..blimey its hard to sit here an write this. Im sure there are loads of posts about MH, the team and what TF must do, but for my own sanity and to make a couple of points I havent seen yet, here goes. THE GAME So many words could describe that performance - inept, disgraceful, mercenaries. Need I go on. There are not many players who can come out of that game with any credit - those being Taarabt, Nelsen, Mackie, Derry. All clearly cared, and gave their absolute all. We began slow (as we are accustomed to doing at the moment) and let them dictate the game right from the off. Our passing was poor, movement non-existent, and willingless to work as a team clearly left somewhere other than Loftus Road. It wasnt long before our defence crumbled and a sloppy goal conceded from a set piece was our achilles heal once again. A player who couldnt even get into our side last season was then allowed time and space on the edge of the box by dreadful defending by Traore and Faurlin to score at the far post. Cue the boos, and rightly so. Now there has been alot of talk this season about zonal marking. With our defence that is the last thing you want to see. But, not sure if anyone else noticed this, but me and a few others in the lower loft did. At one corner at the loft end I looked at our players and most were just standing in space (ferdinand initially drew my attention to this) - then it suddenly hit me - we were zonal marking!!!! for christ sake we cant win a header when man marking let alone zonal! To add to this all day they were sending a man out for a short corner and we sent nobody! not one who was close enough to make an impact. This resulted in the third goal. For once MH made a change at half time - bringing on crowd favourite Mackie and he instantly gave life to the team and installed that bit of urgency - I think it was within 20 seconds he had charged down a kick from their left back. We got a goal back not long after, and the memories of that famous win over Liverpool rose to the surface, surely not again? Well, in that game we got the goal back and literally pummelled them into conceding two more - yesterday was the polar opposite. You would have thought the momentum was with us, but we instantly surrendered that momentum and from then on the Saints controlled procedings with a return to the first half performance for us. THE RATINGS CESAR - 6 - hard to put any blame on him - although perhaps should have at least got nearer to the second goal. TRAORE - 5 - showed a bit more effort than others but with little quality and should never have let Clyne get the ball back to set Puncheon for the second. FERDINAND - 3 - woeful performance. mistakes all over the place and he looked disinterested. made life difficult for Nelsen who was giving his all. NELSEN - 7 - one of the fighters and one of the top pros. Never gave up and was doing all he could with those around crumbling. BOSINGWA - 1 - dont normally give such bad scores but he was a disgrace to not only qpr but professional players. a woeful and disinterested performance. agent bosingwa anyone? DIAKITE - 5 - made a few decent surges forwards with no end product and was often by passed in the middle of the park. FAURLIN - 4 - looked well of the pace tbh but did try. was beaten too easily for the second as he was all day. fit enough? GRANERO - 4 - was never really in the game - but im laying the blame for that at MH's door. playing right wing! what the hell!!! HOILETT - 6 - was often making good runs but the teams performance and tactics stifled any possible attacks. good header for the goal. TAARABT - 7 - showed alot of passion and willingless to get forwards and make things happen with little or no support. CISSE - 5 - well off the pace once again and tbh i didnt notice much of him. SUBS: MACKIE - 8 - MOM - played half the game and got MOM. says all you need to know. Should be made captain in my eyes. He was constantly trying to encourage the players and also the fans - constantly. showed fight, effort and commitment to trying to force the issue. shame 70% of the others were not interested. DERRY - 6 - came on, like mackie and gave his absolute all. whilst the quality wasnt there (understandable as he hasnt played) he was always there to fight for the shirt. FABIO - 5 - was considerably better than bosingwa but lacked the ability to change the game at that stage. THE FINAL WORD As I said above, only a few players were willing to put their bodies on the line for the club - and that tells me they are disinterested and MH has well and truly lost the dressing room. They look unmotivated and cannot be bothered - is it any wonder when MH stands at the side with his arms folded all the time, and his assistants constantly slouch back in their seats showing their displeasure at mistakes. I also said we started to use zonal marking - what the hell are we doing that for. And also the short corners were constantly part of their tactics and we failed to note this. At one corner for them they had two men by the corner flag, two defenders back in their half and their keeper. That is 5 players outside of our box. We had all 11 in our box defending against 6 men. No options available for a quick attack. It is clear that our tactics are inept, our players have no interest and are not motivated to do well for the club, and most of all MH has lost both the players and fans now. I guess I havent said much that hasnt already been said, but my god it makes me feel better!
Yep Judo, we're all venting our slpeens this weekend and you do feel better for letting it out. All we need now is for TF to vent his tomorrow and send MH packing...
I bloody hope so. I have been checking the internet all day hoping to see he has gone, but nothing yet. My only hope is that TF has just been too busy to think about it what with the F1 this evening.
Still clinging to the hope that someone can set our band of mercenaries straight. If not, then it doesn't matter who we bring in as manager. The thought of having to throw Derry, Hill back in the starting lineup because they work hard just doesn't bear thinking.
Agree Jamie Mackie for captain, Ji Sung park is a joke of a captain and is a has been on the pitch. Wouldnt even get in my first team.
Agree with most of that Judo, except I think Ferdinand was better than a 3, although not MUCH better and I think it's Faurlin's lack of pace that was exposed by Puncheon for their 2nd, not his fitness. In fact, it could be Ali's distinct lack of pace that could prevent him from becoming a top, top player imo!
I think Faurlin would be better as a more forward midfielder, putting the telling passes into the box instead of the defensive role he plays at present. Trouble is Granero and M'Bia also prefer that role and therein lies a big problem, most of our quality players are all not happy with where they are playing, Taraabt and Hoilett included...
I agree with most of that Judo but only watched on a live stream so the coverage was not as good as sky/foxtel wht-ever.! Hence the reason i wont comment on performances except to say "thank god for Nelson" at the moment. What i did notice was that the commentators were crucifying us for not getting forward. They went on about it all game, the lack of desire to attack and basic tactical errors. If the commentators can see it then surely MH, TF and co must..? This was supposed to be one of the easy games eh? and we got hammered at home...we are deep in the doo doo and i fear it may already be too late for us! Got to go I'm afraid
Exactly. We flood our own box with personnel and still concede ( Because we had eleven men in the box. Even if we clear the ball it comes straight back.) We don't flood theirs and still don't score. Incredible. This man get's paid millions and is unable to see this.
