Match Day Thread QPR vs Peterborough United

Would we beat Barnsley and Peterborough with them

 

I was at the KPFS yesterday and to say I was disappointed by the result doesn't really do my feelings justice. But, somehow, not surprised. And not angry, for some reason. I thought we played well in the first half and were unlucky not to be ahead by 2 or even 3 goals at half time. Rarely has there been such a cataclysmic drop off in performance between two halves. Again, "shambles" doesn't begin to do it justice. And don't get me started on those substitutions! Given Peterborough's recent record, it was a truly shocking result and a shocking performance.

This board is now awash with calls for Warburton to go. The Twattersphere is even worse. It's like changing managers every other season has worked for us in the past, hasn't it? The old mantra, "He's taken us as far as he can" is being trotted out. Apparently, "he has lost the dressing room" (for which no evidence is offered). Really? During the calendar year 2021 and January 2022 (just 7 weeks ago), we played some of the finest football for a decade. It was both entertaining and successful. And that with a series of bargain basement buys and one of the lowest playing budgets in the division. The management team have unearthed some very good talent and made the best of them. I think Warburton has done a brilliant job in getting us this far and I still think we are lucky to have him. Of course, he and the team need to learn some lessons. He should admit that he has made mistakes with substitutions. He should admit (privately) that he has relied too much on old faithfuls who, despite our earlier hopes, have had their day (Johansen, Austin). And he should admit that he hasn't given certain young talent enough match time ( eg Dozzell and, especially, Amos). If he's being honest, he should also consider being more flexible with our formation when things aren't working out. Hopefully, these criticisms will get through to him and he will become a better manager for it.

Nevertheless, I think with one or two additions and one or two farewells, we will come again. I don't think it will be this season; our bad run has gone on too long. But, for example, Brentford tried and tried again and eventually made it to the promised land. I don't see why we shouldn't do the same.

 

A good post. I certainly don't want Warburton to go, and those fans that do, need to be sent on an Expectation Management course. I'm sure they're available in evening classes. Seriously, we had 50p to spend and somehow we've defied gravity for most of the season, although even when we won, we haven't looked entirely convincing for some time.

We don't give this season up or the chance of the play offs. Stranger things have happened. But let's not expect it, and whatever happens, in the summer we can review the season in a balanced way.

 

Agree with Goldhawk - good post Rodney. MW has done a good job on a low expectation budget. The board has focused on getting/keeping us on a reasonable financial footing, considering all that’s gone on.

I too was fed-up with the constant managerial changes. Changing MW? With who? Do they come in and break things up to suit their players and style - after all the building up we have done in the last few seasons. I’m sure we will learn a few things from this season and come back stronger. Sh1t end to the season if it goes on like this, just have to hope we turn things around a little bit and show some grit and steely determination for the last few games.

 

We are just doing last season - **** first half, great second half - in reverse.

Most people thought that the signings of Johansen and Austin were key for a play off push this season, I think the return on them has diminished much more quickly than expected. The only time I’ve seen Johansen boss a game the way I expected him to quite regularly was against Reading. Charlie has been in the right place at the right time a few times, but he’s not even a shadow of what he was.

It’ll be interesting to see how the owners react in the close season.

 

You're referring to good football etc, but that is in the past.
I absolutely accept that changing coaches too often is nearly always counter productive.
However, a few of us have given possible reasons for Warburton having lost some of the players.....constantly changing the team; leaving players out (Sometimes completely out of the squad) after they've made big contributions in the previous game; Barbet hasn't played badly and yet he's suddenly out (possibly to do with contract talks); playing players out of position, especially Willock.....
All this could be reasons the players aren't as together as they so obviously were earlier in the season. Tactically, Warbs seems lacking. The championship seems to have many more talented coaches than him.
Ridiculous, mind boggling substitutions are just one example.
We have been unlucky with injuries, but everyone gets them.
Even when we were winning regularly, we were wide open defensively, but exciting to watch.
We've possibly been found out now, and I don't see much alternative thinking other than to add a midfielder when we lost Chair to the AFCON.
I am of the opinion that Warburton, having done very, very well considering our financial situation has indeed taken us as far as he can. We could well not finish as high as last season.
I'm pretty sure he'd keep us up next season.

