As far as 0-0s go I didn't think it was all that bad, but might be fooling myself after a 5 hour round trip. Thought Cousins was decent enough, just a total lack of a killer ball..... again
Clive's report on LFW's...... A rare clean sheet couldn't bring a second consecutive away win for QPR at Ipswich on Boxing Day as the R's attack misfired once again. Queens Park Rangers’ main problem through the first half of 2017/18 has been injuries to their defenders. In this first match of the second half of the season, the first return fixture of the campaign., they kept just their fourth clean sheet so far, just the seventh since Ian Holloway returned as manager some 55 league games ago. With Nedum Onuoha back, Jack Robinson discovered as a far better option to turnstile Joel Lynch (enjoying his annual Christmas sabbatical), Alex Baptiste holding his own and Grant Hall no longer laid up that crisis has eased and with it has come five points, with just two goals conceded – one from an uncharacteristic mistake from goalkeeper Alex Smithies, the other from a diabolical penalty decision in the home game with Bristol City. Read the rest here..........https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/footb...-attack-misfires-in-ipswich-stalemate--report
Bit harsh of a rating on Sylla for all those criticizing his 'laziness' he ran around like a blue arsed fly closing down the defenders, granted he could have been more clinical but I think it was more due to the lack of cutting balls into the box. Apart from that a fair enough report really, we were the better team despite what the channel5 Championship report said
The only real "chance" I remember Sylla getting when he shot too close to the Keeper, but it was given Offside anyway I think. It would be great if he could make more chances himself but he's not that good. Given Smith to play off he might start scoring again.
Desire got us a point That bloke Clive can’t help himself can he? I saw desire, fluid movement and clever controlled play ... we already know we have no final pass. The lad Sylia done his bit ok and chased around the pitch. One three occasions he was bang on in terms of position but was not found as was Smith late on .... that final ball! ... it will come pretty sure when it does things will change and we will dump a few teams in the second half of the season. When that game comes we will be a very good side Composure and understanding will boost confidence
Exactly, he was pressing their defense every chance forcing the long ball and he is clearly the most clinical finisher we have by some way just need the ball in the right areas. Thought Cousins was really good as well off the ball disrupting any fluidity, being a total menace. Just need a bit more confidence going forward really, most of the problem from what I saw was we would be galloping away and then check back disrupting momentum and allowing the defenders to compose themselves. Obviously Ollie sees a lot more than us in training but I find it strange that so many seem to have been tossed on the scrap heap.
Desire didn' get us a point at all DT. If that was the case surely we desired to win but didn't. All those other away games, did we not desire to get anything??? Olly setting up for a draw is what got us a draw simple as that.
Would you not accept that motivation and desire are big factors in this league? Holloway is undoubtedly suspect tactically, but he is an integral part of a new, and welcome I would say, QPR culture that values club and teammates above the individual, and in that he is invaluable in my opinion.
Oh definately motivation and desire to perform to your highest standard are factors. Ability and tactics top that though. I'm willing to give ian more time and really do hope he proves me wrong
There was no set up for a draw and again you are completely wrong. The team was fluid enough to switch between defensive and attack options. There was a desire to win that game as with most games We did not go there for a draw Players did their jobs and were focussed from the start ... if anyone could not see how the confidence spread throughout this match then I despair ... generally fans I believe felt very confident after the hour mark that not only had we stopped their game we asked questions when we had the ball and moved it well with only the final pass being missing There was not a hint of parking the bus by QPR for the full 90 we controlled the centre of the park away from home and had an excellent defensive desire to win everything and anything in our own half The off the ball running by cousins was excellent Even with 10 men we could of nicked this match and had two half chances to do so Cannot agree at all with your post
I'm with you on this. The game just highlighted that either our final ball is not there or the strikers don't have the killer instinct (if we had a forward like Austin we'd be at least 10 goals better and pushing for the play off places). Our build up play to the edge of the box was sharp and it just wasn't to be - a couple of headers straight at their keeper, a volley from Sylla just over.
Freeman started the Ipswich game the Official said, and it looked, further forward than usual to support Sylla. That didn't seem to work and Freeman pulled back to his nornal position and played better there but left Sylla pretty well alone up front. My memory of Austin with us was that he also struggled when played alone up front and we struggled to fit him into our formation. But he was most effective when playing off OBZ. Likewise though neither are as good, I think we may score more if we get Sylla playing off Smith. I realise this presents problems in both supplying them with the right service, and defensively but think Ollie should go for it sometimes. Tonight without Scowen may not be the best occasion, but we will remain toothless until he plays them together, or finds another striker somewhere.
Never mentioned parking the bus. You don't need to do that to draw a game. Of course he set up to counter attack hence one striker on the pitch. Would he do that at home? We got a draw because that's what he went for. Anything else was a bonus. Not saying there's anything wrong with that away at Ipswich but it was blatantly obvious to see and the draw came in on my accumulator to win me over 700 quid. Cheers ian
You contradict yourself DT. You said desire got us a point. You then said there was a desire to win that game like most games. Can't understand why it would work to get us a point but doesn't every week......... As you already know, I'm not a fan of Holloway. He's good for a post match entertaining speech and the motivational talk and that's about it. In fairness to him he has signed some decent players but also signed a fair few without setting a formation up to accommdate them. I want nothing more than for him to prove me wrong and I will eat my words but I suspect we will see one up top again against millwall tonight and I'm going for either 1-1 or 2-1 millwall.
Come the end of the season 'could haves' 'ifs' and 'buts' will not carry any weight what so ever. Only points on the table will do that. If we had had that bit of luck or we could have nicked it, we didn't nick the match so that becomes irrelevant and only one point goes on our tally.
Agree at the end of the season all things can be considered. I currently feel Holloway is doing his job very well and if successful at the end then I am certain that full confidence will be rightfully given to him. I certainly prefer Holloway’s footballing ethics and brain to Redknapps
