Minority Report 2019-20 v QPR

I can already hear people sharpening their pencils as I prepare my first statement this week, in order to write word like unbelievable, boring, killjoy and those are the most polite that I can imagine. My first statement is, that is not the way to play football if you want to win games regularly. Yes, it was entertaining, especially if you have no emotional interest invested in who wins, but as I said to my mate at 3-2, this could finish 6-6.


We began as we finished with 4-4-2 with the middle 4 in a diamond. It was soon obvious that the game was going to be a high scoring one, with 3 goals in the opening 18 minutes. Both teams seemed to have forgotten how to defend. Seemingly, all the 20 out-field players seem to decide as one that the other team were terrible, and all we have to do is keep attacking and we are sure to score. They were not far wrong. The Barnsley front 6 put the QPR defenders under enormous pressure with their press, and they rattled them. Sadly, we forgot all about what we have to do if the press is broken, and the QPR mobile and quick forward players looked likely to score every time they broke the press. The problem with the press is that it is all or nothing. It is something that I said all last season, and it is something that I have repeated this season at regular intervals. I have no problem in allocating blame to individual defenders when they make mistakes, but if the defence has no protection from midfield because they are 50 yards away, and still engaged in the press when the ball is at the other end, then I have problems with it. On one occasion in the second half, it was like watching under elevens football. The QPR player with the ball drew no less than 4 pressing players in red to him, and having done so, took them all out of the game by releasing the ball to a colleague in space. I did not like it in Stendel’s hands, and I like it even less when paired with the midfield diamond. I know that it no longer mattered, but as the QPR 3rd went in, I looked toward the half way line and found Cauley Woodrow chatting unconcernedly to Luke Thomas. Two of our midfield covering players, nowhere near where they ought to be. See what I mean about being a killjoy.


Frankly, when you look through the names of the team that finished the game today, you are struggling to find any recognised defenders. I am not even sure about Bambo Diaby any more since he scored today in open play, from a yard when he got on the end of a low cross before his marker. It seems like even he might be a Striker in disguise. I’m sorry. None of this is anything anyone wants to hear after a 5-3 win, but playing as open as that just does not sit easy with me. Of course, we had a Striker playing at the head of the midfield diamond (Woodrow), and a winger (Luke Thomas) playing as one of the central play-makers, and neither looked at home there, but we do not have to play the diamond. There are other systems that would have suited the available players better. No, we played the diamond because that is how the new coach wants to play… even if he does not currently have the right players to do so.


So what does he need to play the midfield 4 in a diamond? I have referenced ex-players because it is far easier than trying to relate the qualities needed, but to translate, just think of those players and the qualities they had.

At the attacking point of the diamond, I have chosen Craig Hignett, as much for his mobility and his pace as for his first touch, his ability with the ball at his feet and his finishing from distance. I have said it before, Cauley Woodrow is a very good finisher, but he is not an attacking midfield player.

In centre midfield you need players who can pass the ball as well, and who can also run all day, and who can also look after themselves physically. My choices are Neil Redfearn and surprisingly Brendan O’Connell. Alex Mowatt is not far off that blueprint, but we have no-one else.

We have had many who could read the game well enough to play at the defensive point of the diamond, but I think Gwyn Thomas did it best. Once again, there is no-one ready to lace his boots in our current squad.


The January window will open soon, and by the sound of things resources will be limited. The current midfield players were acquired to play 4-4-2, and there is no room in the current formation for wide players. I would not be playing the diamond if it was me, but if they are going to back the ideas of the new coach, they need to look at midfield, even above the need to look at the back four.


I have gotten almost to the end of Minority Report, and I have not mentioned how well both Jacob Brown and especially Conor Chaplin played. That second goal was an amazing strike.



Rookie Watch


Sami Radlinger he was the steady head in the centre of the mayhem that was going on about him. He needs a medal to play behind that lot.


Bambo Diaby is a huge physical presence and today showed how quick he is. He gloried in his goal, but of course, there was the usual crop of errors


Mads Andersen does not get the credit that Diaby gets. He does not attract as much attention, he is not as quick, but he does make fewer errors.


Clarke Oduor does not look quite ready to me. In fact, on the evidence of today, Jacob Brown is a better left back at the moment.


Luke Thomas is not a centre midfield player.


