 | Forum
Reply | QPR v Derby match thread
at 01:33 15 Feb 2025
It's so easy to tell you have no actual connection to the games, without this kind of forum I'm not sure you'd even be interested in QPR. |
| Forum
Reply | Leeds H - moves to 12.30
at 19:32 13 Feb 2025
I still don't see why this is happening at all. Moving the game to clash with another when it still won't be the featured game... All it does is guarantee that everyone more interested in Leeds or QPR will definitely not watch the feature game - and piss everyone off in the process.
At this point it's surely just to be as cúnty as humanly possible so that everyone is so annoyed with it all that they don't get any pushback on removing the 3pm blackout. I can't think of another reason why so many games are moved to times that clash. |
| Forum
Reply | Film 2025
at 18:32 13 Feb 2025
Watched another 10 films since my last update... The key highlights
A Real Pain - great film, I like Kieran Culkiun anyway and this was a vehicle for him to be completely brilliant in a role that was super relateable and honest. It was funny too which means the moving bits land well.
Zone of Interest - Late to this party, but fckin hell. Great performances and it's hard to express why the not seeing but knowing almost felt more impactful. I rewatched it shortly after and the small details and some of the dialogue is particularly chilling. A difficult but really good watch.
Love Lies Bleeding - Not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't really this... Like a Cronenberg Lesbian Horror. Kristen Stewart is amazing. I dunno, someone else watch it so they can tell me what I saw
Anora - Already mentioned, but I loved this film. A Gen Z 18 rated Pretty Woman. Everyone is great in it and there's also lots of blue for the dads
Road to Perdition - We've all seen this right? It gets a rewatch every couple of years from me. The tommy gun scene in the rain is *chefs kiss*
Prey - Saw it in the cinema first time as I'm an absolute sucker for the Predator franchise, and like the recent Alien film, it's better than most of the mid-late sequels but nowhere near the original two. Fun idea though, and I'd watch 100 films of different versions of the Predator turning up at various points in time and fckin shít up.
The Negotiator - An old DVD film I haven't seen in ages. Samuel L, Kevin Spacey, Paul Giammati, and a host of people who you might not immediately know by name but who have been in hundreds of films and always smack. The best hostage negotiator in the business is framed so takes hostages himself while his old team try to get him. FUN.
BONUS! Romeo Must Die - I was about 16 when this came out and it was Jet Li double scissor kicking people while the film cuts to X-Ray and shows bones breaking and spines compacting. Throw in DMX and I don't know how anyone could not have fun in this movie [Post edited 13 Feb 18:42]
|
| Forum
Reply | In the blue corner – Report
at 14:53 13 Feb 2025
That is the way I've seen it, with the single pivot, I don't see that we've played an outright 4231 at any point, it's always been 4-1-something. I think we only disagree that Field is good enough to be one of the other midfielders further ahead. He has the work rate, endeavour and off the ball makes us much much more resilient, but in possession he's just not good enough (except every 10-15 games where he suddenly gets a brace). I'm not against him playing there at all, I just think he should be nothing more than a stop gap there until we find a permanent solution with a player more suited.
As we both mentioned, the change at Cov should have been Varane for Field (positionally), and we either moved Field up or we brought on Morgan. I would exclusively have Field or Varane in the single pivot position, with at least one of Colback/Morgan ahead. I would also personally keep Chair there, esp at home, to build on what worked against Blackburn and to keep Saito in as a starter, but I appreciate there's an argument to drop someone. The plot will thicken further if Dembele comes back strong! [Post edited 13 Feb 14:58]
|
| Forum
Reply | Half decent tv
at 11:36 13 Feb 2025
Late to the party but anybody else up to date with Severance? It's absolutely sensational |
| Forum
Reply | Film 2025
at 11:33 13 Feb 2025
Lived the Holdovers! They released it again in my local cinema over Christmas and I went and saw it on the big screen. As you say, love Giamatti and when these kinds of films are done well, they're some of the best.
In other news, I've been vigilant with my 2025 watchlist so far but been a bit distracted with Severance! Will update this thread ASAP |
| Forum
Reply | In the blue corner – Report
at 02:21 13 Feb 2025
I think we disagree slightly on your expectation/desire for Varane to take his game further forward... IMO he is not an advanced midfielder that will be busting into the box and getting goals and assists consistently, and probably never will be. Asking him to do it is like buying a TV to listen to the radio channels.
He has come largely as advertised, a Hayden style deep sitting defensive minded player. That's fine btw and he's been quite good at it, that type of player is important in this league, and can still be valuable to us and for someone else in the future, especially as he occasionally does showcase excellent technique and passing. (Forget the goal, it was stunning but essentially a one off - even Karl Henry found a pinger down the back of the sofa occasionally).
With that said, I have no idea why Marti didn't switch him with Field when he came on, or decide that this was the game/time/place to try him ahead of the base of midfield - especially with Morgan available. IMO, one of Field OR Varane needs to be deep and paired with Morgan/Colback. Field is capable of playing a little further forwards, mainly through endeavour, but he's not naturally suited to it at all.
Anyway thanks for the usual cathartism and articulating why I've spent the last 24hrs stopping in my tracks and swearing under my breath... These late losses really stick to you. [Post edited 13 Feb 2:31]
|
| Forum
Reply | Dembele interview
at 18:26 7 Feb 2025
Back on the bench for Portsmouth? I'm sure they won't rush him, but it'll be great to have another weapon to utilise - especially one with pace!
Dembele, Smyth and Yang all quick and direct, Saito and Chair great in possession. Also there's Andersen who is.... Danish. Nice group to choose from :-D |
| Forum
Thread | Warne gone at Derby
at 14:38 7 Feb 2025
They couldn't wait another week could they....
