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Post by Roller on May 2, 2019 19:26:33 GMT
Credit to 2Thomas2Bowles on LFW for finding this clip
Stan had a brief mention in the Forever R's Club minutes from April recently published on the official website.
"Andrea Bowles was last contacted late Jan with condition of Stan slowly deteriorating slowly- sleeping more etc. Appreciated call. AS will call for update before end of April."
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Post by Roller on May 1, 2019 19:16:58 GMT
Shouldn't Hamalainen be included? He was awarded a contract extension earlier this season.
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Post by Roller on May 1, 2019 18:24:47 GMT
Surprised about Tilt who was on the bench a couple of games ago.
The good news is that Shodipo has been given another year.
MIDE Shodipo has committed his future to QPR until the summer of 2020 by agreeing a one-year extension to his current contract.
The exciting winger – who impressed from the bench against Nottingham Forest on Saturday – made his R’s debut at the age of 19 on the opening day of the 2016/17 season.
He went on to make 14 Rangers appearances that season, spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Port Vale, and Director of Football Les Ferdinand is delighted that Shodipo will be in W12 next season.
“Everyone knows the talent that Mide possesses,” Ferdinand said. “He’s had a tough time with injuries in the last couple of years but hopefully that is behind him now and we are looking forward to seeing him out on the pitch next season.
“We are all excited to see how he performs over the coming months.”
Shodipo has made three appearances for Rangers’ first-team this season – against Stoke City, Rotherham United and Forest – with all of those coming in the last two months, following his recovery from injury.
He is determined to build on that over the summer months and into next season.
Speaking after Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest, Shodipo said: “Next season will be an important season for me. I want to prove to everyone that I can play in this division and play in this team. I believe I can play at this level, and it is about getting my opportunity, staying fit and taking my chance when it comes.”
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Post by Roller on May 1, 2019 18:22:11 GMT
the not to be mentioned club in South Bucks (just off the M40) I'm intrigued Terry, who is this South Bucks team? Oh God, don't get him started! ...... Wycombe Wanderers.
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Post by Roller on Apr 28, 2019 8:40:59 GMT
I've nothing really to add on the match comments, but echo all the praise for Shodipo. It occurred to me at some point during the evening - I was out for a few beers and a Thai with the guys I travel back from matches with - that we probably have an option for a further year on Shodipo's contract which is why there has been no noise about trying to extend his contract.
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Post by Roller on Apr 26, 2019 19:58:22 GMT
I think we are saying the same thing Roller. I agree that the three options in the H&F consultation did not meet our needs. That is why we have counter proposed and made it public. My 'pander' comment was saying that H&F have not tried very hard to understand our requirements. But I do believe that we have a track record of conflict in negotiation. But I think that H7F's bluff will only be called if we have any real options. Ok mate, my misunderstanding and, I'm sure, nothing to do with this rather excellent red that is looking sadly empty to my side.
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Post by Roller on Apr 26, 2019 19:45:14 GMT
Little Smyth's highlights
Nice finish - I'm hoping to see a lot more of him next season.
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Post by Roller on Apr 26, 2019 19:40:54 GMT
I wonder how long QPR are prepared to wait on this project? Are we really prepared to walk away at the end of the consultation process if H&F do not find in our favour? In essence, the club has counter proposed with an option 4 and are threatening, or stating that this is our final attempt to stay within the borough and that we will be forced to leave. Of course, this is just the public statement, the detailed discussions may be more congenial. I do not get any real feeling though that H&F care if we stay or not. The consultation paper did not really pander to our needs - hence the counter proposal. It seems that the club adopts a negotiating style that irritates the opposition (just ask the EFL). But I think it depends on whether or not we have any realistic alternatives outside of H&F. I hope that the club has been actively looking rather than waiting for the LCS process to be played out. But there has been no murmurs about anywhere else, but if H&F really do want us to stay then perhaps only talk of a realistic alternative will get them to listen to the club's statement of needs. But this has gone on for so long already, nothing happens quickly at QPR. No sure about that Ricky. None of the proposals by H&F are acceptable to the club so doesn't it make sense to state our position publicly? Being part time tenants in a 40-45K stadium is of no use to us. We need the right sized stadium with the ability to profit from other events, that is not what H&F are proposing. I'd agree that H&F don't appear to be bothered whether we stay of go, but neither can they afford to keep LCS as it is. Considering that H&F haven't even got the funds to repair Hammersmith Bridge, I think we should be in a strong position. I also don't agree with your "pander to our needs" comment. The board would be quite rightly crucified if they even considered accepting terms which were worse than our current position. I don't believe that we are currently looking elsewhere, but would encourage the club to look south of the river for personal reasons!
