From the office: [table="width: 500"] [tr] [td]A QPR XI went down 1-0 at Aldershot on Tuesday evening, with Jordan Roberts' first-half strike sealing victory for the hosts, while DJ Campbell missed from the spot. Rangers fielded a young side for the fixture which was mostly made up of last year's successful U18 team. Aaron Lennox was named in goal with Bradley Simmonds, Ben Brown, Taylor Parmenter and Mo Sharif making up the back four. Bruno Andrade, Frankie Sutherland, Tommy Smith and DJ Campbell were in midfield with Tom Hitchcock playing just off Rob Hulse in attack. The game started in brilliant sunshine on a lush, even pitch. The first chance of the game fell to the home side with Roberts' effort going just wide. On 12 minutes, Aldershot's Peter Vincenti grazed the outside of the post but Rangers responded with an effort from Sharif which had Jamie Young at full stretch in the hosts' goal. Lennox pulled of a sting of great saves throughout the game, with one coming on the 15-minute mark, as he denied Michael Rankine. Ten minutes later, however, Lennox was unable to prevent Aldershot taking the lead. A passing move out of the home defence saw the ball arrive at the feet of Roberts who cut inside and fired a left foot shot into the back of the net. At the other end Sutherland saw his long-range effort deflect narrowly wide, while Lennox was again called into action moments later to deny Rankine with a great save. Just as the opening half looked to be drawing to a close, Rangers had a great chance to level matters when Campbell was brought down in the box. He took the penalty himself but could only drag his effort wide. In a slower-paced second half of fewer opportunities, Lennox pulled off another great save to keep out Ollie Lancashire's close-range header. The R's were unable to break down an organised Shots defence in the latter stages of the game as the hosts held on for victory. QPR: Aaron Lennox, Bradley Simmonds (Jake Downs, 65), Mo Sharif, Frankie Sutherland (Trialist, 80) Taylor Parmenter, Ben Brown, Tommy Smith (Adam Francis, 65), Tom Hitchcock (Trialist, 70), Rob Hulse (Troy Hewitt, 60), DJ Campbell (Trialist, 60), Bruno Andrade (Trialist, 80). Attendance: 851[/td] [/tr] [/table] Doesn't sound like it was a cracking game, as NW would say. Also, notice the amount of trialists. They're probably nobodies, though. When you're in the Championship, trialists might sometimes be something to provoke excitement but at our level now they probably aren't much to get our hopes up about.
Have no idea who they were but they were all useless. Not one single player on show in this game should ever wear a QPR shirt again, they were abysmal.
I was looking at them in comparison the the Aldershot players on show (some of them who I am very good friends with and are of a similar age) and none of them are anywhere near good enough to be in the premiership, championship or league 1 with the exception of the keeper and possbily Bruno Andrade with experience (which he needs to get). In comparison, Aldershot had 2 young wingers in Roberts in the first half who is 18 (and scored a cracker) and Mekki in the second half who is 20. Along with that they had a young centre back in Doug Berqvuist, who were all better than the youth that we had on show.
Go easy. Not only was it a pre-season friendly but I'm sure they're not all match fit and this is a mix bag of players not used to playing with each other. The Aldershot team probably have more experience with each other and were probably made up of their normal team?
