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QPR caught flagging? Match Preview
Harry Redknapp brings his QPR side to St Andrew’s today looking to arrest a slump which has seen his side fall away from the automatic promotion places against Lee Clark’s men who haven’t won a home league game since the start of October.
QPR
QPR lie fourth in the Championship on 57 points, somewhat surprisingly bearing in mind the squad at their disposal nine points off the automatic spots. This is partly due to a run which has seen them winless since the end of January, picking up just two points from five games following a run of four successive league wins.
Niko Kranjcar faces a late fitness test along with Gary O’Neill, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Armand Traore but Joey Barton returns following a five game ban.
Blues
Blues will have an issue with the left back slot after Mitch Hancox was ruled out for pretty much the remainder of the season with an ankle problem. With David Murphy having retired due to injury earlier in the week and Amari’i Bell having gone on loan to Kidderminster Harriers, it leaves Manchester United loanee Tyler Blackett and captain Paul Robinson as the choices for the spot although forgotten man Shane Ferguson could slot in if needed.
Brian Howard also misses out due to an ankle problem while Lee Novak and Albert Rusnak both face late fitness tests. With eight players having been away on international duty Clark is going to need to carefully assess his squad for what will be a tough test.
I’m not hopeful of more than a point from this one but QPR are in a slump; Blues need to shake off the home jitters and get into Redknapp’s side from the off. I’m hoping that the noise that is anticipated after the conviction and sentencing of Carson Yeung along with the giant flag will get the fans going and that increased noise will translate to a better performance on the pitch.
Tags: Albert Rusnak, Brian Howard, Lee Novak, Mitchell Hancox, Queens Park Rangers, Tyler Blackett
92 Responses to “QPR caught flagging? Match Preview”
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Back to football! Come on Blues and lets get behind the lads
A blues win today
IMO people can lose sight of been a fan glad football is back we can concentration our thoughts supporting Clark and the team. Imo hoodoo will finish today….2.0 or 2.1 win blues.
is IMO your favourite abbreviation? ;)
Well is not an opinion??
Can you not take a joke Mark? Hmmm?
Of course I can Daniel like a man lol…I am bluenose with a big soh…my reply was off the cuff mate………again I would like mention about your work in HK a big well done…….
Daniel listened to DM interview on bcfc he is a very genuine and humble guy wish him well……
Dan,could you please put a link on that Bloomberg report that you mentioned with Tom Ross last night.
Linked it in yesterday’s article Jaffa
So in your imo daniel just because Carson is convicted that will generate more noise??? No changes within the boardroom??. Fans cannot generate its own noise against a top 10 team??? Sorry I just got to smile……
Mark
Have you been to Stans this season? Have you not noticed the lack of atmosphere? Have you not noticed that the games things noticeably changed (derby and huddersfield) were due to people finally snapping out of apathy and being galvanised? Have you not noticed that there are A LOT of people who are happy Carson went to prison?
Sometimes I really do wonder about you Mark, you seem to live in a bubble…
Daniel albeit my preference is to travel away games, I have attended home matches, and supported the blues for over 40years…and you question my integrity….because I have opinion……
No mate, not your integrity – your sanity seems a bit touch and go at times though… ;)
Pmsl. You can tell the football season’s back. ;)
Lol Mark he is saying you a deluded nutter
Tony at lease he talks to me more than I can say about you……you keep posting so Daniel can keep deleting……. Lol the forever positive Tony
I don’t understand most of Mark’s posts. You’re over 40? I don’t mean to be disrespectful,but i wouldn’t have guessed that by some of your posts.
i found the Bloomberg report a fascinating read,like peeling back the layers of a onion!
Mark you are right Dan does keep deleting some of my posts,posts that are not insulting or controversial in any way.
That is exactly the reason why he will not reach the top on his chosen path he is ultra cautious too conservative afraid to offend any one including Carson Yeung. serious investigative journalism i find fascinating Daniel is a safe pair of hands.
Having said that this is the only site I look at for news concerning Birmingham city Fc I remain thankful for his efforts
How very silly, Immature and puerile .
Cheer’s Dan.Just read tha report and it’s Frightening to think just what Carson has been up to.