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Post by Roller on Apr 26, 2019 19:21:54 GMT
Very interesting looking at the betting. Darren Moore now 4/6 favourite with Sky Bet. I suppose he ticks all the boxes that Les and Hoos are insisting on. ‘A proven track record of bringing youngsters through, and working within a constrained budget’. Really! It's as if Sky Sports News reveal "insider" information just to manipulate the betting markets!
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Post by Roller on Apr 19, 2019 20:15:02 GMT
It was 1-1 when Barton was sent off.
Cisse scored shortly after half time, Barton was sent off at around 65 mins and then Mackie scored with a diving header from Traore's cross not long after. Dzeko equalised from a corner after 92 minutes and Aguero scored their winner a couple of minutes later.
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Post by Roller on Apr 19, 2019 19:48:07 GMT
Only a few facts Ricky, along with a shed load of supposition! It will be interesting to see what Eustace does today. Does he stick with a winning team or continue with what looks like a "horses for courses" approach? I don't think that Blackburn play out from the back in the way that Swansea do, so will a high press be as effective? For so much of this season we knew the team before it was announced, but not today. I have a bad feeling about today. Apart from rumoured injuries I was amazed to see how bad our starts are against Blackburn - not that stats prove anything.
With that in mind the stat about the number of our young goal scorers last season may need a bit of context. While we may have had more young players who scored a goal, how many did they actually score?. I have not checked but I would bet it would not be more than a couple each. Apart from a leaky defence our biggest issue in recent seasons - ever since the days of Austin in fact - is that we have not had a regular goal scorer. Unless we get someone who is knocking in 15 to 20 goals a season at least we are not going to progress far. We have had Freeman who has one of the best records in the division over the past 2 seasons for number of chances created but we just do not take them - apart from last week. and hopefully today.
Indeed they didn't score many, but neither did they play a lot and only one of them is an out and out striker. What they do show is that we are getting far better at recruiting younger players. We clearly can't afford to buy a proven 15-20 goals a season striker but if they all weigh in with between 5 and 10 goals next season we may not need one.
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Post by Roller on Apr 19, 2019 19:38:25 GMT
I don't understand some people's desire to fire Ferdinand. We were as good as relegated from the Premier League when he came into the club. Since then he has overseen dramatically reducing parachute payments without it affecting our league position. He has completely rebuilt our academy and under-23s so that we are now getting players through to play for our first team, we've even managed to sell a couple of our youth players for a profit. We now have a scouting network worthy of the name, one which has enabled us to bring in players such as Luke Freeman for a song. If, and it is a big if, he is allowed to select the next manager and if that man fails, I, for one, would not want to see Ferdinand be forced to go with him just to briefly sate some supporters blood lust.
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Post by Roller on Apr 19, 2019 19:22:15 GMT
I go and pay money to watch what goes on on the pitch. Very kind of him to absolve himself of any blame regarding McClaren and Ollie. Just where do you get this information? Next time you see him, ask about Ramsey and JFH. Tony Fernandes wrote in his autobiography that he appointed Ian Holloway as manager and that Lee Hoos and Les Ferdinand were against his decision. I'm certain that it was Fernandes' decision to appoint Ramsey as manager, I don't know about Hasselbaink.
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Post by Roller on Apr 19, 2019 10:04:51 GMT
Cheers both Ricky and Roller - both really interesting and informative posts. Not much to add, but was amazed by these two bits: - "Last season’s team boasted the most goal scorers aged 20 or under in the division."- "Dave McIntyre revealed that QPR were looking to bring in both Hemed and Wells on his West London Sport website on the 10th August, after only one match of this season and over a week before QPR’s wretched trip to The Hawthorns." Did not know either of those, that's illuminating. Thanks Roller - great to be able to look back like that and determine the facts. Only a few facts Ricky, along with a shed load of supposition! It will be interesting to see what Eustace does today. Does he stick with a winning team or continue with what looks like a "horses for courses" approach? I don't think that Blackburn play out from the back in the way that Swansea do, so will a high press be as effective? For so much of this season we knew the team before it was announced, but not today.
