2022/23 Matchday Thread

[Super_horns]

Our game is I think unsurprisingly off already. Been freezing temperatures and no forecast of improvement. Pavements and stuff around the ground if they are anything like around where I am probably also be pretty dicey. Few people having a moan about it and us not having undersoil heating but, it’s a what - 120 year old stadium we are leaving soon. Not sure that’s reasonable criticism.

Bit disappointing as have missed watching us during the break but with the centre half injuries it’s probably a good thing from a footballing stand point

Probably local police and council had their say on health and safety too as you suggest .

We are at Huddersfield- probably is fine but be cold and just the sort of game we’ll lose !

 

[SF_]

Very happy we won't be facing Ilyas Chair tomorrow

 

[Super_horns]

Sounds like we pretty much dominated all game and eventually took our chances.

Pedro as you might expect - let’s hope he isn’t going anywhere too soon !

 

[SF_]

If a team is in bad form and have just appointed a new manager, then it is almost a guaranteed win for them in the Championship.

Haha, yep. QPR were good.

 

[SF_]

Huddersfield at home.

We have to get 3pts in this one, no excuses.

Hopefully we can get a few players back, we've had nothing on the bench in the last 2 games. Hughes, Browne, Brady, and Riis all come straight back into the 11 if fit. McCann, Maguire, and Parrott still missing too.

The club aren't letting much slip about the injury situation though.

 

[Super_horns]

Losing 2-0 and with 10 men .

Disaster

 

[SMH]

Cheers Preston you shit bastards!

 

[Laker]

Jeez, Smith has to go. The latest terrible performance and result in a long run.

 

[Super_horns]

Jeez, Smith has to go. The latest terrible performance and result in a long run.

Yes - I mean we are 4th and really quite rubbish so that doesn’t say a lot about anyone else below us!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Really great win, for us. First half looked really promising played some good stuff but usual story really - pressure but not producing an advantage. Norwich barely threatened and the fans were in their backs within a few minutes. I think Smith will be gone by the new year. Doesn’t seem a happy place. Great strike from Campbell, didn’t over hit it but placed it out of reach and I really felt fairly comfortable really. Norwich didn’t look too much of a threat and low confidence.

Unfortunately sides like Norwich can get away with being a bit meh at this level because they have quality to get them out of jail and looked like Pukki was going to do that for them. One mistake from us was punished then does well and forced another from Osho who gets a second yellow. Felt a bit aggrieved at that because the first yellow didn’t even look a foul let alone a yellow. Thought that was that but we showed great grit and Woodrow produced that but of quality to win it.

Great to see the togetherness in the squad still there and a good much welcomed win. Bit thin again with Osho now suspended and Adebayo going off with what looked a hamstring

 

[Kenneth E End]

Naarwich must really hate playing Luton recently. I think that is 5 wins out of the last 6 since 2013. And the first time we've done the double over them in over 40 years.

I was quite impressed - Luton looked even more aggressive than under Jones at time. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu was exceptional, especially in the first half. You could say however Luton's goals came against the run of play - we should've been a bit more clinical in the first half as the away team were absolutely dreadful.

Pukki is still a menace at this level. Norwich looked bereft of confidence other than him though. I wasn't overly impressed with Sargeant despite his record this season. Defensively they looked a bit suspect, although the two goals were decent strikes from Campbell and Woodrow.

You can't not like Woodrow considering his debut here aged just 16 in the FA Trophy. First time he's scored at Kenilworth Road since he left I think.

Losing Osho (again) is frustrating, especially as we're very much down on defenders still. And then Adebayo going down with what looked like a hamstring is equally annoying, as in the first half he was aggresive, physical and everything that he should be as a striker.

Thought Alfie Doughty was really impressive - he really does travel down that left wing. If he can stay fit, he'll be on the radar of bigger and better clubs.

2 points off the play offs again in such a tight race.

 

[kieran_vale]

Think that penalty from the Reading player was resembling a Harry Kane tribute act. Absolute shocker.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Good half from us Morris been a threat, Pelly is getting in amongst it and defended well. Started the stronger had a few decent openings before we got the goal, lovely shot from Morris from the edge, who has looked really sharp so far. Think his mini “drought” might have started becoming a thing going off the sky comms but that’s put to bed for a little bit. Since then classic Luton performance we’ve made it our sort of game - defended well and made it a scrappy battle. QPR had most of the play but no real chances to speak of.

Playing like this though is why we are up there for most points dropped from winning positions, yes we’ve defended well but tough to focus like that for the full 90+. We will need to carry a little more of a threat in the second half.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Harry too lightweight and not his normal level of running into the ground.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Otherwise its good. Left side defense shakey with Potts and Bell but thats the way with out knocks. Clark is sooo good but all three in the middle are pivitol to this style.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yes Harry not been great today, being kind to the lad he’s not a “thinking footballer” and looks like he is trying too hard to me. Argument to be had that the partnership between him and Morris works better than Adebayo though? Morris been everywhere tonight, clearly relishing being the main man.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We’ll do well to manage this out now having had to change shape because of the Potts injury. Lost a centre half in the middle of what will become an aerial bombardment you feel. Got the feeling QPR will get at least one with the way the half has gone.

