QPR vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[villabear]

I know every team has got them but we’ve got some right twats following us. Why do people travel away and then just constantly moan and slag off everything the team do? The bloke next to me considered this reasonable behaviour along with belching out loud every two minutes.

When I queried his constant negative ‘backing’ I was met with “fuck off i’ve payed, I can say what I want”

I tried the “it isn’t going to change overnight” tact but gave up. Dick.

[Mister E]

Their goal came about because our entire team momentarily switched off, waiting for a whistle against us. Milliseconds later, it means we've no pressure on the ball in midfield where McGinn would've been, and the goalscorer's stolen a march on Chester.

That's somewhat annoying, and we had enough decent possession around their box that we should've scored enough for it to have seen us still come away with at least a point.

We're getting more shots in, and I think once we can get 90 minutes out of Bolasie we'll be a whole different threat.

I take back everything negative I might have ever said about Bjarnason, alongside McGinn he's looked a force, and I hope he's straight back.

Piss poor all round on Tuesday, but enjoyed watching us last night for the most part. I can well live with this passing malarky, get the movement bit up to speed too and it's definitely the way to go.

This was always going to be a difficult week for a new manager, but I can see more of a style after it than I could after two years previously. It's coming, we've got no midweek games to distract Smith for a while, it'll all be firing in time to give the rags a good shoeing.

Onwards and upwards, I have no doubt.

Absolutely Agreed.

[SaddVillan]

I think we all need to give Smith some time.
The last few performances under Bruce were shambolic.

Smith is assessing the players whilst at the same time trying to introducing concepts that have become alien to them: passing, possession and supporting the man on the ball.

Things are improving albeit perhaps too slowly for some fans. We wanted Bruce out and most of us were happy to see Smith appointed.We need to give him time and get behind the team.

There will be mistakes as the new approach is adopted and the players need to know that they won't be booed during this period - we need to boost their confidence.

Bruce turned them into the basket cases they've become. Smith is slowly turning that around.

Rome wasn't (re)built in a day. Nor will the World's Greatest Football Club.

[tomd2103]

Is Chester sulking?
He doesn’t seem right to me.

Have been wondering the same to be honest Andy.  He's been with Bruce for quite a bit of his career so I suppose there is a chance that he is not happy about his sacking. 

I would add that he never looks too comfortable when he plays on the left side of central defence and having watched him play for us and Wales for a few years now, he is not the greatest in possesion.

All that said, he's been a very good signing for us and it's a bit early to be writing him off just yet.

[UK Redsox]

Chester was OK a couple of years ago but only really looked a class player when he was alongside Terry. Not only did that give him an excellent partner, it also took him out of the limelight.

To me, Chester doesn't appear to be a great leader/organiser. He either needs an experienced partner alongside him or a confident/vocal keeper behind him.

[SoccerHQ]

We played like Tony Mowbrays side when he was in charge of smethwick.

Won the league in 07/08 with 81 points so would take a bit of that!

[SoccerHQ]

Chester was OK a couple of years ago but only really looked a class player when he was alongside Terry. Not only did that give him an excellent partner, it also took him out of the limelight.

To me, Chester doesn't appear to be a great leader/organiser. He either needs an experienced partner alongside him or a confident/vocal keeper behind him.

I would agree with that. If you look back to his first season it just didn't click when he played with Elphick yet he looked much better with Baker in the second half of the season so suggests he needs a CB next who can dominate in the air and he can drop off and read the game.

Good player but massively out of form atm.

[saunders_heroes]

Is Chester sulking?
He doesn’t seem right to me.

Have been wondering the same to be honest Andy.  He's been with Bruce for quite a bit of his career so I suppose there is a chance that he is not happy about his sacking. 

I would add that he never looks too comfortable when he plays on the left side of central defence and having watched him play for us and Wales for a few years now, he is not the greatest in possesion.

All that said, he's been a very good signing for us and it's a bit early to be writing him off just yet.

Not being happy at Bruce’s sacking doesn’t explain his poor form before Bruce was given the boot though. He’s been poor from day one this season.

[Pat McMahon]

I know we had plenty of the ball tonight but a lot of it reminded me of the flirts Lambert game at West Ham with little to offer, just lots of sideways stuff with no end product.

