Match Day Thread QPR v Sheff Utd

[QPR999]

Sylla night - Report

Wednesday, 1st Nov 2017 19:31 by Clive Whittingham

QPR made it back to back wins against the top two in the division with a 1-0 win against Sheff Utd on Tuesday - a fortunate winning goal, but a formidable team display from the R's.



A brief history of Queens Park Rangers Football Club in a handy, bite-sized fortnight – fail to beat either of the bottom two, dominate and beat the top two, with a financial meltdown and negative publicity storm in the middle. You can’t help but love them.

Rangers were given a big helping hand in Tuesday’s 1-0 win against league leaders Sheffield United by visiting goalkeeper Jamal Blackman who effectively handed the R’s a one goal start in the game right from the off. A long ball into School End penalty box from Alex Baptiste looking for Idrissa Sylla drew the Chelsea-loanee from his line but with Cameron Carter-Vickers more bothered about wrestling with Sylla than concentrating on the ball a collision couldn’t be avoided. The keeper crashed down to the ground off his team mate’s shoulders, spilling the ball behind him in the process and leaving Sylla - after one terrifying moment where I thought he was going to stop and pick the ball up – the simple task of rolling the opening goal into the unguarded net. Three goals in four games for Sylla, 14 goals in 19 starts and 24 sub appearances since he first arrived in the UK at the start of last season.

Read the rest here ... https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/46859/sylla-night--report

 

[rangercol]

Good report again from Clive. Some interesting comments: He also agrees that Cousins isn't a wing back; Mackie falling out with Ollie and team-mates, presumably because he thinks (wrongly) that he should be starting; the midfield being bypassed a bit at times - hopefully this was just a temporary tactical thing to get push their wing backs further back.
Interesting also to hear that Furlong did well when he came on, although it's not clear whether we were still playing with wing backs by that stage or had gone to a back four?
Either way, Furlong should be given a run imo.

When everyone is fit, how about this?:

----------------------------------------Smithies------------------------------------
------------------Onuoha--------------Hall--------------Babtiste---------------
Furlong-----------------------------------------------------------------Robinson
---------------------------------------Scowan--------------------------------------
----------------------Freeman----------------------Luongo----------------------
--------------------------Sylla-----------------Washington-----------------------

 

[qprbeth]

When everyone is fit, how about this?:

----------------------------------------Smithies------------------------------------
------------------Onuoha--------------Hall--------------Babtiste---------------
Furlong-----------------------------------------------------------------Robinson
---------------------------------------Scowan--------------------------------------
----------------------Freeman----------------------Luongo----------------------
--------------------------Sylla-----------------Washington-----------------------

A couple of comments Col
I am seriously worried we will not see Hall again this season. He has broken down twice now during comebacks...In the heat of a battling team I do not think Ollie will risk him for a long time
Robinson is seriously good as a CD. I can see him making it his own (as long as he stays fit...but so far so good)

Ned would not automatically make my team at the moment...as in the last few games whatever the combination ( Baptists/Lynch/Robinson/Bidwell) Ollie has tried has worked. .

 

[SW Ranger]

We have shown we have the tenacity, teamwork and the ability to beat anyone in this league.
Now we need to find that consistency and desire to beat everyone - and enjoy the ride.

 

[sb_73]

Good report again from Clive. Some interesting comments: He also agrees that Cousins isn't a wing back; Mackie falling out with Ollie and team-mates, presumably because he thinks (wrongly) that he should be starting; the midfield being bypassed a bit at times - hopefully this was just a temporary tactical thing to get push their wing backs further back.
Interesting also to hear that Furlong did well when he came on, although it's not clear whether we were still playing with wing backs by that stage or had gone to a back four?
Either way, Furlong should be given a run imo.

When everyone is fit, how about this?:

----------------------------------------Smithies------------------------------------
------------------Onuoha--------------Hall--------------Babtiste---------------
Furlong-----------------------------------------------------------------Robinson
---------------------------------------Scowan--------------------------------------
----------------------Freeman----------------------Luongo----------------------
--------------------------Sylla-----------------Washington-----------------------

I suppose if Sylla keeps on scoring we can’t complain but I rarely see much positive stuff written about him. And let’s face it, we signed Washington as a goal scorer, not as a worrier and a chaser, though he does that job well and is always more likely to score than Mackie. Given that the midfield is a good unit but doesn’t score many goals, and somehow the makeshift defence is doing well, it’s upfront that we have the issues. We obviously won’t be buying anyone in the foreseeable future, I wonder if there are any of the freescoring development squad who should be on the bench. It’s a shame that Polter’s family were homesick, I know he was no world beater but I think he would thrive in a team with the attitude we have now. And I liked him, brought us a bit of character.

Your team is as good as I can think of, especially Furlong and Robinson at wing backs. But I also wonder whether Ollie has a challenge keeping a very large squad happy, and has a lot of players who seem to be much of a muchness - Pavel, Wheeler, Lua Lua, Yeni - what’s the difference? Borysiuk was meant to be like a new signing but has disappeared again. If Mackie is playing up (as he has in the past) let’s hope the excellent spirit holds.