Looking forward to todays game,I’m hoping for a win but not expecting much, that may sound negative but it’s called being realistic. I’m hoping some of our so called supporters (who can afford to attend,especially with the astronomical prices) can get their arses down to the ground generate a fantastic atmosphere & give the team the support they deserve, looking forward to seeing the flag & would like to congratulate all those involved in organising it. KRO
Should be a lockout today now all the boycotters can come back seeing as Carson has been sorted out. That’s what they wanted, lets see how many of these loyal fans come back.
Lockout?
I think they wanted the board gone also and the club sold Paul
Ah right, another few years of boycotting to go then.
True Blue.
Should be entertaining if Ravel Morrison and Joey Barton make their eleven. Not an ideal game to break our home run of no wins, but you never know. Looking forward to seeing the flag and the fans reaction. Now we have a new board we should be able to see them all in the director’s box, Must pop over and say hello!! KRO!
Yes back to football. You know; I think we’ve got it in us to win this game, I just feel it in my water.
I’ll be attempting my usual graveyard shift from 2am here in Sydney but it has been known, after a few with the SBS (Sydney Blues Supporters); a nice Ruby (I promise you mates if you come here you won’t go short of a good Ruby Murray), and home for a couple of scotches; I have in the past been found slumped in front of the computer; one hand on the mouse, the other on the scotch in a most disheveled state, full of flatulence and inane chuckling, having missed the second half, only to wake up to the final result and retrospective Gamecast.
Such is life at the antipodes.
Fair play to you Aus you may be the other side of the world but you’ve kept your culture mate!!
I’m not sure whether Harry Rednapp is attending the matches lately,
He was on talksport last week saying he’d had a hip replacement or something and had missed a few games.
Probably explains there dip in form.
Birminghams a long way from sandbanks
QPR to win 2-0 sadly.
You never know with blues but after witnessing all the home games this season I do not expect anything. All I want from today is for blues to have a go and the supporters to get behind the team . Don’t forget on 6 minutes to start the hand clapping and continue for a further 6 minutes in recognition of CY jail sentence. Thus that can make it today please make the effort there will be a large press presence there today and we need to make and continue our protest.
KRO … DNM
DoctorD you probably ain’t far off with your prediction but then they have spent multi millions & then there’s what we have at our disposal, to be honest if all the players give 100% and try playing a bit of football then i will back them to the end. The only people responsible for our decline is the owner’s & maybe Clark on some occasions, but we all have different opinions especially on team selection & we all balls up now & again.
2-1 Blues. I just hope Robbo doesn’t play at left back.
3-4-3 formation. Very interesting.
Clark messed up big time today.At the end of the season,he has to go.
Very interesting but not effective I’m afraid.
Not a surprise result, I would imagine Joey Bartons wages outstrip the whole of the Blues team, and that includes Zigic.
Shocking! Played like 11 players who have never met before!
That’s bull.
Blues played well today but lacked the quality of QPR.
Ravel was the stand out player
What a week this has been and along comes ravel boom would you believe it. Glad burnley gona be a bit easier………….
That’s a joke right ? If we play like that on Wednesday then our goal difference will take a good hiding.
No supplies in the result, but have to say Lee Clark is really Mr Tinker man once again. Was it five at the back or what could not really tell. We gave Morrison so much room that even though he is an very good player he looked world class. We need to stick to a plan play players that will run through brick walls for us and battle for those points to keep us up.
Can we please stick to one team of, two centre backs a right and left sided full back two central midfeild players, left and right midfield players and two forwards simple square pegs in round holes does not work Mr Tinkerman
KRO … DNM
Even top class players would struggle with this constant changes in personnel and formation and we haven’t got any second class players.
Terrible set of results today with Yeovil, Barnsley and especially Millwall winning away at Derby. Can’t see us getting anything against Burnley other than some serious damage to our goal difference. We are slowly but surely heading into a relegation battle I am afraid.
343 played at home we all know ravel different class well …..somtimes just accepted it….quite a few of our ex home boys love playing the blues……
It had to be didn’t it. Ravel Morrison got both the goals. He didn’t celebrate either time though. Mark of respect from him. Thanks Ravel, for what you did for us last year.
