Match Day Thread Coventry vs QPR

My first away game today for a number of years. It was another frustrating afternoon. Like Beth, I am worried that we are not scoring and not picking up any points and sliding down the table.

A huge support turned up but for some reason, our supporters weren't that loud, especially in the second half. Fair play to the Coventry fans. I thought they were brilliant all afternoon.

Loved the stadium. If only it was in a city centre location instead of in the middle of nowhere. We had a good friendly chat with some Coventry fans on the train afterwards as we headed to East Midlands Airport. Also met a friendly bunch of Rotherham fans on their way back from Luton. All in all, a great stadium to visit and a nice social day out, shame about the match., again .

 

Not at all boring mate. Good to know what our R bruvs history is like. Edmonton looks like a lovely place, albeit cold. Never been but hoping to go one day.

Just would be easier to remember that you're an R if you'd put an R after SwanHills.
Or maybe put some blue hoops on your swan icon.
Just kidding mate. Long may you, and we, say C'mon U RRRs!

 

Hey Stroller, I thought you were going to say his picture was plastered everywhere as "Reward" posters, with "Mass Murderer" caption.
Did he ever make it as mayor?

 

Totally missed watching the match as I am on a business trip.

It was tough when I saw the result.

The only compensation was that we had a great party last night in the strange and crazy city of Dubai.

Perhaps after the World Cup winter break we will finally re-set and break this losing run?

Only this morning I dared to look at the Championship table and was rather surprised to see it better than I expected. It will be essential to be in-form towards the end of the season, finish in the play-offs, then possibly exceed our expectations!

 

Can't agree with that. Man for man they were better than us. There was a lot to separate those two teams on the day.

 

Regarding the support, part of the difference was their drum. I was sat on the left side as you face the pitch and there seemed to be more QPR noise from the right. However we could do with a quality drummer!

 

Still no chicken pox...and feeling a bit better today. But thank you pox for keeping me at home yesterday.

As said earlier., I would take 7th at this break time...not happy with our slide from 1st to 7th though.

The break has come at the right time for us to regroup.

It has come early enough for Beale to see our perennial problem with injuries and possibly do something about it.

Yesterday we were without 6 potential starters. Johansen, Amos, Paal, Tim5vowels, Roberts, Balogan..

Willock is definitely coming back from injury... as are Clark-Salter, Roberts and possibly Dickie.

Chair and Field have played every match...Dykes has played a lot of football as a lone striker in the last 6 weeks.

Our reserves are not good enough.
Dozzell is no Amos who is no Johansen.

We have a set of good wing backs, but no cover for them.

We have a CF who works his socks off, but no cover for him.

Chairs work ethic is through the roof, but as it goes up ( as it has to with Willock not ready) his effectiveness goes down.


We need this rest
To heal our injuries.
To calm down and regroup
To plan the January window
For Beale to think
And to practice set piece plays.


Fingers crossed...this is such a stupid league...
We have two teams in the club ; one team is one of the best in the league who can beat anyone...the other is a poor team that lacks confidence and is about lower mid table.

Beale has to find that first team...and get it om the pitch consistently.

End of Sunday missive

 

and also doesn't score (regularly enough.....squad player at best)

 

Well just looked up the BBC stats which rather confirm my impression there wasn't that much in it, except they had a decent striker in form, we didn't. They were 50/50 possession, 13/11 shots in their favour, and 5/1 shots on target. Guess they created a bit more in the box than us, but though they bossed the first 35 minutes, we were the better team the first half of the 2nd.
Thought Dickie looked about our best yesterday, he looked to have some of his confidence back. It was good to see him have a go with that shot which looked bound for the top corner.

 

Honestly mate we were well out-played in the first half especially. We never looked in it bar a mini-flurry before half-time and a Dickie potshot at 1-0. 2-0 was fair.

 

World Cup has definitely come at the right time for us. We really don't have the squad depth to deal with the level of injuries (and now illness) we've had. Hopefully we'll come back in better shape and can keep ourselves in play off contention, if we're in or around the top 6 by Jan you'd have to hope we might strengthen in some key positions.

The lack of striker options makes it ever more frustrating we didn't at least entertain the idea of another year for Charlie Austin. He's a better alternative than Bonne surely?

 

Definitely agree with the good timing of the WC. I think we’ll come back strong with our injuries back. The WC is probably terrible timing for Coventry as I’m sure they’d want to maintain their momentum.
I wonder if Mick is lining up a young striker loan for January.

 

Wheels are definitely wobbling but not off completely.
Hopefully MB will re-find his Midas touch again through the break and get us moving upwards again.
MB said he wanted to get to the New Year to assess the squad’s needs; I’m sure he’s getting a very good picture already.
Back to the training ground now and use all that available time with the lads. Should definitely help for the likes of Willock, Johansen and some rest & refresh for the likes of Field, Laird, Paal & Dykes.
Need to regain our mojo, team spirit and winning mentality.

 

Yesterday was always going to be a tough ask on our current slump. Form and injuries taking their toll but if you'd been offered 7th at the break at the start of the season most would have been happy.

Much of the problem stems from the midfield which without Johansen just lacks bite. Dozzell is a bit of a lightweight and we seem to be easily bossed. They were half a yard quicker all over and we just didn't compete. Dykes is lost on his own without support which often arrives too late. They were good value for their win and will be in the playoff mix which looks more competitive than ever this year. There's just 8 points between Millwall in 6th and Wigan in 22nd place, promotion and relegation less than 3 wins apart, we need to wake up...

 

Stats really are a distraction from reality sometimes

 

Yes very rich, Stroller, thanks mainly to its huge natural gas resources. No need to get cold in Alberrta's grim Winter months, all homes are heated with hot air from the natural gas system. Nothing ever seems to go wrong with the heating system either. The tar sands mining project around Swan Hills also makes Alberta even wealthier! Then, if that's not enough, the bloodstock industry (celebrated annually with the Calgary Stampede) with it's top quality cattle. Best steaks I've ever had anywhere in the world!

 

Not being critical or casting doubt on Beale but do we have a plan B which we have used this season? It has been mentioned a number of times that teams may have found us out and that our full backs play a high line. Laird was in the right position for the first goal but was unlucky that the ricochet off their forward wrong-footed everyone and went straight to Gyokeres and their second one was well worked by them through the centre of the park. any comments from those who were there?

 

I was there.
I think his plan B was hampered and / or weak due to injury and maybe illness.
He waited longer than he's done in some games for the subs and there seemed no change in formation or tactics when the subs came on.
I'm afraid it looked like a team that wasn't playing for the manager BUT I hope it was more to do with Willock not being fit, Chair not wanting to get injured etc.

 

January has to be all about finding a striker. Doesn’t it?