Well………. That was disappointing. Although l had hoped for a high scoring win, l would of settled for a one nil win but a draw ? Oh well, after reading your comments, l guess l should be satisfied with a draw. Good to hear people are happy to be back at Loftus Road.
Used a friend’s season ticket QR code in South Africa Road which worked fine. Great to be back. Even with the lack of leg room and the twenty minute wait for a half time drink (staff shortage caused by better wages at Wembley apparently). As for the game, Millwall had done their homework, stopping Willock from turning and doubling up on Wallace. But Dickie’s goal was amazing and we didn’t lose…lots more to come I hope.
Was just bringing a fella back to life with a bag of glucose (blood sugar count of 0.8 and out of it) when my phone buzzed with our equaliser…..couldn’t help but peek a quick look and did a little “get in”, which I think the Mrs thought was directed at them, She was happy. A point is a point and derby games are always difficult to predict. Still think we’ll win the league
Millwall did do their homework and did stop us playing. I hope Warburton can suss a way around this. I thought he made the changes too late but even then they weren't effective. Having said that I don't think we had many options from the sub shack! Dykes and Austin were ineffective as a partnership. Another midfielder made us sit too deep. It didn't seem that any point we could win this game whatever the changes. I feel that this post is having an argument with itself. And by the way , Ellerslie Road is a hell hole if you want to get to the loo at half time. It's gridlocked. Bring on the new stadium.
It's not such a bad thing to get an early reality check, I think this will do us good in the long run.
I thought Willock was a creative threat. I think we missed Chair too. If he'd been available yesterday and we had played him alongside Willock with just one of Austin and Dykes, I reckon we'd have caused Walll more problems and made more chances. Questionable though if we'd have scored more. I wonder as well why Warburton uses Thomas, when we have Albert on the Bench who has shown he is so effective coming on for the last 15/20 or so. Yesterday I though Dozzell could play Johansen's role, and Albert could have won us the game further forward or wide.
We needed to Willock to step up, but he never had much of a chance because they doubled-up on him a lot of the time. Once Johansen went off we never looked like scoring. .
Austin on his last legs? Was he that bad? I'm clinging to his 8 goals in 20 games last season and 2 decent goals in pre-season to give me hope he's not done for just yet. He's only 32 after all.
Maybe it was a knock, but he looked very lethargic. I definitely don't think playing Austin and Dykes together is the best option.
Look at the highlights, his first half shot from outside the box - at the time we said that there was plenty of space for him to keep running into, but he clearly didn’t fancy it. He did try a lot of first time lay offs yesterday, trying to bring Dykes into the game. I think he’s taking this mentorship thing too seriously, be your usual selfish goal scoring self Charlie. The fans totally adore him, must be a massive ego boost. He’ll score of course, he can’t help it. On yesterday’s showing I’d be more concerned about Dykes, he did virtually nothing. But it’s only one game, and as has been said earlier on this thread, the shape yesterday wasn’t there - Chair absent, Johansen very rusty, Willock out of position. Early days.
He did come very close to scoring when he beat a couple if defenders and shot from just outside the box. In the highlights there.
First game in what is probably the hardest division. A point in a local derby isnt a bad start. We've had three pre season friendlies where the players had started to get their fitness back. It will be interesting to see where we are after 10 league games....I see us being top 8. Lets hope some of those on the bench get a start against Leyton O and maybe give them a chance to build up their fitness levels.
