QPR: Back from the Match / Pub / TV

[facaldaqui]

MOTD2 was interesting. Tabb, Leigertwood, Roberts, and McCarthy picked out. Tabb and Roberts not so much on here. All we can do is moan that the midfield ran out of steam (leading to conceding one goal).

To be honest the ballwinning of Tabb and Leigertwood was pretty uncanny most of the time. I really want a Guthrie-type creative presence, but it's like putting an engine on a rowing boat while pulling a plank out.

And who thought Lorro would ever be more positive than Reading fans? He said if we kept our present team efforts going we will start winning. Good point, but can't he be bothered to have a shave to go on telly?

[maffff]

The "morning after in the office" conversation.

Four people have come up to me independently and just said. "Jay Tabb".

Not great conversations, admittedly, but interesting that he's getting mentioned above McCarthy.

A Spurs fan came up and asked if they could get Tabb, for Sig. Lolz.

Also, McCarthy should be in the England set up and Shorey actually looks like a Premier League player.

[ZacNaloen]

We won't win until we are in a situation where one of our midfielders runs out of steam at 60 minutes and cannot be replaced.

[Snowball]

MOTD2 was interesting. Tabb, Leigertwood, Roberts, and McCarthy picked out. Tabb and Roberts not so much on here. All we can do is moan that the midfield ran out of steam (leading to conceding one goal).

To be honest the ballwinning of Tabb and Leigertwood was pretty uncanny most of the time. I really want a Guthrie-type creative presence, but it's like putting an engine on a rowing boat while pulling a plank out.

And who thought Lorro would ever be more positive than Reading fans? He said if we kept our present team efforts going we will start winning. Good point, but can't he be bothered to have a shave to go on telly?

Thought Roberts was EXCELLENT up front and far better than Pog at holding up the ball, giving us a breather.

When fit he'd be on my team-sheet every time

Hunt looked a bit off colour and trying Pog for him might've helped

[ZacNaloen]

Hunt looks completely and utterly knackered after 65 minutes. No idea why he wasn't subbed over Roberts who tbf still looked fresh.

[facaldaqui]

MOTD2 was interesting. Tabb, Leigertwood, Roberts, and McCarthy picked out. Tabb and Roberts not so much on here. All we can do is moan that the midfield ran out of steam (leading to conceding one goal).

To be honest the ballwinning of Tabb and Leigertwood was pretty uncanny most of the time. I really want a Guthrie-type creative presence, but it's like putting an engine on a rowing boat while pulling a plank out.

And who thought Lorro would ever be more positive than Reading fans? He said if we kept our present team efforts going we will start winning. Good point, but can't he be bothered to have a shave to go on telly?

Thought Roberts was EXCELLENT up front and far better than Pog at holding up the ball, giving us a breather.

When fit he'd be on my team-sheet every time

Hunt looked a bit off colour and trying Pog for him might've helped

I'd like to see Hunt used as the sub, because he's so high-energy. This might help address the running out of steam business. Maybe start with Roberts and Le Fondre, because I think Le Fondre might capitalise on our early bursts of half chances.

[winchester_royal]

Hunt looks completely and utterly knackered after 65 minutes. No idea why he wasn't subbed over Roberts who tbf still looked fresh.

I'd imagine it's because Hunt is the only striker we have who wins anything in the air when we hooooooof it up field.

[melonhead]

I find myself in agreement with Brendy here. There were some ridiculous overreactions after the Arsenal game, claiming that there was no way back for Brian and this team. Yet we came out today and dominated QPR for he first half and we had chances to win it even after they'd equalised. I actually thought our ball retention wasn't bad today, but we did allow players such as Taraabt far too much time on the ball.

A win would have been great, but a point away at QPR isn't too bad at all. It will be our results at home that ultimately decide whether we stay up or not, we absolutely have to start winning at home.

Assuming no injuries, I would go with the same starting XI against Norwich.

agree about our ball retention- at about the half hour mark the possession was 65-35 in our favour

[Simon's Church]

I find myself in agreement with Brendy here. There were some ridiculous overreactions after the Arsenal game, claiming that there was no way back for Brian and this team. Yet we came out today and dominated QPR for he first half and we had chances to win it even after they'd equalised. I actually thought our ball retention wasn't bad today, but we did allow players such as Taraabt far too much time on the ball.

