I don’t know what it looked like on the telly, but in the first half especially I thought there was much too big a gap between Johansen and Ball, both playing in front of the back 3, and Willock who was playing a kind of 10, with his back to the opposition goal which I don’t think suits him - yet, he might grow into it. Second half he looked more comfortable and dangerous, playing slightly more to the left, although we didn’t really make many chances. We needed another midfielder but Johansen’s fitness was another factor. Playing the two strikers was a major contributor to an odd performance, but we drew and Wall were well organised and, especially at the start, played good stuff. Probably easy to read too much into this. I hope there has been a vague expectation that Chair would go (if he does) and we have a fully baked plan B. Wallace missed Chair a lot. Moses on the other side was great, a constant menace, great acquisition. We had a fair few crosses which looked decent but the big lads didn’t get anywhere near. Only my impressions and I do have age related focus and concentration issues, plus Root was closing in on his ton….
I think it was more down to the nature of the two up top. They're too similar, Dykes not being particularly quick and Austin being downright slow. Neither is mobile enough to compensate for the other. We're much more effective with the 3-4-3 (or 3-4-2-1), but needed someone to replace Chair. Thomas isn't the answer, that's for sure. With two up top, I'd much prefer a big man, little man (with pace) combination, but I haven't seen enough from Kelman so far to say that he should start. Perhaps Willock could be the second striker in a two, otherwise we're a striker light.
Clive Whittingham's write up on yesterday's proceedings ... Dickie's brilliance soothes QPR's opening night nerves - Report - Queens Park Rangers News | Loft For Words (fansnetwork.co.uk)
The bit about the ground and general administration is very true. The place is a dump. Still, Saint Lee won't take any blame. Lee Hoos is the man that will not be blamed for nothing.* *10 bonus points for the reference,
Sounds like on-pitch was better than off-pitch stadium organisation. I don’t know who is responsible for stadium organisation, but if you don’t have the place spick & span, everything working around the stadium tickety-boo for game one then you shouldn’t be in the job (and I’m not necessarily talking about the e-ticket system). All areas should be clean, seats wiped down, toilets as good as they can be (!) and certainly driers working in all areas. That’s an appalling way to welcome back fans - you can’t just hide all that, or expect to get away with it, with a free scarf from China!
That would not be fair or right, especially with the new season upon us. Can only hope someone pulls the legs from under this deal.
That really sucks. Why the hell can’t we be allowed to enjoy a friggin season without FA sanctions against us or now players being sold. We don’t need the money and but we sure as hell need a decent team for a change. If this is true, our owners are treating us like fools, with no real hope to go forward. This has really p1ssed me off.
It seems we are not the only ones with Stadium Access technology problems. https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/announcements/440243-liverpool-fc-statement
They've had how long to welcome back fans?!! To hear what an absolute ****-show condition the ground was in is a ****ing disgrace. No doubt snake oil salesman Hoos can talk his way out of it though.
While this is true... This certainly isn't! Our accounts are still not pretty reading, despite being less bad than some others in our division, and less bad than they used to be. We're a selling club now - like it or not. It wasn't nice to see Eze go, but we've done better since he went and invested wisely. £11.5m from Chair this year lets us find the next Willock, and Willock (imo) will go for more than Chair. Dickie will go for big money too, and it will hurt, but we can still get better. The important thing is that the Eze money gave us a buffer - and we don't need to accept the first offer a club throws at us now (see: Smithies) - and we can afford to say 'no' if the offer isn't right, or 'yes, but only when we've got a replacement'.
Unless we get promoted this season we will be looking for replacements for Chair, Dickie, Dieng and Willock
I’m Warbs I trust. When Eze went it was going to be the end of the world but we improved on the previous season and invested well. When BOS went we were getting relegated but we improved again. If Chair goes I’d like to think there is a plan B and hopefully some of the money could be used to strengthen the squad some more.
1. This Chair thing is a rumour...and based entirely on him being "ill". Lets wait and see.... Norwich I ask you 2. Actually we do need the money, and 11.5 million would be incredible for Chair, he is not as good and does not have the potential of Eze (he will not thrive in a new team in the Premiership, that is struggling either. His best games for us are always when we are playing well. 3. I suspect Dykes only played on Saturday, because Chair was "ill" 4. I really do think we will start most games with only one striker... and that was why the team was so lopsided. 5. The Dieng thing is the same ...if Ramsdale goes to Arsenal, then Dieng goes to Sheffield. Really really...if. Dieng might want something to say about that one too. WHEN DOES THE WINDOW CLOSE
I did leave myself open with this comment. It was more to the point about us not being broke and being we had spent little of late compared to our past. I can appreciate that we did spread the spend of selling Eze and it has worked for us. Again, l'm just dirty on the assumption that we may continue to sell players and rather, we should be considering a run for the PL, if our stocks are worthy. Its not very often we start a preseason as well as we have and ( l'm being greedy when l say this ) ..... but after the dross we've encountered over the pass few years, if we have the stock, why can't we dream and consider a PL run? Were not getting any younger you know and l still want to dream!