Independent Rs Messageboard

[Tommy Cunningham]

Like many QPR supporters I applauded and sang the praises of Marti Cifuentes last season, for the magnificent
job he done in keeping QPR in the Championship. He inherited an awful squad and the morale of the squad and
supporters, couldn’t have been any lower when he walked through the door.

This season pre-season came and went without any victories (excluding the pub team opponent in Spain), from the
opening day of the season against WBA it has been very poor and in my opinion is getting worse. We freaked a victory
at Luton in our only win so far this season in the league, the four draws we have had were painful to watch and in some
cases we were very fortunate to get a point.

I think the player recruitment has once again been very poor, other than Dembele the rest in my opinion are not
Championship standard. I am getting very frustrated with Cifuentes’s team selections, he is chopping and changing
the team with such regularity that I get the impression he doesn’t have a clue what his best line up is.

How many different right backs have we had this season, 9 games played in the Championship and we are still
experimenting in defensive positions.

The decision to extend the contracts of Marti Cifuentes and his assistant Xavi Calm, has been made far too early in my view
and this could come back to haunt us. The same applies to Jake Clarke-Salter a player who is so injury prone, who has
spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch playing for QPR. These extensions shouldn’t have been discussed
until the end of the year at the earliest.

We are in the bottom three and in all honesty that is where we deserve to be, we have once again recruited substandard
players and it is hard to see improvement with this squad of players. The manager, coaches and players need to up their
game significantly, if we are to avoid another long season of struggle and threat of relegation.

Christian Nourry hasn’t made many mistakes since being appointed into the CEO role at QPR, I hope the decision to extend
the contracts of Cifuentes, Calm and Clarke-Salter doesn’t come back to haunt him.

[ESSEXURs]

Yes we are going backwards despite having spells in games playing to a good standard.
We do not seem to be able to play the entire game to a good standard.

I think we should be judged if JCS, Colback and a fully fit Chair are starting to give some stability in defence,
bite in midfield and skill around the area.

The past few games without them has exposed the lightweight nature of their replacements I’m afraid.
Celar needs games out of the spotlight but having said that he shows few signs of being a natural instinctive goal scorer.

Saito needs time to adjust to the physical demands of the Championship but has shown signs he has the ability.
Andersen is going backwards (carrying an injury?) and Madsen seems to drift through games in a dream.

We need to get the defence back to the JCS line up and keep the team settled in defence.
Frey was starting to improve but has not produced consistently but hopefully Chair will provide more chances for him.

Probably at least two players short of a good squad which can accommodate the lightweight players like Dembele
and Saito.

[Steve Russell]

Great support from the travelling R's fans as usual, 2,362 of them, but as
for the team

Given our awful home record I was hoping yesterday could get us back on track.
Alas, no real positives to speak.

Derby are not a very good side but when they attacked it was like a knife
cutting through butter!!

Kader Dembele did force a vg finger-tip save from the keeper but there was little else
in the 1st half

Two goals in two minutes, firstly a free header & It didn't help when you get the likes of
Kenneth Paal tapping the ball to an opponent in the 2nd half which led to their 2nd goal!!!

Paul Nardi made an amazing goal-line save which left him tangled up in the net.

The subs did produce some intensity in the final stages but apart from Ilias Chair's
cross which led to a superb save from Sam Field's header, it was all too little, too late.

My ticket was checked four times before I recached my seat & there was the largest number of
stewards on hand that I've seen for a long time. In the closing stages they were situated two
deep in front of us around the pitch perimeter!!!

The way we try to play is all too predictable & I do wonder whether Marti knows what his potential
starting X1 is or will he continue with experimental rotation?

Two Development games next week, and it will be a good opportunity to include some of the
1st team squad.

[ESSEXURs]

I hope to attend the second development squad one in Colchester.
Yes an ideal opportunity to give Chair game time and possibly Celar to help him adjust against lesser opposition.

The away support never ceases to amaze me and I just hope the players recognise the sacrifices our away
supporters make.

[Tommy Cunningham]

We do not have the physicality required in this squad to compete in the Championship, Madsen is 6ft 4in in height
and is so lightweight it is difficult to see why he was signed to play in this league. If Cifuentes reverts to playing
Jimmy Dunne at right back again, that will no doubt send a message to the other right backs he has selected that they
are not good enough.

Marti Cifuentes should have known in his own mind before these players were recruited, whether they were good enough
to play regularly in the Championship for QPR. Changes every week would suggest otherwise, Celar and Saito unfortunately
fall into the lightweight category and it has to be said they are struggling at this level. Varane hasn’t offered much in his
appearances either.

If we are relying on 35 year old Jack Colback returning to improve things, then we really are in a bad place and supporters
should be very concerned.

Things need to improve sooner rather than later at Loftus Road, or another long winter awaits us.

[steveqpr881]

re. Tommy's 1st post: I saw the Spurs & Reading friendlies, and I said at the time that I was worried,
not just by the results, but by the performances; especially in front of goal.

We were especially poor against the Phoney Hoops.
"In Marti we trust" only gets us so far: I know we're hardly into this season - new players, need time to bed in etc etc -
but I'd have hoped for a few more points on the board by now.
Mind you, to look on the positive side, it IS still early days, and plenty of time for a turnaround......only time will tell.

[Kerrins]

My own view is that we should not be this bad.....but we are!

[Tommy Cunningham]

Just to clarify one thing lads, I am not advocating “Marti out” for one minute at this stage.

But one thing is certain now, results have to improve.

As Steve said earlier the “in Marti we trust” only taking us so far, well that bus has come to a grinding halt.

We are in the bottom three and are struggling for form and results, so to award the management new contracts
at this stage is madness in my view. Marti Cifuentes brief last season was to retain our Championship status, to his
credit he achieved this and the QPR support really bought into this manager.

As with managers and players alike, the second season at a club really can be a telling factor.

Unfortunately this season has been very poor in all aspects, player recruitment, performances, team selection, lack of
goals and discipline.

I don’t think there has been any improvement since last season.