 I don’t remember their keeper making a real save, though Abraham should have buried his chance, and we have to be better in the final third - the front players never seemed to really be in tune with each other. From my live games this season it appears Abraham cannot play with his back to goal so maybe Kodjia would have been better there.

We had a good spell just after half time but those corners led to little as their defence was winning all the headers. According to those stats a few posts above QPR had more shots on target than us.

Overall I was really disappointed tonight - a poor result away at a poor team.

Makes a lot of realistic reading that Pat. And great observations. I concur with Tammy and like Kodjia up top and Abraham left wide.

I can understand the disappointment and frustration .
And a few times I felt there was shades of Lambert style possession theory with the many touches and passing in our half .

I was encouraged and hope somewhere you were too .
I read too someone posting and sounding hopeful of Bolton match. I certainly am as they are quality wise far less than QPR who were a try hand defending lead countr attack outfit tonight rightly said quite poor but a team no less where as Bolton much weaker.

I think playing as we did and taking big chances then obviously a hopeful of a big win next time out

I hope you get to enjoy that match and moving forward to enjoy some winning matches .

But it's such a good post felt needed reference and hopefully spread you some good vibes for future .

Cheers

Ha cheers footy skills. If you’d heard me during the game you’d think I was suffering from Tourette’s. I never really felt we were going to score.

[JUAN PABLO]

I thought we played some good football at times , you can see what Deano is trying to do but he has hardly had any time, but lovely not to see Bruceball.

I thought Jack was back to his best , I liked watching him last night and SJM had a great first half .

Taylor , Elmo , Whelan and Hutton all crap , I will be glad when these lot have gone and Deano brings in young positive players who can play his style of football.

Why did the football turn into a Rugby ball every time Abraham went to control it or shoot.

Kodja looked ok without doing anything , and I wish Bolaise would get fit to start at least.   

disappointed but can see what Deano is trying to do.

[in exile]

How many balls did we give away last night due to unforced errors?
Way to many

[Dante Lavelli]

it looked like a 433 to me, yet the wingers/inside forwards looked like square pegs in round holes.  Kodija and Elmo worked hard but didn't look like beating the full backs too often.  Jimmy likes to come inside but taylor never overlapped that I can remember. 

A fit Bolasie could unlock the team.

[Ads]

I noticed at half time Bolasie was doing extra sprinting and after he crossed the ball he stamped his foot down. I just wonder how far off fitness he is.

[spartacuss]

Smith has had literally about 3 days training with the full squad since he got the job.  The next week will be bliss for him to actually work on things a bit more thoroughly. We are in transition from a hit n hope merchant to one who plays football. It's going to take time to work,  some astute signings and some cutting of the ones that can't follow.

This.  QPR reminded me of our average level of performance under O'Neill - all counter-attacking stuff but no real mix of play.  Early days I know, but I thought in our better moments we moved the ball well and I didn't detect the 'rabbit-in-the headlights' response from most of our players (sorry Neil!) that's been too much in evidence: for how many years/managers...? 

Probably been said ad nauseam already, but the fixture timetabling genius who decided that 3 league matches with 2-day gaps is conducive to good football might have something to do with some of the tired decision-making when we needed decisiveness (Jack).  Before anyone says that many clubs have the same shit fixture-crowding, I would no more wish this on any other club than I would want to feel schadenfreude in response to the steady impoverishment of any 'Leave' voters when you-know-what happens. (Except the rich architects of it all: Aaron Banks, Nigels Farage & Lawson, James Dyson, John Redwood, Lord Snooty and many other pals who've made cosy alternative arrangements anyway - mouth in one direction, money in another.)

[old man villa fan]

I think Smith needs to make some decisions based on how he sees this team looking next season. We have older players at the end of their contracts and we have loan players that I do not think we will be buying.  With that in mind, he has to start to weed out some of those players.

Chester needs a strong centre half alongside him and he needs to play on the right.  So straight away, Smith has a dilemma there as Axel has looked good but also needs a strong centre half alongside him.  It is clear that we need a dominant left-sided central defender.

You could then move on to the right back position and think that Hutton is not defending well and doesn't make up for that on an attacking front. He will not get another contract, so another position to review.  At left back we have been weak for some time and this needs to be sorted once and for all in January.  Strangely, we have two players out on loan that could come in if they were available.

There are other positions where we have similar situations.  Bruce has left us in a terrible situation with his short term thinking. Now is the time to start making some of those changes and stop rotating the same players.