As with the Middlesbrough match, Kevin Doyle's early goal today set the tone for the remainder of the half. The best first half performance that I've seen to date. Some observations.... I felt that all three of our goals today were more a reflection on mistakes by Burnley than exquisite skill on our part. For the first, the marking was poor, and good to see Kevin Doyle apply a great finish. A shame that at 2-1 that the same touch eluded him when in a similar position. By contrast, the Burnley goals were all a product of pace, pressing, passing and clinical finishing. The first was a quick layoff from a throw, the second and third swift breaks after pressing. Green - I thought might have been able to do more on the first, but perhaps it's a bit harsh. 7 Onuaha - did well in a position he didn't look totally comfortable in - good going forward too. 7 BAE - over confident at times and lost the physical battle - a bit cynical, but did he stay down after the third to hide his decision making behind a knock? 6 Hill - dependable - and was pushed hard today - unlucky not to score. 6 Dunne - as above - kept his volley down well for the goal. 7 Barton - the captain onto the field - constantly encouraging and instructing others - in his absence, this is lacking. For that alone he gets another point. 8 Phillips - gutted to see him stay down so early on. He provides real threat from the right. I fear he is out for the season. Gut wrenching if so. N/A Hoillett - a poor man's Phillips for me. He needs to be coached to drive on decisively. Too often he slows play by cutting back, threatening to go outside, before.... going outside. An extra point for persistence, and an acknowledgement that his run for the third goal owed a bit to luck. 6 Kranjcar - looks to be much fitter. Some sublime touches. A real pity his drag back on the 6 yard box wasn't converted into a goal. 7 Traore - he looks a different player. Totally confident. Full of pace. Lacking a bit of craft today in picking out a cross, and tried to thread the ball through the eye of a needle at the near post when he should have pulled it back or smashed it across. But otherwise the only attacking intent in the second half. 7 Johnson - a quiet match, didn't really notice him much. 6 Doyle - shows a great first touch, and is able to receive and turn in one (one of the few things that Charlie doesn't do much of). I liked the drive and shot in the first half, it was refreshing to see this instead of the tipple tappie layoffs from the likes of O'Neill when in similar positions. 7 Maiga - reminded me of Diakite, but better. 7 Henry - best bit was the cries of shoooooot when he subbed in. 6 So I'm stuck with who was the Man of the Match as no one really shone head and shoulders above others. Perhaps Barton, but only as he gave more in terms of overall team spirit and drive.
The 2nd and 3rd Burnley goals were principally from poor defending from the respective full backs, their 1st goal was a quality strike from a player at the top of his game...
@Joey7Barton: Well done to the lads. Kept battling away. Credit to Burnley there a good side. Good game for the neutral. Fans were different class today. @Joey7Barton: Also a lot of credit must go to todays officials. I thought they were excellent. Let the game flow. Don't get enough credit when their good. @Joey7Barton: Well done to the new boys on getting off the mark. Kevin and Maiga worked there socks off and did great for us. Onwards and upwards #qpr @tonyfernandes: I live that photo of @Joey7Barton hugging out new goalscorer Maiga. Photo of the season for me #passion @Joey7Barton: @tonyfernandes well done to you all in the window. Great job off the field. Gives us the opportunity to do well on it. #teameffort #QPR @tonyfernandes: @Joey7Barton thanks joey. Great to have you back. @Joey7Barton: @tonyfernandes great to be back big man.
That really annoyed me junior just jogged over to him should be busting a gut to stop the cross coming in.
So much to disagree with there Sku. ALL their goals were down to poor defending......the first where we let them cross it too easily and Dunne completely lost Ings.The 2nd was down to Hoilett and Onuoha not getting out quickly enough to stop the cross and Dunne again beaten to it, this time by Vogts. The 3rd was obviously BAE's fault. A 6 for BAE is too generous imo as is a 7 for Dunne.......6 at best and only because of his goal. Ned was a 6 at best as he looked very rusty and isn't a full back. You say you didn't notice AJ.......did you not see the amount of work he got through? I think it's a bit early to compare Maiga with anyone and God he looked slow, but he was in the right place at the right time, so fair play to him. Hoilett deserved a 7 for me and the crowd really should get behind him, as getting on his back is hardly going to give him confidence is it?
