We've just played a team who I thought performed really well. I think they should have scored more goals in the first half and I thought some of the skill they showed was great. And I don't feel bad about congratulating their style of play because I also thought they played the game very fairly. They put in some hard tackles at times, but they were honest challenges. They were one of the better teams I've seen this season and I'm surprised they're not further up the league. But for crucial periods in the game we simply blew them away. We're like an unstoppable force that no one can get anywhere near. And when we decide to turn it on it's like a hurricane that destroys everything in its path. This word is used way too often so that it's lost all meaning, but for brief periods in every game we are actually awesome. It is awe inspiring and we win games at will.
It reminds me of Hecky's 2016 team. Once we sorted out how to play that season (and got Hammill in) we absolutely annihilated teams. Like Wigan, Walsall and Millwall at the death. These last few games have been similar, the opposition are scared stiff of us. We've got Reading, Bournemouth and Norwich still to play, big ask but if we win those 3 God knows where we'll finish.
The only team to fear until international break is Bournemouth away. We could be sniffing at automatics if the rest don't keep up with us.
That was because we had a team that came together and won by skill. We have now fully plugged in to the matrix.
It’s a fascinating style to watch. Large parts of the way we play reminds me of Klopp’s team. Officially we play with a back 3 & they play with a back 4 but when on song the sitter (either Henderson or Fabinho drop back & the two centre backs push wide & high & then Trent & Robertson push forward so it’s like a 3-4-3 & they press from the front largely in the oppositions half. Most teams aren’t capable of playing their way through them like we’re finding with us & Collins is getting better by the game at the Allison role of marking the space behind the defence. There’s obviously a few differences, they’re a lot better in possession & Allison’s outstanding with the ball at his feet but I think Val’s obviously been massively influenced by Klopp’s style off the ball. What makes it so good is there’s no one else in the championship who plays a system anything like ours so we’re very hard to prepare for. Even if you thought you could cope with us you’ve now got the added problem of Dike & Morris joining in January meaning we’ve got 6 forwards the gaffer has faith in & he could pick any combination of the 6 & it wouldn’t be a surprise. How do you train for us when you’ve two games a week? The Reading game after the international break will be interesting as they’ve got 2 weeks to prepare for us. I wonder if they’ll come up with a strategy to out do us.
QPR weren't poor at all tonight - infact we could have easily gone in at the break behind (and drawn overall). They had plenty of clear cut chances. We were the better team overall, but definitely rode our luck at times. But, after supporting Barnsley as long as I have, I will gladly take all the luck we can get! Don't think tonight was one of our better recent performances, did what we needed to and scored some good goals. Sign of a good team.
