The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery 20:10 - Apr 20 with 3346 views | numptydumpty | Obviously Marti gets massive plaudits for an Incredible turn around at the club But having Cook and Clarke-Salter at the back, in some games, like today, you feel the clean sheet is never in doubt. Clarke Salter always seems to take the right option and he also has some class to his gme also. Cook has been a fantastic leader and the two of them have been able to marshal.our defence with skill and belief Cook has used all.of his experience and is a very decent centre back at this level after a few years managing well in the premier league Clarke Salter would be at a level higher than he represents at QPR if he had not so far, had an injury ravaged career But there is a confidence about this pairing and also they both complement each other's styles Along with Dunne emerging as a decent right back, I think this solidity and calmness at the back has been massive Well done our centre backs... [Post edited 20 Apr 20:11]
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The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 20:13 - Apr 20 with 3297 views | Benny_the_Ball | Getting them and keeping them fit has been key so a huge shout out to the medical and fitness staff too. | ![](/images/avatars/18320.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 20:16 - Apr 20 with 3271 views | LongsufferingR | Absolutely. JCS was simply outstanding today. | ![](/images/avatars/19217.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 20:24 - Apr 20 with 3232 views | Toast_R | JCS possibly our next big sellable asset thanks to Marti and his team at QPR. He's been brilliant this season with a grown up in Cook beside him. Even played on through an injury today where last season he'd have be down the tunnel double quick. | ![](/images/avatars/1554.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 20:32 - Apr 20 with 3160 views | queensparker | 100% It’s been a long long time since we had a good defence (Richard Dunne season?) and they’re the guys that have kept us up, alongside Field/Hayden in midfield. Both outstanding again today, as was Irish Cafu | ![](/images/avatars/1909.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 20:36 - Apr 20 with 3101 views | Watford_Ranger | I love Cook. He’s exactly the sort of footballer I tried and totally failed to be. But Clarke-Salter was outstanding. I can’t remember going from thinking so little of a player to rating them so highly. Hope he gets his big/lucrative move. If he stays fit he’s good enough. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 20:37 - Apr 20 with 3097 views | Pdog | JCS had some serious pedigree playing for all England age groups and captaining U21's, just fell away a bit through injuries / loan moves etc. He really stepped up this season, pace may be an issue at the top level but as mentioned he's now a serious sellable asset entering his prime yrs | ![](/images/avatars/32449.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 21:05 - Apr 20 with 2927 views | Toast_R | Wonder if he regrets not signing for Coventry though? | ![](/images/avatars/1554.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 22:31 - Apr 20 with 2707 views | MrSheen | Kudos to the fitness team for getting a geezer and a crock out so often. | ![](/images/avatars/1288.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) | Login to get fewer ads
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 22:37 - Apr 20 with 2658 views | LazyFan | Marti has everyone behind the ball with two banks of four. Similar to Holloway back in the day. They let the oppo have the ball and then put everyone behind it. If the oppo pishes about, then they press them to win it high up the pitch. This prevents gaps between midfield and defence from being exposed all the time. This shored up the defence enough to get clean sheets and then it's all about squeezing out a goal or two. Next season he needs to fix the attack; we need two new wingers (replacements for Chair and Willock) and a new forward, as he will defo ship Dykes out. Then we need a creative AMC as well. We won't sign Hodge unless he's super cheap as he's no better than EDB, who is a good prospect anyway. Hayden will be too expensive and we already have Field and Colback for that position. | ![](/images/avatars/1596.gif) |
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The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 22:47 - Apr 20 with 2596 views | gazza1 | The two CB's have been key to our recovery but so have a few of the defensive players.....we look far more comfortable with the system that we are playing....fair play to MC, | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 22:56 - Apr 20 with 2547 views | baz_qpr |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 22:47 - Apr 20 by gazza1 | The two CB's have been key to our recovery but so have a few of the defensive players.....we look far more comfortable with the system that we are playing....fair play to MC, |
We have a number of players defensively that read the game so well, both CB's and Field in particularly which means they dont need to be lightening as they are already 2 paces ahead in their positioning. If only it was the same with the attackers | ![](/images/avatars/1533.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 23:00 - Apr 20 with 2509 views | JamesB1979 | Got to give credit to Field too and Dunne. The 4 of them have been immense. But JCS for his quality but also his drive to keep a clean sheet. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 23:15 - Apr 20 with 2436 views | paulparker | I would also add ditching Kakay has been instrumental, Dunne at right back has been a revelation | ![](/images/avatars/8151.gif) |
