Reality Check

Sooperhoop

Sooperhoop

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2011
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South Norwood
Just been catching up with some threads after a couple of weeks away and I have to say I'm beginning to think there are some seriously over-optimistic views of our chances for this season. Whilst we are in an infinitely better situation than a year ago we are still a long way from being the top ten team so many seem to be raving about.

I still think our defence is suspect and a commanding centre-back is an absolute priority. We still don't have a proper left back and these weaknesses really worry me. One or two injuries and we will be up against it. Adel is our creative midfielder but will he find the consistency to make his mark? We know he has the talent but is he the type of player who will get a grip of a game and dictate play? I'm not so sure.

There are still a few weeks to the end of the window and I'm sure MH will do everything possible to address the gaps in the squad. I don't expect us to be in the relegation mix but I'll bet every one of you lot won't sleep easy till we have 40 points on the board...
 
Good to see a thread talking sense. This season won't be easy. I think if injuries/suspensions go our way then we have enough to avoid the bottom 6. Anything more than this would be a brucey bonus.
 
Sooperhoop said:
Just been catching up with some threads after a couple of weeks away and I have to say I'm beginning to think there are some seriously over-optimistic views of our chances for this season. Whilst we are in an infinitely better situation than a year ago we are still a long way from being the top ten team so many seem to be raving about.

I still think our defence is suspect and a commanding centre-back is an absolute priority. We still don't have a proper left back and these weaknesses really worry me. One or two injuries and we will be up against it. Adel is our creative midfielder but will he find the consistency to make his mark? We know he has the talent but is he the type of player who will get a grip of a game and dictate play? I'm not so sure.

There are still a few weeks to the end of the window and I'm sure MH will do everything possible to address the gaps in the squad. I don't expect us to be in the relegation mix but I'll bet every one of you lot won't sleep easy till we have 40 points on the board...
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We all have our opinions and i guess mine are more 'glass half full' than most. As i've said before i don't see any reason we cant do very well this year and the way we played in the last 10 games last season, with essentially a weaker squad, and the way LR was made into a 'Fortress' has really given me hope.
I don't see any problem with us, the fans getting our hopes up 'cos i feel this buzz of anticipation can only do the team good (as long as we the fans don't get on the players backs if things DO go wrong).
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe the doubters are right.....at least we will know for sure by May 2013 :)
And i DEFINATLEY WILL be lumping on us at 11/10 to beat Swansea on Saturday :)
 
We are starting the season off with a squad a lot stronger than last season so we should be fine
At least 10 teams in the premiership with weaker squads than us
Defence could be a problem but we will have to wait and see
 
Sooperhoop said:
Just been catching up with some threads after a couple of weeks away and I have to say I'm beginning to think there are some seriously over-optimistic views of our chances for this season. Whilst we are in an infinitely better situation than a year ago we are still a long way from being the top ten team so many seem to be raving about.

I still think our defence is suspect and a commanding centre-back is an absolute priority. We still don't have a proper left back and these weaknesses really worry me. One or two injuries and we will be up against it. Adel is our creative midfielder but will he find the consistency to make his mark? We know he has the talent but is he the type of player who will get a grip of a game and dictate play? I'm not so sure.

There are still a few weeks to the end of the window and I'm sure MH will do everything possible to address the gaps in the squad. I don't expect us to be in the relegation mix but I'll bet every one of you lot won't sleep easy till we have 40 points on the board...
Click to expand...

I agree with some of what you say.
I think this may be Adel's year (here's hoping). We could definitely do with another CB, but, with Ali looking near to coming back, we have a much stronger squad than ever before.
I'm not getting carried away though and I agree that people seem to be getting a bit ahead of themselves talking about a top 10 finish. I'll be very relieved when we pass 40 points mate!!
 
Completely agree with OP. Some threads on here have left me completely shocked, saying our team is better than Newcastles etc..
 
Great thread. Lets not get carried away.

Am I the only one who isnt impressed with our strike force? There is not enough goals there surely? Only Cisse scores goals out of the three out and out forwards we have.
 
JudoRanger said:
Great thread. Lets not get carried away.

Am I the only one who isnt impressed with our strike force? There is not enough goals there surely? Only Cisse scores goals out of the three out and out forwards we have.
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I agree about the forwards, although I'm hopeful AJ may stick a few in, but I believe there are goals a plenty in the midfield with Taarabt, Hoilett, Mackie, Park and even Diakite!
 
