Manchester City 3-1 QPR
Whilst winning the Premier League is hard defending it is even harder as every team play against you as if they have a point to prove. In this case QPR really did have a point to prove after almost defeating Manchester City on the final day of last season, sadly however the R's couldn't quite make their point.
After being relatively lucky in their previous 2 games Manchester City came out roaring against QPR and immediately looked to open the scoring as the battered the QPR defense. The pressure told from the off and Manchester City racked up corner after corner as their attacks were turned behind by a nervy looking QPR back line who appeared intimidated from the opening whistle. After just 16 minutes Yaya Toure opened the scoring and it appeared as if goals were going to flood into the QPR net. Despite the fear on the QPR defense City couldn't bag a second before the half.
Having gone into the half at just 1-0 the question everyone was asking was "how is this just 1-0?" It was arguably the most 1-sided 1-0 half any of us will see this season with City completely running the game. Out of nowhere QPR equalised thanks to Bobby Zamora who brought the game to the most unlikely of scorelines at 1-1. This was short lived however as City re-affirmed their lead thanks to an Edin Dzeko header.
At 2-1 Manchester City never looked comfortable and QPR chased hard for another equaliser against a Manchester City defense that was starting to show serious signs of fatigue. The more tired City looked the more determined QPR looked to get something out of the game. Sadly however it wasn't to be and in the closing stages Carlos Tevez sealed the victory for the Sky Blue's.
Roberto Mancini will not be happy at the way his team looked so tired or at how they conceded a goal completely against the run of play. Whilst he'll be pleased that his team showed character and determination there really was very little to take positively from this game. City looked fantastic for 40 minutes but they were expected to look amazing for the dull 90, they looked powerful and strong but they again showed real defensive issues that look likely to cost them if they do not tidy up soon.
Despite losing, QPR's Mark Hughes will certainly be taking positives from this match. His team proved that not only could they defend but they could mentally wear a team down. City weren't expected to look leggy they were expected to just look in charge and dominant, but QPR's refusal to lie down will have really ground down on the mentality of the City players who will be realising just how hard this season is. Whilst QPR will take positives they now need to start taking points with only 1 from their first 3 matches they haven't got enough.
Showing posts with label Mark Hughes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Hughes. Show all posts
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Saturday, 25 August 2012
Premier League Week 2-Write up Norwich v QPR
Norwich 1-1 QPR
Last weekend saw both Norwich and QPR embarrassed as they each suffered humiliating 5-0 defeats. This weekend they played each other as they both tried to get their season's off to a positive start following their opening day nightmares.
It took only 11 minutes for the deadlock to be broken as Norwich completed a genuinely fantastic move thanks to a Simeon Jackson and it looked as if we could have another goal fest on our hands. Sadly for Norwich their lead lasted just 8 minutes as they conceded a controversial penalty for a foul on Frenchman Djibril. Whilst the penalty it's self was saved excellently by John Ruddy the Norwich keeper couldn't keep out the follow up by Bobby Zamora.
At 1-1 after just 19 minutes it looked like we were going to have another goal fest but sadly neither team could find the back of the net. Norwich did however come close to bagging another goal with Robert Green making a fine save in the first half whilst the bar came to QPR's rescue late in the second half. After last weekend's fixture's it's fair to say that both teams are just happy to secure their first point of the season and put their 5-0 losses behind them, however Norwich certainly looked to be the better team here.
Norwich's manager Chris Hughton has every right to feel aggrieved by QPR's penalty which appeared to be a poor decision by the often criticised Mark Clattenburg however Norwich had the chances to score a second and couldn't manage it. They were have excellent in Midfield with some genuinely delightful passages of play that oddly looked like Arsenal or Spain, with great movement, fantastic short balls and some eye catching 1-touch passing. At the heart of the attacks was summer signing Robert Snodgrass who looked to be instrumental in much of Norwich's attacking play.
QPR's Mark Hughes will be glad his team have gotten a point though probably feels slightly lucky that not were they given a penalty but encroachment by Zamora wasn't spotted by the referee. He should feel lucky that Norwich didn't manage finish off one of their chances as they created a number of them. QPR are a clear work in progress, though the two big questions are "will Hughes be there long enough to finish?" and "How long will they take to gel?" Having brought in a number of new players over summer it could be a while before we see just how good this QPR team can be.
Last weekend saw both Norwich and QPR embarrassed as they each suffered humiliating 5-0 defeats. This weekend they played each other as they both tried to get their season's off to a positive start following their opening day nightmares.
