Stick or Twist I just looked at the remaining fixtures for QPR. I am trying to see where we will get the points that will ensure safety. In all honesty it couldn't be any worse. 6 out of the 10 teams we play are in the top 6 vying for a place in Europe. Even the most optimistic fan would start to have doubt now. It's by no means over and as we have proved already, albeit not frequently enough, we can compete at this level. There is a big difference now in terms of the way we approach each game. At the start of the season it was ok to play against the big boys and be satisfied with a draw. We could drop off and leave the impotus on the opposition to create something. The win against Chelsea was great. But we did have to ride our luck. Now we have a different dilemma altogether. What would you do if you were the gaffer? You know that the cards you are holding are not as strong as your opponents, but you also know that losing or drawing these games are not an option either. We need to pick up points against the top 6 but how we will go about it? I am not sure. Do we play with Zamora up front by himself? Do we throw caution to the wind and play Cissé up there with him? Do we go with the talented Taarabt in the hope he can work his magic? It seems like an incredibly difficult job but maybe Hughes will prove his worth and come out with the right answers. The problem lies here; attacking too early could leave us wide open to the superior fire power that these teams have. Sitting back and soaking up the pressure can be effective but it will suit the bigger teams to influence the game. The main concern when you set up defensively like that is if the other team score first it is hard to shift the balance of the game. To change your mentality mid game from defence to attack is extremely difficult. The must win games for me are Sunderland away, Swansea at home, WBA away, and Stoke at home. This would leave us with 34 points. If we manage to take any points away from the top 6 it would be a bonus. The connundrum Hughes is faced with is not an enviable task. A big part of me would say, lads let's give it our best shot. If we are going to go down lets go down fighting. This will take courage and I am intrigued to know what avenue Hughes will take. Whatever happens, I can tell you from my experience, having the fans behind the team really does make a difference. Not just for 20 or 30 minutes but for the whole match. I can sense some of the players are playing within themselves now, low on confidence, they need all the encouragement you can possibly give them. Even when they are making mistakes. Now if Hughes can steer us clear of relegation it will be one of the biggest achievements we will have witnessed at the club in my time So whether he chooses to 'twist or stick' we need to go with him. I wish him and the team all the best in what will prove to be a nail biting finish for all concerned at the foot of the table. http://www.kickingitmyway.com/
Sometimes footballers can surprise you with their articulation. I think I might be a bit cynical after seeing countless cliche-ridden interviews, so when I happen across something like this I'm..uhm..over the moon, literally!
Trouble is how d'you get the fans at games going on a positive without a goal or two to stir the blood? Hughes, Bowen and co. have got to do a Blackpool and focus on attack to have any chance of injecting the necessary hope and inspiration into the fans. Interesting piece though. Cheers Telford.
Langley, a former pro footballer, adds to the bizarre consensus of the last 20 years: That Liverpool are somehow a top Club. I do wish people would stop putting these also-rans on a pedestal they don't deserve. They're a good Premiership Club in a similar vein as Newcastle, Villa, Everton, Sunderland etc. But that is all they are. I fully expect us to beat them Wednesday night.
I can accept us losing if we go down all guns blazing, as in the Man City game and, frankly, nothing less will do now. Time for the players to show they've got some cojones...
The crowd at the Everton game was good - not a cauldron, but behind the team even when we went one down, and good at the final whistle for a draw. But we need a step up or two in passion to make a difference. Have a feeling that an aggressive start against Liverpool will stir the blood and whip up the atmosphere....
Are you on crack Liverpool have just won the Carling Cup and are back at Wembley for the semis of the FA cup I think if we keep it down to 3 Wednesday night we will be doing well
We attack, we went toe to toe with Man City and were very unlucky not to get something, if we sit back like we did at Liverpool then they will score 5 or 6 at least because Cerny wont be playing to make a save.
It looks to me like the players are resigned to relegation. If or when we go a goal down on Wednesday, the teams reaction will tell us all we need to know.
