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Reply | Window Dunne and dusted, where to from here? Preview
at 17:13 4 Feb 2025
I'm not as confident that Dunne will be straight back in, but hope I'm wrong.
Feels like a very tricky fixture - a disjointed week, new signings not really moving the needle, and Blackburn have a lot of players that seem to always do well against us... Hoping for a bounce back performance and stopping the slide |
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Reply | Vale signs
at 13:01 4 Feb 2025
I imagine it will be a mix of Chair, Dembele and Vale behind the striker. Assuming Saito isn't permanent and Andersen isn't retained, that's 3 technical attackers that can rotate.
I guess you could also put him LCM in the current set up, replacing Field as a more progressive player that can drift to the wing like Morgan does.
Ultimately though we have no idea, he still needs to get fit and show he's worthy of a start before we figure out where he's best. |
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Thread | Vale signs
at 00:45 4 Feb 2025
https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/2025/february/03/harvey-vale-joins-qpr/
Is there already a thread for this? I looked but couldn't find one. If so lock this and I'll repost, but wanted to add some thoughts now he's done.
Firstly, this seems like an overall good deal for lots of reasons, but the excitement from the Ultimate Team social media kids is like they've just got a DM from Bonnie Blue. There's a LOT of hyperbole for a kid that has about 50 appearances to his name. Colour me intrigued...
The pros
- 21 years old. I really like this new strategy of pursuing young players, both first team and for the development squad. It's the right way to go about it and although a mixture of youth and nous is absolutely fundemental for this league, a club like ours can only sustain itself by developing assets become first team players and then sell
- Good pedigree - I'll contradict myself slightly as the academy system doesn't carrry as much weight for me as it does others, but if you did come through an academy system you would be hard pressed to beat the Chelsea and England youth one. Chelsea Academy player of the year winners list reads as follows;
2015 - Dominic Solanke, 2016 - Fikayo Tomori, 2017 - Mason Mount, 2018 - Reece James, 2019 - Conor Gallagher, 2020 - Billy Gilmour, 2021 - Tino Livramento, 2022 - Harvey Vale
Whilst I wouldn't put it past us, we'd have signed the only dud in the list if he doesn't make something decent of himself, and if he gets anywhere close to those players we're laughing. You might also ask why Chelsea would sell someone with such high potential, but then you see that everyone on this list except Reece James is playing elsewhere, and you realise the plan for these kids never involved the first team.
- Flexibility. Again, I'm never that enamoured by the trend of academy boys that can play multiple positions as lots of players 'between' end up not really being great at one thing or the other - but - the exceptions are those that are just good enough to do what you need them to. This is a lad that reckons his best position is inverted RW, but who was touted as of the best LBs in League One when he was moved there for a full season at Bristol. Marti is a modern coach and you know he likes tactical flexibility, having someone he can move around in game will be preferred, and it means he can add depth to multiple positions we're currently weak in
The cons
- Pro appearances v Academy. To put it bluntly, I couldn't give a toss how good someone is in the modern academy world... Of course Vale would be at the tippity top as far as pedigree, and credit to him for deciding to jump out early and get proper football at a permanent home, but the difference between a PL2 player and a lad with 100 pro appearances is stark. Look at Edwards compared to Ashby by way of a recent example. The good news is Vale has around 50 pro appearances and a full season with Bristol under his belt, and Kieran Morgan has shown the jump between dev squad and first team isn't as big for some as others, but I reserve the right to limit my excitement until I see how he handles the Championship, because he's completely unproven at this level.
- The tone of the signing. This is a bit of a personal one maybe and fully happy to accept I'm reading too much into things, but I never like the signings that are seen as a 'coup' for the club, and are treated as such. The tone of his player interview was a good example - a lot of 'why did YOU choose QPR' and 'what's so good about us over other options'? I find it a little self deprecating when signing a seriously injured 21 year old with a single season of league one behind him... Of course if he matches the lofty expectations and all the hype is close to real, that makes perfect sense, but I feel like we sometimes get all hot and heavy for players that are in demand choosing us, and act like we're just happy they're here. Really you want a kid to focus on trying to get in the team first, and then proving why he deserves the long term contract we've given him...
- Chelsea. I know I know, it shouldn't matter, and I guess it doesn't REALLY. Modern world, and if we excluded players coming from Chelsea we'd have a pool of about 7 kids to choose from. But I think it's worth acknowledging, by him especially, that there is a rivalry and you don't get a clean pass just because you're highly rated. You need to play that stink off you at QPR because if you come with a bad attitude and poor play - academy player awards or not - you'll just be a Chelsea reject...
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Reply | Yang Minh-Hyeok
at 17:18 29 Jan 2025
Pretty much how I see it. On paper it's an 18 year old kid with minimal pro appearances that we have no hope of signing permanentl, but as you've said, this feels more like another body that adds to the forward options. We're also desperate for pace and direct running, something that only Smyth does consistently and that alone makes him look like a world beater in this league.
I'm fine with it. Worse case we have a warm body that can cover multiple positions, best case we have a wonderkid for 6 months. |
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Reply | Rest of the Championship thread
at 22:50 28 Jan 2025
Reminds me of that Sunderland doc when the manager wouldn't take no for an answer and ended up paying about 5 times his max fee to get Will Grigg |
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Reply | New Year transfer window rumours
at 19:44 28 Jan 2025
Let's not act like his performance against Doak is the only reason we're cutting our losses with him - that Cambridge debut was probably the most out of depth I've ever seen a player at this level.
A shame though, along with Madsen that's 2 key positions we signed people for that have proven themselves completely incompetent and we need to find alternatives for 6 months later... |
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Reply | Chair - positional change
at 00:57 28 Jan 2025
First hour for Norwich away we had a deeper 2 man midfield of Field and Morgan and it worked well - esp playing out from the back.
