QPR v Preston | Match Thread

[SheepRanger]

I thought I'd get this up early because Im really looking forward to the first game.

Im expecting Julien to ring Holloway and ask where Georges Santos is these days because we need him to play up front!

1-0 (Dunne)

[3London]

lets hope one or 2 of our crocked attack are fit enough to play because that team of tiddlers that played up front on Saturday didn't remotely look like shooting let alone scoring!

[KLOS]

When I saw the fixtures, ii thought that is one of the more 'winnable' ( yes. I know)
starts , exactly what I thought about Warnock.'s return to the Premier ( with no investment from the Board after promotion)
Bolton at home .and 0-4/.I have the sane bad feeling. if so it will all about JS needing time to to understand the demands of the chanpionship etc.
Please, please, let me be wrong.

[SheepRanger]

Burrell said in his interview he's done all his pre-season and is ready to go. He's the only fit striker we've got, so I reckon his absense on Sat was a precaution to ensure he didnt get a knock.

Burrell to start and be replaced by Bennie on 70 mins.

[SheepRanger]

"Preston North End have reportedly been dealt a triple injury blow ahead of the season opener at Queens Park Rangers. The Lilywhites kick off their 2025/26 campaign at Loftus Road, and manager Paul Heckingbottom looked set to only be without summer signing Jordan Thompson. The Northern Ireland international arrived with the ankle injury suffered at the end of last season, but PNE expected him to return ahead of the season start.
Heckingbottom, though, confirmed after the pre-season friendly at Bolton Wanderers that Thompson had been dealt a setback on his road to recovery. It was stated that there had been a ‘misdiagnosis’ of the 28-year-old’s issue. Other than that, the North End squad looked to be in steady shape. However, following behind-closed-doors defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea last weekend, journalist Alan Nixon has issued a concerning injury update. It’s suggested that Robbie Brady damaged his calf against City, while Brad Potts and Will Keane will also miss the first few weeks of the campaign with strains. Potts had featured at Bolton but Keane - whose future at PNE is up in the air this summer - was an unused substitute. Both Potts and Brady played against Wanderers, having returned to action after the start of pre-season. Brady picked up an injury in June when playing for Ireland; Potts damaged his hamstring in early March. Both Brady and Potts would’ve been in the frame for starts against the Rs this weekend. The absence of the Irishman could see Andrija Vukcevic make his full debut for Preston on the opening day, unless Thierry Small or Andrew Hughes are deployed on the left. Mads Frokjaer will fancy his chances of starting in the absence of Potts.

Both managers will provide the latest on their respective team news in pre-match press conferences this week".

But, there is also worry in the home side’s camp ahead of Saturday. Key defensive duo Jimmy Dunne and Steve Cook were forced off with knocks last weekend, as QPR lost 0-1 at home to Brentford. Speaking about the injuries after the Bees clash, head coach Julien Stephan said: “I don’t know. It’s too early to say. Let’s see. I’m not a doctor and I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet. I hope Jimmy will be OK because we stopped (him playing) quickly. For Cookie it was after a run, so I don’t know yet. I hope we can have these players available". Lively forward Karamoko Dembele was taken off with cramp but is expected to feature on Saturday. Striking duo Michael Frey and Zan Celar were not involved because of injury and personal reasons, respectively. In a potential boost to QPR’s attack, the Rs are being linked with a permanent swoop for Schalke striker Pape Meissa Ba.

[daveshads]

So many question marks, almost right through the side, but I feel sure, many teams are in the same position. Still, a hopeful part of the season. But, if as suggested by KLOS, JS might not know the demands of The Championship, then that is unforgivable and we may be heading for trouble.
We live in hope.

[SheepRanger]

JS knows the demands of the championship, its the fourth most popular league in Europe and is a 46 game schedule.

JS is a professional coach and is well aware that physically it will be different to France. He has Bould, the medical & recruitment guys and Nourry who would have spelt it out to him plain enough if he was nieve enough to be unaware of it. He's highly respected coach who knows his football.

All this "does he know the championship" was thrown at Marti too. He knew it all too well, and became scared of it as a result, to the point where he got us to play walking football to prevent injuries to a thin squad. JS has more depth to the squad this season and should go out and grab the league by the throat!

[KLOS]

My point was that if we have the sort of bad start which I fear, the need to get used to the demands of the championship will be what we shall hear bandied about from all quarters whether or not the people concerned are sympathetic to the attempt at mitigation.

[cross it Dave]

Our club has been in the championship for the best part of 10 successive years, if we don’t know it by now then WTF are we doing.

[KLOS]

Guys
Whether or not it is a valid excuse is a moot point. and although JS can avail himself of the advice around him, if it does not go well some people will say HIS team selection demonstrate that HE does understand the league and its rigours. Whatever advice Steve Bould proffer , E signs off the team selection and is responsible.
To try to make if clear again. I am NOT saying it is necessarily a valid excuse, it is just what we shall constantly hear from those who are sympathetic and want to given him time and those who are not.
OK ?

[SheepRanger]

Fair enough KLOS.

But anyone mentioning such an excuse should really understand its pretty lame in the modern world. Im really unsure what the modern championship has in comparison to its former self of 20yrs ago. All the teams are trying to play this tippy-tappy game which is over analysed. The days of managers throwing out the likes of David Batty & Vinny Jones and telling them to get stuck in have long gone. The modern game is full pansies by comparison and aggression and passion has been lost to the patient build up.

The only demand the championship has is the relentless two games a week schedule and relatively thin squads to cover it. That's why the bigger teams tend to be up the top at the end of the season because those on smaller budget cant cover the injuries and suspensions.

We'll soon be back to the modern game where there'll be people talking about the high press and low block nonsense. And dont get me started on fans who think a "pass" of more than ten yards is hoof-ball.

[KLOS]

OK thanks Sheep.,

I am not normally unduly pessimistic but.... please feel free to call me out if with really do well starting Saturday- be delighted to be wrong.

[SheepRanger]

No need to call anyone out if the game goes against us and you were suffering from Pre Match Tension!

The post above giving some initial team news shows Preston have their own injury concerns. Kolli has been absent for the pre-seaaon games but looked sharp in the recent training video. I think we've used pre-season to try a few things out and see where we are with a few fringe players. I wouldnt be suprised to see Kolli, Burrell and Bennie in the squad and at least two of them getting minutes.

I think we'll win on Sat and the players we've been holding back for drills in training sessions will be raring to go. Preston look in a weaker state than us and as the home team, we'll be fine.

Watford & Coventry away are more concerning to me but Ba may be with us by then and Celar has finished two weeks of changing nappies on full pay!!

[cross it Dave]

It’s the post match tantrums I am wary of.

[Darkranger]

About 6 weeks ago some friends of ours managed to get a last minute cancellation of a wedding venue, much rushing around and planning. Everybody's happy and lots of goodwill. We get an invite for the whole day.
Guess what day and time? I'm absolutely bloody livid, I'll be stuck in the middle of a field with no bloody signal come 3pm on Saturday.