| Kolli 19:34 - Jan 11 with 35997 views | WestbourneR |
Showed he has what it takes again today, I felt. Really impressive from a 20 year old. Super sharp touch, great one touch link play and he's so strong.
Interesting to see which players looked comfortable at that level generally.
Sadly Kone looked out of his depth all game.
Thought Dunne did well but then go horribly exposed by Summerville for their second.
For me Madsen looks like a Premership class centre mid. Stood out all game as our Rolls Royce player.
Smyth was the big surprise IMO. Really held his own. Was pretty magnificent.
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| Kolli on 19:02 - Mar 22 with 2896 views | Benny_the_Ball |
| Kolli on 11:36 - Mar 22 by Northernr |
That's my favourite thing about him (apart from the hair obvs). Absolutely puts his boot through the back of the ball when he hits it. |
I'm beginning to think his hair helps him keep his head over the ball! |  | | |
| Kolli on 19:07 - Mar 22 with 2860 views | Benny_the_Ball |
| Kolli on 11:01 - Mar 22 by TK1 |
"Imagine" doing quite a lot of heavy lifting there. Gallen scored 14 goals in his debut season, in the Premier League, at 19. Just before he was Rayan Kolli's age he'd unfortunately been ruled out for the season with a cruciate injury, but was on three goals in two games at that moment. He'd broken every record at youth level and is in a top 20 for goals scored in PL before 21.
At Kolli's age, Les was playing for Hayes! Did alright, though, goals-per-games wise overall.
Kolli has a lovely strike on him, is a good forward but it's a stretch to say his exclusion is political. He's had injuries this season, Burrell and Kone are ahead of him, but now he's getting some minutes. Great. He's 21 and learning his role.
Bradley Allen and Gary Penrice were brilliant strikers, but often not the first choices. Kolli reminds me of their role at the moment. He can have a run now and cement it.
He won't be loaned. But I'm afraid I think he'll sold as it's pure profit and he has value, as he's proving. And that's what a development club must do. Imagine how much better off the club, and player, would have been if QPR had sold Gallen before his injury...
Gotta know when hold and know when to fold them. |
"Gotta know when hold and know when to fold them."
I agree but I think it's a bit early. Give him a good run in the team next season and challenge him to net at least 10-15 goals. Then you can command some serious money. | | | |
| Kolli on 19:29 - Mar 22 with 2747 views | BlackCrowe |
| Kolli on 11:36 - Mar 22 by Northernr |
That's my favourite thing about him (apart from the hair obvs). Absolutely puts his boot through the back of the ball when he hits it. |
Yeah he certainly can strike a ball. I put his goals down to me, because generally i'm not a fan and each time i berate him to those around me, he scores and makes me look like the tw@t i probably am. |  |
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| Kolli on 19:31 - Mar 22 with 2729 views | Benny_the_Ball |
| Kolli on 19:29 - Mar 22 by BlackCrowe |
Yeah he certainly can strike a ball. I put his goals down to me, because generally i'm not a fan and each time i berate him to those around me, he scores and makes me look like the tw@t i probably am. |
In that case keep on berating. | | | |
| Kolli on 19:40 - Mar 22 with 2709 views | ozexile |
I love his directness. It's more of what football needs. I'm in front of goal I'm gonna hit it.
Don't worry about recycling possession. XG. We've worked me into this position, let's see if we can score. Brilliant. |  | | |
| Kolli on 19:41 - Mar 22 with 2698 views | Lblock |
Have a look at his second goal and something not mentioned.
Brings the ball down and out strengths the defender brilliantly before running in on goal and, as mentioned, rifles it in.
Keep going Rayan |  |
| Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal |
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| Kolli on 19:45 - Mar 22 with 2681 views | LazyFan |
JS likes to pick players who score, especially when we have struggled (apart from the last two games). He picked Saito for too long for that reason, now Smyth has another two hes ahead of him for sure.
