QPR v Aston Villa - Pre Match Thread

[rougegorge]

Very poor league record against QPR (considering it's QPR).
Won 12 Drawn 10 Lost 20 and November '91 was the last win there.

A draw wouldn't be the worst result obviously, but that would mean scoring at least once I suspect.

[supertom]

Some interesting stats going into the game. Our average possession is the lowest in the Prem. 38.7% possession on average. Also lowest shots per game on average at 7.8shots per game, which has of course only yielded us 12 on target all season and four goals.

However, QPR are the fourth worst side at keeping the ball with only 44% possession on average. I would hope that we'll see a pretty even share of the ball in this game as those stats don't account for the fact we've played last seasons top 5, including Arsenal who virtually always get 60% minimum. Likewise I'm hoping to see our shot count be comfortably above our average. We've got to really attack this game.

QPR have scored more goals than us, but apparently have only scored one from open play. They really struggle to create, as do we of course, so we need to limit the amount of freekicks and corners we give them as that is likely their best avenue. 

Despite our reliance on counter attacking, none of our four goals have been direct from a counter attack. We've scored 3 from open play and 1 from a set piece. In fact our counter attacking play has been pretty poor this season on the whole, so we've got to expand our play a lot more.

Interestingly our long ball stats in Lambo's first two seasons were always pretty high. This season, for better or worse, we're actually in the bottom half of the table in terms of long balls. That stat may well increase now Tekkers is back, but I hope we try and keep things on the deck more.

Anyway, should be an interesting match tonight. Quality will undoubtedly be low and it'll be cagey, but I hope we try and keep the ball, and expand our play a bit. Most of all I want a high tempo and a high line and really get at them.

[dcavfc]

anyone know where we are drinking before the game tonight?

[supertom]

One interesting stat I've just noticed. Despite the fact we've defended for pretty much 90% of the season so far. We actually average lowest in tackles per game.
You'd think having play backs to the wall so much, we'd be getting our foot in a lot more. As it is, we're not. We've got to be a bit more aggressive I think, particularly in the opposition half with pressing. We're making it too easy for sides. We're pretty low on interceptions per game too.

So basically...we don't keep the ball well, we don't create chances, we don't try hard enough to get the ball back either. It all adds up and something has to change. Hopefully starting tonight.

I think putting a big bastard like Sanchez in midfield might be a good start. We need a ball winner. Westwood and Cleverley don't tackle. Delph can't tackle (injured anyway of course). So we definitely need someone in midfield who will try and tackle.

[Jimbo]

I'd imagine our stats for running around while the opposition play football are pretty strong?

[supertom]

I'd imagine our stats for running around while the opposition play football are pretty strong?

Probably.
Unsurprisingly too, our best performing player (according to who scored) this season is Alan Hutton. Who ranks 105th in the Premier League.

[VancouverLion]

We'll win 2-0, The Beast & Gabby to score.

[Matt Collins]

One interesting stat I've just noticed. Despite the fact we've defended for pretty much 90% of the season so far. We actually average lowest in tackles per game.
You'd think having play backs to the wall so much, we'd be getting our foot in a lot more. As it is, we're not. We've got to be a bit more aggressive I think, particularly in the opposition half with pressing. We're making it too easy for sides. We're pretty low on interceptions per game too.

So basically...we don't keep the ball well, we don't create chances, we don't try hard enough to get the ball back either. It all adds up and something has to change. Hopefully starting tonight.

I think putting a big bastard like Sanchez in midfield might be a good start. We need a ball winner. Westwood and Cleverley don't tackle. Delph can't tackle (injured anyway of course). So we definitely need someone in midfield who will try and tackle.

Tackling is disappearing from the game a bit though isn't it? If you're a side that sits deep like us I don't think its a surprise

But I agree it would be good to get pressure on the ball higher up the pitch.

[not3bad]

I'd imagine our stats for running around while the opposition play football are pretty strong?

Fantastic. Some great stats for pointing too.

[LeeB]

I'd imagine our stats for running around while the opposition play football are pretty strong?

Fantastic. Some great stats for pointing too.

We have a strong history in pointing, who could forget the Preeeeemier League's MVP (Most Valuble Pointer) Mark Kinsella?

[Richard E]

anyone know where we are drinking before the game tonight?

Me and Supertom are drinking in front of our TVs whilst we recreate the game on our respective Playstations.

[Villan For Life]

I think one will be a nil-nil bore. Desperate for a win though!

[supertom]

One interesting stat I've just noticed. Despite the fact we've defended for pretty much 90% of the season so far. We actually average lowest in tackles per game.
You'd think having play backs to the wall so much, we'd be getting our foot in a lot more. As it is, we're not. We've got to be a bit more aggressive I think, particularly in the opposition half with pressing. We're making it too easy for sides. We're pretty low on interceptions per game too.

So basically...we don't keep the ball well, we don't create chances, we don't try hard enough to get the ball back either. It all adds up and something has to change. Hopefully starting tonight.

I think putting a big bastard like Sanchez in midfield might be a good start. We need a ball winner. Westwood and Cleverley don't tackle. Delph can't tackle (injured anyway of course). So we definitely need someone in midfield who will try and tackle.

Tackling is disappearing from the game a bit though isn't it? If you're a side that sits deep like us I don't think its a surprise

But I agree it would be good to get pressure on the ball higher up the pitch.

It's certainly a dying art, but we're definitely allowing opposition players far too much time and freedom on the ball. And whilst having 9-10 men camped back in defence will keep teams out to a point, it only goes so far and merely delays the inevitable. Our defence isn't good enough to cope with that pressure. So we've got to start getting in teams faces.
Ironically last season our discipline was one of the worst in the fairplay league. This season we're one of the fairest. We don't give away many fouls, not many yellows. In some regards that's good, but you'd have thought with Keano being on board we'd have a bit more of nasty streak. Sometimes, for want of quality, you need that. I think we're a bit soft.

[supertom]

anyone know where we are drinking before the game tonight?

Me and Supertom are drinking in front of our TVs whilst we recreate the game on our respective Playstations.

Ha ha. My game was so bad earlier I needed a couple of drinks. And I'm damned if I'm playing it again, before then enduring the real life match!
I'll admit sometimes when N'Zogbia gets on the ball in real life, head down, running into a cul-de-sac, I find myself trying to press an imaginary X Button.

[pauliewalnuts]

I hope we win.

Can't be arsed to run through all the various arguments in favour of this or that, I am just tired of us not keeping the ball, not getting shots on target and not scoring.

It'd be nice to have fun watching us play for a change.