This. If Azaz had set up that tap in for Downs and he had missed it, then I would agree that Downs was the worst player on the pitch, but as it was. Finn gets the accolade.
The problem with Azaz isn't lack of ability, it's attitude and application, a good Manager would sort that out.
All of our attacking players are struggling, bar Scienza. Feels to me like this is a result of how stretched we are. QPR were pressing us so far into our own half, and we weren't able to cope with it. We'd make a couple of passes between defenders before hitting long towards our 5 ft 7 target man (fair play to Adarma, as he actually held the ball up quite well at times). I criticised Downes and Jander a lot last night, but, the two of them have so much ground to cover if we are playing it long so often. QPR were much better drilled than us. They knew to press in numbers, not as individuals (which is what we do), and their passing was much slicker. They were winning the ball off us on the halfway line, whereas we tended to only win possession back when the ball ended up with our CBs or Baz. So basically by the time we manage to work the ball up to any of our attacking players, there is too much work for them to do.
Apparently the U21 guy was giving it the full Russel Martin fist pumps at the final whistle to the Saints fans? We scraped a win against a poor side whilst playing as badly as normal, but a slice of luck going our way for once. In previous games that deflected shot from JRob would have bounced up onto the bar rather than into the top corner. Obviously I'm happy we got the points, but celebrating like that is a bit much given how **** we still are. Maybe I'm just a grumpy old man.
It's the fans fault tbf as I don't think he wanted to. People doing the whole arms up 'ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh' thing and then booing when he didn't do it at first. ****ing ****ers.
Yeah we all see things differently. I actually did a “DD watch” when he came on. I accept the Azaz moment & his run was ok but he didn’t actually really work an opening imo. Anyway, it was a **** pass so not much to discuss there. However, my overall opinion was that he runs around a lot but never seems to be affecting play because he’s always in wrong position. I’m definitely not trying to single him out but positionally, touch & his urgency to get into a position to receive the ball / make a challenge is woeful. How Spors thought DD would be able to make an impact at this level baffles me, especially knowing our only other target CF was going to break / need some rest time. On the positives for last eve; a much needed win although there’s so much work to do. Agree with you ref Stephens (& THB) on floor. Heading was ok (QPR played into our hands last 20mins) but on the deck, awful. Science is fast becoming the “Alan Ball’s MLT”. Wonderful goal. And FINALLY, above the skates.
Nothing that cannot be improved on, by getting a serious, experienced and talented Centre Forward, giving us an out ball.
Maybe like you I'm just turning into a grumpy old man but I'm genuinely starting to strongly dislike a large amount of our supporters.
Positioning can be worked on. Part of the problem is that we still don't really have defined patterns of play, so a lot of that positioning currently is guesswork. We need him to get a few more chances to see if he can stick the ball in the big net thing.
It did worry me the way Adam Blackmore said, and I'm paraphrasing here as I can't remember the exact wording, 'if he wins against Wednesday on the back of the QPR win then he's got to be in contention for the job' or something to that effect. I really hope that's not him, as a bit of a mouthpiece for the club, prepping the fans for Eckert getting the job, and if he is...then I hope Wednesday beat us.
I would prefer Tonda to get back to the job he started with the Under 21's, yet again they have been short changed, just as they were making serious progress with a good bunch of youngsters, by the short comings of the first team.
My gut feeling is that they can't replace an inexperienced manager who has struggled with an even less experienced one ... Surely? Re players playing out of position, can someone remind me what positions the new guys filled before they came here I presume Fellows was a winger, not a wing back. Left, Right or either? I thought Azaz was a No10, I'm never sure waht position he is playing for us exactly, its sort of a No10 Scienza I presume has always been on the side but with freedom to roam Jander, was he an 8 or a 10 and we now play him as a 6? I presume everyone would rather fall into their usual places if we played 4-2-3-1 (Although our key DM and most functional No9 are both injured)
