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Reply | Dembele
at 22:27 4 Oct 2025
There’s a thread under this one on Nic Madsen - a player posters are eating humble pie over and who was referred to as “shit” and one “we should get rid” not long ago, is now being lauded as a success story. No idea if he’ll make it, but at 22 Dembele’s got time on his side and after so few games and injury problems last season, he probably deserves a bit more time. I don’t have any problem with him not making the side, time out may be a good thing, and with Poku coming back I think he’ll find it tough to get back into the team, but he deserves more of a chance than what he’s had to show what he can do. I wasn’t one that wrote Madsen off, would suggest people shouldn’t write Dembele off…just yet. |
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Reply | Stephan stands by team selection after QPR draw and gives Clarke-Salter update
at 10:06 3 Oct 2025
I think decent individual players, terrible team.
I look across the starting 11 and there seemed to be no connections, no decent pairings. You've covered strikers and agree, but then you have Field and Hayden, individually excellent but together two defensive minded, pass backwards or sideways midfielders. Full backs, pretty decent, but naturally more defensive and not comfortable passing forward and receiving the ball under pressure, so made the centre midfield and strikers look even more out their depth. And two centre backs, one whose not able to pass it quickly into the strikers feet.
Swap Hayden for Madsen, Kone for Smyth (Dembele or Kolli off the striker), and I think you'd have seen a much better performance and still been able to rest a fair few of the team. |
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Reply | M40 pile up Witnail and I edition - Qpr vs Oxford Match Thread
at 15:35 2 Oct 2025
Yep, said similar on another thread. I also thought Cook played well, even remember an impressive low fizzed in cross he played, but when defending, his passing at the back was definitely slow with little zip, and he never passes into front players, always sideways. Morrison, I thought was missed because he has the ability to pass through the lines into feet, which also helps our centre mids who aren't always the most comfortable with the ball. |
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Reply | Dembele
at 15:22 2 Oct 2025
At the time we got him and Saito, and that first cameo, I thought we had 2 special players on our hands, and if pushed I was more impressed with Dembele. But I think signing him so early was possibly the wrong move, especially now we have Poku to come back. Vale, Saito, Chair, Poku, Smyth and even Rayan, he does seem vulnerable.
You do wonder if the money we spent on Dembele could have gone towards that ball playing centre mid we're crying out for. A positive is, he does still show glimpses of exciting ability, so there is something there, and he's young, so can certainly improve. [Post edited 2 Oct 15:28]
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Reply | Oxford Utd Reflection
at 12:43 2 Oct 2025
Fair point, but I think our record is one of the worst in the 3rd game of a 3 match game week so if we were able to get a win, that would at least suggest some progress on that front. I'm not confident mind, and think going out all guns blazing last night would have been better option. |
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Reply | Oxford Utd Reflection
at 12:34 2 Oct 2025
The real test is Saturday. This Manager was brought in, (partly), to improve performance in 3 match game weeks so not against a radical approach. But lose on Saturday, that’s just 2 points from 3 games, and we’d have been better off putting everything into last night and getting 3 points in a very winnable game. Win, and 5 points in a game week, which included 2 away matches, isn’t so shabby. We shall see.
The above said, that team selection was a major reason for the spectacle we all had to witness. Yes Field and Hayden are limited with the ball, but that problem is only amplified when the easy pass out to the full back is going to Jimmy D or RND, 2 other limited players with the ball. The option for them to go into a link man playing off the front man also wasn’t really on for them. Not many have said it, but also not having a central defender that can pass between the lines added to the problem. Morrison has it in his locker to play that pass, Cook did well, but not suited to that style of passing, which again meant players with limited skill were asked to show qualities they don’t have and it looked horrible. Clearly, we looked solid, but you have a teamsheet of players where most are best out of possession, that’s not a shock. |
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Reply | M40 pile up Witnail and I edition - Qpr vs Oxford Match Thread
at 22:19 1 Oct 2025
2 physical strikers, 2 defensive minded central midfielders, 2 naturally more defensive minded fullbacks…at home…to Oxford. Not for me. That was a starting 11 that was always going to struggle to break down the opposition. |
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Reply | Kone Burrel switch
at 11:51 22 Sep 2025
I like the two, but particularly with Burrel, he looks very raw still. Some heavy touches, ball not under control BUT, he's at the age where he can still improve, (a lot), and has frightening pace which you can't learn. Kone looks the more complete striker to me, and despite coming into football later, looks more polished, which seems strange.
As a pairing, pretty exciting front 2. |
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Reply | Stoke's issues with Vale continue as QPR make it three from three – Report
at 10:27 22 Sep 2025
Good report and pretty much how I saw it. Saito MOTM, Morisson a close second for me. Enjoyable game which I think we shaded.
