Shows what a good manager can do.........whilst Harold is telling the world and his wife that he was thinking about jacking it all in in the last 10 minurtes at Wembley, McClaren has been doing some seriously good business..........
I do think that we have the players in the squad to play a 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1. For me , the bigest problem with this is whether Danny Simpson could cope with a more advanced role? Also, these systems could vary between an attacking & a defensive bias. No guesses as to which one I think HR would employ! Possible defensive formation:- Green Ned, Ferdinand, Dunne Simpson, Barton, Faurlin, Yun Phillips, Granero Austin More attacking option:- Green Ned, Ferdinand, Dunne/Hill Phillips, Barton, Faurlin, Granero, Traore Austin, Houilet
I'm actually the complete opposite mate. I don't for a minute underestimate the severity of our task and we could well go straight back down. However, I like the thought of playing a new (3-5-2) formation and I'm really quite excited about the up-coming season.
If we play 3-5-2 it could be Faurlin and Barton sitting deeper, with Granero or a new signing (obviously Taarabt would be best, but that won't happen) in the more advanced central midfield role. I actually think Hoilett had a good 2nd half to the season, being very involved in the equaliser in the play off semi (winning the penalty) and also for THAT goal in the final. The problem with 3-5-2 as I see it is that I'm not sure Danny is a wing back and it's hard to get Hoilett and Phillips into the team unless one of them is played as an out and out forward with Austin.
Good post, I agree with this. The only thing I'm hoping is that not many of us saw the signing of Charlie Austin coming and he did for us what was on the tin so to speak. We all keep banging on about lessons learnt and I'm hoping that doing our business under the radar is just one of them and we will all be pleasantly surprised.
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/update/2014-07-20/redknapp-prefers-to-buy-british-players/ Harry told ITV we're "looking at another English striker". There have been a few Troy Deeney links, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's him. Edit: ...that said, according to the mail, Leicester have just put a 6.5mill bid in for him http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ake-6-5m-bid-Watford-striker-Troy-Deeney.html
I know we all want news and we want it now, it's still early days and most teams however big or small seem to get their business done during that last week until September the 1st. Like many on here I would love this sodding window to be closed before the start of the new season.
Not worried about the dressing room this year, Harry does that best. My worry is will our formation constantly feel the need to change to suit the opposition or will we impose ourselves. Giving the opponent to much respect to the point of fear has been a issue for us ever since promotion in 2011. Last years we looked more assured but kept finding teams better prepared when on the road, Charlton & Sheffield Wednesday to name just two utter **** ups that helped cost us automatic, yes yes Wembley was better in the end, but homework should have been done. Wally has gone and so has Steve who did wonders for us, Steve Black has come and clearly made a difference but will that carry forward? we can only cross our fingers and hope so, but McLaren & Even Wally's departure mark a worrying loss of football knowledge. Backroom staff do make a difference, just look at the entourage that arrives with Man City - Champions. QPR can't really employ or attract those sort of numbers but recruiting well and building behind the scenes can only improve the chances. Harrys advancing years and declaration that while he should have been concentrating on the 10 men in Black & Red fighting tooth and nail he was actually choosing a golf course is just Harry being Harry, It's hard not to wonder what his future holds. I have two scenarios, both based on our position at Christmas: 1) In a good position, Harry wants to leave in summer so Tony gets in a new man to get started early. 2) In a Bad position, Harry gets sacked. Formations, Backroom, Harry, the club needs to focus on what matters this year not kits or badges, they are important but they can wait. Christmas on the other hand seems as far away as it did when I was a small boy.
The thing is, every team can be beaten. QPR need to re-apply the hashtag from last season (#findaway) and apply it to each game. Before every game, even those with the big teams, they all need to sit down and say "how can we win? What are their weaknesses and how can we take advantage?" We need to be ruthless. We can't give teams respect because they certainly won't give us any.
This absolutley. Hoping that the team spirit that was uncovered towards the end of the season (when it counted most) will remain and the players that do cross the white line are committed to the Hoops and each other. If so they may just surprise a few on here.
