My assessment of yesterday's humiliation....

[W12_Ranger]

I found the whole day a total anti climax, the atmosphere was completely flat all day in and out of the ground, the pubs actually felt quiet. The match itself was not play a particularly fast pace and in al fairness Bolton never got out of second gear all match and never had to. Yeah we played some decent stuff in the rest half but it was ineffective, a couple of half chances and a **** poor finish from Bothroyd was the only sight of goal we had all match.

I went into the match optimistic, I still don't believe the gulf between the 2 leagues is as great as some like to think but having failed to invest in the right areas we embarrassed ourselves yesterday.

The bottom line is we have no defence, we need Full Backs and Centre Halves. Some fans are trying to cling onto the fact that Hall and Gabbidon looked ok in the first half, but lets be serious they are and never will be good enough. Full back areas have long been highlighted as a problem area, though Dyers presence was an attempt to address this...well for all of 4 mins anyway, we are woefully unprepared for the PL defensively.

In midfield Derry looked fittest player to me in a Rangers shirt and barely put a foot wrong all match...nice to see the old legs managed to keep up with the pace of the PL and Faurlin most will agree will come along well at this level. So then there's Tommy Smith who for me offers nothing, a couple of powder puff shots were the highlight of a typically inept performance from Smith, how anyone thinks he has a part to play in our season is beyond me. This brings me onto our wantaway star player Taarabt who I thought looked a stone over weight and completely off the pace. I love the player but he has wound me up this summer, having watched him yesterday I'm fairly confident in saying 'you ain't going no where son this season, so get your head down and start making a contribution'. I could well see Buzsaky snapping at his heels who I thought looked fit and sharper when he came on.

Up top we have a new strike force, I like the look of the pair of them and think they will gel and get us goals, need more time to properly assess them but was very impressed with Campbell's passion on the pitch and communication and encouragement for other players....just hope Bothroyd keeps himself fit.

Everton away next and I think we are in line for another tonking unfortunately as this mess will take a few matches to sort out. If Fernandez is really coming on board why is it taking so long, Warnock needed the funds 2 weeks ago FFS.

It was nice to see most of the fans around me in Platters had renewed despite the price hikes, there were a few newbie fans around who couldn't find their seats including a giraffe of a women who was hilarious attempting walk down the aisle stairs in her heels.

Lastly a word for all these ***** who support other teams in the PL with their 'Welcome back to the PL' ******** all over the texts and the net...how many off these mugs even go to watch there team play?.....it all of a sudden reminds of being back at school.

[qprbrisbanedivision]

fair enough !!

[silvercue]

agree about Smith, but to think Dyer at RB was ever going to be an answer means we have a long way to go.

Taraabt needs a rocket from NW - I have always defended him, but he had a number of opportunities to release players and preferred to double back and keep the ball himself.

5 home wins is all we will get IMO.

BTW - I only watched a stream yesterday, so view is based on TV, not stadium.

[BennyBoyRs]

In all fairness, I thought Gabbidon played well. Terrible own goal, but he defended well and made quite a few blocks. I even thought Orr did a reasonable job when he came on. Not saying he's the answer as he's not, but he did well.

I agree on Derry, and I also think Faurlin played very well. A couple of errors, but he's young and needs a few games to adapt to life in the Prem. Adel wound me up massively today, but in some fans eyes, the sun will always shine out of his fat ####.

Very impressed with the front two. Jay is a better player than I 1st thought, and DJ made a few intelligent runs off the ball.

The scoreline flattered them enormously, but they had two very well taken goals. One of those was very against the run of play, though. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but it's a big welcome to the Prem. I had all those texts stating how long the season will be, plus the usual qphahaha ones. Well f**k them. They didn't see the game, and never even go to see their teams either.

Anyway, there were still some positives to take from the game. I agree on Buzz too. I think he'll do better than Taarabt as he wants to be here, and he cares more for our future. I would genuinely try to push through a sale for Adel and re-invest. I'm giving up on the lad, which I know won't go down well on here due to him being a protected boygod.

Roll on Everton. That'll be fun.

[Factamondo]

buzsacky whilst looking camper than a row of scouts tents looked as fit as a bondi beach lifeguard who he'd love to have carnal knowledge of...............for me monsignor taraabt may 'still' be gone before the window slams shut!!!

