Midfield?...What midfield?

[Stanley]

Think your answer is in there somewhere mate.

That is too depressing a notion for me to contemplate yet mate. I'm still desperately clinging to the hope that between these four stellar footballing brains they have some cunning plan up their sleeves.

[vblockranger]

WhoScored.com
.@Joey7Barton: Has completed at least 118 more passes (1209) than any other player in the Championship this season #QPR

Barton in midfield is a no brainer anyway.

[Shania]

Think your answer is in there somewhere mate.

Many posters on here would do better. Personally, .
I have had enough of them. They do totally lack a nouse for the tactical side of the game. I could easily have done it better myself.

[Stanley]

WhoScored.com
.@Joey7Barton: Has completed at least 118 more passes (1209) than any other player in the Championship this season #QPR

Barton in midfield is a no brainer anyway.

Exactly, there's no dispute at all over Joey's passing, tackling and breaking up play talents.

But he needs a CM alongside him who can pick the ball up and run with it, and Carroll is most definitely not that player.

[Shania]

Our midfield does still lack balance. That is the problem...

[stainrodisalegend]

WhoScored.com
.@Joey7Barton: Has completed at least 118 more passes (1209) than any other player in the Championship this season #QPR

Barton in midfield is a no brainer anyway.

He's played well but how many of those passes have been killer passes let alone assists. I'm not blaming him particularly as I assume he is playing where and how he has been told to play but Stanley is right he and carroll are a) incredibly deep and b) totally static. How are we possibly going to score with one up front and a midfield of statues?

[ZANNEYQPR]

With all our supposed wealth of midfield talent we don't have one player that can pick the ball up in a central area and drive at defenders with it a la Gerry Francis, Gerrard, Robson etc - defenders HATE that. Barton and Carroll never do this yet are always played centrally. Our only player who comes close to having this ability is Phillips but he was wasted on the wing yesterday with no one to cross it to. The one time he did begin a run from a central area it resulted in probably the best chance of the whole game when he put Niko through.

So not only was no one driving on with the ball from midfield but what was the point of us playing with two wingers yesterday with no one in the middle to aim for. Clearly the only way we were ever going to score was by playing through the middle. And yet all we did was play the ball from side to side across the back and across the middle. The times when Hoilett and Phillips did receive it on the wings they were totally impotent out there, so what else could they do with it but just pass it back as there was no point crossing it. Their only other option was to try and dribble with it into the box but all Watford then had to do was double up on them so we'd lose possession again.

The game was crying out for someone to pick the ball up centrally and just drive at them with the ****ing thing. That would have been our only hope of a breakthrough. I kept screaming at Barton and Carroll to do that but to no avail as its just not their game. And the only two players remotely gifted enough in that role are Phillips and Taarabt. Between Redknapp, Bond and Jordan why couldn't any of them see something as blindingly obvious and which their substitutions do NOTHING to address?

Diakite

[Norths]

Diakite

Only if, only if

Seems to have burnt all bridges and bulldozed the remains when it comes to Harry having faith in him.

Massive shame as, on form, he could and should have had a big impact at this level

[Stanley]

Diakite

Good shout Zanney, he was a great sight when in full flight. I wonder where his head's at these days though...

[dave58]

Good post Stanley. Krajcar tried to get inside the box but could not do so when surrounded by 2-3 defenders. Perhaps he should have tried harder?

Has anyone also noticed from the Nottingham Forest game that every shot Hoilett made was from outside the box and blocked by defenders?

Not just he Forest game! Every game the bloke never does anything different ? Cuts inside shoots 9 times out of ten hits a defender can only remember 1 shot at Reading where the keeper had to make a save, he's been a real disappointment since he arrived at our club.

[Martinmalta]

What hurts most is that we have the players at the club that may change the situation, however, because of HR stubbornness, its unlikely this will happen. The likes of Taarabt, Diakite, Hitchcock could make a big difference to our way of playing. Yet, we keep insisting on just 'to add another striker.' He will make no difference at all if no other player is good enough to unlock defences.

[Rangers77]

Exactly, there's no dispute at all over Joey's passing, tackling and breaking up play talents.

But he needs a CM alongside him who can pick the ball up and run with it, and Carroll is most definitely not that player.

This.

[Shania]

Who could we buy to fit that role? Any suggestions?

[mikeisyou]

Get someone who knows how to take a corner http://youtu.be/NMyQqFJ8qbk?t=45s