Thanks folks. I recall not being too impressed by Smithies either when he first became the main keeper but I've changed my opinion over this season.
New m-a-n-a-g-e-r with a clear playing system and good sense of tactic......and five-seven new GOOD players and a chairman with a sensible strategy.
Bit of a tense game until we scored, forest huffed & puffed but thought we was comfortable holding them, not a great game but enough, no stand out mom, glad that's over & a welcome break.
Great we got our win and are safe. Well done Conor too for scoring. Sounds like our defense had to be on their toes and did well too. I think it's a disgrace that Huddersfield fielded a weak team - if Birmingham were beaten by a play-off team (as would very likely have happened) they would be in a relegation spot now; instead two other teams have been disadvantaged. The EFL should take action.
Back now with a glass of merlot in hand. We were awful.......Forest were a little more awful, especially in the final third. We struggled to put three passes together all game. Freeman is a good, tricky player, but hangs on to the ball far too much. Luongo, Manning and Freeman are too lightweight collectively and we were badly over-run in midfield for long periods. Smithies was outstanding! Perch is terrible, but had a better second half after being torn a new one by their left winger first half. Ned was very good today and made a lot of important interceptions and tackles. Lynch is pretty pony, but scored an important header. Bidwell is hard and cares, but really not very good, especially as an attacking option. Smith is woeful, with a ten yard pass for a first touch and missed an absolute sitter of a header(the one thing he's supposed to be good at!!) just before Washington superbly finished for his goal. Washington made good runs all game and deserved his goal which was a really good finish. We're safe and thank **** for that. A lot needs to change before next season. Oh and Huddersfield are an utter disgrace.
Thank god for that, feared the worst when brum scored...I'm going three draws for relegation teams, Blackburn still to go down
Watford that first half was one of the worst displays of football I have seen from a QPR team. The last one was under Hollow as well. They couldn't pass, no organisation and tactics were schoolboy at best. I cannot believe anyone would want Holloway in charge of us next season. It will only get worse from now on if that muppet is given another season. Hurry up and move to Berkshire and we can discuss QPR over a pint in more depth.
Last home game and one in which we need to get a result, so, after all the experimentation and tinkering, you play your best team and favoured formation don't you? Hall wasn't available of course, but none of the back four we started with today should be first choice next season in my opinion. Onuoha was very good today, but if we can find someone to partner Hall at CB, he should only be cover next year. Lynch and Bidwell are average and Perch is awful - Furlong and Robinson should be first choice full backs if you ask me. I like all of today's midfield three, but as a combination they are too lightweight. Perm any two, but add a tough-tackling ball winner - the Polish lad we briefly had seemed just right for that. Smith, after flattering to deceive, has turned out to be exactly the useless lump that I expected him to be, and if Holloway continues to start with him I will seriously consider moaning a bit more about the trifling cost of the season ticket that I will inevitably continue to buy each season until I croak.
Furlong and Pawel were a revelation earlier in the season. I can't remember who it was against but they ran the oppositions left side ragged. Never seen that since. I love Ned but he has lost a yard or two and cannot always rely on his spatial awareness to get him out of trouble. I agree with all that has been said about our MF, it is lesser than the sum of its parts. Connor needs to step up to the plate OR we need a proven striker.
Bidwell has had an average season overall but I think he'll come good. I know we always make players worse but he was excellent for Brentford and he's still quite young. Robinson can be great but just can't be relied upon. Is Perch's contract up? Holloway loves him so I expect he'll stay but I hope desperately not.
I like Smith. Not pretty but we always look better with width and he'll win everything in the air. We are crying out for goals from midfield which, much as I like Freeman and Manning, I'm not sure they're capable of. I wouldn't complain if that front three start next season. The problems lie in defence and defensive midfield.
That's just about how I saw it. Two pints shy of being properly anaesthetised for a first half right up (down) there with the worst I have witnessed in 45 years of going. Just dire. Second better but only because of the goals. Smith made Polter look like the Zlatan. I thought Pawel was weedy though he did track back a bit. Washington's finish was excellent, though he did have one effort in the first half which made me think he wasn't actually a striker. Yeni looked ok when he came on. Championship football. Horrible.
You're forgetting something. Huddersfield are wannabees. Chelsea United etc can get away with a slapped wrist but all the rest can be made an example of. I will be surprised if they are not reported to the FA because it clearly did distort who is likely to go down. Unless of course you believe it was down to Redknapp in which case you clearly believe in fairies as well