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Post by Roller on Apr 19, 2019 9:53:36 GMT
We will always consider offers for any of our players.
I agree with Ricky that this seems a strange story, but we are relatively rich in the keeper division. However, in my opinion Ingram has to leave QPR for the sake of his career; he needs to re-build his confidence elsewhere away from the supporters who have witnessed too many foul ups from him. It would take a very good offer (not that I could put a figure on it) to convince us to go into next season with Dieng backed up by Brzozowski.
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Post by Roller on Apr 14, 2019 20:00:28 GMT
On the face of it there has been no “on field” progress under McClaren. Back in November I wrote an article for AKUTR’s offering a very different viewpoint on his appointment as QPR’s manager, his brief and the events which subsequently transpired. Rather than try to re-word those thoughts, I’ll reproduce an edit of some of that article here, excluding some of the rather involved FFP arguments, to explain my take on this season.
Ian Holloway sacked after fulfilling his brief, Steve McClaren not only allowed to completely ignore his, along with the kids that he was brought in to nurture, but also encouraged to spurn the one opportunity we had to get ahead in our relentless battle against Financial Fair Play in favour of expensive loan signings. I thought that I understood the long-term strategy that Lee Hoos and Les Ferdinand had plotted, but after a period of calm and considered leadership, it now appears that Queens Park Rangers Football Club has reverted into being an incomprehensible maelstrom of contradictions.
Ian Holloway was appointed to guide the club through the essential, but potentially disastrous, process of shedding itself of its highest earners, introducing a swathe of the club’s youth players while ensuring that the club maintained its championship status. Irrespective of anyone’s views on Ollie and his style of management, there can be no argument regarding his success in achieving this which enabled us to stay within the stipulations of FFP; his reward was to be unceremoniously shown the door in favour of Steve McClaren.
According to Les Ferdinand, McClaren was appointed because “He has a fantastic reputation in the game for coaching and developing players. When you look at the average age of our squad, and the exciting young talent starting to emerge, he is the perfect fit for us. We want Steve to use his expertise and experience to help our players grow.” McClaren, who had clearly seen a lot of QPR’s matches in the second half of last season, added “The introduction of younger players has been a breath of fresh air and it’s exciting for the future.”
The starting eleven for QPR’s final home match last season featured six of those younger players, seven if you include Darnell Furlong, with two more on the substitutes’ bench; McClaren has pared that down to just two. Last season’s team boasted the most goal scorers aged 20 or under in the division, of those only Eze is currently playing first team football. Osayi-Samuel is a permanently unused substitute, while Smyth, Chair and Oteh can only watch from the side-lines while expensive loanees dominate our first team.
There is a train of thought that the loan signings were as a direct result of QPR’s poor start to the season. This is perhaps true in Cameron’s case, but definitely not with regard to the strikers. In a meeting at Harlington before the season started, McClaren made it perfectly clear that he was looking to bring in some players, particularly a forward, on loan to add some quality to the squad and Dave McIntyre revealed that QPR were looking to bring in both Hemed and Wells on his West London Sport website on the 10th August, after only one match of this season and over a week before QPR’s wretched trip to The Hawthorns.
In my last article I accused McClaren of turning a blind eye to QPR’s future and being more concerned with his own, but I now think it is possible that I’ve done him a disservice and that there is an explanation which makes sense of all of these contradictions.
I had expected us to use this season to try to get ahead of FFP and reduce the effect of losing our parachute payments next season, but I have concluded that this was never in the club’s plans. The last six months has been dominated by baffling mix-match of messages, statements and actions, but one scenario does make total sense of these facts, assumptions and reasoning. A scenario which explains why McClaren has been allowed to spend money the club can ill afford, a scenario which explains why the youth policy has been put on the back burner, a scenario which explains why the hitherto sound and careful planning of Lee Hoos and Les Ferdinand has been cast to the wind. This season we are mounting a serious attempt at winning promotion.
Rather than looking upon these events as a series of disassociated actions and reactions, they should be viewed holistically as a considered plan. Despite Hoos’ and Ferdinand’s reservations, Holloway, due to a combination of his natural enthusiasm, his love of the club and his guaranteed place in QPR’s folklore, was an excellent choice of manager to see QPR through the process of slashing the wage bill without compromising the squad as his standing with the fanbase bought him some time and understanding which would not have been afforded to many others. With that accomplished, McClaren, who was well regarded within the club’s hierarchy for providing the initial impetus for the club’s last promotion, was re-engaged behind a visage of developing the youth players which masked the club’s real intentions. It was, of course, McClaren’s work with the first team squad that had caught their eye with his ability to organise a solid defence his most telling contribution to that season.
