I don't get how this is less important when 3 points are up for grabs. Isn't this the kind of mentality we've been complaining about?
I take it that we're just speculating about fielding a weakened team. Like a few have said already I wouldn't be a fan of that way of thinking. Leaving out better players in the hope that bringing them back for the 'easier' game is going to magically give us a better chance of winning against Palace rings alarm bells for me. We have a chance, albeit a slim one, of getting something out of the Arsenal game, if we field our best players and try hard. Fielding a weakened side sends out the message that we are beaten before we start, and are expecting to lose by 4, 5 or even 6 goals. Then suddenly on the back of that we're going to come out mean and get the points against Colin's Palace. Arsenal have beaten us 4 times in our last two Premiership seasons, but each time only by one goal. I think a point is there to be had, and who knows after that, but we will only get something if we believe we can and put out our best players.
Don't be so silly, expecting management staff at QPR to think so logically! That's the thing about Harry. He sometimes cannot make the perfectly obvious decision. And that's the thing about football; there will always be those with the attitude to go and deconstruct a team at its weaknesses and there will always be those who are scared to venture forth for fear of being taken apart and so instead just sit back and try to prevent too much damage, hoping for a miracle. It doesn't make sense but fear often doesn't make sense.
Grinners, we beat Arsenal 2-1 at our place in 2012. Diakite scored. But I admire the total self confidence with which you stated the error. On paper they should thump us, but I think they have some fragilities and I hate the idea of weakened teams.
Agree with this. If we keep writing off games then we're never going to get anything from those games (despite having a chance in each one) and just put extra pressure on those e think we should win. I'd be surprised if Warnock is resting players ahead of Saturday's game and it's better to do our best in the first and then see who is in the best condition for the second. Our tactics will be different in the two games and so there's some player rotation that will naturally be the right thing to do anyway.
I agree with those that don't like weakened teams, but we must remember that we have two games in two days! The likes of Dunne and Zamora have no chance of playing in both imo. Plus we could play Charlie up front on his own, watch him hardly touch the ball and then see him get injured for the Palace game. Tough call imo.
Harry needs to rest several of our key players including Charlie. I'd have thought that several of our squad players would be itching to get on the pitch against one of the 'big four' and prove themselves. In theory, we should see a huge effort from the likes of McCarthy, Onouha, Traore, Henry, Mutch, Hoilett, Niko etc etc. all trying to show Harry and our fans that they're good enough for the first team.
I don't think that we would be throwing the game if we rested a few players before Sunday. We are a 25 man squad and I would assume that all 25 are good enough. As Nuts said, we have a lot of players with something to prove.
Well picked up on swords The game with Palarse will be like the Leicester game A real 6 point battle which could go either way and we need 11 players fit and ready for it
We can't continue treating these sort of games as "bonus" games......we need points away from home urgently as there is no guarantee of beating Palace of Sunday......have a go, their back 4 are not great.....If we must play 451 at least have an outlet other than Charlie up front on his own, play Hoilett wide left and Vargas wide right with instructions to attack the full backs at pace, Fer to play more central and get forward to support Charlie, Barton & Henry to do the holding role...... C'mon R's go for it and give us a Christmas Bonus....
Absolutely Col....this was a match I identified months ago as a match to "look afer the players" in ..... We have three matches in a week...the two home matches are very winnable....... Zamora, Hill and Dunne.....are unlikely to last 270 minutes..... We need to look after the wingers for maximum effect..... We need to look after the full backs as we don't have too many of them.....likewise forwards. Adel, SWP and Matty Phillips need to step up Rio needs to step up...he must have one or two good matches left in him.... Just musings on a Boxing Day morn.
We should be aiming for 6. I don't know why we are so fearful of Arsenal. Get stuck into them, they don't like it up em.
I think/ fingers crossed... we will get six Swordsie....but hope for seven....... Six would be good....and I would be very happy
I'll be happy with 3 from these 2...thinking more likely to get 2 points,. We can get a draw out of the gunners and Palarce. If we go for the win today, our fitness will kill us against palarce. ! point from each or a pos 3 points from Palace...what would you prefer.?
I think 6 from those three games would be exceptional, I fear Palace, with Bolasie and Zaha scorching down the flanks will be a real handful against our suspect full backs...
That is why these few days are different. We need points and Palace at home is surely a priority. We do not have a strong enough squad. Any other away game we should go for it.....
In Mexico, Just spoke to the bloke and he's confirmed the game is on the big screen here. Too hot in the sun anyway!