A win would have been great, but a point away at QPR isn't too bad at all. It will be our results at home that ultimately decide whether we stay up or not, we absolutely have to start winning at home.

Assuming no injuries, I would go with the same starting XI against Norwich.

agree about our ball retention- at about the half hour mark the possession was 65-35 in our favour

Yeah but for whatever reason it kind of went to shit after that.

[melonhead]

At times yesterday we were totally out-played, and everytime in the second half that the Rangers midfield got the ball, my heart was in my mouth, yet we still looked dangerous when we went forward and had the final pass been better or a shot been on target (Kebe!) then we might have nicked all 3 points.

We give the ball away far too cheaply and in dangerous positions, and that is something that has to be worked on constantly on the training pitches at Hogwood to be eradicated or at least massively reduced, because we just end up putting ourselves under so much pressure, and defend deeper and deeper that an opposition chance on goal is inevitable.

The only criticism of Brian I have got is that I would have brought the Pog on for Roberts at some point as the Rangers defence looked all at sea if the ball was crossed into the box, and had a panicky feel about it that the Pog might have been able to exploit; also, how many offsides does Roberts get a game???

at times qpr put us under pressure, especialy for twenty minutes up till they scored(they were at home, and desperate to win the game).
i would never have described it as a game in which we were outplayed at all though

agree in the second half we started giving the ball away, and defending deeper and deeper
but there are two teams playing, and you cant expect to hold anyone at bay for the whole game
agree that th epog maty have been able to get something in the air from that dfeence, and give us a better option that hitting morrison every time
especially as roberts and nhunt visibly tired after an hour

[melonhead]

I find myself in agreement with Brendy here. There were some ridiculous overreactions after the Arsenal game, claiming that there was no way back for Brian and this team. Yet we came out today and dominated QPR for he first half and we had chances to win it even after they'd equalised. I actually thought our ball retention wasn't bad today, but we did allow players such as Taraabt far too much time on the ball.

A win would have been great, but a point away at QPR isn't too bad at all. It will be our results at home that ultimately decide whether we stay up or not, we absolutely have to start winning at home.

Assuming no injuries, I would go with the same starting XI against Norwich.

agree about our ball retention- at about the half hour mark the possession was 65-35 in our favour

Yeah but for whatever reason it kind of went to shit after that.

pretty dominated the entire first half, and even came out well in the second for 5-10 mins

had a twenty minute spell when the home team started to play, and put some pressure on us, which youd expect and then the game was very open, with us putting some prssure on them till the end

[bennno]

I find myself in agreement with Brendy here. There were some ridiculous overreactions after the Arsenal game, claiming that there was no way back for Brian and this team. Yet we came out today and dominated QPR for he first half and we had chances to win it even after they'd equalised. I actually thought our ball retention wasn't bad today, but we did allow players such as Taraabt far too much time on the ball.

A win would have been great, but a point away at QPR isn't too bad at all. It will be our results at home that ultimately decide whether we stay up or not, we absolutely have to start winning at home.

Assuming no injuries, I would go with the same starting XI against Norwich.

agree about our ball retention- at about the half hour mark the possession was 65-35 in our favour

Yeah but for whatever reason it kind of went to shit after that.

Reading are relying on a pressing approach, not giving the other team any time on the ball. Works fine however its very high energy and only works until you start to run out of steam at which point the other team potentially have better legs to come back at you with. This for me is why we are a bit open in the second half as the hardworking midfielders Tabb / Leigertwood (and hunt) would have to be superhuman to continue pressing for a full 90 mins. We really need a fit Jem back and a second Leigertwood to be added to the squad to help us see out first half leads.

[pea]

Its another point in a league I never expected us to survive in anyway. If teams were beating us comfortably I'd be concerned, like they were in our last season in this division. But we're competing and our players are giving everything they've got, can't complain.

