Forum | threadbare squad by wombat

threadbare squad on 14:12 - Jan 12 with 1459 views

threadbare squad on 13:28 - Jan 12 by nix
I agree with this. I remember Darnell Furlong coming on and getting absolutely pelters, like you’re useless and get off the pitch. He’s done pretty well for himself for someone so useless….we certainly could have done with him over the years when we were playing Todd Kane and Osman Kakay ( lovely fella but…). We have to give them some encouragement starting out.

The issue is we are just outside a very open play spot , will that happen again next season while we sink to our fav 16th place ? will fans accept esquedina making another mistake whcih costs us a win becuase hes young adn learning ? as somebody said our fans can be the best in the world but can also be the worst ,stick in the dev players and results get worse away from is pretty bad at the moment anyway .

How many will say well we had a good chance of making the top 6th then blew it as we lost a third of the squad due to impact injuries ? couple that with the club wanting as many fans to renew next season with season tickets etc its a tough balancing act, we prob have more room on the money front this season esp if varanne does go in jan , add in the millions we will get for santos and celar at the end of the season . and whats left of the eze money we should be shoiwng a decent set of accounts for the first time in years, with actual profits made on players.

Poll:

threadbare squad on 14:17 - Jan 12 with 1438 views

Lblock

I'd always say grab any chance you have to get higher up the table and trouble those play off's but.... also... to ensure we do have the traditional QPR Death Spiral.
So more blood - more blood!

Hamstring injuries were always looked at as the fault of the fitness levels and prep of the player back in the day.
If you weren't fit or sufficiently warmed up / stretched then always likely to get a ping and that was on you. That's why I find them the most frustrating of the lot.

Centre Mid concerns should be eased by the availability of Field / Hayden / Morgan and now.... God love him... Handsome Ronnie who I think can do a really good deep lying job in there.
I would however love to see Chair back fit and in this position. I wasn't aware that Chair's injury is another hammy? FFS!

Ronnie should give us some options in three positions being CB, RB and CM so fair play for getting that one done. I was shocked he wasn't in the squad v Wet Spam TBH.

It is absolutely mental to be considering loaning in another pacey wide player - especially if they're four foot! We're well stocked and just have to ride it out I suppose.
Poku I've banged on about. I was told when we signed him we'd taken a huge chance on him due to his particular injury and wouldn't you know it, hamstrings made from a piece of freshly chewed and stretched Wrigleys Spearmint Gum.

It's up top that concerns me.
Burrell is a HUGE miss and I hope and pray the club handle his one really, really carefully as a recurrance would be disasterous for Burrell and the club in terms of his career.
It does look like Frey is off.
Kone I'd hope can step up and I actually liked the look of him and Rayan v Spam. Be lovely if Kone could add to his fitness levels and Rayan likewise.
Not sure on Bennie or if he can carry any offering up top across the rest of a Championship season but good luck to him and he's another I hope can grab a chance.
That would give us three to choose from so it would be here I'd be looking to add another body but needs to be someone proper decent and if a loan then one with an option.

Ruben does need an intense meeting internally to ask just WTF this legion of Performance and Fitness bods are doing and also why there's still not a production line coming from the DS.

Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal

threadbare squad on 14:19 - Jan 12 with 1435 views

QPRSam

threadbare squad on 11:26 - Jan 12 by nix

No, stick. We’ve spent a lot already and have to save some money for future seasons.

As for the number of hamstring injuries it’s not just us. Hull have had seven this season and Millwall five as well as numerous calf and other muscle injuries. I’ve also reposted the study on the increase of hamstring injuries over the past twenty years, which must be down to how football is played now. It can’t be down to how they are looked after as there is more emphasis on sports science than ever before. Not saying there’s nothing we can do but it’s not all down to our training and physios.

https://www.besoccer.com/team/

https://www.besoccer.com/team/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go

I also think it's just a complete change in the modern game. I saw that the average amount of high intensity sprints in the Championship is around 70 in 2025, compared to 35 in 2011. That has an impact on every team

[Post edited 12 Jan 14:20]

threadbare squad on 14:48 - Jan 12 with 1364 views

DesertBoot

Is it ten minutes on a treadmill then twenty press-ups that make up our fitness schedule as were shot yesterday from the 80th minute - it's only January!
Poku plays over 100 successive games for Peterborough and we've hardly seen him this season.
Burrell I'm not surprised as we've run him into the ground but all these "knocks" and "tweaks" are a joke with some many fitness coaches in our bloated backroom team.

Wish I could be like David Watts

threadbare squad on 15:13 - Jan 12 with 1331 views

dmm

threadbare squad on 14:09 - Jan 12 by Myke
I’m a fan of Walsh, but sticking him up front as a lone striker, not so sure.

