three season ticket holders watching the game in a pub in Lyme. Bit of a trek for a mid-week game (done it numerous times) and in front of us in the SA Road stand are 2 Finnish season ticket holders, they wouldn't have gone either. Basically what I'm saying is, 40 years ago 90% of our fans would have lived no more than 5 miles from the ground. Now I bet it's nearer 10%
Sorry but I was editing my response when you responded to it. So I'll say it again. Why do you think you see so many defenders place their hands behind their back nowadays? It's silly I'll give you that. For me there are nothing more unatural than trying to defend with your hands behind your back. In the case of the incident last night, if the player jump with his back towards the shot then that's his decission and not something that works in his favour. His arms where not close to his body either, they were straight out and together making it more likely to block the shot.
Agree with much of this, but would add that they did remind me a little of us under NW in the year we went up. We were very good that year at breaking up play with those small fouls (think Derry and Hill) and managed to get draws when we didn't deserve them. We also weren't a team of outstanding players (bar Taarabt), but played well as a unit, with each man understanding their role very well. Fer annoys me a lot. I'd be delighted to get rid of him in January. Slows down every attack and adds very little. How he is keeping his place ahead of Luongo I do not know.
Really pleased with the performance last night....should have been up at half time against one of the meanest defences ive seen for a while. I did note although you cant keep up momentum for 90 mins we werent at it for the first part of 2nd half up until they got their goals and then we raised it again. majority of our players were impressive and great to see Polter get a chance which ive been asking for for weeks....next Diakite for Fer (who is the one player nowhere near his potential at the moment). Looking forward to Saturday as Im going and hopefully JFH wont set them up to defend.......
I think we are underrating our own performance by denigrating Brighton so much. They looked fast and dangerous on the break and were very well organised at the back. Coupled with a large dose of 'professionalism' (aka cheating) you can see why they have beaten so many others in the division. And yet we were totally dominant in the first half and then overcame a deficit of two lucky goals to nearly win the game. We need increase chances by getting both the ball and more players into the box quickly but other than that (and dropping a certain Mr Green) I am very encouraged by what I've seen in the last couple of games.
Deflection or not there's no way a keeper of Greens 'supposed' calibre should be letting that shot in. Appalling keeping imo
When I played low level football in Italy in the late eighties I was taught, as a defender, to keep my hands behind me at virtually all times, especially when the striker has his back to you, by an ex Atalanta b team player. The thinking 'the ref is looking for your hands, you can still foul him with your upper body, shoulders, knees and feet'.
I must say yesterday was the first time I have enjoyed a QPR game for some time. The key for me, was the speed that we were moving the ball around the edge of the box. Typically, we slow the game right down in them situations, but under JFH we have a spring in our step. Now is the time to drop Green and gracefully fizzle him out. The second goal was an embarrassment; even with the first (although not his fault at all) I would have expected him to move a little quicker to get across. He's just not the keeper he used to be, and Smithies is clearly the future so play him now. Really impressed with Sandro and Faurlin, and that's Austin's best performance of the season. Onwards!
Diakite isnt in the 25 man squad so he cant play. Ramsey put Doherty (remember him?) in the squad instead Agree we need to be more positive. Even though we created chances in the first half did look like we played with the handbrake on. Didn’t up the tempo really until being 2 down. A points not really good enough on Saturday after dropping 4 points from last 2 games cant really let the gap grow any further Am impressed by how JFH comes across. Not many Rangers managers that I’ve been able to show that about but with Burton they were in a new league after taking a step up so fans would tolerate a safety first approach. With us we’ve dropped down a league and have more than a few individuals who are better than this league so that combined with the points deficit means we need to approach games more positively than his seemingly natural conservative approach
Patronising much? I guess the ref, linesman and Ian Holloway need to go on some courses to learn the rules given they all said it wasn't a pen... Maybe you could offer to run it given you're obviously all knowledgeable? Oh and by the way, blocking a goal bound shot with your arm isn't a penalty (ps it was going wide not goal bound but that also makes no difference) if it wasn't deliberate, from yor comment you're suggesting that if you're 1/2 a yard away and kick the ball at someone's arm with their back turned its a penalty
So enjoyed last night...first time in 18 months Just seen the highlights...where on another thread I am tending to give Green benefit of the doubt for the 2nd....but the first also leaves a lot to be desired. I know it was totally unexpected, but the slowness of the shot should have given him time He needs to watch out, JFH doesn't look as though he is taking prisioners
No 25 man rule in the Champ, Diakite just isn't good enough, been through enough managers now to prove this surely?
There is nothing in the rules that state the player has to move their arms out the way or behind their back, the reason players do it is to reduce the risk of the ref interpreting the ball hitting their hand as deliberate. Jumping with his back to the shot clearly did work in his favour as he blocked the shot with his arm in the box but because he couldn't possibly have done it deliberately as he couldn't see the ball then it couldn't be a penalty, the post match analysis were very clear that they didn't think it was anywhere near a penalty, Holloway isn't one to beat about the bush!
The great thing about this argument is that one of you is wrong, but is very unlikely to admit it. I don't know which, I just know that whatever is written in the rules is less significant than the ref's interpretation of them and how he viewed the incident. I'm more excercised by how easily a great lump like Sandro fell over when struck by a feather, and how much a white stick for Rob Green will set the club back.
Didn't mean to sound patronising and if I was then I apologise. I did say however "The distance is a mitigating circumstance, and if that is what the ref base his decission on then fair enough."
I might very well be wrong and won't have any problem backing down. It's just the way I and many experts/pundits/knownothing's/referees interpret it. Sandro should be ashamed, even though it was a push and those often get given for the defender, it's embarassing to watch.
Per my earlier post, if he deliberately placed his arms in an unnatural position to increase the chances of blocking the shot, it should have been a penalty. It doesn't matter if he had his back turned, or even if he had been blindfolded. I still haven't seen the replay, but I was convinced last night that it was a pen. I'd rather hear what Graham Poll might have to say than rely on Holloway's interpretation.
You are right, but they are often given - but only at Anfield or Old Trafford! What did you think of the one given against Swansea a couple of weeks ago?
Totally different, Taylor was facing the ball and had his arms above his head. Greer had his back turned and the natural movement of turning your back meant his arms moved. What I would be saying to both is, Taylor, why are you sticking your arms by your face, head the ball away you tart. And Greer your a Scottish CB, man uP face the ball and take one in the stomach
