QPR v Doncater R ( MD Thread )

Thanks for that Col. I was in the school end and couldn't see a lot of the goalmouth action in front of the loft on account of the sheets of rain! Great to see Austin score the winner, made my sons day. Shame so many missed it as they'd already left.

 

Hopefully it was great sight to see the three sides go up when the winner went in mate. Did we sound loud after the winning goal?

 

It was great, like that goal Miller scored against Leicester a couple of seasons ago. Lets hope it turns the corner for us like that one did!

 

Absolutely.

 

Cheers Col. I've missed all our matches over the festive period so I'm pleased to catch up through your and others reports.

Would you agree that our first half lack lustre performance was a direct result of Redknapp's instructions? I'm sure we a playing most games with the hand break on. Early in the season we were getting the breaks and sneaking 1 - 0 wins, now we are not and the sooner Redknapp allows us to actually attack the better. Clearly he is no fool and he believes this is our best way of winning promotion, but it doesn't work for me. Rather than being the safe approach, it looks fraught with danger.

 

I completely agree mate. I also worry that there are too many "seasoned pros" at the club who really aren't that bothered if we win or not.
In the 2nd half today, we played the ball much quicker and played more directly. This has to be the way to go at home for me. Although it still worries me that we were second to nearly all the "2nd" balls for the entire match.

 

Who would you put in the not bothered category? BAE? O'Neil? Benayoun?

To my mind we don't seem to press as much as other teams do, this would result in not being first to 2nd balls.

 

Spot on. Today the only ones who really pressed were Barton (sorry!) and AJ in the 2nd half.
For me, Benayoun (who I've always rated), Kranjcar, BAE, Carroll, Jenas, Hoilett and bloody Zamora don't look too bothered to me.

From what Harry has said, Traore has turned over a new leaf with an A1 attitude, so I'd like to see him start ahead of old plasticine hamstrings Hoilett.

 

Even about Dunne?

A great report and I can't argue with the rest of it but I don't understand people's reading of Dunne. As much as I didn't want him at the Club, he's been immense and yet again today I felt he did well. Okay, we was carved open a couple of times in the first but that was more down to our woeful midfield than our CB's who are very often exposed to the opposition's runners.

I think he's the gel that holds the entire defence together including the GK. Drop him and I guarantee we'll concede more goals.

 

Onouha looks rusty, kept playing sloppy passes to Docaster men. His pace makes me a lot less nervy about our defence though.
Phillips really starting to stand up, MOTM contender.

 

Before today I would have preferred Clint to be playing alongside Ned, but I saw Dunne clearing up for him a couple of times when Ned was being over elabourate clearing his lines,and I thought Dunne looked the better of the 2 CB's 2nd half today.

I don't get all the criticism of Kranscjar. He looked one of our best in the Leicester and Forest games, filled in well up front against Watford, and was good in the 2nd half I saw today. He looks to be our most creative player and works hard.

 

Kranky's still to heavy, which is undoubtedly an issue, but he's still got quality on the ball. Just needs to send one into top/bottom corner some time soon.

 

For me ,that was a possible red card and is one of the reasons I don't like him, it was a very nasty foul where he meant to get the player.

 

Benayoun, BAE. You'd hope the rest of them were not in the 1st 11.

I'm not sure kranky would take a shot to the face to stop a goal either. I can't stand O'Neill but I don't think he's not bothered, he's just crap.

 

I think you are wrong about BAE, he does care, his languid style on the pitch, and his comments of the pitch which are misinterpreted, and give the impression he does not care. For the 90 minutes on the pitch he cares, about playing well and winning.
Agree with Flyer, O'Neill really cares too...but his not a brilliant footballer...though much better in the centre than on the wing (but another horrendous tackle early on could have been a red with a different referee...that is two home matches running now....dangerous!).
Kranky is an artist, like Adel, he produces sublime touches but can drift out of a match, just like Adel.

Anyway I do not really believe that many pro-footballers "do not care", having played sport (hockey/badminton) to a fairly high level....if you play, you care.
Some players will never take a ball in the face, others will go looking for it to hit their face, doesn't mean they don't care.

I think it is more just a confidence issur, if you are frightened of looking an idiot, you do not look for the ball.
this is what, we nearly had (after the Blackpool match), but what has drifted away over Christmas....confidence

The draw and win and now a break (it does not matter what happens at Everton...but Harry you must NOT play Austin (injury) or Barton (suspension) next week under any circumstances)
Harry needs the first team to play with confidence and as the goal of promotion comes closer they will care...just as they did at the end yesterday

 

My lad, who is very knowledgeable for his age, was constantly pointing out Dunne's poor touch, strange headers and terrible distribution. He was also left for dead, again, for their goal. I think he's a good player who is going through a bad spell of form, but also may be one who's best days are behind him.
Ned did get caught in possession a couple of times, but that was due to the complete lack of movement in front of him imo. His pace back there is vital!!

 

Your point about Kranky would be a valid one if he was ripping the league apart (like Adel did), but he's not. He looks lazy and so unfit. Great ability but we are carrying him at the moment imo. Although he will nearly always look good on the ball, he did very little in the entire game. By the way, great to see Taarabt playing so well again yesterday..........so unlucky with a shot that hit the post.

 

He really didn't from where I was sitting mate. Ned's pace got us out of trouble a few times when their pacy striker would have been away.

 

He had a bit of a mare distribution wise but as you say, pace in invaluable.