Ravel has to go to the World Cup.He is a different class.
Another poor day at the Office, i couldn’t even second guess the team selection for Wednesday but can’t see anything but another loss I’m afraid. The home performances are bad not because the players are bad but because the team is never settled. Today the player’s played like they’d never met before & that will stay the same until we have some consistency in team selection & formations. I know people have different opinions but how could anyone who has a clue about football think the amount of tinkering Mr Clark is doing in team selection & formation is going to get us anywhere other than relegation, one good thing today was the flag & it did stay over us in the Tilton for a few minutes to give us a respite from the game.
It had nothing to do with Barton blue, we were clueless utterly devoid of any ideas, a complete shambles.
What a priveliged life Clark has, not for him the summons for a meeting with the chairman tomorrow he is as safe as houses unlike any other manager in the country.
They were like eleven strangers on that pitch today and to me they looked as if they didnt even care.
Please dont give me the the off field situation as an excuse it has no bearing whatsoever, Clark has no one to answer to not even himself. I have come to a decision not to attend a match again whilst that moron is in charge.
Same here. He isn’t the cause of our decline but he is a catalyst. Ravel Morrison didn’t get picked regularly until the last third of last season and guess what happened.
another bad set of results and a fear we will be right in the sh*t , wondering if staffs still cant see us going down , we need a win or three fast , teams bellow us are showing some form .LC needs to work out his best 11 and play it for a few games , this endless tinkering is gonna kill us.He thinks that if picks the best trainers during the week means a good performance come match day , this just isnt happening , i think the players dont know if they are coming or going .OK so QPR have a squad that we can only dream of , but we cant beat the sh*t* teams either.
sorry about the grammer above , im angry not drunk
I do agree that chopping and changing the team doesn’t help in getting a settled side, it never will. But… whether it’s 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3… I really don’t think we have 11 players that can put in consistent performances. Just when you think they’re getting it right, they follow it with another dire performance. We could all pick our (perceived) best 11 players and our preferred formation.. but when they f*ck it up too.. what then? No manager on earth can get 2nd or 3rd rate players to play like top footballers. Unfortunately, that’s all we have at the moment. You can thank the genii in Hong Kong for that.
… and no… I still don’t think we’ll get relegated.
I don’t think we will go down either.How can the players put in consistent performances when the team selection is inconsistent.
we played like this at QPR 343 harry mentioned that his team was lucky with a 1-0 win so Clark decide to go with that maybe…………..sorry to say it again but ravel first goal was down to individual mistake either by our goalkeeper, or players not fol lowing instruction at the defense of the wall.
Unfortunately for us we dont appear to be able to break the cycle at home…….. And a big no to us getting relegated……..
I suspect our club will be closed down by the so called owners possibly in the close season.
Very unlikely as unless as as things stand at the moment they would lose their listing on the HK stock exchange. We might well be starting next season in the Football League though. Might be easier to watch than being uncompetitive in the Championship. Carson knew damn well what he had done when he took over the club and what the consequences would be if he was investigated and charged. I hope he rots in his cell.
Love him or hate him… if we’d still had Marlon King, I think we’d be comfortable in mid-table at least by now. Most people knew that we’d struggle for goals without him and that’s been proved. Of all the players we’ve had up front this season, not one has been a consistent goalscorer, not for more than a couple of games anyway. Without at least one natural goalscorer, you’re always going to be fighting an uphill battle.
Agree about Marlon staffs.
Say what you like about him, but King instinctively knows where the goal is. He’s the only striker we’ve had like that since Forsell. You have to have at least one if you’re going to be even mildly successful. A lot of our performances this season have been absolutely crying out for a Marlon King/Mikael Forsell. It’s been the difference between losing and getting points.
I heard it said on the radio last night, that the Albion have sold 40 goals a season and bought 15 goals a season. Look at them now compared to last season.
I would have forsell back 2morrow no problem in this legue he would still get goals !
I would have forsell back 2morrow no problem in this league he would still get goals !
I think, in all honesty, that with the chances we’ve created this season.. Forsell would have filled his boots, even with his dodgy knees.
