Started okay. Smyth the best attacking outlet we have, again. Cook solid and Morgan doing well. Worrying to think that one of our most positive points this season is a kid who wasn’t even in the pre-season squad. Frightening how our season has gone.
How do we feel about Celar's missed chance early on?
Started okay. Smyth the best attacking outlet we have, again. Cook solid and Morgan doing well. Worrying to think that one of our most positive points this season is a kid who wasn’t even in the pre-season squad. Frightening how our season has gone.
How do we feel about Celar's missed chance early on?
Ball came at him fast, don't think he expected it to get to him.
How do we feel about Celar's missed chance early on?
Ball came at him fast, don't think he expected it to get to him.
But a confident striker scores that
It was another one, there was one in the Blackburn game I think, where there was only one place where you hope the ball will end up and you have to anticipate that don't you? Assume that's where it's going to be?
It ends 0-0 and it's a strange one, because I'm sure we'd have all taken that before kick off, but we played for 39 minutes including the added time against 10 men and only really created one good chance (Dunne header)
So there are positives, but you feel we should have done more to win that once we had the advantage.
It ends 0-0 and it's a strange one, because I'm sure we'd have all taken that before kick off, but we played for 39 minutes including the added time against 10 men and only really created one good chance (Dunne header)
So there are positives, but you feel we should have done more to win that once we had the advantage.
The feeling at the game is we were just ahead on the chance to score. Whilst they squandered their chances with wayward shooting, ours largely petered out in the box or shaved the posts. I am more than happy with a draw against the top side, and pleased we did not concede. Interesting that Varane was mentioned for PotM, because I thought he was good but Madsen had his best game by far. Add to that Ashby's covering at LB, Field covering CB, and Morgan stepping up to the plate, and you have an even better reason for being pleased with the result.
Despite the injuries and Marti having to play another different team, I thought we looked organised. Other pluses were another clean sheet, a decent point, Varane continuing to improve and Madsen looking better in a more advanced role.
The negatives were our continued lack of threat in front of goal, Marti's decision to not bring on a more attacking sub sooner and who ever takes the squad for shooting practice.
In previous games, Celar has been totally awful but today he was slightly better so I'd rate his performance as just awful. When Bellingham got red carded I thought it was an opportunity for Marti to make a positive substitution by replacing one of the holding midfielders with a more attacking option but Marti seemed happy to just take a point. The most frustrating thing about this team is their inability to hit the target when shooting. I know the quality of player at the club isn't great but surely as professionally paid footballers they should be able to kick the ball straight at the goal rather than straight out of play!
Once we had the man advantage all we seemed to look to do was work it wide and cross, but we delayed the crosses too long and just didn't have enough runners into the box. So often everybody was hanging around the edge of the box.
I think he should definitely have thrown Lloyd on up front with Celar for the last 10, but I sense Marti was wary of losing the game if Sunderland had a counter - that is the problem with being in the position we are in and not winning at home beforehand - it makes you second guess what you should do rather than just going hell for leather in the final minutes.
jimjams re Celar. The first missed chance is bad attacking play from him, primarily because of his body position. Yes the ball is fast, but it’s an excellent ball and the only type that can be played successfully from that position. It’s bad from him that he doesn’t have the brain to anticipate it and bad that he doesn’t know what position to put his body in to get the clean shot on goal.
However, as stoatey says, he was more promising second half. And I think with the shot he put wide, we maybe saw what type of striker he is; one that has to have the ball put to his feet. He’s not a target man, he’s not a presser, he’s not an anticipatory striker either. But in that shot, with the ball at his feet, he can create a yard and get a good effort away.
jimjams I agree on the Varane point but only regarding the first half. Once they went down to 10 men he was poor with the ball, too many times taking unnecessary shots from distance. He lacks the guile to be able to slip players in 25-30 yards from goal. northwesthoop the crossing was down to him taking Smyth off. Martí doesn’t seem to either learn or understand the importance of a player who runs off the ball into space behind or someone who will commit a defender with running. He takes Smyth off too regularly when we’re at home chasing a goal. And when he does we lose all impetus from our attack. Everything ends up in front of the defence and teams can sit in knowing all they’ve got to deal with is a cross stood up or a shot from 30 yards. It’s easy to defend against.
Although the performance was okay first half, the context of the game actually makes this two points dropped. And if you can’t win at home after playing half and hour against 10 men, when can you win? Just thank heavens there’s a second transfer window, because right now we are signed, sealed, delivered League One — and not a good League One team at that.
Last Edit: Nov 2, 2024 20:39:48 GMT by jrperry1882
Scores on the doors from WLS, and generally agree with the comments and scores:
Paul Nardi: 7 The impressive Rangers keeper was always alert to danger and commanded his area very well.
Jimmy Dunne: 7 Reliable defensively and always tried to get forward on the right. Went close with a header.
Steve Cook: 8 Excellent at the heart of the QPR defence. Won several key headers and challenges.
Sam Field: 7 Moved to centre-back because of Rangers injuries and was calm and composed alongside Cook.
Harrison Ashby: 6 Playing on the left, also because of injuries, the right-back looked uncomfortable before himself picking up an injury and having to go off shortly before half-time.
Jonathan Varane: 8 Had a fine game and has been impressive since a recent ban. Strong in the challenge, direct and energetic. Really good.
Kieran Morgan: 7 The teenage midfielder acquitted himself well. A great challenge on Wilson Isidor halted a Sunderland counter-attack. Morgan also showed excellent stamina as he continued to try to attack in the closing stages, twice shooting wide.
Nicolas Madsen: 7 Has struggled since arriving in the summer but this was an improvement. Was involved in some good link-up play, including in the build-up to an early chance for Zan Celar.
Ilias Chair: 7 A threat from set-pieces and when running with the ball. Worked hard off the ball too.
Paul Smyth: 7 Lively on the flank and set up the early chance for Celar.
Zan Celar: 6 Missed the chance created by Smyth and later fired wide. But his hold-up play was decent and this performance was an improvement.
Heverton Santos: 6 Replaced Ashby and, like the on-loan Newcastle man, tried hard but never seemed convincing on the left.
Koki Saito: 6 Perhaps unlucky to drop to the bench given his recent performances. Was again lively after his introduction.
