I know it has been mentioned already, but didn't Anderson look good in his brief cameo.
His off the ball attributes are absolutely brilliant. Even his technical ability seems good, really think its decision making for him that's the issue at the moment. Think a League 2 loan would do wonders
It's a tricky one with Anderson, we need the cover but equally he needs regular games. I can see both sides of the argument. If we added another Midfielder I would be tempted with a League 2 loan for him
I know it has been mentioned already, but didn't Anderson look good in his brief cameo.
He looked like the Anderson I thought we had when he first came on the scene. Apart from one foul I don't think he did anything wrong and looked composed in possession. Long may it continue.
We desperately need to start converting our chances.
This.
Should have beaten Reading last week & should have at least taken tonight into extra time. Reason why we dudnt do either.....lack of a finisher.
Year after year we sign useless ineffective strikers. We (son & I) were going over past strikers before the game. From Josh Parker, Hemed, Ajose, Varney, McLeod, Church, etc etc. And then when we finally sign someone decent (who even wins the golden boot in a team that finished 16th) we sell him the following season.
We now seem to be finally creating chances only to find we haven't got a striker to finish them off.
Ahadme isnt the player we need. Sell him & buy a finisher / poacher.
Won't get one in January Golfie, it'll be another dud like the ones that you've mentioned. It'll be the summer now before we can get a decent striker IF they decide to splash the cash though I won't hold my breath.
One thing that I dont think has been mentioned, but was complimentary towards young Zach Mitchell getting on the pitch, when he replaced Alex Mitchell - In most circumstances you'd have thought that REG would have been the obvious replacement.
Zach didnt look out of place either against Championship opposition which is further credit to him, given that a year ago he couldnt even get on the bench for a struggling Colchester side in League Two
One thing that I dont think has been mentioned, but was complimentary towards young Zach Mitchell getting on the pitch, when he replaced Alex Mitchell - In most circumstances you'd have thought that REG would have been the obvious replacement.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
Could have been scripted. Joyless Club of No Excitement quietly slips out the FA Cup on Mongolian TV Channel 12 on a Tuesday night when everyone is watching the Premier League.
11 seasons since we last got to the 4th round under SCP. And we have only been in the 4th round twice in 18 seasons now, which given we didn’t start till the 3rd round in a number of those years is great going. We must be the worst FA Cup team in the country to the extent I think we might be actually be allergic to it.
However…another clear improved performance let down by two poor defensive lapses. Team play and individual performances continue to improve. I really don’t think we are far off proper clicking.
Not as bad as QPR who ’haven’t qualified for the fourth round since 2012 where they were knocked out after a Daniel Sturridge penalty was enough to win the West London Derby for Chelsea.
The defeat in the last round meant they set a record of 49 third round FA Cup defeats which is the worst third round record of any club in England. QPR have never won The FA Cup, having lost the 1982 FA Cup final in a replay to Tottenham Hotspur.’
I know I am probably on my own but although I do agree a bad pass from Mitchell, Mannion should have been stronger in the tackle or be more courageous and dive on the ball as I believe AMB would have done
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I’d have more confidence in that if it had been a progression. Instead we seem to have jumped forward in mid December, which suggests the problem was in tactics/management (accepting that the absence of Jones and fitness of Leaburn were factors).
Thought Ahadme did well but so needs a box to box midfielder to work with. Mitchell on the other hand has looked like he has a howler in him and produced 2 last night. Small and TC got us up the pitch and are improving but still trying to work out the roll of Docherty. Good team performance against a more technically proficient opposition, so credit to playing a settled side at last.
One thing that I dont think has been mentioned, but was complimentary towards young Zach Mitchell getting on the pitch, when he replaced Alex Mitchell - In most circumstances you'd have thought that REG would have been the obvious replacement.
Zach didnt look out of place either against Championship opposition which is further credit to him, given that a year ago he couldnt even get on the bench for a struggling Colchester side in League Two
I don’t read too much into him not getting in Colchester’s team. Clubs want consistency from CBs, so playing a youngster is always a gamble.
He was only there because they had Garner as manager who knew of his ability and wants ball playing defenders. Once Garner had gone he wasn’t in the new managers plans. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t/isn’t good enough.
At some point he’ll get a run and either impress or need to play at a lower level. Hopefully the former happens with us.
Konsa and Pope are great examples that young players can look unconvincing at L1/Championship level but still develop enough to play for England. I think we have a few youngsters who if things go really well could potentially get to that level. Top players don’t all burst onto the scene at 16-18 like Gomez, Shelvey or Lookman.
