Look lads, you had plenty of the ball but didn't do a whole lot with it but pass it back and forth among yourselves. The clear cut chances fell QPR's way so on that basis and the fact that we was winning coming up on injury time, we should have won the match. Still, a draw was probably a fair result between two woeful teams
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king. Must be a lot of people called Cyclops around the Shepherds Bush area. Agree with your final comment Hoopster although compared to the way we played last season, woeful was an improvement. You still have to get over that. Enjoyed a good day out. At least we got a point compared to the last game at your place and a good curry at North Ealing rounded the day off nicely.
Totally deserved a draw if not all 3 points. Pleased with the fitness and endeavour but still painfully uncreative through midfield and slow up front. A pacy no 9 would be a boon to the team; Mason is not a striker.
Glad it's not just me that thought Mason looked very limited. His work rate was excellent, but one of our '1st choice' strikers (whoever they turn out to be) needs to get around 20 if we're going to challenge. I don't believe either of the current incumbents will achieve that. QPR were absolutely dire, a gifted corner and a goal that should have been disallowed. We didn't create enough for our possession but how Pilks failed to get a toe on that first half cross stands out to me as the clearest chance before Jet happened I thought Phillips and the probably soon to be departed Austin were the only bright sparks for them. We have serious quality returning at centre back and in goal. I thought our possession and overall team play was positive. The side knew the system and complimented each other well. If the QPR lads are happy with that performance they can help themselves. Both their goals were absolute gifts from us and the ref respectively. 38% possession at home is as bad as anything from us last year I'm pretty sure, but at least we were only dominated in that fashion by the sides that went on to get playoffs/promotion. I thought KWJ improved matters compared to Revell with the obvious downside we got a little too direct as we got more desperate at the end.
Nothing through central midfield again. City keen to go from defence to front in the air rather through midfield. That won't work with Revell a passenger, and Mason too slow. Likely to be more effective with Jones but he needs a proper no 9 playing off him not Mason. Heck knows what he'll do tomorrow night. Like to see Noone start in a 5 midfield with Ralls coming infield. What to do with Ameobi though?
In fairness to Ameobi he needs some game time. He has ability, whether it's enough to hold down a place is debatable, but like any player he'll need more than 8 minute cameos to have any chance to impress. Surely an option to stick him in instead of Mason. He'll add pace and a touch of magic/unpredictability. The counter argument is we've put in 2 solid if unspectacular performances and a settled side will help that continue. We had complete control of possession on Saturday so it shouldn't have been too physically taxing. I'd expect all the outfield players to be ready to go again. I would consider starting KWJ over Revell and give Mason 60 minutes + playing off KWJ and see how he does. Rome wasn't built in a day and to go from being dominated every game to dominating possession in our opening 2 is a welcome development. I honestly think we're very much on the right track. The work rate and possession football are a million miles in front of last season.
Fair point there Stevo. I just cannot help but think that f Slade had got a decent no 9 up front, then we'd have had 6 from 6 and there would be grounds for real optimism. No goals from any forward in 3 first team games is a concern.
And that's a fair point too Nin. I think Mason, Pilks, Whits and to a lesser extent Ralls should all produce though. Our current bench will produce goals whilst either starting or as impact subs. Don't forget Macheda.............
A million miles better than last season is right, but you don't have to be too "half empty" to say it couldn't have been much worse than that tripe. Being positive we are playing a more cohesive style of football and that is a major change. The negatives are that we've got 2 points out of 6 from two teams that will be propping up the division before long. Fulham lost at home to Brighton when when we were salvaging our point from a side that Charlton stuffed the previous week. The whole setup needs more than just the present camaraderie that the Slade and the players are keen to promote. I'm convinced there are goals in Mason but he's not a line leader. If we're going to rely on the enthusiasm and running of Revell out there, we might as well recruit a few headless chickens. The midfield problem is on the way to being solved - Ralls, Pilks and dare I say it, Whitts and even fat boy slim Diko are coming together to form a tight knit combo. When you add the likes of Noone into the mix, we could have a good platform onto which to build an attacking game - we just need someone in front of them to finish things off. EDIT.....and no, I don't mean Macheda.......
So do we sell Marshall and hope we get a quality lead the line, 25 goals a season striker? Do we trust Slade with whatever transfer windfall we'd get from Marshall's move? Moore is an adequate young replacement. Would we except another creative midfielder too?
Still early days but I think we may have been a bit harsh on our teams a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully we'll both be in and around the top 8 or so for most of the season.
It's a mental league. Look at the results every week and most wins are single goal margin and there are loads of draws. There's *** paper between most sides on any given afternoon.