Faced with the dismal prospect of having to frantically slash costs again for next season after our parachute payments have finally dried up, the board have gambled as much money as the FFP regulations will permit on trying to achieve the one outcome that will make all those financial arguments null and void. While we all knew that we need a new striker, considering how stringently the club’s budgets have been set in recent seasons I cannot believe that two loan strikers were sanctioned just to keep us stable in this division.
Similarly, the loan signing of Cameron when we already have perfectly acceptable players in his role, nor the attempt to extend Rangel’s deal now that Furlong has recovered from his injury are not sustainable for a club which is not only constantly compressing the headroom at the top end of its FFP limits but also needing to make another raft of dramatic cuts next season. Nothing else that I’ve read or that has crossed my mind really makes sense. We are not consolidating, developing our youth players nor preparing in readiness for the loss of our parachute payments; after carefully manipulating events, we’ve set the controls for the heart of the sun.
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Post by Roller on Apr 7, 2019 20:35:26 GMT
Ok, been pondering this since yesterday but what are the implications if we were to be relegated? Certainly there may be financial implications but would we really be that much worse off than we are now? Some teams have actually come back stronger, look a Norwich this time 10 years ago. Yes, it may have taken them 10 years to get to this point but can anyone here, hand on heart, say that they can see us making such progress if we stay in the Championship? Maybe we need to start all over again and that might be easier in League One rather than the Championship. As far as blame is concerned, I think that lies firmly with the owners, they have been the one constant But Fernandes stepped down last year (and he was the one who hired McLaren) and Bhatia became Chairman. I think he deserves a fair crack given what he did to steady things when Briatore were in charge. If what we're hearing is true, that the next managerial appointment will be made by Les Ferdinand, then we should give them every chance, even if it's Sherwood! Anyway, those are my ponderings (or possibly ramblings). I should reiterate, I don't WANT to be relegated but I possibly don't see the possibility as apocalyptic as some. Do I think we'll be relegated? I'm certainly less optimistic than I was when we were 8 points clear rather than the current 5. I can offer a few points on the financial implications of relegation. We are all aware that our parachute payments are ending this season. These will be replaced by a solidarity payment. Last season this was worth £4.54 million to Championship teams, where as in League 1 it was only worth £0.68 million, so our broadcasting rights would be dropping by as good as £16 million. There are also changes in FFP, or Salary Cost Management Protocol. League 1 clubs are allowed to spend up to a 60% of their turnover on wages. There are no controls on the amount a club can spend on transfer fees, however on return to The Championship any season spent in League 1 is deemed to have a £13 million loss limit as its contribution towards the rolling three year period. While that sounds pretty grim for a club that spent 98% of a much greater income on wages last season, owners are allowed to invest (not loan) funds to supplement their club's income without penalty.
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Post by Roller on Apr 7, 2019 8:33:01 GMT
Personally I think that this is nonsense, but it is out there
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Post by Roller on Apr 6, 2019 20:07:47 GMT
I gave up trying to predict QPR's results some time ago. Who'd have thought that we'd beat Leeds and get a draw at Hull, while we were a shoe-in against both Rotherham and Bolton at home. That said, if Eustace believes that 4-1-4-1 is our best formation and that he should be starting Lynch ahead of Leistner then we are going to struggle.
