Have we forgotten...

[12321]

...how to win a game?

Playing well, good performances, getting better with each game,bueno.

But where is the killer instinct, the team that goes out KNOWING it can win and BELIEVING it will too. We had it at home towards the end of last season, so much so that no matter who came to LR we were EXPECTING to beat them.

Is the team expecting not to win now no matter who they're playing?

[Captain Planet]

Have we ever had that killer instinct?

Over the years it's always been something that has plagued us, the inability to kill off games.

We put a good run of home wins together last year, but that's when our backs were to the wall. Unfortunately it's hard to replicate that feeling for a whole season, especially if confidence is low.

Last season was a very similar start at home. Newcastle, West Brom, Blackburn and Aston Villa were all teams who we dominated at home but couldn't beat.

[loftlag]

No I don't think we've forgotten how to win goals win games and we don't have the fire power to do that we have had 3 very busy transfere windows too busy inreality Hughs and QPR are still suffering from the efects of tightfist and tightarse think back to when they were in charge we could have picked some real bargains in the places we are now lacking in, Zaha 2 years ago could have been got for 1=1.5 mill Hooper could have been got for less in their time in charge both now rated at 10 mill plus , We had 1 player from the 1st half of last season yesterday Adel !! We have dud forwards and team team full of strangers, imo the only thing Hughs has done wrong is is putting Hogan in the 25 I have nothing against him but what odds would even a fool give of Hogan getting in our midfield before the 1st of january and this at the expence of DJ , 2 front runners have got to be our priority in january befor any other position even if we have to sell to bring them in

[swede]

Yesterday we´re drawing because we´re forgetting basic things. Pick one, follow him close and don´t let him stand alone for a free header.

[loftlag]

Yesterday we´re drawing because we´re forgetting basic things. Pick one, follow him close and don´t let him stand alone for a free header.

Even a Turnip could'nt have put it better

[QPR Richard]

Touch tight marking was lacking, as was tracking runs. Amateur defending at times, but better than it has been of late.

[loftlag]

Defending was poor ,but lets not forget we had enough possession to comfortably out score Everton but not the caperbility to do it

[Busheyboy]

said it loads of times on other threads - we have very good players in the midfield / going forward. We need a proper 20 goal a season scorer and proper defenders who can concentrate for 90+ minutes and don't fall asleep and get caught ball watching

Defending was poor ,but lets not forget we had enough possession to comfortably out score Everton but not the caperbility to do it

[stanistheman]

Yesterday we´re drawing because we´re forgetting basic things. Pick one, follow him close and don´t let him stand alone for a free header.

That is basically what good defenders do unless they are playing a zonal marking system.

But as for the Killer instict, he has been warming the bench for most of this season so far. Cisse is a goalscorer and thrives on good service.He had a couple of half chances in the short space of time he was on the pitch.

I know he got cuaght offside a number of times too, but he is not very good as a lone striker, as he is useless at staying onside. If he was played alongside Zamora and told not to get ahead of Zamora until the ball is played forward he would not get caught offside so often.

[Del]

said it loads of times on other threads - we have very good players in the midfield / going forward. We need a proper 20 goal a season scorer and proper defenders who can concentrate for 90+ minutes and don't fall asleep and get caught ball watching

We have a 20 goal striker but he doesn't play him. Last year Cisse averaged a goal a game when playing.

Everyone has slated him being offside this year, whcih is right, but he also needs time to play with all these new midfielders to allow an understanding to develop. They need to know his game and when he's likely to run, and he needs to know their game as to when they're likely to release a pass. It's like CB pairings , or strkier pairings, they need to play together to improve.

I think if he had a run of games he will find that grove and be off and running..... Pre season he looked very sharp.

[loftlag]

said it loads of times on other threads - we have very good players in the midfield / going forward. We need a proper 20 goal a season scorer and proper defenders who can concentrate for 90+ minutes and don't fall asleep and get caught ball watching

Not trying to defend the defenders they arn't up to it that said, don't you think with 1 or 2 good forwards not great ones even, with our m/f behind them should be able to score more goals than we let in

[silvercue]

Hughes has had great backing in 2 windows now and we are bottom. He has never taken us above 4th from bottom which was where we were when NW got the sack.

He hasn't spent wisely IMHO and that doesn't mean I think he has brought rubbish, but the overall result does not look like shrewd spending to me.

[12321]

Apart from Swans game and possibly Norwich, we've played either quite well or very well...... And have amassed the sum total of 3pts for our trouble.

If we keep on playing as well as that and getting the same return for the rest of the season we will end up with 14 points. That's how serious it is. We're almost one fifth of the way into our season so it's not too early to make projections based on what's gone before.

[stainrodisalegend]

well its fairly obvious that confidence is low and understandably after a long run without a win, and with each game the pressure mounts. fans can do their small bit by actually supporting the team rather than a (small minority) who almost seem to revel in us doing badly so they will have something to moan about. We say the players aren't putting in the performances of late last season, but nor are the fans...