Terrible start that they capitalised on meant it always felt like we were chasing the game even when we equalised. We just don't create enough clear cut chances and that means that we're reliant on the defence being flawless again and all three centre backs had dodgy moments unfortunately. Add to that Edwards being hugely wasteful on the ball and Apter being muscled off everything and we invited goals. We bypassed our midfield in a way that didn't help us; Campbell kept receiving the ball with his back to goal and getting knocked off it, Leaburn won headers but they were swept up and Carey was anonymous. We were decent overall though, the longer the game went on the more it looked like we'd be the winners but some atrocious defending against one player running from his own half did us in. The big issue is that we don't have a threatening centre forward. Leaburn did his best but he's young, and Kelman once again failed to impose himself. At our best last season Godden was always involved, always threatened, always gave defences something to think about but we don't have that right now and it makes us easier to defend against. Carey was really poor today but Knibbs hasn't made much of an impact when he has played yet.
It doesn't tell the whole story but we can point at some terrible decisions though; we could have had a pen, they definitely should have had a red that the ref bottled and TC should have had a free kick right before their goal. The ref was inconsistent and weird throughout. Kone got away with a really nasty one to the head of Jones as well, really poor reffing.
What I will say though is that people really need to calm down. We've gone up a division and have to adapt. We've spent years in L1 miserable and I know it's broken some people's brains irreparably but the amount people are screeching at the players in the match thread already feels like it did when we'd concede against Port Vale and it's making it a less enjoyable experience than it could be. It's different now, the games are harder, a bit more patience wouldn't hurt.
Harsh on Carey. He got on the ball as much as he could but never had an attacking player to pass it to. You could see the difference when Knibbs came on as he might as well not have been there.
Yeah, I thought our midfield worked tirelessly to get us back in it, so wouldn't agree with Gary on this one.
We look toothless upfront, Leaburn needs support up there and I don’t get why Jones took off Carey before Docherty.
Knibbs needs a start now, these little cameos aren’t doing anything - I have my doubts about Kelman but the same goes for him, play 2 up top and when Godden comes back, we’ve got competition for places.
Really like Apter, Campbell is inconsistent but did well today
I hope our season isn’t a case of played well but lost by the odd goal each week.
Neither TC nor Apter are RWBs. Neither have the defensive nous. Apter was the wrong side of Smyth when he scored and TC has never looked comfortable in that position which is why NJ moved him up front. We need the equivalent of Edwards on the right. However, unless NJ works out how our front 3 can score goals we will really struggle even if we become more solid in defence
Could make the argument asking why Ramsay was so central in the box for the first goal, he had a massive off day, and probably should have been the one marking Smyth who'd dropped off him.
A bit like the defeat up at the Racecourse, Kayne has a few appearances every so often, where you remember that he's not a natural Centre-Back.
Jones seems willing to put all his faith in Campbell. I like TC but at this level I just think it’s too much to ask.
Please never take Coventry off ever. We don’t look like a football team without him on the pitch.
We could’ve got something today, but we were far from good. We have to start making the most of winning the ball high up. Jones system doesn’t work if we continually waste good positions.
Millwall becomes a massive game. I think we'll fare better at home and really need something from it.
Some of the comments from the end of the match thread are brilliant. It really wasn’t dogshit or horrendous.
We lost 3-1 in the championship. The 3rd goal was as we pushed in the final stages - always a risk.
we clearly need some attention focussed on attacking threat but if Leaburn hits that under the bar in the first half it’s a different game.
We’ll lose a lot more this season, but we’ll win some as well.
Some balance and perspective will definitely help some cope with a Saturday afternoons football.
A sensible post at last.
I’ve seen three games in the flesh and today on TV. We should have won the first three and you could make a case for a point today. We weren’t great today but far from comments like dogshit.
At the beginning of the season most said they’d be happy if we just stayed up this season. I have no doubt we will. Yes we need to score goals but they will come. People seem to have forgotten that 7 of today’s starting 11 had never played Championship football before this season so are still learning. The bench had 5 or 6 who have no Championship experience, maybe more? We need more Championship experience but that costs. We have recruited well but have recruited the best from League One with a smattering of experience in Bell, Burke, Kaminski.
It’s not going to be pretty this season but we need to keep faith in NJ and the team. Stay up this season, improve for the season after. Some of the criticism today is over the top. We are no longer in League One, we have left primary school and joined big school. It will take time to adjust and improve.