So, Smyth and Kolli should be starters with Kone up front now. In the after-match interview, Smyth said as much. If they play well again, then Poko will have to up his game to get into the team. Saito is well behind, especially with Chair coming back. I would not be surprised if we moved Saito on in the summer, no joke!
The real challenge is whether Vale can produce the same sort of performances against much better teams. He's shown against dross in his class; can he do it again against better teams? If he can, then we have a player on our hands here. |  |
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| Kolli on 19:45 - Mar 22 with 2689 views | WestbourneR |
| Kolli on 19:41 - Mar 22 by Lblock |
Have a look at his second goal and something not mentioned.
Brings the ball down and out strengths the defender brilliantly before running in on goal and, as mentioned, rifles it in.
Keep going Rayan |
Been told over and over on here that he’s not strong enough and not capable of playing centrally.
But actually his strength and ability to muscle defenders. His back to goal game. Is generally really good. | |
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| Kolli on 19:45 - Mar 22 with 2689 views | ChrisNW6 |
| Kolli on 19:29 - Mar 22 by BlackCrowe |
Yeah he certainly can strike a ball. I put his goals down to me, because generally i'm not a fan and each time i berate him to those around me, he scores and makes me look like the tw@t i probably am. |
Quotes in G block before the game 'Smythe not good enough to start' and during the game 'Kolli not playing well and has struggled in recent games' much humble pie eaten on both counts. | | | |
| Kolli on 20:00 - Mar 22 with 2615 views | bongo_king |
Pretexted by I didn't see the whole game yesterday due to family, but those two goals look Taarabt-esque.
First one, passing a ball into the goal like that so calmly from range is only something I think I've seen Taarabt do (vs West Ham?). Second, still can't work out if he meant the first touch or not (!) but again echos of the great man (but with quite some way to go).
He has a hell of a finish, but nonetheless I'm not yet sure he's a full striker based on overall game... more towards a no 10 of wide forward. Wondering how a three behind the striker of Kolli, Chair and Poku could look next season... gut says they could be pretty complementary and dangerous. Hope one way or another he becomes regular next season as agree the time has passed for a loan, and he's the biggest prospect out of the dev squad since Eze. | | | |
| Kolli on 20:03 - Mar 22 with 2602 views | supahoopsa |
| Kolli on 19:40 - Mar 22 by ozexile |
I love his directness. It's more of what football needs. I'm in front of goal I'm gonna hit it.
Don't worry about recycling possession. XG. We've worked me into this position, let's see if we can score. Brilliant. |
100% |  |
| Blue & White hooped blood runs through the family |
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| Kolli on 20:20 - Mar 22 with 2523 views | Paddyhoops |
| Kolli on 19:45 - Mar 22 by ChrisNW6 |
Quotes in G block before the game 'Smythe not good enough to start' and during the game 'Kolli not playing well and has struggled in recent games' much humble pie eaten on both counts. |
We always come back to Smyth in end . You know what you’re going to grt .
He’s improved at this level and he’s weighing in with some goals as well . | | | |
| Kolli on 20:37 - Mar 22 with 2438 views | Northernr |
| Kolli on 19:29 - Mar 22 by BlackCrowe |
Yeah he certainly can strike a ball. I put his goals down to me, because generally i'm not a fan and each time i berate him to those around me, he scores and makes me look like the tw@t i probably am. |
He's a good player mate. Stick with him. |  | | |
| Kolli on 08:55 - Mar 23 with 2066 views | TK1 |
| Kolli on 18:08 - Mar 22 by Hunterhoop |
Mate, it’s not a stretch to say his lack of minutes is “political”. It really is. He has had some injuries, and he has done the odd silly thing off the pitch that riles the club powers, but he has been available a lot and not played for non “on the pitch” reasons. Trust.
