Who thinks we can get 2nd spot?

[w12]

As my previous message said i am worried,i dont want play offs but its looking increasingly like it will happen ffs.

[glastoranger]

I have long thought we were at best a playoff team. But many thought we would shoot straight through like Wolves. So be it, could be worse

[Deleted]

yes i do still think we can get 2nd spot, a tall order if we play like we did tonight though.

[Macmoish]

Obviously if we're good enough - the big if - we have a great chance. But despite those who point to the points we got at this stage under Warnock, I always had total faith that Warnock would do it. I don't have that faith.
But of course always have that hope!

[RoryTheRanger]

Before tonight I thought we could. Now however I don't.

Too many injuries to key players, no strikers capable of scoring even up to 8 goals before now and the end of the season IMO.

Now onto what is for me the most worrying thing. If you look at the teams around us, you will see that the team stays pretty much the same most weeks, fans know what to expect each week in terms of team selection. This allows for the team to perform better on the pitch, playing week in week out with each other. Then you come to us..... Every single week Harry puts a completely different team out, whether it's a different formation or usually questionable selection. Playing four CM's against Derby yet our midfield got dominated... Playing O'Neil and Kranjkar on the wings...

[Deleted]

Harry out harry out harry out

[jjqpr]

I seriously am starting to wonder if we'll even make the playoffs...and if we do wpikd we even get through the semi's? ...We keep proving we're not as good as the other teams around us. Automatic promotion is out of the question unless everyone around us starts screwing up badly! Shame as we did start well but when McClaren left everything started going wrong...plus horrendously bad luck with injuries. We need a massive boost against reading that's for sure.

[Deleted]

Feb 10, 2014 23:08:31 GMT @mountpleasantrangers said:

Harry out harry out harry out

yep, should of kept Stevie

[nomar]

I do too.

Its also still possible to win this division yet, especially considering how many games are left to be played.

However, it will require players to stand up and be counted now. Too many have been hiding behind the security blanket of Charlie Austin's goals.

Also, after this weekend we only have to play Leicester away and Forest at home out of the remaining promotion candidates. That's a nice run in to have to put a streak together at the end of the season.

This is far from over yet, guys, so don't give up already. This isn't the same league Newcastle stormed 5 seasons or so ago. Its far more competitive now. There are also still twists and turns to come. Derby, Burnley and Leicester are going to lose games yet to teams they won't expect to drop points to.

2nd place is still very much on.

[kenthoop]

Win the division nomar you are having a giraffe ! second place is even in danger ,and if we do go into the playoffs can't see us winning those either,I really can't see how we were favourites for automatic promotion ,I never believed it then and I still don't believe it now ,don't get me wrong of course I would like to see us get promoted but I cannot see it happening either automatically or through the playoffs ,I do not think we are good enough ,anyway for me I would not mind if it did not happen this season ,I think sometimes we have this mind set that we think we are better than we actually are and now some teams are starting to realise we are actually not as invincible that we sometimes like to portray and we can be beaten ,anyway that's my thoughts

[blueeyedcptcook]

Feb 11, 2014 7:25:05 GMT nomar said:

I do too.

Its also still possible to win this division yet, especially considering how many games are left to be played.

However, it will require players to stand up and be counted now. Too many have been hiding behind the security blanket of Charlie Austin's goals.

Also, after this weekend we only have to play Leicester away and Forest at home out of the remaining promotion candidates. That's a nice run in to have to put a streak together at the end of the season.

This is far from over yet, guys, so don't give up already. This isn't the same league Newcastle stormed 5 seasons or so ago. Its far more competitive now. There are also still twists and turns to come. Derby, Burnley and Leicester are going to lose games yet to teams they won't expect to drop points to.

2nd place is still very much on.

HELLOOOO, sorry Nomar, but are you a blonde by any chance. QPR, may only have to play two top teams, but their results, against the rest, doesn,t leave one with a great hope of victory. So far Reading 1-1, Brighton 0-0, Blackburn 0-0, Wigan 0-0, Watford 0-0, Milwall 2-2. And the bottom three, Charlton 1-0, Barnsley 2-0 Yeovil 1-0.
Not very reassuring is it.