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Post by Roller on Apr 6, 2019 19:24:39 GMT
www.football.london/queens-park-rangers-fc/qpr-news-exclusive-manager-search-16087102Exclusive: Contact made with Ligue 2 manager to replace Steve McClaren at QPRIt's thought that the club have contacted the Portuguese manager with regards to his interest in the role. Queens Park Rangers are stepping up their search for a manager after making contact with manager Rui Almeida. Football.london understand that the Portuguese manager has been contacted by a representative claiming to work on behalf of the club to assess his interest in the role. Almeida is thought to be one of a number of candidates initially contacted about the role. The 49-year-old is currently manager of French Ligue 2 side Troyes where he has been performing above expectation this season. Despite working on a comparatively small budget, a seven-match unbeaten run has seen Almeida's side move to fifth in the second division, putting them firmly in contention for promotion to Ligue 1. While not a household name in the UK, the former Panathinaikos F.C., S.C. Braga, Sporting CP assistant manager may be remembered by some fans on these shores after being in contention for the role of Barnsley manager in January last year. This was after after Paul Heckingbottom was lured away by Leeds United. Contact remains between QPR and Almeida is thought to be in its early stages, however it's thought that any deal for Almeida to move to west London would be based on him joining at the end of the season. It remains to be seen whether this could be a sticking point for the Hoops, who currently have John Eustace in temporary charge. Steve McClaren's former assistant will take charge of QPR while the search for a replacement takes place. Tim Sherwood is the favourite to take on the role, while the likes of Darren Moore, Lee Bowyer and Gareth Ainsworth have also been linked. The Hoops have placed John Eustace in temporary charge with Steve McClaren's former assistant leading QPR while the search for a replacement takes place. Almeida is not considered to be a front runner for the role but will hope to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves and José Manuel Gomes at Reading if he were to secure a job in England.
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Post by Roller on Apr 3, 2019 22:06:45 GMT
Harr, I've revised my estimate of the disallowable costs upwards, so I think we are a little better off than I did before. I'll let you keep two of these players Haha, Roller after the last 2-3 performances I’m not sure I want any now We will have to pay SM off now, on top of that we are still paying IH. Even if Ollie somehow didn't have our standard 1 year severance clause in his contract, his payments will be ending soon as his contract was until this summer and, according to The Times, we had a break clause in McClaren's contract this summer so he won't be getting paid for much longer.
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Post by Roller on Apr 3, 2019 6:30:52 GMT
What makes expect all of that lot to go? Bidwell, Lynch, Wszolek, Cousins, Rangel , Baptiste, Hall I would not be surprised if 2-3 stayed. From my point of view, I certainlywould like Bidwell and Wszelok to stay, Hall maybe if he proves himself again. We could sell a couple of our big hitters to make the shortfall. For example one or two of Eze, Luongo ,Freeman. Harr, I've revised my estimate of the disallowable costs upwards, so I think we are a little better off than I did before. I'll let you keep two of these players
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Post by Roller on Apr 3, 2019 6:26:47 GMT
Would it make more sense to appoint the next manager asap so he can add his views to the mix regarding which players we should look to retain for next season?
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Post by Roller on Mar 26, 2019 19:31:50 GMT
It is very hard to compare Birmingham's breach with ours.
We lost £69.7 million in one season when we were allowed to lose £8 million.
They lost £48.8 million over three season when they were allowed to lose £39 million.
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Post by Roller on Mar 23, 2019 15:00:24 GMT
What makes expect all of that lot to go? Bidwell, Lynch, Wszolek, Cousins, Rangel , Baptiste, Hall I would not be surprised if 2-3 stayed. From my point of view, I certainlywould like Bidwell and Wszelok to stay, Hall maybe if he proves himself again. We could sell a couple of our big hitters to make the shortfall. For example one or two of Eze, Luongo ,Freeman. Our income is reduced by £12 million and we have to make a smaller loss than this season. For argument's sake, let's work towards saving £15 million. How much do you think any of those players earn? An average of £10k a week? That would be £520,000 a year. 6 of those would be about £3 million saved, about a 5th of what we need. I doubt this is the case, but let's assume that we are paying Wells, Hemed and Cameron £20k per week each, that would be another £3 million saved. We've still got another £9 million to find which is perhaps what we'll get for Freeman and Luongo if there are clubs that want to buy them this summer. That won't be the end of it as we will need to find some money to pay the wages of any players we wish to sign this summer. I can't see how we can afford to keep any of them.