Our problem is, we don’t have a player that likes getting between the two white sticks. Everybody wants to be a No.10 these days. (that’s not a compliment)
KevinPhillips?
well staffs ,i have said it before , your a better man than me , wish i had your faith .Hope you can say” i told you so” some time very soon.Meanwhile im going to worry.
Well, I have to admit, off the field, I think it’s been pretty unique this season, all things considered. But, on the field, it’s nothing I haven’t seen many times before in 45 years of supporting The Blues. If we’re in the bottom 3 with a couple of games to go, I might start to panic… and admit everyone else was right. Fair enough? ;) Saying that, I’m wondering if a trip into a lower division might get the rats to abandon the sinking ship and sell up. The further down we go, the less likely they are to get their (?) money back.
Maybe it’s time (again) to bring some of our own kids in. Apart from the odd game, I don’t think the ones we’ve borrowed have been all that to be honest, as highly rated as they are by their own clubs. Maybe they’re just not up to the battle.
QPR have spent £65million on players with a team full of Internationals. Having said that, every home game this season, bar two, has left me miserable. How bad can it get?
im pretty sure Mr King is out of work at the moment.
Sometimes i hate our fans.We applaud an opposition player off,which i agreed with today,and cheer when one of our own is taken off,which i didn’t agree with.Some fans need to take a look at themselves.To those that cheeerd Zigic’s substitution,you should be ashamed.However he plays,he plays for us.
This season, because of work and family commitments, I don’t have a season ticket. I managed to make it down to the match today and I have to say that £32 a ticket is a disgrace – add on to that £2.20 for a drink and £2 for a miniscule portion of chips. It’s not bad enough that we’ve only managed two home wins all season, the club seem to be readily prepared to rip off and exploit those loyal enough to attend.
I had a text today telling me that Paladini made another bid in the week.Because they messed him about again,he told two of his backers to forget about Blues.One of those backers was Flavio Briatore.If it’s true then we,ve had a lucky escape. I thought Briatore had been banned from being involved in football.
If you look at QPR squad they are better all over the pitch, a defeat is what I expected fair enough.
But they had not won for seven games they were on a downer, yet we gave then the easiest afternoon of their season.
Just what do we do in training? we know who the opposition danger men are yet morrison strollls around unmarked most of the game. Clint hill has been knocking around the lower regions for years
he is average at best but he looked like beckenbaur today.
To be fair, we’re on a massive downer too. When two teams on a downer meet, I suppose the ones with the better players win. We’ve played them twice now and they’ve not exactly murdered us. Our strikers couldn’t score, their strikers couldn’t score. Unfortunately, they had Morrison, we didn’t.
As for Clint Hill, he’s not the best player around for sure, he’s a good old honest professional who always gives 100%. A bit like our Robbo.
It has been stated quite a few times today that the players played like strangers, why I understand what people are saying about tinkering about with the team and the formations but these players train with each other every day, or I hope they do. It is L.C dragged in a load of strangers just before kick off. I know he has a hard job with little or no cash but it is also about showing guts and determination for the fans and the manager, today they showed neither and listening to his account on the radio on the way home He does nothing to inspire me. Today I was with my grandson near the tunnel and I watched Clark his head was down and he did not acknowledge the supporters at all. I counted three players who applauded the long suffering fans, the rest just walked off grim faced. Two of the QPR team went over to the group of young blue’s fans in the paddock took off their shirts and gave them to them. One of those players was Joey Barton.It would have been a nice gesture if only some of the blue’s players did the same.
There’s a massive dark cloud over St Andrews this season (understandably) which only a good win (any kind of win) will lift.
As for the shirts.. I doubt we can afford to give them away! :(
Not sure they were blues fans. Looked like they had QPR kit to me from where I was sitting in lower Gil Merrick.
He was a QPR fan he was already wearing a QPR jacket.
Wouldn’t it be better for Clark to admit his failures rather praise for an opponent.
I don’t think the first goal was a free kick and Randolph should have done better.
Zigic should never have played as a lone striker, he is too lazy, should not play full stop.
I’m open for comments that I don’t like Zigic, one question to the ziggy lovers: What positive did he offer the team today, when he was playing it was route one football with no one playing off him.
