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Post by rickyqpr on Aug 28, 2022 9:07:30 GMT
The first six games have been pretty daft.
Favourites for relegation, Reading top the table, beating promotion hopefuls Millwall yesterday. Reading had conceded 4 against Rotherham - then kept three clean sheets with Lumley in goal throughout.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough secure their first victory of the season over bottom 3 Swansea.
Rotherham and Preston are the only unbeaten sides - Preston have drawn 5 of their 6 games nil nil - they have only scored one and conceded none.
Coventry yet to play at home - yet to win a game.
Stoke sack O'Neill to hire Neil - Sunderland may replace Neil with Mowbray (ex Blackburn)
Blackburn win 3 on the bounce, then lose three on the bounce.
Norwich start poorly, but then win games against the run of play (again yesterday at Sunderland) and so up to 4th.
Relegated teams sit 4tth, 6th and 7th - with Burnley scoring 5 at previously unbeaten Wigan.
Bristol City and Hull discover goal machines in Conway and Estupinon - who?
Cardiff buy a new team, but cannot buy a goal.
Steve Bruce looks like he is going to have a heart attack (no change there) over 'the worst penalty decision in his entire career' (N.B. the 'penalty' was not awarded to WBA).
21/22 play-off teams, Huddersfield and Luton in the bottom six.
Impossible to draw any clear conclusions - especially with the window still open.
How will QPR fair? I haven't a clue!
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Post by robindubois on Aug 28, 2022 12:39:59 GMT
When has the Championship not been crazy! The table today and results from the first 6 games are unbelievable. After the performance yesterday there will be high expectancy amongst our fans against Hull but they are riding the wave after promotion and not easy to beat. We may end up playing better away from home as teams come to our place to close us down and hope for a quick break goal themselves. A win and we will be heading for a play off place - a loss and we will be sliding towards the relegation zone. That's how tight the league is and the window is not yet closed. I expect the PL relegated clubs may be busy at the end of the window and may gain an advantage with their extra cash. On the other hand they may need to off -load some of their high earners. I also think the international break for the World Cup will be a disruption and expect some teams that have started well to loose momentum and vice versa. I hope we use that time well especially if we get another couple of signings and our injured players fully fit. Some behind closed doors games will help to keep match fit but If we send the squad on holiday and hope to start again with another short pre-season we will be asking for trouble Like Ricky I have no idea how we will do. Certainly not pessimistic but anything can happen - somewhere between 4th and 20th is my current forecast  |
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Post by hitmanrangers on Aug 28, 2022 21:27:04 GMT
World Cup makes it very interesting, what will premier league teams do - send B teams / non World Cup players on overseas tours to play similar teams or clubs from nations that did not qualify but with high proportion of home nation players like Italy / serie A. Some big names not there like Haaland - surely Man City can’t afford him to lose match sharpness plus Italian players missing. Maybe they will get some time off but generally expect all teams to play behind closed doors friendlies or tours. Also have to consider the mental fatigue - how will players from losing semi final teams and runners up get over disappointments. No summer to take a break like usual as straight back into league campaigns. Championship restarts after group phase so here’s hoping Morocco and Senegal get knocked out then!
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Post by rickyqpr on Aug 29, 2022 8:11:12 GMT
World Cup makes it very interesting, what will premier league teams do - send B teams / non World Cup players on overseas tours to play similar teams or clubs from nations that did not qualify but with high proportion of home nation players like Italy / serie A. Some big names not there like Haaland - surely Man City can’t afford him to lose match sharpness plus Italian players missing. Maybe they will get some time off but generally expect all teams to play behind closed doors friendlies or tours. Also have to consider the mental fatigue - how will players from losing semi final teams and runners up get over disappointments. No summer to take a break like usual as straight back into league campaigns. Championship restarts after group phase so here’s hoping Morocco and Senegal get knocked out then! Yes, it will be different for sure. Clubs who are in trouble at the break will have a long time to contemplate what they will so next. Probably multiple managerial sackings. Players thinking they are doomed - big psychological impact. Key players picking up injuries.... And of course social media - a month to get hysterical..... |
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Post by robindubois on Aug 29, 2022 14:06:38 GMT
What I find strange and annoying is that the Championship has to restart after the group stages but the PL get until Dec 26 when it is all over. When we restart we could for example be missing Seny and Chair, 2 key players and nearly 20% of our starting line-up, for a couple of crucial games against Burnley and Preston after the break. If they progress in the World Cup the wait will be longer plus travel and recovery time. At least Scotland did not qualify or we would be in Deep trouble without Dykes  |
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Post by londonranger on Aug 29, 2022 16:04:08 GMT
These posts remind me of a Gilbert and Sullivan Theme.
