Team vs QPR / the great escape

How should we line up Saturday? I would go with this (based on Struber's diamond naturally):

Chaplin Woodrow

Brown

Mowatt/Simoes Simoes/Styles

Dougal/Mowatt

Oduor Halme Solbaur Ludewig

Collins


Radlinger
J Williams
B Williams
Thomas
Styles/Dougal
Ritzmaier
Bahre

Woodrow back up top. Brown to flick on, good in air etc and can run at players from AM. The two in the middle and base of the diamond contentious as always. Really rate Simoes and Styles. Feel like Dougall has something to prove. That is our best back 4 for me.
Subs: Thomas: impact sub. Any injuries to defence get JW on. He's played in a back three, can play LB/RB.

 

Keep with the team that beat them at Oakwell?

 

I reckon Ritzy might play

 

No Diaby. Quite an usual bench for that game (just checked!). Obviously it worked at Oakwell, but personally wouldn't play Radlinger, Anderson and Bahre

 

I agree. I wouldn't play him though, the above is just my ideal XI

 

Keep with the team that beat them at Oakwell?

Was away for that game .

 

Back four of Ludewig, Sollbauer, Halme and Oduor. Mowatt, Ritzmaier and Thomas in midfield with Woodrow at the top of the diamond. Brown and Chaplin upfront.

No idea on Collins or Radlinger, but I’d be surprised if the outfield was much different to the above, injuries permitting.

 

This is how I think we'll line up. Can also see Radders back between the sticks, old tippy toes

 

Be a bigger bench available too won’t there ?

 

Collins has to start. For me. Pretty sure the defence would feel more confident with him between the sticks.

 

Difficult choice between Ludewig and Odour. I think they are both decent.

Odour looks to have a bit of pace and good with the ball, wonder if he could also do a job in that number 10 role behind the forwards..

 

Do we know if as "key workers" they are entitled to an hotel stay for a night? We are bad enough at QPR without having to go all that way on the morning of the game.

 

But Oduor is left back and Ludewig right back? For me Oduor is the most naturally gifted player at the club with the ball at his feet, so talented beyond his years. Could see him in the number 10 role though I dont think it would be considered. We need to get Woodrow back up top though!

 

5 subs allowed so that will affect choices. Listen to Mark Warburton on the QPR site. He is certainly not taking us for granted - I like him as a manager - he speaks well about the game. I think we have more incentive than they do - "a young hungry squad" is how MW described us. I agree....

 

He has been playing LB for us though in some previous matches hasn't he? Or am I imagining it haha.. been a while since we saw the team turn out, I remember other seasons more clearer than this one for some reason.

 

Got to play Brown up top. Makes no sense to play him as a number 10 when both Woodrow & Chaplin like to come deep. You’d have 3 players fighting for the same space. Plus he’s the only one of the 3 that’s good in the air & he can stretch teams with his pace.

Collins
Ludewig Solbauer Halme Oduor
Dougall
Bahre Mowatt
Woodrow
Brown Chaplin

Only 2 positions I wouldn’t argue about are right back where I don’t mind who starts in Ludewig & J Williams & the right side of the diamond where any of Bahre, Thomas, Simoes & Styles could get the nod.

 

This is the team I'd pick! Maybe Simoes in for Bahre

 

I'm really looking forward to this. Will we rediscover the form and performances from the Fulham, Middlesbrough & Hull games? Will we revert to the performances against Reading & Cardiff? Can we finally end our QPR hoodoo?
Even though I'm usually an optimist, I really can't see us getting out of trouble. The last time I felt as convinced as this we were going to be relegated was the 2008/09 season. We survived on the final day with a victory at Plymouth. I'll be ecstatic if I'm as wrong again.

 

9 players 2 metres apart, thats some bench.

 

We seem to get the results to put us in reach then fade away again .
That’s to be expected with such a young squad but I’m hoping that the absence of supporters has a positive effect on our foreign payers and brings out what the stats displayed about them and gives us a new lease of life . “Hoping”