I like the 3 man we've had recently, especially our of possession, but I'd like to see Chair central/drifting and Saito left... |
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Reply | 28 years ago today.
at 22:54 25 Jan 2025
Front row of Ellerslie next to my Dad. Trev and Brevett running toward us when they were celebrating.
My other overriding memory of that was the bloke next to me jumping around so much he fell over the hoarding and landed on the pitch. He jumped back over quickly, but then a few mins later 2 coppers came along picked him out and took him away - leaving his bewildered looking mrs behind. My dad immediately made me switch seats. |
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Reply | Injury update
at 14:09 24 Jan 2025
Only one left sided CB isn't great news... Although I guess Morrison did well that side when he played earlier - let's hope Edwards is just as capable.
The JCS thing is a little odd... He hasn;t been fit enough to start more than 1 game, despite being back available for selection for weeks, and then surgery is required on an issue he picked up on Monday? What a shame that he couldn't build on last season, at the start of his contract too...
Great news about everyone else, Demebele back in the mix is also really positive, some more pace and direct running will be huge for this team, and lessen the reliance on Smyth. |
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Reply | New Year transfer window rumours
at 13:26 23 Jan 2025
Not disagreeing, but the issue is a proven version of that is beyond our means - even if 'proven' does exist at this level - and you'd struggle to bring Evan Ferguson to QPR even on FIFA.
The best chance most teams have is what we have done with Celar - find someone for a few million and hope they become a Gykores, Szmodic, Brereton, etc in time and with good coaching. |
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Reply | Dunne off?
at 13:20 23 Jan 2025
If he's out of contract this summer, then there won't be a fee. He's free to agree a deal elsewhere and will move for free at the end of the season.
Another reason it's imperative that we offer a deal - even if its' with the intention to sell. The loss on the pitch and financially is too big to let him walk. |
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Reply | Dunne off?
at 12:14 23 Jan 2025
Hard to know exactly, but I think if his deal was tied up here it would be announced. Hope I'm wrong.
He's in the form of his life and probably our most important player right now, you can't see him demanding unreasonable wages either. To let him go at this point would be criminal. |
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Reply | Rest of the Championship thread
at 11:56 23 Jan 2025
Don't underestimate the Wayne Rooney effect... He had Schumacher for most of his time there, then Wayne came through the door - probably side on to get through - and killed the momentum.
I don't think this latest move is too smart though, I doubt the players will trust a new manager so quick to hang a team mate out to dry... |
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Reply | New Year transfer window rumours
at 11:53 23 Jan 2025
We are good at RB I think, for any prolonged period we'd be in trouble, but we do technically have 3 people for that position and a clear 1st choice. LB is similar. The ideal scenario is to get someone behind Paal that is capable of taking his spot full time next year, on the assumption he doesn't sign a new deal. But Nourry said a few times that it was agreed with Marti that Colback and Fox can both cover there if needed, and we've also had Ashby and even Saito fill in, so although I think it's a nice to have, I wouldn't say it's our priority.
For me the biggest need is a central midfielder - specifically an 8/10 style player like Morgan. Someone that can shuttle, press, and ideally contribute to the attack a little more. I love Field but he's only exceptional at the defensive side, and we have nobody like Morgan in the team, which isn't ideal considering his age. I'd still like to see us try Chair moving inside and have Saito take the LW spot, but the ideal scenario is a proper midfielder that is forward thinking and can chip in with goals - a Cameron Brannigan type.
Another forward or wide man with pace would also be good, although depending on if we're pushing the boat out for the 2nd half of the season or not, I think Kolli and Lloyd can probably provide that between them. That said if Frey goes down again for any length of time, I would worry about just having those 2 as our only options up front... |
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Reply | Sir Marti of Cifuentes
at 17:07 22 Jan 2025
That also reminded me of that little dweeb that came on here claiming Marti resigned... |
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Reply | Ashby throwing the jersey to the floor
at 16:55 22 Jan 2025
Incredibly overrated, not least by himself, and gets away with a low footballing IQ because of his physical traits. He's fairly pacey, built well for his speed, and is front foot, but he's playing like this role is beneath him, and he knows he will be back in the PL facilities with the other posers soon enough.
Compare him to Alfie Lloyd. Not as talented perhaps, may not have as good a career in the end, and on about 10% of his money - but he has none of the double arm sleeve tattoos or oversized fckin gucci jumpers, and makes the absolute maximum out of his raw attributes by playing like being on that pitch and taking each opportunity is everything to him.
Being subbed as a sub, especially after just 15mins and in extra time when Marti could easily have just let it ride out, is the ultimate embarassment for a player, and he knows it. Take your medicine - preferably back in Newcastle. |
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Reply | If all fit and firing, who's first choice at CB?
at 16:34 22 Jan 2025
Cook and JCS in a back 4 set up, and it's not really close IMO. Cook is experienced, our captain, and was playing at an extremely high level before his injury. JCS is fragile and injury prone - clearly - but when fit is the best CB we have and one of the best ball playing defenders in the league. Apart from them being our best, it also makes a massive difference to have right and left footed players on either side, as they split when we build up play.
As for the others, Morrison looked great in his run and is the natural successor to Cook (or possibly JCS) next season, that's a really good signing that represents a succession plan, but also someone that is good enough right now. Fox has done extremeley well in this recent run as the 'old head' alongside a young player, but is not to be relied on long term. Edwards has looked great, but ultimately is not our player.
It's definitely comforting though that we have such good options and don't have to rush anyone back too soon - as well as knowing we can win games without Cook, which didn't feel as obvious when he went out of the team. Whatever the debate, both JCS and Morrison look like they will miss a lot of games between them, so we'll need everyone until the end. |
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