I just feel that promotion opportunities come along very rarely and that Warbs has crumbled under the run in pressure.

I really hope I'm proved wrong.

 

Anyone got a link to Clive's report?( Can't wait!! )

 

Had a bad weekend for personal reasons (friend seriously ill).

I only logged into QPR+ to see the penalty being away and switched off after their 3rd goal. That 5 mins or so was more than enough.

The only good news when one had personal issues is that the QPR results are less relevant and painful.

Take care and keep your chins up.

A loss of form if not the end of the world. The R’s will be back to entertain and bring joy!

 

There’s always perspective needed ‘Ski. I hope your friend sees some better health soon.

 

I’d never expect to be sent of an Expectation Management course but, if I did, I doubt it’d meet my expectations.

 

You are right, of course: those are all reasons why a coach might lose the dressing room. Might. But you are talking about possible causes rather than actual effect. More convincing evidence would be tantrums when substituted or a general lack of effort, neither of which we have seen. Has there been any gossip about dissent in the ranks? A good manager, whether in business or football, can carry a team with him even when he makes unpopular decisions. Sometimes, those affected will even react positively in order to prove the manager wrong, as MW clearly has been on occasion. We've had 13 months of glorious, winning football and 7 weeks of frustrating mediocrity. We have a base on which to build: I just think we need to be a bit more patient.

 

Interesting post, Col. Having had a string of dud managers that barely lifted us from the base of the table, I feel Warburton has shown potential. I'm fearful, given that we have little cash, that what we replace him with would be worse and we'll go back to the relegation battles.

 

Not with our defence we wouldn't lol

 

Funny how they made it to the promised land after they'd got rid of Warburton though isn't it ? And he'd got them higher than he's got us, there was uproar when they outed him and replaced him with a foreign coach. Those dissenters aren't complaining now are they ? Warburton is a decent coach but a limited manager, we will never go up under him I guarantee it !

 

I look at the Premier league and wonder why the hell i would want my beloved hoops in it! We would be there just to make the numbers up! Leeds fans surely get no enjoyment from being trounced 6 and 7 nil and paying for the pleasure to watch.
Obviously money is the main attraction to promotion but as a paying fan, short of ticking a few grounds from my list to visit, it would surely be a doomed experiment. We cant beat Peterbrough or Barnsley ffs, we are 15 players off competeing with the big boys in that league!
As for Warbles, well there hasnt been a manager that i havent got pissed off with at some point in a season. I certainly dont want him to go. I actually think hes done a very good job, brought in some good players (one or two not so good). In my opinion, we got where we were in the league with Chair and Willock playing with freedom. When Chair went off to the AFCONs we messed around with the formation when there wasnt any need to. Granted this set up left us open quite often but it got us results and points. We were literally guaranteed a goal in every game!
Then came the experiment of no strikers! Now this is the point that i got really pissed off at! First and foremost, any striker at the club (fit) would be demoralised. Secondly, we dont have the brains or ability to play such a way. Its not as if we have De Bruyne, Foden, Grealish etc etc.
In summary, i think Warbles has panicked, desperation has sneaked into his selections and formations, desperation for the play offs and the promised land, desperate to stumble upon a winning formula. It aint pretty and it aint clever. Learn from this, build a squad capable of seeing us through to the final game of the season.

 

Oh and send Jeff Hendrick back pronto, saves needless money on his cut of wages.

 

Dean Smith? A foreign coach? I think you've been asleep for a few years. It took them several years before they went up and they never seriously challenged until Frank took over some years after Warburton had gone.

 

I’ve never been but I am sure that if you follow the tunnel which is midway on the left of the pitch if you are facing the Loft, the dressing room is down there somewhere. That’s should clear up one issue if Mr W reads this forum.