As expected, there was a mini meltdown yesterday after the Charlton sucker punch. I was fearful we might lose and I was not at the game so I won't comment specifically about it since other who were there have already done so. I've just been pondering our situation and the following thoughts occur to me. Some folks slated Harry for mentioning the pitch yesterday. Is that fair? At HQ we have a pitch that still looks pretty damn good three quarters of the way through the season. Assuming that the team gets used to playing on a decent surface, could that same team be more significantly disadvantaged than the opposition who are used to playing on their ploughed field week in, week out? One of the other points often mentioned is that we have not beaten any of the top teams ergo, our chances in the playoffs are negligible. Consider the Leicester game. We were evenly matched for long periods until we got undone by the old sucker punch again. Also the Burnley game. Sadly single handedly thrown away by BAE (IMO). We were more than capable of beating them and I think we would have done apart from BAE trying to be a smart arse. Talking of Burnely, let's talk injuries. Where would Burnley be without Ings or Vokes? In the game that Ale got injured (apologies can't recall against whom), we were all over them and playing like a top flight team should play. As for Austin, enough said already by many elsewhere. The injuries have impacted hugely on our fortunes this season and any sign of any of them coming back is most welcome. Home form remains critical. The Leeds game is now 'massive'!! Harry has to prove that his heart is still in it, the lads have to step up to the mark and the fans must GET BEHIND THE TEAM and not groan at the first misplaced pass which is what currently happens. We are not Barca fans, people. Wake up and smell the coffee. This is QPR and no matter how poor you think we are (or indeed are) we must be a wall of sound at every home game. There are lots of points to play for and it really is not over until the table says it is. As to playoffs, assuming some of the injuries get back to fitness and assuming Harry can help them find the form to play as we have done for many more games than we've played poorly in, then we have as much of a chance as any other team in a day at Wembley. In truth, I would love a day at Wembley though obviously only if we won!! Finally, as has been posted by others, in the summer most of us were for regrouping and consolidation and very few, if any, thought we would bounce straight back up. We've raised our expectations because of the frankly unexpected start to the season. If anything, the worry in that is that TF & Co appear to be going for the quick fix again, albeit on a much tighter budget, rather than longer term growth and stability. I am fully expecting Harry and the team to put this right over the next few week. Some have stated they have run out of patience. That is a luxury we cannot afford ourselves since this is a one choice monopoly - unless you want to go and support another team. Chelsea anyone?! Finally, utmost respect to the 3000 who went to Charlton. I hope you will be served better fare at the next few games. I really, sincerely and utterly do hope so. COYRssssssss!!
Some good observations there, a more salient look at things 24 hours later. Just a couple of points though, we haven't played well all season even when we were winning. Sporadic periods of domination, usually late in matches distort the overall picture which hasn't been pretty. Our rivals are scoring for fun and winning easily, something we've haven't done and that's perhaps more significant now, with several teams on a roll whilst we go backwards. I agree with your call for support and we certainly need it, but it's sooooo difficult when players don't appear interested and opponents we should be wiping the floor with make us look second best...
Faurlin was injured in the home game v Derby. There were 3,500 of us at The Valley yesterday and right up for it. The singing and support for the team was good and loud. The team still didn't, wouldn't or couldn't respond. That ends the old argument of '' Is it the responsibility of the team to get the fans going? Or is it the responsibility of the fans to get the team going? '' We played our part.
Very good OP there RTID. Well said son. I'd just like to remind folk of summat. I'm wary of bringing this up again as I got badly mauled the last time I said this but people should remember that upon qualification for the Playoffs, a team basically only has around a 25% chance of success. One team will get promoted, three will not. So remember, the odds are stacked against you in that mini-competition. Its important people realise that.
I know it sounds like stating the bleeding obvious but having read many people's comments about the Playoffs over the last few months, I felt I had to point that out in dumbed-down black and white. Constant references to the playoffs being a "lottery" and statements like "oh well, its the playoffs, I wouldn't mind a day out at Wembley" come across like guys think that we'd be odds on to succeed in them. Even just getting to Wembley and losing would be a decent return from a Playoff venture, more than most teams achieve who bow out at the semi-final stage. Just making sure everyone's feet remain firmly planted on solid ground.
Soopy, do you realise you and I wrote that at precisely the same time? I've read of twins having a telepathic connection. Do you reckon you and I might have been separated at birth?
If our form does not improve rapidly we dont have any chance to the play offs. The automatic spots have gone and playoffs spot looks doubtful, very doubtful indeed........
Hooray! It seems like we have our own version of Mike and Bernie Winters on our board. Which reminds me of an old tale of when Mike and Bernie Winters played a gig at the unforgiving Glasgow Empire (Mike's opening five minute patter died a death and when Bernie then appeared with his famously huge grin from behind the curtain, a voice in the front row cursed: “Och, Christ, there's two of them.”
So going on your logic Swordsie boy, if you have a horse race with ten horses running, then each horse has a 10% chance of winning, therefore should all be offered at odds of 10/1 ??? Complete bollox and tosh Swordsie boy........I'm suprised at you coming out with such drivel.
I'm beginning to feel a bit like I did this time in the 2011/12 season. i really didn't believe we would be relegated and we weren't. I never had that confidence last season. On the basis on no logic/rationality I still feel we have a great chance, despite all the things which are patently wrong with this team, and won't give up on them until the maths demands it. Nice Smith's sig Staines. didn't have you down as miserable though.....