If Burke is fit, it may be time to put him in at CD and move Ramsay to RWB to strengthen our defence. We could do with a ball carrier like Saito in the middle, so maybe Apter could play there with Knibbs. Kaminski Burke Jones Bell Ramsay Coventry Edwards Apter Knibbs Any 2 strikers as none look good enough yet
Their 2nd goal. TC only has to touch the ball onwards and Leaburn is away. Other players in shot commit forwards. TC loses it and it's 4 on 4. Coventry is too far behind Saito to affect anything and Jones can't come charging out when Saito is running at full pelt, but I'm sure he'll be disappointed with how he was beaten.
Disappointing scoreline and I don't think reflective of the performance of both teams, but yes our decision making in the final third is poor at the moment.
One moment which stands out for me is soon after we had equalised, TC was through on goal but from a very tight angle, he takes on the shot, not having noticed Leaburn sprinting into the box, had he squared it, it would've been 2-1 Charlton.
Not digging out TC individually as I think this applies to all our attacking players, that last little bit is missing at the moment.
My hope is that having changed the attack a lot more than the defence over the summer, it's just taking them a bit of time to gel and once it's clicks we'll be properly up and running.
We look toothless upfront, Leaburn needs support up there and I don’t get why Jones took off Carey before Docherty.
Knibbs needs a start now, these little cameos aren’t doing anything - I have my doubts about Kelman but the same goes for him, play 2 up top and when Godden comes back, we’ve got competition for places.
Really like Apter, Campbell is inconsistent but did well today
I hope our season isn’t a case of played well but lost by the odd goal each week.
Neither TC nor Apter are RWBs. Neither have the defensive nous. Apter was the wrong side of Smyth when he scored and TC has never looked comfortable in that position which is why NJ moved him up front. We need the equivalent of Edwards on the right. However, unless NJ works out how our front 3 can score goals we will really struggle even if we become more solid in defence
Could make the argument asking why Ramsay was so central in the box for the first goal, he had a massive off day, and probably should have been the one marking Smyth who'd dropped off him.
A bit like the defeat up at the Racecourse, Kayne has a few appearances every so often, where you remember that he's not a natural Centre-Back.
Ramsey was central because jones was pulled over to the left, this is when your wingback should drop into right back. We can't really blame Apter because we know he's not a defender. It's the problem we have with this formation, but credit where it's due, it was good play from QPR and I can't remember many other teams stretching are backline like that and exposing it. I suppose this is the argument for having a more defensive wing back as an alternative to Apter.
Turning point was TC failing to go down whilst being fouled in the area. Get a pen and I think we win the game. Instead, he goes down far too easily in the middle of the pitch, they break and score instead. We cannot afford to carry anyone this season. If someone is lacking confidence or not performing, they need to be left out. Jones can't be too loyal and needs to try different combinations until we get it right. We're not there yet!
It was a mystery why the team looked a bit overawed for the first 20 minutes. QPR were bound to come out fighting tooth and nail in front of their own fans. We seemed to be hesitant (Ramsey) and clumsy (Edwards). TC didn't even touch the ball until the 21st minute. And of course, Smith would be the scorer of their goal. Yet you could sense the fragile state of mind of the QPR players and once Campbell actually crossed the ball and Apter somehow scored, we were in the ascendancy for much of the next 30 minutes. This was a game that should have been won.
Let's hope that NJ takes on board valuable lessons. Some of the players have raised their game in the new division. L Jones of course, and the midfield pairing of Doc and Cov. But others still need to work on their game and fitness. Edwards is a big hearted player and his crossing (and throw ins) can be excellent. But he can be found out defensively and both the Leicester goal last week and QPR's first today were down to him being found wandering up the field leaving gaps. He also needs to improve fitness levels as he tires quickly and makes errors.
The TC debate will continue I am sure. It took him 21 minutes to get his first touch on the ball today. Yet when he switched to the right in the second half (and Smith wasn't backing up the defender) he prospered to some extent. I believe he is a more dangerous prospect coming off the bench (perhaps rotating with Apter) and playing on the right wing. He is also apt to go down too easily and refs are getting wise to this, as are opponents as we saw for the second goal.
