Independent Rs Messageboard

I didn’t want to come on here moaning after such a positive start to the season, but I have to question
some of Julien Stephan’s decisions over the past week.

Cardiff at home we are 2-0 up and cruising to victory, he then makes 4 changes and it changes everything.
Within 2 minutes Cardiff pull a goal back, it gave them a lift and the whole game changes when we should
be looking for a third goal.

My biggest gripe is Saturday’s team selection, square pegs in round holes once again.

He continues to play Mbengue at full back, who is technically woeful and a liability.

In fairness to Mbengue he’s a central defender, but he shouldn’t be starting any game at right back in front of
Tariq Lamptey who was on the bench. I know supporters will be of the opinion Lamptey is just coming back from
a long term injury, but if he is fit enough for the bench then he should be starting in my view.

Ronnie Edwards is a very talented defender who has done well since coming to the club, but to play him in
midfield in front of established and experienced midfielders sitting on the bench has me baffled to say the least.

Burrell scores a brace in midweek then finds himself on the bench, behind Kone who looks overweight, unfit and
has been woeful and has looked out of his depth this season.

Why the manager felt the need to make these changes only he knows, he got lucky in midweek against Cardiff
as we got the win.

Against Middlesbrough he got it totally wrong again, if we had a manager of any substance whatsoever we would
have taken something from the game on Saturday.

Must agree I find his decision making very mystifying at times. He has experienced a season in this league
so it is not a case of learning on the job.

First half team selection is difficult to understand especially against Middlesbrough and as you say bringing on
four substitutes at once can only unsettle the side for a period even if he is correcting his first half mistakes.
Is it a continental thing?
Kone is a player who should be no way near this side on current form. If he is unfit as against carrying an injury
I don’t know how he regains fitness unless played in the Dev Squad for a few games.

We all know about his rotation policy but to make so many changes
to the starting line-up on Saturday???

Not a fan of four subs being introduced at the same time.

And have to say I do like to see Ronnie Edwards in midfield.

Tommy and Essex. In general I agree with all that you have both said. Team selection in recent fixtures
has shall we say been "misjudged" by our manager. Not good.

Lets face it though M'Boro are a superior team to ourselves. They have a far better quality (and much fitter)
squad. Lots of big money signings and Play Off finalist last season. In my view we were never going to beat them
no matter what our line up was. Further more although early days I just cannot see us getting the better of other
top teams the likes of West Ham Wolves and Southampton. We shall see.

We have made a decent start to the season but there must be a concern that a few our our players cannot last 90
minutes and several of the squad find it impossible to play 2 games in four days

Mr Kerrins I have to agree with you on most things you’ve said, but on the day I think we could’ve taken something
from the game.

Their £10M striker has been the difference for them this season, they used to call Ranieri the “tinker man” this guy
we have runs him very close.

Middlesbrough are gonna be up there at the end of the season, but we can still go out and try to beat the best in the
league.

Was looking forward to seeing Burrell trying to follow up on his brace - completely surprised by his exclusion.

The tinkering should be tweaks to improve on what is working well- not dismantling the good for the sake of rotating.

There are goals in this team - we should not be drawing blanks - esp. when the defence is keeping the opposition to 1 or 0.

I'd like to see Burrell and Smyth as an attacking pair at the minute. How do you see the attack until Kone gets himself firing
properly?

Conor in my opinion Kone has been very disappointing this season, he hasn’t looked sharp and has basically
carried on from last season’s form. He looks unfit and overweight and certainly does not warrant a place in
the starting lineup, Burrell has to start at Charlton and deservedly so.

Personally I think Kone is out of his depth in the Championship.

What concerns me is that this manager will turn up at the Valley tonight and make another 6/7 changes, then
we will all be moaning again should the result go against us.

Maybe it is a foreign thing I don’t know, but it is not working for QPR.

Signing injured or unfit players continues to happen, as a club we never learn and the powers that be should
be challenged on this.