Well, fair to say, things really are not looking good right now. Today was one of the most boring matches I have seen this season. THE GAME Well first things first, a draw was a fair result. As for the team, well more changes this time - I think someone said to me today that we haven't played the same team in consecutive matches since November. Obviously injuries have hit us, but constant changes are not helping us. Anyway, it was a case of same old same old from us - tight games with little chances for either side and incredibly boring. Leeds certainly had the better opening spell though, having a few potential chances then forcing a penalty. Thankfully Green saved it, but minutes later a free kick on the edge of the area diverted from the Rangers wall and into the net. The game was pretty scrappy and stop start and a lot of fouls from Leeds. After that we struggled to create any decent chances, but had a Jenas header saved on about 42 minute. I think boos would have rung round Loftus Road had it not been for the most unlikely of scorers in Jenas - a well taken finish from just inside the area after a lay off from Doyle. Within 20 seconds of the restart we had a chance (finally a better start after the break!) through Traore which was saved. From then on it reverted back to a struggle and the game just petered out. We did have the better of the latter stages, and 4 mins into injury time Hill scored a brilliant goal - but I think it was rightly given offside from what I have read. THE RATINGS GREEN - 7 - saved the penalty and made a good attempt for the free kick. distribution was ok, a few nice kicks to Hill at LB, but also a few misplaced ones. HILL - 7 - fairly solid really, did well v Wickham and did his job well. composed under pressure. DUNNE - 6 - gave the penalty away and I think also the free kick (not sure) but overall did ok. Linked well with Hill and swapped positions when needed. ONUOHA - 6 - did ok, control not the best and made a few runs forward where he lost the ball needlessly HUGHES - 6.5 - solid enough, tried to get forwards as much as he could, but little ability that far forwards. JENAS - 6 - scored, so gets a slightly increased score. but a few terrible set piece deliveries and I don't think had control in midfield. did do well under pressure at times though. HENRY - 6.5 - a solid but unspectacular game, did the simple things well and recycled possession quickly. HOILETT - 6 - lots of opportunities but often ran into players and didn't hold the ball well. TRAORE - 6.5 - our biggest attacking threat but like hoilett ran into players too much. MORRISON - 6.5 - same as traore in terms of running into trouble and didn't keep the ball very well at all. DOYLE - 6 - worked hard but found no support really. SUBS: KEANE - 4.5 - pretty ineffective really. don't see much in him tbh, had a good chance to shoot but panicked and ran the other way. CARROLL - 5 - marginally better than keane. BENAYOUN - 4 - didn't have much effect to be honest. FINAL WORD Well, another dull game with a serious lack of tempo to our play. We are too slow to attack, letting the opposition get players back behind the ball and we look short of ideas. We don't play with any intelligence either and it seems we are struggling to open teams up. I really can't see us getting a playoff place, let alone second. We are 6 points above 7th now, and with our form compared to the teams coming up (Wigan) that could soon evaporate. To emphasise the extent of our collapse this season: League Table after 20 games (Pos, Team, GD, Pts): 1. QPR...............14.........42 2. Burnley..........17.........40 3. Leicester.........10........39 4. Derby.............16........37 League Table after 33 games (Pos, Team, GD, Pts): 1. Leicester........30.........74 - added 35 points 2. Burnley..........26.........66 - added 26 points 3. Derby............18.........61 - added 24 points 4. QPR..*...........12........57 - added 15 points *played 1 game less
A fair summary, Judo. I'd mark Traore down a half point for his unnecessarily clumsy tackle of the edge of the area that resulted in the free kick and the Leeds goal. Six weeks ago, I was worried we might not go up into the Prem. Now I'm worried in case we do, via the play offs. Not likely, I know, but how many in the team would keep their place? It would have to be another blood transfusion, and R's fans above all, know that doesn't work in the Prem, when the start of the season hits uncomposed teams like a train. Another season in the Championship, I think, hopefully to establish ourselves with more astute signings like Charlie A, Phillips and Simpson
Judo, massive respect to yourself, Sussex and your Mum for putting yourselves through this week in, week out. I'm afraid I found other things to do today, couldn't even be bothered to fire up the mac and find a stream. For the club and fans' sake I hope that we somehow get something out of this season, but I've lost all interest in the team and have no respect for the management. I'm still in two minds about the short (for me) trip to Birmingham next weekend - will you all be there?
