Today we and the rest of the league witnessed how to beat the Swans. Let them play in their own half, be patient and don't press to high up the pitch. For all their possesion they only created chances from set pieces. When they go behind they don't have an answer do they? You can't score goals rolling the ball between your center halves, and they clearly showed they're weakness when chasing the game. I'm not denying how vital the timing of Joey's goal was, couldn't have come at a better time. Credit to the fans as well for not losing their patience and start boing. Both fans and players got the reward when Joey belted in the first goal. Like against United the whole team performed admirebly, difficult to single out any individuals, all scorers took their goals very well, defence faught valiantly. Kenny 7: Did his job, nothing in particular to note. Onouha 7: Had Sinclair well marshalled. What impressed me the most was his presence in attack, always on hand. Ferdinand 7: Much more composed recently and lead his line very well. Hill 8: Another outstanding center half display from maybe our new cult hero. Can someone please explain how he managed to head that ball over his own bar? Taiwo 6: Not as influental going forward as recently, yellow carded for a slip (what's up with the pitch? not looking good). Credit though since they subbed Routledge. Diakite 8: What a powerhouse! Strenght, pace, tecnique and vision. The usual yellow, but overall a league above Allen and Britton. Even showboated towards the end. Barton 8 MOTM: What a different player from the one that got subbed against L'pool. Gave the ball away once but apart from that was instrumental in everything going forward and breaking up play. Beats Hill and Diakite to the award for his goal, what a crucial time to get it. Buzsaky 7: Good and solid performance, very assured in his passing. Didn't he take it well? I knew he would score when the ball dropped like it did, just like Smith against Wigan. Mackie 7: Another typical Mackie performance (that's a credit by the way). I believe he has added a lot to his game since the promotion. Was offside for his goal but we were due some good fortune by now. Never stopped running at their defenders, they subbed the left backed a testamant to Mackie's contribution. Taarabt 6: Tried a lot but not much came off. He's a much changed player now compared to last year, maybe it has taken away some of his freedom but his overall contribution to teamwork has improved massively. Zamora 7: He's good at what he does. Didn't get much to feed of in the first half, but with us starting the second half with the lead he got more into it. Missed a difficult chance from a corner in the first half and had a good cross come shot that nearly got Onouha his first R's goal. The subs: Not much to say, SWP tried as hard as before without much end result. Betty didn't cover himself in glory and recieved a right rollocking from Joey for it. All in all a massive win. For once we managed to win a 'must win game' that every QPR fan had pinned down as a win. Wigan's win doesn't take the gloss off it for me. Credit to them, well done, we can't have every result going our way. If we do our job we'll stay up end off. Have a happy night ya'all
Thats the difference between Warnock who can only play one way and Hughes who uses his brain. This sums up the difference ""We've worked tirelessly over the last few days on ways to nullify the effectiveness of their play and it worked really well tonight."" We are now prepared for every game. It took a while to get the players going but it looks like hes done it, a win on Saturday and were almost there.
Largely agree with your scores, especially Barton and Diakite. The former, def MOTM and the latter is like a fine wine - improving with the passage of time.
Disagree about taraabt. I thought he was great tonight. He continues to offer so much more than simply his sublime skill. On a number of occasions this evening he worked his way into the left back position doing a great job for the team. Most of what he tried came off. He lost the ball a few times, but that's to be expected given the nature of his game. As long as he doesn't lose it in dangerous areas. Great running with the ball and tireless effort. He looked to me tonight like he loves playing for QPR. great win tonight.
Same as you woody with Taarabt, all his nutmegs and dribbling came off today and his tracking back impressed me as well
See where you're coming from. Maybe I'm expecting to much from him? What I appreciated the most from him tonight was actually when he took the tempo out of some of our attacks, showed a lot more maturity and tactical awareness. But what you're describing are the same attributes Joey got slated for in the past, putting in a shift and tracking back not enough apparently. All in all not enough from Adel to warrant a higher rating imo. We can't all agree can we?
Taarabt got an assist and did a great defensive job as well, what more do you want from him? Hes finally become a team player.
What I don't get is the possesion stats. Sky has it 40% / 60%. BBC and several others has it 52% / 48%. Same difference as against Arsenal. The live stats during the game on tv had it at 49% / 51% with ten mins remaining, backing up BBC's numbers with us dominating possesion in the latter stages.
Stats mean nothing Norway, it is only the result that counts. Stats is for the losers to dwell on. The winners ignore them. ( Reference.. FA Cup final replay 1982 )
Good post Woody. I don't think anybody on this site (including Col) could have forseen the change in Adel since he has came back from the ACON. His workrate, tackling and covering play has been excellent, not just for him but by any standards. He is still only a chap afterall. What's obvious to me and many on here is that we probably won't see the best of Adel going forward until next year. MH will have the team playing "no-risk" football over the next few weeks and although Adel will have opportunities to create, IMHO his creative side will be curtailed. Next year when we are not fighting for our lives in every game we will see more of the creative Adel.
Nice report - Personally I would have bumped up Tawio and AT to a 7. With Sinclair and Routledge\Dyer you would have expect the ball getting out wide and them flying down the wings both Tawio and Onouha did their jobs well. Clint was great, for me MOTM was Diaktie again but a close call.
I loved the chant from R block - "It's just like watching paint dry!" Swans got found out last night and if they don't sort out a plan B then they are going to get humped next season and will be relegation fodder. I've been saying for ages that we are doomed (doomed I tell you!) but should we stay up I reckon we will finish above Swansea and Norwich next season. Ours is a work in progress and if only we can hang on by the skin of our teeth there should be enough business done over the summer to turn us into a credible Premiership outfit.
yepp, but doesn't work on my job PC unless you are logged as adminstrator! And my private pc is temperamental! I will be contacting Sumo - but they don't make that easy! - or cancelling with them and sticking with tne bandits!
MH had it right last night, it was essentially what we did to Arsenal, and also essentially the way Neil usually used to play it (though he varied to, in particular to 4 4 2 last autumn). So while I'm pleased MH has finally gone back to the formation that works best for us, what the f*kk took him so long!!
this ... his positional discipline was bang on the money .. regardless of a few idiots shouting for him to close down ... he was focused .. Zamora was fouled all night and did a good job and only got three free kicks. I was close and personal with Mackie last night he actually growls
