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Reply | QPR only discussion - English fans vs American fans
at 22:14 9 Sep 2024
A very interesting discussion. If I could broaden it out to include all non attending fans rather than just American. I have supporting QPR since 1975 and I have seen them THREE times competitively and TWO friendlies (both against Athlone) in the intervening years. The first time was at home to Oldham in 2004(?) in the third tier. A one all draw, pretty bereft of atmosphere, quite toxic actually, considering we were in the family enclosure.
Second occasion is my favourite of the three, away to Bristol City, also a 1-1 draw. Dowie in charge, Ledesma got sent off. But the atmosphere second half was pretty special as we chanted not stop, to get them over the line.
Third time was at Anfield during our most recent relegation year. Lost 3-1, Gerrard missed a penalty. Atmosphere was unsurprisingly muted, considering how shite we were. Gallows humour chant 'We're going down we don't give a fook, we're QPR we'll come back up'.
In the beginning I listened for the results on 5Live on a Saturday afternoon at half-time and full time (James Alexander Gordon). Then the highlights on MotD or the Big Match. In those days (12/13 years old) my mood was dominated by results. I remember being beat 5-1 by Everton early '76/'77 and nobody could talk to me. FA Cup final replay watched in a pub in Sligo town, I was disconsolate (and very drunk) at the end. Nearly got thrown out several times, except my attractive girlfriend was able to plamas the barman. Fast forward to 1986, League Cup S/F another pub, Galway this time, surrounded by Liverpool fans, screaming triumphantly (wouldn't get out alive nowadays) at the TV. Kicked out (no attractive g/f).
Then I worked abroad and fell in love (no necessarily in that order) and had kids and for several years QPR took a back seat, was aware of results, but far too busy with life to be anything like as invested as I had been.
Nowadays,( as recently as last Friday night v Luton )I scream and roar in equal part disgust /delight at our performances. My family have long since stopped worrying about the strange noises emanating from the room, but the next generations boy/girfriends can become quite concerned - they'll learn if they stick around long enough.
But you only have to read any of Clive's reports (the Luton one is a classic) to know my QPR experience is nothing like his. I would argue that few of the even most regular atendees to LR or away games are as invested as he is. But for everyone living in the vicinity their experience is different than mine. And often it is not just QPR related. I don't hate Chelsea for instance - why should I, they are over 500 miles away (I hate Mayo, but that's a different matter) I don't hate Luton or Reading, My only association with Luton is the airport which I have used twice to visit my aunt in Windsor.
So, while I am as passionate and as informed as any fan, there is no comparison to my QPR experience and that of anyone attending regularly or living locally. And I am in awe of anyone travelling to Sunderland (or any long distance match) mid-week. As we saw during Covid (by their absence), fans attending matches are the lifeblood of the club, The rest of us continue to scream manically from the armchair. |
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Reply | Twice in a week – Report
at 11:46 4 Sep 2024
Clive has explained the rationale behind his ratings on more than one occasion. If I remember it correctly, it is as much to do with the collective team effort as about individuals. So grades are given in the context of how the overall team performs over 90 minutes. But really the fixation with grades is unnecessarily. At the end of the day, it is one man's (albeit experienced) opinion and takes up a tiny fragment of his 2 ,3 (5?) thousand word report |
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Reply | First film you ever see at the cinema/pictures.
at 09:50 4 Sep 2024
Great story Pat. We had two cars bringing up to 30 lads to matches - seatbelts what seatbelts!
Back on topic, we had a traveling cinema come to our village in the 60's and early 70's so must have gone to that, but don't recall. Was brought to see 'King Lear' in Tubbercurry for my Inter Cert in '79, but first proper 'filum' that I saw was 'Grease in '78 in Ballina (Mayo version) |
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Reply | Jimmy Dunne - undroppable
at 20:02 3 Sep 2024
We are a fickle enough bunch though and football is very fluid. If he had been sold last January, the reaction would have been similar to Armstrong/Dykes |
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Reply | Jimmy Dunne - undroppable
at 23:00 1 Sep 2024
I think another factor why Dunne may be replaced at RB after the international break, is that he is no longer required as an 'outball' for Begovic to chip it to. Marti is clearly determined to play out from the back (luckily he still remains pragmatic enough to abandon it when we went one down on Friday night and Luton were pushing right up on us) on the deck and clearly the Newcastle loanee is the man he wants to assist with that.
I think that Marti intended Santos to fulfill that role from the start, but doesn't deem him ready yet. A lot depends on who plays on the right wing. I know Smyth frustrates a lot of people on here attacking wise, but defensively he was immense on Friday night and stopped Doughty in his tracks on several occasions |
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Thread | Final squad
at 14:53 31 Aug 2024
Whatever the debate on players in the final year of their contracts, this is a pretty strong squad until New Year anyway. Top half should be achievable |
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Reply | Paal
at 20:37 28 Aug 2024
Of much more of a concern than his form is the fact that his (and Dunne's) contract will expire next summer and both could leave for free. This is not sustainable and not in keeping with our alleged model. After Armstrong's sale, Marti said it was important that the club was in charge of outgoing transfers and not the players. We can't afford to cherry pick who we move on in the final year of their contract and who we don't. Just because a player is a regular starter and popular doesn't mean he should be treated differently than a player who is deemed 'dispensable'
I think we have made a bit of a botch of both full-back positions. Paal was supposed to be moved on and replaced by (a) the Italian lad and (B) Beck. We missed out on both and sent our reserve out on loan for the season - I wonder can he be called back at any time?
