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I'd say he's been very consistent. His first season he took over when we were 17th and we finished 18th. This season we finished 16th. Compare that to the inconsistency of NW who took over at Cardiff 3 weeks earlier, when they were 23rd and they finished 12th. Then this year they finished 2nd. Or how about inconsistent Millwall who went from newly promoted to finishing 8th.
I'd take that sort of inconsistency any day of the week.
100% of people who drink water will die.
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McClaren incoming on 16:15 - May 7 with 4364 views
And this is why, as much as I can see, and agree, with every argument for keeping Holloway, I can also see and agree with every argument for not. I don't envy the board at all here, they will be damned either way.
Personally I stand as I've said before, which is that unfortunately, I just don't believe we will ever be in contention with Holloway as manager. Let's not take anything away from what he's done this year, which has been nothing short of a miracle, however - and I'm happy to eat my words here - he was asked to steady the ship, and as good a job as he's done there, that doesn't mean he should be the man to push us on.
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McClaren incoming on 22:00 - May 7 with 3907 views
I think this is where we fundamentally disagree. I don't think Holloway has got anything like the best from our existing squad this season. The huge inconsistency in our performances indicates they could be playing at higher level, because, on occasion they have, but too often have not
Equally, in terms of the deficiencies you mention. We were not weak at centre half this season. That's precisely why we're losing our two centre halves; better teams with more money will offer them better deals than we can. We lack width, but not because we don't have the players, but because of how Holloway has set them up and trained them to play. Pawel has played right wing for Poland and shown himself to be effective there. Smyth looks excellent when played as a wide forward/winger, routinely roasting his full back and getting to ththe byline. But he's in one week, out the next. Shodipo looked Pete fly at home at this level 18 months as a winger. He's nowhere near the squad. And then we have Samuel, and Wheeler, and earlier in the season, Lua Lua. We've had the ability to play with width throughout the season, but predominantly we deliberately set up without it in these 5-3-2 shapes to accommodate Washington. 433, with two quick wide forwards either side of Smith or Sylla suits us the best. And they allow us to play Scowen, Luongo and Freeman. Our results have been significantly better since he shifted to this.
Our lack of width was down to Holloway, not a deficiency he had to deal with.
Like I say, love the man. Club legend. Done what was asked of him. But I fancy we might be a bit better than that now. And I'd be surprised if McClaren wouldn't improve us. I think the players have shown they're capable, especially that midfield 3, of being quite good in this league, better than 16th, certainly.
Losing the two main centre halves, and possibly Smithies or one of those midfielders, will be a huge hit. But that's more reason why we need to regularly be maximising the team's performance, getting 100% or near week in week out. That is not happening under Holloway. His selections are erratic, and our performances are too.
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McClaren incoming on 22:17 - May 7 with 3853 views
never said we were weak at centre half this season more meant we will be next season so that needs to improve.
The problems out wide this season are more due to playing to our strengths in the middle, hard to play 2 wingers when you have a midfield 3 and lack quality up front. Holloway was very pragmatic this season in using Scowen to protect the defence and starting the season with mackie and Washington up front to press and force errors. I think if Hall had been fit and playing as a third centre half moving into midfield when we have the ball then that would have allowed Holloway to play more of a 4-3-3 with the ball and 5-4-1 without it which I think suits this squad but without him we went with the extra defender instead.
That did mean the wingers were sacrificed but although it wasn't pretty on the eye it got us enough points by the end of February to ensure relegation wasn't ever going to be an issue and has allowed him to experiment a bit more with Eze, Smyth, BOS and co getting chances in the side which I think will benefit us next season
For me we don't have many good wide options. Pawel to me isn't very good, he delays his cross to often and apart from Fulham away this season when he was out of position i can't remember too many good performances. Admittedly he did play a lot at wing back which is not ideal for him but I just haven't seen enough from him in the last 2 years when he gets in the final third.
I hope BOS and Smyth develop into exciting wide options and I do like Shodipo but I think to rely on them all season would be a real gamble so I'd be looking at strengthening that area of the team.
I agree 16th isn't good enough and we should have finished a few places higher but guess we'll find out if someone can get more out of this squad if Holloway goes, I'm very sceptical about that but hope I'm wrong.
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McClaren incoming on 22:22 - May 7 with 3832 views
Lol.. yes you're right, you got me, the away form doesn't include the home form. I've played (sorry, plaid) the fanbase like a fiddle with my masterfully faked news.
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McClaren incoming on 22:55 - May 7 with 3773 views
Where's the 'shock, horror' moment? I've been saying this for more than a year.
It's very simple. Our performances range from stunning the league leaders down to abject defeats by cellar-dwellers. That's the "inconsistent" bit. The "overall, not very good" bit is our total points and league position: last season or this, take your pick.
Before anyone starts pointing out that this year we have better points and position than last season (though not by much), note that this has been a weak season for the Championship. Six clubs on a point per game or less is much worse than average and has been happening for most of the season. I would really like to know what you think of that other than have you repeat a dismissive, derisory remark.
To me, it's not a bold statement at all. It is stating the bleeding obvious; the failings of Holloway's current tenure distilled into eight words.
I only need one word - inconsistent. We never put out the same side twice all season. Chopping and changing and as Norf pointed out, the same old cliches about our crap away performances. I’ve even been wondering lately if Les told Holloway to ditch 5-3-2 which led to our sudden improvement.
Who knows? Never a dull moment being a QPR fan 😕
I have been following what you've been saying about Holloway and I think you've made a good case that in points terms he has been sailing very close to the wind.
As I said on this week's preview: I think fans' attitude to Holloway is largely determined by whether they think the plight of the club is due to objective circumstances or due to Holloway's management. I am in the former group. My big fear at the beginning was that he would fall completely flat on his face, but that hasn't happened.
Air hostess clique
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McClaren incoming on 13:02 - May 8 with 2955 views
That's not your fault, it's mine (and thanks, Simmo). I even knew that you'd have to add the bold markers to your reply, as they don't transpose with a copy and paste, without catching your intent.
Sure, the club is suffering under 'objective circumstances', but nothing dramatically different to prior to the last eighteen months. A case could be made for the 'defence injury crisis of 2017', but I thought that was exaggerated.
The thing is, if the plight of the club is due to these 'objective circumstances', how do we explain the inconsistency? How do we rise to the really good games then fall back to mediocrity or worse? Of course, that means that I credit Holloway with the good results as well as the bad. But if he's not responsible for the good results, then I don't know why he is here at all.
I, too, was concerned about relegation more than anything else. But I'd also expect to see more improvement than we have. He still hasn't matched the Championship performance of either of his predecessors.
Teams having less than a point per game could also be indicative of a togher league with stronger sides in it, rather than just one or two good sides and the rest being much of a muchness, though.
Bare bones.
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McClaren incoming on 14:05 - May 8 with 2775 views
Holloway has brought younger players into the team, they have done pretty well and we have had a better season than last. Yet people then say that Holloway will not be able to get the best out of our youngsters. That doesn't make sense as an argument.
I'd like to see Holloway stay but bring in another coach. I'm not sure who, Jackett perhaps if he becomes available. McClaren would be ideal but I can't see Schteeve being willing to work for Ollie.
RFA
"Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1."
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McClaren incoming on 14:20 - May 8 with 2726 views
Lots of people have said that they would like Ollie to stay but bring in a coach to assist. I agree that this is the best solution but unfortunately I can’t see it happening. There is no way that an experience Coach of the type mentioned would work under Ollie and if they did it’s just another person on the payroll which the club can’t afford.
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