Holmes_and_Watson

Fraser gets a shot away, but straight at the 'keeper at a good height for him.

May not better, but more of it, which is what counts. 57% to 43%

Got 2 defenders in the wrong position, moved a step and put it past the 'keeper. A poor one to concede, and we've seen more than a few for comparison.

Oh for heaven's sake.

Breath

No, that can't be right. Because, if that were the case it would be utter madness to continue to do exactly the same thing every match, and that's something I know our manag...oh... 🙂

Excellent performance from QPR. They worked very hard right from the start, to close down Leeds' preferred passing options from the back. Where we are very comfortable creating passing angles, Leeds a bit less so. So, they were doing a lot of straight passes from deep, to break the QPR line. Practically none of them came off. With Chair running things, QPR had a match winner on the park. He was key to a lot of their efforts. It would be nice to have a player capable of that. Early impact Fraser was about as close as we got. That opening spell did for a lot of Leeds' efforts. They couldn't match the work rate. Gnonto was huffing about after that, and Summerville kept very quiet. Leeds also tried to get a lot of the ball to Firpo. I remember one right across to where Banford would be on the end of it. Except, he was injured and sitting in the stand. The rest of the time QPR were very switched on to this tactic, and watched and marshalled (not Scott, obviously) the runners really well. Leeds folded in set pieces in the second half too. They left plenty of space to straightforward crosses, that were both guided in well. Simple, after a lot of work in the training ground. If it wasn't for the fact we'll do what we always set up to do, there would be things we could learn ahead of our match against them. 🙂

Alive

Hang on...hard to type through the tears...bzzt...phone wet.... shorting...frzzt...out...Jurgen!...

I thought we were doing okay after those first four games. A bit disjointed, but nothing I wasn't expecting considering the massive squad being trimmed down while keeping everyone focused, and implementing a new system. As we got through those, and past the transfer window closing, I was expecting things to continue to improve. September was a bit of a shock. 🙂 It turned out that it was the ability of JWP that prevented the system falling apart (see also Downes), and the direct attacking of Tella that gave us some drive in the final third. So, some discussion to be had that it's the players getting us over the line, despite the system. Against the system giving us an overall advantage, if we can get players of a certain standard to work in it.

While absolutely correct, I think this sells Jugen short. As mankind expands into the stars, colonises new worlds and sets up new football leagues, it's safe to say that Jurgen will be the greatest person in the future of humanity (and our new alien chums) too. His documentary should be projected, on a loop, onto the moons of our, and all, of the world's we reach.

One of my favourite Marley songs. 🙂

Dry

Gun

Poster

RM snippets... For a long time in the game, I thought we were really good. Broke through their press a lot. Pressed well. Stole the ball off them. Comes to nothing if we're 4 v 4 around their box, and we're not ruthless and they are. Conceding the second goal is difficult, but it can't descend into what it descended into after that. It's madness. So in the game at 1-0 (did think it was both offside and a foul, but not blaming the 5-0 on it). Started the second half really well. Our moments don't come to enough and we defend pathetically after we go 2 goals down. First half was high level, very tactical. I thought both teams pressed well. Both teams struggled to get a real flow with the ball. 2 aggressive teams without the ball. .2nd half, it was a lovely energy we started with causing them some real problems. 2nd goal takes the sting out of it. Need to regroup but didn't. After that we go into self preservation mode, individually. It's the worst thing you can do in football, to try and protect yourself. To feel as though you're just doing enough in your bit, rather than help your team mate. And I don't like that trait in my team one bit today. And that really hurts. In rectifying it, Martin said they'd approach it like they always do, win, lose or draw. We'll show them the brilliant build up play they did. But it's pointless if you don't make the most of it. We broke their press so many times. Che came and took the ball which was fantastic. The players who want to fight, care the most, and who want to run the most will play.

Oh that's easy. The players RM watches on videos of Barcelona and Manchester City. The ones just like them, brought in on SR's policy of them being under 10, wanting a tiny wage and giving up any natural talent to retain possession, before being sold on for a profit. Those players.

Don't worry. It won't be for long. 🙂

That was a lesson in just how far we've come under Martin. Outclassed by a much better organised, capable side. Absolute insistence in playing a system, where we don't have players capable of being effective in it. Leicester looked expansive, strong and capable. They were happy to use their possession effectively. We tried and failed to do what we always do, and had no answers. We have games with effective spells, only to fail to manage them and drop points. Then there are games like this where the system fails, and we don't have anything else. Two of our three starting midfielders out, and the one who can actually pass a ball, in Smallbone dropped so that we can play someone out of position there. You can see, even after this time, players unable to play a natural game, but also unable to do anything within the instructions they are given. The players who are there, haven't been coached to bring the best out of them, in the tactic. Even to perform a set role in it, would be an improvement. RM doesn't help himself even more, by switching fullbacks. Or in playing Rothwell and Brooks from the start. Both of whom have already been shown to weaken his own system. Add that to McCarthy who isn't as good at distributing the ball and it had disaster written all over it.

A nothing run from Edozie.

Stephens with a lame chip. Oddly, right in the only position Rothwell has done well in. He'd would have scored.

Edozie fails to get it across. They are on a counter, because our system over commits. Although tonight, with no midfield, it's even easier for them.

Vardy has been taking up excellent positions all night. They pass right through us and he, unlike anyone we have, is clinical.

Well, if you're going to allow them to walk the ball into shooting positions...

Possibly our best chance, but Edozie offside again. No telling final ball from him.