That all started so well, Osayi-Samuel doing very well to win an early penaltyand we were sitting there thinking we were in for an easy night. Moments later, Barbet lets Tshimanga get a free shot away and it's 1-1. After that the defence just seemed to fall apart and was unable to do anything.
BOS and Manning were the only players to cause Boreham Wood any problems, and we were just some good crosses & a good finisher away from being able to score a couple more in that match, and it's understandable that the defence was poor as it's mostly a brand new defence only playing their second game together. Boreham Wood have had a few extra games to settle and play their stuff. Even though they're the bookies favourites to go down from the National League, they should have enough quality to do well (if that's any consolation).
All tonight proves if that we need some actual leaders in that side. We seemed to settle down and be able to play more normally when Leistner came on, and he was unlucky to not score a late equaliser for us too. Scowen also missed an absolute sitter in the second half.
I agree about BOS and Manning.
What did you think about Amos because for me I thought he was the most composed player on the pitch and looked our best performer.. Whilst a lot of our team were poor I thought the defence were unsettled by Kelly's goalkeeping and Ball was as poor a midfielder as I have seen.
Amos was quite good for me too, he was just as I remembered him at Stevenage. Sitting just in front of the defence with free reign to move forward across the midfield. He seemed a little nervous at times, but that’s natural given he’s just returning from a long injury and at a new club.
I will confess to being slightly disappointed in Chair though, it’s at the point now where I’m kind of expecting him to score a 30+ yard screamer in every match, given how many times he did it last season
Let's not jump the gun and write players off after 2 partial pre season games.
Warburton is going to realise - like McClaren did - that you simply cannot play out from the back with the players at his disposal.
Also he needs a solid foundation to build upon so Leistner should be in the team.
I agree, we are a little quick to make judgments on players. We have a few new players and a new manager so everyone needs to get used to each other and the new expectations and style.
I do think you can play out from the back at any level and do it successfully but its about choices when doing so. The players are all good enough to pass the ball to each other with one or two touch but at times its not possible or appropriate. Time on the training field will hopefully help the players with the decision making.
Getting the spine is the key for most teams and i dont think we are any different. I would expect Leistner will be a key part of that.
Post by northwesthoop on Jul 18, 2019 11:46:05 GMT
We probably see things worse than they are because it is our own club.
I'm working on a season preview with views from fans of other clubs and none (yet) have tipped us to go down. We almost come across as the forgotten team in the league.
After 2 disappointing pre season results the team that Warburton puts out for tomorrow's game at Oxford will hopefully give an improved performance. Whilst match fitness is still a priority
I would think that Warburton will be looking to play as close as possible the eleven players that will start the season away to Stoke. The issues will continue to be our lack of a goal scorer and whether Wallace who I'm expecting to be our left wing back is fit.
It appears now that if any strikers do come in they will be getting at most 1 pre season match to learn the style of play and get used to the players around them. Far from ideal. It doesn't help the new strikers or or current players.
And let's not forget that it looks like the strikers could be coming in at the last minute, on deadline day, which would see us playing Stoke with a striker selection pool of Oteh and Walker.
It’s poor decision making on our part We needed strikers last season and the season before,we sell Matt smith one of our only goal scorers and we still have nobody in Why has this happened is there somebody in mind or is there simply nobody decent available I heard that we are sniffing round Arsenal for 2 strikers as Neil banfield has past links still to them
It’s poor decision making on our part We needed strikers last season and the season before,we sell Matt smith one of our only goal scorers and we still have nobody in Why has this happened is there somebody in mind or is there simply nobody decent available I heard that we are sniffing round Arsenal for 2 strikers as Neil banfield has past links still to them
That may be a little harsh as it seems that strikers are the last ones to be released by clubs and I am sure they have been looking. I am more concerned that we will end up with a dud out of desperation!
