Having been to both Sunderland and Bolton games it strikes me that we have a number of underlying issues in the team at the moment First, a real lack of confidence. And particularly in front of goal. We always seem to be looking for the extra pass rather than the player with the ball taking a chance with a shot. Mind you our shooting has been generally woeful. But the lack of testing of opposition keepers is frustrating Second, lack of movement. The number of square or backwards safety passes because of a lack of forward options, even when we appear to be able to put teams under pressure. To be fair, the pitch conditions at Bolton in the last 20 minutes of the second half were awful, but we still seemed to lack ambition I don't believe that we have a squad that is lower mid-table - there is plenty of quality there, it just isn't being harnessed Which leads to the question - why? I don't have the answer, but I'm sure one of the regulars on here does
However, Mackie does have 3 goals this season, one of which was a direct result of his energy and determination (chasing down an attempted clearance by the keeper)
I never wanted Ollie back and thought the fiddling around with a winning team before we were safe last season was criminal and so nearly got us relegated. I wanted him replaced in the summer. But not now. This season we are playing well, as others have said there is huge effort as the large number of comebacks testify, and we have deserved more points than we have won. A few tweaks, Smith and Sylla up front together more, and returning defenders could be enough to keep us in mid table. If the Club could bring in a goal scorer or maybe find a Wheeler or another in the U23's can score regularly at this level, plus an experienced competent CB, we could move up the table.
Our midfield is the basis of a decent team when all are fit but it's our defence that is suspect, each player seems to have at least one gaffe per game which often can lead to us conceding, particularly against the better teams. Up front we just don't seem to have the balance right and none of our forwards are out and out goalscorers, those two deficiencies combined mean we are likely to struggle in the bottom half...
Last season they were in League One. As I don’t follow QPR in knockout tournaments (there is only so much pain I can take) which one did we lose to them in? Champions League? You should know that you can’t make a mistake around here, particularly a mistake of provable fact. I know you’re getting on but for crying out loud, sharpen up your act. Love Waldorf Xx
I find Sylla a very frustrating player He gets some important goals but seems to drift in and out of games too much Yesterday I wasn't sure if his goal was "a brilliant flick" or if it was a lucky deflection off his leg. Regardless it went in
I agree he's our best goal threat but he's averaging a goal in just over three games which with the lack of goals from others has us where we are...
He's not been given that much playing time this season until recently, now he's 2 from 2 and a fox in the box. Keep it up!
I thought the one their Keeper saved well low down in the corner, may have been a lucky leg, but thought he meant the goal all right.
Oslo - a good analysis and insight. Unlike the Sunderland match where I thought we lost two points, yesterday I was grateful for the one point. Despite the stats it is true that we did not look like scoring. As for our attack, I would have started Sylla and Wheeler. It is a pity that Wheeler did not have more than a few late minutes on the sodden pitch as he looked direct and dangerous - an instinctive sharp striker! For the more physical teams, Both Sylla and Smith could be solution. We now have games against better teams where we may need to press. So perhaps in these we will see Washington and Mackie pressing up front at the beginning with the later introduction of the big guys. I just have the impression that recently we tend to start with the wrong striking option and then we use our subs to correct the situation. Which is waste of the sub options. However I admit it is easy to watch a stream and be philosophical aftwerwards, it is much more difficult to be in Ollie’s position. However I am not dismayed or disencouraged as I believe we have a foundation of a good team. I hope that we will “click” by Christmas.
Good to hear all the feedback from you people. I might be a longtime fan but l'm not 'in the know' as you locals would be, far from it ............ so I can only go by what I hear & see, from afar. Thanks for the imput.
Highlights.... Bolton 1-1 QPR | Video | Watch TV Show | Sky Sports http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/11092193/bolton-1-1-qpr
He’s been in charge about a year, hasn’t he, Diddles? We’ve seen a few unfancied clubs such as Bournemouth, Huddersfield and Brighton fare pretty well in recent years by quietly going about their business and building the infrastructure to allow them to become sustainable as a club. Ollie may not be Eddie Howe, David Wagner or Chris Hughton, but I’m prepared to give him a fairer crack of the whip than just 12 months.
It is extremely frustrating being a Rangers fan.personally i agree with the earlier post that Ollys tinkering nearly was a catastrophe,and should have cost him his job..that said he has built a team that has character and has a great work ethic,the trouble we will encounter this season will be a lack of squad quality.You can only go so far with hard graft.We watched a bunch of mercenary ****s rip us off and not give a damn about anything but the £££,I expect a low mid table spot and nothing else..which is pretty depressing but realistic imo.
Upper lower half (if that makes any sense?) would suit me, Deano. Just a striker and some decent defensive cover in the transfer market and Robert’s your dad’s brother.
