Fitz Hall

[Robbo]

Hall and Connelly are both decent enough in the air... the 1st goal was a bit of a freaky one.
The problem for the second goal was that those two are the only players we have that are big enough/decent in the air.
Leigertwood was marking Wood... good delivery, he lost him, Wood scored.

We're often outnumbered at set-pieces for height and aerial ability. Last season we had Delaney. Even Blackstock was a very handy defender for us at corners etc.. Drogba is a great defender for Chelsea.
Right now, how many of our full backs, midfielders or forwards are big and strong enough when defending set-pieces??
Even our goalkeeper is a comparative short-ar$e. Ramage might have helped, but Leigertwood is the far better footballer, but defender?? No.

It's not all down to the two centre backs. They're picking up just two players... the rest will always struggle.

Maybe we should leave 3 blokes (Simpson, Routledge and Buzsaky) on the half way line when defending corners, and make the other team think twice about piling players into our box in case we punish them on the break. Or put a player on each post - Ashley Cole style.... or something?

Or just buy a Leon Best type player, and make us stronger in both penalty areas?
It's not all about centre backs.

[Dando]

Hall and Connelly are both decent enough in the air... the 1st goal was a bit of a freaky one.
The problem for the second goal was that those two are the only players we have that are big enough/decent in the air.
Leigertwood was marking Wood... good delivery, he lost him, Wood scored.

We're often outnumbered at set-pieces for height and aerial ability. Last season we had Delaney. Even Blackstock was a very handy defender for us at corners etc.. Drogba is a great defender for Chelsea.
Right now, how many of our full backs, midfielders or forwards are big and strong enough when defending set-pieces??
Even our goalkeeper is a comparative short-ar$e. Ramage might have helped, but Leigertwood is the far better footballer, but defender?? No.

It's not all down to the two centre backs. They're picking up just two players... the rest will always struggle.

Maybe we should leave 3 blokes (Simpson, Routledge and Buzsaky) on the half way line when defending corners, and make the other team think twice about piling players into our box in case we punish them on the break. Or put a player on each post - Ashley Cole style.... or something?

Or just buy a Leon Best type player, and make us stronger in both penalty areas?
It's not all about centre backs.

we couldnt deal with any cross that came in - and were lucky to only concede 2 goals. Before their goal, they hada number of free headers and chances, which the defence did not deal with. Hall is a big guy, hes massive - but was beaten everytime. Connolly wasnt great in the air either - which is where Stewart and Gorkks are better

[Bluehoop]

Hall and Connelly are both decent enough in the air... the 1st goal was a bit of a freaky one.
The problem for the second goal was that those two are the only players we have that are big enough/decent in the air.
Leigertwood was marking Wood... good delivery, he lost him, Wood scored.

We're often outnumbered at set-pieces for height and aerial ability. Last season we had Delaney. Even Blackstock was a very handy defender for us at corners etc.. Drogba is a great defender for Chelsea.
Right now, how many of our full backs, midfielders or forwards are big and strong enough when defending set-pieces??
Even our goalkeeper is a comparative short-ar$e. Ramage might have helped, but Leigertwood is the far better footballer, but defender?? No.

It's not all down to the two centre backs. They're picking up just two players... the rest will always struggle.

Maybe we should leave 3 blokes (Simpson, Routledge and Buzsaky) on the half way line when defending corners, and make the other team think twice about piling players into our box in case we punish them on the break. Or put a player on each post - Ashley Cole style.... or something?

Or just buy a Leon Best type player, and make us stronger in both penalty areas?
It's not all about centre backs.

Great point, well made.
During one of last year's many debates over Dex being lazy I pointed out just how often he won headers at the back in a defensive role (and let's not turn this into a he's a striker and doesn't score goals debate) whereas in the current side we do not have a striker capable of winning headers either whilst defending or attacking - add to that how very few times we win headers/score goals from corners and you begin to get a picture of why we are not defending set pieces very well - we don't have physically strong enough defenders that win high balls into the box - like Dex used to do and like Stewart does (and again it's not a debate about his other attributes - good or bad) but strength in the challenge is a big plus from Stewart - IMO of course.

