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- May 5, 2011
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Right, said i would do a whole review when i got back so here goes. Lets start with the fact that we don't need to change what we do and we don't need a big man or anything like that. What we can't have though is 8 or 9 players off form in the same game which is basically what happened today. Even with that we still created enough to win the game and lost to a very good header imo. On to the players performance:-
Ruddy - Kicking was poor in the warm up and this carried on in to the game bar a couple of kicks. Should have collected the ball when Washington got in for the opener and will be disappointed just like he will be for when he dropped a routine ball in to the box at Washington's feet but Coady and Batth rescued him. Norris is breathing down his neck on this performance.
Batth - Was fine in the first half but really struggled in the second. Got caught out of position lots and was bullied by players he shouldn't be getting bullied by.
Coady - Clearance off the line apart another that wasn't on it, didn't get on the ball enough and wasn't able to play his passes out due to the tightness of the pitch. Struggled physically at times and it might be the case that we look to play 3 proper centre halves in games like this as we won't miss out on a lot on the ball if the right 3 play.
Miranda - Again was the better of the back 3 for the majority of the game but he really struggled with Smith. Dominated against Sylla who didn't cause him any problems but Smith did and it wasn't physically he was just on it and better in the air. Was close to him but got beat by the bigger lad and a good quality header.
Doherty - Not on it like many others. Didn't get forward well enough, poor on the ball and never really looked a threat. Got caught out a few times second half too. We need someone else to play this role effectively so it's not just one man.
Douglas - Got absolutely battered in the first half by a fist to the face and some questionable challenges but just seemed to accept it and it carried on. Again another that failed to really impose himself on the game but delivered one great cross second half that missed everyone. Had a chance in the first half but scuffed it past Smithies with his right foot and it was easily cleared
Neves - Another not on it, bottled a couple of challenges and just didn't move the ball quick enough. Personally would have taken him off and put Alfred on at 1-1.
Saiss - Like Neves he wasn't really on it and they were both at fault for the opener trying to over play. I will say he was the better of the 2 because he was involved in some of our better moments like the ball to Douglas for his chance and the ball that lead to the Jota, Bonatini link up but apart from those there wasn't much between them.
Cavaleiro - As bad as he has been for a while. Had lots of room to exploit in the first half but just didn't run at his man and insisted on crossing it straight into him time after time. Then had a great chance in the second half but didn't take the shot on and then dived to try and win a penalty which the ref rightly turned down imo.
Jota - The man is outstanding. His run for the goal was something else and he set up Bonatini with a super bit of play that should have been finished off. Also had a great chance that he hit straight at Smithies. We need to keep him fit and firing and hope others join him in those consistent high levels.
Bonatini - The only other player apart from Jota that can say he was on it. Held it up well, worked hard again and took his goal well. Should have scored a second but the ball just seemed to get a bit high on him and under pressure poked it over. Will get the 20 goals many thought he wouldn't if he carries on like this with ease.
SUBS
Costa - Someone had to come no for Cav but Costa had no impact on the game. Had one chance to drive at them and did so but then played his pass straight at the centre half when the ball to Jota was pretty easy. Struggling at the moment with confidence and needs to get it back somehow but Nuno has work to do.
Bright - I thought he did quite well when he came on. Had a great chance but tried to play Jota in when shooting was the much better option but did then set him up for his second half chance. Couple of times he beat 3 or 4 men but was either rugby tackled or crudely blocked. If he was more confident in front of goal he could be the alternative to Leo.
Marshall - No idea why he's still making the bench never mind coming on as a sub. Alfred was the better option and Ronan should definitely be in the squad ahead of him. Made zero impact apart from playing an awful pass to Bright who had taken a throw from the corner flag and so was obviously offside.
We weren't dreadful today but we weren't very good and that wasn't helped by QPR in either half. They were so bad in the first half it was impossible to play football with the ball in the air for 80% of the time and then in the second they actually played some good stuff, closed us down and looked a real threat. We won't play this bad very often but we will have these games. I don't think we need to change how we play although we could change certain personnel and maybe alter the formation at times to get more width which was badly needed on such a tight pitch. I trust Nuno to get it right and we are still learning and adapting and even with the majority of the side off form we still could have won had we taken the chances we had at 1-1.
