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Boro v QPR

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@original-fat-bob

Hopefully he's adjusted to life in midfield for tonight - not much on the bench to change things so Boro will probably need to start well.


   
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Boro a goal up after seven minutes courtesy of an Ikpeazu penalty.  🙂  Uche Ikpeazu, the bargain basement goal machine!  😉


   
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A couple of comments from Vic:

HT: Excellent. Boro have dominated possession, imposed their shape and tempo and created chances. QPR struggling to get a foothold.  Boro good value for their lead.

Uche bullying QPR defence, Spence, Crooks & Jones full of running up front. Defence working hard to snuff out any threat. Great integrated team display


   
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Unfortunately, the live stream kept dropping out in the first 15 minutes - only saw the opening few minutes then next thing to appear was Ikpeazu scoring a pen but nothing after that until the first quarter was over. 

At least I saw the goal but Boro looked to be keeping it tight and playing on the counter - Jones looks lively, tricky and full of pace and Ikpeazu is definitely strong, mobile and can actually hold the ball up in a way that Britt never could. Spence also looks like he's up for it and playing much better than last season.

A second goal should do it and QPR don't look comfortable at the back when Boro run at them. Boro just lack that midfield playmaker to bring the wide players into play - maybe Payero will bring that to the party once he has settled in.


   
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@stircrazy.  I think he is being a bit biased based on the TV stats which at one point were 72:28 in QPR favour.  Spot on with the rest of his comments.  😎


   
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jarkko
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@werdermouth

No technical broblems with the stream in here.

Fabulous game so far. We started really well and should be two nil up by now.

Up the Boro!


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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@jarkko

2-0 at the end would suit me 😉


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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But that won't happen now 🙁

... at least I did predict Howson would score!

This post was modified 3 years ago by Powmill-Naemore

   
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Bugger!  QPR level thanks to a Howson own goal in the 48th minute!  🙁  QPR down to 10 men when Odubajo is sent off after picking up a second yellow a minute later for bringing down Jones, then Dykes puts The Hoops in front in the 56th minute.  The prayer mat's out...

This post was modified 3 years ago by Stircrazy

   
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So typical Boro still ever present 1-2 against 10 men! 😎


   
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2-2 get in.  Mat Crooks great finish. CoB 😎


   
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Crooks bags the equaliser.  The new boys continuing to do well, but the prayer mat's still out...


   
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So much for NW needing another centre forward we need some defenders! 😎


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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@k-p-in-spain

And a keeper


   
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I give up!  🙁


   
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Topic starter  

Bugger.

A crazy game that Boro should never have lost in the end.

I thought the 1-0 scoreline at half-time flattered us after QPR dominated all but the opening 10 minutes (not sure what game Vic was watching) with some slick movement and passing through midfield that we couldn’t get a hold of.

However, after QPR were reduced to ten men Boro were in prime position to take the game on and again at 2-2 but we gave it away with sloppy defending and an absent spine.

The fullbacks were decent again, Spence, Ikpeazu and Crooks worked hard and Jones was the best player in red but thought Fry was off colour whilst Howson and McNair were very poor in my eyes - offering next to no defensive cover whilst not getting on the ball and creating either.

Some good signs from Boro but another Jones on the right (Tav?) would help and we really need to get a grip in the middle of midfield.

QPR look good going forward but aren’t the best at the other end and we really should have made them pay.


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Vic's summing-up:

FT: 2-3. Well that was all kinds of crazy. Boro totally dominant in frst 45, totally chaotic in second 45 and all three QPR goals largely self-inflicted. Still could/should have won. Entertaining stuff, mind. And livewire Jones was fantastic.

After the third QPR goal went in:

Chaotic midfield and defence polished in first 45 now playing like strangers. Should dish out name badges and do some icebreaking exercises. Crazy.


   
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Well not quite the second half I was thinking would pan out - Somehow Boro contrived to let QPR take the points home. Too many mistakes at the back and not enough composure on the ball and ultimately Boro couldn't make the extra man count. At 2-2 I thought there would be only one winner and it wasn't the team in the blue hoops!

Still, lots of entertainment and definitely not the nil-nil I was fearing - some odd decisions by the officials and something of a schoolboy end-to-end type game that favoured QPR's extra quality going forward.

Jones was the star performer for Boro and didn't deserve to be on the losing side - McNair looked off the pace and the midfield still looks to be an area that needs improving - plus no real options on the bench to change the game. If anything the subs made Boro less effective.

A disappointing result but an exciting watch - though ultimately a frustrating game that Boro should have managed to win with the extra man.


