We just drew with the bottom team in the league, I hate draws, but I feel okay about this. If you ask me, QPR took a page from our book (this year) against Chelsea last game, and did the same against us: worked very hard and closed us down. They'll continue to be tough as long as they get this level of effort. So, credit to QPR and Harry for a big improvement and a deserved point. The team that played us today and beat Chelsea last week is a pretty good one, and getting a draw away against them isn't a bad result. We'll do okay playing like this, in the sense that QPR, Stoke and Swansea only had a couple of shots on goal between them. No doubt the lack of scoring is the new worry: now it's QPR and Stoke in recent games. We'd been doing well agains teams that parked the bus against us until Stoke. But even there, I'd just as well Ade leaves when we need to improve. I'm hoping Dempsey and Gylfi see a chance to step things up. If we'd been looking great I think they'd be more likely to worry about how not to slow things down.
Very compelling game, despite the 0-0. I thought QPR did really well to nullify the Spurs attack, but to be honest it looked as though Spurs ran out of ideas towards the end. QPR came into the game after about 75mins and if SWP hadn't tripped over his own shadow, he would have won the game for them. Still, 2pts dropped, hope we can take advantage of that by beating City tomorrow
unfortunately the game was "on in the background" for me today. (terrible I know, sorry!) From what I saw, it was a fair result, we struggled for ideas and QPR didn't deserve to lose. I actually thought they played some encouraging football and it appeared that Arry's had a bit on an influence on them. All in all, happy with the result. This is the sort of away game we could have lost last season and today could have been a real banana skin with the whole 'Arry thing and AVB getting MOTM. another game in our good run of results
Yeah, an away draw to a charged up team while we're in the midst of an eight game unbeaten run doesn't feel too bad at all.
Two players that caught my eye today were Emmanuel Adebayor and Kyle Naughton., I don't know what Ade's playing at,. Its hard to believe this is the same player that trilled so many last season. Very little control of the ball these days and doesn't seem to be that interested in his playing professional football at all now. Naughton for me is not quite a premiership player at the moment and would probably struggle to find a place in a most other premiership side. How has he got the gig here ?. Needs to be less pounderous on the ball, and to find more guile. Having side that I thought the team as a whole played well today under the very difficult circumstances and on another day would have won convincingly.
Just back from a bitterly cold Loftus Road and have been reading through this match thread while trying to thaw out. To clarify a couple of points - regarding the 'surprise' inclusion of Naughton ahead of BAE, we have a fitness coach who is insistent on players not playing until he is satisfied they are fully over their long term injury. If he had his way, every player returning from injury would have 2 or 3 reserve games before being even considered for the first team. Didn't hear any 'you don't know what your doing' chants when Ade was taken off. Can only assume that was sarcasm from Rangers fans who probably wanted him kept on ! Spurs fans were singing 'cheerio, cheerio' to Adebayor.
Probably a sensible precaution, SC. Throwing players straight back into things has caused various sides big problems in the past. Torres is still suffering from that years later, for example.
A depressing fact is that QPR had a CB pairing with a combined age just short of 70 and not once were they turned and tested for pace, that said, they were very well protected by Derry Park and Mbia. We now see how important Sandro is to Dembele, the latter doesn't like a scrap with cloggers like Derry and Mbia imo, and that will be noticed by other teams. Harry knows the achilles heels of our players (and I don't mean Scott Parkers!) and on reflection AVB was right about him having that advantage. He played us well. Its disappointing we couldn't react with our own plan B.
Thanks for the update OS. So had Benny picked up a knock against Coventry or was just deemed not to be ready fora PL game? He seemed to get through the 90 mins ok last week and we certainly missed his forward momentum. Naughton was solid enough defensively, but I really think he needs to show more: he never looks entirely comfortable on the ball.
They sat deep so there wasn't really much opportunity to get into a foot race, I think the one time that happened down the middle was when Ade went through on goal but bizarrely decided not to shoot and the defender caught him up to put it out for a corner.
Exactly YV, the slower the defender then the deeper they prefer to sit. This was why Gallas looked so good at OT, because we sat deep and it suited his game perfectly.
A very good point for the Rs today. It was vital that we kept a clean sheet for the first 20 (did you see what happened against Liverpool?). After that we earned what could turn out to be a massive point. I also thought that Parker improved your midfield - we were getting on top before Sandro's injury. Do you think we will survive?
Hi Relayer. I gather he is not quite there yet. He felt a twinge during the Coventry game and admitted to blowing a bit during the later stages, so the fitness guy recommended caution. Must say his policy on Benny and other injured players is very professional, for example he insisted Scott Parker played a couple of under 21 competition games before coming back into the first team. .
Evening mate Absolutely!! A better safe than sorry policy is well overdue. Long may it continue. Bring on the Mancs!! Lol
If you'd brought harry in sooner, I'd say yes. But it's going to be very difficult to get the points you need as the games start to run out. Reading don't appear to be giving up yet either and will battle all the way to the death. if only 1 team went down, I'd back you guys to stay up, as Villa are total and utter tosh. - worst team in the league by a mile. I wouldn't be surprised if they finish bottom. Unfortunately, Sunderland and Southampton seem to be looking better, which leaves the the 2 clubs I've mentioned (reading & Villa) + yourselves and Wigan. - Wigan always seem to survive, so I won't mind betting that if they're down there, they'll do it again. I'd like you guys and reading to stay up, but sadly I don't think either will.