We have the strongest QPR squad ever so why not be optimistic ... The fact remains that no one on this forum will know if we gel fully or not until we have played a few games home and away. I would never sit with other fans who IMO are about to nit pick and remain goodly about our prospects. I respect other's views however this is without the most exciting time in our history as we go into a campaign with players we could have only dreamed of 18 months ago. We don't need brakes at a time like this and it's a massive cop out to post safe sensible posts about our chances ... it's very grey. I can guarantee you that if we do gel as a team then you will all be riding the same wave ... If Premiership survival is the best that you wish for then in my mind that is very sad and you are missing the point of what being a QPR fan is 2012... The game is now entertainment first ... sport second.

I will back anyone who can see a future without rain clouds.

Reality Check ... FFS study the table from last season and our results we were 5 games 15 points away from 8th position that was the reality ... look how far Chelsea were away from a title 25 points !!!!!
 
DT said:
We have the strongest QPR squad ever so why not be optimistic ... The fact remains that no one on this forum will know if we gel fully or not until we have played a few games home and away. I would never sit with other fans who IMO are about to nit pick and remain goodly about our prospects. I respect other's views however this is without the most exciting time in our history as we go into a campaign with players we could have only dreamed of 18 months ago. We don't need brakes at a time like this and it's a massive cop out to post safe sensible posts about our chances ... it's very grey. I can guarantee you that if we do gel as a team then you will all be riding the same wave ... If Premiership survival is the best that you wish for then in my mind that is very sad and you are missing the point of what being a QPR fan is 2012... The game is now entertainment first ... sport second.

I will back anyone who can see a future without rain clouds.
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I never thought i would be saying it but............THIS !!!

Come on everyone...lets get bloody excited about this season........

<party><party><party>
 
Think of it this way if you can .... what games where we lost last season would you expect to get a better result this season?

Can this team beat Sunderland, Villa, West Brom, Norwich, Fulham Newcastle and Everton at home?

I take it that we all believe we can beat Saints, Reading ,Swansea, West Ham

Can we get results at home again against Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea? ...( we haven't lost at home since Fulham)

If you can believe if you can then you only have to think where can we nick a point away from home ... our last game we nearly beat the champions.

Do the maths and then have a Reality Check ... to help you out we need to win 14 home games to get 42 points
 
DT said:
Think of it this way if you can .... what games where we lost last season would you expect to get a better result this season?

Can this team beat Sunderland, Villa, West Brom, Norwich, Fulham Newcastle and Everton at home?

I take it that we all believe we can beat Saints, Reading ,Swansea, West Ham

Can we get results at home again against Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea? ...( we haven't lost at home since Fulham)
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DT, finally you are talking my language :)
 
True True,

This season will probably be a lot harder than what people are making out, however, the potential is there. We are after all only a couple of signings from having a quality first XI.

I reckon when we turn it on this season it will be great, however, it depends when things aren't going are way how the teams resolve holds up. Thats where MH comes in and last season he got us together! (At home at least)
 
Is our defence suspect?
It kept getting chopped and changed, plenty of good solid performances when it became settled, Norwich finished 12th with a much worse defence than we have at the moment. And I reckon we stink of goals, I can smell em!
Stop looking for negatives, it's looking good.<cool>
 
We are in the ****ing premiership and same as last year i want QPR to win every game ... Reality Check i know that is impossible but to start conceding that we may be in for a rough ride is pointless. again i say we don't know yet how this new team will do but typing total **** needs to be balanced by my total **** Londoncalling, Sooperhoop, Nuts and Judo are the first to go into the DT sin bin and Col is on the edge. None of us know but if you can't hope then there is none ... picking teams on paper is pure deluded crap. We haven't missed out on signing a centre half ... why? because we haven't signed one yet if the situation was dire then do you think they would just bury their heads in the sand and not listen to a load of old women worrying? ... You are infected ... Nuts I am not going to make Muckno in September this year as I will in France ... just as well as i would throwing Swords and you good self in.
 
Reasonable OP Sooper. Breaking into the top half won't be easy, but it is far from impossible. We had a crap season last year even though we stayed up. Staying up is not a sign of quality imo as the teams that went down were shait, but as a first season I can agree that it can be classed as succesfull (especially in our case).

What need to be looked at is that the distance from where we finished last season in 17th and up to 11-12th is not that far. Making it from 11th to 8-9th is much harder though. DT makes a lot of valid points. For me there are 8-9 very average teams we need to be looking at putting behind us. There will always be a surprise package that play out of their skins and defy expectations. That might even be us. If this lot click we can go places, so much right about the place now from top to bottom.
 
NORTHOLT said:
Is our defence suspect?
It kept getting chopped and changed, plenty of good solid performances when it became settled, Norwich finished 12th with a much worse defence than we have at the moment. And I reckon we stink of goals, I can smell em!
Stop looking for negatives, it's looking good.<cool>
Click to expand...

