Game 12: Sheffield United 0 QPR 1 (04.10.22. Willock)

If Willock is out for a month or so I would like to see Shodipo given a full 2 or 3 game run in the Willock role, time for him to either step up as a worthy Championship player or face up to facts he’s not good enough.

I would say Shodipo has never been given a run of first games to gauge him properly, he’s also a round peg in a round hole to keep a similar shape to the side.

That’s a good shout on Richards playing the Willock role.

I’m pretty sure MB said quite recently that he could be back in full training this coming Friday but can’t find the interview.

Still think so, Bill?

Don't think we should fear anyone, the key improvement for me has been defence. Before we had to score two goals a game minimum, now we can potentially pinch it 1-0, which takes a lot of pressure off the attacking players to score a worldie every game. 

But also think we have to keep our feet on the ground: if we have serious play off ambitions we need a) to do better at home - Stoke, Blackpool and Rotherham have all made us look very, very average already this season, b) keep our key players like Willock, Senny, Chair and the two fullbacks fit, and c) get a striker (sorry for stuck record). I honestly can't see us sustaining a promotion challenge otherwise - the double miss by Dykes and Roberts last night summed it up, and if Dozzy had been punished for shirt tugging in the final minutes the mood on here might be different this morning. 

Exciting times, but very early days.

First chance I've had to read over the match thread. This is one of the highlights (following the double miss from Dykes and Roberts) 🤣

Question: What do you do in a situation like that when their player is grabbing your shirt to try to gain an advantage? By not holding his shirt in response you're also majorly risking him getting through and scoring.

The ref then looks at it and sees both players holding each others shirts which isn't a foul as they're cancelling each other out, especially as it's in the box.

Incidentally I voted win.

Their players had beaten looks on their faces for the last 10 minutes. They'd completely run out of ideas. When Beale changed it to 5 at the back it was just a wall of blue and white they couldn't penetrate. First time this season he's done that too, which just further proves his and the team's flexibility and comfort in adapting to what's needed during a game and/or to close it out.

Their fans could see it too - some were booing their players, others were streaming out in droves.

I know Nick London was saying they were both at it but on TV I couldn't see the guy holding Andre. Not to say he wasn't but would prob need confirmation from someone who was at that end of the ground. Beale admitted afterwards that if it was in the centre of the park its a foul.

Stains, replays clearly show their player grabbing onto Dozzell's shirt to give him more leverage to get ahead. Andre grabbed his shirt to prevent that. Therefore 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other.

So the question stands, what does Dozzell do in such a situation, as either way he equally risks conceding a goal. You can therefore argue ref was unlikely to give it whether in or out of the box, and even less likely to give it if in.

IF your starting position is right, yes absolutely.