Southampton v QPR | Match Thread

[Acton Stations]

QPR latterly seem to be - as seems to be a working trend these days - "working from home".

Thrash Derby and Swansea at home, then get belted by Birmingham and Southampton away.

Perhaps this is the new Championship mode of economy: We all want to see Rangers win every game, but with three points up for grabs, "win - lose - win -lose" is better than "draw - draw - draw - draw!"

[72bus]

The team lacks belief and can be lazy .
Score 5 then let in 4 ...
Saints are a decent team so are Swansea so how come we turn up one week then fold 7 days later

[eam1882]

We are such a frustrating team to watch.
our defence gave them so much space, should have made changes earlier.
If it wasn't for the keeper it could have been worse.
But we support QPR and this is our lot.
On to the next one.
Happy Sunday everyone.

[daveshads]

Julien has done and is doing a decent job. But I think he still has a blind spot or two. Particularly as to where we are lacking. Within that, the need for a player in the side who can stop the nonsense, when things start to go wrong.

We have equal need of such a player, no lesser need than we do of a striker.

[SheepRanger]

Julien has done and is doing a decent job. But I think he still has a blind spot or two. Particularly as to where we are lacking. Within that, the need for a player in the side who can stop the nonsense, when things start to go wrong.

We have equal need of such a player, no lesser need than we do of a striker.

Ive been saying it for years. We need a midfield enforcer for these away games. Vale & Varanne hardly get stuck in. Too much emphasis on developing ball players for the transfer market rather than the pieces needed to win football matches.

[Abseits]

Vale has been p poor all season

Dunno about poor, he just seems very average so when we face the stronger teams he gets exposed. I only saw bits of the game but we were in the ascendency roundabout 40th minute and we neatly picked our way through their press and got a sort of 3 on 3 break with Vale released on the halfway line through the middle.. we were "in" basically. But. He was so slow, almost jogging forward with the ball that a recovering Saints player made up about 6yds on Vale over 20yds and broke the attack up. Is was really feeble play from him... not sure if it was indecision, scared to actually go for the heart of their defence or just lack of pace (or maybe all three)?

At the time I just thought "typical Vale" and bemoaned our lack of a powerful midfielder who can break forward at pace with the ball and disrupt the opposition.

Ultimately it's not a big shock, 7 straight defeats to a yo-yo team that has parachute money and will finish in top 3 isn't going to define this season for us. Get a win and a draw in remaining games this week and we'll be in and around the playoffs going into the break, which would be pretty decent going.

[daveshads]

Yes I think Vale is becoming somewhat of an enigma. I think he is fairly talented but has an almost detached way of approaching the game. I really think he needs a firework (rocket or better still maybe a sparkler) placed in a sensitive position about his person. I’m not sure he has it in him but I don’t see him as anywhere near classy enough to play like he does.

[Acton Stations]

I just feel that Julien senses we can get points in the next two games in what is a three-match week, in which case keeping players fit, fresh and injury free in the lead-up to those home games is most important. We have a side that can beat anyone in this division on our day at Loftus Road. Sure, Southampton are a very good side, but why risk serious injuries in an away game where if you put in a shift you may get a point at best and pick up injuries into the bargain - throwing the result of two upcoming winnable home games in jeopardy? (Alfie Lloyd's was one too many and that came on 90 mins). I want to see us win every game, but politically speaking, and in the light of our injury management, it is probably more acceptable to go down not fighting very much on an away day where it is almost expected to come away with very little, rather than against beatable oposition at home. I admit that's not a very comforting comment for those fans who travelled there yesterday though.

[lozzer52]

I hope you are right but it does not take much for us to suddenly struggle at home. I think a draw on Tuesday and possibly Saturday too. We had a strong team out at the Saints but seemed to fall apart. First half was good to match them. However, we crumbled badly and yes shocker of Julian to use all the subs. We shipped a goal last time that happened too against Derby and did we against Birmingham.