[Robbo]

we couldnt deal with any cross that came in - and were lucky to only concede 2 goals. Before their goal, they hada number of free headers and chances, which the defence did not deal with. Hall is a big guy, hes massive - but was beaten everytime. Connolly wasnt great in the air either - which is where Stewart and Gorkks are better

I understand that... but what I'm saying is that neither Hall or Connolly were marking the bloke who scored the equalizer.
So the goal wasn't just down to them... we are lacking in height, aggression and aerial ability all over the pitch.
I suppose that's the down side of having all that pace and mobilty, but the balance is slightly wrong. And we pay for it at times - like saturday.

I think we need to compromise a bit, and play one or two players with more physical strength and presence to cope with teams like Coventry and Palace etc..

[qblockpete]

Personally, we cannot single out Hall on Saturday.

Cerny was at fault for the second goald, Connolly got caught out for the first.

I just wished we played the same back 4. Over a period of time, they get to know each other, you cannot keep changing it.

[WeAreQPR12]

I agree with the Q block tw at
Sorry I mean Pete ;)

[Dando]

I understand that... but what I'm saying is that neither Hall or Connolly were marking the bloke who scored the equalizer.
So the goal wasn't just down to them... we are lacking in height, aggression and aerial ability all over the pitch.
I suppose that's the down side of having all that pace and mobilty, but the balance is slightly wrong. And we pay for it at times - like saturday.

I think we need to compromise a bit, and play one or two players with more physical strength and presence to cope with teams like Coventry and Palace etc..

i agree - but im looking at the situation in general. We tend to struggle against teams when hall plays - we are far more vulnerable. Not just the coventry game. Our defence was excellent last year - i dont understand what else they can do to do any better?

[WeAreQPR12]

Jill if you think Stewarts performances this season have merited a start then we must of been watching different games. He definately looks alot fatter and now when he does make those crazy clangers he now doesn't have the pace to recover the situtation. He looks like he is carry and pregnant in his ####!

[Dando]

Jill if you think Stewarts performances this season have merited a start then we must of been watching different games. He definately looks alot fatter and now when he does make those crazy clangers he now doesn't have the pace to recover the situtation. He looks like he is carry and pregnant in his ####!

im not saying he has been as good as last season, but like i say - we let less goals in when he plays, and let more goals in when Hall plays. Im a QPR fan, and want us to do well and whats best for the team, so its as clear as anything to me - thats Stewart is better than Hall. Hall is good on the floor, but he doesnt come close to the dominance in the air of stewart. Sorry - we will never agree on this, but just staing my point. It frustrates me that we are excllent going forward, and get let down but ridiculous defending. The main thing is to get the ball out of danger - thats a defenders job

[Olly]

Stewart's the only defender with pace, can't remember anyone getting past him on a one on one, so I'm always happier when he's playing. Yes we concede silly goals but I like Gorkks playing alongside him

[LOOPYHOOP]

Why Gorkks was dropped is beyond me.............

[Robbo]

Why Gorkks was dropped is beyond me.............

I think most people are puzzled by that one.

I do think that Jim Magilton played his 1st choice CB pairing on saturday, he seems to pick Fitz Hall every time he's even close to being fit.


I'm not as anti-Fitz Hall as many seem to be, but he's not in my top 2.

[Stedders]

We do seem at our best with Gorkss and Stewart. I would like to see how Gorkss and Connolly do though, but I think you need that pace of Stewart.

He was ill in his last game, it was so obvious. I don't think he is fat like someone has said. And he does make mistakes, but I think his assets save a lot of potential goals too. And no I don't mean his moobs!

[baz]

IMHO Stewart and Gorks is easily the best pairing, despite what certain individuals say, Stewart is the best in the air and the quickest of those available Gorks reads the game better than the rest. This is a proven blanced partnership that was probably the best in the league last season. Whilst Hall might not have been at fault for the set piece goals, certainly 1st half he was appaling and frankly we were lucky to only concede two. For all the good Gorman and Magilton have done for us going forward our defense is all over the shop and set pieces both going forward and in defence are dire.

And god only knows what they were thinking playing a CB partnership with two players neither are match fit and who have played together a handful of times in the last 18 months.