Ruddigore. William Schwenk Gilbert was not a football fan so this post doesn't make sense. Sorry
no offence meant to anyone
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Post by robindubois on Aug 29, 2022 20:50:31 GMT
These posts remind me of a Gilbert and Sullivan Theme. This particularly rapid unintelligible chatter isn't generally heard and if it is it doesn't matter matter matter matter matter. Ruddigore. no offence meant to anyone If you find it unintelligible stop reading it. Better than a monologue about Eze. You may not intend offence but have created plenty |
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Post by rickyqpr on Aug 30, 2022 12:50:36 GMT
These posts remind me of a Gilbert and Sullivan Theme. This particularly rapid unintelligible chatter isn't generally heard and if it is it doesn't matter matter matter matter matter. Ruddigore. no offence meant to anyone So would you rather we reduced the number of posts and did not discuss football matters other than QPR then Harry? |
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Post by londonranger on Aug 30, 2022 14:20:21 GMT
No. Dave, Im happy, just a lark. This early part of season with a new manager maybe we need to wait a bit. But open to other ideas.
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Post by londonranger on Aug 30, 2022 14:23:11 GMT
Robin, no harm meant. Ill stop reading them
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Post by rickyqpr on Aug 31, 2022 7:42:42 GMT
Relegated sides now 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
'Watford have the best two strikers in the league by a mile' - Wilder last night.
Nervous 48 hours for Watford supporters.
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Post by robindubois on Aug 31, 2022 8:04:15 GMT
Relegated sides now 2nd, 3rd and 4th. 'Watford have the best two strikers in the league by a mile' - Wilder last night. Nervous 48 hours for Watford supporters. No real surprise on the table except that I though it would take a few games more before they adapted to the Championship and started to emerge from the pack. Unfortunately I think this is the shape of things to stay each season with the relegated 3 fighting for the 2 automatic promotion places and the rest of the league slugging it out for a play-off spot. The only exceptions could be if some team like Forest come straight back down and have to offload half of their 17 (or is it 18) new signings and hit FFP. I have the feeling Watford have enough cash that they can hold on to their strikers for one season - unless the players force a move. |
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Post by harr on Nov 1, 2022 22:10:53 GMT
Losses for Swansea again and Blackburn also.
Wins for Sheff Utd who overtake us and Preston.
Of course WBA get there first win with new Manager , always the way before we play a team.
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Post by harr on Nov 2, 2022 21:56:27 GMT
Unreal Burnley losing 2-1 with 90+1 , then 2-2 , then 3-2 , 90 plus 10 are they paying the football league or something.
Third game in a week they have been losing or drawing in 90 mins and won all three.
Rotherham went down to 10 on 75 mins and that changed the game
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Post by harr on Nov 2, 2022 21:56:43 GMT
Unreal Burnley losing 2-1 with 90+1 , then 2-2 , then 3-2 , 90 plus 10 are they paying the football league or something.
Third game in a week they have been losing or drawing in 90 mins and won all three.
Rotherham went down to 10 on 75 mins and that changed the game
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Post by rickyqpr on Nov 3, 2022 8:53:36 GMT
Unreal Burnley losing 2-1 with 90+1 , then 2-2 , then 3-2 , 90 plus 10 are they paying the football league or something. Third game in a week they have been losing or drawing in 90 mins and won all three. Rotherham went down to 10 on 75 mins and that changed the game I can only hope that Burnley will lose three in injury time at some point.....but yeah unreal. It was if the game last night had to continue until Burnley scored. 10 minutes extra meant that Rotherham were down to 10 men for 25 minutes and yet when it happened, I thought that they just needed to hold out for 15 minutes. The added time is such a lottery now. I thought that 6 minutes in the second half last night at Norwich was a lot and had that last kick gone in rather than hit a post, it could have been crucial. Not sure if stopping the clock is an option but as ever, there is little consistency. |
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Post by harr on Nov 4, 2022 21:02:48 GMT
My son was telling me today Ricky that the refs have awarded Burnley an additional 27 minutes of added time in the last 3 matches. Seems like the officials have been given a back hander  |
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Post by robindubois on Nov 5, 2022 9:41:39 GMT
My son was telling me today Ricky that the refs have awarded Burnley an additional 27 minutes of added time in the last 3 matches. Seems like the officials have been given a back hander Not sure its fair to say the refs awarded Burnley extra time - it was the same for both teams just Burnley made good use of the time. From reports I have seen in each game Burnley were battering the other teams to get back a point or three - that's what good teams do - and there was a fair amount of time wasting by the other teams trying to hold out. Lesson for teams holding on - stop time wasting and keep the game as short as possible - or play act, extend the game and give the fitter /stronger team more time to score. |
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Post by harr on Nov 5, 2022 9:47:06 GMT
It was said tongue in cheek, note the emoticon
Note taking anything away from the fact Burnley have only lost one game, realky that’s where they should be with their squad.
