Preston were a much better footballing team. We set up 4-4-1-1 but Freeman drifted too central so the right flank was mainly vacant in the first half. We had very little imagination or possesion in the first half. Manning was brought on for Samuel at half time. Eze went out wide and mass played off Smith who was very lonely up top, flicking balls on to nobody. We were pretty poor, Smith only has the mobility to play in a 3m circumference so needs players closer to him. We looked better when sylla came on for him. What really surprised me was our warm up, considering the heat and conditions. We were out at least 15 minutes earlier than Preston whose warm up was a lot lighter. They looked fresher at the kick off that was for sure. Our limited attacks were based around clearances. I know this was the first game and we shouldn't judge, but it was also everyone else's opening game so we have to try find some positives. Today, for me, those were our Geman skipper, comfortable and sensible, Freeman to an extent, he tried hard but sometimes chooses the wrong options. The other positive was that we could have lost by more on another day. It really was a class save by their keeper in the end to deny us a point. In my opinion we are at least 4/5 players away from competing on a decent level.
If I'm being totally honest, our first half performance was up there with one of the worst I have witnessed. They zipped it around to feet and mixed the odd ball between full back and centre back to cause us problems. We honestly didn't combine 3 passes in the opening 15 minutes. It wasn't good at all but I'm trying to stay positive. I really am!!
The story of the last decade? Early days yet and McLaren has a reputation for innovative coaching, he'll need to be at the top of his game with this lot...
I have to agree. We just don't have the necessary quality and if I'm brutally honest Steve will have to use all his nouse to make things improve
Before anyone shoots me I’ll make the case for the defence. I just moved back to U.K. from Canada & have a ST in SAR....I couldn’t make PNE away & an old friend invited me to Griffin Park. I viewed it as a scouting mission for the R’s. Main observations 1. Average age of Bees fan is about 65 2. Bees v neat & tidy. McReachan the ex-Scum is quality as is McLeod alongside him. Ollie Watkins will be a menace in this division 3. Rotherham were beyond ****e.... Not good to see our so called poor relations in better shape but they will be mid to upper half this season in this evidence with the major caveat mentioned in 3. above... One can only hope. Will be in site on 11/8 for SU & first away trip for about 15 years to WBA following week. At least England won the Test Match
BFG was a positive, first impression very good. Looks captain material, good call Schteve. I would also like to give a shout out for Lynch, better than I remember and expected. Don't think we should start Smith, he's plan B and that is all he should be, With the big man up front players automatically hit it long instead of trying to play. Our attacking play looked random. Credit need to go to Preston, very hard working unit, tough to play against. Apart from their gamesmanship they look a decent well drilled side who should be there or thereabouts.
9 games left then Bob until the magical transformation of the wonder coach I just watched the highlights and watched PNE players running into spaces giving the man on the ball a option each time Was that a reflection of the game ? Easy to see the gaps between the pink shirts Early days
Out all day.... 1 game down 135 points to play for, 60 to be safe....No worries. Great to see soopers posting again.... Brilliant win in the cricket....wrong thread I know.... Ireland's ladies hockey side has unexpectedly reach the world cup final.... The sun is still shinning, well nor at the moment as it's 10:30 pm but you know what I mean.... I'm rambling after some very pleasant vino... Up the R's
Exactly that mate. Especially for the opening 20 odd minutes. Simple passing made easy by the space we gave them. Like I said, we looked knackered in the heat after that warm up. It seemed like too much considering the conditions.
Preston 1-0 QPR | Video | Watch TV Show | Sky Sports http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...titions/championship/11461052/preston-1-0-qpr
They're there, but almost invisible on the Sky stream. Hopefully easier to see in real life. Looking forward to seeing how the team improves over the next few games. We're not going up this year, nor should we expect to, but we can hope for a bit more organisation and planning, can't we? I'm going to set my sights low and be pleasantly surprised. It's easier that way!
Can only comment on the high lights as was not there. Reflex save at the death to deny Sylla and a point. Surely that 'bad luck' can't keep happening all season. Can it?! Early days.
Bob.....is there a case for not playing Freeman if he unbalances things too much, or are we too short of quality to leave him out?
Col, I was saying the same thing to my lad. Do you sacrifice him to enable us to keep the width or do you sacrifice either scowen or mass for him to play central. He did in all honesty look like our only possibility of a spark though.
