Match Thread Queens Park Rangers - Coventry City Match Thread - Saturday 31st Jan (17 Viewers)

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Were we overrun? Leicester first half? Any idea why we have been so, so poor for nearly 2 months?

End to end would be a better description. Lesta first half was all over the place I agree, then it was tweaked at half time and we had a lot more control.

Don't know why he didn't do the same thing on Monday.

 

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[skyblue_55]

It shouldn’t have taken till half time to sort things out ……everyone was waiting for a second goal & possibly more from them

 

[Warwickhunt]

Used to be Ward's down Ringwood Highway and then what was Forbuoys on Jubilee Crescent. Now a Spar I believe.

Same here

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

The momentum graph you shared shows it was pretty even game. Far from us being ‘battered’ and we certainly had our own moments where should’ve scored. Again, rewatch the highlights of the game, the showcased chances were predominantly from us.

If you think stats are meaningless, momentum graphs are less useful than things like xG. To highlight a few examples from recent games:

1) Stoke, we had the majority of ‘momentum’ but Stoke undoubtedly had the best chances particularly in the 1st half
2) Birmingham - more ‘momentum’ but we can all accept they had the better chances
3) Southampton - more momentum in the first half, scored but no real ‘clear cut chances’

The momentum graph for the Southampton 2nd half is what a battering looks like.

Whilst your point about there being statistics not telling the whole story, that’s actually true and I accept that. However, that applies to every player and there are contributions that won’t be credited. The best example last year was Simms, there were many times he occupied defenders for players to find space in the box for goals… Yet, the frustration with him last season was completely legitimate because as the stats showed, he was wasteful in front of goal and it wasn’t good enough. Ultimately, the data confirmed the majority of the criticisms against Simms.

To address your point about Sakamoto, the stats do not lie about him. Last season, I noticed a few things about him that bothered me, he checks back a lot, doesn’t take on players and is a low volume shooter. On the flip side, he is a good crosser of ball and contributes defensively and guess what? All of those opinions are corroborated by the data. Broadly speaking, he stands out in no statistical category and when he has a bad crossing game or the opposition nullifies this with a low block, he’s ineffectual. It’s why I’ve come to the conclusion that he is best used as an effective role player which ironically, his recent contributions are perhaps starting to prove my point.

That’s why Lampard has moved to sign wingers who are more aggressive when it comes dribbling because we come across the low block more often than not.

No it fea what you watch. Stats are irrelevant. Watching games, gives you reality. We currently play a brand if football that is so high risk. Brilliant when it was working, 5, 7.0. It has

The momentum graph you shared shows it was pretty even game. Far from us being ‘battered’ and we certainly had our own moments where should’ve scored. Again, rewatch the highlights of the game, the showcased chances were predominantly from us.

If you think stats are meaningless, momentum graphs are less useful than things like xG. To highlight a few examples from recent games:

1) Stoke, we had the majority of ‘momentum’ but Stoke undoubtedly had the best chances particularly in the 1st half
2) Birmingham - more ‘momentum’ but we can all accept they had the better chances
3) Southampton - more momentum in the first half, scored but no real ‘clear cut chances’

The momentum graph for the Southampton 2nd half is what a battering looks like.

Whilst your point about there being statistics not telling the whole story, that’s actually true and I accept that. However, that applies to every player and there are contributions that won’t be credited. The best example last year was Simms, there were many times he occupied defenders for players to find space in the box for goals… Yet, the frustration with him last season was completely legitimate because as the stats showed, he was wasteful in front of goal and it wasn’t good enough. Ultimately, the data confirmed the majority of the criticisms against Simms.

To address your point about Sakamoto, the stats do not lie about him. Last season, I noticed a few things about him that bothered me, he checks back a lot, doesn’t take on players and is a low volume shooter. On the flip side, he is a good crosser of ball and contributes defensively and guess what? All of those opinions are corroborated by the data. Broadly speaking, he stands out in no statistical category and when he has a bad crossing game or the opposition nullifies this with a low block, he’s ineffectual. It’s why I’ve come to the conclusion that he is best used as an effective role player which ironically, his recent contributions are perhaps starting to prove my point.

That’s why Lampard has moved to sign wingers who are more aggressive when it comes dribbling because we come across the low block more often than not.

The momentum graph you shared shows it was pretty even game. Far from us being ‘battered’ and we certainly had our own moments where should’ve scored. Again, rewatch the highlights of the game, the showcased chances were predominantly from us.