[SydenhamRoyal]

.[/quote]

Reading are relying on a pressing approach, not giving the other team any time on the ball. Works fine however its very high energy and only works until you start to run out of steam at which point the other team potentially have better legs to come back at you with. This for me is why we are a bit open in the second half as the hardworking midfielders Tabb / Leigertwood (and hunt) would have to be superhuman to continue pressing for a full 90 mins. We really need a fit Jem back and a second Leigertwood to be added to the squad to help us see out first half leads.[/quote]

Agree with this. Ledge in particular looked absolutely knackered from about 60 minutes, and don't forget most of them lot played 128 minutes during the week

[No Fixed Abode]

Reading clearly need a creative midfield player.

[ZacNaloen]

We just need another midfielder, or two, who can come on so we can keep doing what we do.

Tough tackling isn't important (but willing to put a tackle in is). Just as long as they can play football to the required level and intensity.

[melonhead]

creation doesnt seem to be our problem kesmond.
we are scoring goals, pretty freely.

it seems to me the problem lies in the defence making small errors every game, and in a midfield that cant keep pressing like that for 90 odd mins,


karacan being fit, would help,in that we would be able to sub off one of the CMs when they get knackered
and/or a midfielder who could do what tabb/karacan do, ASWELL as being able to keep the ball, and pass it a bit to relieve the pressure

[ZacNaloen]

With the lack of protection the defense gets in the last 30 minutes errors will eventually creep in, that's just basic stats

[RoyalBlue]

I'm on record as saying that Jay Tabb is a great professional but not of true PL quality.

Yesterday Jay Tabb very much played with PL quality. However, I'm still concerned that he will not be able to produce that level of performance consistently - would love it if he did.

.
Agree with this. Ledge in particular looked absolutely knackered from about 60 minutes, and don't forget most of them lot played 128 minutes during the week

Pedant alert!

If any of them played for 128 minutes during the week then Friend really did f*ck up the timekeeping!

The whole point being that you are meant to play for no more than 90 minutes (120 if extra time), as any additional time played is to make up for the time that the game is stopped during the regulation time!

[maffff]

Patrick Barclay: Brilliance of Cisse should offer hope for QPR

By now Mark Hughes, near-disconsolate after Queens Park Rangers’ home draw with Reading yesterday, may have had another look at his team’s performance, in which case he should be feeling more hopeful.

Despite the letting slip of another two points, Rangers emphasised they have enough quality to start reducing the gap between themselves, Reading and Southampton — an all too plausible bottom three — and the clubs above, who surprisingly include Stoke City, Saturday’s opponents at the Britannia Stadium.

There is a midweek visit to Sunderland towards the end of the month and Aston Villa are due at Loftus Road only days later. These are key matches in the mini-league in which Rangers reluctantly feature — and they do have the scoring potential to emerge with the beginnings of a revival.

Djibril Cisse embodies it. There are times when you wonder if the former Liverpool striker ought to spend less time designing his appearance and more on improving his game but the Lord of the Manor of Frodsham — a title he acquired upon buying property in the Cheshire village of that name — performed with the right kind of swagger yesterday.

He was a class above the surrounding defenders in scoring the equaliser and the long-range shot that had Rangers fans prematurely celebrating a winner had a touch of majesty, even if Reading’s outstanding young goalkeeper Alex McCarthy seemed to have it covered. Cisse contrived a classy cross for Bobby Zamora too — only for the former Fulham striker to display what you might call the common touch in front of goal.

All in all, Cisse looked just the sort of player you want in a crisis. Which was exactly what he wasn’t last season, when the Frenchman scored six goals in eight matches but was too often unavailable because of two red cards. Now that he has learned how to stay on the field, the goals should start coming and, if yesterday’s proves the first of a run, even old curmudgeons like me will not mind how he has his scalp and chops styled.

Other reasons for Rangers to be more cheerful than Hughes appeared after the match include Junior Hoilett and, if the exciting presence of Adel Taarabt makes you wonder if there is a bit too much individualism in the ranks, the diligent professionalism exemplified by Esteban Granero, for all his skills, and Ryan Nelsen offers reassurance.

Rangers just need that elusive first win and, if it comes at Stoke, there will be optimism in the air when Southampton come to west London on Saturday week. It’s nicely set up for Cisse. Maybe he should keep yesterday’s barnet — in appropriate blue — as a lucky charm.

LINK

What a pile of horsesh*t. He looked off the pace and disinterested for about 70 minutes. The 'outclassed', our young debutant mistimed one header... admittedly it was well taken, but seriously????