I know I am probably on my own but although I do agree a bad pass from Mitchell, Mannion should have been stronger in the tackle or be more courageous and dive on the ball as I believe AMB would have done
For a start if he dives on the ball, it's a booking at best and a free kick to them in our 6 yard box.
Also can we please move away from this AMB is better and has a higher ceiling than Mannion has crap.
We saw his capabilities throughout the whole of last season. He's not good enough, can't communicate and his kicking/distribution is pants.
Mannion is not the answer, but we are more defensively sound when he plays.
Pretty sure if you asked Mitchell or Jones who they prefer in goal, the answer won't be AMB.
Preston match report says we had 716 up there, an amazing turnout if true.
This was a few mins before kick off. There weren't hordes on the concourse.
That's 300'ish.
Can't see why Preston would up the figures, whatever the amount was, great turnout for a rearranged Tuesday night cup match in Preston...
Preston probably announced the number of tickets sold, including people who had not requested refunds on tickets for the original date, this probably applied to the home fans numbers as well.
Preston match report says we had 716 up there, an amazing turnout if true.
This was a few mins before kick off. There weren't hordes on the concourse.
That's 300'ish.
Can't see why Preston would up the figures, whatever the amount was, great turnout for a rearranged Tuesday night cup match in Preston...
Preston can only declare the balance of the ticket sale - original sale less refunds claimed. It’s entirely feasible that half the original purchasers who did not travel didn’t bother to claim refunds with tickets at £10 and £5 and the club not making clear publicly that you could do so without returning the physical tickets, which is the default position.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I am still glad there wasn't extra time (where on earth is much battered kid Tyreece Campbell getting his energy from?) because we work so hard in games sometimes it tires me out just watching. However I am worried about the journeying to and fro from grim up north might be knackering the players in a different kind of way.
We've improved defensively but we still have the tendency to just completely switch off
That’s something I haven’t noticed this season. Of course it’s happened a couple of times, but I’d say it’s not really a theme this season, not like it was in the past.
I just watched the highlights, and it wasn’t the best back pass by Mitchell, but Ashley might have reacted a bit quicker possibly?
We've improved defensively but we still have the tendency to just completely switch off
That’s something I haven’t noticed this season. Of course it’s happened a couple of times, but I’d say it’s not really a theme this season, not like it was in the past.
I just watched the highlights, and it wasn’t the best back pass by Mitchell, but Ashley might have reacted a bit quicker possibly?
Agreed, he should have rushed out of the dugout to clear the ball
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
Comments
However, that was about the best I have seen us play in about a decade.
It's the hope that breaks you.
Zach didnt look out of place either against Championship opposition which is further credit to him, given that a year ago he couldnt even get on the bench for a struggling Colchester side in League Two
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
The defeat in the last round meant they set a record of 49 third round FA Cup defeats which is the worst third round record of any club in England. QPR have never won The FA Cup, having lost the 1982 FA Cup final in a replay to Tottenham Hotspur.’
https://halftimecuppa.com/2018/01/30/queens-park-rangers-and-the-fa-cup-a-history-of-heartbreak/
Mitchell on the other hand has looked like he has a howler in him and produced 2 last night.
Small and TC got us up the pitch and are improving but still trying to work out the roll of Docherty.
Good team performance against a more technically proficient opposition, so credit to playing a settled side at last.
He was only there because they had Garner as manager who knew of his ability and wants ball playing defenders. Once Garner had gone he wasn’t in the new managers plans. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t/isn’t good enough.
At some point he’ll get a run and either impress or need to play at a lower level. Hopefully the former happens with us.
Konsa and Pope are great examples that young players can look unconvincing at L1/Championship level but still develop enough to play for England. I think we have a few youngsters who if things go really well could potentially get to that level. Top players don’t all burst onto the scene at 16-18 like Gomez, Shelvey or Lookman.
That's 300'ish.
Also can we please move away from this AMB is better and has a higher ceiling than Mannion has crap.
We saw his capabilities throughout the whole of last season. He's not good enough, can't communicate and his kicking/distribution is pants.
Mannion is not the answer, but we are more defensively sound when he plays.
Pretty sure if you asked Mitchell or Jones who they prefer in goal, the answer won't be AMB.
However I am worried about the journeying to and fro from grim up north might be knackering the players in a different kind of way.
I get the point ok Elfs...🤦♂️
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.