Some of it, I actually get, tbf to Nourry. BUT, at the same time, I think he’s put his own ego above the best interests of the club. Kolli could become a highly valuable asset for the club, but only if he plays… |
And yet...here he is. Nearly 50 games for QPR having just 21 last month: in the first team, scoring, committed, playing well, clearly a popular member of the first team squad, on a long-term contract for (redacted) number of seasons...seem pretty good numbers. Bet we get decent bids for him.
Isn't this just management of a volatile young talent with some injury history, rather than political? Not a natural Nourry-boy myself, but many football men have mismanaged volatile young QPR talents before, not least Don Howe's management of Les Ferdinand. It's not always politics, and it's not always clearly either club nor player's fault. Sometimes the area is grey and I suspect it is here. Rumours are rumours are blurred with retelling.
Is it political to have sent Alfie Lloyd on loan to Lincoln two weeks after we lost Burrell for the season, to run around for the final eight minutes of their games rather than the final eight minutes of our games as he did last year? Or is it just (flawed) management of an eager young player?
I do think, too, that Kolli along with most of our forwards and midfielders have been hijacked by switching from the 433 that suits all best to playing a 442 which suits very few. He's not a winger, and despite Saturday, I'm not sure he's naturally a 9 or 10 - though he is picking it up! He, like Saito and Dembele, is going to excel as one of a three. He may have played more in 433. But fair play for Saturday. Good player, great finisher. Will secure the club some decent dough one day. | | | |
| Kolli on 09:00 - Mar 23 with 2053 views | 1JD |
| Kolli on 19:41 - Mar 22 by Lblock |
Have a look at his second goal and something not mentioned.
Brings the ball down and out strengths the defender brilliantly before running in on goal and, as mentioned, rifles it in.
Keep going Rayan |
First goal is also top notch.
When you see the camera angle with the goal face on, you can see the strike is going wide but has a wicked curl in at the last second, and nestles right into the corner. Keeper had no chance. | | | |
| Kolli on 09:10 - Mar 23 with 2002 views | Hunterhoop |
| Kolli on 08:55 - Mar 23 by TK1 |
And yet...here he is. Nearly 50 games for QPR having just 21 last month: in the first team, scoring, committed, playing well, clearly a popular member of the first team squad, on a long-term contract for (redacted) number of seasons...seem pretty good numbers. Bet we get decent bids for him.
Isn't this just management of a volatile young talent with some injury history, rather than political? Not a natural Nourry-boy myself, but many football men have mismanaged volatile young QPR talents before, not least Don Howe's management of Les Ferdinand. It's not always politics, and it's not always clearly either club nor player's fault. Sometimes the area is grey and I suspect it is here. Rumours are rumours are blurred with retelling.
Is it political to have sent Alfie Lloyd on loan to Lincoln two weeks after we lost Burrell for the season, to run around for the final eight minutes of their games rather than the final eight minutes of our games as he did last year? Or is it just (flawed) management of an eager young player?
I do think, too, that Kolli along with most of our forwards and midfielders have been hijacked by switching from the 433 that suits all best to playing a 442 which suits very few. He's not a winger, and despite Saturday, I'm not sure he's naturally a 9 or 10 - though he is picking it up! He, like Saito and Dembele, is going to excel as one of a three. He may have played more in 433. But fair play for Saturday. Good player, great finisher. Will secure the club some decent dough one day. |
I can see why you think that. It makes lots of sense.
It is not true, based on what I have heard from several sources. Kolli’s ability and goals has forced that number of appearances. They have tried to shift him on and alienate at various points over the past two seasons because his family doesn’t toe the line, and he, himself, has gone against instruction on occasion. I strongly believe the story about the training ground bust up is true, not rumours retold. |  | | |
| Kolli on 11:17 - Mar 23 with 1857 views | TK1 |
| Kolli on 09:10 - Mar 23 by Hunterhoop |
I can see why you think that. It makes lots of sense.
