Blackpool 2 V 0 QPR : Match Report
Sept 26, 2018 13:49:49 GMT
Post by northwesthoop on Sept 26, 2018 13:49:49 GMT
Blackpool 2 V 0 QPR : League Cup 3rd Round
Where to start?
It is hard to be shocked by QPR. We all remember Vauxhall Motors and suchlike and even recently going down 7-1 to West Brom. Last night however was still somehow a shock. We were so bad it is untrue. Woeful. Shambolic.
Blackpool were more than worthy winners. They could have had more than 2 goals, they simply wanted it more than QPR. They were first to every 50/50, won the majority of headers and dominated the play. Even in the injury time there was a crunching tackle on Smyth when the match was long since won yet they were still fighting hard. They really wanted it. It is such a shame QPR didn't.
I would love to know the stats for 'touches in the opposition box' for QPR last night as it must be at most 10. We built no pressure even with 11 men on the pitch. The only efforts I can remember were a low cross come shot from Chair in the opening exchanges that the keeper merely had to gather, then Osman Kakay for reasons known unto himself thought he had the ability to cut inside and bend one in the far corner with his weaker left foot. It ended up high in the empty stand behind the goal. That was as good as it got.
All QPR could do in the opening 45 minutes was commit foul after foul after foul as we just tripped or pulled back player after player as they breezed past us. Scowen the chief culprit came out of the tunnel at the start with his head down, arms lolling about before we'd even kicked off. We said between ourselves right then it looked like he had a chip on his shoulder and from the first minute he was off the pace and bundling over every Blackpool player in sight. He was incredibly lucky to not get sent off for a forty seventh lunge and was immediately subbed in the only correct decision McClaren made all night. He kicked a bottle as he left the pitch and stormed off down the tunnel. What was he angry about? He should be fined and I hope we don't see him in a QPR shirt again soon. Disgrace.
Goss came on in Scowen's place and did OK, he is just not as good as he thinks he is (taking every set piece and corner) and it is clear he will need specific players around him to get the best out of him. He could perhaps work with the physical Cameron sitting next to him.
Scowen's midfield partner on the night Cousins was also booked in the first half for persistent fouling then got passionate about being tackled when he got in a muddle with Goss and they left the ball for each other and his petulant reaction got him sent off. Shame he couldn't be passionate about his performance. We were abysmal with 11 men, with 10 men we were stuck in our own half and it was long since game over. The 2nd goal in injury time just gave the scoreline the fairness it deserved.
We were stuck all night playing it long to Smith who either loses the headers or heads it to the opposition. Could we not try bringing it down on his chest and then bringing other QPR players into play? He is such a sorry excuse for a footballer. He is too slow to pressurise the opposition and once the defenders get used to him they just jump over the top of him and win every header. We had a few corners in the second half but every one was header away comfortably at the near post.
To analyse a few player performances...
Wszolek seems to have gone from a slow player to an even slower player. For a winger he has zero pace and lacks guile on the ball so I am not sure what he is offering us. He looked disinterested from the first minute, leaving Kakay exposed time and time again. Osayi-Samuel on the other side was barely involved and when he was he failed to break away, instead treading on the ball on one occasion. He was extremely poor last night.
Hall and Baptiste were average, they largely did their jobs but were responsible for most of the aimless long balls down field. Hall looked fit and game ready which is a positive.
Hamalainen is never going to make it at this level. Yes that is harsh but it's bloody true. It was like watching a school kid, his positioning was poor, he hated being in possession and was weak in the air. He drilled one free kick near half way low across the pitch and out for a throw in on the other side. It had to be seen to be believed. And he is 21, not some 17 year old who can be excused an off day. He should be good enough by now. Blackpool's impressive left back Marc Bola who never gave Smyth or Wszolek a sniff is only 20. There can be no excuses.
That brings me on to the team selection...
If we were going to play Kakay we should have played Bidwell on the other side. If we were going to score we needed Hemed or Wells at least on the bench.
I do not understand how professional footballs, paid handsomely to do something they love, need resting - and resting to the extent that they don't even travel. Our players came back from a 2 week break 10 days ago. They should have been telling McClaren they wanted to play, do they not enjoy playing football? Or are they so unfit they need a rest and can't even come on as sub? Something is wrong with attitude or fitness somewhere.
We had zero creativity last night. Would it really have hurt to give Freeman and Eze 45 minutes each or 60/30? Chair only lasted 45 minutes himself last night (Another guilty of being largely anonymous and persistent fouling) so could Eze have not done the same.
Or could not have played Wells for 60 minutes against Blackpool with the intention of him doing 60/70 minutes against Swansea rather than a full 90?
If they read what follows below they should be embarrassed...
Past Vs Present:
I've done some research to reinforce the point that modern footballers are overprotected, overpaid, overhyped prima donnas.
In the 1989/90 season Andy Sinton played every one of QPR's games. 50 appearances.
