Finally back at LR after a long international break! It was good to be back. THE GAME Well overall we surely deserved to win the game as Charlton offered nothing up front at all really, bar one long range strike. We began on the front foot, getting a throw in near the corner flag within 15 seconds. That set the scene for the match nicely. We were the only team looking to win the game, and we did have a fair amount of possession. Early chances were wasted by a few, one good one by Austin and it felt like it was going to be one of those horrible days where we come close, but not close enough. Then on 40 minutes, just as I was about to turn round and say the half was slowly grinding to a halt Austin got the ball 35 yards out, beat 2 men in one go and had a strike at goal. What a strike it was! Top corner. 1-0 Rangers, from nothing! The goal seemed to wake us up a bit and we almost made a chance for a second before the half was over. In the second half we continued to press, creating the better chances. Charlton's only chances came from errors or bad judgements by us. At one stage we looked like we were getting a bit complacent on the ball which let Charlton threaten for a while. The game was crying out for us to play 2 strikers, and as soon as we did that (Johnson) things improved. We started creating some great chances, with a nice link up between AJ and Austin. SWP even had a great shot (yes, you read that right!). Thankfully we held out to claim the win, a 10th clean sheet of the season. Now level top after Burnley's draw! THE RATINGS GREEN - 7 - didn't have a huge amount to do but kept his concentration to make the saves when required. Also came out and claimed several crosses which eased the pressure on the defence. ASSOU-EKOTTO - 8.5 - MOM - I don't think many will go for him as MOM but for me he was brilliant. such a natural on the ball, calm when under pressure, and loves to get forwards. He doesn't panic even when he is facing goal and under pressure. At one point a lovely bit of skill to beat 2 men on the edge of our box! A few crosses were a bit over hit, but other than that I was impressed. HILL - 8 - as always puts his body on the line, and made one stunning tackle having just run the length of the pitch after a counter-attack. Wins everything as always. DUNNE - 8 - same as hill. always there to put a block in and reads the game very well. calm under pressure and has a good understanding with simpson. SIMPSON - 8 - as always solid and reliable. how newcastle let him go I don't know, but its our gain. BARTON - 8.5 - another excellent performance in the middle, commanding things well. Sprayed the ball around very well and had another great free kick saved. Set piece deliveries this season are so much better with Barton taking them. O'NEIL - 7.5 - often found himself with the ball ready to run at the defence but frustratingly always chose to slow the play down and pass it sideways. perhaps due to his lack of pace. but he was always in position to receive the ball and worked hard. KRANJCAR - 7.5 - to be honest I thought he was just going through the motions most of the time. a few good passes, but struggled to break free of their midfield and create a good chance. Probably due to the fact that he was stuck on the left wing, whereas he is more effective in the middle. He did cut in a lot, leaving BAE with little options ahead of him. I think he was injured towards the end, but he did earn Barton's free kick with a beautiful turn and piece of skill. PHILLIPS - 7.5 - I like him, but at the minute I think he could do more tbh. He makes some good opportunities, but also does the wrong thing at times. He just needs to find that consistency. Some nice crosses but needs to affect the game more. JENAS - 7 - it looked to me as if he was playing the highest of the middle three (barton, oneil and him) but he struggled to affect the game. worked hard closing players down, but isn't really suited to playing that high imo. AUSTIN - 8 - worked hard as usual and scored a stunning goal when it looked as though we couldn't get the breakthrough. Intelligent play towards the end, and in the corners to run time down - he is so strong when in that situation. SUBS: HENRY - 7 - came on for Jenas at half time and slotted alongside Barton, pushing Oneil further forwards. He was solid, but did give the ball away a few times in stupid areas looking for a more difficult pass than was needed. JOHNSON - 7.5 - came on for the injured/tiring Kranjcar and immediately had an impact. Linked well with Austin and created several good chances for the second goal. Beat the keeper to a ball, and squared it for Barton who should have scored into an open goal. SWP - 7.5 - came on for Phillips and had a great chance which hit the bar (surely a mis hit though!) FINAL WORD Definitely deserved the win, but until Johnson came on it wasn't convincing at all. At one point in the second half I thought we were going to blow it as we were getting complacent on the ball, looking for difficult passes and constantly giving the ball away. Against teams like Charlton who offered little attacking threat we should be playing 2 strikers - not necessarily two up front, but Johnson playing off Austin to give him some help. It changed the game for us when he came on. Against the stronger teams I can understand it, but that game was crying out for someone like AJ. 10 more minutes and I think he would have scored. However, another win at home - a superb record at LR now - and a 10th clean sheet - hard to complain tbh! Just the football isn't as exciting as it could be - I would love to be able to sit and enjoy the last 10 mins with a 2 or 3 goal lead! Imo we need to win our next 3 games. That will set us up nicely for the difficult games against the teams just below us.
Thanks for the report Judo. I would like to make a couple of points. I thought Johnston squared the ball to O'Neill near the end who blasted over. Your report says Barton. I could be wrong on that one. I agree with you 100% that BAE was man of the match closely followed by the always reliable Clint Hill. BAE is way above Championship standard and is so much better than Traore.