On today's game against Oxford (should they not be the real 'Baggies'?): Anyone else invested/donated money to watch? Anyone close enough to be going? I am hoping to see a better coordinated defence, now they have played together a bit, and the attack being proactive (I especially hope Chair gets going)!
Last Edit: Jul 20, 2019 11:39:54 GMT by kingfisher
30 mins and a Eze in-swinging corner is headed in by Luke Amos for his first goal 0-1
32 mins and a forward ball from Manning finds 5 QPR players in the box(!) with Luke Amos in the same position to score another header! 0-2
38 mins a lovely long looping ball from outside the goal area goes over Lumley to get a goal 1-2
HT A good game to watch, with QPR and Oxford (to a lesser degree) trying to work the ball forward from the back. Both sides are having to cope with a blustery wind along the length of the pitch, and in the second half QPR will be facing it. Overall some good play and fine goals, but both sides lack a decent striker. Eze is getting more involved than last season but, as the nominated sole striker, is rarely in the striker's position in the box. Again, impressed by Ryan Manning, Luke Amos & Josh Scowen in particular. 1-2
Last Edit: Jul 20, 2019 14:51:16 GMT by kingfisher
Amos was good against Borehamwood and he was even better against Oxford. If he can maintain this form he will be a major player for us this season.
What today did show is how we are now desperate for a goal scoring striker. It's vital that we get one in this week so that he can play in the Watford game. Only Les and Warburton will know why we let Matt Smith go before lining up a replacement.
I don't understand what our scouting team actually do because their are some good young goal scorers out there that we could and should have already signed.
Amos was good against Borehamwood and he was even better against Oxford. If he can maintain this form he will be a major player for us this season.
What today did show is how we are now desperate for a goal scoring striker. It's vital that we get one in this week so that he can play in the Watford game. Only Les and Warburton will know why we let Matt Smith go before lining up a replacement.
I don't understand what our scouting team actually do because their are some good young goal scorers out there that we could and should have already signed.
As our striker shortage is not a new issue you would have thought the scouting team would have handed over a list of 'possibles' at the end of last season....
I’m sure our scouting team have handed over a list but good strikers are in demand we are a lower championship club with little money to spend. What we have as our advantage is the the manager is known to play good quality football similar to that played in the premiership. That’s why we have Amos and Smith and will get another decent youngster up front from a Premiership team (Seems likely to be Arsenal). The problem is how ell will they adapt to championship football. I do agree getting rid of Smith was a bad idea but I think he wanted to go as he wanted more game time.
If (big if) we manage to bring in a decent striker or two we could have a good season because Amos and Smith in midfield look like they could be a cut above this league so if we can add some quality around them it transforms what we can expect from this season.
Knowing QPR we'll bring in a hopeless striker and Amos will get injured but you never know!
I’m sure our scouting team have handed over a list but good strikers are in demand we are a lower championship club with little money to spend. What we have as our advantage is the the manager is known to play good quality football similar to that played in the premiership. That’s why we have Amos and Smith and will get another decent youngster up front from a Premiership team (Seems likely to be Arsenal). The problem is how ell will they adapt to championship football. I do agree getting rid of Smith was a bad idea but I think he wanted to go as he wanted more game time.
I agree that finding a decent striker at the right price is difficult but they are available and some have recently been transferred for a small fee or nothing.. I have listed below some of last seasons better goal scorers that even our scouts could have identified by just looking on the internet,
Lawrence Shankland (prolific in Scotland) left Ayr to join Dundee for free.
Tom Eaves scored 21 goals in League 1 for Gillingham last season and has recently joined Hull for free.
Freddie Ladapo scored 18 League 1 goals for relegated Plymouth and has now joined League 1 Rotherham for £500k.
For me none of these guys were a risk especially when we knew that money was coming in for the sale of Matt Smith and Luke Freeman. What doesn't make sense is why would we go and sign a poor midfielder like Ball on a free when we could get much more potent players like those listed who we can improve and sell.
