QPR v Sheffield United

Team: Cerny, Ramage, Gorkss, Stewart, Williams, Routledge, Leigertwood, Watson, Simpson (Vine), Taarabt, Agyemang.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Hall, Faurlin, Parker, Pellicori, Balanta.
Attendance: 12,639

It was poor, patchy at best, plus all the usual defensive howlers. The quality football has gone. During the half-time interval, I thought we faced certain defeat but luckily for us, Sheffield United decided to play for a draw in the second half. Crikey, even their keeper was wasting time with nearly 20 minutes still to go. What were they afraid of ? In Paul Hart’s post match interview on Radio London he said that he was hopeful. I can’t agree after witnessing that performance.

Kerrins

On a bitterly cold afternoon and yet another new Gaffer at the helm, I didn’t really know what to expect. I would of liked to have seen Faurlin start and Balanta and Parker introduced at some stage. Simpson is absolutely wasted in his current role and I hope that this is addressed sooner rather than later. We had a good shout for a penalty in the second half and yet again we rattled the opponent’s woodwork, this time from a header at the death. Tommy Williams MOM for me.

Steve Russell

And so a new era began with Paul Hart coming in through the Manager’s door this time and joined by Mick Harford. No Briatore or Ecclestone in attendance to watch on, but of course, our favourite Italian was there. Hart was introduced to the crowd just before the start of the match, to a ripple of The match began and within a minute we had a corner. It was headedapplause and I’m sure there were some chants of “You’re Getting Sacked In The Morning” from the visiting contingent. clear but fell to Leigertwood and the ex-Sheffield United player was able to blast the ball into the bottom right hand corner, via a massive deflection. Just 5 minutes on, and United attacked and grabbed an equaliser following a terrible pass from Watson on the edge of the box, whilst Ramage just watched it roll but a red and white shirt (Kallio), ran on to it and crossed for Cresswell to tuck it in.

The rest of the match was rather uneventful, and having just checked the stats, apparently there were eight shots on target. I don’t really remember any of them bar the goals. Although in the second half, the ball broke loose to a United player on the edge of the box but he fired his left-footed shot wide of Cerny’s post. Then in stoppage time, a good cross from Ramage was met by Watson’s head, just for it to hit the top of the bar. The final whistle blew to a few boos, a bit of applause but general discontent. Hart has got his work cut out, welcome to the job son !

Player Ratings:

Cerny: 6 – Okay overall but stop the dodgy passes !!!
Ramage: 5 – Again, regularly beaten. New right back please.
Gorkss: 7 – Continued the good form that he showed at West Brom last week.
Stewart: 6 – He looks a tad dodgy at the moment. I hope that Connolly’s back soon.
Williams: 7 – Played very well. He was fortunate to have Rouledge ahead of him who tracked back, something that Borrowdale was missing in previous weeks. Good defending and also going forward.
Watson: 6 – His usual inconsistent self. Many a pass went astray but there was the odd excellent ball. I’m still not convinced that we should buy him.
Leigertwood: 6 – Similar to above.
Simpson: 5 – Wasted on the wing but not convinced by his ability up front either.
Taarabt: 5 – Played in the middle, so he didn’t have to track back so much. Still extremely wasteful on the ball and it’s clearly frustrating Agyemang. Simpson and Co. Premiership ? You’re havin’ a laugh !
Routledge: 7 – Tracked back well and good going forward. His tricks actually pay off (watch closely Adel).
Agyemang: 7 – Basically played as a lone front man. Worked tirelessly again and taking his chance in the team well.
Hart: 6 – He was slow with the one sub that he made and should’ve done more. Seemed a bit lacklustre on the bench, but I’ll let him off since he’s only been in the job 48 hours ! Things should improve in the coming weeks but then again, we are Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club.
Referee: 5 (N.D. Swarbrick) – He missed many a foul and was too keen to let play flow.

Sam Phillipps

2 thoughts on “QPR v Sheffield United

  1. I thought Gorks was head and shoulders above everyone in this match. I think he was the main reason SU gave up trying to win it.

    The formation was not right – Pat Ag may have been better on the wing – he was as ineffective in the middle as Simpson was on the wing. We missed Buz in the middle and without him had nobody able to create a goal despite trying to press towards the end. Faurlin has been by far our most accurate passer of the ball so I’m also puzzled why he isn’t starting. I admire the workrate of Ben Watson, but it was his loose attempted pass that led to the goal. Our coaching needs to focus on passing accuracy and keeping possession as its deficiencies in this that means we don’t boss our home pitch.

    I’m concerned that Buz is not playing do we know he’s injured? – or has Flav. taken against him over the recent incidents as he did with Campe. There are few players of his class available to us at his value – if he’s forced out he will come back to haunt us.

  2. I agree that Faurlin should be starting and that Gorkss is playing extremely well since he’s come back into the team.
    The formation was a new one- a 4-2-3-1. Not convinced it worked or that it was Hart’s idea. Didn’t notice it on the box against West Brom last week so perhaps it was new. Interesting to see whether it continues
    Concerned that Buzz isn’t starting too, hope he doesn’t leave in January cos he is one of our best players but needs to be playing in the middle!
    Imo United came to us seemingly with the intention of getting a point from the off, seemed pretty uninterested in going for the win from the 8th minute

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