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Goodness Knows Which Rangers Will Turn Up On Saturday - Notes for Queens Park Rangers
Friday, 19th Oct 2018 12:00 by HarryFromBath

HarryFromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Portman Road by delving into their forums.

“This is a season so far which has lurched from moments of great hope to ones of deep concern and despair”, “At times we have looked quite good playing some nice passing football, but at others not so much”, “We are riding our luck and beating poor teams by being slightly less poor than them.”

QPR head to Suffolk sitting 18th in the table and five points ahead of Town and many Hoops would accept that they have had a Jekyll and Hyde start to their campaign. Wins over struggling teams like Reading and Millwall have been mixed with very poor defeats at Swansea and notably West Brom.

“The gap between our best and worst performances is vast and they often come within days of each other. The decent Derby display was absolutely unrecognisable from the nonsense at Swansea seven days earlier”, “We need to show that consistency where we can string a few good results together.”

“Big wins for Preston, Millwall and Ipswich this weekend condensed the table.” Most Hoops believe that they have enough quality in their squad to stay up this season, but the inability to strengthen in the January window due to FFP restrictions has left them nervous about players picking up injuries.

“It’s good to see that there are worse teams than us”, “We’re probably in for a similar season as last year. We are better than five or six teams in this division and we have more than enough to stay up”, “We can see why good teams turn us over. We just need to keep beating the woeful ones below us.”

“We need to be realistic about what this team can achieve. We’re not a strong team but are capable of good displays if we click”, “Let’s be honest. If we play half-decent, just like we did in our last game against Derby, we will finish in the top half. Steady the ship and then go for it when we are ready.”

Steve McClaren

“I’m not calling for McClaren’s head. Who in their right mind would want this gig?”, “He’s a calmer and more professional coach than Holloway. His transfers have been pretty sound and he deserves more time, but every time he opens his mouth after a defeat he simply frightens the life out of me.”

The 57-year-old one-time England manager replaced Ian Holloway in May. He took the approach of making the side hard to beat after they conceded 13 goals in their first four league games. Hoops feel that this has blunted their cutting edge with the team now the joint-lowest scorers in the division.

“McClaren was not keen on signing players from lower leagues because he didn’t know much about them. Instead he has relied on experience which we needed, so it was a sensible move”, “I don’t see us looking for lower league or U23 players to develop for the first team with McClaren in charge.”

“McClaren hasn’t done his homework well enough. I don’t feel he knows the players’ strengths and weaknesses all that well. He has made some quick assessments based on watching limited action in a short space of time and stuck with them. Some players he clearly fancies and some he doesn’t.”

Fans feel that his attempts to play the two recently arrived loan strikers Tomer Hemed and Nahki Wells in a 4-4-2 shape unbalanced the team. “If he did his homework, he would know that a three-man midfield plays to our strengths. We have passing options and quick turnovers in possession.”

A Lack of Goals and a Lack of Width

“We are told that McClaren is a good coach. The coming months will show if that is right”, “He sets us up not to lose by too many rather than having a go from the outset and trying to win”, “His time here started with an odd insistence on playing two strikers, no wingers and full-backs who can’t run.”

“Now McClaren, don’t mess with this formation. We are better defensively and possession-wise with one up front. Can you not see that?”, “Our best performance this season came in the 4-2-3-1 set-up, without Hemed, at Millwall”, “This system suits us for now, nothing wrong with the side’s balance.”

“The biggest worry in our defeats is not the formation or shoehorning players. It’s the total collapse once things don’t go our way. We gave up and waved the white flag in the 7-1 defeat at West Brom, and just never looked like we had the belief to get back in the game after going behind at Swansea.”

LumleyRangelLeistnerLynchBidwellCameronLuongoCousinsEzeFreemanWells

Hoops liked the balance of the team (above) which started in the home draw with Frank Lampard’s Derby just before the international break. Keeper Joe Lumley has impressed in his first full season in the side, and McClaren’s defensive quartet have prioritised keeping shape and remaining solid.

“Joel Lynch and Toni Leistner have formed a pretty good centre-back partnership that is improving with every game. Angel Rangel and Jake Bidwell are similarly solid out wide. Steve has abandoned the idea of playing out from the back as he simply doesn’t have the defenders to play in that style.”

“We are deeper than the Titanic here”, “We have a defence which is begging to look as if it knows what it’s doing. It is more solid but it is slow and can be turned”, “It’s good that we are keeping clean sheets and it’s partly because we sit so deep, but it’s also why we are really struggling for goals.”