It is interesting how the opposing managers have used their substitutes in the past two league games. They bring them on early and singularly rather than two or three at a time. It appears to work well (very well with the scorer of the killer second goal today). Our subs troop on in groups with little time to have any bearing on the game (apart from Knibbs against Watford and he hasn't done much since then). Perhaps a more astute use of subs is called for.
I trust in NJ sorting through these lessons and making the adjustments required and perhaps even going against his own preferences and getting a Premier League loanee to add a little spice.
I’m not sure what the point of spending 5 million is to have it sit on the bench. Completely understand that they played terribly at Cambridge but I think at the very least we should see Knibbs and Tanto start one game in the championship and just see how they do. If they’re sh*t fair enough but I don’t think we are seeing the best of their abilities as subs with five seconds remaining in the game.
Also very tired of Jones blaming the refs while I agree they’ve been shit this season especially today that is the name of the game and it won’t change the fact that you still didn’t win. He needs to take a little accountability.
Poor decision making. Ball comes out to edge of box and instead of recycling it out wide again we had a crap shot or rushed to go back through the middle.
Can’t fault the effort or heart though.
I hope the support sticks with this side because they will get it right I think. And our next game would be a spectacular way to get back on track.
As I said on Tuesday. Jones better prove his decision to drop all the first team players on Tuesday so they were ready for this was the right one. It wasn't. Real failure this week for Jones. On him.
Deflated after that. QPR are a very poor side, but that was a very poor performance. Growing increasingly concerned by Kelman's inability to have any impact on the game.
I’m not sure what the point of spending 5 million is to have it sit on the bench. Completely understand that they played terribly at Cambridge but I think at the very least we should see Knibbs and Tanto start one game in the championship and just see how they do. If they’re sh*t fair enough but I don’t think we are seeing the best of their abilities as subs with five seconds remaining in the game.
What’s the point in giving him 5 mins to impact the game, same with Fuller, he showed at Cambridge he can hit them from long range.
TC looked like he was blowing out of his arse after 75 mins.
i don’t understand bringing attacking players on with barely any time to make an impact.
Trying not to be doom and gloom after 3 games BUT, it’s still the same problem, I don’t see where the goals are coming from, the attacking threat has got to get going quickly, no point in lots of possession if we can’t do anything with it,some of the passing today was awful, even Ramsey & Edwards’s struggled today, 3 games now we should have got something but we haven’t,
We certainly need to start taking more of our opportunities otherwise it will be a very difficult season.
Opportunities ? What opportunities ?
Creating chances has been the main problem. Its not like any of the forward players have been in on goal & missed. Only real chance we had (apart from the goal) was Leaburn hitting the bar with a difficult chance at the far post when under pressure & the ball flashing a cross the goal
I'd be the first one to castigate a striker if they were missing 1on1's or tap ins. But in 4 games the forwards have not had a decent chance between them.
I do think some of the comments are overboard. As my aspergic son said, who is trying to like football but struggling with the banter, " your team have levelled up, so surely it will be more difficult until you acclimatise to the new power bosses". We will lose alot this season but it's getting to 50 odd points is all we should care about. Fact is most of the squad are good League 1 players, so let's hope we can level up over the next few months!
Some of the comments from the end of the match thread are brilliant. It really wasn’t dogshit or horrendous.
We lost 3-1 in the championship. The 3rd goal was as we pushed in the final stages - always a risk.
we clearly need some attention focussed on attacking threat but if Leaburn hits that under the bar in the first half it’s a different game.
We’ll lose a lot more this season, but we’ll win some as well.
Some balance and perspective will definitely help some cope with a Saturday afternoons football.
A sensible post at last.
I’ve seen three games in the flesh and today on TV. We should have won the first three and you could make a case for a point today. We weren’t great today but far from comments like dogshit.
At the beginning of the season most said they’d be happy if we just stayed up this season. I have no doubt we will. Yes we need to score goals but they will come. People seem to have forgotten that 7 of today’s starting 11 had never played Championship football before this season so are still learning. The bench had 5 or 6 who have no Championship experience, maybe more? We need more Championship experience but that costs. We have recruited well but have recruited the best from League One with a smattering of experience in Bell, Burke, Kaminski.
It’s not going to be pretty this season but we need to keep faith in NJ and the team. Stay up this season, improve for the season after. Some of the criticism today is over the top. We are no longer in League One, we have left primary school and joined big school. It will take time to adjust and improve.