[gramps]

Feb 11, 2014 7:51:21 GMT kenthoop said:

Win the division nomar you are having a giraffe ! second place is even in danger ,and if we do go into the playoffs can't see us winning those either,I really can't see how we were favourites for automatic promotion ,I never believed it then and I still don't believe it now ,don't get me wrong of course I would like to see us get promoted but I cannot see it happening either automatically or through the playoffs ,I do not think we are good enough ,anyway for me I would not mind if it did not happen this season ,I think sometimes we have this mind set that we think we are better than we actually are and now some teams are starting to realise we are actually not as invincible that we sometimes like to portray and we can be beaten ,anyway that's my thoughts

Once again, Kent, we are in total agreement. I forecast at the beginning of the season that we would end up mid-table, perhaps about 10th. I don't think now that it will be as low as that. I greatly fear that, should we get promoted, the humiliation will once again be there and we will be facing a dreadful uphill battle to survive once again. Yes, of course I want our team in the top flight but we are nowhere near ready for it.

[jjqpr]

Agreed gramps, I guess the big question is what's going to do us the most damage, going up or failing to go up? Will TF be gone if we don't go up, what happens to us then?

[luckycharms]

Feb 11, 2014 9:00:12 GMT jjqpr said:

Agreed gramps, I guess the big question is what's going to do us the most damage, going up or failing to go up? Will TF be gone if we don't go up, what happens to us then?

Why would Fernandes and his backers throw away this chance at having a new stadium/entertainment venue and getting involved with the H2 Crossrail development and revitalise a part of London (pretty much rebuilding a new town)as well? That would be an incredibly stupid business decision.

All this doom mongering about not making the promotions at the first opportunity confuses me since I have seen and heard Fernandes reiterate again and again that he is prepared to spend at least 2 seasons in the Championship if it means getting it all right in the end. Looking at the Board's behaviour and Harry's demeanour one can see that at times they have relented with his demands but have refused to sign players on massive contracts.

Sorry to use a PR term but this whole period feels like a 'rebranding' exercise. The QPR 'brand' was damaged by Fernandes himself when he sanctioned silly money spending all the while you were in the PL. It also affected his brand and reputation as a savvy business man getting his pants 'pulled down' by football agents and others. Make no mistake Fernandes took QPR's relegation and failure as personal. He felt humiliated, his grandiose proclamations about 'bringing a new way of doing in football', about 'synergy and cross-marketing' were shown up to be the PR soundbites that they were, of zero susbtance. Not only that as he himself complains, watching players/employees on multi-million pound contracts lazing about, not doing their best and seemingly interested in spending in the latest nightclub, on his money - must have boiled his blood hard-core.

Short-term the Board's reluctance to sanction major spending despite the alarm of losing key players in the recent window could risk QPR's promotion chances now. But long-term it establishes the new paradigm at QPR - that your club is no longer mugs and won't be indulging player demands (Ishak belfodil was one example, Ntep the other) or knee-jerk calls for expensive players like Rhodes. Loans till the end of the season seems to be the compromise solution. If they work great, back in the PL. If not, no major loss. Cut loose and get in new players.


That bodes well for when you guys go up in the Prem and have to start spending again (as will happen). At the very least any agents and prospective managers won't be getting the Cheerful Village Idiot Tony but the Grim, All Business Tony...and he's all out of lube

[nomar]

Okay, I see a lot of panicking going on around here right now. So let's have a look at some of the facts here, shall we? 

