QPR V Leeds United Match Thread

[CHAPELALLMAN]

In the last 6 games our fabled attacking line has only scored one goal and that was Piroe in stoppage time at Sheff Utd.

Piroe was anonymous during the last few games of last season from what I remember.

Another striker say on loan was essential really, but we did nothing in January.

[andrewjohnsmith]

And the more I think about that early kick off, the more it irks me.

Early kick offs are one thing I can accept. We're prime TV, top of the league, I get it. In most cases there's no excuses for players not performing no matter what time they play.

But this one kicked off literally 62 hours after the last game finished. And an away fixture to boot. That's just awful. If we'd played Tuesday, I'd have no complaints. Or an early kick off on Sunday, I wouldn't complain. That was just an awfully short turn around for an away game.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

We've got 10 first team players going out on Internationals. How can that be a good thing?

Last season when the Welsh players came back they were anonymous for the last few games.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Burnley are now just 2 points and a 10 goal difference away from the summit and the bookies reduce them to 7.5 as outright winners. Burnley look like they are ready for the Frankel finish.

The Leeds front line had better take their chances sooner, rather than later and the defence needs to organise better than they did today.

Burnley are 25 games unbeaten apparently.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Yet we ran all our starters close to 90 minutes on Wednesday. Then roll out exactly the same starting line up two and half days later.

Farke said afterwards that it might have been different if he'd started Gruev and Gnonto. Well that's great to hear - after the game.

Yeah - I just don't get Farke's thinking.

[1964white]

Let's face it Rodon, Struijk, Rothwell, Tanaka, Aaronson & Piroe were all distinctly average.

Whether my replay watch tomorrow, changes my opinion, we'll see.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Well we won the second half 1-0. But I felt we were better first half than we were second. QPR certainly created more second half than they did in the first. I could probably give our defence more credit in the second half. But a rather dire performance when taken as a whole.

Fatigue? Probably

Rotation? Don't understand why we didn't. Gnonto definitely made a big difference.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Let's face it Rodon, Struijk, Rothwell, Tanaka, Aaronson & Piroe were all distinctly average.

Whether my replay watch tomorrow, changes my opinion, we'll see.

I watched with the benefit of knowing the result and really can't fathom how badly disorganized we were at the back. Their first goal followed about 2 minutes of not being able to get our act together. Ampadu probably makes a difference back there. But with Strujik and Rodon, apparently two of the best center backs in the league, we should be handling the stuff at the back a whole lot beter.

[1964white]

It was disorganised chaos at the back - watching their centre half pirouette through 2 of our defenders and nearly create a goal with them a man down beggared belief.

We didn't handle the big German up front - he had Rodon & Struijk rattled

[1964white]

Just praying Ampadu is ready for us after the break.

[1964white]

One positive today.

If we'd had gone 2 down in our run-in last season, we wouldn't have come back to draw the game.

[JoeDenver]

That's the key point. Last season we never did enough to earn the right to have a wobble. Even after our winning run we weren't in front, we had our wobble and we were done. The wins over Sunderland and Sheff U gave us that breathing room. If we'd have lost to Sheff U but beatenn Portsmouth we'd be on the same points as we are now but Sheff U would have gotten 3 more.

A draw today was an okay result. Last season we weren't in the position where a draw was ever an okay result.

I can back this. Our late season run is more favorable than last season’s and the recent results have been slightly better than last year’s (a tie against QPR vs. a loss for example).

There is marginally better rotation from Farke of recent (such as the Willy substitution and the insertion of Rothwell in the lineup), but there’s still quite a few similarities to last season in that regard. James not being subbed for the past three matches in particular is drawing my ire.

Perhaps Farke isn’t seeing enough from Ramazani in practice to be confident in that decision? But getting him some minutes surely would do him some good, no? Seems to be the same rationale as persisting with James to come back into form by keeping him on.

My two cents…

[weasel]

Yeah - I just don't get Farke's thinking.

You did see how disjointed we looked in the cup matches? 3 or 4 changes at this point would be a huge call and 50/50 whether it would work or backfire

[andrewjohnsmith]

I can back this. Our late season run is more favorable than last season’s and the recent results have been slightly better than last year’s (a tie against QPR vs. a loss for example).