“The centre-backs look settled with Geoff Cameron in front of them.” The central midfield trio of Cameron holding, Massimo Luongo moving between the boxes and Eberechi Eze as a playmaker is finding its rhythm. “Our possession play against Derby is better than I have seen for a few seasons.”

“We look good enough to be fair. Compact lines, good back-up shape and work-rate, but creating nothing on the wings where Luke Freeman and Jordan Cousins are out of position”. “This formation would function better with wingers Bright Osayi-Samuel on the left and Pawel Wszolek on the right.”

McClaren’s preference for wide midfielders instead of wingers to protect the shape has affected the team’s creativity. “McClaren is trying to keep us solid but it leaves us too narrow and also limits our attacking options”, “I don’t understand our set-up with no width. It seems to be strictly forbidden.”

“Our midfield rarely plays a through ball, it doesn’t have much vision and is extremely lacklustre”, “I would work on one thing, faster and better passing. How many times have we lacked the final touch or were not good enough in the final third?”, “We are too hesitant to commit numbers on the break.”

“Goals do seem to be the issue, both in creation and finishing”, “We have trouble choosing the right ball when going forward”, “Our biggest issue now is the through ball. Far too many are played at the wrong weight. The breaking player slows down their run down to collect the ball and it kills tempo.”

“Chances are there for the taking if only we could shoot”, “At times it feels as if we could play until midnight and still not score.” Hemed is seen as a target man who will need service from out wide, while the pace, mobility and link-up play of Wells will provide a greater variety to attacking moves.

“The last two good displays have shown that we can’t accommodate both Wells and Hemed into the team at the moment. We are far more suited to a lone striker with other players bombing on behind them”, “The trick will be keeping Hemed and Wells happy, although Wells is the clear first choice.”

QPR 1 — 1 Derby

“A good match and a fair result, happy with a draw”, “An entertaining game littered with errors but lots of endeavour. We played some good football and battled away with great determination”, “If we were as competitive as this in every game I would have no worries about the rest of the season.”

Jack Marriott fired the Rams ahead on 24 after a defensive mix-up following Bradley Johnson's long ball but home fans were impressed with how their side responded. Wells hit the bar before Cameron levelled three minutes after the interval. It was QPR's ninth goal in 12 league matches this season.

“The second half was a vast improvement on what we had seen before half-time”, “A draw was fair but it almost felt like a win given how we played with urgency and fighting spirit in the second half”, “At times it was quite feisty with lots of mistimed tackles. Both sides looked for a win until the end.”

[team_2416]

The loss of left-back Jake Bidwell after 30 minutes forced McClaren to reorganise his team (above). The introduction of out-and-out winger Pawel Wszolek gave the team such a wide threat that two focal points for his crosses, Tomer Hemed (on 69) and Matt Smith (on 90+3) were introduced later.


Reading 0 — 1 QPR

“Thank God for that. A well-deserved win but Reading will drop on that show. They were absolutely awful”, “That was fully deserved. It was not the greatest game and Reading were bloody terrible, but that’s not our problem”, “Two away wins, we have got to take these when and where we can.”

“A good three points to stop the rot.” Toni Leistner won a poor game for the visitors, scrambling the winner home on 64 minutes. The manner of the goal typified a game which has little quality and few chances. “We weren’t free-flowing but we were solid, organised and in control for the whole game.”

“Why are games against Reading so bloody awful?”, “They were two very poor sides. If we were the real deal Reading would have been swept aside. The three points are great but the entertainment was next to nothing”, “Reading’s main tactic appeared to be conning penalties out of the referee.”

LumleyRangelLeistnerLynchBidwellCameronLuongoCousinsEzeFreemanWells

“Right system, right players, right result.” The starting team (above) was the same as the one which began the game against Derby the following Saturday. Their lack of attacking inventiveness was more apparent against a poor Reading side. “Still a lack of width, we have little going forward.”

Swansea 3 — 0 QPR

“Thank God that’s over. That was painful to watch”, “We just followed a humiliating League Cup loss at Blackpool with a poor performance and defeat in South Wales with supposedly rested players”, “I am not happy, not happy at all. There’s no consistency at this club. It has been this way for too long.”

“Fuming.” Courtney Baker-Richardson put the hosts ahead on 16 minutes and could have had a hat-trick as the Swans dominated the game. QPR rallied after the break before Connor Roberts on 76 and Jay Fulton on 83 both struck home to give Swansea a very comfortable first win in four matches.