 

[Stroller]

Good report again from Clive. Some interesting comments: He also agrees that Cousins isn't a wing back; Mackie falling out with Ollie and team-mates, presumably because he thinks (wrongly) that he should be starting; the midfield being bypassed a bit at times - hopefully this was just a temporary tactical thing to get push their wing backs further back.
Interesting also to hear that Furlong did well when he came on, although it's not clear whether we were still playing with wing backs by that stage or had gone to a back four?
Either way, Furlong should be given a run imo.

When everyone is fit, how about this?:

----------------------------------------Smithies------------------------------------
------------------Onuoha--------------Hall--------------Babtiste---------------
Furlong-----------------------------------------------------------------Robinson
---------------------------------------Scowan--------------------------------------
----------------------Freeman----------------------Luongo----------------------
--------------------------Sylla-----------------Washington-----------------------

Robinson should stay as CB in my opinion, he's absolute class in that position. I'd have him replacing Baptiste in your line-up, with Bidwell (who's been playing well) or Manning as LWB.

 

[QPR Oslo]

Good report again from Clive. Some interesting comments: He also agrees that Cousins isn't a wing back; Mackie falling out with Ollie and team-mates, presumably because he thinks (wrongly) that he should be starting; the midfield being bypassed a bit at times - hopefully this was just a temporary tactical thing to get push their wing backs further back.
Interesting also to hear that Furlong did well when he came on, although it's not clear whether we were still playing with wing backs by that stage or had gone to a back four?
Either way, Furlong should be given a run imo.

When everyone is fit, how about this?:

----------------------------------------Smithies------------------------------------
------------------Onuoha--------------Hall--------------Babtiste---------------
Furlong-----------------------------------------------------------------Robinson
---------------------------------------Scowan--------------------------------------
----------------------Freeman----------------------Luongo----------------------
--------------------------Sylla-----------------Washington-----------------------

Pretty sure we were playing 4 at the back from at the least when Furlong came on at RB. Wheeler played in front of him. When Wheeler went off, for Manning the Officials Commentators on the live stream (the side one is Andy Sinton) said Mackie moved out to the right.By then we were holding on for the win and sending long clearances towards the corner flags for Washington ,Manning and others to chase and hold out there, so very unsure what formation it was by then.

I'd like Pawel in the right wing back role, though Furlong is a good alternative especially at RB in a 4. Perch should be back soon and he will be backup at least all over the back 5. Don't think we'll see Hall for a while. I'd also love to see Smith and Sylla play together from the start, perhaps at first against weaker opposition at home with this kind of line up from players fit now (I hope!) in a 3 5 2. They are our 2 best goal scorer I believe, and surely have scored most per minute played for us of the current 4 strikers. Anyone have those stats? The challenge would be getting the right variety of balls into the box to them. We have done that well mostly this season at the end of games when they are both on, and haven't relied entirely on long punts up to Smith at all.

Smithies
Baptiste Lynch Bidwell
Pawel Robinson
Luongo Scowen Freeman
Sylla Smith

I have Robinson at LWB as I think he'd be excellent there and provide bullets for the front 2. Still he's been excellent at CB, and Bidwell solid at least in both positions so they could be interchanged in my wish list.

 

[Stroller]

Pretty sure we were playing 4 at the back from at the least when Furlong came on at RB. Wheeler played in front of him. When Wheeler went off, for Manning the Officials Commentators on the live stream (the side one is Andy Sinton) said Mackie moved out to the right.By then we were holding on for the win and sending long clearances towards the corner flags for Washington ,Manning and others to chase and hold out there, so very unsure what formation it was by then.

I'd like Pawel in the right wing back role, though Furlong is a good alternative especially at RB in a 4. Perch should be back soon and he will be backup at least all over the back 5. Don't think we'll see Hall for a while. I'd also love to see Smith and Sylla play together from the start, perhaps at first against weaker opposition at home with this kind of line up from players fit now (I hope!) in a 3 5 2. They are our 2 best goal scorer I believe, and surely have scored most per minute played for us of the current 4 strikers. Anyone have those stats? The challenge would be getting the right variety of balls into the box to them. We have done that well mostly this season at the end of games when they are both on, and haven't relied entirely on long punts up to Smith at all.

Smithies
Baptiste Lynch Bidwell
Pawel Robinson
Luongo Scowen Freeman
Sylla Smith

I have Robinson at LWB as I think he'd be excellent there and provide bullets for the front 2. Still he's been excellent at CB, and Bidwell solid at least in both positions so they could be interchanged in my wish list.

I'm not sure we had wing-backs at any time on Tuesday. I thought we started with 4-3-3 and ended with 4-5-1.

 

[QPR Oslo]

Robinson should stay as CB in my opinion, he's absolute class in that position. I'd have him replacing Baptiste in your line-up, with Bidwell (who's been playing well) or Manning as LWB.