Selwynoz
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Posted by: @andy-r

Bugger.

A crazy game that Boro should never have lost in the end.

I thought the 1-0 scoreline at half-time flattered us after QPR dominated all but the opening 10 minutes (not sure what game Vic was watching) with some slick movement and passing through midfield that we couldn’t get a hold of.

However, after QPR were reduced to ten men Boro were in prime position to take the game on and again at 2-2 but we gave it away with sloppy defending and an absent spine.

The fullbacks were decent again, Spence, Ikpeazu and Crooks worked hard and Jones was the best player in red but thought Fry was off colour whilst Howson and McNair were very poor in my eyes - offering next to no defensive cover whilst not getting on the ball and creating either.

Some good signs from Boro but another Jones on the right (Tav?) would help and we really need to get a grip in the middle of midfield.

QPR look good going forward but aren’t the best at the other end and we really should have made them pay.

I think that you are absolutely right about Howson and McNair. For some reason, they just don’t gel in midfield - maybe too much man-to-man marking - but they are leaving a huge hole down the centre of the field. 

This was a real sickener. QPR were very good but created no real chances until we gave them a lucky equaliser. Then we fell apart in defence. Plenty of positives up front and out wide but giving away goals like that to ten men is terrible.

utb

 

This post was modified 3 years ago by Selwynoz

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@selwynoz

Possibily McNair and Howson doing their poor man's Gerrard and Lampard impression...


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McNair in midfield just doesn’t work for me. Whilst he rarely looks a poor player, whenever he plays in midfield we seem to lack balance. With Wing gone, Payero not yet ready and Morsy+Howson too samey, I’m not sure what the answer is. Maybe it will be Tav central with Watmore wide on the right.

This post was modified 3 years ago by Andy R

   
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A bizarre game that seemed to hinge on poor decisions from our defence and Warnock. An early penalty gave us the perfect start and then QPR going down to 10 men was handing it on a plate.

Tippy tappy defending, poking the ball straight back into the path of an opponent repeatedly is always going to end up with the ball in the back of Lumley's net. Speaking of Lumley he makes me regret losing Bettinelli. I can't think of a poorer Boro Keeper in my lifetime other than Brad Guzan and I can't see him recovering confidence with the crowd let alone his own team mates. No doubt Warnock will stubbornly stick with him until the crowd expresses their displeasure.

Howson looked finished tonight in the same manner that it was sad to see Friend and Leadbitter struggle with sharp minds but legs that just can't get there any more. That the Manager couldn't see or accept that tonight was poor especially as he had Morsy on the bench as a ready made replacement. Maybe Howson just can't manage two games a week anymore but either way the buck stops with Warnock to spot the obvious.

Ikpeazu may have been shattered but to bring Akpom on beggared belief more so when he was totally anonymous for his entire time on the pitch. It's strange how a player that has been routinely assassinated by his Manager didn't put himself about and looked disinterested.

There were a few positives in that Spence continues to look more focussed, Crooks was excellent as was Ikpeazu but once again a special mention for Isiah Jones who in reality is keeping his Manager in a job because without his contributions I doubt that we would have got a point at Fulham or beaten Bristol.

Even 10 minutes added time against ten men wasn't enough for a spark from the Manager in terms of effectively shuffling his personnel. I hope there is no truth in growing rumours about Payero being signed by the Club rather than Warnock, McNair's set pieces were poor tonight and the Argentinian could have been brought on earlier to try and make use of those free kicks won by Jones.

How the Referee and his assistant missed Austin's headbutt is another mystery on an evening of poor decisions and performances. A genuine worry for me now is if someone like Hoilett arrives before the close of the window or Ameobi somehow becomes fit Jones will be dropped. 

 

 


Ken Smith
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Well at least the football was entertaining, but in the end I wasn’t surprised at the result only the score. 

This post was modified 3 years ago by Ken Smith

   
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@redcarred

great post RR

totally agree with your comments and the most disappointing game since Neil Warnock became manager in my view.

OFB


   
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Selwynoz
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

@redcarred

great post RR

totally agree with your comments and the most disappointing game since Neil Warnock became manager in my view.

OFB

You're right because something much better was close and could so easily have been achieved. Throwing it away with poor defending and an inability to address the main problem - the Howson/McNair "hole" - makes it much more disappointing than games in which we were just poor.

In answer to @Andy R's comment, maybe the short term answer is a 3-4-3 with McNair playing in the back three behind a midfield diamond with Morsy at the base and Crooks at the apex. You then have four wide positions which could be rotated between Bola, Dijksteel, Spence, Tavenier, Watmore and Jones behind Ikpeazu. Payero and other new additions could be fitted in as they get up to speed.