I agree that BAE was pure class and Hill was excellent. However, imo some of your marks are way too high considering it was a pretty turgid performance. I didn't think Barton was anywhere near an 8.5 as he gave the ball away a little too often and wasn't as good as he has been of late imo. I agree that we could have played two forwards against a crap Charlton team, but as I said on the match thread, we would need to play Henry in a 4-4-2. BUT.................7.5 for Kranjcar?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!! He was so poor, unfit and slow. Awful! Just can't see where you found the justification to give him such a high mark when he did virtually nothing and was substituted early in the 2nd half.
Thanks Judo for the report. Really frustrating that considering our talent in midfield, that they aren't scoring many. Guess it is down to constant injuries to our midfielders, can only hope Kranjcar, Phillips and Hoilett can get more consistent game time
Thanks Judo. It was interesting reading the BBC stats, which gave the impression we were all over them, and then watching the TV highlights. The first two shots they showed of ours were relatively weak and their goalie did not have to work too hard for the save. It is always a joy to hear the commentator talking about our mean defense. Once they start commenting on our prolific strike rate (January 14??), we will all be a lot happier as we climb the table.
NK looked way above the championship standard Saturday but was below his own standards ... He gets a 7 just for running on the pitch His reading of the game on Saturday was good ... Too good by far but we all know he is not as good as he can be The team Saturday was very patient and kept the ball very well Not many Charlton moves came to anything at all and control was always ours IMO we should stop there and ask ourselves why? They had no answers to the power we have in our middle five When the ball did get pas then we had four who were alert and dealt with everything very easily I gave BAE mom as well because he added 6-7 bits of total flair and class from a full back position Lads we are controlling matches and that is a brilliant platform No it's not QPR of old and flair has been replaced by other basic things Expression from the likes of NK will only show through in time with this foundation as the team grows to believe We were used to AT who had flair on tap any match . I can see that this is Harold's way at the moment A win is a win but the LR crowd and myself will need to get used to it It's building slowly let's hope its worth the wait
Good report as usual Judo but Col stole the words off my keyboard. Barton's passing not as good as we have come to expect and for me Kranjcar is either not fit or needs to apply himself more.
Great job Judo, but have to defo agree with Rangercol above. Would just like to add O'Neil was my MOTM, based on his work rate, and tho he may not have the pace yet, he'll run his socks off for the team. Barton was decent, but just wish he'd stop committing silly fouls all the time; he was lucky he didn't get booked. Also, there seemed to be a period in the second half, where we just didn't want to commit players going forward, and we were happy to just snuff out the play in midfield, didn't understand that, only SWP had a go.
I thought he did can't say much more about the game, was watching Newcastle - Norwich and following @OfficialQPR on Twitter and matchday thread here, so don't really know what went on, but nice read, thanks
He did get booked but it was a very weak booking. I think anyone who was there knew we didnt threaten, it looked like an impressive amount of shots but there were only 2 that had a chance of going in. 1 for each team. The rest were weak long distance efforts. Their goalie didnt make a good save all match and Green made one on a swerving shot.
Thanks Judo. Having seen only the goal on here I can agree it was stunning. So for the rest, I 'm sure you got that right too!
What? ... something odd here Did you not see shot from Austin and then one from Phillips first half ... both good stops We had 7 good shots in the match and 21 in total SWP was denied and Oneil should of scored from AJ cut back The other difference about Sat was the scoreline ... It should of been four and then everyone on here would be creaming ... Watch the highlights again lads on the OFF you will all change your minds very quickly
I thought Barton was OK but had his worst game of the season. he has set himself a higher standard It was On'Neill not Barton who put it over the bar at the end Half the team stop and look sideways when they cross the half way line There is no way we needed 5 in midfield against that cr*p
Half the team stop and look sideways when they cross the half way line There is no way we needed 5 in midfield against that cr*p This is the one criticism that I had upon leaving HQ on Saturday, we were so cautious in the 2nd half when hitting Charlton on the break, never 4-5 players quickly supporting the player with the ball, more than half the team simply jogging as far the centre circle. At the end of the day, it is fine to brings out the stats for number of shots and possession, but we need to convert those shots in to goals on a regular basis and put teams like Charlton to the sword. Even Kevin Bond in the press conference after the game said we made it a tighter game than it should have been and we need more goals.
The "highlights" have been posted on here, Id expect the average pub team to stop every shot except for the goal and one that was moving but Green palmed away. The rest were straight at the goalies and fairly soft.
thanks Judo, Much appreciated as I've seen nothing at all this week except the goal. Good to see we are winning at home and Harry priority is keeping us at the top until at least the Jan window & possibly the end of the season. 1-nil will do fine for me as i wasnt aware we got more points for scoring more goals?!! Good post and Im particularly impressed the by the way DT managed to shoehorn Adels name into the thread. That took some serious work Anyway, 1 goal or 3, the record books will still say a QPR home win! Long may it continue along with the reports Just a foot note...Col, you went to the match. Any chance of a write up if you get the time.? Always get a better feel for the game with the more reports I (we) read. Cheers guys
