I'm quite shocked to find myself saying this but Holloway nearly got it right tactically last night. Furlong provided the width, pace and crossing ability we have often been lacking and that, plus bombarding Derby with long throws from both sides, produced any number of half-chances which an instinctive goal scorer would have snapped up (that's not you Connor, sorry). Smyth was given a free roll in behind the front two and caused Derby so many problems that they tried to kick him of the pitch. If only our defenders had been even a little bit as cynical then the move that led to Derby's goal could have easily been snuffed out. As it turned out we were left facing the away team stat that has dogged us all season: 1 shot on target = 1 goal. Based on this showing I really have no idea how Derby find themselves in a play off spot but it was clear that they could defend their lead with some ease even without Ledley King who had limped off after a few minutes. As a result, the chances in the second half dried up almost completely and Holloway was forced to try to get things going again with the introduction of Eze who again showed signs of being that classic QPR 'number 10' we are all desperate for. If the boy doesn't start on Saturday we will know that Holloway's visit to tactical sense was only a blip. As it was, Ian gave us a gentle reminder of just what a nutter he is when he replaced Furlong (best player on the pitch for me and still full of running) with Wszolek who has been ineffective in recent games. The introduction of Lynch as impromptu centre forward wasn't quite as daft as it seems on paper however, as Smith was clearly tiring fast and we had absolutely no one else who could maintain an aerial threat. Well, except for Massimo Luongo who, despite another innocuous performance, popped up unmarked to head home the equaliser. Now, if only Lynch had slotted home the chance in stoppage time we might even be celebrating the governor as a tactical master... well perhaps not.
Good to see a much improved performance and actually outplay a play-off team. Eze for Conor on Saturday and hopefully put the Mackems to the sword. Certainly feeling less nervous about the drop now and hopefully Ollie has finally seen the light...
The four at the back seemed to suit us better last night and hopefully Holloway will set up this way more often. We started with 4-3-3, but it was more like 4-2-3-1 by the end and I think this should be how should start on Saturday........ ---------------------Smithies--------------------- Furlong--- Onuoha--- Robinson--- Bidwell -------------Scowen---------- Luongo---------- -------Smyth------- Eze------- Freeman------- -----------------------ANO-------------------------- The problem for me is who should be the one up top? It can't be Washington (who looks totally shot), but I'd prefer it not to be Smith either, as he just seems to be in the way when we play the ball on the floor.
I too would like to see Sylla back, early part of the season, I thought he could be our no.1 striker. Give him the service he will score...well more than Washington.
Luongo levels late but Smyth steals the show - Report Wednesday, 7th Mar 2018 19:38 by Clive Whittingham It took 86 minutes and 21 shots on goal for QPR to finally force an equaliser against Derby County at Loftus Road on Tuesday, but they then came within inches of a fairy tale ending. Just like that, all of a sudden, there he was. In the ninety fourth of the 90 minutes, clear and clean through with nobody around him, like a runaway giraffe barrelling into territory he’d never seen before and had no idea how to behave in. Joel Lynch Centre Forward, the latest hare-brained scheme from the manager who previously brought you Georges Santos Lone Striker and Steve Palmer Central Midfielder, with only Scott Carson standing between him and one of those moments on one of those nights at Loftus Road. Everybody would always remember where they were when it happened – although, sadly, precious few of them were actually in W12 to see it. Read the rest here ... https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/47685
