Match Day Thread QPR vs Bristol City

I can solve our problem, from now on we must ask to play the second half first, but keeping all 11 players in defence, then we must play the first half second because it appears that in the first half we seem like a decent side but in the second we turn to ****e, therefore I propose playing the game back to front so to speak, and even if it turns out a waste of time, it might somehow confuse the opposition and we may or may not actually win a bloody game

That’s it, that’s all I got, I simply cannot think of anything else that may help

 

Even if we played backwards we would still manage to waste chances. I think it comes down to Quality (and not selling all your best players). Learning how to defend... which means letting less in than the opposition. And finally have the players to put the ball in the net. Not asking for much really.

 

Very sensible and accurate post!

 

Yep so do I Col, hopefully playing the lovely football you were purring over last night and with a bit more defensive steel.....

 

Thanks for this.

The only thing to challenge ever so slightly is 'sorting out a few minor bits and pieces'.

Scoring consistently and not leaking is a bit more than minor but I do agree HUGE progress and any outfit with momentum is easier to direct / adjust more than one without any. Hopefully.

 

In our last two matches we have outplayed teams who will be in play off contention at the very least. Teams with deep pockets and big squads. Both teams made personnel/tactical changes at half time to stem the onslaught.
Worryingly, we didn’t win the first halves that we dominated and more worryingly when those teams changed tactics we were not smart enough to adjust.
I actually think we should have had six points from the two games based on our first half dominance in each, look at the table and see where that would have us.
We still have this shocking ability to ship poor goals but we have the nucleus of a good championship side and the opposition do not underestimate us.
The BOS situation will surely be resolved by mid January and life without him will be much harder.

 

We need a manager that recognises there is a need to actively coach the defence as a unit with everyone aware of their first responsibility, too often we get suckered by quick counters or on the other hand piss poor organisation at set pieces, both have cost us dearly this season as last...

 

A lot more defensive steel, as I'm not convinced we're suddenly going to start converting the chances our good football creates.

 

Shamelessly stolen stats below from LFW. I think we’d all agree Dieng is comfortably good enough and at least Kakay and Dickie are pretty good. Only Wallace who isn’t first choice now would be considered genuinely not up to the level.

The issue has always been in midfield. I’m not Cameron’s biggest fan but he needs to play (or more to the point we need a younger model). Ball and Carroll in a two have lost every match together (a small sample admittedly).

Cameron - 17 points from 12 games
Carroll - 11 points from 11 games
Ball - a startling low 5 points from 8 games

 

I think Cameron is underated, these stats seem to confirm it. Think he does a good job protecting the back four. Sometimes his passing is poor, but then other times he is opening up the opposition's defense. Did very well in the 2 games prior his current injury break when I think we have missed him. Think he and Carroll are the best we have to play the 2 defensive/ linking positions, though I haven't seen enough of Bettache to know how he'd do there, remember him playing wide left pretty well in a short sub appearance.

 

I'm not yet convinced that any of the full backs are good enough.

 

He’s definitely won me over recently compared to his form at the start of the season and just generally in his time for us. He’s still horrendous on the ball but not really any worse than Ball while being a better shield for the defence. Carroll also has emerged as a big player for us which Warburton deserves some credit for. The mistake, aided by hindsight but there wasn’t much enthusiasm for it at the time, was the Amos signing. It was always a gamble when we could have gone for a more proven, robust experienced player for the money.