Ruddy - Kicking was poor in the warm up and this carried on in to the game bar a couple of kicks. Should have collected the ball when Washington got in for the opener and will be disappointed just like he will be for when he dropped a routine ball in to the box at Washington's feet but Coady and Batth rescued him. Norris is breathing down his neck on this performance.
Batth - Was fine in the first half but really struggled in the second. Got caught out of position lots and was bullied by players he shouldn't be getting bullied by.
Coady - Clearance off the line apart another that wasn't on it, didn't get on the ball enough and wasn't able to play his passes out due to the tightness of the pitch. Struggled physically at times and it might be the case that we look to play 3 proper centre halves in games like this as we won't miss out on a lot on the ball if the right 3 play.
Miranda - Again was the better of the back 3 for the majority of the game but he really struggled with Smith. Dominated against Sylla who didn't cause him any problems but Smith did and it wasn't physically he was just on it and better in the air. Was close to him but got beat by the bigger lad and a good quality header.
Doherty - Not on it like many others. Didn't get forward well enough, poor on the ball and never really looked a threat. Got caught out a few times second half too. We need someone else to play this role effectively so it's not just one man.
Douglas - Got absolutely battered in the first half by a fist to the face and some questionable challenges but just seemed to accept it and it carried on. Again another that failed to really impose himself on the game but delivered one great cross second half that missed everyone. Had a chance in the first half but scuffed it past Smithies with his right foot and it was easily cleared
Neves - Another not on it, bottled a couple of challenges and just didn't move the ball quick enough. Personally would have taken him off and put Alfred on at 1-1.
Saiss - Like Neves he wasn't really on it and they were both at fault for the opener trying to over play. I will say he was the better of the 2 because he was involved in some of our better moments like the ball to Douglas for his chance and the ball that lead to the Jota, Bonatini link up but apart from those there wasn't much between them.
Cavaleiro - As bad as he has been for a while. Had lots of room to exploit in the first half but just didn't run at his man and insisted on crossing it straight into him time after time. Then had a great chance in the second half but didn't take the shot on and then dived to try and win a penalty which the ref rightly turned down imo.
Jota - The man is outstanding. His run for the goal was something else and he set up Bonatini with a super bit of play that should have been finished off. Also had a great chance that he hit straight at Smithies. We need to keep him fit and firing and hope others join him in those consistent high levels.
Bonatini - The only other player apart from Jota that can say he was on it. Held it up well, worked hard again and took his goal well. Should have scored a second but the ball just seemed to get a bit high on him and under pressure poked it over. Will get the 20 goals many thought he wouldn't if he carries on like this with ease.
SUBS
Costa - Someone had to come no for Cav but Costa had no impact on the game. Had one chance to drive at them and did so but then played his pass straight at the centre half when the ball to Jota was pretty easy. Struggling at the moment with confidence and needs to get it back somehow but Nuno has work to do.
Bright - I thought he did quite well when he came on. Had a great chance but tried to play Jota in when shooting was the much better option but did then set him up for his second half chance. Couple of times he beat 3 or 4 men but was either rugby tackled or crudely blocked. If he was more confident in front of goal he could be the alternative to Leo.
Marshall - No idea why he's still making the bench never mind coming on as a sub. Alfred was the better option and Ronan should definitely be in the squad ahead of him. Made zero impact apart from playing an awful pass to Bright who had taken a throw from the corner flag and so was obviously offside.
We weren't dreadful today but we weren't very good and that wasn't helped by QPR in either half. They were so bad in the first half it was impossible to play football with the ball in the air for 80% of the time and then in the second they actually played some good stuff, closed us down and looked a real threat. We won't play this bad very often but we will have these games. I don't think we need to change how we play although we could change certain personnel and maybe alter the formation at times to get more width which was badly needed on such a tight pitch. I trust Nuno to get it right and we are still learning and adapting and even with the majority of the side off form we still could have won had we taken the chances we had at 1-1.