I would also echo RR's comments that Ikpeazu, Crooks and Jones were all excellent and represent one of the few positives from the game. I accept that Spence is more involved and making much better runs but, unlike Jones, he never seems to beat his man but, to be fair, does look more solid. I'm also a fan of Bola and Dijksteel so it does again come back to the central two being totally exposed.

UTB


jarkko
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A nice and entertaining match to watch. A game we should have not lost but did. But I rather watch this than Pulis ball. Or the empty stadia as per the pandemic.

At least we scored two (or three if we remember Howson's) goals. Defending bad as well as one goal by Lumley. 

Howson was good in the first two league matches but looked tired yesterday. Like towards end of last season. Perhaps like RR said, two matches a week is too many for him?

Somebody was just missing defensively from the central midfield. 

Stll going to like and enjoy the season. Up the Boro!


   
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That was one of those crazy games that happen every now and then. You probably can't take much from it. 

Ikpeazu, Crooks and Jones were immense. 

Dijksteel and Bola were excellent. Spence was probably unlucky to be subbed; defensively he was good but you still wouldn't bet on him actually scoring a goal.

Lumley was at fault for a goal but his communication with the defence seems to be improving; hard to know whether he's just taking time to get up to speed or whether he's not going to get any better. 

Akpom was anonymous. I do worry about Sporar who seems like another in the Akpom, Fletcher, Britt line; a confidence striker who can't play with his back to goal. Payero has a bit of bite about him.

We have had something of a soft centre in all the games so far. It's always tempting to blame the players but I suspect that it's more to do with Warnock's preference for man marking. After Fulham we've done a good job at locking up the flanks but that's left us vulnerable through the middle. When the ball is just outside the penalty box it looks like players are reluctant to leave their man and become uncertain about when to step out and press. I don't think swapping Howson for Morsy or petitioning to have Wing back is going to solve that issue.

Then again, to put it in context, Willock, Dykes and Chair as a front three is probably only bettered by Fulham and we've played them both in the first 4 games. I think we'll learn a lot more against Derby; if 
Derby can unpick us the same way that Fulham and QPR did, we have a problem.


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Like Ken I wasn’t surprised with the result just the score.

We were gifted a lead but struggled against a team who are comfortable on the ball, play a passing game and clinical upfront.

I think with the players we have and NW’s selections we are better playing it tight and trying to hit teams on the break.  If we try and play open and attacking football then we are often un done.

Even at 1-0 I felt there was a big gulf between us and QPR and that does not bode well for our top six aspirations.  A defeat at Derby should set the alarm bells ringing.  Despondent in Spain! 😎

This post was modified 3 years ago by K P in Spain

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I think Deleriad has put his finger on the problem or even limitation of Warnock's team man-marking tactics and how when teams run with the ball after turning over possession will leave them exposed. Whether the players need to be able to make better judgements on the optimum position to take up is perhaps too complex in such a system - especially if different players make different judgements that could make the problem worse.

The midfield looks too one-dimensional and I think McNair plays better when he's got the game in front of him and has more time as he brings the ball out of defence. Howson looked leggy (as the pundits say) and maybe pre-season and two games week have caught up with him. I thought Morsy had looked sharp in pre-season and thought he was nailed in the midfield destroyer role.

Whether the midfield will get reshaped as players become match fit and new ones arrive will remain to be seen. A three of Morsy, Payero and Crooks would be more dynamic but we may need to wait for the international break to see some work on the training pitch - though would Payero be off on international duty and face more quarantine on return?

Fry also looked off his game and I wonder if reports this week that both Southampton and Wolves are lurking as PL suitors has affected him - with Boro keen to rebuff any transfer moves for their key man. Nevertheless, Fry has been linked with a PL move for a few seasons now and may see that the time is right to step up as there are no guarantees that either Boro will be promoted or his form will hold up to see continued interest next season.

I'd also agree that Lumley doesn't look like an improvement on Bettenelli and doesn't appear to be remotely a commanding presence with perhaps only his distribution one of his strengths.

Let's hope Jones is given the run in the side he deserves and doesn't get benched if a new signing arrives - also will Sivi get another opportunity or has his chance gone too.

So overall still a work in progress and some of the old problems still evident but signs of an improvement in other areas with Ikpeazu, Crooks and Jones - plus the return of Tav will add more cutting edge where Spence has filled in adequately without looking like he'll deliver goals or assists.


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One of lifes mysteries, the decision by Warnock to put Akpom on. It really was 10 against 10.


   
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