I get that it's annoying to get knocked out of the cup again, especially for those who travelled there. Putting that aside... I think the game would have been looked at as something to benefit our Championship season in the following ways: Getting Burrell and fringe players match fit. Getting players who are fringe to get used to the system and the positions they might play in that system. I do believe Stephane would have wanted to win but he limited himself to those players for the above reason. And the club wasn't exactly going to say "hey, QPR fans, don't bother buying tickets to this one, we're just using it for experimentation and to better prepare for the Championship." The truth is, fans know what we're like in the cup and the lineup was pretty much to be expected, especially as Stephane doesn't want any more injuries to his preferred squad. Considering all the above, there were positives. And the performance of those youngsters was decent, considering that they were up against some experienced players, including some who played in the Championship last year. Would I have liked a cup run? Of course. Did I expect this? Yes. Would I have wanted Stephane to throw everything at this game with no consideration for our Championship needs? No. Further, we really don't need to look too deeply into this game about how things will be in the next v. Watford. We won't be fielding our development squad.
I tend to be disagreeing with you a fair bit recently, please don't take offence as it's all just opinions. I don't think it has had any benefit of any shape or form. The kids literally got played around, chasing shadows at times and no doubt knocking what pre match confidence they had. As for getting them match fit, it was one game and now thats over. The club should have done exactly what you said and pre warned hard working people that you're only going to Plymouth to see Nardi and the development squad. It's just my theory but I think Stephan was instructed to play all the kids and just went along with it. We are one game into the season, actually catching up on a bit of a shambles pre season and some of our so called first team could have done with some minutes to bloody sharpen up. The whole night was a bit of a mistake in my eyes and has had no positive effect at all. We now play Watford where a win will dissolve the sour taste of Tuesday night and all will be forgotten.
Yep I tend to agree with this and also Clive's report, this was not a team put out with any intention to win. As ever a manager is dammed if he does and damned if he doesn't, but just a couple more senior heads would have probably seen us win which would surely be a better experience for the young uns. I don't want to believe this was a Nourry dictat because we're in worrying territory if he's influencing selection in only Stephan's second game.
