| The Kone Kon-undrum 12:29 - Oct 27 with 2793 views | 1BobbyHazell |
It seems to have been a quiet undercurrent popping up in various threads. There's a few parts to it so I'd be really interested to hear how people see it. I'll start with a bit of a ramble.
Obviously a great start in the early games and the pairing him up with Burrell was, literally, game changing.
But, this having to play him as the deeper 10 to allow Burrell to play on the last man for balls over the top has some increasingly obvious issues.
First and foremost does it mean he gets less chances? Personally I want him as close to the oppo goal as often as possible. His finishing is magnificent. When he has to drift deeper and particularly wider, I think he can look quite lost and certainly doesn't quite have the 'feet' for it at times. We seem to have reverted a little to not getting quick crosses in, would having him in the box more consistently help? But where would that leave Burrell?
I get that it worked brilliantly early on but are teams getting a bit wiser to it? I get that having them both on the pitch is important but will him as a 10 work long term? Could there be games where Chair behind him is a better 10 option? It's a Konundrum.
Workload? I mean, great to see him making tackles in our penalty area and all that but is that where we really want him and is that the best use of his energy?
JS seems very keen on playing him a lot, asking him to get up and down, 3 games a week. Seems to get a lot less rest than the other attacking players. Looking at his body type I am a little concerned at what that work load is doing and what could happen injury wise. Also is he already looking a bit fatigued? A tad less sharp? Just me?
As an adjacent point, would love to know JS's thinking when he puts Frey on as a replacement 10. Bit weird? It's one thing playing Kone there to get him and Burrell on together but that is a unique situational need. Putting Frey there as a replacement as opposed to one of the real 10's or hybrid Kolli seems 'interesting'. Obviously you can add starting Kone and Frey together on to the 'confusing' list.
This isn't me complaining or moaning just wanted to see what people think of it all and where it might end up. |  | | |  |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 12:49 - Oct 27 with 2679 views | 7374Ranger |
I would prefer Kone as a number 9 and Burrell a number 10, or on the wings. I don't like seeing our centre forward back defending. Leave him in attack so that he can be an outlet when clearing the ball. He can come back for corners, with players like Burrell, Smyth, Chair and Dembele being left in attack for any breakaway (especially as given their height they are not likely to win many headers defending these set pieces). |  | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 13:10 - Oct 27 with 2569 views | Landshark |
I've got to be honest, I've started to worry about Kone in the last few weeks. I guess I might have set my expectations high after his start here, I just don't think he has been performing very well but it could also be the classic QPR way of letting the strikers feed off scraps.
Saying that though, the missed header against Derby was shocking. Inch perfect cross, no defender anywhere close to him, 6 yards out and couldn't find the target. Maybe he has lost he confidence because I am not sure how he got that so wrong. | | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 13:15 - Oct 27 with 2540 views | TheChef |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 13:10 - Oct 27 by Landshark |
I've got to be honest, I've started to worry about Kone in the last few weeks. I guess I might have set my expectations high after his start here, I just don't think he has been performing very well but it could also be the classic QPR way of letting the strikers feed off scraps.
Saying that though, the missed header against Derby was shocking. Inch perfect cross, no defender anywhere close to him, 6 yards out and couldn't find the target. Maybe he has lost he confidence because I am not sure how he got that so wrong. |
Yeah I just kind of assumed he was offside which he already knew and he hadn't bothered with the direction of his header. But there was no flag.
Sky didn't include it in their "highlights" for some reason. |  |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 13:18 - Oct 27 with 2520 views | HAYESBOY |
IMO I have always preferred a 4-2-3-1. But in seeing our slightly offset 4-4-2 with Kone just off of Burrell, I am ok with carrying this on. I much prefer Burrell to be higher as he has the pace to stretch defenses and work the channels than Kone. However Kone is a better finisher.
This is only a question because we are trying to fit in Chair. I would say Chair was no right to walk back into the team.
Or we go back to Chair as 10 and have Kone as the lone No 9 with Burrell to come on when teams tire.
Dont envy JS. With hopefully Poku and JCS to come back, someone senior is going to miss out. (Although I doubt we will have all players available. Injuries will occur). [Post edited 27 Oct 13:21]
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| Smells like a trout farm in here |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 13:27 - Oct 27 with 2464 views | simmo |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 13:10 - Oct 27 by Landshark |
I've got to be honest, I've started to worry about Kone in the last few weeks. I guess I might have set my expectations high after his start here, I just don't think he has been performing very well but it could also be the classic QPR way of letting the strikers feed off scraps.
Saying that though, the missed header against Derby was shocking. Inch perfect cross, no defender anywhere close to him, 6 yards out and couldn't find the target. Maybe he has lost he confidence because I am not sure how he got that so wrong. |
Still only 22, a few years out of non league, playing at this level consistently for the first time in a team still figuring out its identity. The Derby miss was poor, but it's about the only chance he had and he got in the right area, which is the main thing.