I think you have to give total credit to Burnley for the pressing and quick movement of their game ... they are a tight unit. I would mark up the players as they came back after the shell shock of the second half performance of Burnley. All their goals were ALL about them IMO and credit to them. Burnley like most teams will raise their game against us because of the calibre of players in our squad ... we all know that and have to deal with that. Very difficult to defend against any team when they get behind you at pace ... anything can happen ... far too simplistic to state he should of done that or this ... Burnley snapped all over the pitch in the second half and were far better winning the ball back and breaking at pace. Barton at times was chasing shadows and not effective enough IMO at times ... thats the places most make the mistake of not noticing ... Henry came on and when he did we looked like we may have that platform to create. Its school football to blame BAE ... yes he could of dealt with it better ... The management will I bet be looking more at how the ball got out there ... same goes for the ball out wide for their second ... a loose midfield without influence IMO ... still we got our act together and fought our way back it was 3-3 and a great game ... Number 3 son got on Sky Sports today after our opening goal so very pleased ... great game
A lot of good points there Paul. Barton was chasing shadows because he was the only one in midfield prepared to put the work in off the ball. I agree that we need Henry sitting. Burnley were good and all those who wrote them off should take note imo. Our biggest problem today was that we hardly one any "2nd" balls" all afternoon.......again down to the midfield blend imo.
agree those 2nd balls have to be won and Burnley well on top there all over the park ... questionable desire? but individual battles lost will always result inn situations arising elsewhere ... Mistakes are rife and in every single game ... we made plenty BUT ... we came back and got a point ... good signs and certain that we will control a lot more games ... tough league and barton worked hard and we were too loose in there
I have a little bit of sick in the back of my throat. Ice hockey is a game of 3 halves. Sounds like Burnley have a great approach. Bigger things for Dyche on the way?
I love the hussle rangercol! Fair point you make too. I have to admit that I didn't acknowledge the contribution from Andrew Johnson. You know me - a signed up member of the Joey Barton fan club. So tell me. Who was your man of the match?
My MOM was Junior and he kept on going. Kranky slick but only here and there Barton put in the work but didn't grab the game as he sometimes can Can't say we didn't work hard Junior 7.1 Kranky 6.8 Traore 6.6 Barton 6.2 Doyle 6.1
Thanks PaulFroud(DT). I always get the impression that David Hoillett could give more. Is that unfair? On a positive note, if this view is accurate it would suggest that there's more to come.
Not at all Sku, he has not been a net contributor since he joined us, at fault for their second with his couldn't give a toss attitude, him and SWP cut from the same cloth. AJ did ok for an old crock though!.
In truth that was Ned responsibility, He should have seen the threat far earlier, Hoilett was running all day long, shouldn't have to be doing the defending that deep, when Ned wasn't covering anyone at the time. Ned was just standing in no man's land (as he did for a subsequent cross). Just proves Ned struggles playing RB, hopefully Hughes can get up to speed ASAP. Thought Hoilett had a great game.
Amazing how people see different things in the game, part of the reason why it can create some great discussions - First goal - didn't understand why AJ was out wide defending against there biggest threat down that wing, when we were playing 2 left backs, Traore was caught out of position. Second - I thought Ned didn't get out quick enough. Third - BAE without a doubt, he seem to believe he is better on the ball than anyone so attempt to hold the ball to long or look for a clever way out. For me I thought Ned look like a rabbit in the headlights going forward, with the ball at his feet looking forward Didn't really have an Idea (not his best position IMO) Before the game I thought the midfield was setup light in the middle but was surprised in the first half, though in the second half it showed a little, until the change, suprised it didn't come earlier. I enjoyed the game and wasn't unhappy with the result, it was a worse result for Burnley imo but we need to kick on and get a good result against Derby.