He played in all the league cup matches and in the FA Cup he played in a 3rd round replay, a 4th round replay, TWO 5th round replays (ironically against Blackpool) and also a Quarter Final replay. 9 appearances in the FA Cup alone.
After the Blackpool replays we beat Millwall and Arsenal in the league. After the Liverpool replay we beat Spurs. Sinton scored. He did not need bloody resting. He wanted to play, the club wanted to win. It did not have a detrimental impact on our league performances playing a strong team. We won 3 London derbies in a row!
Same case in point in 1991/92 with key right back David Bardsley.
He not only played all the League Cup and FA Cup matches that season but he also played both matches in the Zenith Data Systems Cup. I am too young to even know what that is, but I know that these days we'd probably even be resting the 'kids' for a competition of that stature. In 91/92 the following nigh on full strength team faced Norwich in the Zenith Data Systems Cup:
Stejskal, Bardsley, Wilson, Tilson, Maddix, Peackock, Holloway, Barker, Thompson, Bailey, Sinton.
3 days later we smashed Everton 3-1 in the top tier. The exact same line up played. We played Man City in the League Cup the next midweek. The same team played. And did so again in the next game back in the league. Back to back matches; midweek, Saturday, midweek, Saturday. No excuses. None of the players got left at home so they could catch up on Bodyguard or Strictly.
Now in 2018 are the club telling me a 20 year old fresh Ebere Eze needs a lie down before his next match? Nahki Wells is still not match fit after 5 appearances? Luke Freeman didn't fancy the trip to Blackpool because it was too cold? Is Tomar Hemed fasting again or something? He only played 20 minutes last Wednesday could he not be on the bench at least last night?
Jake Bidwell using up too much energy playing at left back? In 1976/77 Ian Gillard played 58 games including European Football and 2 League Cup semi final replays. Do me a favour Jake!
You are getting paid more than we could dream of lads, just play the god damn matches.
Is playing modern football every 4 days really that hard? Why have things changed so much?
Do we really need to lose against Blackpool in the cup so we can put a better team out against Swansea in the 10th game of the season? Give me a break. An absolute farce.
Something has gone wrong at both QPR and in football in general.
A chance to get to the last 16 of a cup for only the second time in over 2 decades blown.
My Mars bar at half time was nice though.
Player Ratings:
Ingram - 5/10
Kakay - 4/10
Hall - 5/10
Baptiste - 5/10
Hamalainen - 4/10
Scowen - 1/10
Cousins - 2/10
Wszolek - 3/10
Osayi-Samuel - 3/10
Chair - 3/10
Smith - 3/10
Goss - 5/10
Smyth - 3/10
Oteh - N/A
Where to start?
It is hard to be shocked by QPR. We all remember Vauxhall Motors and suchlike and even recently going down 7-1 to West Brom. Last night however was still somehow a shock. We were so bad it is untrue. Woeful. Shambolic.
Blackpool were more than worthy winners. They could have had more than 2 goals, they simply wanted it more than QPR. They were first to every 50/50, won the majority of headers and dominated the play. Even in the injury time there was a crunching tackle on Smyth when the match was long since won yet they were still fighting hard. They really wanted it. It is such a shame QPR didn't.
I would love to know the stats for 'touches in the opposition box' for QPR last night as it must be at most 10. We built no pressure even with 11 men on the pitch. The only efforts I can remember were a low cross come shot from Chair in the opening exchanges that the keeper merely had to gather, then Osman Kakay for reasons known unto himself thought he had the ability to cut inside and bend one in the far corner with his weaker left foot. It ended up high in the empty stand behind the goal. That was as good as it got.
All QPR could do in the opening 45 minutes was commit foul after foul after foul as we just tripped or pulled back player after player as they breezed past us. Scowen the chief culprit came out of the tunnel at the start with his head down, arms lolling about before we'd even kicked off. We said between ourselves right then it looked like he had a chip on his shoulder and from the first minute he was off the pace and bundling over every Blackpool player in sight. He was incredibly lucky to not get sent off for a forty seventh lunge and was immediately subbed in the only correct decision McClaren made all night. He kicked a bottle as he left the pitch and stormed off down the tunnel. What was he angry about? He should be fined and I hope we don't see him in a QPR shirt again soon. Disgrace.
Goss came on in Scowen's place and did OK, he is just not as good as he thinks he is (taking every set piece and corner) and it is clear he will need specific players around him to get the best out of him. He could perhaps work with the physical Cameron sitting next to him.
Scowen's midfield partner on the night Cousins was also booked in the first half for persistent fouling then got passionate about being tackled when he got in a muddle with Goss and they left the ball for each other and his petulant reaction got him sent off. Shame he couldn't be passionate about his performance. We were abysmal with 11 men, with 10 men we were stuck in our own half and it was long since game over. The 2nd goal in injury time just gave the scoreline the fairness it deserved.