His finishing will also improve. I think he can get better looking for the corners, etc and I think there will be times when he's allowed to be the lone striker and have more creativity behind/around him. The start might have set unrealistic expectations for some but he's still learning. I have no concerns with him at all. |  |
| ask Beavis I get nothing Butthead |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 13:33 - Oct 27 with 2439 views | Logman |
I think he's trying hard but our collective wobbles and possibly a little bit of anxiety are meaning that he is snatching at things in the withdrawn role. JS has shown himself to be quite good at making quite good substitutions. He needs to not be scared to get a big gun off early if he is not firing and get a sub on. We've got plenty of decent subs available every game. [Post edited 27 Oct 13:34]
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 14:00 - Oct 27 with 2296 views | Bluce_Ree |
If he was scoring in every single game, he wouldn't be playing for us. |  |
| Stefan Moore, Stefan Moore running down the wing. Stefan Moore, Stefan Moore running down the wing. He runs like a cheetah, his crosses couldn't be sweeter. Stefan Moore. Stefan Moore. Stefan Moore. |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 14:07 - Oct 27 with 2251 views | wombat |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 14:00 - Oct 27 by Bluce_Ree |
If he was scoring in every single game, he wouldn't be playing for us. |
the issue is in substitutions we dont have a plan b frey is awful sorry i know he tries but lets be honest hes pony , so we dont have a plan b for the striker to maybe try holding the ball up for burrell etc , maybe thats something we will look at in jan alongwith a new keepr who isnt tied to his line |  |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 14:08 - Oct 27 with 2243 views | dannyblue |
Kone's doing great. I've been impressed and suprised by his hold up play, his passing, and his enjoyment of winding up the oppo.
I'd like him to stop giving away fouls in places that let them sling the ball into our box, though.
Frey on the other hand is knackered, and I cannot believe he's getting minutes ahead of Kolli. Or anyone else for that matter. |  | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 15:03 - Oct 27 with 2086 views | Lblock |
Kone is clearly a great player - wasn't it Wolves or Lootown or someone apparently looking to offer £7MILL a year ago? If that's true then clearly others had seen he's got it.
I don't buy this issue with a "slightly deeper role".
You don't end up in the 6 yard box to miss headers that are absolute sitters if you're tied to the centre circle.
Probably the best striker in the world at the moment is Harry Kane. Just look at how deep he finds himself and the way he sacrifices energy for the good of the team - he also has superior reading, knowledge and vision which sets him apart from other strikers.
The frustrating thing is we've seen King Richard absolutely dominate opposition defenders and DCM's so we know he can do it. Last few weeks it's just not been there.
He's looked absolutely moody whenever Burrell hasn't been on the pitch with him and he seems to be regressing to the periphery of matches with a lot of regularity this month.
He is a match winner and needs to be effecting games.
I've no idea what it is but I'm still totally sold on the Kone man.... sure I will be. |  |
| Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 15:30 - Oct 27 with 1984 views | kensalriser |
He's gone off the boil in the last few games, but he's not the only one.
22, played 9 and a half games at this level and probably the best striker signing we've made since Charlie Austin MK I. |  |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 16:01 - Oct 27 with 1903 views | WadR |
Nice to have this striker conundrum rather than our usual Washington or Celar one where our multimillion pound striker doesn't score in their first 20 games.
I can't actually really believe he's only 22 - he plays like a more experienced player. His performances have probably dipped a tad, but as others have said, he's played 10 matches at this level and was playing 10th tier football 2 years ago.
I think it's actually to his credit that Stephan thinks he can do either the number 10 or number 9 role in this team.
I would really love to see us - and this is with no disrespect to Burrell - line up with Saito, Chair and Another behind Kone. I think that has potential to be a well balanced and really exciting front 4.
Perhaps it's more suited to being at home and we keep with the Burrell/Kone partnership for away games. | | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 16:31 - Oct 27 with 1777 views | Hooping_Mad |
Not as worried as others just yet. The service has been abysmal lately, Smyth has failed to poke a few balls through when Kone was in very good positions but I have that down to Smyth playing further inside and that's not where his strength lies. Lobbing hopeful ball in there when Kone's 25yrds back is pointless as well.
Swapping them back would be a good idea. However it going to reduce Burrells goal contributions so its swings and roudabouts. I still think it's the way to go mind.
What is clear is JS doesn't know this squad all that well just yet. Several players have been worked out Madsen/Cook obvious examples one a miricle the other the most obvious Centre Back you'll meet, but the same issue happened as with Kone/Burrell there in that Madsen now plays in Fields position and we don't know what to do with him now and Cook has made way for Morrison when he's fit too is also an example of where JS has got it spot on.
Midfield really needs work though,
We need to learn/practice stretching team out wide and compressing them before moving the ball quickly, It's a skill that seem to vanish in the final third. We really need to impress on players this year not to take too many touches and move the ball on especially when wide on the 18yrd box.
Derby game was very strange, they kept giving us the ball and we didn't have a plan for that, run to 18 yrd box stop think cross repeat. That has to change even if we just play keep ball for 5 mins at a time, and draw them on. A skill Marti actually learned.
