Redknapp lacks a winning plan for QPR Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp did not think his side created enough chances against Newcastle United. Fortune favours the brave. And against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City, QPR probably did not get their fair share of fortune for the courage they showed with only one point from those three matches. Because it takes great courage to defend against big sides, to dare to concede possession, and maintain your tactical discipline and focus for 90 minutes. But in the 1-0 defeat against Newcastle -- a team undoubtedly enjoying an upturn in form but still short of defensive qualities -- Rangers did not need to run themselves ragged and sacrifice grace for guts. At St James' Park, Harry Redknapp's men needed to demonstrate an entirely different type of bravery; the sort of bravery that involves wanting the ball at your feet and trying to create chances. They needed to attract tackles, not just make them. Attempting a difficult pass or receiving the ball in a tight situation can be just as brave as sticking your head into a challenge or trying to shackle Sergio Aguero. But Rangers did not put out a side to test Newcastle. They didn't set up to test them half as much as they should have. Starting with three recognised centre-backs in Nedum Onuoha, Richard Dunne and Steven Caulker behind a midfield made up of all central players; Joey Barton, Sandro, Karl Henry and Leroy Fer made QPR appear very difficult to beat but also unlikely to win. In the recent matches where Rangers have excelled themselves against richer, faster, stronger, better football clubs, Redknapp has been spot on with the likes of Niko Kranjcar, Junior Hoilett, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Matt Phillips all overlooked. But, against Newcastle, the tricky talents and crafty nous of at least one of those players would have been ideal. Three of the quickest players at the club were not selected to replace nippy forward Eduardo Vargas, who missed out because his wife was giving birth; Phillips and Hoilett were on the bench with Wright-Phillips jettisoned from the squad, but when asked about his side's faults after the match, Redknapp said, "When you play away from home, you need pace on the break, and we're not blessed with that." QPR offered little in attack versus Newcastle and mainly relied on the defensive efforts of Richard Dunne and company. QPR offered little in attack versus Newcastle and mainly relied on the defensive efforts of Richard Dunne and company. Instead, Rangers crammed square pegs into hooped holes, and in the end, they paid the price. Make no mistake, had they grabbed the 0-0 draw they looked like they might get away with at an imposing stadium against an in-form side, then everything would have been swell. Redknapp might have been credited for picking another solid and resilient XI. But they were beaten, again, and now sit rock bottom of the Premier League with all the momentum from their preinternational break performances long gone. Newcastle had Mike Williamson start at centre-back -- he is probably third-choice when Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has a fully fit squad -- and Paul Dummett played alongside himself despite being a left-back. Yes, QPR played their first-choice strike duo in Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora, but there was never going to be much service from out wide with central midfielders Barton and Fer forced out on the flanks. Redknapp is clearly not ready to offer Adel Taarabt a route back into the team after his criticisms of Redknapp's managerial efforts, so there needs to be some skill and guile coming from somewhere. Rangers have matches against Leicester, Burnley, West Brom and Crystal Palace coming up in December, and they cannot set up the same way they did against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City. Karl Henry is a formidable presence to have in your side when you are desperate to avoid defeat; he has been fantastic for the club when they have been up against it and fighting for their lives, but he isn't going to help QPR go out and win many matches. Redknapp has got plenty of deserved praise in recent weeks for making QPR hard to beat; now he has to give them a chance to go and win.
Harry is clueless, but there is a fair amount of bollocks in that article. Not least saying that Henry won't help us beat teams. That completely ignores the fact that a defensive midfield player makes it possible for the team to go out and attack.
What really sh_hits me is that we play really well against Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea and call it bad luck or whatever, we can't snag a win. However, when Burnley or Palace play one of the better teams, they have a win, possibly because the so called better team plays crap ............. not against us though. We just can't seem to get the 50-50 calls, it would seem. Anyway, just letting off steam.
Agree with that at the moment you remove Henry we will look a very fragile side IMO Barton plays for Barton Sandro looks to me to be simply not the full ticket No foundations to any football team don't be surprised if they get brushed away We need to Henry at all costs to shield and grow a back four that doesn't like being run at Hard to beat however has to be balanced with pure creavity
Morning chaps, I come in peace... Is Yun nailed on for you guys at left-back now? Does he have any competition from anyone? I have used my wildcard on FPL, so am re-building my team. You have some pretty decent fixtures coming up (starting with us this weekend ), especially at home, and he's pretty cheap... Your thoughts/help are much appreciated. Thanks!