It took only 11 minutes for the deadlock to be broken as Norwich completed a genuinely fantastic move thanks to a Simeon Jackson and it looked as if we could have another goal fest on our hands. Sadly for Norwich their lead lasted just 8 minutes as they conceded a controversial penalty for a foul on Frenchman Djibril. Whilst the penalty it's self was saved excellently by John Ruddy the Norwich keeper couldn't keep out the follow up by Bobby Zamora.
At 1-1 after just 19 minutes it looked like we were going to have another goal fest but sadly neither team could find the back of the net. Norwich did however come close to bagging another goal with Robert Green making a fine save in the first half whilst the bar came to QPR's rescue late in the second half. After last weekend's fixture's it's fair to say that both teams are just happy to secure their first point of the season and put their 5-0 losses behind them, however Norwich certainly looked to be the better team here.
Norwich's manager Chris Hughton has every right to feel aggrieved by QPR's penalty which appeared to be a poor decision by the often criticised Mark Clattenburg however Norwich had the chances to score a second and couldn't manage it. They were have excellent in Midfield with some genuinely delightful passages of play that oddly looked like Arsenal or Spain, with great movement, fantastic short balls and some eye catching 1-touch passing. At the heart of the attacks was summer signing Robert Snodgrass who looked to be instrumental in much of Norwich's attacking play.
QPR's Mark Hughes will be glad his team have gotten a point though probably feels slightly lucky that not were they given a penalty but encroachment by Zamora wasn't spotted by the referee. He should feel lucky that Norwich didn't manage finish off one of their chances as they created a number of them. QPR are a clear work in progress, though the two big questions are "will Hughes be there long enough to finish?" and "How long will they take to gel?" Having brought in a number of new players over summer it could be a while before we see just how good this QPR team can be.
Saturday, 18 August 2012
Premier League Week 1-Write up QPR v Swansea
QPR 0-5 Swansea
Last year QPR really struggled to stay up, it appears they will again be struggling to stay in the Premier League despite making a number of notable signings over summer. The talking point here however wasn't QPR, but instead Swansea, who under new manager Michael Laudrup looked sensational.
New signing Michu opened the scoring for the Swansea in just 8 minutes announcing his arrival with a shot that just appeared to roll away from the keeper. He doubled his personal account early in the second with an excellent finish to cap off a wonderful counter attack by Swansea as QPR chased an equalised.
The second Michu goal appeared to open the floodgates for Swansea who were in a mood to fill their boots and that appeared to be what they did with Nathan Dyer netting twice himself before late substitute Scott Sinclair added a fifth and final goal for the Swans.
Despite the rumour of Scott Sinclair leaving Swansea in the near future this was a promising performance by the whole team who, under Laudrup looked genuinely sensational, especially on the counter. The Danish manager has made several very shrewd buys, including the signing of Michu who may end up being the buy of the season.
Mark Hughes appears to have a pretty good squad on paper, though it could take a while for his players to gel, this could be the big problem with QPR, however the bigger problem appears to be their finishing. With over 20 shots today QPR only managed to hit half of them on target, with 0 goals from 11 shots on target you need to wonder whether they have the strike force which can keep them up. The fact Swansea found it so easy to rip them apart on the counter should also be a very worrying sign for the Loftus Road club. This isn't how you start a season.
Last year QPR really struggled to stay up, it appears they will again be struggling to stay in the Premier League despite making a number of notable signings over summer. The talking point here however wasn't QPR, but instead Swansea, who under new manager Michael Laudrup looked sensational.
New signing Michu opened the scoring for the Swansea in just 8 minutes announcing his arrival with a shot that just appeared to roll away from the keeper. He doubled his personal account early in the second with an excellent finish to cap off a wonderful counter attack by Swansea as QPR chased an equalised.
The second Michu goal appeared to open the floodgates for Swansea who were in a mood to fill their boots and that appeared to be what they did with Nathan Dyer netting twice himself before late substitute Scott Sinclair added a fifth and final goal for the Swans.
Despite the rumour of Scott Sinclair leaving Swansea in the near future this was a promising performance by the whole team who, under Laudrup looked genuinely sensational, especially on the counter. The Danish manager has made several very shrewd buys, including the signing of Michu who may end up being the buy of the season.
Mark Hughes appears to have a pretty good squad on paper, though it could take a while for his players to gel, this could be the big problem with QPR, however the bigger problem appears to be their finishing. With over 20 shots today QPR only managed to hit half of them on target, with 0 goals from 11 shots on target you need to wonder whether they have the strike force which can keep them up. The fact Swansea found it so easy to rip them apart on the counter should also be a very worrying sign for the Loftus Road club. This isn't how you start a season.
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