Massive Praise.

Can't really blame kitchin at all for me if you look he's picking up chair who's behind Austin both waiting for the cut back kitchin had no chance to switch to marking Austin in the split 2nd that Austin gets away from helik

 

I think Kitching lost his head a bit second half. He looked solid and assured then went to pot after losing the ball down the touchline.

 

Possibly, and it was excellent movement, something our forwards might want to take note of. The most disappointing thing was Austin ran across Helik and Helik didn't react. Kitching, to be fair was in a difficult position, he went for the pull back, which probably should've been a job for Moon or Halme, because there was somebody unmarked in the space he left behind at the far post.

 

I rate Helik a lot, but in the couple of games so far, he's not quite been at his best. I like the look of Kitching, but I'd play Mads ahead of him currently.

I thought it was an excellent game of football and you have to give credit to QPR and their manager. They also played some really good stuff as well and we shouldn't ignore that fact.

Hopefully though that first half showed what we can do. Add more understanding and chemistry with more options on the bench and just game time in the legs of Benson, Palmer and Cole (as well as Iseka and Oulare) and we could have a very entertaining side. An ability to press and an ability to play must be the ideal for any Barnsley fan, no?

 

I agree the game showed we can still mix it up and go long when we need to.

 

Long balls are a key part to the game. We switched play at times, played channels at times and when under pressure just cleared our lines. All extremely sensible ways of playing. But we've added actually passing the ball. And not just passing it, but slick crisp one time passing with purpose that opens up opportunity. When you do that and do it well, the opposition start chasing their tails.

The first 35 minutes or so, I almost felt sorry for QPR because they had no idea what to do. They cleared their lines, our defenders headed it back. They pressed, we played through them. They held the ball, we harried them and closed off all passing options. They dropped off, we attacked anyway. They tried to play through the lines, we dispossessed them in midfield and broke at them.

Superb football. The QPR fans were dumbstruck. The QPR players went completely into their shells. It's as dominant a 45 minutes as I've seen in a long time. If we're capable of doing that to a team many fancy for the playoffs then we've a lot of potential to do well.

As frustrating as it may be at dropping two points, there were a lot of things highlighted second half that if they can learn from will put them in much better stead. Just simple things like emptying midfield needlessly and being open to a simple ball over the top. The consequence of that was that we were the reason QPR fans got behind their team again. We gave them hope, but we also incensed them with really cynical fouls by Styles and Kitching. We need to learn from that in particular and I'm sure we will.

Much to be hopeful about, and though we won't necessarily always have long periods where we play like that first 45, we have something to build from and I'd hope fans cut some slack and encourage, knowing the ability is there and it will be more visible over time.

 

I'm same with helik I thought he was v good v Coventry but poor v Luton and lost his man Saturday for there 2nd. Mads would get back in I just hope we don't ask him to do too much ball playing.

Benson and palmer need to start been able to play a full game because they are the best 2 midfielders we have not sure if palmer is injured I hope not though if he is I hope we don't see moon or halme in midfield as his replacement. And it was good to see the press back as in previous games it had gone.

 

I've been extremely impressed with Palmer and he's shown much more all round capability now we're starting to look at what we do when we have the ball. He did seem to limp off a bit so hopefully its just a niggle. I don't think Moon is too bad as a back up to slot into midfield, but Halme, i've never really understood what he brings in that role. Maybe shoehorned in for a bit of aerial power at set pieces. But he doesn't look a midfielder and even less so when compared with that first half. I'd rather have Sibbick in there, though then we take out the recovery pace and I think that would badly hurt us.

We certainly need more bodies in that midfield area, especially if Styles is now going to be considered a LWB. I don't think we can get through a full season easily with just Benson, Palmer and Kane. And given how quickly we're picking up cards.

As for the press, it's hard to do that when a team purposefully gives you the ball back and keeps hitting it long. We suffered the same towards the end of last season as well. But yes, it was nice to see two teams intent on playing good football, I think we will have surprised quite a few onlookers.

 

Yeah I think we should be looking to tie palmer down with a new deal he has been very impressive puts tackles in, breaks up play well, gets forward well looking really good this season. Been impressed with Benson aswell if those two had lasted the full 90 I think we would have had a much better chance of winning that game, but we had our chances to kill the game off and it wasn't to be.

I'd like to see kane more involved is he injured? If palmer and Benson can't manage a full 90 it gives kane a opportunity to prove himself if fit.

Yeah against Luton if we were going to insist on trying to play football rather than play them at there own game I'd have like to have seen our forwards press there defence and give them less time to aim those long balls put them under some pressure. But yes the 1st half against qpr was promising 2nd half was always going to be tricky as they had nothing to lose id have liked us to convert one of the chances we had to kill the game off but plenty of positives to take.

 

Yes Kane is injured again, though seems a niggly one, as is Jordan Williams.

 

I thought Oduor looked good up front reminded me of the role Jacob Brown used to do.

 

There's a touch of the Vaz Te's about Oduor. He's clearly got ability and he seems to have a bit of pace but hasn't really expressed it as yet. I wonder at some point if it might just all click for him and he suddenly looks a completely different and more dangerous player?