Baptiste was my and many others MOM last night including Antii and Clive. He's been good or very good since he arrived and surely Ollie won't be leaving either him or Robinson out, before they need a rest, for the FA Cup in January maybe!

 

[Wherever]

I wonder who will knock us out in round three this year?

 

[Stroller]

Baptiste was my and many others MOM last night including Antii and Clive. He's been good or very good since he arrived and surely Ollie won't be leaving either him or Robinson out, before they need a rest, for the FA Cup in January maybe!

Baptiste was indeed very good on Tuesday (probably my MOM too), but I still see him as back-up when everyone is fit.

 

[QPR Oslo]

I'm not sure we had wing-backs at any time on Tuesday. I thought we started with 4-3-3 and ended with 4-5-1.

The Official live stream had us lining up in a 3 4 1 2 before the game with Wheeler and Cousins in the 4, and Freeman forward behind the 2 strikers. If you were at the game you will have seen better than me on the stream, but I thought Wheeler and Cousins were playing as wing backs pretty quick into the 1st half and thought the Commentators said the same. But Wheeler was all over the park, and we certainly went 4 at the back at some point, I thought because Cousins was struggling on the right side.

 

[qprbeth]

I'm not sure we had wing-backs at any time on Tuesday. I thought we started with 4-3-3 and ended with 4-5-1.

No we weren't..We were definately playing Ollies perfered formation of 3 at the back in attack on Saturday and Tuesday.

It was only when Furlong came on did it go to a flat back 4.
He has played this formation in the last couple of months and it is what he wants to play....and it is working....

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

No we weren't..We were definately playing Ollies perfered formation of 3 at the back in attack on Saturday and Tuesday.

It was only when Furlong came on did it go to a flat back 4.
He has played this formation in the last couple of months and it is what he wants to play....and it is working....

I saw it as a four at the start on Tuesday. Wheeler on one wing and Freeman the other.

 

[Stroller]

No we weren't..We were definately playing Ollies perfered formation of 3 at the back in attack on Saturday and Tuesday.

It was only when Furlong came on did it go to a flat back 4.
He has played this formation in the last couple of months and it is what he wants to play....and it is working....

I'm aware that we have been playing with 3 CBs for some time Beth, although with Bidwell as LWB it can appear like a lopsided back four sometimes. It looked different to me on Tuesday, with Robinson and Baptiste at CB and Bidwell and Cousins (and later Furlong) playing as regular full-backs. It was a little confusing overall though, as Wheeler was all over the pitch.

 

[rangercol]

Surely Wheeler shouldn't have been "all over the pitch".
From reports it seems we started with Wheeler as left wing back and Cousins as right wing back. As we're not Citeh it's very important that our wing backs know their roles and stay in their positions.
I wouldn't want to see a back three that included both Lynch and Bidwell as they're both a little too donkey-like for me when this system needs reasonably mobile CBs or least two out of the three, which is why I'd have Ned and Babtiste or Robinson in there alongside Hall or Lynch I suppose.
Maybe a back 3 of Ned, Robinson and Babtiste then, with Bidwell back to (a limited) wing back?

 

[Stroller]

Surely Wheeler shouldn't have been "all over the pitch".
From reports it seems we started with Wheeler as left wing back and Cousins as right wing back. As we're not Citeh it's very important that our wing backs know their roles and stay in their positions.
I wouldn't want to see a back three that included both Lynch and Bidwell as they're both a little too donkey-like for me when this system needs reasonably mobile CBs or least two out of the three, which is why I'd have Ned and Babtiste or Robinson in there alongside Hall or Lynch I suppose.
Maybe a back 3 of Ned, Robinson and Babtiste then, with Bidwell back to (a limited) wing back?

I don't believe Wheeler was playing as a wing back, Col. As I said earlier, it seemed to me that Bidwell and Cousins started as conventional full-backs, with Furlong replacing Cousins, who was struggling, later on.

I saw it as a four at the start on Tuesday. Wheeler on one wing and Freeman the other.

As Watford suggests, Wheeler played as a winger, mainly left first half and mainly right second half, as far as I could see (I say that because I didn't have my glasses, so had to ask my son on occasions who was who!).

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

I don't believe Wheeler was playing as a wing back, Col. As I said earlier, it seemed to me that Bidwell and Cousins started as conventional full-backs, with Furlong replacing Cousins, who was struggling, later on.



As Watford suggests, Wheeler played as a winger, mainly left first half and mainly right second half, as far as I could see (I say that because I didn't have my glasses, so had to ask my son on occasions who was who!).

I have the same issue. When we attack the School End all the attacking players (with the obvious exception of Sylla) blend into one.

 

[rangercol]

I wonder why the official site described our formation as 3 at the back? You'd have thought they might have asked Ollie?

 

[Stroller]

I wonder why the official site described our formation as 3 at the back? You'd have thought they might have asked Ollie?

Was that a response to my post, or just a general observation?