Match Day Thread Bolton v QPR

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Having been to both Sunderland and Bolton games it strikes me that we have a number of underlying issues in the team at the moment

First, a real lack of confidence. And particularly in front of goal. We always seem to be looking for the extra pass rather than the player with the ball taking a chance with a shot. Mind you our shooting has been generally woeful. But the lack of testing of opposition keepers is frustrating

Second, lack of movement. The number of square or backwards safety passes because of a lack of forward options, even when we appear to be able to put teams under pressure. To be fair, the pitch conditions at Bolton in the last 20 minutes of the second half were awful, but we still seemed to lack ambition

I don't believe that we have a squad that is lower mid-table - there is plenty of quality there, it just isn't being harnessed

Which leads to the question - why?

I don't have the answer, but I'm sure one of the regulars on here does :D
 
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You remember those toys you used to wind up and they'd go in all different directions crashing into the skirting board until they ran out of juice? Well that's what it's like watching Mackie. Trouble is when managers have their favourites they rarely give way so we'll have to rely on Mackie geting injured to change the script...

However, Mackie does have 3 goals this season, one of which was a direct result of his energy and determination (chasing down an attempted clearance by the keeper)
 
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I'm not really looking at any other team but ours.
Ollie has been in charge now for some time.
So far, we are not progressing, I think we are actually losing face of where we were when he was put in charge.
He might have the passion but l've never questioned that, I've only questioned his performances as our manager and to where we are now.
We just had to scrap out a draw with the team coming last.
Why, over the last 12 months, we seem to play every out of form team ............. into form?
Yes, there is always give and take but with us, its all take.
Anyway, just my two bobs worth.

I never wanted Ollie back and thought the fiddling around with a winning team before we were safe last season was criminal and so nearly got us relegated. I wanted him replaced in the summer. But not now. This season we are playing well, as others have said there is huge effort as the large number of comebacks testify, and we have deserved more points than we have won. A few tweaks, Smith and Sylla up front together more, and returning defenders could be enough to keep us in mid table. If the Club could bring in a goal scorer or maybe find a Wheeler or another in the U23's can score regularly at this level, plus an experienced competent CB, we could move up the table.
 
Our midfield is the basis of a decent team when all are fit but it's our defence that is suspect, each player seems to have at least one gaffe per game which often can lead to us conceding, particularly against the better teams. Up front we just don't seem to have the balance right and none of our forwards are out and out goalscorers, those two deficiencies combined mean we are likely to struggle in the bottom half...
 
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Our midfield is the basis of a decent team when all are fit but it's our defence that is suspect, each player seems to have at least one gaffe per game which often can lead to us conceding, particularly against the better teams. Up front we just don't seem to have the balance right and none of our forwards are out and out goalscorers, those two deficiencies combined mean we are likely to struggle in the bottom half...
I think Sylla is an out and out goal scorer.
 
Whereas last season we lost to them - there is the hint of progress you were asking for.
Last season they were in League One.

As I don’t follow QPR in knockout tournaments (there is only so much pain I can take) which one did we lose to them in? Champions League?

You should know that you can’t make a mistake around here, particularly a mistake of provable fact. I know you’re getting on but for crying out loud, sharpen up your act.

Love

Waldorf
Xx
 
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I think Sylla is an out and out goal scorer.

I find Sylla a very frustrating player

He gets some important goals but seems to drift in and out of games too much

Yesterday I wasn't sure if his goal was "a brilliant flick" or if it was a lucky deflection off his leg. Regardless it went in <applause>
 
Last season they were in League One.

As I don’t follow QPR in knockout tournaments (there is only so much pain I can take) which one did we lose to them in? Champions League?

You should know that you can’t make a mistake around here, particularly a mistake of provable fact. I know you’re getting on but for crying out loud, sharpen up your act.

Love

Waldorf
Xx

Is Roller referring to the bottom side in the Championship rather than Bolton per se?
 
I agree he's our best goal threat but he's averaging a goal in just over three games which with the lack of goals from others has us where we are...
He's not been given that much playing time this season until recently, now he's 2 from 2 and a fox in the box. Keep it up!
 
I find Sylla a very frustrating player

He gets some important goals but seems to drift in and out of games too much

Yesterday I wasn't sure if his goal was "a brilliant flick" or if it was a lucky deflection off his leg. Regardless it went in <applause>
I thought the one their Keeper saved well low down in the corner, may have been a lucky leg, but thought he meant the goal all right.
 
