The calming effects of several beers last night and as promised, a slightly more detailed report on yesterdays match: Firstly, I have to say what a nice stadium the John Smiths is. Holds around 22-23000. Stands are a bit too far from the pitch for my liking, but nonetheless impressive. We started reasonably well but it soon became obvious to me that we were coming away with nothing. The Huddersfield team were well organised and had a lot of pace which would prove to be our undoing. Their wing backs (especially the right back) got forward on many occasions and were a constant threat. I have to say that their loanee from Chels** Kasey Palmer bossed the game, he was everywhere and at 19 has a great career ahead of him. I have not been so impressed with a young footballer for ages. He really is that good. We were not at the races and had no shots on target in the first half that I can recall. Huddersfield deservedly went ahead on 14 minutes when Palmer had an easy nod in after some piss poor defending. Ned especially struggled as right back and naturally tended to drift into his usual position. In general. the amount of space we gave them was shocking and was just the invitation they needed. Washington was ineffectual upfront mainly due to a lack of service and the pressure that Huddersfield were putting us under all over the pitch. We were second to everything and lacked spirit. I was especially annoyed by Chery who, on more than one occasion pulled out of a 50:50 challenge. No guts, no glory. We were no better in the second half and their pace and the passing skills of their midfield paid off when their right back bombed into our half and received an inch perfect pass which he then crossed onto the head of Kachunga, Smithies got a hand to it and should have pushed it over the bar. 2-0. Sylla replaced Shodipo on 73 minutes and scored what would prove to be a consolation goal within 3 minutes and hope was raised. We were much better with 2 strikers and I was hoping for an equaliser and we looked as if we could get one but they held out for the 3 deserved points. Let me also add that I was saying to my son on the way up that we should go 2 upfront, Personally I don't think our strikers are that good anyway, but Poulter should be used as a target man to nod balls to either Sylla or Washington. A lone striker is not the system we need right now. A round trip of 320 mile and nine hours of my life I won't get back. Such is the life of a QPR fan.
Good honest report mate and once again I am hearing "lack of commitment, second best, Washington useless, wrong formations, non-committal" That goes down to the manager because it's his team.
Any perspective / observations on the relationship between the players and Jimmy? Did you get the impression they were still playing for him?
My impression was that Jimmy was sat on the bench for far too long yesterday. In fact, the Huddersfield subs were doing a better job of encouraging their side than Jimmy was ours. There did not appear to be much camaraderie between Jimmy and the team, but in fairness I was not watching him that closely,
Thanks Sheff. I was there too and pretty much agree with most of what you say. However there are a few points which in fairness can be made. Huddersfield were excellent - well organised , committed to as man and exciting to watch. We were second best and lucky to be only 1 down at half time. However that was not for want of effort on our players part. I get the impression that the team themselves do not believe in Washington. In the second half as soon as Polter came on there was a greater willingness to get the ball up to him and for others to play in his vicinity. He looks quite a bit bigger than when I saw him at LR for the home fixture last season and central defenders must absolutely hate playing against him. The defending for their second was absolutely ****e. Ball swept out to the full/back/winger(?) in acres of space and Bidwell did not even close him down. Picked out his cross and again a free header. Where were Ned, Hall and Caulker? Ned at least did redeem himself with two perfect saving tackles to disposess a rampant Terrier going through on goal. The last twenty minutes or so (including the added time) we played with a lot of spirit so much so that the travelling support showed their appreciation at the end for the effort made. Polter and Silla teamed up well and just needed a kind bounce to be able to score an unlikely and on the whole undeserved equaliser. Contrary to what has been suggested, it did not seem to me that JFH has lost the dressing room or that they did not care. I walked a couple of miles to the ground with a Yorkshireman whose first love is Cricket and who was making his first visit to the John Smith's stadium (not one of Geoffey Boycott's fans) and on the walk back chatted to an elderly couple of season ticket holders who wished us well for the season. They seem convinced their squad is strong enough as they say Wagner has ensured he has two possible starters for every positon on the pitch. We'll see. Can we say the same? Not really. There is certainly a buzz there given the attendance and the atmosphere. In short we were outclassed for 45 minutes, came into the game in the second, competed and finished strongly albeit not in a way that will please purists. Most of our play in the first half was of the aimless - "let's- keep-the-ball-as-long-as-we can" variety where as in the second it was route 1, a bit of pinball with the threat coming once we had two forwards on and could attack at a set piece. Washington is I fear just not up to the task. When we signed him I had thought he was a goal poacher and certainly his two goals so far suggest that to be the case. What is the point of him if we don't pepper the opposition goal with efforts which he can or we don't play him as the little poacher alongside the big man's rampaging. Polter can play up front on his own but we have always been more effective with two forwards rather than one We were far too negative in the first half. I'm ambivalent about Karl Henry. He does a reasonable containment job but don't want him to lead us out of defence into attack. He simply does not have the brain of an attacking footballer. He tries to do the safe thing and looks for others to make the plays. He also infects those around him. Given their famous antipathy towards each other he was in his element when playing alongside Joey Barton because that is exactly what Joey Barton provided for him. Their games complemented each other's In the second half, Luongo stepped up to the challenge and became much more influential. Cousins too played twenty yards further forward and looked more effective there. That may be because of Borysiuk who had come on and seemed to have a quiet but effective game. If we have to play Henry to contain and break up attacks on our goal the time to do so is when we are in front and have a lead to defend. Bring him on in the latter stages when the job is done and you want to close the game out. The kid had another good game but needs an outlet for the good things he does. In the first half in particular he seemed to be left on his own without others taking up positions to help him Just one parting thought. Barnsley and Huddersfield both attacked us from the off while we went sideways settling in. Is it too much to ask to have our team set up to score as soon as possible while the opponents are still not properly warmed up and try to do so again as often as possible before 45 minutes are up?
Thanks for that Yorkshire - that gave a good picture of the afternoon, and good to have that we did well the last 20 minutes or so confirmed. You say Silla and Polter teamed up well, does Silly look the part, could he play in an attacking midfield 3 do you think?
I can't disagree with a lot of what you say, our opinions differ somewhat but in general they do coincide. Agree with what you say about Washington. In hindsight what you said about the team not having confidence in him is probably correct. As I said earlier we need 2 upfront. Polter is a bit of a handful but has no one supporting him.
Here's Clive's report on the game ... http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/43870
Thanks Nines. If Clive's report is right Jimmy should be replaying the game to the Squad to show them how he wants us to play 4 2 3 1. As Huddersfield.
...or maybe just that Huddersfield were far better than us....... Why do we always have to have scapegoats for every defeat?
I don't think any of us are looking for scapegoats, just answers. I can accept being beaten by a better side in Newcastle but I can't accept getting stuffed 6-0 at home. We couldn't beat a poor Blackburn side, why? Maybe Huddersfield were better than us, what are we doing about it?
