Highlights... https://www.skysports.com/efl/championship/video/12685676/qpr-3-1-hull-city-championship-highlights That Dykes miss....oh dear
Having been to our last two matches... I have noticed two things 1....we are doing things much quicker than we were with Warbs. Everyone is faster and sharper and things move quickly....and we cover back quicker too. Not only fitness but more thought is quicker. 2. The midfield are working as a unit. They are moving across the field to cover an attack as a unit, quite fluidly and in a line. The corollary of this is that Chair and Johanssen and Dozzell seem much more confident and are definitely playing better than last year. Early early days...but definitely green sprouts...
Great result and sound a terrific performance in the first half. We've had false dawns before, but it's beginning to look good under MB
Agree Beth. It was noticeable how when Roberts came on he was holding the ball more, whereas the rest of the team were pinging there passes around. He wouldn’t have stood out previously for his slower play. The whole midfield looked very impressive and Dozell looks more the player he needs to be consistently for us. Those sprouts will definitely have us gassed up for Swansea.
What a lovely evening out. Good company before and during the game, Col smiling at half time, and seeing your team play football the way you like to see it played, and winning with some ease into the bargain. Chair’s goal was Adelesque and he totally expected to score. The second was just beautiful football all round. More please.
Another cracking game and some excellent performances. I've been johansons biggest critic this season but his pressing and leading by example was excellent to see last night, also against Watford. Chairs performance and work rate was phenomenal. If he did that 3 out of every 4 games then he will get that dream move to the Premier league. I do repeat goldys comment though. Many a time we have had a false dawn, hopefully we can gain some momentum and the confidence will follow.
Last night was, on the whole, fantastic. Those first 15 minutes were pure joy, where we played some of the best football I've seen from us for many a year. Fullbacks flying forward to give us width, fluid football with players passing the ball quickly and moving and energetic closing down. We eased off a bit after that and Hull started to hit long diagonals to exploit the spaces behind our full backs, although the midfield three pivoted very well to cover across from side to side. The three goals were all excellent in different ways. Chair's was in from the moment it left his foot, Laird's the result of a great move and Willock's another classy finish. I love our full backs. Both are quick, energetic, cover well and can also leap for headers. Field, apart from his one brain fart was superb, doing all that unseen, holding midfielder stuff. Johansen was good, although he needs to stop trying quite so many difficult passes. His work rate was superb though and his closing down led to two of the goals. Dozzell continued to improve and had another very good game. All three executed the system perfectly. Dickie and Dunne were very good, although our high line was a little exposed at times. Dieng made a couple of excellent saves when called upon. Chair and Willock looked full of confidence and were unplayable at times. Now.....Dykes. I'm not going to hammer him. Everyone must realise by now that he's a very limited footballer. I felt genuinely sorry for him when he missed that sitter. The crowd and his team mates were openly sympathetic. Whether that would have happened at 0-0 rather than 3-0, who knows? What he did do was work his nuts off, linked play quite well, won a few headers at times and created space for our two No10 magicians. As long as Chair and Willock stay fit and at the club, Dykes not scoring many may not be such a problem. Christ, that was some miss though!! His confidence must be through the floor. Once Beale made changes, understandably resting players, especially Willock, at 3-0 up, we became disjointed and Hull played some good stuff. It was no surprise when they scored, all be it, apparently offside. I thought Roberts was very poor when he came on. He held onto the ball too much and kept giving up possession. I like Armstrong and he really stretched their defence towards the end. There were a couple of times Roberts could have sent him through, but he failed to release the pass. Beale admitted that making so many changes disturbed our rhythm, but at 3-0 up it was understandable. It was great to have a good view from the upper loft to see Beale's plans and they really seem to be taking shape. Much more of the same please!
That's a great report, Col. I don't need to read Clive's next novel now! Confidence - it can be like that with strikers, and the longer it goes on, the more it will play on Dykes's mind. I'd love it if we could give him a rest (for everyone's sake). put him in the B team to focus on his game. He could come back a different man. Love another striker before 11.00pm tomorrow, and we could do this.
Clive’s report for all you secret Clive fans. https://loftforwords.fansnetwork.co.uk/news/58436/how-do-you-like-them-report
