The QPR Tactics Discussion Thread

This has basically been our problem for the last few years, under several managers; there is always a massive abyss between the attacking players and everyone else. It's like we play with a defense and a attack and no midfield.

A lot of people complain when Chair or Willock drop to try and pick up the ball. I actually think we need to do that more. If we have two attacking midfielders (usually in the form of Willock and Chair) we can afford one of them to drop, add an additional pair of feet to pass to when we're under pressure in midfield and then either carry the ball forward or get things moving good/through passes.

But we also have a situation where our tactics are to launch the ball forward from our defense, even though our defenders are not good enough for those kinds of passes. We need to get the ball to the midfield and the attacking midfielders so they can slot balls over or through to each other or to our strikers.

Field has yet to really prove himself, so the jury is out for me. Even though he's coming back now, he is still injury prone. Fingers crossed the second half of our season isn't laden with injuries. But Field... he hasn't played enough for me to say that he will definitely be the difference. He looks promising, but just because he's coming back, doesn't mean we're going to suddenly shift a gear up. Although, I hope we do.

P.s. I actually think Gray is really fast still. I think both him and Charlie have plenty to offer at this level. But we play a system and style that is almost exactly the worst system/style for them.

In any case, this international break literally couldn't have come at a better time for us. We need a rest, we need to regroup, we need to get some training and drills done with those returning from injury and we need to get our heads together. 2 weeks off is just what the doctor ordered.

 

We looked a decent side in the Luton game, for a change. We actually looked professional and organised. The break definitely helped us.

So, what did we get right?

I'm sure recovery from tiredness and fatigue helped, as well as a few players allowing a knock or two to heal up.

But a big part of what worked last week seemed to be how things went down the left sided channel, with Wallace. We always had a way out of pressure down that side. And this seemed to be the plan.

Barbet was almost like a LB at times. In contrast, Dickie did not drift over that far to work with Adomah. In a way, it was a bit of a shame to see Adomah held back so much, as we all like to see him attacking. However, Adomah was impressive in terms of taking on pretty much exclusively defensive duties.

With three at the back, this makes it so that only one channel can be really leaned into. You couldn't have the three at the back drifting both ways. So, if they're going to prefer Wallace's channel on the left, I'm guessing it's best to player an experienced defender on the right wing back position. And perhaps occasionally let Adomah play in the attacking midfield when either Willock or Chair are absent or need to go off.

Also, did anyone else catch Adomah celebrating Austin's goal? He's such a legend!

 

Thought against Luton there wasn't such a massive gap between our attack and the rest. Hoping for the same tonight.

 

That left wing back position NEEDS someone who brings the quick pass / triangle pass game. Field is all wrong there. Field should be centre and Dozzell out left.

 

Neither should be anywhere near left wing back imo.

 

Agreed, both are central players.
To be honest Col, i dont think the system needs tinkering with. Its the personel we have played within it thats caused us issues, like today. Obviously injuries have forced this. All systems have their strengths and weaknesses, we know ours, opposition teams most likely do too but its got us high up the table so far and its turning out to be one of our most enjoyable seasons for a while. Long may it continue.

 

Today we did not have a left wing back.

We have lost Wallace, McCallum, Moses and even Uncle Albert.

Field or Barbet were the only players that could play there today.

I am not going blame Field...he never ever has play there before

 

I would have thought that Field at CB and Barbet at LWB would have been a better option.

 

That's two players playing out of position!!
One of whom has not played 90 minutes for months
...we would have come down like a ton of bricks on that plan.

We have also already played Barbet as LWB...he was no great shakes.

The more I think of it the less worse it gets.

We were down to bare bones. For what ever reason we only had 15 fit outfield players...and no wing backs

If Austin scored the penalty...things may have been different

Their goalie rightly won man of the match.

We had 17 shots..

We are 5th.

We have 8 days before the next match

We need reinforcements.

 

I think Field has played CB before, but not WB. Barbet has at least played WB.

 

Did you notice that Field does not seem to own a right foot...He is totally left footed.

 

We should have played a back four really.

 

In retrospect I think I would have agreed with that.

Barbet, dunne, Dickie, Kakay
Dozzell, Field, Johansen
Chair Willock
Austin

 

That's the strange thing about left footed players... they are usually almost entirely one footed. Except for Messi!

Dom Ball was on the bench and has looked quite decent as central defender. So, Barbet LWB and Ball in his place. Or Ball as RWB and Kakay as LWB.

I mean... the options are very limited right now.

 

No one is blaming Field Beth.
A back 4 would have made most sense considering that we had no wing backs.
We had nothing out wide going forward apart from the occassions Willock got out there.

 

Stoke deserved the win, very composed and clinical, very good finishes, but I didn’t think we would lose until their second went in. We had players out of position and looked patched up, but no one gave up and, as always with this team, we looked better and more threatening the longer it went on, though the first 15 minutes were good too. Spirit was good, and we stay in the play off positions.

I hadn’t realised how chronically left footed Field is. I know lots of players are one footed, but he really caught my attention. Felt a bit sorry for him having to come back in that position. Kakay put a lot of work in and got in good positions but is shy of a first time cross, or crossing at all. The formation has served us well this season, even though it makes us a bit leaky at the back, but it’s a big ask of players who aren’t suited to the key positions.

Still enjoyed it, easy to forgive an off day amongst a lot of good days.

 

Its a tricky one really and a a matter of opinion. We have played this way all season and it had us up to 3rd in the league, now 5th. I could understand if wanting to change if we were 15th or something but to me, its been sucessful so far. Even today, we created enough chances to win the game. I do agree with Col on the wide players. Neither offered anything going forward and it showed. I said to my lad, (in hindsight obviously) without odebajo or uncle, i would have liked to see Amos do the right hand side instead of kakay.

 

I agree with Nick.

 

Field has played left back before but not since 2017. Warburton defo got tactics wrong yesterday, should've started with back 4 with Barbet at left back. Trouble was no one was on their game at all, Johansen was poor and Dozell reverted to his first 2 game form with sloppy passes in dangerous positions. Willock had an off day but was due one. Chair very off day, maybe early knock troubled him. Chaz had a ****ter and Willock should be on pens until Dykes returns should be get another. See Rangnick reverted to his old system of 4-2-2-2, for his first Utd game. Very high pressing tempo in first 30 mins, I wonder what we'd play like with that system ? You play without any real width, but you do dominate the midfield and the front players are much closer to the front 2. If you don't have any fit wingbacks to offer width it's a perfect solution lol

 

Thought I'd bump this thread as via LFW twitter I came across this piece which analysis the way we played at Birmingham and shows how we made them play a style that didn't suit them....... I found it really interesting......



Here's a link to the article if unable to get in via twitter.....

https://danlambert.substack.com/p/h...ampaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=direct