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Atmosphere
at 21:49 10 Feb 2022

Sorry if this has been commented on elsewhere as haven't had a chance to read everything from last night, but just wanted to make a point about the lack of atmosphere/ crowd at Loftus Rd.

Considering we were playing to go second in the league, its under the lights (scene of so many brilliant nights) against a very decent side, I expected the ground to be absolutely buzzing.

But it just felt really flat to me. Not helped by huge swathes of SA Rd being empty. It is noticeable that some (a minority tbf) had a massive meltdown because we didn't buy that game changing player in January. Might be doing those people a massive disservice, but did they all turn up? I mean, I get its midweek/ people live a long way away/ I myself very rarely go away these days, so I really don't want to get into a "I'm a more pure fan that you" debate - that's pathetic.

Yet I do wonder what more the club has to do to get the broader fan base engaged. It seems we have a core of really committed supporters but that second or third tier of supporters just don't seem to be stepping up.

Is it covid? The crap stadium? Our frustratingly slow starts to matches? Just was expecting a lot more noise and frankly more people last night.

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Under 23s - 7 defeats in a row
at 16:11 28 Jan 2022

What is going on there? I Lost to the mighty Charlton today.

What does this say about our puppy farm? Lack of pedigree?

De Wijs was captaining the team - but I saw the second goal and there was no one within ten yards of the Charlton player to head home.

Appreciate at that level its not all about results, etc etc but is it enough to be constantly told "it was a good run-out"? Should this make us question just how good we are at developing good young talent, or is it that such talent is just not often selected in these fixtures?

I can't say I follow them closely to have an informed opinion but would be interested to hear from someone who follows them more closely.

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The Naki/ Hugil/ Eze team
at 14:46 23 Jan 2022

This is an entirely "what if" thread for which apologies, but seeing how brilliantly results are going this season without always putting in brilliant 90 min performances, I have been thinking about our team of a couple of years ago: did it massively under-perform with the talent we had? For it hit some peaks that this team hasn't managed yet (like the 11 it scored against the Welsh teams in a week), but couldn't string runs together or grind out results consistently.

When you think we had a younger and in-form Naki and Hugill up top, with Eze, Bright (still motivated) and Chair (admittedly he wasn't quite the Chair we have now), plus Manning at left back (yes I know he became a pariah but would arguably suit our current set up very well).

Those players at least stand comparison player for player with the current squad, yet we only finished mid-table.

Did it lack the team spirit of this squad, with too many loans?

Was the defence much weaker then man for man?

Was it the 4-4-2?

Is it the 5 at the back with Barbet-Dickie-Dunne being flanked by two players who can effectively become wingers?

Or is it that Stef/ Field are much better at protecting the defence and recycling possession?

Or is it tactics? Back then Warbs was still in his "if you score four we'll score five" purist period - this season he has been far more pragmatic (rightly) IMHO.

I know its all ifs and buts but if we could select from that team as well as our current one, how good do you think we would be in this league? And who would start from that previous team? Or is there no one?

(Not looking to undermine any of our existing squad by the way, who I think have a great team ethic.)

[Post edited 23 Jan 2022 14:49]

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Stainrod

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