Im still a bit worried TBH. I keep reading that we have winable games but I struggle to see them. Hull would be a great win to start with but looking at thier team I think they will do well this year. I think we've been caught out with all the joy of the Wembley win and although I do agree we have a decent enough core, when the injuries kick in (as they will) we are in a mess. Im hoping we can get 5-6 decent players in even on loan and get to xmas in touch with the rest of the bunch. Odly i feel more confident with Harry in the Prem than in the NPC as he's been here many times before and know how the game is played. He was clearly struglling in the faster paced more physical NPC. I'll expect the return of Sol Campbel, to sure us up and we may just about scrape through. Here's to hoping
Interesting OP Ski, thanks. The likelihood of only being able to garner points from 18 matches brings the season into stark reality and therefore having to win somewhere around 2/3rds of the matches already looks tough. However we are not the only team in this boat, there will probably be 10 others involved to some degree or other at the bottom. It goes without saying that securing points in these games, especially victories, will be vital. If Redknapp is serious about playing a 3-5-2 formation we should see its first outing tonight regardless of not having signed Caulker, Lescalles or anyone else to occupy the final berth. Max Ehmer (if he is over his shoulder injury) would surely be the better choice to stand in with regard to how the formation should work, rather than Hill or Dunne which would alter the dynamic. I’m strangely confident at this stage, but if you can’t be confident before a ball is kicked there isn’t much hope is there? Hitting the ground running will be vital so really getting up to speed during these pre-season friendlies essential. The balance between ironing out any flaws in the preferred formation and practicing the fall back formation will have to be handled well, any confusion among the players will be far more ruthlessly exploited this season. We will need to bear in mind that the formation and tactics will take a couple of matches to start to bed down which will take some patience on our part. As for targets, no fewer than 4 points at the end of August and another 4 in September would be a good start. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but there are only 3 matches in each of those months. Roll on the 16th.
Roller, You are corrrect that if we are to try some variant of the wingback formation, then we should get some evidence of this in the next matches. My main concern is that we need hit the ground running and need to systematically pick up points from the beginning of the season, yet we will need to intergate 5-6 players which we haven't yet bought. But even today, I think we have a reasonable 1st team, although we certainly lack the strength in depth. As for results, we probably will get get a few suprises (hopefuly Chelsea, perhaps Man U or Tottenham), but the majority of our "wins" should be against the "other 10" in the same boat. We can all ear mark what are the potentially winnable fixtures, and we will in prediction league (and probably get them all wrong), but the season starts on the 16th, and that when we need to be ready and motivated with a team and tactics. However, like you, I feel suprisingly confident this time around. I really cannot expain my feelings. Lets' hope that the roller-coaster is on the way up!
That's exactly my point about playing the formation regardless of not having completed transfers. It will at least give the current players experience of the style. When Warnock won us promotion he played the 4-2-3-1 formation before signing he-who-must-not-be-named with Buzsaky in that role. It lets the others get used to how they will have to play making it easier to slot in the new arrivals.
awjm, I fully agree with you here. But Harry is rather an "old school" manager, and that is not a criticism. His formations and team tactics are rather predicatable as he is very loyal to his prefered players and seems to select more on feelings than analysis. Thus, I personally can't see him analysing each match and adapting customised tactics to it. On the other hand, his major strength is to build motivated and efficient teams. I hope that this team spirit approach prevails. Let's wait and see.
I was extremely confident before we played Swansea at home 2 seasons ago. This season I'll be grateful for anything other than spineless collapses.
It would be nice if we could get a tactician in to work alongside Harry! I think you need it in this league. With that said, Harry has done well in this league already.
Col, Your logic is sound, but I would look at it a different way. These players give us a different option to "up the tempo" and "go for it". I envisage the we will start matches cautiously (what ever formation of 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2) and then up the tempo in the latter part of the 2nd half to snatch a win (from a potentially drawn match) or scrap out a draw (from a potentially lost match). These players give us options as they are fast, so I see it more of an opportunity than a problem.
Really wish we'd gone in for Thorne - he looks a great talent. Having Faurlin and Granero back is like having two new signings - although we've got to hope they are doing some extra business discretely for a change.
