Have we seen the last of Dunne in the starting line up? Hope so. He has done really well for us, especially in the play off final, but his best days are clearly behind him and he really isn't up to this level any more imo. Not sure Harry will drop him though. Will any one else do any better on the left of a 3? Onuoha's pace should get him the nod imo. Were we really much better against Hull, or were we really only dominant in the last 10 minutes when we threw on multiple forwards? Can't decide myself. Will Harry's stubbornness regarding certain players and their selection or lack of, ultimately cost us too many points? I don't believe he rates Ned, Faurlin or Yun. Will bringing in a lot of new players result in the same mess as last time? Did we have a choice in doing this? Probably not, but did we need to throw so many in when they're clearly not match fit? Will Hoddle exert the same type of influence that Maclaren did and get us playing well? I hope so, as I'm not sure Harry is really bothered tbh. Will we keep to 3-5-2? Depends on whether Hoddle can get us playing I would have thought. Harry has said that he is playing 3-5-2 to get 2 forwards in the team and I understand this. I'd like us to continue with it for a while as I like it as a system. Do we have the players to play 4-2-3-1? We probably do, but Remy especially, isn't a player to be played up top on his own. We certainly have the wide players for this. We are in danger of seriously under using one of our most potent attacking threats in Hoilett imo. He certainly should have started against Spurs imo, behind the forwards and with a more solid central midfield partnership behind him. Time will tell I suppose. (Just don't look at the league table for a few days!!).
Surely Clint, Traore and Ned would have done better than Dunne on the left side of a 3 yesterday? I think Traore's best position is LB as I've said before - he certianly looks most comfortable and plays better back there. I'd think with his speed and strength in the air he would be well worth trying there against Burton, IF Arry is going to continue with 3 5 2. Ned has looked uncomfortable to me when played on the left side before, he's much better on the right.
Morning Col. I went on a bank holiday jog this morning and obviously my mind wondered to matters QPR as I took in the rugged coastal path of the Gower coast line (yep, Swans territory so lying low as QPR supporter!). The question in my mind was, "will TF stick or twist - yet again"? One of TF's skills is risk assessment and planning for the future. Will he feel that he and the board have done enough and they just need time or will he decide to spend more yet again. I don't envy his problem. My morning reflection is that we really should not be surprised by yesterday's result. We finished 4th, were outplayed by Derby even before the red, got an undeserved win by a lucky break and our pre-season was 4 weeks shorter than the other teams. Against that we played well against Wigan in the semi and it would have been nice to see some of that grit yesterday. Our expectations, yet again, were way too high for yesterday's game. A point would have been fantastic. Let's also not forget that when we brought them back to LR that first season, we beat them 1 nil courtesy of Adel as I recall. My other reflection is that Remy was not playing with spirit yesterday. Sadly, I think he will be gone and that is probably better for the team overall. Ramblings indeed. Trying to find the positives.
Do you really think there's a possibility that Redknapp can't be bothered to get the team playing well? This is the man that admitted he would have thrown in the towel had QPR lost the play-off final. This is the man who worked on getting a handful of new signings in recent months and has appointed Hoddle to improve coaching and tactics. He's a pretty rich man whose reached an age at which most of us will doubtless be contemplating rambling clubs, golf and short cruises. If he can't be bothered why does he get up at some crazy hour each day and drive the 100 miles or so from Poole to Shepherds Bush? I like to think that if I was a 67 year old man of independent means, with perhaps the opportunity of the lower demands of a career in media punditry should I choose, that should I no longer be bothered with my day job I would chuck it in and opt for an easier dotage. Perhaps the point you're making is that he's recruited Hoddle so that he (Hoddle) can do all the grunt whilst Redknapp enjoys the tea & medals?
I believe you may have answered your own question. I'm sure he cares on a footballing front. He will want to win to further his own reputation, but I'm not convinced that he has any passion for QPR whatsoever. This may not matter, but he could at least try to look bothered.
Ego. But it's an essential part of any manager's psyche, they have to believe in themselves in their incredibly unstable profession, I have no criticism of that. But Redknapp needs to couple some energy with his ego, he already looks exhausted. If things go badly I think he will walk, sincerely believing that he could have done no better and that it really isn't his fault.
If he decided to go of his own volition believing he can do no better then I'd say that was quite an honourable thing to do. Quite unlike Hughes.
By answering my own question, presumably you mean he's recruited Hoddle to be bothered on his behalf?
I'm sorry Col, I'm sure the failing is on my part, but where is it then that you feel he lacks 'bother'?
And the 'high fives' with half of the Spurs stadium didnt help!. Harry and co hardly moved off that bench yesterday, Anyway,Spuds looked classy yesterday(Ok,we helped with that) but you can see the difference in quality when you watch a game like that. We have one or two good players,but the rest are just not good enough to comptete,week in week out at this level. Hill,Dunne,Traore,Simpson and even Ned just scare the crap out of me and just dont look happy at this level. At least play Yun at LB. He's looked quick,hungry and really impressed but will Harry play him over his favourites?...will he fcuk!. The last two seasons in the prem was a nightmare and looking a bit like more of the same.One or two good players but the rest just not good enough.
I know you tend to be a bit like a dog with a bone at times mate, but I know you know exactly what I mean. Harry appears to me to lack "bother" as you put it as he never seems passionate about us as a club; he was already planning his retirement during the play off final; he just sits on the bench for the most part entirely impassive; he has brought in Hoddle to coach the players; he "appears" tired of the whole thing to me. I'm now sounding like one of his biggest critics which I don't believe I am. I am pretty neutral on all things Harry, but I do believe that his stubbornness and love of "names" over "up and coming talent" may cost us this season. As I said................time will tell.
I haven't mate. One of the big failings of my life to date is not finding the time to read enough.....I always seem too bloody busy!! What does it reveal? I'm simply giving an opinion based on my observations of the man.
I have only just finished it and it is definitely worth a read to get an insight to how his mind works. Because of when it was written we are not in it that much but I wouldn't be surprised to see a revision to include last seasons events! My own opinion from reading it is that he is very old school (no surprise there) but I never get the impression he wouldn't care. I see that written a lot about him and I just don't think it is true. I think you would definitely find it an interesting read though as it talks about our toxic dressing room he inherited.
Thanks for that. He certainly deserves a lot of credit for dealing with that toxic dressing room. Having watched Mutch and Fer on the highlights of yesterday's game, he may have more work to do, as they looked very much as though they weren't exactly busting a gut.
If you're 67 and rich, you don't chose to drive a 2 hour journey morning and evening if you aren't up for it!! Pretty stupid question really. People need to chill the **** out and be excited about the club, we're back in the premiership, buying young and hungry players! One bad performance while we are still learning a new style of play and still putting the team together is no reason to panic and question anything. The only problem we have is with fans knee jerk reactions and deluded fans. The rest is just football, bad results happen, get used to it or don't support a football team. Enjoy the ride and above all support the team in good and bad!
Yes it would appear throwing Fer in was a mistake but he probably realises that. I though Mutch looked ok first game. He certainly looks to get on the ball and drive forward.
