I felt last night was an easy game due to the quality of the opposition but I think CR definately wants us to play from the back and on the deck. The 2 big positives for me were JET who I have seen several times down at Bristol City and thought he was very lazy but can turn a game. Last night his work rate was good and his touch and passing was excellent at times. Second big plus was Doughty, what a strong performance.worked and battled when we lost the ball and was always making himself available when we had the ball. However, on the negative side I think Polter is going to need a lot of chances to just convert a goal. This may seem a bit picky but watching the shooting practice in the warm up I thought he was awful and not much better in the game. Hoping it is just match rust. My biggest worry is our defence and the lack of communication. Individually I think they are good enough but there is liitle talking virtually no passing of players on when needed. There were several instances where against better opposition we could have been punished. In my mind the art of defending is great communication between the back four working as a unit and we simply have not got that. This is basic stuff and we need a centre half who will organize and control the back four. Sadly our left back was the biggest culprit and I hope Konchesky will go a long way in helping solve this.
Bit harsh on Polter. Scored one and had a great header cleared off the line. How many other chances did he have? Not surprising that the defence isn't right yet. Three players in there who have hardly or never played for QPR. Obviously Yeovil weren't up to much but Hall looked decent enough.
I agree, he only had one other chance, when out muscled the defense towards the end, should have taken the shot on early but took another touch and was eventually crowded out. Had it been half hour earlier I think he would have gone through to score, just looked tired! But goal scoring aside his all-round play was excellent. Strong, holds the ball well and willing to run the channels. I don't think we'll be in a position like last time in the championship where we relied heavily on Austin's goals. Looking at the way CR wants to play, I can see a fair few of our players getting close to, and some even over 10 goals this season. (Philips, JET, Poulet, Mackie, Ilungo, Gladwin) Is he an Austin type player who will get 20+ a season? Probably not. Will his work rate, effort, and space he creates generate chances for others to score instead? Absolutely. To highlight him as a negative after last night is pretty ludicrous to be fair.
What I said was by watching him I think he is a player who will need a lot of chances to convert.. I thought he worked hard and had a decent game but my worry was he isnt going to be the goal scoring replacement if Austin goes. We will need our attacking 3 behind him to score. I just dint think he is a natural goal scorer thats all.
My worry wasnt them as individuals they all had pretty solid games but when you see unmarked players on free kicks and a player passing the full back and going on the blind side of the centre half and he says nothing thats about basic defending not about gelling as a unit
I certainly think we should up the ante in trying to sign Tim Ream, Bolton's Player of the Year last season and clearly up-to-speed with the Championship. I think we're actually missing Dunne at the back, for all his lack of mobility he was a great presence and read the game so well...
I was very pleased with last night particularly Polter and Hall but theres a long way to go.........players didnt know where they were supposed to be at corners..(attack and defense) and the senior players were telling them....surely this should have been explained before!! I think as usual It will be quite a few games bore we see our best 11 and playing to there potential
Nail on the head for me. Need to get this sorted, with a half decent and organised defence I would change my how we do this season vote from mid table to playoffs if I could!
