| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks 09:57 - Aug 10 with 5893 views | 1BobbyHazell |
1)Playing out from the back. Madsen at 6.
Our old favourite. Looked to have a bit more coaching/development about it. Obviously playing Madsen as the 6 and keeping Field further away was a big move. But there were a couple of movement plans I hadn't seen before. One was Field's speedy dash out wide as the ball went to Morgan creating space in field for Morgan to drive into or play that crossfield ball that found Esquadinha in space to start an attack on the left.
Also a bit more dynamic movement from the wide players, sometimes cheating infield to create different angles as their 8's moved out wide. More give and goes from the full backs rather than remaining static. And earlier long balls.
All seemed to add up to less passages ending up playing back to the keeper without ever really having risked trying to progress the ball upfield. And the wide players not constantly receiving the ball charging back towards their own goal, with a defender right up their arse, with no other option than to play it straight back from where it came.
But a huge Preston shaped caveat with all that. That was the least Preston I've ever seen from Preston, especially in the 1st half. They were a team coming off a bad season, with four new players, still in pre season gear. No intensity at all, the contrast between that and the Rugby League game that was Birmingham v Ipswich on Friday was night and day.
There are plenty of teams in this league who won't let us get away with Madsen at 6, but good to see us using him deep when we can. Some lovely passes.
There's a plan, I like that, but we know what Mike Tyson said about plans.
2) Chair as an 8.
Much called for and good to see. Surely he can affect a game more not wedded to the sideline where obviously he was still good but his lack of pace to go outside made him very predictable. Has more freedom of movement and can pop up in different places. Could develop a very nice understanding with Dembele and the young LB.
Loves a good press.
3) Field at 8.
We all (mostly) love Sammy and his defensive work/leadership is unmatched but his technical deficiencies may come nder more scrutiny under Stephanball.
Twice, close together, in the 1st half he received lovely little inside balls from the wide men that he arrived onto in really dangerous positions in the box . His 1st touch was so bad he didn't get a 2nd. Happened again in the 2nd half after a great Poku run. Never looked in control of the ball, never was. Got to make more of those.
I'm sure, like Marti, Stephan will come to realise that the reality of Championship
football means there are games when you have to have Field in your team protecting the back 4, but maybe not ones where you are expecting more of the ball. We'll see.
4) Any other business.
M & M could be a mustard CB pairing. Good in the air, a speedy one, comfortable on the ball, good passers. Some firming up on marking on crosses needed but looking good.
Esquadinha was better than I expected. Faded, they all did. But doesn't mind a tackle, looked up for the physical part of the game and a lot of attacking potential. May still not be ready to be a season long 1st choice but fantastic potential.
Looking forward to a season of Poku and Dembele, get them a CF with a bit more about them than Celar and there is some real danger there.
Don't leave Madsen back to defend counter attacks when we have a corner. Not just his fault but bad choice.
Won't be the last time we see Morgan filling in at RB. Did a great job considering.
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| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:19 - Aug 11 with 470 views | QPRSam |
Agree with a lot of the observations here. There was another post match thread that concluded that the tactics in this game were no different to Marti's which I couldn't disagree with more. If the squads fitness levels can improve so we see that 1st half performance over some full 90s, I'm optimistic about this season |  | | |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:33 - Aug 11 with 389 views | TheChef |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:12 - Aug 11 by JamieNaz |
A couple of other musings:
1. Esquerdinha, not a bad footballer, but has someway to go to be a defender in this league. Much more comfortable on the ball than without it. In the first half, this seemed pretty good, as he was constantly on the ball. Second half, not so much.
When anyone was running at him, he wasn't so hot. A few rash tackles (I don't mind this, shows he's got it in him) and he needs a lot of help to know where to stand - I am not a fan of him as last man from corners.
On the ball, liked him. Seemed up for it. Few times where Chair makes a run off, then runs in behind where the channel ball didn't come from him and Chair let him know. Definitely seemed a pattern that they'd been working on - and you can see some of that on the 'Inside Training' Youtube stuff.
2. Madsen as the deep lying ball player was pretty good I thought. Reminded me a fair bit of Faurlin. He knows how to open his body up to take his first touch to a place where he can play the ball on, or he knows where someone will be so can play a nice looking sweeping pass. One of the few people we have who can do that.