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Post by harr on Nov 5, 2022 13:09:24 GMT
Be good if it’s stays Sheff u 1 Burnley 1
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Post by harr on Dec 3, 2022 14:06:22 GMT
Currently gone up to 6 th at the minute if it can stay like this for 20 mins
Millwall losing Game in hand 2-0
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Post by Marc on Dec 3, 2022 14:43:43 GMT
Currently gone up to 6 th at the minute if it can stay like this for 20 mins Millwall losing Game in hand 2-0 Finished 3-0. Back in the play-offs. Mick who?  |
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Post by robindubois on Dec 4, 2022 9:05:07 GMT
Give Hall the job - miracle worker got us back into the play-offs without kicking a ball. It looks so much better being "above the line" in a play-off position.
But just look at the table that 5 or 6 games ago was getting stretched out - everything now closed up again with only 2 points separating 6th from 13th and eight points between 6th and a relegation spot.
The Burnley game optically is a season shaper for us and the bad news is that we play a day later than the rest of the league and will probably be starting that game in mid table after the Saturday games. A win to put the last few weeks behind us would be great.
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Post by harr on Dec 12, 2022 21:02:47 GMT
Crazy to think with one point in eighteen we are top to tenth and if it goes to one point in twenty one we could be as low as 15th at the weekend.
Need this rot to stop quick, Beale did us no favours with those WBA, Coventry and worst of all Huddersfield performances .
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Post by harr on Dec 12, 2022 21:42:32 GMT
There’s a nice surprise WBA 2-1 up and keeps our 9th spot intact.
Such an improved team since they got a new Manager, that was bad timing for us.
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Post by rickyqpr on Dec 27, 2022 12:26:11 GMT
It Is just getting crazier.
Norwich in 5th have 35 points
Reading in 16th have 32 points - Twelve teams covering 3 points.
I think part of the reason has to be the depth of the squads. The relegated teams and the bigger teams with the huge squads float to the top. All the others have purple patched and winless runs, depending on who they can put on the pitch. So many clubs this season have been without numerous players, QPR has fared quite well with injuries, but our lack of cover remains our problem.
I think our new coach is giving the fringe players a chance, although so far with little return.
We may need to revert to a back three to lend support to Dykes because he struggles as a lone striker, especially with Willock out of form and Chair only just returning. Adomah is only likely to be a squad player and not a starter. Roberts and Johansen both sick notes.
Like with moist Championship teams, the core players, when fit, can be a match for most teams:
Dieng, Laird, Dunne, Dickie, Clake-Salter, Paal, Johansen, Willock, Amos, Chair, Field, Iroegbunam, Dykes - our core players.
Dozzell, Richards, Kakay, Armstrong, Masterson – all young enough and could develop / make up the squad – if happy to be just bit players
But once we drop below that, it is something of a lottery and some may well move on next month (if there are any takers) but will need to be replaced on little or no money.
We have: Bonne, Thomas, Hamalainen, Owens & Shodipo – how many appearances between them? Balogun is no longer mentioned – is he off to join Beale? Is Roberts worth the money we are paying him – I wonder if we are able to return him in January?
But all clubs face similar dilemmas. But the season is now played in two halves. How clubs come out of the January window, just what loans are secured, what talent retained, basically determines the fate of that cluster of clubs that all enter the window with an opportunity to make the play-offs.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United and Burnley sail off into the distance and Nottingham Forest prepare for another glut of signings to avoid playing this crazy Championship lottery next season.
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