Coventry Vs QPR

Coventry Vs QPR Sept 20, 2020 18:16:17 GMT

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Post by kingfisher on Sept 20, 2020 18:16:17 GMT

The full 90 video produced some interesting points (well I think so):

Possession helps but is not a match-winner in itself. You do have to use that possession well and, sadly, QPR did not. Coventry were well-organised and usually had time to create a 5-man defence as their forwards harried our attempts to move the ball out of defence. You need to not just switch play (as our defenders did via diagonals) but also skip the procession up and down the back line and send balls through to the likes of Amos, Chair & BOS. they, in turn, must resist the urge to pass it back and should instead take on players more often or make that dangerous ball towards Dykes! As it stands we are like England's seniors - flatter to deceive but ponderous to behold!!
Unlike against Forest there was precious little 'ball-hunting' in pairs. Why?
I have said it elsewhere but it is worth restating: Coventry were a well-organised side and were quite happy to absorb the pressure and punish on the break. Assuming they have sufficient depth in their squad then they will not be fighting relegation!
One way that the defence could help out the side (and themselves) would be to push up further on the wings offering Wallace and Kakay as alternatives further up the pitch. Of course, when they do that it would equally be nice for them to be used in the forward play....
I have to say that I am impressed with Amos' play, both on and off the ball, and feel he is blossoming. Carroll is equally inventive and will also improve I feel. On the negative side, Chair and Wallace did not combine well; Barbet, Cameron & Dickie wasted too many long balls by overhitting them.
The commentary team said Coventry were 'well-drilled' - and they were, but what about QPR being well-drilled too? On the break our defence looked wooden (again)....
The penalty shout was correct - Macfazdean played BOS - not the ball. He has been quietly fouling previously, and I expect a red card or two for him as the season progresses. Another good Dykes penalty!
That lead last just 4 minutes because the ball breaks left (in the process Barbet & Cameron fall over one of theirs) and we are stretched. The cross to the far post goes over the covering Wallace's head to be met by an uncontested header, with Lumley failing to close him down. Barbet & Cameron arrive too late to help...
Their second goal on 49 mins was a direct result of Wallace failing to close down their RB and then Dickie failing to grasp there was a striker behind him. Schoolboy stuff....
60 mins gone and 2-1 down. Time to be thinking about who can come on and make a difference. Given the lacklustre performance from Cameron and Chair I would replace them with Masterson (more attack-minded) and Thomas (hopefully more forceful). Instead, 11 mins later, we have the vertically-challenged Smyth come on against the Sky Blue Skyscrapers and it is Carroll taken off. I am going to be generous and assume the intention was for Smyth to stifle Dabo, their RB, who has been a handful for Chair (but he did not); and for Carroll to come off to recover. Then on 82 mins Rangers make a double sub - Ball & Thomas on for Amos & Chair. This must have led to another rearrangement for the attackers, and I am at a loss as to why Amos was pulled for Ball unless we were settling for a draw. Why did nobody tell Coventry this...?
On 74 mins Barbet netted after a composed left-footed shot from the RHD side of the goal. Now its a deserved 2-2.
Lumley is still not coming out to challenge opponents through with the ball. This is a serious failing on his behalf!
Come 84 mins and same corner kick, same Coventry line-up, and still we have not learnt how to deal with it! In fairness to Barbet he does have MacFazdean holding him down with both hands to head over him, but this is another example of poor defending of dead-ball kicks... So now you are 3-2 down with not much more than 6 mins to play, so surely you will inject some urgency in your passing? Apparently not, we keep passing back and forth along the defence line (whilst Coventry look on from their slit trenches). This is when you need a shouting and demanding captain. Instead we lurched towards the coach home...

Post by kingfisher on Sept 19, 2020 12:45:14 GMT

Post by kingfisher on Sept 20, 2020 18:16:17 GMT