I think we are all thoroughly disappointed after the showing we watched yesterday. Pretty frustrating to come away with nothing, but we certainly didn't help ourselves. THE GAME Well bar one mistake which led to their goal both sides were pretty even, and imo a draw would have been a fair result. However, we were certainly the better side in the first half. We created a number of chances but failed to take them. One notable moment when we had three quick shots which were all saved/blocked. O'neill put the second of the three in which was blocked on the line. Leicester were not without their fair share of opportunities, but had only one real chance in the first half which they took - the difference between the two sides. We should never be conceding from that angle imo. Second half got more frustrating as the game went on - not helped by one of the worst refereeing displays I have seen at Loftus Road. He was so bent towards them it was unbelievable. He denied a clear penalty after Phillips was clipped (he stayed standing - if he had gone down I bet it would have been given), and so many offsides were given when they were clearly onside. However, I won't, and certainly cannot blame our loss on that alone. We simply didn't take our chances and didn't want it as much as they did. THE RATINGS GREEN - 7 - imo shouldn't be beaten from that angle but the defensive errors didn't help. other than that didn't have a huge amount to do. ASSOU-EKOTTO - 7.5 - as always up and down the wing a lot, and overall defended well. some nice skills again to beat the winger he was against. a few errors though. HILL - 7 - made the mistake for their goal and looked vulnerable against their pace. won most of his headers though - the only one i remember him not winning was the goal. DUNNE - 6.5 - think he got beaten for pace for their goal IIRC and looked shaky at times - never really settled into the game imo. SIMPSON - 7 - did the simple things well but struggled against dyer who has amazing pace. BARTON - 5 - never really had control in the game and always looked liable for a booking throughout. the first booking was never a booking imo - the guy conned the ref. however, he CANNOT react in the way he did - it is just giving the bent ref a chance - and he took it. a disgrace that he couldn't keep his head at the time we were chasing the game. however, Barton has been one of our better player this season, and clearly the ref couldn't wait to send him off. CARROLL - 6 - I really don't see the fuss in carroll tbh - i have said it a number of times. he is too lightweight for midfield and often misses really good chances for a good pass. does the simple things well but nothing more imo. had a shocking shot towards the end as well. Rightly subbed off. O'NEILL - 4.5 - had a poor game. for me he can't play on the wing as he has no pace. he has to cut inside and pass backwards every time. we were crying out for hoiletts pace in the second half and thankfully HR saw that. KRANJCAR - 5 - haven't seen him anywhere near his debut standard at all since his debut. looks overweight and unfit to me. one moment he does a great pass, the next he clumsily loses the ball. really disappointing. PHILLIPS - 7 - probably our best attacking threat in the first half but had no decent support and usually only Austin to aim for. AUSTIN - 7 - works his socks off but has so little support its worrying. we did create a number of chances but if you don't commit enough men forwards you won't win them. and we didn't. had a glorious chance at the end though - really should have buried that. SUBS: HOILETT - 7 - made a good impact when he came on at half time for the poor o'neill, but faded towards the end. did beat a number of players though. BENAYOUN - 6 - has a serious lack of pace which imo you need in his position but looks a decent player and won the ball back a few times when we really needed it. FINAL WORD Overall nobody really took the game by the scruff of the neck and did anything special for us. Leicester wanted it more imo and we are really struggling to give support to Austin. Its not necessarily needing a 2nd striker, but getting more men forwards into better positions and actually taking the chances. Too often we have nobody to aim at in the box. Currently I don't think we have enough to beat the top sides in this division - we have now lost our 2 most important games (Burnley and Leicester) this season and that is down to tactics imo - being too negative. We rely on keeping clean sheets rather than scoring goals. A striker in January is a must for me - but its no use if we stick to the current tactics which are stopping us putting a decent run together. One mistake cost us yesterday, but I don't think we did enough to win it either. I am beginning to think if we put Onuoha in at the expense of either Hill or Dunne we may be able to push forwards more.
I share your concern that we are just not doing enough to win big games against the top teams in this division.
I think we'll lose to forest, beat Watford and draw with Donny. if I had to pick the 2 teams to go up right now it'd be leicster and derby. our inability to find another gear in the big games is worrying imo.
Cheers Judo. It was disappointing indeed. I'm glad you said that about the ref. I agree with you about the penalty but not all on here do. Opinions I guess. For what it's worth, a quick flick through past seasons reveals that top two at Christmas usually go up. Perhaps not surprising and, of course, by no means definite. I just feel that, given we are so close, and given the plans TF has for QPR, I can see funds being released in January to up the goal rate. The defence is fine if Ned comes back and especially if Taylor signs too.
i think if we get another striker in, in jan we will be fine. yet again seem we to control the game for most of the match just charlie had a **** game. we seem to be getting more consistent. yossi looked good i hope he can stay fit and build on his debut. i can see us really hammer a couple of bottom of the league clubs
By means of comparison and boredom.. Schmeichel - 8 - Showed why he's the best in the league. Wasn't overly tested with shots than you wouldn't expect him to save but he did make a couple of important ones. De Laet - 6 - Still not fit after injury. Think he affected Knockaert as he didn't have the legs to run forward. Morgan - 8 - Was an all round beast. Won all of his headers and didn't look troubled. I think if your side had a bit of pace up front he might have been a bit troubled. Moore - 9 - Academy product and still 20. He'll be in the PL before you know it. Konchesky - 5 - Our weak link in our defence yesterday. Phillips turned him way too often and he gave the ball away a lot. Knockaert - 7 - Not his influential self but he put in a right shift. Made some good plays but was generally asked to defend. James - 7 - Like Knockaert. Was always going to be tough against your midfield trio but I think he did O.K. Drinkwater - 9 - Class above the midfield. Looked dangerous with the ball and was tenacious in earning it back. Dyer - 7 - Has been one of our players of the season but this was always going to be a battle won in the centre of midfield rather than the wings. Should have scored twice with those golden opportunities. Nugent - 8 - I've been very critical of him but he looked dangerous as the midfield - attack link. Excellent leap and flick for the goal. Vardy - 8 - A breath of fresh air for us. He looks dangerous and works no end. Excellent finish for the goal and was a constant menace. Was worried we'd struggle without his closing down as we took him off too early IMO. Taylor-Fletcher - 6 - Came on to hold it up and make a nuisance of himself so job well done I suppose. Schlupp - 5 - Has potential as another academy product but he should have done better with his distribution. Dyer was open a number of times but he failed to get the ball to him. Wasyl - 6 - Helped see the game out as De Laet looked fatigued. Did O.K. aside from one heart stopping moment when he missed a slide tackle in the box. Would have been a penalty if he made contact. Pearson - 10 - Spot on.
Mate, i think you are being a bit generous with some of those scores TBH Certainly agree with you about Schmeical though. Always rated him.
Depends on what you use as a point of reference. 5=below average 6=average 7=decent 8=good 9=great Care to give your ratings?
Whats the point of 1 to 4 then? I'm a mean git, 7 would be a generous score from me...... Has Pearson ever managed in the Prem? he seems to have been around forever, but can't remember if he's ever taken a team up (or down).
I don't generally get involved it the "I can't stand that bloke" exaggerations about Managers but I have to say, there's something about Pearson that's always irritated me but I don't quite know what. Maybe its because he has about as much charisma as a brown paper bag or perhaps its because he has a head like a giant Lego brick and looks like he got kicked out of Rugby League and took up Soccer because he was too dim to do anything else. In short, he's just got a face that you want to slap