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Post by Roller on Mar 23, 2019 10:28:49 GMT
There is a lot of common in that article, but it doesn’t give the full picture in my opinion which I’ll come to in a moment. Firstly though, you are absolutely correct about the financial hit regarding the soon to be out of contract players Ricky, i.e. there isn’t one. I can only assume that David Mc is simply comparing what we paid for them against what we will receive for them. I got Lee Hoos to clarify this a couple of years ago in one of those QPR Business videos he does. www.qpr.co.uk/videos/interviews/hoos-october-part-two/What David Mc steers well clear of, with just a cursory mention that the club are “bullish about their ability to comply with FFP”, is how FFP will affect our budget next season. I think we understand the rolling three-year nature of the beast, but next season issue gets brought into sharp focus when you put numbers into it. 2015/16 loss £11 million 2016/17 loss £6.5 million 2017/18 loss £17.5 million Therefore, the three-year loss was £35 million which sits comfortably within the £39 million allowable loss. I expect us to lose around £14 million this season (I have reasoning and workings for that, but it would make this post too long and hard work to read). Rolling on a year we have 2016/17 loss £6.5 million 2017/18 loss £17.5 million 2018/19 loss £14 million The three-year loss would now be £38 million, very close to the limit. However, for next season, we have the smallest of our recorded losses since the inception of FFP, £6.5 million, rolling out of the equation and so not only do we have to cope with the loss of our parachute payments, but we have to reduce our loss from £14 million to under £6.5 million. There is one other very important part of this equation which I’ve not allowed for in those numbers which is the disallowable costs. These cover items such as investment in the club’s academy and youth development, expenditure on the women’s football team and donations to the QPR in the Community Trust. By my estimation (and I have far less to back this up), this could be in the region of £1 million per season which would therefore reduce the loss for FFP purposes by that amount meaning that for this season the club’s headroom beneath the FFP ceiling would be £4 million. That would still leave us to have to cope with a drop of income of around £12 million, a need to reduce our loss by £7.5 million, but with a buffer of £4 million. I’m glad the club are bullish about achieving that. I don’t expect any of the loanees (Wells, Hemed and Cameron) to remain at the club, not to see any of the senior players whose contracts are expiring next season (Bidwell, Lynch, Wszolek, Cousins, Rangel and Baptiste), with the possible exception of Grant Hall who may accept a lower offer if no other club is prepared to gamble on his fitness. I’m aware of two other players whose contracts are expiring this summer - Shodipo may be offered an extension, but I doubt that Charlie Owens will.
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Post by Roller on Mar 18, 2019 20:00:46 GMT
We need a manager like Jurgen Klopp. Always jumping around pointing screaming clapping, congratulating, such infectious enthusiasm. Our manager just sits. We had one of them. He got slated for jumping, pointing, screaming and clapping too much!
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Post by Roller on Mar 18, 2019 19:57:27 GMT
While I'd agree that the club's owner(s) are as culpable by not controlling his excesses, it is Redknapp's outright refusal to concede that his actions are in anyway responsible for the financial plight that several clubs find themselves in that really grinds my gears. Does he ever look in his rear view mirror?
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Post by Roller on Mar 17, 2019 11:40:09 GMT
Two of the three substitutions were forced on him with Freeman taking a knock and Cameron just starting to find his way back into the team after a long layoff. The third we could all have predicted before kick off.
I'll take some convincing that keeping Lynch in the team was the correct decision. Hall should have played ahead of him in my opinion.
I can't decide if their first goal was down to poor defending or a well worked attack. Both central defenders get dragged to the right hand side meaning that Bidwell had to close up the massive gap that created. Cameron got sucked into the ball as well. When they switched to their right Lynch decided to try to block the ball leaving Bidwell to cover one striker running in behind Lynch and Bowen out wide without any help from the defensive midfield players or the left wide man. Is that poor defending or good attacking or a combination of both?
You may be right, Ricky, that McClaren stumbled over a system that worked earlier in the season. We were sound at the back but a little limited going forwards. Tactically now we seem to be all over the place as he continually varies formations and personnel in a bid to do so again. Hopefully Cameron will be close to being back up to speed by the time the Bolton match comes around and hopefully we can return to how we were playing at the back end of last year.
As for his general substitutions, we are often left scratching our heads wondering why.
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Post by Roller on Mar 10, 2019 8:45:00 GMT
Down the pub before the match, as soon as we saw the team sheet we all knew what to expect. 4-4-2! We can't play 4-4-f@cking-2. Not with these players. Scowan was great last season as part of a three man midfield, but he looks poor as part of a two. Wells and Hemed struggled playing together earlier in the season. Cousins has been playing well in midfield so why move him to full back? I can understand the theory of matching our formation to theirs, but you have to have the players to do so.
As soon as Clucas was sent off the match looked destined to be scoreless. Stoke defended their box proficiently and we had no idea how to break them down. There were a few nice touches from Freeman, but he can't be expected to win every match on his own. Bright ran at them at and caused a few problems but always had to beat three players to get a cross in and nice as it was to see Shodipo, this was hardly an ideal situation for him to be re-introduced to the team.
This was not McClaren's finest hour.
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