There is marginally better rotation from Farke of recent (such as the Willy substitution and the insertion of Rothwell in the lineup), but there’s still quite a few similarities to last season in that regard. James not being subbed for the past three matches in particular is drawing my ire.

Perhaps Farke isn’t seeing enough from Ramazani in practice to be confident in that decision? But getting him some minutes surely would do him some good, no? Seems to be the same rationale as persisting with James to come back into form by keeping him on.

My two cents…

By extension to your Ramazani point, you could say that Farke hasn't been seeing enough from Gnonto either. Yet today, when given the chance, Gnonto showed he's totally up for it. It will hopefully work out Farke's way. But I really do think he's neglecting the squad and additional talent (that would be the envy of every other team) at his disposal.

Today he said if he'd played Gruev in midfield he would have played Gnonto. And was questioning his own decision afterwards. I greatly doubt it. Rothwell was seen nursing a swollen knee 60 hours earlier. If that didn't concern him to start Gruev ..... And when have we seen Gnonto play the 10? Never. Meaning Farke was never going to do it. Yet, Gnonto showed us everything he can offer in that role today - albeit in the 38th game. How many times have we been crying out for that attacking palyer in the 10 role and he hasn't done it?

Anyway. Like I said. It will probably work Farke's way. But the risk of injury and fatigue really does make me nervous.

[andrewjohnsmith]

You did see how disjointed we looked in the cup matches? 3 or 4 changes at this point would be a huge call and 50/50 whether it would work or backfire

And I agree. But I also disagree with zero changes. Millwall at home and QPR away are two completely different challenges. Surely a slight tweak in selection would have made sense. And there were only 62 hours in between final whistle and next kick off. Doesn't make sense that the exact same 11 should run out again. Especially seeing what Gnonto (much fresher) could offer when given the chance.

[1964white]

Question is....At the start of this season, would you have been happy with 80 points after 38 games?

[andrewjohnsmith]

Question is....At the start of this season, would you have been happy with 80 points after 38 games?

Based on what Leicester and Ipswich did, NO

Based on what Burnley and Shef Fu are doing, YES

[weasel]

And I agree. But I also disagree with zero changes. Millwall at home and QPR away are two completely different challenges. Surely a slight tweak in selection would have made sense. And there were only 62 hours in between final whistle and next kick off. Doesn't make sense that the exact same 11 should run out again. Especially seeing what Gnonto (much fresher) could offer when given the chance.

Yet you yourself said you thought we played better in the first hal, when Gnonto wasn't on the pitch and it was the same XI as started v Millwall.

The flip side to the argument for changes is that if you start the match having made a few changes to the line-up and it goes badly then you are relying on tired bodies coming on and making a difference. By starting with the tired bodies you still have the fresh bodies to come on and hopefully make an impact. Also a bit like how Rothwell was able to come off the bench and have an impact whereas Gruev coming off the bench would likely have less impact.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Yet you yourself said you thought we played better in the first hal, when Gnonto wasn't on the pitch and it was the same XI as started v Millwall.

The flip side to the argument for changes is that if you start the match having made a few changes to the line-up and it goes badly then you are relying on tired bodies coming on and making a difference. By starting with the tired bodies you still have the fresh bodies to come on and hopefully make an impact. Also a bit like how Rothwell was able to come off the bench and have an impact whereas Gruev coming off the bench would likely have less impact.

I didn't expect you to read my earlier comments. Damn you.

When I was making the Gnonto reference, it wasn't even about playing at the 10. My mind would have had him in for one of the wingers. It's what Farke was doing regularly before Christmas and hasn't done since.

I accept what happens either way. Whether I agree or not, I don't have the ability or experience to make the decisions Farke makes. Difference is that I'll still be a Leeds fan next year, whether we get promoted or not

[1964white]

You did see how disjointed we looked in the cup matches? 3 or 4 changes at this point would be a huge call and 50/50 whether it would work or backfire

We were dreadful in all three cup games.

No energy, pressing, cohesion, struggled to retain possession, not creative with few efforts on goal & poor defensively.