After being ignored for 18 months he seems first pick now. Competition from Armand "hello birds, hello sky" Traore. Redknapp is our manager, so Charlie Austin may be left back next week.
Having watched the game last night, I thought we put in a solid performance but were up against a better team. I think the main point of the OP is correct. They had more speed and creativity, and won deservedly from that. We need a fit on form Adel or Nico in our midfield quick, and if they aren't getting there, or Harry doesn't like them, whatever, we will need a good creative No 10 in January from somewhere, together with someone with the speed of Hoillet, but better at providing a finish or the final pass than he has. I expect Newcastle have spent far more in assembling that team than we have. It looks to me like TF needs to lay out a fair chunk more - because we need to get close to Newcastle's level to be safe. We will really miss Dunne next week - I never expected to say that - but he has been very good of late. My MOM Saturday - I don't feel comfortable with either Rio or Ned replacing him, and while normally I'd be happy to see Clint step in it's been a long time since he played, and Leicester are a bit quick up front.
I've just seen a post on facebook from the official 'QPR FC' page celebrating 2 years to the day since Redknapp was was appointed. Photos are up from Wembley and Harry pumping his fist in celebration over something. Can't help but be pleased the managerial merry go round seems to have stopped, and he's been given a long time. Also, think in those two years he hasn't really moved us forward in footballing terms at all. Yes we've potentially got a shiny new stadium, and the owners love him, but you can't polish a turd. A flashy new stadium won't hide the fact that from a football stance, we've not moved forward one bit.
I think the OP is spot on in the main. Arry has forgotten how to win. At this level you have to win by any means and we are always amateur when it comes to crossing the finishing line. His choice in midfield looked like hed hoped for a 0-0 and maybe hoping to pinch one but you always need a midfielder who links and can run past our front two !! BUT WE WERENT PLAYING A GREAT TEAM ARRY, just one confident at the moment!!!...............
I think the midfield is the main instigator of our defensive or attacking intent and currently I'd suspect that Vargas and Henry are undroppable (and righly so). I don't think Redknapp feels comfortable dropping anyone of Barton, Sandro and Fer and so the creative fringe players are the ones that pay the price. IMO we always need one of Vargas, Kranjcar or Taarabt playing in order to avoid playing a rigid 442 without fluidity and invention.
If it helps, I take FF far too seriously and he's in my team. We have good fixtures, he attacks, he's cheap and he's a differential.
A disappointing 109,464 at the moment. Last year was my first inside the top 10k. Still hoping to reach the top 20k! How are you planning on using the wildcard? I'm very tempted by doubling up on Chelsea mids. Have Fab already, and may put Oscar in my team to replace Chadli.
Fair play! Good work last year, I normally finish around 20k, but every year I seem to take it more and more seriously I'm currently about 6k, but not sure how long it'll last! Doubling up on Chelsea midfielders could work. Thing is, I'm set on Aguero AND Costa up front, which doesn't leave much money for elsewhere lol! This is my current draft... McGregor / Heaton Baines / N Taylor / Collins / Yun / Kelly Alexis Sanchez / Fabregas / Sigurdsson / Downing / Boyd Aguero / Costa / Austin Rotate McGregor and Heaton (one of them always at home) Always play Baines and N Taylor, and playing whichever of the remaining 3 have a good fixture. Might swap Austin for Sakho, but two West Ham players just doesn't sit right with me... One is enough
Edit: woops, wrong thread. The majority of our recent performances have been decent; i''ll wait a few more games before reverting back to Harry-bashing mode.
Only two out of Barton, Sandro and Henry should play whatever the fixture. On current form and after City game, Barton should have been sub. As no Vargas, Isla, Phillips, traore or Hoillet should have been wide. I am aware the confidence is shot in two of those but it still balances the team.... To me Vargas is crucial now as he is the only one of those aforementioned who can actually operate as proper NO 10 and link and run past the two strikers..........