“All the momentum we worked so hard to build up after a dire start to the season was killed stone dead in a week”, “It was everything we deserved and more. We were lethargic, defensively wide open, bereft of confidence and we set up in a way that didn’t suit eight of the 10 outfield players.”

LumleyRangelLeistnerBaptisteBidwellEzeCameronLuongoFreemanHemedWells

The starting line-up (above) was problematic for many Hoops. The two strikers were not supported by any creativity from two central midfielders who struggled to contain the Swansea trio, while Luke Freeman and Eberechi Eze in particular are seen as less effective when operating in wide midfield.

Goalkeepers and Defenders

“Joe Lumley is growing in confidence and assurance. That’s what happens when you give a promising young player a run of games to establish himself.” The 23-year-old youth product “spends plenty of time organising and encouraging his backline. His ball handling has been faultless in wet conditions.”

player imageJoe Lumley (Queens Park Rangers)

“I like Lumley’s size, his distribution and his placing. His shot-stopping has been great in the last few games. He’s very tall, which helps for a keeper, and his hands are like magnets no matter how hard the shot”, “His agility and reactions are fantastic. He’s consistently good with his kicks and throws.”

“Angel Rangel handled the switch to left-back creditably.” The 35-year-old ex-Swansea right-back “is a calming influence and a solid performer. He’s a total professional, not afraid to give team-mates a rocket when they make a mistake. He has so much Premier League experience. What’s not to like?”

“Rangel has tremendous defensive attributes although other full-backs are better going forward”, “He is good on the ball and offers a decent outlet on the back four. He tries to get the team going and I don’t think he has had a bad game for us”, “He has proved to be a really solid defender.”

“Nico would add something going forward.” With Jake Bidwell probably out with an ankle injury, 21-year-old ex-FC Dallas youth product Nico Hamalainen may feature on Saturday. “I hope he doesn’t play. He has a lot to learn. We are struggling to score without a novice left-back making us weaker.”

“Alex Baptiste really showed his age at Swansea.” The 32-year-old ex-Boro centre-half “is a reliable but limited League One player now”, “He does the basics better than Lynch but he’s incredibly slow and we can’t risk playing him in a back two. He needs a young centre-half alongside him if he plays.”

“I’m just happy when Joel Lynch is not a complete liability for a change.” The 30-year-old former Huddersfield centre-back “wins a lot in the air but is slow, gets caught out of position and gets rolled by strikers”, “His performances have really been mixed between the sublime and the ridiculous.”

player imageHuddersfield Town's Joel Lynch (L) in action with Wolves' Bjorn Sigurdarson

“Lynch has gone from being a terrible Championship defender to an average one”, “He’s not too bad when he concentrates on his heading, kicking and doing the basics. He wins crucial headers and has a nice forward pass, but it’s pointless trying to be a ball-playing defender if you get turned easily.”

Toni Leistner

“I have no idea what Leistner was doing for Derby’s goal. It was terrible defending.” The 28-year-old centre-back arrived in July from Union Berlin and was criticised for “letting the ball bounce” in the draw against the Rams. “He is generally solid and organises the backline effectively through games.”

“Leistner is a big ugly centre-back who will smash into people and head the ball, and that’s what he’s good at”, “He’s a calm head at the back but doesn’t have any great pace. He looked pedestrian in the West Brom defeat”, “A steady defender who handles everything in the air and coming into the box.”

Central Midfielders

“Geoff Cameron breaks up play well, screens the defence and uses the ball intelligently.” The 33-year-old loan signing from Stoke “shadows the midfield well and pops up when needed, but he has looked spent after an hour and not for the first time”, “I have grave reservations about his fitness.”

“Cameron is awful with the ball and has no legs. He drops so deep we end up isolating our forward line”, “He was been completely anonymous, barely succeeding with a single pass”, “He’s an assured player who wins the ball quickly and gets us out of trouble. He reads the game and has a presence.”

“Josh Scowen is a great ball-winner with the energy to cover for full-backs when they push forward.” The 25-year-old ex-Barnsley man “is solid and he was an effective cog in the industrial side Ollie put together. He’s fine if it’s simple a question of effort and nothing else, a tidy player who can do a job.”

player imageJosh Scowen (Queens Park Rangers) v Enda Stevens (Sheffield United)

“I have never rated Scowen as a footballer, it’s no coincidence how much slower we play with him in the side”, “He’s a limited player who slows the team’s build-up play by wanting the ball in areas that make no sense”, “He’s a decent footballer, but he’s far too sloppy with his touch and his passing.”