We were stuck all night playing it long to Smith who either loses the headers or heads it to the opposition. Could we not try bringing it down on his chest and then bringing other QPR players into play? He is such a sorry excuse for a footballer. He is too slow to pressurise the opposition and once the defenders get used to him they just jump over the top of him and win every header. We had a few corners in the second half but every one was header away comfortably at the near post.
To analyse a few player performances...
Wszolek seems to have gone from a slow player to an even slower player. For a winger he has zero pace and lacks guile on the ball so I am not sure what he is offering us. He looked disinterested from the first minute, leaving Kakay exposed time and time again. Osayi-Samuel on the other side was barely involved and when he was he failed to break away, instead treading on the ball on one occasion. He was extremely poor last night.
Hall and Baptiste were average, they largely did their jobs but were responsible for most of the aimless long balls down field. Hall looked fit and game ready which is a positive.
Hamalainen is never going to make it at this level. Yes that is harsh but it's bloody true. It was like watching a school kid, his positioning was poor, he hated being in possession and was weak in the air. He drilled one free kick near half way low across the pitch and out for a throw in on the other side. It had to be seen to be believed. And he is 21, not some 17 year old who can be excused an off day. He should be good enough by now. Blackpool's impressive left back Marc Bola who never gave Smyth or Wszolek a sniff is only 20. There can be no excuses.
That brings me on to the team selection...
If we were going to play Kakay we should have played Bidwell on the other side. If we were going to score we needed Hemed or Wells at least on the bench.
I do not understand how professional footballs, paid handsomely to do something they love, need resting - and resting to the extent that they don't even travel. Our players came back from a 2 week break 10 days ago. They should have been telling McClaren they wanted to play, do they not enjoy playing football? Or are they so unfit they need a rest and can't even come on as sub? Something is wrong with attitude or fitness somewhere.
We had zero creativity last night. Would it really have hurt to give Freeman and Eze 45 minutes each or 60/30? Chair only lasted 45 minutes himself last night (Another guilty of being largely anonymous and persistent fouling) so could Eze have not done the same.
Or could not have played Wells for 60 minutes against Blackpool with the intention of him doing 60/70 minutes against Swansea rather than a full 90?
If they read what follows below they should be embarrassed...
Past Vs Present:
I've done some research to reinforce the point that modern footballers are overprotected, overpaid, overhyped prima donnas.
In the 1989/90 season Andy Sinton played every one of QPR's games. 50 appearances.
He played in all the league cup matches and in the FA Cup he played in a 3rd round replay, a 4th round replay, TWO 5th round replays (ironically against Blackpool) and also a Quarter Final replay. 9 appearances in the FA Cup alone.
After the Blackpool replays we beat Millwall and Arsenal in the league. After the Liverpool replay we beat Spurs. Sinton scored. He did not need bloody resting. He wanted to play, the club wanted to win. It did not have a detrimental impact on our league performances playing a strong team. We won 3 London derbies in a row!
Same case in point in 1991/92 with key right back David Bardsley.
He not only played all the League Cup and FA Cup matches that season but he also played both matches in the Zenith Data Systems Cup. I am too young to even know what that is, but I know that these days we'd probably even be resting the 'kids' for a competition of that stature. In 91/92 the following nigh on full strength team faced Norwich in the Zenith Data Systems Cup:
Stejskal, Bardsley, Wilson, Tilson, Maddix, Peackock, Holloway, Barker, Thompson, Bailey, Sinton.
3 days later we smashed Everton 3-1 in the top tier. The exact same line up played. We played Man City in the League Cup the next midweek. The same team played. And did so again in the next game back in the league. Back to back matches; midweek, Saturday, midweek, Saturday. No excuses. None of the players got left at home so they could catch up on Bodyguard or Strictly.
Now in 2018 are the club telling me a 20 year old fresh Ebere Eze needs a lie down before his next match? Nahki Wells is still not match fit after 5 appearances? Luke Freeman didn't fancy the trip to Blackpool because it was too cold? Is Tomar Hemed fasting again or something? He only played 20 minutes last Wednesday could he not be on the bench at least last night?
Jake Bidwell using up too much energy playing at left back? In 1976/77 Ian Gillard played 58 games including European Football and 2 League Cup semi final replays. Do me a favour Jake!
You are getting paid more than we could dream of lads, just play the god damn matches.
Is playing modern football every 4 days really that hard? Why have things changed so much?
Do we really need to lose against Blackpool in the cup so we can put a better team out against Swansea in the 10th game of the season? Give me a break. An absolute farce.
Something has gone wrong at both QPR and in football in general.
A chance to get to the last 16 of a cup for only the second time in over 2 decades blown.
My Mars bar at half time was nice though.
Player Ratings:
Ingram - 5/10
Kakay - 4/10
Hall - 5/10
Baptiste - 5/10
Hamalainen - 4/10
Scowen - 1/10
Cousins - 2/10
Wszolek - 3/10
Osayi-Samuel - 3/10
Chair - 3/10
Smith - 3/10
Goss - 5/10
Smyth - 3/10
Oteh - N/A