Not always happy with our subs, I will admit to having been wrong on that a few times this season but the jury is still out if that was luck or judgement. Just my take. [Post edited 27 Oct 16:32]
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 16:33 - Oct 27 with 1761 views | Northernr |
I know it doesn't really work for a message board, nor for somebody who has to write 48 match previews a season, but let's wait and see what this looks like in May.
He was very deep in non-league 18 months ago. He's 12 appearances into the Championship, and he's already scored 4 goals. If he scores six more that's our best striker performance since 21/22. If he gets 11 more that's our best striker since Charlie Austin 2013/14.
A 22-year old signed from non-league via Wycombe is going to have a few ups and downs. He's actually done a bit better to this point than I thought he would. |  | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 16:41 - Oct 27 with 1717 views | Hooping_Mad |
Yeah don't panic.
A good question would be, would you replace either Kone or Burrell with Dykes.
Should put most minds at ease.
PS. Has anyone seen Rayan Kolli? asking for a friend. | |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 17:03 - Oct 27 with 1639 views | olderR |
My first impression of him was that he can't run and he can't jump.
If at the end of the season he has scored more goals than previous number 9s
he's a success. |  | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 17:26 - Oct 27 with 1537 views | 1BobbyHazell |
Some interesting replies.
For my part I certainly wasn't panicking or thinking anything other than how brilliant it is to have him. More just how he is best used going forward. For me his best asset by far is his finishing and Im not sure if 10 is getting him as many chances as it should. Time will tell. It would certainly be nice to have the alternate option of Chair behind him working as well. As opposed to that Frey nonsense. | | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 17:45 - Oct 27 with 1461 views | CateLeBonR |
I thought he was good at Swansea and looking at the extended highlights he's there in space in good positions for nearly all our attacks. Even for our goal he plays a part in the build up and then takes up a position in the box unmarked. For Chair's first chance I thought Illy should have played a little pass to his right and Kone is in for an almost certain goal. He opts to shoot and it deflects out for a corner. For Chair's second chance he correctly chooses to shoot but Kone is there in space again. For Dunne's chance he's there in the box but the ball hits the post and falls to Varane who puts it wide.
Against Millwall he was ok and did that lovely turn in the first half but is blocked out by good play from their defender. Against Derby he wasn't great but could have easily got a goal. On another week with a bit more luck he scores 3 or 4 goals. If he keeps finding the space in dangerous areas like he is then the goals will come. Famous last words. |  | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 19:02 - Oct 27 with 1236 views | davman |
Typical Rangers response to Kone. A few good games to start with and "we'll only have him 'til the summer, when he'll go for £20m". Two games in. FFS.
He is a kid who has had a meteoric rise up to this level. He will plateau (or dip) whilst he finds his feet and then he'll pick up again.
He has dipped though; one of the worst performers in the last couple of games.
I am also in the camp of play him up top. When (if) Poku comes back in to this fold its Saito - Chair - Poku behind Kone all day with Burrell / Smyth to come off the bench.
He'll score again soon... |  |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 20:31 - Oct 27 with 1037 views | baz_qpr |
Confidence and fitness. Plus he is getting maybe one chance a game. It's been a meteoric rise, opposition will now have videos and plans to deal with him, puts that header away last night and we are talking how amazing he manages to pop up and save the game. But we have to be careful about overplaying and I dont think he's got another 3 game week in him |  | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 07:45 - Oct 28 with 557 views | mart_Goblin |
Interesting few comments about substitutions.
It’s a general consensus, although not a rule that JS is learning about this squad and this division week to week as Marti did . It will take time.
But if you are making double substitutions at half time or on occasion , triple substitutions, you are getting it wrong to start with .
Not sure how many times this has happened this season but there has been 3 or 4 I think . Might be wrong .
That’s where JS has to improve I think . Get that starting 11 right first and that will help .
Of course injuries and ‘match’ fitness play a part so it’s not a dig really, just something I’ve noticed. |  | | |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 09:38 - Oct 28 with 340 views | BrianMcCarthy |
| The Kone Kon-undrum on 20:31 - Oct 27 by baz_qpr |
Confidence and fitness. Plus he is getting maybe one chance a game. It's been a meteoric rise, opposition will now have videos and plans to deal with him, puts that header away last night and we are talking how amazing he manages to pop up and save the game. But we have to be careful about overplaying and I dont think he's got another 3 game week in him |
"Plus he is getting maybe one chance a game."
Excellent point.
I also don't think we should write off that we've done what we've often been accused of doing in the past- we've bought a striker and then not played to his strengths. We're playing him out of position. |  |
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| The Kone Kon-undrum on 09:43 - Oct 28 with 309 views | stantheman10 |
Personally I'd have Burrell as sub and bring him on for the last 30 minutes or so when the oppo defenders are tiring. I'd start with Chair just behind Kone. Chair in that high pocket will be a nightmare to pick up for defenders and it'll keep him out of Madsens way. Unleash Burrell late on with Poku (soon we hope!) that should frighten most teams in the division for the last half hour!
Nardi Dunne Mbengue Morrison N-Davies Madsen Varane Vale Saito Chair Kone. Poku and Burrell on as subs. that'd do me | | | |
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