It is not true, based on what I have heard from several sources. Kolli’s ability and goals has forced that number of appearances. They have tried to shift him on and alienate at various points over the past two seasons because his family doesn’t toe the line, and he, himself, has gone against instruction on occasion. I strongly believe the story about the training ground bust up is true, not rumours retold. |
Don Howe told Les Ferdinand he had no future at QPR. Turned out the reverse was true. Very few career paths in football are linear.
"Kolli’s ability and goals has forced that number of appearances": shouldn't that be the rule for all first team players picked to play?!
I don't doubt the training ground story, either by the way. However, there are probably dozens of other behind closed doors and dressing room conversations that would similarly make our hair stand on end if ever we knew about them.
The main thing is: he's just turned 21, he's in the first team, scoring, on an apparently long contract...I'm not too worried how he's got there. He's there and probably one of three or four we can sell over the next couple of years which is exactly what we must do. | | | |
| Kolli on 12:41 - Mar 23 with 1722 views | nick_hammersmith |
| Kolli on 11:17 - Mar 23 by TK1 |
Don Howe told Les Ferdinand he had no future at QPR. Turned out the reverse was true. Very few career paths in football are linear.
"Kolli’s ability and goals has forced that number of appearances": shouldn't that be the rule for all first team players picked to play?!
I don't doubt the training ground story, either by the way. However, there are probably dozens of other behind closed doors and dressing room conversations that would similarly make our hair stand on end if ever we knew about them.
The main thing is: he's just turned 21, he's in the first team, scoring, on an apparently long contract...I'm not too worried how he's got there. He's there and probably one of three or four we can sell over the next couple of years which is exactly what we must do. |
There is also a case to be made that Don Howe knew that telling Les that, would be a motivation to fight against and prove him wrong.
Call it man management or character building.
For example did Eze being rejected by all those earlier clubs make him more determined and mentally stronger?
The key is knowing which approach to use and when.
I imagine none of these approaches are from the fitness coach, in the canteen in front of his friends and co-workers.
Massively agreed on this point;
"Kolli’s ability and goals has forced that number of appearances": shouldn't that be the rule for all first team players picked to play?!
100% it should be, but not sure that has been the case this season. We've seen the club continue to pick out of form players like Saito and Varane. The only reason I can see is that hope that more mins on the pitch improves the asset rather than the team.
Which, perversely feels at odds with Kollis' situation, where we have a homegrown player the club appears to be determined to sabotage 9or are they protecting him)? |  | | |
| Kolli on 12:54 - Mar 23 with 1675 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| Kolli on 11:17 - Mar 23 by TK1 |
Don Howe told Les Ferdinand he had no future at QPR. Turned out the reverse was true. Very few career paths in football are linear.
"Kolli’s ability and goals has forced that number of appearances": shouldn't that be the rule for all first team players picked to play?!
I don't doubt the training ground story, either by the way. However, there are probably dozens of other behind closed doors and dressing room conversations that would similarly make our hair stand on end if ever we knew about them.
The main thing is: he's just turned 21, he's in the first team, scoring, on an apparently long contract...I'm not too worried how he's got there. He's there and probably one of three or four we can sell over the next couple of years which is exactly what we must do. |
'However, there are probably dozens of other behind closed doors and dressing room conversations that would similarly make our hair stand on end if ever we knew about them'
I mean, doesn't this concern you?
Moral issue aside, our sustainability relies on the production and/or development of youth. Does bullying youngsters, or at least having a reputations of bullying youngsters, help that?
Kolli hasn't been given a first team slot through benevolence. They have got to this position through injuries and fan pressure. It is recency bias to think otherwise. |  | | |
| Kolli on 12:54 - Mar 23 with 1681 views | Markofthegrove |
| Kolli on 12:41 - Mar 23 by nick_hammersmith |
There is also a case to be made that Don Howe knew that telling Les that, would be a motivation to fight against and prove him wrong.
Call it man management or character building.