Conor Chaplin what can I say. He scored 3 times and worked his socks off for the team


Man of the Match

It is obvious isn’t it? Conor Chaplin.

 

Brill statement but Brendan O’Connell omg the worst player I have seen at BFC known as the headless chicken always passing sideways sorry but wrong..

 

hahahahahaha

 

It was 4-3-3 until 60 or so minutes the way I saw it. Woodrow was deep like a false 9 but it was 4-3-3 with Chaplin and Brown wider imo.

We definitely started in 4-3-3 as Ben Williams said on iFollow commentary that we'd trained using diamond during the week but last minute injury probs (presumably Halme?) meant Struber had elected to go with 4-3-3 instead.

 

OMG? I assume you aren’t 12?

Well you can’t be but you also haven’t watched many games if you think brendan was the worst player you’ve ever seen.

 

There is not much difference between 4-3-3 and the diamond. In fact I called it as 4-3-3 in mid-week until about 70 minutes. However, today I called it as 4-4-2 because Woodrow was not push up against the QPR centre-backs. He was deeper, and more involved in build up play, so I called it as 4-4-2. I was accused once again of believing that I am never wrong in mid-week, so I am not going to argue about it. As I say, they are very close.

 

I picked Brendan O'Connell to illustrate the amount of running that anyone occupying those position must do. I readily accept that Brendan was not the greatest passer, but he had leather lungs that carried him further than any other player. Feel free to pick your own players though.

 

Good read, as usual. Enjoyed that. I wouldn't say you're never wrong, maybe rarely......

 

I'm almost perfect, but not quite. Sorry about our little tiff.

 

So am I, I enjoy your posts. Usually

 

No worries!

 

A lot less scathing than I was expecting. I thought Diaby was shocking he cant clear a ball and tends to scuff the ball back into the danger zone. QPR were gifted 2 goal scoring opportunities by him. Jordan Williams had a reasonable game but lashing thin air when trying to clear the ball is schoolboy stuff. Other than that it was a superb performance that could easily have finished 8-5

 

On a different note, what do you think about Bambo up front? The odd mis-kick doesn't matter up there. Bit random I suppose, but he does seem to trouble defenders up there...

 

We are one million miles, or two goals a game from a clean sheet. No option but to go for it to score more than we give away.

 

Can’t disagree with that. My son just said same.

 

I don’t think you’re right about our defence though. We haven’t forgotten how to defend.

 

Classy, argued point

 

I'm afraid I had my tongue deep in my cheek for that comment.

 

I enjoyed today. I enjoyed your review too, even though I disagree with a few bits, but I'm quite drunk and unable to respond properly.

 

Some issues this week, Mr Rain.

When Bahre was replaced on 31 minutes, Grandfathertyke asked me what was going on tactically/systems-wise? I replied I had no idea, and we would have to wait for Red Rain's analysis for further enlightenment. So disappointed you have not shed more light on that, old chap. Of course if he had taken a knock, then no further explanation is necessary. But he didn't look injured to me as he trudged off - just dejected.

Second up, when the teams went up on the screens in the concourse, our side was headed '4-3-3'. Is this an official indication, or just the media chappies' best guess? I don't know if it matters much whether it was 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 because it seemed to me that both teams were attempting to win the midfield battle and move the ball up quickly, which made for an entertaining game given that both defences were shipping water. I agree that this will not guarantee our survival, but I think given the current roster, attempting to outscore teams is our only route to winning games. I actually think that just one 'old head' a la the Kevin Long type would make a huge difference to our prospects in terms of being able to organise those around him.

I actually like Bambo for his enthusiasm, although you never know whether tonight he is going to be Sol Campbell or Jean-Yves Mvoto! I also think you are being a little unfair on Woodrow. He tracked back numerous times during the match putting in at least one last-ditch tackle, although I don't disagree with your noting of that dalliance around the time of QPR's third. I'm sure he was just having a conversation about how much he'll be earning at his new club in January.

Brown had a very good game, and I think he must now be on the January menu for our rivals. Chaplin's was an excellent display of finishing and I also thought Mowatt did very well, popping up all over the pitch.

Overall, a very entertaining match, if not always for the right reasons.

P.S. Was Mowatt lucky to avoid a red card near the end?