But having the two Ks as double keepers might work.

threadbare squad on 15:47 - Jan 12 with 1256 views

7374Ranger

threadbare squad on 09:45 - Jan 12 by BklynRanger

It's a good question but this will be again covered in detail at the fans forum:

A lot of it comes down to science and other complicated big boy trouser stuff, but basically if you factor in the fitness and availability levels of all Academy teams, the ladies team, the pupils at Jack TIzzard, and all children Year 4 and above on the White City Estate we are currently at 94.3% availability, which is higher than its ever been.

Yes, let's not focus on just the 1st team, but instead look at the whole club. The performance management team (directors & staff ) are doing a stellar job.

As for replacements to cover the injuries, I think Nourry will just expect Stephan to utilise the Development Squad. Although with only 2 fit strikers now, he may struggle, especially as Kolli is reportedly to have been injured for much of this season hence the lack of appearances and needs to be managed back into the side. I doubt Bennie can play in that position and would feel more hopeful if a striker was added to the squad this month.

threadbare squad on 16:25 - Jan 12 with 1189 views

WatfordR

Think what yesterday confirmed is that we're miles off ready for the Prem. Most teams up there have been beating WHam comfortably. While you can't fault the effort and determination of our players yesterday, we can't dominate teams in the Championship most of the time. No matter who we might buy in January, we're not going to become Prem ready.

We've got to be patient. If we see the same improvement season on season for the next four seasons as we have this year compared to last, we might well be there or thereabouts.

The aim has to be to build a squad of players who would give us a chance of surviving the first two seasons up there, if we got there. At the moment, I'm happy to be able to enjoy our football more often than not.

threadbare squad on 08:52 - Jan 13 with 939 views

threadbare squad on 13:57 - Jan 12 by TheChef
Hi Ben! ;)

Yeah I know I do sound a bit like an apologist sometimes.

Seriously though I’m not saying everything is great and we’re doing everything right. But if for instance Hull has had SEVEN hamstring injuries this season, that’s more than one a month, it can’t just be down to our performance team. Is Hull’s useless or Millwall’s too with five hamstrings? If Richarlison has had two hamstrings and a calf injury in the last two seasons and probably has a performance guy following him round all day getting him stretching every time he has to get off the sofa such is the Prem’s riches and his importance to Spurs, the evidence follows the science.

You can hate Nourry and Ben Williams and still think it’s not all their fault that we have so many injuries at the moment. I’m not surprised that we lost Saito and Burrell as casualties of four matches in nine days. And then a really important one a few days later.

The fact that our team is still knackered after 90 minutes is a completely different question and one that definitely merits some scrutiny. We’re not reducing our injuries so is it a good strategy?

[Post edited 13 Jan 9:40]

threadbare squad on 09:07 - Jan 13 with 916 views

threadbare squad on 14:12 - Jan 12 by wombat

Some fans may well moan about us not making the sixth spot this year. Fans always want the Board to spend more. Doesn’t mean they’re right. I didn’t think this season would be so open. Surely most of us thought Southampton and Leicester would be doing better than they are. I didn’t think last season’s third place team Sheffield United would do as badly as they have early on. Who predicted Norwich spending most of the first half of the season in the relegation places? Then we had the Hollywood teams coming up, with Birmingham and Wrexham both looking like massive threats compared to the usual Rotherham or Plymouth that you can bet you’re more likely to be scrapping for a relegation than a promotion spot. Point being that we can’t predict what next season will be like. We have to focus on our own squad and making that the best it can be over several seasons not just betting all on red five because the casino tells you you this could be your night.

People always say they’re not going to renew, won’t go to games any more. Happens every year. I don’t care. Many of them turn up like clockwork next season. We had full grounds last season even during one of the worst home runs I can remember. We’re selling out LR regularly atm. We’ve got lots of young guys starting to come.

If people are giving Esquerdinha or Morgan abuse if they make the odd mistake then they need to have a word with themselves.

If we get millions for both Santos and Celar at the end of the season I’ll buy you a pint at a hostelry near the ground next season.

We were told all this by the fans before signing Austin and Johanssen at vast expense. We didn’t get near going up and stuffed ourselves for seasons afterwards and nearly got another sanction. So no thanks. Continue to build.

threadbare squad on 09:13 - Jan 13 with 896 views

threadbare squad on 09:07 - Jan 13 by nix

if we get 50 quid for either of them is the bet still on ?
think this season the diff is we do have some leway for players without emtying the bank acct as we did with austion etc , the nourry production line might bring in some money , Varanne in jan, prob madson in the summer , after they go not sure who are next paycheck will be though , edwards maybe in a few years .

jan isnt. agreat time for perm deals though but wouldnt like the season to fizzle out just becuase our fitness guru isnt actually any good.

quick question wa ourt injuries this bad last season when he was doing his weekly zoom appts every tuesday afternoon ?