But, I think when we play him there, we obviously lose some defensive solidity, as like Faurlin, people just run off the back of him, as they're both more the sort of player to block a passing lane than be able to spring out and make the tackle. And we lose the bits that Field is good at.
I actually thought that maybe we were playing Field centre back and Mbengue right back when I saw the lineup. But, that brings me to
3. Morgan at right back - thought this was really good actually. They'd clearly wanted him to step into midfield and he's almost perfectly suited to that. With the starting positions of everyone essentially a 4-2-4 with the wingers and Chair pushed really high, it gave the full backs loads of room to step up. He's technically strong, and thought it could well be an interesting position for him going forward.
Absolutely no idea how that works with Jimmy Dunne in the same position, but variety is the spice of life.
4. Celar - didn't hate him as much as others around me. I thought he was willing, made good runs to create space for others, and he even had a really good little moment in the first half when he received the ball in their box, kept it under really tight control, but couldn't twist himself to get a shot away, and then had to set it back to someone else who didn't get a shot away either. He won a few flicks first half, but after the nadir where instead of running onto a ball where I think he was clean through but he headed it straight up in the air. Thought he tired more than most, which is maybe the only one that would make sense given his lack of pre-season minutes.
5. Fitness - are we either loading them too much so they're already wiped out and don't have the legs, or we're under loading them so they're not yet ready for 90 minutes but means 'less' injuries long term. Either way, it doesn't seem to be right?
The legs were so heavy so quickly in the second half - that's either due to the conditioning or are we saying they got super nervous after we conceded that goal?
There was a few moments early on in the second half when they got Morgan running back towards our goal and he was running in slow motion.
Nervous energy? Heat? New system?
Dunno - needs work though, Poku looked done to me based on his reaction and the fact that he could walk off the way he did. That's a hamstring.
Dembele will need some rest after that cramp.
Chair and Madsen seemed the only ones moving about okay throughout the whole match. Chair in particular seemed very fit.
Most of this is coloured from sitting in Ellerslie closer to their fans so think I probably play closer attention to the side of the pitch closest to me |
Sorry but Faurlin was twice the player Madsen currently is - I don't recall many players running off the back of him!
He could tackle, head and pass, pretty much the complete midfielder for me. |  |
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| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:41 - Aug 11 with 359 views | robith |
The thing for me is that's been 5 years, 5 managers (I think) and new players yet we're always so mentally feeble.
Bossing the game, concede against the run of play, you should be saying, don't worry, this lot are shite. We go again. Instead they all look like they're gonna commit seppuku in the centre circle. Baffling |  | | |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:48 - Aug 11 with 324 views | TheChef |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:41 - Aug 11 by robith |
The thing for me is that's been 5 years, 5 managers (I think) and new players yet we're always so mentally feeble.
Bossing the game, concede against the run of play, you should be saying, don't worry, this lot are shite. We go again. Instead they all look like they're gonna commit seppuku in the centre circle. Baffling |
I take the points about poor fitness in the second half, but did wonder if the drop off was partly mental due to conceding so early after half time (another part of the QPR DNA we struggle to shake off).
Out of interest who took the terrible corner which led to the goal. It wasn't Chair again was it? | |
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| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:53 - Aug 11 with 282 views | robith |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:48 - Aug 11 by TheChef |
I take the points about poor fitness in the second half, but did wonder if the drop off was partly mental due to conceding so early after half time (another part of the QPR DNA we struggle to shake off).
Out of interest who took the terrible corner which led to the goal. It wasn't Chair again was it? |
I can't remember cos there was a weird moment where the lino said Chair didn't have the ball on the line properly and Chair threw a massive strop and walked off lol. So I can't remember if it was that one, or the one where he went back and kept chuntering on at the lino | | | |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:59 - Aug 11 with 251 views | QPROslo |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:48 - Aug 11 by TheChef |
I take the points about poor fitness in the second half, but did wonder if the drop off was partly mental due to conceding so early after half time (another part of the QPR DNA we struggle to shake off).
