Smith Or Hogan To Start..

[moon_safari]

Problem is smith can't play against pompey so would start one game and be out the next

[WeAreQPR12]

Smith in now, I am totally fed up with hogan.

I thought he were man of the match against Boro but that was ages ago and has done nothing since. Smith deserves a starting place and his experience could be useful. I am tempted to suggest a 4 4 2 as the following.

Kenny, same back line.

Taraabt, faurlin, Buzz, Mackie

Smith Hulse/Helguson.

[WeAreQPR12]

I rate Derry and Faurlin but we created nothing in the 2nd half time for buzz to be played further upfield as we need some creative attacking threat. Faurlin or Derry can sit. Derry was better than faurlin on sat to be fair.

[WeAreQPR12]

ffs we were at home lets take some risks. **** this record play to win.

[dave58]

Surely Smith to start, in 20 mins he looked sharper & more potent than Hogan all game, only reason Hogan is getting in at the moment is me thinks NW feels that Hogan helps protect Hill at left back, defensively he may be better than smith.

[sirpiechucker]

I agree towards the end it was very much 'hoof ball' but I think that was down to mainly 'throwing the kitchen sink' at it as they say. George Graham always built successful teams from the back but always had great attacking prowess in his teams also & I feel we are similar this season with regards to being very tight at the back yet good going forward.

I really do think the set up is right I would just like to see a bit of a change in personnel IE; Smith for Hogan. I just feel a few players form have dipped at once & not so much the team playing badly. A win in the last few games & I doubt we'd even be having this conversation mate.

I agree we are very tight at the back and any changes to formation would obviously put this at risk however there may come a time when we are going to have to change the formation to open up the other end. I'm not advocating us trying to win matches 5-4 but teams have obviously done their homework on us and to keep ahead of the game I believe things need to change. The obvious one is of course Smith for Ephraim. Smith over a course of a season will contribute more in terms of goals and assists and although I'm not surprised Warnock has persisted with HE I do believe Smith deserves his chance now that HE has been given a fair opportunity to rediscover form and unfortunately hasn't.

As for the 2 DMs or not 2 DMs that is the question which also needs addressing. I agree about Graham and I agree that many other managers have played this system successfully and it is a system that I actually prefer than any other. However I think it only works against certain opposition not those who "park the bus". Many teams will walk away from LR happy to take a point and it's against those teams which I think we potentially could miss a trick. With Hulse now fit I think we have the opportunity to play 2 upfront against certain opposition. As I mentioned earlier I would play Derry and Faurlin against Cardiff as I would on Saturday against Reading but to pay Burnley such a compliment by having both on the pitch was in my mind slightly daft. Warnock is superb and I think 99.9% of the time he is getting it spot on but to take off the attacking threat and leave the defensive players on especially when Burnley had settled for the draw is a decision which baffled me. However a few months ago that same Burnley side battered Spurs, beat Everton and Manchester United and for us to get a draw is by no mean feat whatsoever especially considering where we were just a few months ago as well.

[G.T.P]

you still uner confident about winning the league sirpee?

[MYU]

Smith has to start next game, he looks a bigger threat right now and we must start with hungry players.

[sirpiechucker]

you still uner confident about winning the league sirpee?

I don't think we will win the league but I've not seen anything to of the likes of Norwich, Swansea, Coventry, Burnley etc to suggest than anybody else is a shoo in for 2nd place. I think the league is more open than ever but is full of some mediocre teams who are one or two injuries away from flopping.

I think the team with the best squads will win promotion and those who have the fewest injuries. Buzsaky and Helguson will be back shortly and with Smith struggling to get in the side we will not only have a first XI but a bench capable of remaining up there for a long time to come. We've had injuries Helguson, Hulse, Buzsaky, Orr, Faurlin and Hall yet we remain unbeaten could anyone say the same if the likes Prattley or Sinclair got injured for Swansea, or Holt and Hoolahan for Norwich or Iwelumo and Eagles for Burnley???

Cardiff should win this division but there are many many teams who will go on a good run and drop - Millwall and Watford to name two already.

[Ric-Roc]

I agree we are very tight at the back and any changes to formation would obviously put this at risk however there may come a time when we are going to have to change the formation to open up the other end. I'm not advocating us trying to win matches 5-4 but teams have obviously done their homework on us and to keep ahead of the game I believe things need to change. The obvious one is of course Smith for Ephraim. Smith over a course of a season will contribute more in terms of goals and assists and although I'm not surprised Warnock has persisted with HE I do believe Smith deserves his chance now that HE has been given a fair opportunity to rediscover form and unfortunately hasn't.

As for the 2 DMs or not 2 DMs that is the question which also needs addressing. I agree about Graham and I agree that many other managers have played this system successfully and it is a system that I actually prefer than any other. However I think it only works against certain opposition not those who "park the bus". Many teams will walk away from LR happy to take a point and it's against those teams which I think we potentially could miss a trick. With Hulse now fit I think we have the opportunity to play 2 upfront against certain opposition. As I mentioned earlier I would play Derry and Faurlin against Cardiff as I would on Saturday against Reading but to pay Burnley such a compliment by having both on the pitch was in my mind slightly daft. Warnock is superb and I think 99.9% of the time he is getting it spot on but to take off the attacking threat and leave the defensive players on especially when Burnley had settled for the draw is a decision which baffled me. However a few months ago that same Burnley side battered Spurs, beat Everton and Manchester United and for us to get a draw is by no mean feat whatsoever especially considering where we were just a few months ago as well.

Totally see where you're coming from, I was also baffled & slightly p*ssed off Taarabt was taken off on Saturday when he looked the only player likely to unlock a stubborn Burnley defence.

I really do feel if our more creative players IE; Taarabt, Ephraim, Faurlin had been playing better lately it would make for a much easier game against opponents who you describe as using 'parking the bus' tactics, because with such flair in the side I don't think it matters if they had 10 men camped in they're own box them guys have enough in their lockers to unlock it & penetrate but as we know they simply have not been playing well enough.

As you say NW might just HAVE to make a change to our formation & tactics if things continue in the same way. Its all well & good having a settled consistent starting XI but when it looks like we've blatantly been found out surely its all about plan B.

[sirpiechucker]

Totally see where you're coming from, I was also baffled & slightly p*ssed off Taarabt was taken off on Saturday when he looked the only player likely to unlock a stubborn Burnley defence.

I really do feel if our more creative players IE; Taarabt, Ephraim, Faurlin had been playing better lately it would make for a much easier game against opponents who you describe as using 'parking the bus' tactics, because with such flair in the side I don't think it matters if they had 10 men camped in they're own box them guys have enough in their lockers to unlock it & penetrate but as we know they simply have not been playing well enough.

As you say NW might just HAVE to make a change to our formation & tactics if things continue in the same way. Its all well & good having a settled consistent starting XI but when it looks like we've blatantly been found out surely its all about plan B.

I think players like Ephraim and maybe even Mackie may be resting on their laurels and a change may just shake them up a bit and encourage those playing well in training that they will get a chance rather than knowing that whatever happens on the training ground they won't get a chance until we lose.

[Ric-Roc]

I think players like Ephraim and maybe even Mackie may be resting on their laurels and a change may just shake them up a bit and encourage those playing well in training that they will get a chance rather than knowing that whatever happens on the training ground they won't get a chance until we lose.

Massive point there.