Nice one has it looked better? NW did chop and change and MH knows the secret of keeping things stable at the back and it looks to me solid enough and will take a few changes and tweaks ... Th main thing people cannot see on here is how much more we have the bloody ball ... that's the most important factor in modern football keep the ball and how can the other team score? and I agree with Northolt that we have goals in us this year and after all how else do you win football matches?

Mrs DT said I shouldn't have posted up a pict of her and i am in the dog house
 
I'm happy with our squad as it stands and I think we are already strong enough to finish well away from the drop zone. Not every player in the 25 can be a star name, we have plenty of options in midfield, some decent strikers and a defence that people are really underrating.

Agree with Northy, there are goals in this team.

Can't believe the doom merchants are out already before a ball has been kicked.
 
DT said:
We are in the ****ing premiership and same as last year i want QPR to win every game ... Reality Check i know that is impossible but to start conceding that we may be in for a rough ride is pointless. again i say we don't know yet how this new team will do but typing total **** needs to be balanced by my total **** Londoncalling, Sooperhoop, Nuts and Judo are the first to go into the DT sin bin and Col is on the edge. None of us know but if you can't hope then there is none ... picking teams on paper is pure deluded crap. We haven't missed out on signing a centre half ... why? because we haven't signed one yet if the situation was dire then do you think they would just bury their heads in the sand and not listen to a load of old women worrying? ... You are infected ... Nuts I am not going to make Muckno in September this year as I will in France ... just as well as i would throwing Swords and you good self in.
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You make some good points, and I have never said we will be in for a rough ride. I think we will be fine, and have a largely successful season with a much better finishing position (thank god - i dont know if i can take another season like last year!!).

But the point I made is about our strikeforce. Yes we have goals coming from our midfield, which we lacked last year. But my worry is what happens WHEN Cisse gets banned or injured? What striker do we turn to after that?

But as you say, our midfield looks amazing now. Our main problem last year was the connection between winning the ball back (defence) and getting it to our strikers in good areas - so the midfield. And that has been rectified in brilliant style with Park, Hoilett and re-signing the powerhouse Diakite.
 
I’m with you on this one Staines/DT/Northy et al.

Compared to the start of the season last year (or the end of the August window) we have Onuoha and Nelson added to the existing lineup and the bit part players have been offloaded. Traore is one year older and if Hughes can get Taarabt to do rudimentary defending then I’m sure he can get a man who started his career there to become more solid defensively. We have 2x30+ and 2x20+ CBs if you consider that this is Onuoha’s prefered position.

Hughes has always organised his teams well and with a settled Summer, he will have been working on the various partnerships so that we don’t rely on one leader to be present in the pairing (i.e. they should all be leaders).

If Young (he’s still here isn’t he?) and Dyer (I’m suspending my personal prejudices for a moment) are considered then there is even enough full back cover.

The cries for a centre back are valid and we should always be looking to improve our squad and first team but it is more than adequate as it stands.

Similarly, the cries for a defensive midfielder are also fair but shouldn’t make or break us. We have Park and Diakite who are box to box players – it’s a classic central midfield partnership and neither one is going to stand up front and leave the defending to others (Newcastle has something fairly akin to this last year and Man U played a similar midfield set up for years). Add Faurlin to that and we also have a playmaker who gets stuck in who likes to stay deep (a poor man’s Alonso or a tackling Carrick if you want to call it that).

Should we compare ourselves to Newcastle? Why not – they overachieved massively with very little in the way of big money signings. It’s an example of what can happen if everything goes right. That’s not to say everything will but I personally can’t say it’s impossible either.

As for a top 10 finish, we were 10 points off that last year and I can recall 6 points lost straight off where we were in winning positions, had a man sent off and subsequently lost the game. That would mean, all things the same (unlikely I know but it’s not an unreasonable stance) that we need to be at least 4 points better than last year’s shocking rollercoaster. Surely that’s not out of the bounds of normal expectation (and improved discipline is firmly planted within that expecation) given the way we finished last year and the improvements made since.

The whole plan was for a settled Summer to allow optimal pre-season and we’ve got that. Everyone has had a chance to gel and we’ve done this while others have had to watch us do our business early. Let’s not lose the nerve because every other club is now scrambling desperately to get in their targets. One or two more may arrive but we’ve got stability which is a major asset at this stage.

It’s not normal for us to be upbeat as QPR fans but this is the best position we’ve been in for years (and we’re only looking upwards). It might go wrong but then again it might not and compared to this time last year, it would have to go drastically wrong for us to find ourselves in the same position whereas the potential to pass what were our wildest dreams last year are very much a reality.

PS Good to have you back Sooper!
 
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