[Snaxo]

Pretty good summary W12. I agree Buz looked pretty sharp when he came on.

Also, tactically, we really need to stop lumping the ball up the pitch when Kenny gets it. 9 times out of 10 this results in a loss of possession and this is where things have to change as Prem teams are so much better at then keeping the ball - we are almost on the back foot after every kick from our keeper. Gifting opposition possession just has to be avoided.

This is another reason why we need better 'playing' defenders. I think Warnock knows that our defenders are not ball players and so playing out from the back is risky. Saying that I think Neil is a bit old school in this regard anyway perhaps in general. I think we have to build play from the back to try and ensure we retain more possession.

[QPR1234]

good summary, only difference i felt was faurlin, muamba and reo-coker bossed him all day. taarabt place in the side for me is going to have to be reconsidered. last year if he had 1 good game in 3 then he'd never be dropped but in this league we've got players buzsaky especially who is hungry.

i like campbell and bothroyd but feel unless we play 4-4-2 then we wont get the same out of campbell as we could.

[QPR1976]

I agree Buzz looked sharp, but he's still not a patch on the player we bought 3 years ago. And his free kick was atrocious. Imagine the stick Taarabt would have got if he'd done that !

Takeovers (IF it happens) never happen quickly, especially when dealing with Tango. I imagine dealing with him is almost impossible. I bet he changes his mind on a daily basis and wouldn't mind betting (justified) abuse he got yesterday will have him demanding more clauses this morning.
Despicable man. Shouldn't be within a mile of any sporting organisation in this country. Italy suits him (in a Berlusconi way !)

[Shania]

I agree Buzz looked sharp, but he's still not a patch on the player we bought 3 years ago. And his free kick was atrocious. Imagine the stick Taarabt would have got if he'd done that !

Takeovers (IF it happens) never happen quickly, especially when dealing with Tango. I imagine dealing with him is almost impossible. I bet he changes his mind on a daily basis and wouldn't mind betting (justified) abuse he got yesterday will have him demanding more clauses this morning.
Despicable man. Shouldn't be within a mile of any sporting organisation in this country. Italy suits him (in a Berlusconi way !)

And teach Taraabt a lesson ASAP. Grrr.

[1cliveallen]

gabbidon had a shocker,,,,to be honest davies mugged hall and gabbidon all match. first half we did ok but we never won a header when defending a corner. gabbidon has no aerial ability at all,got done twice in sprints by davies (who's one pace above donkey in a sprint) when he was odds on to win the ball.one size is not prem class.. if you look at a side who just survived last season...wolves,,who of our side would get a game for them???possibly tarabt and dyer..orr,hill,hall,gabbidon,smith and derry of the starting eleven are championship at best..the subs bench was depressing to say the least. if agyemang gets a game in the premiership then his agent deserves an o.b.e. for his services..two proper centre halves could see us stay out of the bottom 3

[TBLOCKRANGER]

I thought as many have already said we looked decent for the first hour, played good football and looked more potent upfront than I've seen us for many a year.
I didn't walk out of HQ totally deflated, if we had drawn or won, some on here would being saying if we could spend 20m we would be in line for a champions league spot ffs
At least now we know we're in trouble and areas can be strengthened and tactics improved.
Problem with England is that they do well in non important matches and never learn and then blow it in tournaments where it counts. Hopefully now we can move forward, many a relegated side have previously got off to a flyer and then dropped quicker than giggsy's pants at a family reunion.
3 or 4 good signings and an awareness and confidence to be able to come back from going one nil down is going to be important. Premiership is going to be littered with players like Cahill who can score a goal from no where against the tide, we need to have the know how and players to get us back into the game.
In warnock I trust and I love what he's done for our club.

[Stanley]

At this level the number one issue is ball retention.

If we dont greatly improve in that area we will go straight back down, no doubt about that. Too many flicks and quick passes that dont come off and we lose possession. Bolton were better in that department and that was the fundamental difference between the sides. In the PL if you make unforced errors and give the ball away cheaply you dont get it back for a long time and you get punished.

I highlighted this as a problem area last season but the difference in the championship is that other teams have the same weakness as well - possession often changes quickly between either team there, so the problem doesn't appear as obvious.

Yes we need FBs, CBs and wingers but whoever is brought in has to know how to keep the ball and the rest of the team need to improve on that too otherwise we'll go straight back down, simple as.