If you think stats are meaningless, momentum graphs are less useful than things like xG. To highlight a few examples from recent games:

1) Stoke, we had the majority of ‘momentum’ but Stoke undoubtedly had the best chances particularly in the 1st half
2) Birmingham - more ‘momentum’ but we can all accept they had the better chances
3) Southampton - more momentum in the first half, scored but no real ‘clear cut chances’

The momentum graph for the Southampton 2nd half is what a battering looks like.

Whilst your point about there being statistics not telling the whole story, that’s actually true and I accept that. However, that applies to every player and there are contributions that won’t be credited. The best example last year was Simms, there were many times he occupied defenders for players to find space in the box for goals… Yet, the frustration with him last season was completely legitimate because as the stats showed, he was wasteful in front of goal and it wasn’t good enough. Ultimately, the data confirmed the majority of the criticisms against Simms.

To address your point about Sakamoto, the stats do not lie about him. Last season, I noticed a few things about him that bothered me, he checks back a lot, doesn’t take on players and is a low volume shooter. On the flip side, he is a good crosser of ball and contributes defensively and guess what? All of those opinions are corroborated by the data. Broadly speaking, he stands out in no statistical category and when he has a bad crossing game or the opposition nullifies this with a low block, he’s ineffectual. It’s why I’ve come to the conclusion that he is best used as an effective role player which ironically, his recent contributions are perhaps starting to prove my point.

That’s why Lampard has moved to sign wingers who are more aggressive when it comes dribbling because we come across the low block more often than not.

Perhaps watch the games. Stop relying on stats..how have we done since end of November points wise? We were outscoring teams, now we are not..Carry on like this, another 2 weeks, we will be in third place, being chased by Hull. Simms? 10 goals, in 12 starts, Wright 2 in 17.. Thereabouts.

 

[Warwickhunt]

A Norwich fan I know scoffed at my thought that they owed the result to two howlers and our poor finishing, but the numbers flesh it out.

It’s no surprise Lampard is a moody bugger when he sees big errors in both boxes, his own tactical issues notwithstanding.

Moody!!! Christmas! his demeanour never changed when Esse scored?

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

End to end would be a better description. Lesta first half was all over the place I agree, then it was tweaked at half time and we had a lot more control.

Don't know why he didn't do the same thing on Monday.

Because Frank refuses to change.. Exactly the same at Chelsea. Since end of November, it has been chaotic.

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

The first half highlights really demonstrate your point too…

Norwich City 2-1 Coventry City: Anis Ben Slimane and Ali Ahmed seal Canaries comeback win

Coventry failed to re-establish their six-point lead at the top of the Championship table as Norwich hit back to beat them 2-1.

www.skysports.com

I don't rely on highlights. I rely on watching the game. You don't think we were dominated first half?

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

The first half highlights really demonstrate your point too…

Norwich City 2-1 Coventry City: Anis Ben Slimane and Ali Ahmed seal Canaries comeback win

Coventry failed to re-establish their six-point lead at the top of the Championship table as Norwich hit back to beat them 2-1.

www.skysports.com

Another great emoji. Well done.

 

[quinn1971]

No it fea what you watch. Stats are irrelevant. Watching games, gives you reality. We currently play a brand if football that is so high risk. Brilliant when it was working, 5, 7.0. It has



Perhaps watch the games. Stop relying on stats..how have we done since end of November points wise? We were outscoring teams, now we are not..Carry on like this, another 2 weeks, we will be in third place, being chased by Hull. Simms? 10 goals, in 12 starts, Wright 2 in 17.. Thereabouts.

If we carry on like this for the next 2 weeks we’ll be fine, we’ll still be averaging 2 points a game, just keep winning our home games and we’ll start picking up wins away, we’re not as bad away as everyone thinks we are, very fine margins in all our away games we’ve lost, apart from Ipswich,

 

[Warwickhunt]

I said whilst watching g the game that FL needs to take BTA off and bring on Eccles before halftime! I also rewatched the whole game again once I got the anger of Kitchens fuck up out of my head. FL could changed things up when they equalised but took too long again as usual. They did not dominate us at all and our failing was too many balls went up front and never reached their target and our forwards are incapable of holding the ball up. It kept coming back at us as soon as we lost possession. Their player Makama was excellent even though he never had a single shot his hold up play was excellent.

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

If we carry on like this for the next 2 weeks we’ll be fine, we’ll still be averaging 2 points a game, just keep winning our home games and we’ll start picking up wins away, we’re not as bad away as everyone thinks we are, very fine margins in all our away games we’ve lost, apart from Ipswich,

If we carry on like this for the next 2 weeks we’ll be fine, we’ll still be averaging 2 points a game, just keep winning our home games and we’ll start picking up wins away, we’re not as bad away as everyone thinks we are, very fine margins in all our away games we’ve lost, apart from Ipswich,

I only had a quick check..We are nowhere near averaging 2 points a game, since Dec. Around 1.2..1.3..

