Holmes_and_Watson

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Hands

Superman

He showed flashes of talent when played under Ralph. Pace and some directness (compared to how otehrs were playing/ insructed to play). But not at the stage or execution that Ralph was looking for. Which is his decision to make. The loan move worked out really well for him. When he left, no doubt a few wondered wht he'd be like with regular games. That's exactly what he got. I'd like to think that had we stayed in the Premier League, so would he. But I guess we'll not know. I'd have liked him to have stayed to help take us back up. He offers a nice, direct balance to the likes of Edozie on the other side. But we got as much as we were hoping for in the deal, hint of someone else coming in too. I thought he'd been fine for us when playing this season. His contribution certainly helped towards our good start. A deal that suits all parties, except fans who wonder how good it would hav ebeen to have his goals added to the rest of our attack for the season. We'll see how good his replacement is.

Saves me having to post "game changer". D'Oh! 🙂 His directness immedaitely on coming on turned made all the difference today. Can only look forward to not only more of that, but the others working with his capabilities and knowing the spaces they can move into, to get on the end of things/ create chances for themselves.

Everything I saw him doing, he did well today. Not bad at all for a debut performance.

There were a couple of those moments where your heart goes in your mouth as the ball is either underhit a little to the goalkeeper, or we've just invited too much pressure. He handled both very calmly. Since my heart was in my mouth, my natural reaction is that it was cleared too calmly, perhaps taking a risk, before realising that he knew what he was doing. 🙂 Yes, no doubt at some point we'll get caught doing it. But if it's very isolated, it's virtually nothing compared to all the times it starts off one of our attacks and helps keep the pressure on our opponents.

Little Mara shout out. He had the ball. COuld have run directly at their goal. There was cover there. SO, with us just in the lead, did the smart thing and goes back. Just what Martin was asking of him.

Well, we did our best to make a mess of that. Controlled passing breaks down. A lot slower in getting back. Once again, that bit too far up the park. Lucky late escape. And not for the first time. Will be looking for Martin to be addressing these thngs as we go.

Very close for the third. But it's daft that we are happy to keep possession. But then ovecommit, and allow a dangerous counter attack. If you're going to control the game, and close it down, make sure you're keeping enough back. Or at least know when an attack is going to be made to ensure that back up is there, to remove the risk. AA man of the match. Well done.

Nice movemmetn from Aribo there. Our new closeing down the game sub?

Manning better when he has that bit of extra support. Smith running him for pace, and Armstrong for strength. But has had some moments. Not a settled back line today either, with the changes.

Yeees!!!! Good again from Fraser. With him pulling the strings out left, AA realises he can take move more centrally earlier. And AA = goals, as we all know!

Fraser doign well. Already giving us that directness. Need people in there on the end of them.

They are a lot stronger than us. Just brushing off challenges.

We had spells in the first half, so expecting more of that this half. Martin will have seen how vulnerable we have been at times.

Lots of attacking play. But it's QPR who are doing a lot more than ourselves. We look weak at the back, and are leaving spaces, with the players we push forward not pinning theirs back.

nearly a second too... offside, as we allow their player to run in and get a shot away. Baz stopped it and offside for the follow up. We look a bit pants at the back. Thier Armstrong has been unlucky to be penalised for just being stronger than us.

Edozie allows the cross in...cushioned clearance to one of theirs... we don;t set up to block it... it goes right in the corner...

Great to see a final finish. Their keepr might have blocked it better, but good to see him go in and take the shot. Of course, within a minute we give it away. 😞

I'll drink to that! Out of this new mug I've got...oh, darn... 🙂

Deal

Runner

So far AA offers more in a different position. He can still get lots of appearances while Che/Che replacement plays up front.

I think a new contract wasn't agreed when we were in the division above, when he was still on prem league wages. So, he's more likely to want to get back to at least that, and possibly more, with his new club. A lower fee, as he's in his final year, could boost those wages further. SR 's policy has been to lower the wage bill and offering such a deal would go against that. It's a policy they stick with, even as they brought in players last window in desperation, that may cost us more overall. The minute the others hear about it, they'll all wonder why they can't renegotiate their contracts to offset the 40% drop penalty. That might impact performances. So, while it's no bad thing to have such flexible options in mind, J can see reasons why neither side would want it, on this occasion.