Ibe is a very talented player but was up against some very experienced defenders, maybe Clark should have played Novak from the start.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing Chris. To be honest, when I saw the line-up and formation, I thought he’d got it just about right. Plenty of cover for the defence, with plenty of attacking options. The players just didn’t/couldn’t pull it off.
Most of the players you’ve mentioned have been debated all season. People claiming Ferguson should be in the side. Well, he played today and was no better than he’d been all season. Some claimed Zigic should be the first name on the team sheet. Well.. I have nothing to say on that. Others claimed that Novak isn’t good enough. Maybe, maybe not, but at least he has a go. As for Randolph, great shot stopper, takes crosses well… but I think he has a blind spot where long range shots are concerned. He often seems to lose sight of shots in flight.
But, it’s all about opinions… and hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I like Randolph Staffs, I agree with all your points on him and yes, free kicks he seems to either lose the flight of the ball or positions himself all wrong. I was a keeper and setting the wall was always paramount, you try to give them a channel to aim for which you can cover. Obviously the skill levels have improved and the balls are…mmm… more volatile or prone to movement, I started playing when balls had laces and made from lead.
Novak is out top scorer, he gives 100%, for me, given the options we have, he has to start, whether he plays with Zigic, Macheda or Lovenkrands he has to start. This season the more I see Zigic the more I think he is just lazy and going through the motion, he should join CY for receiving…. money under false pretences.
Ferguson just hasn’t been the same this season, very disappointed, the youngsters that have been bought in have the skill but lack the experience this time around.
I still think we will be safe, our away form has seen us through and I think there are more points to be won. I’m still going for a mid-table finish, a mad flurry towards the end of season with an unbeaten run of five or six games, draws at home and wins away.
What is so frustrating is the same players who perform so well away, even on an off day, just cannot do it at home. The fans have been behind the team all season so it can’t be a fear factor of the fans, psychological, a mental block or Cognitive Dissonance: A consistency in their beliefs and perceptions. I’m sure the club have access to a psychologist who can help.
KRO+DNM
I don’t think we had enough cover for the full backs.Ibe and Burke were bombing forward and we were caught out when they broke.
Can’t disagree with any of that Chris. I definitely think there is some kind of mental block when playing at home. It’s the only logical answer. You can’t blame the manager or tactics for a run like that. Even the players themselves can’t understand what the problem is. If we don’t have a sports psychologist on the payroll, we should get one in sharpish. If we do, then he should be sacked for not doing his job properly.
hi all……….the only reason we are not scoring goals is because we do attack in numbers and quickly…and no i have not forgotton about ther opposition…..
So you can’t blame the manager for the constantly changing and bizarre team selections. I would love to know what the senior players think privately about Clark. He didn’t play Ravel Morrison regularly until the last few months of the season. I’m sorry but there are just too many question marks about him. He goes into work tomorrow knowing he is not going to be under any pressure from anyone at high level at the club because they are cowardly skulking away in HK – yes that means you Pannu.
At the end of the day Shirley Blue, it is the same players in the squad who are not performing at home.
I totally agree that LC is tinkering too often, and at times when there is no need.
Saturday the enforced change at left back was the only change needed, we are still thin on the ground with strikers, so it was a choice from Zigic, Macheda and/or Novak.
To play one up front at home is bad enough, but to play Zigic in that role was plain suicidal, in my opinion, Novak or Macheda, Novak was carrying a knock so first half Macheda followed by Novak if it didn’t work, it’s not rocket science.
KRO+DNM
It’s funny.When we win it’s well done to Lee Clark and the team.When we lose,it’s the teams fault.Unbelievable.
Steve, when we win the Clark supporters emerge. They’re quite after home matches. Now why is that?
BhamCityJulian these so called Clark supporters are not quiet enough for me,although i believe on match day we should support the manager & team i think its getting increasingly harder to put up with all the tinkering with the team. I will be there against Burnley & know the team & formation will be different & can only see a defeat, sad thing is we have what we can afford.
hi all….after seeing the blackburn v burnley match i dont think i am looking forward to wednesday…!!!!!!!!
you never know mike b we might get lucky and win