Of the current top six teams this is the list of the other top six sides they have yet to play:

Leicester; Forest (A), Burnley (A), Reading (A) QPR (H),

Burnley: Forest (H), Derby (H), Leicester (H), Reading (A)

QPR: Reading (H), Forest (H) Leicester (A)

Derby: Burnley (A), Reading (A), Forest (H)

Nottingham Forest Leicester (H), Burnley (A), Derby (A) , QPR (A)

Reading: QPR (A), Derby (H), Leicester (H), Burnley (A)

Basically, all the teams around us still have loads of games to play against each other which means they will all be taking points off each other.  Logic tells you they can't all win those games.

After this weekend's game against Reading QPR will play just 2 more of the top 6 sides around them where everyone else has to play at least 3 more against the fellow top six.

QPR's schedule for the run in is a lot more favourable than any of the others with 2 of our remaining games against fellow top six sides at home. Look at the gauntlet that Forest still have to negotiate and Leicester have 3 tough away games in that lot too.

There are plenty of beatable teams left on our schedule. Fact is that we are just finishing the trickiest patch of our schedule on Sunday. If we can get a positive result against Reading there is no reason why we can't go on the kind of run Leicester have been on.

This is the reason why I'm not flapping my arms, wringing my hands and doing a Chicken Little impression right now.

Keep calm.

As I said earlier, there are plenty of points to play for and still plenty of points that our rivals are going to drop playing each other.

[terryb]

As you say nomar, our rivals will be taking points off of each other.

However, looking at OUR remaining away games there is not one that I would be confident of winning. Charlton & Barnsley would be the most likely but a London derby & a final match of the season when they may require a win to stay up is not ideal.

The reason I don't think we can go on a roll like Leicester is because they are a better team than us.

I hope I'm wrong, but I see no reason to think that we will improve our performances from how we have been this season.

[nomar]

Feb 11, 2014 19:21:17 GMT terryb said:

As you say nomar, our rivals will be taking points off of each other.

However, looking at OUR remaining away games there is not one that I would be confident of winning. Charlton & Barnsley would be the most likely but a London derby & a final match of the season when they may require a win to stay up is not ideal.

The reason I don't think we can go on a roll like Leicester is because they are a better team than us.

I hope I'm wrong, but I see no reason to think that we will improve our performances from how we have been this season.

I think the key is intensity, Terry.

Our rivals are up for the fight and their players to a man are all desperate to get to the Premier League. We, on the other hand, have a load of players who are on the books of Premier League clubs anyway. Come what may, as far as they are concerned they will be going back to the Prem next season regardless of what we do. Hard to find that Rocky Balboa spirit when the prize really means nothing to you.

It means something to the likes of Ings, Martin, Vardy and Reid. It meant something to Austin for sure, but how much does it really mean to BAE, Krancjar, Carroll or even Morrison should Harry succeed in getting him?

Talent wise, neither Leicester or Burnley are better than QPR. But I get the feeling teams like Leicester and Burnley have a fighting spirit that we don't have.

Talent will take you so far in this division but sometimes you need to have fight, hunger and sheer refusal to back down and be defeated. Those fighting qualities are evident in those other clubs. Not so much with us, though, I'm sad to say.

I said yesterday that teams around us treat us like their Cup Final. We treat games against them with all the intensity of a Sunday morning kick around with your mates on the local common. If we are to go up in the top 2 we need to adjust our attitude pretty sharpish and realise that we have to fight with every last drop of blood if we want to get out of this division at the first attempt.

This team certainly has the potential and talent to go up. Of that fact none of us should be in any doubt. However, whether they really have the hunger and desire for it is another matter altogether.

And, ultimately, I think it is that matter of attitude and desire that will determine our fate.

[Deleted]

Feb 11, 2014 11:52:27 GMT luckycharms said:

Feb 11, 2014 9:00:12 GMT jjqpr said:

Agreed gramps, I guess the big question is what's going to do us the most damage, going up or failing to go up? Will TF be gone if we don't go up, what happens to us then?

Why would Fernandes and his backers throw away this chance at having a new stadium/entertainment venue and getting involved with the H2 Crossrail development and revitalise a part of London (pretty much rebuilding a new town)as well? That would be an incredibly stupid business decision.