Comments
A bit like the defeat up at the Racecourse, Kayne has a few appearances every so often, where you remember that he's not a natural Centre-Back.
No shortage of effort, but more quality required for the final ball in and shots on goal.
Still early days, let's keep the faith.
Please never take Coventry off ever. We don’t look like a football team without him on the pitch.
I’ve seen three games in the flesh and today on TV. We should have won the first three and you could make a case for a point today. We weren’t great today but far from comments like dogshit.
At the beginning of the season most said they’d be happy if we just stayed up this season. I have no doubt we will. Yes we need to score goals but they will come. People seem to have forgotten that 7 of today’s starting 11 had never played Championship football before this season so are still learning. The bench had 5 or 6 who have no Championship experience, maybe more? We need more Championship experience but that costs. We have recruited well but have recruited the best from League One with a smattering of experience in Bell, Burke, Kaminski.
It’s not going to be pretty this season but we need to keep faith in NJ and the team. Stay up this season, improve for the season after. Some of the criticism today is over the top. We are no longer in League One, we have left primary school and joined big school. It will take time to adjust and improve.
Kaminski
Burke Jones Bell
Ramsay Coventry Edwards
Apter Knibbs
Any 2 strikers as none look good enough yet
Their 2nd goal. TC only has to touch the ball onwards and Leaburn is away. Other players in shot commit forwards. TC loses it and it's 4 on 4. Coventry is too far behind Saito to affect anything and Jones can't come charging out when Saito is running at full pelt, but I'm sure he'll be disappointed with how he was beaten.
Get the bad part out of the way and keep working hard
One moment which stands out for me is soon after we had equalised, TC was through on goal but from a very tight angle, he takes on the shot, not having noticed Leaburn sprinting into the box, had he squared it, it would've been 2-1 Charlton.
Not digging out TC individually as I think this applies to all our attacking players, that last little bit is missing at the moment.
My hope is that having changed the attack a lot more than the defence over the summer, it's just taking them a bit of time to gel and once it's clicks we'll be properly up and running.
Instead, he goes down far too easily in the middle of the pitch, they break and score instead.
We cannot afford to carry anyone this season. If someone is lacking confidence or not performing, they need to be left out.
Jones can't be too loyal and needs to try different combinations until we get it right.
We're not there yet!
Let's hope that NJ takes on board valuable lessons. Some of the players have raised their game in the new division. L Jones of course, and the midfield pairing of Doc and Cov. But others still need to work on their game and fitness. Edwards is a big hearted player and his crossing (and throw ins) can be excellent. But he can be found out defensively and both the Leicester goal last week and QPR's first today were down to him being found wandering up the field leaving gaps. He also needs to improve fitness levels as he tires quickly and makes errors.
The TC debate will continue I am sure. It took him 21 minutes to get his first touch on the ball today. Yet when he switched to the right in the second half (and Smith wasn't backing up the defender) he prospered to some extent. I believe he is a more dangerous prospect coming off the bench (perhaps rotating with Apter) and playing on the right wing. He is also apt to go down too easily and refs are getting wise to this, as are opponents as we saw for the second goal.
It is interesting how the opposing managers have used their substitutes in the past two league games. They bring them on early and singularly rather than two or three at a time. It appears to work well (very well with the scorer of the killer second goal today). Our subs troop on in groups with little time to have any bearing on the game (apart from Knibbs against Watford and he hasn't done much since then). Perhaps a more astute use of subs is called for.
I trust in NJ sorting through these lessons and making the adjustments required and perhaps even going against his own preferences and getting a Premier League loanee to add a little spice.
My main gripe is that our subs did not really change much.
Worrying signs
TC looked like he was blowing out of his arse after 75 mins.
i don’t understand bringing attacking players on with barely any time to make an impact.
3 games now we should have got something but we haven’t,
Creating chances has been the main problem. Its not like any of the forward players have been in on goal & missed. Only real chance we had (apart from the goal) was Leaburn hitting the bar with a difficult chance at the far post when under pressure & the ball flashing a cross the goal
I'd be the first one to castigate a striker if they were missing 1on1's or tap ins. But in 4 games the forwards have not had a decent chance between them.
Knibbs has not shown much yet, but it will take time.
QPR are poor and we made them look half decent.
Need a result against Millwall, which is a worry.