Game 11: QPR 1 Coventry City 1 (22.10.24. Morgan. 14,173)

Nice to stop the rot but frustrating we've dropped so many points from valuable home games and especially with tough games to come.

Varane - still on the fence with him tbh. Doesn't do much for me to get excited about.

Saito - great work rate and need to get him on the ball more. Bit lightweight though.

Celar - lost cause. It's just not working with him. Start to plan without him. He's hopeless.

Ashby - poor player. Shouldn't be anywhere near this side.

Field - hasn't impressed this season. Still steady but not putting his stamp on games.

Smyth - if he has the ball for more than 3 seconds he's guaranteed to fuck it up. Just cross the fucking thing.

Nardi - steady keeper but 0 clean sheets

Dembele - really disappointing. Got bags of ability but anonymous atm.

Morgan - looks hungry and always positive on the ball.


Tough run coming up. Points we'll need end of season like the last 2 home games where we've dropped 5 points will ensure we're in for another shitty season as we're just not getting the points we should be against weak sides.

That is fucking shocking.

Because Frey was injured.

Agree, he was much better. Even managed a forward pass or 2....

Varane, Saito & Nardi by far our best players last night. 

Can’t really fault the effort of the team. Just feels so bloody hard to get points. I think we fought hard and were so crunching challenges on both sides. Worried that JCS, Nardi may be out for next game. Together with Paal.

I think the Nardi getting treatment was to cover for JCS needing time. JCS went down but cook told him to get up as if he had treatment he would have to go off and we would be down to ten men so Dunne and cook were screaming at Nardi to go down who appeared to have no idea why they were saying go down then he got it. JCS then walked over side of pitch where he had stretch and they gave him some energy gels. So assuming Nardi was to cover JCS needing minor treatment was smart move.

sometimes the football is so bad I look for distractions so I don’t have to watch. Normally would use alanwycombe as my distraction but he don’t go anymore, think he’s possibly started following another team.

I think last night represented a turning point, and despite the difficulty of the forthcoming fixtures, I expect to see us slowly improve from here. The most significant change is the return of JCS, which is a huge plus. We are immediately more secure at the back with him in defence, and despite the team's shaky start last night and early goal, we didn't concede in the ensuing 90 minutes.

Then there is the return of Varane, who is without doubt a better option in midfield than Madsen, and again, made us more secure in defence, tighter in midfield, and gave us penetration in the attacking third that has been almost entirely absent with Madsen. Given it was his first game back after three games out, and given that he is still adjusting to playing in the Championship, I thought this was a solid performance. I think his pass completion was very high, he made more passes forward than back, he made some key interceptions and he has the potential to be a commanding presence in midfield. I feel very positive about him and I reckon he will grow into his role and become a key player for us.

Then there is the revelation of Kieran Morgan. Introduced seemingly out of nowhere by Marti versus Portsmouth, where he immediately impressed, he made a huge impact when coming on for Dembele on 58'. He is our most exciting prospect and at 18 years old, can only get better (and better).

With all three in the side, and (hopefully) the return of Frey in attack, we should prove to be a far more robust outfit than we have been so far this season. This is a side that Marti can build on: tighter in defence and with a far more incisive edge going forward.


At the same time, it must be clear to Marti by now who the passengers are: Celar is the most abject failure I have ever seen in the Hoops, and that's saying something. He is so lacking in presence and offers so little to the team that he barely had any effect whatsoever, other than simply being on the pitch. Dembele is also a weak link, losing possession far too easily and offering little going forward. This is strange, given his blistering satart to the season, but he needs time out from the starting 11 and perhaps could be better utilised as an impact sub.

Saito being a better option on the left than Paal, if we're playing a wingback formation, is an interesting idea, and it seemed to work last night. Paal is a bit of a conundrum, I can't decide whether he's a decent player or not, but he's got too many mistakes in him, a bit like Kakay.

Anyway, given all of the above, even if we lose to Burnley on Saturday, I expect to see a much better all round performance, and maybe an elusive home win soon, perhaps even against high-flying Sunderland Saturday week.

So we have one striker who can only play one game a week and another who is no worth playing

That means we only have 50% of our games that we will possibly score in from the centre forward role great

I cannot believe how much the wheels have come off again

Yes we got a draw yesterday but it was far from convincing was it

Would rather play a False 9 than Celar being in the team again.

Its Dykes all over again but fucking worse appalling signing

The kid that scored last night should start on Saturday instead of Varane / Anderson / Madson

He deserves his chance he rescued us last night tbh

Isn't Kolli a striker?

Can't help but feel like Lloyd is just another Armstrong. Probably more football abilty. Refreshingly direct but is quite heads down and run. Looks more of a winger than a striker, based on the little of him I have seen,

A good read