Haven't done a match report for a while, but I need to do this just to get it off my chest, absolutely fuming at the moment. THE GAME Before the game started several of us commented on the state of the pitch and correctly predicted Harry would use it as an excuse! Anyway, we were pleased to see Morrison starting, but for me gutted to see Carroll was. The game was a pretty poor one overall with little chances for either side - but when they did come they were wasted. It was just a scrappy game with neither side able to string passes together. Charlton had the best chance of the first half when they hit the post, and the rebound was smashed against the other post despite an open goal. Not a single shot on target for us in the 90 minutes! Second half was much the same, but we had a few good opportunities sent wide by Morrison, one 2 minutes from time which hit him and looped into the keepers arms. Then out of nothing Green made a great diving save to keep a great shot out. From the resulting corner, at the back post Jackson headed the ball down and bounced into the roof of the net. Cue boos from the QPR end - 3200 filled the away end and we got absolutely nothing back. Other than that, it was a shocking game. THE RATINGS GREEN - 6 - always looked to play the ball out quickly from goal kicks but little awareness from those in front. Think he should have claimed the corner for the goal though - like the reading 2nd goal last week, HILL - 6 - played left back with BAE dropped completely. did ok, nothing more really. wasn't able to get forward to support traore really though. DUNNE - 6 - one of the few who can say they did ok, didn't do too much wrong but nothing more than that. ONUOHA - 5 - not a great game imo. little bit erratic with his passing, made one good run forwards but went down in the area rather than having a shot. first touch not great. HUGHES - 5 - haven't been overly impressed to be honest. lacks pace and doesn't seem to defend that well, leaves the wingers far too much space to get crosses in. when he goes forwards his crossing is also poor. JENAS - 3.5 - part of another yet another dis-functioning midfield with carroll. did come deep to collect the ball but his passing was awful and was easily beaten to so many challenges. lack of effort imo - often just jogging around. CARROLL - 3.5 - said before, and i will say it again - not good enough. passing was poor and often just runs in circles. too lightweight for the centre of the park. TRAORE - 6 - lots of effort, but little end product. crossing poor which isn't normal. ran into a lot of blind alleys and his poor 1st touch not helped by a bobbling pitch. HOILETT - 5.5 - had a fair amount of the ball but did nothing with it. poor control letting him down on a number of occasions. wasted a couple of good attacks. MORRISON - 6.5 - best player on the pitch but struggled with a poor team around him, plus being closely marked. missed 2 great chances. DOYLE - 6 - wrongly taken off imo - was the only forward man looking able to do anything at the time. didn't have too many chances but worked hard and always looking to run into space but opportunities missed by team mates. SUBS: MAIGA - 5.5 - worked hard when he came on but missed a superb chance when the keeper kicked the ball right at him 12 yards out. KEANE - 4.5 - lots of huffing and puffing but little end product. BENAYOUN - 5.5 - worked hard but again little impact or end product. FINAL WORD Overall a terrible game, and yet another terrible performance. As I said on another thread, for me Harry's time is up. Clearly can't get the best out of this squad, and we are incredibly lucky to be in 4th place. Now been found out and starting to slide. The players don't seem motivated and seem incapable of playing well. Plus he makes all these changes every week. If we don't go up he will leave at the end of the season anyway, and for me we won't go up anyway with him in charge. 7 points off top two and in shocking form - doesn't bode well - this is the time we should be coming into our best form. May as well make the change now - get a new guy in who can decide which out of contract players he wants to keep and potentially claw onto a play-off place. Drastic some may say, but today was the final straw for me. I stuck by Hughes for much longer than many, so this is not an over-reaction. I just can't see us improving -we created virtually nothing against a bottom three side today despite having 65% possession. Something is not right. The money that has been spent on this squad and with the players we have we should be doing much better. But we have far too many players who are past it and on loan. When Harry came in he said we can't have this many players on loan. Thats my feelings anyway.
I could have written something similar, but (a) I can't be bothered, (b) I am pished, (c) I can't think of a c. Dunne and Hill were better than a 6, and your assessment of Ravel was spot on.
Thanks Judo. I don't think Green warrants a 6 - he was at fault for the goal and his handling was poor. A couple of decent saves though, but I wish we still had Cesar. I thought Ned was good, best I seen him play for ages. A great run that may have been a penalty, and some good solid tackes. He looked far more confident today. A 6,5 or 7 maybe. I didn't think Caroll or Jenas were that bad, just Ok, 5's maybe. I hardly saw Doyle, thought we were better when Keane came on. Overall I thought we played Ok til we neared there goal, then we were poor. Ravel was MOM for me - hope his finishing picks up though.
Good man Judo, thanks for the report. As ever, we will all see it slightly differently (I'd rate Carroll higher than you and many others do), but I'm sure that no one can doubt your conclusion. The play offs look a long way of at the moment mate.
Thanks Judo. Sad reading but not surprising. I think it will be a busy week at HQ, whatever the outcome.
Can't disagree with the OP or subsequent posts. Overall a very bad day at the office. If you watch Burnley, Derby and Leicester they are always looking to put the ball in the Opo's box from all over the park. We choose to walk it in tippy tappy style with no end product
A r judo I know I can usually rely on your reports to mirror most of what I would have said Think we are finally being found out for what a lot of us actually knew we were