Interesting, a few people have referenced the 90s Francis team as what we look a bit like now. The big difference though is clearly the fullbacks, where the 90s side was blessed with two that would have been equally at home as wingers, whereas our two now would equally be at home as centre backs which goes to show the type of players they are/were. I think for now, a tough championship, with physical teams, that’s not the worst thing in the world, but as we progress a bit more and hopefully kick on this season or more likely next, a bit more calmness and intelligence with the ball will be required from the fullback positions, to help us really become a contender for top 6. |
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Reply | Madsen
at 19:25 20 Sep 2025
I’ve stuck up for Madsen and really pleased with his efforts recently. While no issues with him on the ball today, it wasn’t too dissimilar to other performances. What was vastly different was what he did without the ball. Players bounced off him - been on the weights? - a sliding tackle second half that showed bottle and some important headers too. 6/10 with the ball, 8 out of 10 without it. Well played Sir. |
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Reply | 1994 Rangers compared to todays
at 16:59 20 Sep 2025
Yep, watching our full backs makes me think of Wilo and the Bard. To be honest, can’t see the 90s team myself. But I like what I’m seeing |
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Reply | Norrington-Davis thoughts?
at 18:40 31 Aug 2025
Downvoted in error.
Thought he played well - especially first 15. Positionally much better than what we’ve had recently. Promising start. |
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Reply | Just back
at 17:43 30 Aug 2025
Bit harsh on the left back. Probably what we need - steady and experienced 6/10 each week. Think a few have gone overboard with our centre backs today. Thought Mbengue was superb first half but faded badly and don’t remember either of them winning a header second half. I like them both though and think could be the right pairing. |
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Reply | Saito goal
at 14:47 30 Aug 2025
Remarkable performance from Saito. To have not had any football since he last turned out for us and yet to be so ‘on it’ from the moment he stepped on the pitch was ridiculous. He didn’t do one thing wrong and did some difficult things well, the goal being the icing on the cake. Genuine MOTM contender and wasn’t on the pitch long. |
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Reply | A Kelmanation of errors QPR vs Charlton Athletic Match Thread
at 12:19 30 Aug 2025
To be fair we were 5-0 down at half time last week with people’s preferred 3 of Field, Varane and Morgan. We can’t always pin the blame on Madsen.
I worry about the lack of experience with no Cook or Field but let’s try and be confident. Last home game thought Madsen turned in a decent performance and the team played well. Let’s give it everything. Relieved Kelman isn’t starting |
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Reply | Charlton Line Up
at 20:05 27 Aug 2025
No he didn’t. He started against Oxford and Ashby came on as sub. We beat them 3-1 and he played well getting an assist. |
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Reply | In Advanced Talks With Edwards
at 18:14 27 Aug 2025
There are more pressing issues than centre back, but if this kid was available, he’s that good, you’d just suck it up and get a deal agreed and accept we’ll remain rubbish in other areas. Top player. |
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Reply | Charlton Line Up
at 07:40 27 Aug 2025
I mean Saito and Hayden will be lucky to make the bench right - they’ve hardly played any football. Surely there’s next to zero chance of them playing given no preseason and that would be the right thing to do. They’ll possibly make the bench.
Of course if I missed something and they have had a preseason, by all means, start them, as we could do with them right now. |
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Reply | Celar
at 13:52 26 Aug 2025
I think he offers hints of his underlying views though. I'm sure early on he was noting Celar didn't seem particularly quick or able to hold onto the ball and bring others into play, so noted he'd likely be reliant on service - which for a club like us isn't an ideal situation.
He has constantly banged the drum of us needing 4 strikers, like Luton had when they returned to the premier league. So, while he's not said early on "Celar isn't very good and I would never have bought him if I had a choice", I did suspect he wasn't a fan. |
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Reply | Charlton Line Up
at 12:45 26 Aug 2025
A lot of question marks on where people should play/best positions and not many automatic picks on current form. I think Nardi should start. He was unlucky to be dropped and should now be restored. I don't think Walsh is the problem, but he's looking shaky. Mbengue would play for me, alongside Morrison, with Dunne and the new guy at left back. I don't want us to automatically play out from the back, mix it up and so Kone up front needs to happen. Field and Varane play but the 3rd is anyone's guess. I'm not against Madsen (if Chair is out) being that 3rd midfielder but no qualms if Vale gets an opportunity.
I think Dembele deserves to be dropped but we're lacking fit, and available options. There may be something in Dembele being more suited to the left given he played well first game and doesn't always have to cut into traffic as he often does on the right, so Smyth Right and Dembele left may be worth a go although Rayan left has his supporters and I'm not against that. Burrell to come on at 60/70 as Kone tires and depending on Hayden and Saito's fitness they may be bench options as well.
We really need the international break to build up some fitness. Would love a cleansheet Saturday first and foremost to build some defensive confidence after the horror show and hopefully we can get a goal or two as well. Team selection and whether we play out from the back will be interesting. |
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