For example did Eze being rejected by all those earlier clubs make him more determined and mentally stronger?
The key is knowing which approach to use and when.
I imagine none of these approaches are from the fitness coach, in the canteen in front of his friends and co-workers.
Massively agreed on this point;
"Kolli’s ability and goals has forced that number of appearances": shouldn't that be the rule for all first team players picked to play?!
100% it should be, but not sure that has been the case this season. We've seen the club continue to pick out of form players like Saito and Varane. The only reason I can see is that hope that more mins on the pitch improves the asset rather than the team.
Which, perversely feels at odds with Kollis' situation, where we have a homegrown player the club appears to be determined to sabotage 9or are they protecting him)? |
The daft thing is, Kolli is worth much more to the club than most players at the club as he is an academy product and if sold it goes down on the books as 100% profiteroles. |  | | |
| Kolli on 13:39 - Mar 23 with 1549 views | TK1 |
| Kolli on 12:54 - Mar 23 by BazzaInTheLoft |
'However, there are probably dozens of other behind closed doors and dressing room conversations that would similarly make our hair stand on end if ever we knew about them'
I mean, doesn't this concern you?
Moral issue aside, our sustainability relies on the production and/or development of youth. Does bullying youngsters, or at least having a reputations of bullying youngsters, help that?
Kolli hasn't been given a first team slot through benevolence. They have got to this position through injuries and fan pressure. It is recency bias to think otherwise. |
I meant that there are now and throughout the history of any football club lots of stuff that happens behind closed doors that should remain so. Same for any large work place.
QPR do not have a reputation for bullying youngsters. It's a massive stretch to say so, and though not outright libel, this thread is about to cross that line in you are suggesting so.
QPR, in fact, have a team of very young players. And as such QPR has a growing reputation in fact as a good place to bring your young player to.
"Kolli hasn't been given a first team slot through benevolence." Of course not! Nobody is. Nor is he in through fan pressure, that's insulting to his talent, coaching staff and rival forwards.
Yes, injuries to others (and himself) have played a part. At the start of the season he was competing for arguably one of three positions with Kone, Saito, Chair, Dembele, Burrell, Smyth, Vale. That's eight players for three roles, for which he is the junior partner. Injuries have allowed him to get in there and he's doing well. Great.
"Recency bias": he's just turned 21, is still registered in the Dev squad, is in his third season of playing with the 1st team...it's a pretty small sample size. Of course it's recent. Nevertheless, he's made 19 appearances for the 1st team this season, despite injuries, and all being well should have at least another half dozen to add to that. Exactly where he should be, really, going into an important preseason for him.
There are some things that I find off about QPR in 2026: this molehill is not one of them. | | | |
| Kolli on 14:12 - Mar 23 with 1466 views | Benny_the_Ball |
| Kolli on 08:51 - Mar 22 by BazzaInTheLoft |
We left him out the squad completely when Burrell and Chair were fit.
It's political mate. |
It's true that Kolli has largely played second fiddle when Kone, Burrell and (to a lesser degree) Chair have been fit. However, that could be partly tactical as the squad is seriously lacking in midfield. Although always willing, Kolli isn't naturally built to work the channels, hold up the ball and bring others into play. He's at his best when he runs in behind or attacks the penalty area. He needs a midfield that has the bravery to pass forward and can dissect defences with cute through balls such as the one Vale provided to Smyth on the weekend. Hopefully QPR address this area in the summer. If they do, I'm excited to see whether Kolli prospers. | | | |
| Kolli on 14:13 - Mar 23 with 1467 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| Kolli on 13:39 - Mar 23 by TK1 |
I meant that there are now and throughout the history of any football club lots of stuff that happens behind closed doors that should remain so. Same for any large work place.
QPR do not have a reputation for bullying youngsters. It's a massive stretch to say so, and though not outright libel, this thread is about to cross that line in you are suggesting so.
