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Reply | We're just circling the drain, aren't we?
at 18:38 19 Oct 2024
Aside from Nardi, the summer recruitment was very poor. The other signings made little sense to me as they didn't address the weaknesses in our squad.
At the end of last season, it was clear that we needed:
- A keeper to replace the out-going Begovic
- A central defender to cover for the injury prone JCS
- One or two creative midfielders who provide spine and can pass forward
- A striker
Instead, we signed a raft of number 10s that we don't need. We already had Chair and Anderson in the building so what was the point of recruiting Dembele, Saito and Madsen? They may well be decent enough players under the right circumstances but in our position they're a luxury we can ill afford.
As a result, the same problems persist. The midfield is non-existent, with damning statistics for tackles, interceptions, passes completed, etc. Field is often operating alone and Hayden is a big miss. Granted, Isaac may have been out of our price range this season but such was his impact on the team that when he returned to his parent club it was obvious we needed to find an able replacement. In the Championship, you need to earn the right to play by imposing yourself in midfield. Teams who concede the midfield area rarely win games.
The defence is now porous, conceding an averaging of over 2 goals per game. By getting over excited about JCS' performances last season, the club lost focus on how injury prone he is and didn't seek cover. As a result, we're now having to play Dunne in JCS' position, a move which simultaneously weakens both central defence and the right-back spot Jimmy's vacating. Today Marti tried to paper over the cracks by switching to a back 3 but sadly Fox was very rusty and turned in arguably his worst performance in blue and white hoops.
The most concerning aspect for me is the current lack of options in the squad to address these problems. Our short-term hopes rest on the return of Messrs Clarke-Salter and Colback. Both need to return to action asap, hit the ground running, stay fit and avoid suspensions, at least until January. That's a big ask. |
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Reply | Our Pomp and Ceremony - Match thread vs PFC
at 17:42 19 Oct 2024
My that was poor.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. We've no midfield. Worse still, I can't see how we're going to remedy it until January. Colback aside, there are precious few options. |
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Reply | Matt Smith
at 00:27 19 Oct 2024
How unimaginably sad. My heart goes out to both Matt and Liam, and their respective families. May their sons rest in peace. |
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Reply | LFW Message Board Glossary
at 13:01 14 Oct 2024
The owners are bankrolling the club to the tune of £10 million a month. *
* with a million added on every 6 months.
Standard response to any thread regarding the board, FFP or transfer dealings. |
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Reply | Eze not in the England squad
at 20:40 11 Oct 2024
Look I love Eze as much as the next QPR supporter but currently he isn't as good as Bellingham, Foden, or Palmer. It's unfortunate but there's some serious competition in his position. |
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Reply | Hoopsa Interviews Isaac Hayden
at 20:35 11 Oct 2024
QPR wouldn't be spending £50k a week on Hayden as he'd be on loan and Newcastle would be paying the lions share of his wages. Either that or Newcastle settle Isaac's contract and he joins on Championship wages. [Post edited 11 Oct 20:36]
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Reply | England v Greece
at 20:26 11 Oct 2024
The "glorified friendlies" line boils my piss. It's up there with "it's the taking part that counts". I'll wager that many saw the World Cup as inconsequential when it first began but now it's one the greatest and coveted tournaments on earth. All competitions should be taken seriously in order to build a winning mentality. Little wonder England have won nothing for 58 years. |
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Reply | Iniesta Retires
at 01:49 9 Oct 2024
An absolute joy to watch. His spectacular stoppage-time equaliser to knock Chelsea out of the 2009 Champions League semi-final was a particular highlight for me. |
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Reply | Gallen Speaks
at 17:02 8 Oct 2024
Funny that, I remember him giving Marti credit when it was due. Maybe you just saw the critical interviews. In any event, whilst balance is important, I wouldn't describe last season as "going well". We were walking a tightrope right up until the Leeds result. That's not Marti's fault because he was given a mountain to climb but it's difficult for any fan to feel positive when the team spends the majority of the season in and around the bottom 3. |
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Reply | What’s wrong?
at 16:02 8 Oct 2024
In this system he's an inverted right winger. Champagne socialist if you will.  [Post edited 8 Oct 16:03]
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Reply | Gallen Speaks
at 15:58 8 Oct 2024
Kevin and his family love QPR to bits. He's just telling it as it is. Given the current form and poor performances of the summer signings (Nardi aside), it's hard to argue against.
Pretending everything is rosy just to curry favour with certain fans who don't like a bit of constructive criticism. Now that would be weird, delusional even. |
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Reply | What are we trying to do?
at 22:52 6 Oct 2024
The players look like they don't know, so I'll be damned if I can figure it out. Whatever it is, it's bringing more problems than solutions, and needs to change. [Post edited 6 Oct 22:52]
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Reply | Paul Smyth
at 22:49 6 Oct 2024
Add to that list:
Powder puff midfield
JCS' fitness
Lack of options when key players are missing
All are more pressing matters than Smyth, who at least tries, gets into decent positions, and offers some defensive protection. He just needs to work on his end product. |
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Reply | Tactical approach
at 10:50 3 Oct 2024
He can by reverting Jimmy to RB and being a little more pragmatic so we're at least difficult to beat.
What you don't do when you have an average squad including a clutch of new signings that "have NOT improved last season's starting eleven" is ask them to start playing out from the back.
It's the Championship and we're not Man City. |
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Reply | Hevertton Santos
at 01:02 2 Oct 2024
One for the next Fans Forum, me thinks. |
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Reply | Madsen
at 00:59 2 Oct 2024
What's interesting is he prefers playing as an number 8 but previous clubs tended to utilise him as a 10. Either way, he's definitely not a DM, and the system doesn't suit him or some of his teammates. |
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Reply | Tactical approach
at 00:48 2 Oct 2024
If the players aren't capable of executing the tactics, then the tactics are wrong.
Marti needs to revert to what worked last season. [Post edited 2 Oct 1:03]
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| | Benny_the_Ball
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