 

[quinn1971]

I only had a quick check..We are nowhere near averaging 2 points a game, since Dec. Around 1.2..1.3..

Last 3 games= 6 points, as bad as we are away we’re winning most of our remaining home games, we’ve got one of the best run ins we could have asked for, 3 points Saturday and a couple of more new faces and it’ll feel a lot better, we weren’t ever doing this the easy way were we

 

[clint van damme]

Last 3 games= 6 points, as bad as we are away we’re winning most of our remaining home games, we’ve got one of the best run ins we could have asked for, 3 points Saturday and a couple of more new faces and it’ll feel a lot better, we weren’t ever doing this the easy way were we

Cherry picking 3 games doesn't really prove anything, especially when 2 of them were at home.

 

[quinn1971]

Cherry picking 3 games doesn't really prove anything, especially when 2 of them were at home.

It’s not cherry picking, it’s our last 3 games, you can get depressed looking back if you want but I’m not, and 2 of our next 3 are at home ? That’s another 6 points, averaging 2 points per game which was what I was trying to prove ?

 

[clint van damme]

It’s not cherry picking, it’s our last 3 games, you can get depressed looking back if you want but I’m not, and 2 of our next 3 are at home ? That’s another 6 points, averaging 2 points per game which was what I was trying to prove ?

But why 3?
Why not 1?
Go back 5 and we're averaging 1.4.
Irs not about getting depressed it's about being realistic, and the reality is our away form has fallen off a cliff and will cost us unless it turns around.
You haven't actually presented 1 logical argument as to why it will improve. At the minute it's just a fingers crossed and hope for the best job.

Some of the players we're linked with will undoubtedly help if they sign, but at the moment, links are all they are.

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Last 3 games= 6 points, as bad as we are away we’re winning most of our remaining home games, we’ve got one of the best run ins we could have asked for, 3 points Saturday and a couple of more new faces and it’ll feel a lot better, we weren’t ever doing this the easy way were we

1.3 points, our average, last 7 weeks, is play off form

 

[quinn1971]

But why 3?
Why not 1?
Go back 5 and we're averaging 1.4.
Irs not about getting depressed it's about being realistic, and the reality is our away form has fallen off a cliff and will cost us unless it turns around.
You haven't actually presented 1 logical argument as to why it will improve. At the minute it's just a fingers crossed and hope for the best job.

Some of the players we're linked with will undoubtedly help if they sign, but at the moment, links are all they are.

I said the last 3 because we won 2 of them, trying to stay a bit positive, all the doom and gloom gets a bit too much sometimes, and as for a logical argument why our away form will improve, I haven’t said it will , but it can’t get much worse

 

[clint van damme]

I said the last 3 because we won 2 of them, trying to stay a bit positive, all the doom and gloom gets a bit too much sometimes,

I understand that, and that's fine, I'd just like something more tangible to cling to.
Signing Onyeka would be a start.

 

[quinn1971]

This was a happier place when we were mid table in Jan and battling to get in the play offs, serious question is anyone actually enjoying this season ? I’m loving it, not sure I’ll make to the end but it’s brilliant

 

[quinn1971]

I understand that, and that's fine, I'd just like something more tangible to cling to.
Signing Onyeka would be a start.

that could be all the difference we need, we’re actually not that bad away, it’s just silly mistakes and it’s frustrating that we keep making them,

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

It’s not cherry picking, it’s our last 3 games, you can get depressed looking back if you want but I’m not, and 2 of our next 3 are at home ? That’s another 6 points, averaging 2 points per game which was what I was trying to prove ?

Definitely cherry picking. Love the optimism, hope you are right.

 

[Nuskyblue]

Shitting this, this felt like a tough game before we shit the bed.

Can see 5 at the back being deployed here tbh.

 

[clint van damme]

Shitting this, this felt like a tough game before we shit the bed.

Can see 5 at the back being deployed here tbh.

Can't see it now we've got 5 wingers

 

[Otis]

I said whilst watching g the game that FL needs to take BTA off and bring on Eccles before halftime! I also rewatched the whole game again once I got the anger of Kitchens fuck up out of my head. FL could changed things up when they equalised but took too long again as usual. They did not dominate us at all and our failing was too many balls went up front and never reached their target and our forwards are incapable of holding the ball up. It kept coming back at us as soon as we lost possession. Their player Makama was excellent even though he never had a single shot his hold up play was excellent.

He was a menace wasn't he. And so strong too

 

[Nuskyblue]

Can't see it now we've got 5 wingers

I didn't say the 5 at the back would be defenders

 

[quinn1971]

Definitely cherry picking. Love the optimism, hope you are right.