QPR, in fact, have a team of very young players. And as such QPR has a growing reputation in fact as a good place to bring your young player to.
"Kolli hasn't been given a first team slot through benevolence." Of course not! Nobody is. Nor is he in through fan pressure, that's insulting to his talent, coaching staff and rival forwards.
Yes, injuries to others (and himself) have played a part. At the start of the season he was competing for arguably one of three positions with Kone, Saito, Chair, Dembele, Burrell, Smyth, Vale. That's eight players for three roles, for which he is the junior partner. Injuries have allowed him to get in there and he's doing well. Great.
"Recency bias": he's just turned 21, is still registered in the Dev squad, is in his third season of playing with the 1st team...it's a pretty small sample size. Of course it's recent. Nevertheless, he's made 19 appearances for the 1st team this season, despite injuries, and all being well should have at least another half dozen to add to that. Exactly where he should be, really, going into an important preseason for him.
There are some things that I find off about QPR in 2026: this molehill is not one of them. |
POINT 1
I definitely disagree on the first paragraph, and so do the club who have signed up to plenty of safeguarding legislation which demands transparency. An extreme example, but so does the Sheldon report.
POINT 2
I never said the club have a reputations for bullying youngsters, just that if senior staff are verbally or physically abusing 19 year olds in canteens, we soon will. I do know though, whether it's true or not, that some parents of young players at QPR believe it did.
If no such incident took place, great and fine. Would love to see a denial in that light the next time Nourry or Williams speak at a forum or to a journalist though.
POINT 3
When he was competing against those players, he had the best goal per minute ratio at the club. Since overtaken by the Burrell, i'll admit. But he justified his selection and didn't even make the bench, or the DS squad. If it's not because of ability, it's not because of injury, it's political.
POINT 4
Recency bias. 19 appearances mean nothing if the average appearance is 8 minutes long.
POINT 5
If this is not your hill to die on, why is this your 6th post on the matter? | | | |
| Kolli on 14:17 - Mar 23 with 1444 views | BrianMcCarthy |
I would suggest that Les Ferdinand was anything but a volatile young talent.
He just struggled to get ahead of quality strikers such as Trevor Francis, Mark Falco, Johhny Byrne and Roy Wegerle. |  |
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| Kolli on 15:19 - Mar 23 with 1313 views | TK1 |
| Kolli on 14:13 - Mar 23 by BazzaInTheLoft |
POINT 1
I definitely disagree on the first paragraph, and so do the club who have signed up to plenty of safeguarding legislation which demands transparency. An extreme example, but so does the Sheldon report.
POINT 2
I never said the club have a reputations for bullying youngsters, just that if senior staff are verbally or physically abusing 19 year olds in canteens, we soon will. I do know though, whether it's true or not, that some parents of young players at QPR believe it did.
If no such incident took place, great and fine. Would love to see a denial in that light the next time Nourry or Williams speak at a forum or to a journalist though.
POINT 3
When he was competing against those players, he had the best goal per minute ratio at the club. Since overtaken by the Burrell, i'll admit. But he justified his selection and didn't even make the bench, or the DS squad. If it's not because of ability, it's not because of injury, it's political.
POINT 4
Recency bias. 19 appearances mean nothing if the average appearance is 8 minutes long.
POINT 5
If this is not your hill to die on, why is this your 6th post on the matter? |
"If this is not your hill to die on, why is this your 6th post on the matter?"
Because I think you're being overly dramatic, it's a QPR messageboard, my work is quiet today so I am browsing, and I can offer an alternative opinion, based on 3D reality contradicting you. Are only pitchfork posts allowed on this thread?
I'm just going to add that since I first read on here in November about the famous training ground bust up where apparently Kolli was told he'd never play for QPR again, he has in fact played 13 times for QPR. So I wonder how much weight those words held, and why this bust-up has been pulled back up into the discussion praising his goals and all-round play from Saturday. All feels a bit Grievance Park Rangers. | | | |
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