“Eberechi Eze returned to his favoured number 10 position against Derby.” The 20-year-old former Millwall youth product “won’t always be brilliant given his age so we have to judge him accordingly”, “He keeps asking for the ball and making space for himself. He tries things out and can turn a game.”

“It was a compliment to Eze that Derby set out to nullify him”, “He has a knack of winning fouls. He plays with his head up and spins out of the way to make space. He needs to bomb forward, he often sprints 10 yards and stops. He will move on to the next level once he realises he can beat a player.”

Massimo Luongo

“Massimo is our water carrier doing all the running and is getting better after a slow start to this season.” The 26-year-old ex-Swindon Town man and one-time Ipswich loan signing “needs a break after the training and conditioning with Australia at the World Cup”, “He’s the undroppable one.”

player imageMassimo Luongo QPR

“Let’s face it, Luongo is average”, “He has been too pedestrian. He seems to be in lead boots, jogging around and not turning back”, “He gives the ball away too cheaply, and his tackling and tracking back are poor. He’s too anonymous and needs to wake up and grab the season by the scruff of the neck.”

Wide Midfielders and Wingers

“Pawel Wszolek knows the right wing role. He will sling a cross in, track back and work hard for the team.” The 26-year-old Poland international and one-time Sampdoria man “wins 40/60s, chases lost causes and somehow bumbles past defenders. He played a smart, disciplined game against Derby.”

player imagePawel Wszolek (QPR) v Gaetano Berardi (Leeds)

“Most fans love Pawel but managers don’t”, “Some of our best performances in the last few years have been when he’s on song”, “He gives us a threat out wide with purposeful running. He piles into challenges that he used to avoid”, “He knows the basics and has to start on the right in this shape.”

“I would love to see Bright Osayi-Samuel released for 20 minutes to really give it to opponents with his pace.” The 20-year-old former Blackpool left winger “is another Plan B. He’s good as a substitute but give him a full 90 minutes and he’s frustrating”, “He’s a player with lightning pace and drive.”

“Bright is introduced to add pace and purpose to our attacking play, and he allows Eze to play more centrally”, “He terrorises full-backs with his pace, goals and threat when he’s on form”, “He never tires from a chance to drive a man in a one-on-one and either attack the byline or shoot on goal.”

“Jordan Cousins is improving and starting to show what he can do. He gamely plays wherever he’s told to play.” The 24-year-old ex-Charlton man “gives us more energy is moved to a central role but he needs to work on his crossing if he’s played in a wider role”, “He has a proper engine on him.”

“Cousins is quick and he seems tenacious. They are good qualities to have but his player awareness and distribution are so poor that he needs his strengths to compensate”, “When he switched to full-back against Derby he was dogged and determined”, “He covers an incredible amount of ground.”

Luke Freeman

“Freeman continues to appear to have absolutely no idea of where to be as a left winger.” The 26-year-old ex-Bristol City man “very desperate to be inside and he relies on his full-back to provide the width”, “He’s always on his heels and giving the ball away. I wonder at times if he’s a team player.”

player imageLuke Freeman

“For all his technical ability, Freeman has almost no vision in open play”, “He never plays a ball first time, always taking a few touches when a first-time ball is on. He hangs on to it for too long as well”, “I’m a big fan but am unsure how to use him. He’s our best player from a technical point of view.”

Strikers

“Matt Smith gives us a legitimate threat from corners.” The 29-year-old former Fulham frontman “is a giant striker with ability issues”, “He doesn’t do flick-ons, heading the ball in random directions. He’s too immobile to start games”, “He saved our bacon last season but moves around the pitch slowly.”

player imageMatt Smith (QPR) v Stephen Warnock (Wigan)

“When you see Smith and compare him to Hemed and Wells, it shows just how poor he is at holding the ball up. Nothing sticks”, “If it’s a high ball, Smith will do well and he can nick a late goal, but he is unable to tackle a player or run with the ball beside a defender if it’s played to him on the ground.”

“Bringing on Tomer Hemed and switching to a 4-4-2 leaves us outnumbered in midfield.” The 31-year-old loan signing from Brighton “is a 10-goal-a-season striker whose work rate makes up for the goals he doesn’t get”, “He’s basically a more mobile Smith who is getting little service from wingers.”