Also yellow cards stacking up, cannot afford to lose another player to Ill discipline

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Well that makes it a lot easier i guess. What a goal by Doughty, been super impressive since coming back from injury.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Weeeeeeeeeee

 

[BelizeHatter]

As Simon Oxley said on comms the timing of all three goals was picture perfect. About time we won there. Been a out 100 years right?

As TFCH mention a few weeks back a tough period. New Management, tough spell before that, tight table, injuries (like everyone) had us wondering if we should be looking over our shoulder. Nope. Navigated it soo well playing to our strengths.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Just about the perfect away performance really, started brightly got an early goal to give us something to hold and make it the sort of game wanted and played on our terms.

Early second half goal and then became about how we could manage it. The second goal seemed to ignite something in QPR and they produced a decent spell where again our defence performed superbly and then the super 3rd to kill any potential nerves. Dont think it gets a great deal better than that.

 

[Super_horns]

Impressive win have to say.

Already got an away win under Edwards which we couldn’t do .

 

[BelizeHatter]

Very early days but........as proven 2020 arent shy of a tough decision, if they see the right man for the job. Id said I'd have preferred Critchley and didn't love the appointment of Edwards.

On last nights performance i retract that, as we were great, and have been since he arrived. On paper we have inferior quality and spent less. In value its sooo much more. Add a couple of mobile defenders, bring on, or get in, a young dynamic quality DM and we can go further.

Id love to develop a couple ourselves. Hope thats a priority too. Jones wasnt one for that - or we didnt have any good enough. Either way thats not good for a Club like us.

 

[Super_horns]

All any team has to do is apply some pressure and score first then we crumble like a pack of cards.

Bilic will be blamed and sacked but the players need to take some responsibility.

Like wise other areas of the club such as our fitness team maybe ?

 

[oakroader]

Yaki da Swansea

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Very early days but........as proven 2020 arent shy of a tough decision, if they see the right man for the job. Id said I'd have preferred Critchley and didn't love the appointment of Edwards.

On last nights performance i retract that, as we were great, and have been since he arrived. On paper we have inferior quality and spent less. In value its sooo much more. Add a couple of mobile defenders, bring on, or get in, a young dynamic quality DM and we can go further.

Id love to develop a couple ourselves. Hope thats a priority too. Jones wasnt one for that - or we didnt have any good enough. Either way thats not good for a Club like us.

Agree with you, I favoured Critchley to Edwards at the time but having seen it last night you see why we went with Edwards. I dont mean that as a slight on Critchley, but Edwards "style" is much more similar and in keeping with what we had (and was very effective and doesnt NEED to be changed) compared to Critchley who seemed to be taking QPR further down the possession based route whereas we arent built that way currently with the squad we have.

Edwards has kept it largely the same with a few pretty minor tweaks, noticeably less chipped balls toward the corner flag from the centre halves ive seen and a bit more encouragement for those centre halves to overlap and join the attack by playing inside a little bit more.

The youth thing i think we rose so quickly it couldnt keep up. We havent really had a youth team player come through and play a league game for us for what must be a good while - probably since we got promoted. We are also stuck with a category 3 academy (i think) as the council wont approve for an indoor training facility so anyone who is good enough is very liable to get pinched especially as there are good academies down the road in various London clubs. I see the youth side have been on a roll this season top of their league and put Birmingham City to the sword in the youth cup so maybe there are a few in that crop who can make a jump - its so hard though and partly the reason we have taken punts on the likes of Watson, Pepple etc i think because we are struggling with that bridge to first team football phase which those 2 have sort of started on already at other places.

 

[Kenneth E End]

We cannot underestimate the infrastructure that is behind the scenes at the club. Every boss that has come in during the last 10 years has said that the board back him to the hilt. Even in the Conference days, the building blocks were being put in place.

Yes, we don’t have the bags of cash like some clubs but everything in the setup is put in place with ambition in mind. We probably have some of the best training facilities now in the division. A thriving youth setup that just needs to get to that EPPP2 level to get even better. People in the right jobs that want to do well.

That’s a big reason why we’ve overachieved in recent years.

Whereas lots of clubs… like Watford for example, are built on sand. We can’t just expect someone to come in and expect to change it straight away. These things take time.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

No Clark today which is a shame as he’s been superb of late. Is going to need a rest at some point though. Slight surprise is that it’s Watson who comes in for him rather than Berry perhaps. First championship start for us and when I saw him in the cup he was a different sort of midfield player, not as buzzy and high pressing so interested to see how that works out.

Burke back on and on the bench which is a big boost

 

[Kenneth E End]

Mind the gap Watford. Regards from LU1.

Y'know, if you held onto Edwards the roles may have been reversed.

 

[Super_horns]

Mind the gap Watford. Regards from LU1.

Y'know, if you held onto Edwards the roles may have been reversed.

Probably depends on if we had any decent players or motivated!