Mowbray targeted the QPR central defenders and said the players had practiced the system for only a couple of days. He freely admitted they took half an hour, of the game, to get the hang of it. So we, the supporters, need to accept that the tactics will vary according to whether we're playing lumpy L1 style outfits like Millwall, Reading and QPR or teams that play football.. You often see people, including myself, wanting us to 'get straight into them' and be on the front foot from the start ... ... but sometimes the starting set up doesn't work then we're on countdown trying to rejig the system before time runs out. We get it right on the whole but there'll be times, like Boro away, when it just doesn't work and we have to accept that. At QPR it took me half the game to understand why our full backs seemed to be out of position every time I looked
Haway the lads. Hoping for another big 3. Missing the father in law's 70th meal to go to the game instead , much to the wife's approval..... So hopefully it's worth it ha
RTB I am hoping our home form continues to improve and we register another win. As for the team, it's hard to leave 09 out I reckon. Clarke is scoring but so does Amad. Pritchard is important for the team but his goal tally is low. We will probably not have 1 main scorer but goals will come from lots of players. Ballard/Baath are due a couple and Amad will be busting a gut to score. Gelhardt improved agsinst QPR , personally I am giving the lad a half a dozen games before having an opinion. Cirkin wants to play. Bristol are on a bit of a run. 2-0 to Sunderland, Amad and Gelhardt to score.
Good point, as usual, the dilemma for Tony is the sluggish players at the start are often our match winners, but those sluggish starts are a bit of a problem and after watching the 90 mins , I would start O/9 in mid field ,in a 4/3/3 set up, I would also rest Alese to give the Cirkin - Clarke combo a chance to rekindle their early season form and give us better cover in set piece situations. But whoever starts once again our bench will play a decisive role . Oa U
Ah the good old match day thread love when it comes on means it’s nearly time for the game,never looked forward to going for years. Uncle Tony has a few calls to make hopefully he chooses wisely I’m hoping for nice 2-1 win with Gelhardt getting off the mark and maybe Roberts notching COME ON
That first half hour down at QPR was a bit concerning for me, I like Pritchard but didn't think the deep role suited him or us and was a factor in the penalty award. We were superb after Patterson saved the pen and it could have been 5 or 6 in truth. I'd leave 09 in CM to counter their strength out wide and have Neil alongside him. Amad for Ba. These have two or three good lads as well so expecting a decent game. We'll have too much for them. 2-1 to the Lads.
Superb thread as always @RTB. Really enjoy the read. Chuffed you had a good night down at QPR with the other 2.5k beautiful people.
Not sure that's fair. Won 4 of the last 6 at home, the only defeats being the red card game (free hit and we were the better side) and the WBA game when they were flying
Morning boys going to be a interesting game this apart from the top two sides you and us have been the best and most consistent in picking up points over the last 10 games. Going to be a good game plenty of attacking football. We have come a long way since early season under Nigel Pearson the football played now is so quick. As for Tony Mowbray a manager that has fitted in well at yours and doing very well. Going to be a close game this-may the best team win.
That paragraph man. This player is important and good, Sonia this one, so is this one, so is this one. So we don’t know who to play!! Never in my 42 years of watching the lads, can I remember being able to say stuff like this!!
Doesn't really matter what our starting line up is. Just a great squad that can play in numerous combinations and all deserve a go and have their own merits. Also interesting how it's not taken very long for O'Nien to show he CAN play in midfield. Top bloke and great player - he can play anywhere.
46+ points in the bank -- primary mission accomplished. Now let's see about playing Fulham twice again next year.
That's a very good point to be honest. I was talking more in general terms (we're about 12th in the league in terms of home results) but it's clearly something we're improving on.
