Match Thread | PNE 1 v QPR 0

[Tarbie]

Smith is a player I like, excellent attitude, but playing up front on his own he offers us very little especially when he is isolated with no apparent help from midfield support. He is an excellent option off the bench for the last 15-20 mins when we need a goal back and have to go a little bit route 1, but that type of football will kill our club if we are playing that from the very kick off of a game!

Agree with all of that mate. I have no issues at all with Smith, he does what he does pretty well. It just ain't enough most of the time, you need more movement up top than he could ever offer.

[lincoln ranger]

As poor as Washington has been, he'd have offered more yesterday than Smith did. We were crying out for a bit of pace and energy up front from the very first whistle!

Smith is a player I like, excellent attitude, but playing up front on his own he offers us very little especially when he is isolated with no apparent help from midfield support. He is an excellent option off the bench for the last 15-20 mins when we need a goal back and have to go a little bit route 1, but that type of football will kill our club if we are playing that from the very kick off of a game!

[Tarbie]

Fair one, catch 22 for us then as we are stuck with them. But as they offer us nothing going forward, we are in a position where we will have to pay them for giving the club and offering the first team absolutely jack *****!

As poor as Washington has been, he'd have offered more yesterday than Smith did. We were crying out for a bit of pace and energy up front from the very first whistle!

[lincoln ranger]

Can look all you like at getting rid of Washington and Cousins but to who? Div 1 clubs cannot afford wages and other clubs do not want rejects. The few that can afford anything only
want the better players.

Fair one, catch 22 for us then as we are stuck with them. But as they offer us nothing going forward, we are in a position where we will have to pay them for giving the club and offering the first team absolutely jack *****!

[davieqpr]

Can look all you like at getting rid of Washington and Cousins but to who? Div 1 clubs cannot afford wages and other clubs do not want rejects. The few that can afford anything only
want the better players.

[lincoln ranger]

This. 442 needed. Wszolek starting wide right. Symth off Smith.

My thoughts exactly!

Ideally would like to see a ball playing Centre Half brought in like Sainsbury to replace 'aimless hoofed 40 yard punts upfield' Lynch, and then play 2 x hard working wide wingers/midfield players like Wszolek on the right and maybe Smyth on the left with Eze and preferably a new striker upfront. If not either Oteh or Sylla partnering him, leaving Smith as an option to use off the bench if we have to go 'long ball' in the second half when chasing a game.

Good options in the Centre of midfield : Scowen, Freeman, Luongo or Manning. If we have to offload more players, we should be looking to get rid of the likes of Washington and Cousins initially, both no where near as good as this level for the first team.

It all depends on the ambition of the club. But 4-2-3-1 all season with Smith up front as our first choice Striker will yield us about 30 goals scored all season from the whole team!!! If that is the case, it's going to be one long, hard, unenjoyable season for everyone!

[Shania]

This. 442 needed. Wszolek starting wide right. Symth off Smith.

This Imo.

[hal9thou]

Doesn’t need pace from back to front. Our league winning team played that formation and didn’t.

We won that league because we had a 10 who compared to the rest of the division was world class. Plus he was given free reign,with one instruction - to stay up. which means we didn't really play 4-2-3-1.

We did today and your saw the exact problem I highlighted.

[Rangers77]

This. 442 needed. Wszolek starting wide right. Symth off Smith.

[hal9thou]

Not a big fan of 4-2-3- (JFH's favoured set up) becuase it leaves man up top isolated.

Also very easy set up for opposition defences to deal with....
The only way it can work is with real pace from back to front, ie French style.

Which turned out to be pretty much spot on.

With the right service, wide and deep, Smith has a decent %. If you don't service him, there aint much point.

We looked lacking in confidence, but at the end of the day had a couple of decent chances and gave them a goal.

[1973 ranger]

Not quite Tarbie more along the lines of Marc Bircham timber!

[West Acton]

He’s been training during the World Cup so should be mstch Sharpe no way should two week break see you blowing out your #### like that. Why do some feel they have to offer excuses just call it as it is

[Tarbie]

Luongo looked like he was carrying a bit of timber last weekend.

Like Hacksaw Jim Duggan?

[1973 ranger]

Luongo looked like he was carrying a bit of timber last weekend.

[Tarbie]

2 weeks behind the rest of the squad as we gave him a holiday before and after a World Cup he never played a minute in.

Truth!