pretty rank team going forwards he has missed 1 or 2 good chances every game.
That's including playing as a lone striker, with AJ and with Zamora.
Not trying to get on the guys back, but he isn't living up to his billing for me, despite actually impressing me with his all round work rate and team play. | | | |
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