| And Bowles is onside, Swinburne has come rushing out of his goal , what can Bowles do here , onto the left foot no, on to the right foot
That’s there that’s two, and that’s Bowles
Brian Moore
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The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 23:21 - Apr 20 with 2403 views | ParkRoyalR |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 23:15 - Apr 20 by paulparker | I would also add ditching Kakay has been instrumental, Dunne at right back has been a revelation |
Removing Dozzell from the defensive midfield role meant our CB’s have had an excellent defensive screen 2nd half of the season, this has been key. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 23:22 - Apr 20 with 2394 views | Beckenhamhoop |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 23:15 - Apr 20 by paulparker | I would also add ditching Kakay has been instrumental, Dunne at right back has been a revelation |
I don’t think Cannon was much better than Kakay. Dreadful at corners due to a lack of height which Dunne solved and he offered next to nothing going forward which even Kakay did at times. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 00:00 - Apr 21 with 2292 views | stainrods_elbow |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 20:36 - Apr 20 by Watford_Ranger | I love Cook. He’s exactly the sort of footballer I tried and totally failed to be. But Clarke-Salter was outstanding. I can’t remember going from thinking so little of a player to rating them so highly. Hope he gets his big/lucrative move. If he stays fit he’s good enough. |
Really? I hope he stays (with Cook), having realised he/we can go places with Cifuentes, and helps take us up. | ![](/images/avatars/24775.gif) |
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The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 00:42 - Apr 21 with 2233 views | golborne | Glasssalter, on a free ticket, who signed him We have to gamble with these signings, but all solid investors do it for the long term. We probably have one of the best centre halves in the division, top 3 without doubt. It was worth the wait, and for him I hope it continues. He can play at a higher level, so if not with us it’ll be one of the many building blocks that well run club down the road had to go through. From the stands you can see he’s a good lad which will make it much less hurtful if we don’t progress next year and he’s sold. Bloody Les Ferdinand…what were you thinking of | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 03:05 - Apr 21 with 2116 views | strikerace | The big different Marti has made is on the defensive side of things. He has put the players in the proper positions, and added size in the middle of the pitch. Its not rocket science but common sense, and it makes you think what was GA doing? | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 06:14 - Apr 21 with 1980 views | SherryHoop | Cook was just the right kind of signing we needed and you could tell from when he first arrived. A leader on the pitch, good on the ball, brave, experienced. I thought that injuries would be his only problem for us. He has, however put together a great run of consecutive performances and consistently good performances that would have him as my POTY. JCS has been brilliant since staying injury free and getting a run of games. I love the way he reads the game and uses his body to shield the ball. Again...good distribution and generally a great attitude. I am sure Cook's influence on him has been important. Totally agree with OP that our CBs are massive reason why we have recovered. The Dunne to RB has also been the discovery/ managerial masterstroke of the season. Has sorted out our defence from set pieces, added threat to attack in the box and surprisingly good on the ball.. Before that we were hemorrhaging goals. Kakay was meant to be replaced by Cannon and I think he could be OK in certain formations and in the squad but came into a mess and wasn't the solution. Paal has put in a lot of work and has been consistent. I think he has been OK. Defensively he can be exposed but is mostly trustworthy, has a good attitude, occasionally crosses well and links nicely with Chair. I would like more end product going forward. Set pieces weren't great. Field the Shield, removing Dozzell and Kayay, Colbeck's industry when available and adding Hayden for the run in were all massive helpful in the defence too. Marti has made us hard to beat with a much tougher and more competitive attitude. Hopefully he can add some quality in attack as that will also really ease the pressure on the defence. When you score so few goals all defensive errors are highlighted. [Post edited 21 Apr 6:18]
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The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 07:43 - Apr 21 with 1853 views | Esox_Lucius | It appears to have gone unnoticed just how much good defensive work was done by Chair and Dykes yesterday. | ![](/images/avatars/9990.gif) |
| The grass is always greener. |
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The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 08:13 - Apr 21 with 1806 views | ParkRoyalR |
The centre back pairing has been huge in our Recovery on 07:43 - Apr 21 by Esox_Lucius | It appears to have gone unnoticed just how much good defensive work was done by Chair and Dykes yesterday. |
Yes, and noticeable Willock was’nt, Dunne pulled him a few times and then Sam properly gave it to him, really Captaincy stuff I saw in that moment, you been told twice now, you’re still not doing it and gave him both barrels, Sam wasn’t giving up those points yesterday. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
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