A problem Hughes seems to be having:

[Rich]

You don't get many good utility players, I mean players who excel in more than one position.

So, why does Hughes constantly try and fit round pegs in square holes? If you think about each player what is his best position? Is Onouha a LB? Is Park a LM? Is Mackie a RM? Can Cisse play up front as the player who wins balls in the air and holds up play? My answer to all of these is NO.

So, where do you play these players? In their best position!!!!!

Mackie is a half decent finisher so his best position would be a forward. Is he better than Zamora or Cisse? No. So he starts as a sub. Simple.

Park is a workhorse, tackles, grafts, passes sufficiently well. Is he better than Faurlin at these attributes? No. Is he better than Granero? So far I would also say No. So where does Park play? Sub. Simple!!!!

Cisse is quick and is a finisher. He can't win headers, he is often offside when our most advanced forward and his hold up is mediocre at best. So, if Zamora is playing we know where to put Cisse & it gives the defence and midfield a plan B to launch the ball to keep the opposition on their toes and next time dropping a little deeper to we can then play out from the back. If we are to go long & Zamora isn't playing Cisse isn't the man!

Onouha is right footed he is not a left back. Simple.

These are the kind of examples of things I've been shocked at seeing week in week out since the friendlies. We should NOT just accomodate a player in an inferior position when there is someone better suited to play there. Rant over.

[brightonr]

Hence we are almost bottom Rich.

[Marshy]

I think this is a good post. Players should play to their strengths. If you have injuries, fair enough, but otherwise, play a player where he is best. I think Bosingwa can get away with playing at left back, but the fact remains, unless you're called Philip Lahm, right footed players playing at left back isn't really ideal.

[LA Ranger]

Why do so many managers always seem to be watching a different game to us supporters . Agree with all of that Rich, must make you and I simple.

[hal9thou]

All the OP's points tell you what you suspected already. Hughes is not up to this. Tactically he's never been up to it.

Looking at the EPL this year, I seriously believe that we'll go down if Hughes is not removed quickly. I admit I never rated him, but I am staggered by the incompetence he has shown in various ways since he came to Loftus Road.

[Geng]

Sorry, exactly who would you have played at left-back instead? Would you really rather we played Zamora, who is probably our more irreplaceable player right now? Cisse needed the game time - should we not play him just because he'd be better alongside Zamora than Hoilett?

Park isn't a CM. If he played CM you would be complaining he should be on the right.

Mackie is rubbish where ever he plays. He's crap up front, I'm not sure why this idea persists that that's his best position - is it just because that where the man himself says he wants to play? Well two managers over three seasons have disagreed with him.

At least if Mackie is on the right, he only has half the pitch to look at, narrowing his passing choices and simplifying things to compensate for his woeful lack of vision. Personally I'd drop him until we ever play 4231/433, as he at least has some use as a wide forward who's only role is to get in behind defences and shoot. Any role where he is expected to be involved in buildup play really shows him up.

[procol]

OP's general remarks are right and nobody will deny it. But, do you really think Hughes himself doesn't understand the simple truth that mere fans know well? He knows it better than us fans that it's always good to let players run at his best position when IT IS POSSIBLE. The problem is he can't make a best line-up due to various reasons these days. Injuries, poor performances, selfish mindset ruining team play, shaky young players, etc. There are tons of reasons.

By the way, I don't agree on Park. As Geng said, Park has been a right midfielder, even though he had to play as CM sometimes when he's in Manchester United according to Ferguson's tactics customized for the specific opponent. Actually, he played not that bad as a CM in ManU.

If Park goes to sub, what do you think will happen? The current team will allow more goals to the opponent than the team used to give away in recent games so far. You don't know what you got till it's gone. Few people understand who are sustaining the seemingly bad balances but can be worse at any time without them. I believe that's what Hughes thinks too.

Also, you know what? Park is the only player in the team who consecutively started and played fulltime till vs. Spurs match. That means he should have taken a rest in vs. Reading game. Even though Hughes knew Park needed to take a rest, the situation was not allowing that luxury because the team had to win the game. That's the very f**king situation Hughes and our team is in right now. Without Park, the team will allow way more goals than we get.

The reason Park can't be more aggressive on attacking is that he has to cover the extensive side/middle area. The area he has to cover get larger instantly everytime some selfish winger tries the one-man penetration without pass for goals in vain. When he was in PSV he used to play very aggressively and was an effective goal-getter for a winger. Fergerson made him to focus more on the defense cause there are a lot of good strikers and attacking midfielders in the team.

[Gtleighsr3]

getting 3 points

[80sCasual]

Even AVB realised in the 2nd half on Sunday for Spuds against us that Bales correct position was going forward and moved him there, wallah the rest is history. If AVB can do it why can't MH?

[R in Qatar]

Wallah

[Blogandwhitehoops]

Onouha is currently playing LB because our two specialized players for that position are injured. Park plays both CM and on the wing. His role at QPR is to tuck inside and support the central two. Cisse played alone up top so Zamora could rest. Mackie has played wide right ever since he moved to the club. When he stuck Cisse on the wing v Chelsea last year THAT was a square peg in a round hole, not the examples you have given.

[Geng]

Onouha is currently playing LB because our two specialized players for that position are injured. Park plays both CM and on the wing. His role at QPR is to tuck inside and support the central two. Cisse played alone up top so Zamora could rest. Mackie has played wide right ever since he moved to the club. When he stuck Cisse on the wing v Chelsea last year THAT was a square peg in a round hole, not the examples you have given.

Stop thinking and understanding football, we have anger to vent here! Hughes out!

[Marshy]

Onouha is currently playing LB because our two specialized players for that position are injured. Park plays both CM and on the wing. His role at QPR is to tuck inside and support the central two. Cisse played alone up top so Zamora could rest. Mackie has played wide right ever since he moved to the club. When he stuck Cisse on the wing v Chelsea last year THAT was a square peg in a round hole, not the examples you have given.

This is where a manager needs to be versatile. He can play 5 at the back, with 2 wing-backs. Let Dyer play at left wing-back, as he has played as a wing-back before and is versatile enough to attack from that position.

[Shania]

Onouha is currently playing LB because our two specialized players for that position are injured. Park plays both CM and on the wing. His role at QPR is to tuck inside and support the central two. Cisse played alone up top so Zamora could rest. Mackie has played wide right ever since he moved to the club. When he stuck Cisse on the wing v Chelsea last year THAT was a square peg in a round hole, not the examples you have given.

This^^
At the moment he is also playing a lot of his second choices because of all the injuries.
PS. Sorry, the poster above has already stated it..

[Marshy]

Onouha is currently playing LB because our two specialized players for that position are injured. Park plays both CM and on the wing. His role at QPR is to tuck inside and support the central two. Cisse played alone up top so Zamora could rest. Mackie has played wide right ever since he moved to the club. When he stuck Cisse on the wing v Chelsea last year THAT was a square peg in a round hole, not the examples you have given.

Why on earth would Zamora need to rest? There was a two-week international break, and he played two games since.