Poll:

threadbare squad on 09:23 - Jan 13 with 876 views

Andybrat

Anyone know if we can recall Alfie? Seems a like for like ( if not as good) for Burrell and could warm up a spot on the bench

threadbare squad on 09:29 - Jan 13 with 855 views

dmm

threadbare squad on 09:23 - Jan 13 by Andybrat
Anyone know if we can recall Alfie? Seems a like for like ( if not as good) for Burrell and could warm up a spot on the bench

As I understand it, if there's a recall clause in the loan agreement he can come back this month. However, I'd be surprised if that happened. He's just not good enough for the Championship and I'm not even sure he'll make it in L1.

threadbare squad on 09:39 - Jan 13 with 837 views

threadbare squad on 09:13 - Jan 13 by wombat

Is the bet still on for £50? No.

If we sell Varanne I hope it will cover existing costs not future ones. We’re already committed to the future. We need to balance it out. If we sell Madsen in the summer and maybe some other lesser deals then is the time to spend for next season. That’s what having a project is about, you don’t just tear it up when you get a bit excited. That’s what we’ve done in the past and I hope we’ve learned from it.

I don’t know about last season in detail. We certainly lost Chair, Saito, Celar, Frey for long periods. Don’t get the point though? I’m not saying we’re better or worse than last season with injuries. I’m saying it’s an issue across elite football and the injury records of other similar clubs supports that.

[Post edited 13 Jan 9:42]

threadbare squad on 09:47 - Jan 13 with 818 views

threadbare squad on 09:39 - Jan 13 by nix

[Post edited 13 Jan 9:42]

would getting a few loans in be ripping it up though ?
as we found out early in the season if you chuck untired kids in on mass and u loose a few get hammred in a few hows that helping them players get better. surely u pick the right time to give one or two some time on the pitch to bed in not just say right show me what ur worth and pray for the best , totally agree we need to blood young players thats the way forward for us but chucking half a first team of kids out for a month or so isnt helping anyone esp the player , needs to be a balance which means ur still fairly competitive but not cannon fodder as well .

at the moment with the impact injuries we have we are pretty much bare bones esp for options off the bench

Poll:

Moses Odubajo - Stick or Twist?

threadbare squad on 10:08 - Jan 13 with 773 views

BklynRanger

The only area I'd look at for a loan is up front I think. I'm not sure of Frey's status but regardless if we're sticking with 2 up front I think we need an addition. The tricky part is to not block Kolli's progression by doing it - possibly someone young and raw with an option to buy - another one off the Burrell list.

For the other positions, I think we need to decide we have enough. Field can cover two positions logically - LB and DM (not up front ffs Julie), I'm in a bit of a minority in thinking we should persevere with Esquerdina, and Morgan needs to keep playing to get his confidence back - he seems to come on lately and produce an equally weighted combination of total gaffs and really good stuff.

Vale needs to be dug back up and de-Chelsea-fied because he can be superb if whatever's going on can get sorted, and Bennie or Esquerdina can both play on the wing. (Am not convinced about Bennie up front but I know he's been scoring for the DS.)

Most of that won't fill you with confidence, Wombat, I know! But we don't know that loans would work either - especially sensibly priced ones, if such a thing exists at this point.

threadbare squad on 10:10 - Jan 13 with 766 views

aston_hoop

threadbare squad on 09:23 - Jan 13 by Andybrat
Anyone know if we can recall Alfie? Seems a like for like ( if not as good) for Burrell and could warm up a spot on the bench

I asked a Leyton Orient mate and his response was 'I hope so, he looks absolutely hopeless. His brain and his legs are constantly doing 2 different things. No way is this guy a professsional footballer'

So...might not happen from our side!

Poll:

threadbare squad on 10:26 - Jan 13 with 725 views

RuislipHoop

Is Charlie Kerman available ? 😂

threadbare squad on 10:28 - Jan 13 with 717 views

threadbare squad on 10:08 - Jan 13 by BklynRanger

which ever way u its a risk , from what ive seen so far on vale , honestly not seeing much , has an eye for a pass but zero pace , esp if played out wide . hes also when fit not made the swaud on a few occasions recently esp sunday presume he was fit ?

kolli is the big one can he last 4/5 games without breaking down which has been his biggest issue sine he broke into the team , did a great shift sat but was blowing out his arse after 60 mins. can he be relied on to last until burrell comes back ?
if he cant whos plan b

Poll:

How old is everyone on here?

threadbare squad on 10:48 - Jan 13 with 678 views

TheChef

threadbare squad on 10:28 - Jan 13 by wombat

Good point about Kolli but the only way to get match fit is by, er, playing matches.