All this doom mongering about not making the promotions at the first opportunity confuses me since I have seen and heard Fernandes reiterate again and again that he is prepared to spend at least 2 seasons in the Championship if it means getting it all right in the end. Looking at the Board's behaviour and Harry's demeanour one can see that at times they have relented with his demands but have refused to sign players on massive contracts.

Sorry to use a PR term but this whole period feels like a 'rebranding' exercise. The QPR 'brand' was damaged by Fernandes himself when he sanctioned silly money spending all the while you were in the PL. It also affected his brand and reputation as a savvy business man getting his pants 'pulled down' by football agents and others. Make no mistake Fernandes took QPR's relegation and failure as personal. He felt humiliated, his grandiose proclamations about 'bringing a new way of doing in football', about 'synergy and cross-marketing' were shown up to be the PR soundbites that they were, of zero susbtance. Not only that as he himself complains, watching players/employees on multi-million pound contracts lazing about, not doing their best and seemingly interested in spending in the latest nightclub, on his money - must have boiled his blood hard-core.

Short-term the Board's reluctance to sanction major spending despite the alarm of losing key players in the recent window could risk QPR's promotion chances now. But long-term it establishes the new paradigm at QPR - that your club is no longer mugs and won't be indulging player demands (Ishak belfodil was one example, Ntep the other) or knee-jerk calls for expensive players like Rhodes. Loans till the end of the season seems to be the compromise solution. If they work great, back in the PL. If not, no major loss. Cut loose and get in new players.


That bodes well for when you guys go up in the Prem and have to start spending again (as will happen). At the very least any agents and prospective managers won't be getting the Cheerful Village Idiot Tony but the Grim, All Business Tony...and he's all out of lube

Good post that luckycharms, good to have a neutral's point of view on things, by the way who are your team?

[Deleted]

Feb 11, 2014 22:35:37 GMT nomar said:

Feb 11, 2014 19:21:17 GMT terryb said:

As you say nomar, our rivals will be taking points off of each other.

However, looking at OUR remaining away games there is not one that I would be confident of winning. Charlton & Barnsley would be the most likely but a London derby & a final match of the season when they may require a win to stay up is not ideal.

The reason I don't think we can go on a roll like Leicester is because they are a better team than us.

I hope I'm wrong, but I see no reason to think that we will improve our performances from how we have been this season.

I think the key is intensity, Terry.

Our rivals are up for the fight and their players to a man are all desperate to get to the Premier League. We, on the other hand, have a load of players who are on the books of Premier League clubs anyway. Come what may, as far as they are concerned they will be going back to the Prem next season regardless of what we do. Hard to find that Rocky Balboa spirit when the prize really means nothing to you.

It means something to the likes of Ings, Martin, Vardy and Reid. It meant something to Austin for sure, but how much does it really mean to BAE, Krancjar, Carroll or even Morrison should Harry succeed in getting him?

Talent wise, neither Leicester or Burnley are better than QPR. But I get the feeling teams like Leicester and Burnley have a fighting spirit that we don't have.

Talent will take you so far in this division but sometimes you need to have fight, hunger and sheer refusal to back down and be defeated. Those fighting qualities are evident in those other clubs. Not so much with us, though, I'm sad to say.

I said yesterday that teams around us treat us like their Cup Final. We treat games against them with all the intensity of a Sunday morning kick around with your mates on the local common. If we are to go up in the top 2 we need to adjust our attitude pretty sharpish and realise that we have to fight with every last drop of blood if we want to get out of this division at the first attempt.

This team certainly has the potential and talent to go up. Of that fact none of us should be in any doubt. However, whether they really have the hunger and desire for it is another matter altogether.

And, ultimately, I think it is that matter of attitude and desire that will determine our fate.

I agree nomar with all of this except the Kranjcar bit, as he is not contracted to a premier league club and i feel would love to get there with us to get that contract to play in the premier league again, as cant see clubs from the prem lining up to sign him.

[Bushman]

2nd is still on.