Am I reading too much into this? I watched the video of it over and over again on TIME's blog (a great read btw) and marvelled at the timing of Cisse's drift to the far post anticipating Anton's cross box flick - is he psychic? The more I watched it, the more good things I saw - no elaborate or exaggerated hoof into the roof of the net (looks great on tv until the time it ends up in Row Z) but an assured pass into an unoccupied part of the goal. The Stoke defender clutching his head as he realises he's been caught ball watching. The obvious delight of a striker who loves scoring whether it's the one that potentially keeps your club in the league OR the late consolation when you've just shipped 6 to your bitterest rivals. At such a point in the game and such a crucial goal being scored, the team reaction has begun to baffle me. Cisse being pursued by Both, Clint, Jamie and Taiwo is one thing. Joey gets there eventually as does Paddy (understandably delayed). Taiwo is still jumping around - great reaction from a loan player. Onuoha strolls nonchalantly past the mini party; SWP is wandering casually and I am left wondering - why wasn't Cisse found under a pile of 10 other players, maybe even a sub or 3? Team spirit lacking perhaps and a group of players just doing a job? I hope not. Maybe they were aware of the Bolton situation at that moment and were playing it cool (except for Cisse and Taiwo). This could keep them in the Premier League ffs, whilst maintaining their extraordinary wages and lifestyle and increase their stature with us, the fans who adore the shirt and cheer those who play in it. Anyway, I've stopped watching it now to share my observation. Perhaps I should have watched it twice and moved on. Perhaps I should get a life - there is one on the horizon starting next week and finishing around early August Did anyone else see this? What did you think? (once the significance of the goal was realised and the euphoria was dying down) If its all just too much to contemplate with the last game of an amazing season looming, what is your favourite QPR shirt? - home and away. I only ask because this years away kits have been uninspiring. I love the guiness shirt of the eighties and the view from navy strip of the mid nineties (mine is still in great nick and gets borrowed by my son who likes to train in shirts that his team mates don't recognise)
So, if you really want conspiracy theories then note that Cisse came out for the lap of honour 5 minutes after the rest of the team and went round alone. Personally, I think you are reading way too much into this. This was one of the days when I really feel for you fans who are many miles away. The last 5 minutes on Sunday will live in the memory for many years.
Yeah, i noticed that too. Quite a few players walked nonchantly past Cisse once he'd got to round about halfway. However, does that say more about their feelings for Cisse rather than the club? I can't imagine feeling anything but lovepure joy for the man who just scored our winning goal that may keep us up but maybe some players feel differently - to the club or to the man?
...or maybe they were more focused on the job in hand and not letting Cisse's goal count for nothing? ...or ...or
We should pass this one over to the CSI team; then again, maybe not, in case they find some alleged illegality in there and start going through the work permits and Lord Frolsham's title...
Poirot is taking on the case after Jim bergerac found no evidence of a conspiracy. If its good enough for Jim then its good enough for me!!
Christ we look for the worst in everything. MH was trying to calm people and focus them. Get back in position and see it out. Do the oppo have to wait for us all to line up nicely or just get on with it when ref says. It's about seeing themselves home plus some may have been wondering what the Bolton score was and avoiding premature over celebration. We did it.....enjoy the moment!
Hope and think you are right 74. Didn't Crouch have that free header on goal after we scored? By the way I just saw a form table very briefly flash up on the TV - I think we were 9th!
I think a few of them were going to the bench to get their instructions!! Cisse was immediately moved out to the left leaving Betty up front on his own. SWP was getting some instructions too. I suspect Cisse could be viewed as a little pretentious but I really couldn't care less. Hill was supposed to have been the one who fell out with him when they went away, but he was all over him like a bad suit!!
As I suspected, but it was after midnight and I was having my "what's happening in QPR land" trawl of the Internet. Not a lot gets posted when I'm working and the UK is asleep - probably a good thing really. I can imagine I'd get no work done if I was still living there. Btw, the last 5 minutes will probably live in my neighbours' memory too
Too much time on my hands obviously, but I am not a doom and gloom merchant. My son sat with me to watch and I had to listen to his "frank" and often irritating appraisal of the game throughout, example - why don't we play more to feet when the defence resembles the cast of Land of the Giants? He plays and is prone to analysing everything - sometimes painful but we did agree that Stoke's "style" of play was awful and not unlike how they play here in the State Leagues (level below "A League)
A knob-end who has dsapponted and delighted in equal measures. I was one of those chanting his name at Villa Park when he opened his account...
I am pretty sure that Sparky would of told them before the game and at half-time, that should we score, refocus and regroup asap. I'm sure we can all appreciate the old adage that a team is more likely to concede just after scoring. One game like this that comes to mind was Ipswich away in the mid-eighties. It was a league cup match and we equalised in about the 90th minute to make it 2-2. They went on and scored 40 secs later. That was a tough mid-week journey home.
me and dad almost jumped out of the house!! woke brother and mum up!!! Where you watching the game on sunday Ian?
