Just got back and sat down with a brew watching Gillette Soccer Saturday. I can't be arsed to do a full match report, but here's some thoughts. If City were more clinical in front of goal they could easily have won by 2 or 3. City completely ran the midfield in the first half with Chery, Gladwin and El Khayate looking very ordinary. Gladwin, apart from a couple of bits of skill looked pretty awful, whilst I'm not at all convinced about El Kayate. He seems very inconsistent and doesn't seem to want to work back much ( a bit like Phillips?). I felt really sorry for Washington, played up top on his own, against two giant CBs and fed a diet of high balls and crap over-the-top balls. He had no service whatsoever. Although he would have been in on goal in the first half had Gladwin played him in with a simple pass, instead choosing to play a really hard pass (and the wrong one) to Chery. We weren't terrible, but we just passed the ball so slowly instead of moving it quicker and more sharply. In the 2nd half Rangers improved immeasurably when Hoilett was introduced for Chery. We started to move the ball quicker and Junior worked hard to get the ball back and looked a real threat going forward. Things continued to get better when Pettrasso replaced the very ordinary Gladwin and Polter replaced Washington. The game was won with an absolute Worldy from that bloke Karl Henry. You remember him; he's the bloke who, according to many on here, can't play. Well he curled in an absolute beauty from 25 yards out into the top corner. ("How **** must you be, Karl Henry's just scored") Well worth going to see a goal like that! Polter curled a beauty against the bar and he certainly improved things up front. Washington can't play that lone striker role so it will be interesting to see what happens with him next season. The game fizzled out with City huffing and puffing but never really looking like equalising. So we finish exactly mid table with JFH trying to rebuild for next season. I'm still not convinced by Jimmy, but here's hoping he gets it right next term. Player ratings and comments: Ingram - 6 - Made one excellent save and looked pretty safe. Poor kicking though. Ned - 6 - Solid enough and made a couple of surging runs. Hill - 7 - The usual Mr reliable. Love the bloke! Hall - 6 - A typical mixed bag. Rushed in and left Ingram exposed, but the keeper made a great stop. But also made a great block, preventing a near certain goal. Kpekawa - 6 - Did OK. Not convinced about him and much prefer Robinson from what I've seen. Henry - 7 - Worked hard, without ever playing any forward passes and then scored a wonder goal. Faurlin - 6 - Another bloke I love at the club, but his legs do look to have gone unfortunately. So pleased he's completed the season injury free. Gladwin - 4 - Really don't rate him, although he did show a couple of glimpses of skill, so maybe he'll prove me wrong. Chery - 5 - Very disappointing. If we have him next season, Jimmy must find a way to get the best out of such a talented player. El Khayate - 5 - A couple of glimpses of skill, but he looks another one who won't put in the hard yards. Not convinced. Washington - 5 - Worked hard, but got zero service and can't play that role up top on his own imo. Subs: Hoilett - 7 - Made a big impact. Petrasso - 6 - Worked hard and one for the future imo. Polter - 6 - Proved beyond doubt that he should be the sole striker above Washington. Unlucky to hit the bar. Bring on the cricket!!
He is what he is mate. I'm quite pleased it's all over too. Just going to watch Leicester get the trophy.
Jimmy needs to get some quality in this summer. I don't think we'll put up with another season of this dirge
I've given with us a long time ago, we are in a period of austerity and it's too depressing. This season has been a shambles from start to finish.
Really? I think it's exactly what most of us were calling for. Consolidation when there was a chance we could have gone straight down to league 1. Older players, here for a last pay day no longer signed. Youngsters being given a chance. The last few years have been good to be a Rangers fan imo. This is QPR. We are doing what we do.
contracts of highly paid yet not giving value for money players will be gone. Hopefully, the noose of what is the FFP fine will finally get sorted and then maybe the gaffer will be given some money to spend.
Thanks Col. A beauty from Karl Henry and probably a parting gift as you state. We were hoping to see Polter play with Washington. We're wondering if there could be a Bobby / Charlie type partnership emerging there
Just landed now. Wouldn't disagree with much there Col. Will give a full reply when I get home. One question; how the funk did Nasser stay on the pitch 90 minutes?
We are but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it. 170 mil up for grabs if we went up according to SSN, ok we rolled the dice but went about it the wrong way with a youth team coach in charge. Unless we start spending money again we will not be anywhere the playoffs next year. Time to roll the dice one more time and get ourselves better equipped once we go up.
You can't spend money that is not there, he stopped spending last January and as a result, we went down. They will not put another penny in unless they get OOC over the line which won't be happening anytime soon.
Agreed mate. I thought El Khayate was a pretty poor. Thing is, all three behind the striker could have been replaced imo. Two were in the end.
We're in a straightjacket while this Football League case runs on - getting shot of that must surely be the first step
This is my take on the game. First of all I will say, a win is a win. At times we rode our luck but we took our one clear cut chance. Ingham - had a good game. I like a keeper who kicks with his left foot. He is big in stature and I like that in a keeper. Would prefer to see him start ahead of Smithies. Onouha did well at right back. Made some important tackles and didn't completely lose concentration like he has in other games. I hope he stays next season but I fear he might be shown the door due to his wages. Hall and Clint were both decent at CB and both nearly scored at the other end. Hopefully this wasn't Clint's last game for the club. Kpekwawa to me is the best young prospect at the club. Him on one wing and Furlong on the other for next season certainly offers hope for the future in terms of young players coming through. He is a big strong lad and he even got his head on a corner and wasn't far off scoring. Henry had a good game. What a lovely goal he scored. Passed well, tackled well and scored a beauty. Ale - played well at times. Had the odd pass that went astray. I hope he gets a new contract but I wouldn't be surprised if that was his last game for us. Gladwin - apart from his one mazy run in the first half which should have resulted in a goal, he really didn't do a lot. I would much rather see Petrasso get a game ahead of him. Nasser - I hate picking on the same players all the time but he had an absolute mare of a game. JFH should have relieved him of his misery and replaced him. I was shocked he stayed on the field for the whole game. Not sure how he might improve next season. Maybe JFH could start with his physique and try to make him more aggressive. Chery - I really like him and I thought his movement was first class but our passes to him weren't the best. When the board went up showing his number to be replaced I was gutted. How the hell did the Manager take off the best player??? Washington - he confirmed what I have been saying. He tries but achieves very little. His replacement Polter achieved more in the first 5 minutes he was on than Conor achieved in 75 minutes. I am trying to be positive by saying, I really hope his luck changes next season. Hoilett and Petrasso both did really well when they came on and Polter gave his usual 110% effort. Not the most gifted but I would hate to mark him if I was a defender.
Agree with most of that though I thought Cole lost the ball too often in dangerous positions. Nasser was inconsistent but his shot early on which was saved well by the Keeper was amazing, very hard with little back lift from way out. He had some very nice touches. I didn't think Chery was fully fit today, he faded maybe from the knock he took in the game.
The key finding of Col and others is that Hoilett changed the entire shape of the game when he came on. He did so not by using bags of skill and guile but simply by working hard. I know it was a hot day but a lot of our players simply didn't look up for the challenge. Sadly, the worst offender was Ale Faurlin who looked to already be in Beunos Aires in his head. The manager has some serious questions to answer before being handed a summer budget IMO.
You are not allowed to ever question JFH or you will be told you are a 'shortismist' Still not convinced with JFH but time will tell. I hope i am wrong but i don't think we will be any better next season