Unless of course he blows out his hamstring too.

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threadbare squad on 10:55 - Jan 13 with 649 views

threadbare squad on 10:48 - Jan 13 by TheChef
Good point about Kolli but the only way to get match fit is by, er, playing matches. Unless of course he blows out his hamstring too.

this has always been one of the problems hes set up for a run in the team and sadly lasts 2 games then pulls something , not sure what his longest run in the team/ squad has been since he broke through, you would hope the club has set aside a specilised training programme for him to help him get to a decent level of fitness ,

Poll:

threadbare squad on 11:03 - Jan 13 with 628 views

BklynRanger

threadbare squad on 10:28 - Jan 13 by wombat

Vale isn't quick, granted, but he's got a bit of height about him at least - him and Poku are relative giants out there on the wing.

Who knows how he'll average out, but he had a couple of games for us earlier in the season where I wondered how you wouldn't pick him every week. Then injured, then shit, now gone for a factory reset.

threadbare squad on 12:22 - Jan 13 with 537 views

threadbare squad on 09:47 - Jan 13 by wombat

Depends on who they are and how much they cost.

Nakhi Wells equivalent for cheap, then yes. Andre Gray equivalent at a premium then no. Jeff Hendricks type over my dead body. Loans aren’t always brilliant. Particularly up front. Sometimes you’re only giving Jack Clarke or Tim Iroegbunan the chance to be good the following season and not really contributing much for you.

Also how long Chair and Vale are out is a thought.

Also how we do for the next few matches. If we’re still within three points towards the end of January then maybe get a couple of loans in. If we’re going to be mid-table anyway then save the cash for next season and really go for it then.

PSR isn’t limitless. We have to balance the books. Just as well we did get a few extra forwards in in the summer despite us thinking we didn’t need them all. Looking like a good decision now.

threadbare squad on 12:30 - Jan 13 with 509 views

threadbare squad on 12:22 - Jan 13 by nix

Chair was due back over the xmas break according to the interviews at the time
maybe xmas is late this year

is vale injured ?
this is it at pres we are just outsdie the top 6 , tough games coming up even tougher with the players aval so likely to be back to our spiritual place of 16th by then.

well aware of PSR thanks , but as mentioned earlier we seem to have soem aval cash aval 4.5 for ronnie , possibly 5/6million coming in for varanne , wages lower than before, not got a running total of what we have sold kelman etc and what we have spent ,

if we are prudent and dont tie ourselves to another dembele clause being triggered after four games contract , im sure we could bolster the squad till may

with the club pushing back the return date by weeks or in some cases months becasue us fans cant handle that info that he was always going to be back longer than the club say , its hard to say which route to go.

Poll:

threadbare squad on 12:44 - Jan 13 with 463 views

CiderwithRsie

threadbare squad on 09:47 - Jan 12 by BAWHoops

I think it's important not to chuck money around unnecessarily. If the right player is available at the right price then do it. What we don't need to do is bring in Jeff Hendrick and Dion Sanderson again!

Still need to look at the squad as a whole. It's better and healthier for the club to use Kolli and Bennie as strikers as opposed to loaning in someone from Chelsea for the sake of it.
Likelihood is it will be as rocky few weeks/month with 2 away games and 2 tough home games.

Keep building sensibly. This season looks like it will be an improvement on last season. The only place I'd look to spend any money is in central midfield as I'm worried we might break Madsen!!

This.

If I had any money to throw around at QPR, I'd be spending it on
- new fitness coach/support staff, maybe facilities
- the pitch/ground staff.

(Not joking by the way, I reckon you would get a much better return on the investment than you would on player wages in a squad where, as the OP noted, if everyone is fit we look a bit bloated.)

threadbare squad on 12:56 - Jan 13 with 434 views

threadbare squad on 12:44 - Jan 13 by CiderwithRsie
This. If I had any money to throw around at QPR, I'd be spending it on - new fitness coach/support staff, maybe facilities - the pitch/ground staff. (Not joking by the way, I reckon you would get a much better return on the investment than you would on player wages in a squad where, as the OP noted, if everyone is fit we look a bit bloated.)

having more money wont change the fitness issue at the club , that needs a. full clear out from the very top to the bottom, so unless the money is going on pay offs that wont make much difference. as theres seems to be a very close relationship between the ceo and fitness guru id be suppirsed if thats going to change anytime soon.

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