Out of interest who took the terrible corner which led to the goal. It wasn't Chair again was it? |
It was Dembele if I remember right, but don't think it was that bad a corner in itself. The cover was poor, only Esquerdinha back I think, Morgan in their box. | | | |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 11:09 - Aug 11 with 199 views | EuroRanger |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 10:12 - Aug 11 by JamieNaz |
A couple of other musings:
1. Esquerdinha, not a bad footballer, but has someway to go to be a defender in this league. Much more comfortable on the ball than without it. In the first half, this seemed pretty good, as he was constantly on the ball. Second half, not so much.
When anyone was running at him, he wasn't so hot. A few rash tackles (I don't mind this, shows he's got it in him) and he needs a lot of help to know where to stand - I am not a fan of him as last man from corners.
On the ball, liked him. Seemed up for it. Few times where Chair makes a run off, then runs in behind where the channel ball didn't come from him and Chair let him know. Definitely seemed a pattern that they'd been working on - and you can see some of that on the 'Inside Training' Youtube stuff.
2. Madsen as the deep lying ball player was pretty good I thought. Reminded me a fair bit of Faurlin. He knows how to open his body up to take his first touch to a place where he can play the ball on, or he knows where someone will be so can play a nice looking sweeping pass. One of the few people we have who can do that.
But, I think when we play him there, we obviously lose some defensive solidity, as like Faurlin, people just run off the back of him, as they're both more the sort of player to block a passing lane than be able to spring out and make the tackle. And we lose the bits that Field is good at.
I actually thought that maybe we were playing Field centre back and Mbengue right back when I saw the lineup. But, that brings me to
3. Morgan at right back - thought this was really good actually. They'd clearly wanted him to step into midfield and he's almost perfectly suited to that. With the starting positions of everyone essentially a 4-2-4 with the wingers and Chair pushed really high, it gave the full backs loads of room to step up. He's technically strong, and thought it could well be an interesting position for him going forward.
Absolutely no idea how that works with Jimmy Dunne in the same position, but variety is the spice of life.
4. Celar - didn't hate him as much as others around me. I thought he was willing, made good runs to create space for others, and he even had a really good little moment in the first half when he received the ball in their box, kept it under really tight control, but couldn't twist himself to get a shot away, and then had to set it back to someone else who didn't get a shot away either. He won a few flicks first half, but after the nadir where instead of running onto a ball where I think he was clean through but he headed it straight up in the air. Thought he tired more than most, which is maybe the only one that would make sense given his lack of pre-season minutes.
5. Fitness - are we either loading them too much so they're already wiped out and don't have the legs, or we're under loading them so they're not yet ready for 90 minutes but means 'less' injuries long term. Either way, it doesn't seem to be right?
The legs were so heavy so quickly in the second half - that's either due to the conditioning or are we saying they got super nervous after we conceded that goal?
There was a few moments early on in the second half when they got Morgan running back towards our goal and he was running in slow motion.
Nervous energy? Heat? New system?
Dunno - needs work though, Poku looked done to me based on his reaction and the fact that he could walk off the way he did. That's a hamstring.
Dembele will need some rest after that cramp.
Chair and Madsen seemed the only ones moving about okay throughout the whole match. Chair in particular seemed very fit.
Most of this is coloured from sitting in Ellerslie closer to their fans so think I probably play closer attention to the side of the pitch closest to me |
This is bang on. Agree with all of this, though I think Madsen faded in the second half too which led to us losing the midfield battle in the second half fairly comprehensively. He did put himself about decently in the first half though and won some headers.
Agree with Celar too - made some runs into places where if the ball was put in you'd have to feel he would score. He's not there yet but miles improved over early last season where he was literally useless. | | | |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 11:27 - Aug 11 with 134 views | Ranger123 |
| Couple of early StephanBall observations/musings/kneejerks on 15:28 - Aug 10 by QPRJill |
Regarding our attack: Celar should have been given a few more crosses to work on. That could be the reason why he looked disinterested throughout. Not saying he is very dynamic in his way of playing though..
[Post edited 10 Aug 17:48]
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Poku put an excellent low ball into the box in the second half right to the penalty spot where you would expect your number 9 to be. Celar was nowhere to be seen and it was easily cleared by the defender.
Dykes used to be the same, rarely in the right space in the box. | | | |
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