“Hemed works hard and gets into good positions but doesn’t score”, “He’s exactly the experienced broad-shouldered and intelligent back-to-goal striker we have needed since Heidar Helguson left the club”, “He works hard and gives us a focal point up front and he takes the pressure off the midfield.”

Nahki Wells

“I have a bit of a crush on Wells. I wish he converted his chances but his movement, awareness and passing skill are sublime.” The 28-year-old loan arrival from Burnley “hasn’t scored yet but he had been immense with his wider contributions”, “He has the ability to get behind opposition defences.”

player imageNahki Wells (Queens Park Rangers) v Christoph Zimmermann (Norwich City)

“Wells shows for passes and creates an option for the team”, “When he drops back and picks up the ball in midfield he’s fantastic. He sees play so quickly and his first touch and passing range are quite superb. He has shades of Alejandro Faurlin in the way he can pick the ball up and sprays it around.”

“Wells cannot win headers or feed off crosses”, “He’s a good forward but not a prolific goalscorer. He needs the ball to his feet to play off”, “He has real vision on the ball and a good football brain. His movement off the ball is clever. At times he looks like an attacking playmaker rather than a finisher.”

Hoops’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“It sounds like Ipswich players are *****ing themselves about Saturday. Lots have gone down with a virus apparently. Hopefully they are getting their excuses in early”, “Or spoofing.” Hoops have had little to say about Saturday’s game so far but they were pleased to see us finally winning at Swansea.

“Phew, the Tractor Boys won a game so there’s no need for Charity Park Rangers to come to the rescue”, “We should be looking to put Ipswich away. Then we have two home games to follow of which Aston Villa are in turmoil so I would like to think that we will be able to turn them over.”

With two tricky home games to follow in the coming week, West Londoners see this being by far the most winnable of the three. “We have to be beating Ipswich for sure. If we can take a point from six in the Sheffield Wednesday [on Tuesday] and Aston Villa [on Friday] games I'll be alright with that.”

Most are confident of picking up at least a draw, not least because of the team’s good record on the road. “Our away form is improving, with two wins from six after just three from 23 all last season”, “I am looking forward to this one. It’s funny how wound up Ipswich fans get amongst themselves.”

Websites

The superb Loft for Words is our sister site which includes great match previews and reports from the brilliant Clive Whittingham. Also just added is an interview with Harry Be Careful What You Wish For?. QPR highlights are available on the Multimedia menu as well as Ipswich Town and for the whole of the Championship and other EFL divisions.


Photo: Action Images



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LankHenners added 12:36 - Oct 19
Thanks Harry, getting a bit fed up with reading 'we should turn Ipswich over' or similar every week although it's hard to see why people say that.

As you put in your exquisitely written piece for LfW, this game and the ones that follow will see if the Swansea game was a one-off or something that will be used as a springboard following the false dawns of the spirited Villa and Brentford performances.

Hurst needs to be bold with his defensive choice and not leave us unbalanced although it sounds like there's the potential for illness and injury to force his hand which doesn't help us out at all. We made a right meal of trying (and failing) to break down a solid Bolton defence so hopefully we'll be more creative this time round with Ward, Sears/Jackson and Edwards getting to know each other better on the pitch. The worry is if we aren't then QPR will have 11 rather than 10 men on the pitch to punish us.

Have to be winning these home games against those around us - if we struggle in this run then relegation will tip from possibility to probability.
2

ericclacton added 14:26 - Oct 19
Hello Harry, I've just watched your podcast and really enjoyed it. Queue pee ahh...I would like to be confident for this game but sadly I'm not, I'm still not convinced there are goals in the squad, Sears will have chances but we all know he can't finish and we are without doubt
missing the quality of players that left during the summer. Still you never know so fingers crossed and upthetowen.
2

ArnieM added 14:55 - Oct 19
Let's hope the QPR players ( like their fans) also take us for an easy “ push over”. Do that and it's 3 points for Town no problem.
1

Uncle_Bulgaria added 19:19 - Oct 19
More than puzzled as to why QPR think they should be turning us over easily, they're almost equally as pony!!
2

Warkys_Tash added 11:05 - Oct 20
Harry great report as always - Thank you.

It always has me in tears of laughter how the away fans talk about their own woes 'Cameron is awful with the ball and has no legs. He drops so deep we end up isolating our forward line”

Let's face it, Luongo is average”, “He has been too pedestrian. He seems to be in lead boots, jogging around and not turning back”

It doesnt always pan out that way, but lets hope some of the above statements are applicable today and we can turn them over.

I believe this is already a 6 pointer!
1


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