We’ll pick this up again after we’ve just battered mboro

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

We’ll pick this up again after we’ve just battered mboro

That won't change any of the stats , or your post. Like I say , I hope you are right.

 

[Otis]

This was a happier place when we were mid table in Jan and battling to get in the play offs, serious question is anyone actually enjoying this season ? I’m loving it, not sure I’ll make to the end but it’s brilliant

I was. Not anymore though. Finding it all too nailbiting

Not saying we are going to throw it all away, but a month or so ago, that looked absolutely impossible. Now we know there is a chance.

I will feel so much better though if Onyeka is signed and he's all he's purported to be.

If we lose Saturday and Ipswich and Boro both win, I will be even more anxious, mind

And if Hull win, they could be just 5 points behind us too, with a game in hand.

I guess what I want to see is a much better performance from us. Be fabulous if we could go to QPR and not only bag the 3 points, but actually look like a top of the side table too in the process

 

[Paxman II]

I think we just need a tweak or two and a few players get their heads back on straight. You could say bringing in new players will upset a few, given that they put us in a fantastic position? Sakomotto was a big part of it, and now finds himself on the bench for example. Messing with what formulation worked is a risk. When Rudoni was a long term injury Asante came in and the team were magnificent. We should look to get back to what we were doing then. None the less Otis is right, Oneyki would be a strong acquisition and help Grimes in getting us over the line. Remember we are league leaders, everyone wants to beat us. Truth is we would have won at Norwich had it not been for literally giving them their goals. We are still a very good side and sense we will pick it up again starting at QPR.

 

[quinn1971]

I was. Not anymore though. Finding it all too nailbiting

Not saying we are going to throw it all away, but a month or so ago, that looked absolutely impossible. Now we know there is a chance.

I will feel so much better though if Onyeka is signed and he's all he's purported to be.

If we lose Saturday and Ipswich and Boro both win, I will be even more anxious, mind

And if Hull win, they could be just 5 points behind us too, with a game in hand.

I guess what I want to see is a much better performance from us. Be fabulous if we could go to QPR and not only bag the 3 points, but actually look like a top of the side table too in the process

Know what you mean, just want us to flip a switch and go back to how we were winning games, but we’re top of the league 8 points clear, that gap could get even bigger just as quick as it’s got smaller, just need to put something together, remind everyone how good we actually are, it’ll be nervy but this what it’s about isn’t it, we’ve had plenty of boring seasons, the last few have been brilliant,

 

[quinn1971]

I think we just need a tweak or two and a few players get their heads back on straight. You could say bringing in new players will upset a few, given that they put us in a fantastic position? Sakomotto was a big part of it, and now finds himself on the bench for example. Messing with what formulation worked is a risk. When Rudoni was a long term injury Asante came in and the team were magnificent. We should look to get back to what we were doing then. None the less Otis is right, Oneyki would be a strong acquisition and help Grimes in getting us over the line. Remember we are league leaders, everyone wants to beat us. Truth is we would have won at Norwich had it not been for literally giving them their goals. We are still a very good side and sense we will pick it up again starting at QPR.

This don’t think we’ve been that bad as some think, won’t take a lot to fix it,

 

[2024/25 League 1 Champs?]

How I’d set us up.

Back five to try and add additional cover and force the pivot up the pitch. Eccles to give some bite in midfield. If onyeka has signed, start him there.

Our wingers don’t seem to want to track back so fine, let’s keep them high and play off the counter like we did at Pompy away.

Wish we had another leftsided CB as Kitching is out of form but got no option.

Same for Lwb (was tempted to put KKH here).


View attachment 48729

like this, although I’d play Torp over Eccles, and Woolf over Lats - one of Kitch or Woolf to push over and cover either full back when they’re pushing forward, and 3 centre halves give Grimes less to worry about dropping in and Torp more licence to create things

forward line could be any from about six or seven, but I think sensibly these three are currently in possession of the shirt and probably work well as an attacking three

 

[itsabuzzard]

The "must win" tag is criminally overused, and every fibre of my being is screaming at me not to say this, but this is as close to a "must win" that a game comes to, without actually being one.

 

[mmttww]

forward line could be any from about six or seven

 

[quinn1971]

like this, although I’d play Torp over Eccles, and Woolf over Lats - one of Kitch or Woolf to push over and cover either full back when they’re pushing forward, and 3 centre halves give Grimes less to worry about dropping in and Torp more licence to create things

forward line could be any from about six or seven, but I think sensibly these three are currently in possession of the shirt and probably work well as an attacking three

Was hoping rudoni might start but looking doubtful, same team as Monday just cut the mistakes out, give them a chance to put it right