TBH apart from Syllla none our players look like scoring, except possibly Wheeler in the few minutes he had. But yesterday we didnt create as many as we should have when we were controlling the game which we did all but the 1st half after they scored. Too many crosses were Keeper food or didn't reach our strikers, players worked their way into shooting positions but tried a difficult pass instead, Pavel and Freeman the main culprits here look short of confidence too shoot, tho both played well. Given a couple more chances I think Sylla would have scored again, he didn't get many. Again we looked more dangerous when Smith came on for Mackie, he didn't do much but he draws in defenders giving more room to others, like when Sylla had a shot well saved just before he scored. I'd like to see Smith and Sylla given more time together, our other busy buzzing midfielders should provide the speed and chances these two together may manage more than 1 a game from.

Oslo - a good analysis and insight.

Unlike the Sunderland match where I thought we lost two points, yesterday I was grateful for the one point.

Despite the stats it is true that we did not look like scoring.

As for our attack, I would have started Sylla and Wheeler. It is a pity that Wheeler did not have more than a few late minutes on the sodden pitch as he looked direct and dangerous - an instinctive sharp striker!

For the more physical teams, Both Sylla and Smith could be solution.

We now have games against better teams where we may need to press. So perhaps in these we will see Washington and Mackie pressing up front at the beginning with the later introduction of the big guys.

I just have the impression that recently we tend to start with the wrong striking option and then we use our subs to correct the situation. Which is waste of the sub options.

However I admit it is easy to watch a stream and be philosophical aftwerwards, it is much more difficult to be in Ollie’s position.

However I am not dismayed or disencouraged as I believe we have a foundation of a good team. I hope that we will “click” by Christmas. :)
 
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Good to hear all the feedback from you people.
I might be a longtime fan but l'm not 'in the know' as you locals would be, far from it ............ so I can only go by what I hear & see, from afar.
Thanks for the imput.
 
I'm not really looking at any other team but ours.
Ollie has been in charge now for some time.
So far, we are not progressing, I think we are actually losing face of where we were when he was put in charge.
He might have the passion but l've never questioned that, I've only questioned his performances as our manager and to where we are now.
We just had to scrap out a draw with the team coming last.
Why, over the last 12 months, we seem to play every out of form team ............. into form?
Yes, there is always give and take but with us, its all take.
Anyway, just my two bobs worth.

He’s been in charge about a year, hasn’t he, Diddles? We’ve seen a few unfancied clubs such as Bournemouth, Huddersfield and Brighton fare pretty well in recent years by quietly going about their business and building the infrastructure to allow them to become sustainable as a club. Ollie may not be Eddie Howe, David Wagner or Chris Hughton, but I’m prepared to give him a fairer crack of the whip than just 12 months.
 
It is extremely frustrating being a Rangers fan.personally i agree with the earlier post that Ollys tinkering nearly was a catastrophe,and should have cost him his job..that said he has built a team that has character and has a great work ethic,the trouble we will encounter this season will be a lack of squad quality.You can only go so far with hard graft.We watched a bunch of mercenary ****s rip us off and not give a damn about anything but the £££,I expect a low mid table spot and nothing else..which is pretty depressing but realistic imo.
 
It is extremely frustrating being a Rangers fan.personally i agree with the earlier post that Ollys tinkering nearly was a catastrophe,and should have cost him his job..that said he has built a team that has character and has a great work ethic,the trouble we will encounter this season will be a lack of squad quality.You can only go so far with hard graft.We watched a bunch of mercenary ****s rip us off and not give a damn about anything but the £££,I expect a low mid table spot and nothing else..which is pretty depressing but realistic imo.

Upper lower half (if that makes any sense?) would suit me, Deano. Just a striker and some decent defensive cover in the transfer market and Robert’s your dad’s brother.
 
He’s been in charge about a year, hasn’t he, Diddles? We’ve seen a few unfancied clubs such as Bournemouth, Huddersfield and Brighton fare pretty well in recent years by quietly going about their business and building the infrastructure to allow them to become sustainable as a club. Ollie may not be Eddie Howe, David Wagner or Chris Hughton, but I’m prepared to give him a fairer crack of the whip than just 12 months.

Spot on. We have got to start getting real.
 
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