Likewise, at RB, we don't seem to have done due diligence on Cannon and Santos (while improved) seems more comfortable at Wing Back which is not the formation we usually use. So it seems we are 'stuck' with 2 full backs who are in the final year of their respective contracts. Both are solid full-backs in the short term, but as I have already said we are supposed to be moving on players in the final year of their contract rather losing them for free. |
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Reply | Dykes sold apparently
at 20:20 28 Aug 2024
No we don't . We are (at best) a mid-table 2nd tier club. We cannot justify having 3 strikers when we only use 1 up front. We have more pressing concerns in defence, where both our regular full-backs are out of contract next summer. We cannot afford to let players run down their contracts and leave for free. |
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Reply | The Sad Hatters League Cup thread sponsored by Numptydumpty
at 22:14 27 Aug 2024
Brilliant to get through and some much improved individual performances. The more often they play and train together the better they will get. At less one more game for Walsh too which is important for his development. Avoid defeat on Friday night, settled squad after window closes and then two weeks with Marti on the training ground. Hopefully September we'll really start to get a few wins |
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Reply | Dykes sold apparently
at 13:22 27 Aug 2024
I agree. It's kind of ironic than when we are in the hunt for a striker , they are such a precious commodity and yet when we have an established Championship (don't tell me he is not Championship standard after the quality of his goal v Sheff Utd) and International (doesn't matter what country) striker then he is not worth at least 2m. Bargain for Brum IMO. I was disappointed with the sale of Armstrong, but accepted 2.5 m was a good deal for an unproven striker. But 1m for Dykes is really poor. If he was in the final year fair enough but he's not. |
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Reply | Rest of the Championship thread
at 23:04 25 Aug 2024
It's competitive because the overall standard is poor and most teams are much of a muchness. It's dire due to the high quantity of mis-placed passes, mis-controlled balls, poor decision making and lack of composure in front of goal.
Playing out from the back either 'works' because there is no pressure on the team coming out, or fails because there is, there is rarely evidence of a team playing out from the back, breaking a high press and creating a genuine attacking opportunity.
I rarely watch any Championship games not involving us and even then become frustrated with the lack of quality on show |
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Reply | Smyth
at 17:49 25 Aug 2024
Funny how you can watch the same game and have a different viewpoint. I thought he was excellent yesterday, best player after Dembele and Frey. Unfortunately all three of them became less influential as time went on, when you would be hoping that Plymouth would have been starting to tire. |
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Reply | Smyth
at 16:32 25 Aug 2024
Did Dunne ever represent NI? I know he was born in Drogheda and has a couple of U21 caps for the Republic. Being close to the border he may have relations in NI and represented them at under age also, but I wasn't aware of this.
On Smyth, I just think he is the latest scapegoat. He is an honest, hard-working player, who gives his max every game. Some aspects of his game are limited; his finishing could certainly be more composed. But I would have him in the match day squad every game and would have no qualms about him when he starts. If Chair goes and Dembele plays more central I believe they can work well together. He also contributes a lot defensively, which may go unnoticed at times. |
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Reply | QPR V The Pilgrims Early Thanksgiving Stuffing Hopefully Match Thread .
at 16:18 24 Aug 2024
If Dykes is indeed on his way I can't see him being replaced. All week the debate on here was about balancing the books so it could be that Dykes is about to do that. Plus we have an array of attacking players Frey ( who was excellent today) and Celar up front, with Chair (sorely missed again) Kieta , Dembele, Smyth ( very impressive today) Anderson, Kolli (may be loaned out) and Madsen all attacking options. I am still concerned about defensive midfield (Field poor again today epitomised by poor touch leading to goal) but especially LB where Paal was given a bit of a roasting 1st half.
That said if this is our final squad
I will be happy enough as it should be enough for 10 - 14 place finish.As Mackie said before KO building blocks for a play-off push next season |
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Reply | Transfer rumours 2024
at 17:15 23 Aug 2024
I have been following the somes lively always respectful debate with great interest over the past few days and here's my tuppence worth.
First thing that's stans out for me is the obvious I suppose regardless of which side of the debate you favour and that is the passion and caring that is obvious from all posters
Second thing is I can see merits to both sides of the debate. I fully understand Clive and others frustration at the non disclosure of contract lengths and fees. When such info is obviously accessible else where (agents family members ) it seems petty and self - damaging to keep these kind of facts our of the public domain. It is not like we are going to have one up on Plymouth tomorrow because they don't know how long Varane's contract is for example.
However the other side of the argument has validity too. When I started following QPR I had no inside info into what was happening except what unfolded in front of me (usually on BBC 5 Live) on a Saturday afternoon between 3 and 4.45. And to be honest I had no interest either. I had no insight into the managers thoughts pre or post match. Transfers only became apparent when the player appeared in your kit, not speculated on for weeks or months in advance. And I certainly never got to hear if a 20 year old reserves joining a non- league club on loan. So yes I think we are probably too invested in the non- football ( money, transfers back room staff etc) affairs of the club which is a result of Social Media and the invasiveness of SKY
On the actual debate itself I believe that while we seem to be spending (some) money we don't have, there is a world of difference in signing Varane rather than Johanson and Cellar rather than Austin While these additions are untried at Championship level and therefore a gamble it is hard to imagine they would crash and burn to the extent that at the very least we would recoup what we have spent which was never going to happen with Austin or Johanson |
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Reply | 8, 10, 9....etc...
at 20:26 20 Aug 2024
Am I right in thinking that No4 was the 'cdm' back in the day and the 2 CB's were 5 and 6? |
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Reply | Transfer rumours 2024
at 18:44 20 Aug 2024
If Paal stays (even if we lose him for nothing next summer) that's probably our squad done and dusted |
| | Myke
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