Warnock looms |
| Forum
Reply | Madsen
at 02:45 6 Feb 2025
No idea what JCS or Chair being unavailable has to do with our recruitment, but I think it's clear that there was a.reliance on data for our signings. In the main it seems to have made sense - e.g. Varane being the closest profile statistically to Hayden, who we were looking to replace. But with Madsen I think it's absolutely clear there wasn't enough physical assessment. I'm not a scout and I doubt the rest of the season ticket holders at LR are, but it didn't take many of us long to work out he was an empty shirt when faced with a high tempo physical game. An assessment I believe was already echoed by Gallen and others that had seen/assessed Madsen already.
Ultimately I don't think you can look at just stats/data and assume that translates into the championship, a league that shows you again and again that a certain level of experience, nous and management of the physicality is just as important as anything else. |
| Forum
Reply | Chair finally in the middle long term?
at 01:29 6 Feb 2025
Very possibly. My assumption is that Morgan is just the better presser of the ball and has the legs to hurry and harass the person in possession, in the same way Amos used to do.
The reason I was surprised is that the last time we played 2 of the 3 'usual' midfielders was at Norwich away, in that case it was Morgan and Field alongside each other, with one going and the other sitting. This time it was less a 4231 and more the usual formation. I guess it's Marti trying to keep the same defensive shape and a level of consistency, but swapping Chair for Field (positionally) meaning we have more conviction when we have the ball.
Altogether it's a really interesting (and imo welcome) change, and with more options available post injury / transfer window at CB and attacking midfield, I wonder if this is a step towards a more expansive Marti style of play... |
| Forum
Reply | Chair finally in the middle long term?
at 20:30 5 Feb 2025
When out of possession, absolutely. But Field isn't close to good enough as an 8 / advanced CM and Varane is a pure DM in the Hayden mould. We looked much more attacking and creative last night. Let's live a little, it's only the Championship. |
| Forum
Reply | Chair finally in the middle long term?
at 20:00 5 Feb 2025
In short, YES. We play best when running through Chair, who is still our best player, and having him in the middle is the way to achieve that. He can drift from side to side, linking up with both full back / winger combinations (as he did brilliantly for the move that led to the Paal free kick and opening goal), and offer himself as an option in the final third. Both Smyth and Saito staying wide gives him and Morgan more space centrally, and I trust that S&S work hard enough both ways to not make the lack of another DM as much of a liability.
The downside is out of possession and figuring how to stop quick transitions. I was a little surprised Chair essentially took the Field role when we didn't have the ball - dropping deeper alongside Field who took the 'Varane' position, and Morgan was still being the one to press, but Marti addressed it himself in the post-match - there's still stuff to work on to find a better balance. The upside of being more threatening - especially if/when we regain possession high - is well worth the balance risk, IMO.
Also, as Brian mentioned, this only worked at all due to the work rate of Chair and Morgan, so we need to find ways to rotate them effectively and be quick to adjust if teams are exploiting the change too much. |
| Forum
Reply | Frey
at 17:32 5 Feb 2025
Feels like a very QPR player, and I mean that in a good way. Unorthodox, turning circle of an Islet, varies between the touches of Bergkamp and the corner of a shed, and I'm not convinced parts of his body don't work independently. But, he's got that knack of being where he needs to be amongst the chaos of a penalty area, he works very hard and generally presses well, he does the doggies defensively and he absolutely loves the physical stuff. I also think he works great 'softening up' the defence in anticipation of a Kolli or Lloyd to come in and take advantage.
There was a point in the 2nd half when we're chasing the winning goal and he wins a corner hustling and bustling. He shrugs the defender, places the ball in the corner, then jogs into the far side of the penalty area purposely bashing into every Blackburn player on the way. One of the BBurn lads objected and Frey squared up and gave him the full Wealdstone raider treatment. If nothing else, I love to have a bit of that in our forwards.
The only part I hope he can continue to improve is his back to goal game... It's better than any of our other forwards, clearly, but the ball doesn't stick to him or get played off him with purpose as often as you'd like - but it's absolutely a coachable trait. |
| Forum
Reply | Out of contract (again)
at 17:06 5 Feb 2025
Fox - Nope
Colback - Take Option
Andersen - No
Paal - Extend to sell / leave if no deal
Dunne- Extend as a priority
Cook is the big ? for me... By all accounts he's our biggest earner, by some margin compared to most others, and he's showing signs of wear and tear - especially since returning from his injury. We have also done well to bring in Morrison as a natural successor, so at some point you're blocking his progress by extending the contract of a 33/34 year old.
I think it's Cooks experience, leadership and nous that we'll miss most if he leaves, but that's a big salary if you're not also one of our best players / defenders... Ultimately we have time to decide and see how he goes for the next few months to make a decision in the summer, but if we don't extend we have to focus on bringing in a few more savvy/older players to compliment the youth focus. This league demands it. |
| Forum
Reply | Madsen
at 16:25 5 Feb 2025
The positive thing I take from him being left out - other than the fact that's what he deserves given his performances - is that Marti is clearly not under any pressure to force playing time for the players he's been given.
Considering the outlay and contract, you'd assume ownership would want Madsen out there regardless, similar with Kolli starting, but it feels like Marti is left to manage his team how he sees fit which is exactly right and how it should be, but we know hasn't always been the case...
It is a problem we will have to address at some point though, because 35 year old Colback is coming on for an 18 year old youth player to play in the position we paid millions to fill with Madsen. It's a big big position of need and we've done the biggest part of our budget on it already. |
| | simmo
|
Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 4546 | | Comment Votes: | 54 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 4600 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.