Nice one Judo Only interest I had was watching Henry who was putting himself about Nasty sod he is but he is a spoiler and thought 2nd half we won our battles better but it was a non event IMO Needed 3 points and a last straw for me that we didn't get it Only a few weeks back it was all very close but 2 from 15 will cost us now
Ah it was Traore was it, wasn't sure who it was. It was a very stupid tackle to make. Sad situation to be in considering we were meant to be rebuilding last summer. Lessons were learnt from the Prem, but not all actioned on - like signing young players. We will be there, but after the Charlton game we were close to handing the tickets back! Agree, can't expect us to match that sort of run, its a rare run to go on. But we should be matching Burnley and Derby. Yes, I said after Charlton that we missed a player doing what he does, so I was pleased to see him starting today. Never thought I would say that! Yes, after January we all had our hopes up - despite not playing well we won 4 on the bounce, now everything has collapsed.
I think 2nd place is probably gone so it will be a struggle just to maintain a play-off place but even if we do make the play-off's we'd be the last team I'd put any money on getting promoted.
Maybe if we make the play off's Arrys famous motivational skills will kick in? Definately would put any of my money on it.
I think Hoilett was underrated by both you and HR. Yes he made his usual batch of cock ups and ran into more brick walls than Wile Coyote but he carried our only real threat. As soon as he was subbed our small amounts of creativity dried up completely. Generally Redknapp's decisions on replacements look stranger and stranger in my eyes. The last thing we needed today was for the weedy Keane, Carroll and Benayoun to come on and get brushed aside by the Leeds' muscle men.
Mackie anyone? We know his limitations but he'd run his heart, chase down and hassle the oppo with tired legs. What has Benayoun done??!
I thought it was Burnley that was supposed to fall away! Looks like another season in the SBC for us. That's what most of us thought would happen anyway. Would make for an interesting summer I suppose. Thanks for the report Judo.
Joudo, you know i respect your match report more than any other, but TVBH i cannot find anything in there that i agree with ! i need to go back and watch the match again ( i taped it) because to me, we were by far the beeter team (as agreed by the commentators) and the ease at which we cut through the Leeds defense was embarrassing. Leeds fans will be waking up this morning thanking thier lucky stars that Charlie wasnt on the pitch It was the first time ive seen morrison and his all round game was excellent IMHO. Like i say, Im going to watch the game again this afternoon because some of the negativity and criticism on here at the board has dumbfounded me. If Hills goal would have stood then all the boring posts would have been completely diffrent. i think harry Haterz are having an effect and i aint buying into it. We were all highly suprised at the team selection prior ti the game & wondered if harry had lost it. After 20 mins of play we saw exactly why he picked that team. Bar far the superior team all over the park Like i said, i was in the undecided camp prior to last night. After that im going with Harry ATM. I really need to watch that again and ry to find out what people are moaning about.....back in a few hours
Truly wonderful. Its been incredible and some of the football Pearson has us playing has been a delight. The winning post is in sight 5 more wins from our last 13 games will be enough
You wont beat us, Brighton or reading so you'll need 5 from 10 --50% win at the pointy end of the season......good luck with that
Henry played well yesterday...(when I say that I mean he did his job really well, not that he was brilliant or creative), when Joey is back...we can start building on that. But we need to be more creative So I would like to see BAE back too. I would like us to stick with Traore and Hoillet. So Jenas has to go. But with the away matches coming up...we will be trying to grind out 1-0 wins...and with the defence losing confidence...that will not happen. From here I expect us to creep into the playoffs but lose before Wembley to a young team that wants it more
I find it utterly embarrassing that almost every team can now muscle us out of the match. For large parts of the match yesterday Leeds players were pushing us off the ball like the preverbal, 'boys v men'. Henry at least tried to throw himself about. Our players were constantly pushed, tackled, fouled or out muscled. God be with the days when we would take to the pitch as a team and issue retribution to any opposition player that dared hack down one of our players. We're embarrassingly lightweight and losing the physical battle week in and week out. Traore, Carroll, Yossi, Niko, Keane,Jenas, O'Neill etc are all pushed off the ball way to easily. Teams have us sussed. Press us high, tackle hard and force the errors.
The way things are shaping up Wigan will be past us in a couple of weeks and we'll be struggling to keep Forest, Reading and Brighton at bay. If we do make the play-offs Derby or Wigan are our likely two-legged challengers with the away leg last, a distinct disadvantage, especially if we don't win our home leg...
