In the first 45 minutes yesterday I watched by far our best half of football this season (and probably for several seasons past). The defense completely solid, Karl Henry a revelation at right back, Toilett turning their defenders inside out and everything revolving around Ale Faurlin who looked back at his best. The only thing missing was some inspiration up front to turn possession into goals but Austin had clearly decided not to join in the revolution, had arguably his worst performance since joining us and just wasn't getting into the goal scoring positions he is famed for. At half time I was thinking I could gladly watch this standard of football for the rest of the season even if it didn't bring immediate success but obviously the pressure for results is immense. Inevitably NW's patience run out on the hour and the change to a long ball game coupled with Preston's tactics of closing down Faurlin in his own half brought the end to both the football and our chances. It's a crying shame as Warnock had wrought a miracle in the defence and midfield. Only up front was the magic missing for which we probably need to review Mr Austin's god-like status among many of our supporters. A little glimmer of what football at QPR used to be like...
Playing devil's advocate, in Austin's defense he had no service whatsoever throughout the entire game. I hoped that when JET came on Charlie would play off him as he did when he played alongside Zamora, but alas that didn't happen, in fact I haven't a clue what JET was doing and I suspect he didn't either. Agree with the comments regarding Henry and Faurlin and I thought Hall was again excellent and continues to improve with each game. The lack of creativity in the final third is worrying, no goals in the last three games.
I didn't see Austin's performance that way at all. I thought he was coming deeper to link up attacks and was part of some of the good passing moves, contributing to what I agree was a very encouraging first half. In doing this, though, he's not always going to be waiting on the penalty spot for a cross to come his way. I agree that Preston's tactic of closing down Faurlin marginalised him and killed off our passing.
After two years of playing through injury and at times being as close to a one man team as you can be in professional football, I'll forgive Austin the odd poor performance. Plenty of others in this squad who owe the supporters far more.
That is about all the 60 second highlights showed, all I've seen. Either you are right, or the Club want to sell him in January to some Club who can't afford QPR Player either, and squeeze everything Austin did into the 60 seconds.
Austin was poor yesterday (not to be argumentative with Stroller but i have not read any posts saying he was good other than his). Agree with Watford in that he has saved us many times and others owe more.
Austin is not interested playing upfront on his own....Polter would be a better bet even with his limited ability and he would get stuck in. Neil needs to find out quickly how to play two upfront or not play Austin. Charlie is a goalscorer but he is not interested in doing the hard work or certainly doesnt at the moment for little old QPR.....
Jane's Great Grandson looked a bit off the pace, but was starved of service and did a Rooney - dropping deeper. The only problem with this is that with his back to goal, his first touch is always back in field. An area of his development that needs work It's hard to be too critical; as other posters have opined as he's always kept positive and rarely moans so he's allowed an off day for once! He took on Chery's habit of being caught offside yesterday.
I didnt see the game yesterday but understand our passing was crisp etc etc but one shot on target with our so called quality players at home to Preston is a disgrac...........up to you now NW.
All the people I talked to at half-time yesterday agreed how hard Austin had worked. Last season when he played as a lone striker, he was marooned. This season he comes deeper to link play, but he needs midfielders to get beyond him when he does this.
It looked very solid yesterday Henry is very versatile and extremely valuable to our club His recent form has been low but so has the entire team Posters that have singled him out as being useless were always wrong Henry can play at LR RB and holding midfield ... He is one tough composed player IMO It didn't look like we would unlock Preston yesterday. My lads and I all agreed that if only they switched play quicker then we may of unlocked them . Preston moved in near perfect formation at the back The second half was played in majority on our right hand side We just needed balance We keep that into the Boro game we have a foundation but I expect that game to be different with big holes and is playing counter. Saying that NW may want us to boss it which I prefer personally because we have the players
Unlike in previous games where he or his replacement have been starved of service the ball was coming forward a lot from our midfield yesterday particularly in the first half, plus Hoilett and Phillips were managing to get crosses into the box regularly. I'm not saying that any of this created clear cut chances but Austin just never seemed to be in the right place and never got behind their defence. If you're going to play a single striker then he doesn't have the luxury of Roony-esque wanderings.
And i though QPR fans understood the game of football. The people you spoke to must have been family members.
We agree that the first 45 yesterday was the best we have played for some time. Austin played a full part in that in my opinion.
I will agree with that Stroller in that it was the best i have seen us for a long time however Preston just sat back and watched us ping it around. Saying that you can only play with whats in front of you and in Preston's case it was the whole of the opposition.
