Tom Carroll

[WeAreQPR12]

indeed this is partly correct but its also important to keep possession in the right areas of the pitch as knocking it around the back four, unless you are leading and trying to see the game out, does not open up the opposition as they can just sit back with people behind the ball. If keeping possession around the half way line and the defence was the simple answer we would not have slapped Swansea twice at home when they were playing the tippy tappy

Very good post and it's good that kevin bond also agrees. The lack of chances in that 1st half was because of too much tippy tappy and no surprise holliet our most direct player creates a goal

[Rangers77]

indeed this is partly correct but its also important to keep possession in the right areas of the pitch as knocking it around the back four, unless you are leading and trying to see the game out, does not open up the opposition as they can just sit back with people behind the ball. If keeping possession around the half way line and the defence was the simple answer we would not have slapped Swansea twice at home when they were playing the tippy tappy

This with bells on. Especially at home against weak opposition. Holliett's introduction proved that. Faurlin's no number 10.... But away at Burnley, Wigan and Reading I'd be happy to tippy tappy across the back four all game and nick a winning 1-0.

[rickyranger]

indeed this is partly correct but its also important to keep possession in the right areas of the pitch as knocking it around the back four, unless you are leading and trying to see the game out, does not open up the opposition as they can just sit back with people behind the ball. If keeping possession around the half way line and the defence was the simple answer we would not have slapped Swansea twice at home when they were playing the tippy tappy

Absolutely agree Acton (although little concerned when weare was agreeing with you ) The ball has to be passed with a reason, but if you can draw out one of the opposition midfield players from their defensive shape it will create space for the striker and wide player to exploit which is exactly what Swansea do.

Again agree we moved the ball too slowly first half but that was the problem not the passing game. The game needed Holliet and to be honest would have brought Chevanton on earlier, particularly as they were playing 4-4-2. Having said that we are winning so can't moan too much.

[zeberdee]

indeed this is partly correct but its also important to keep possession in the right areas of the pitch as knocking it around the back four, unless you are leading and trying to see the game out, does not open up the opposition as they can just sit back with people behind the ball. If keeping possession around the half way line and the defence was the simple answer we would not have slapped Swansea twice at home when they were playing the tippy tappy

Fair point. Compared to the way England tend to play anyone talking up possession football is saying the right stuff. Looking at QPR last year there was a huge lack of interplay/passing/keep ball play in midfield/final third which contributed to the problems so moving towards more tippy tappy is again good. And of course the team is new and developing (and winning) so things will evolve. But there is a point where overdoing that style breaks down. West Ham just defended in numbers today at spurs, they had 1/3 of the posession and won 3-0. Breaking teams down is hard work. Guardiola uses wingers, Martinez uses Lukaku, variety is the spice of life. It is one of the reasons I was hoping for a Drogba tyle signing, that kind of player makes defending deep far harder.

[West Acton]

I actually have no prob with keeping the ball and endorse it nor does winning ugly concern me.

I just think if were going to start to put sides away and winning comfortable we may need to play possession footie little bit further up the pitch and take a few risks.

[QPRDave]

Think 'Arry said we have to temper our game between passing it around too much in front of the oppo and going too direct and gungho when we need to score.

[Stanley]

********.

Football is played by Ron Abbott booting the ball as far upfield as possible for Fat Bob Taylor to knock down to a poacher extraordinaire a la Peter Eastoe with the second ball being won by Brian Williams.

Knocks Barcelona into a tin hat

Yeah right and look what that approach has won our national team over the last 47 years

[moon_safari]

I really wish people would understand what Carroll brings to the team. Dunne and hill have been rocks this season but we can all agree there not ball playing centre halves . With Carroll coming short and collecting the ball means we retain the ball a lot more and make it hard for teams to score against you. Look at the last two games over 65% in both.
The boy is class and will only get better were lucky to have him

[Stanley]

I really wish people would understand what Carroll brings to the team. Dunne and hill have been rocks this season but we can all agree there not ball playing centre halves . With Carroll coming short and collecting the ball means we retain the ball a lot more and make it hard for teams to score against you. Look at the last two games over 65% in both.
The boy is class and will only get better were lucky to have him

Correct Moon, and that's the reason why at Spurs he was described as a 'deep-lying creative CM'.

[zeberdee]

Correct Moon, and that's the reason why at Spurs he was described as a 'deep-lying creative CM'.

TBH I tend to think who cares about that bit. The team is winning and playing better each week which is the main thing whatever the fine detail.
Looks like a deep passing role in a five man midfield is where he will play and most CDs are not so great at passing and most flair players are further forwards so to have quality passing from there is not something commonly dealt with by opponents.
Plus playing that way can occasionally encourage teams to push another man forward even just to mark the guy who is killing them which opens up space which tends to benefit the better attacking side.
Also when there are wingers on the pitch, or 433 with inverted wingers, having good early delivery from deep can give them the ball they need to either go down the line or cut in and go for goal.
It is a modern more continental style of play that can be very effective and he looks the boy to do it too.
Something great, and this is a years down the line, is when formations become largely meaningless because you can switch then during play, as and when they are needed to overload key areas of the pitch, and players are comfortable with any setup.

[Stanley]

Agree Zeb.

Harry also made it clear at the fans forum that he's not keen on playing with two strikers (whether it's home or away). He prefers one up top with a 'number 10' behind him. He was saying that's the way the modern game's changed in the last couple of years.

[zeberdee]

Agree Zeb.

Harry also made it clear at the fans forum that he's not keen on playing with two strikers (whether it's home or away). He prefers one up top with a 'number 10' behind him. He was saying that's the way the modern game's changed in the last couple of years.

Agreed. For example the way Germany played vs England in the last WC, player for player it was probably a fairly even match between the sides, but they looked so composed and in control with that extra man in the middle. Bayern play some fantastic stuff and now with Guardiola they are developing further. Course you got to deliver in the present too while thinking about the future too and there will be some upsets and bumps on the road, but it is exciting times and the team is progressing and delivering too.

[Shepherds Mush]

Germany played 4-4-2 when they thumped us in the World Cup. The 2 up top were Muller and Klose.

Germany simply thrashed us because they were technically much better and had a consistent team that were used to playing together.

[Stanley]

Germany played 4-4-2 when they thumped us in the World Cup. The 2 up top were Muller and Klose.

Germany simply thrashed us because they were technically much better and had a consistent team that were used to playing together.

...which I would put more down to your second paragraph than your first.

[zeberdee]

Germany played 4-4-2 when they thumped us in the World Cup. The 2 up top were Muller and Klose.

Germany simply thrashed us because they were technically much better and had a consistent team that were used to playing together.

Oh sorry I recall a game that Germany had a player in the hole England couldn't pick up, but maybe I remembered it wrong, or maybe it was Italy or another team, difficult to remember England games these days, they all tend to go the same way once they face some of the better sides.