The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

[Loramski]

Only just read your comments Loramski, but they tie in almost exactly with mine - here's my piece on last night's match.

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

Yes, it does feel like there's a real significance to these games now. I thought it interesting that the game was played at all, I'm sure the club wouldn't have wanted two games in three days on a wet pitch and would have wanted it moved or postponed but there was obviously an importance attached to it as Rowberry was doing the coaching again while Nicholson and Johnson spent most of the night sat in what looked like naughty chairs behind the dug-out.

On saying that, I wonder what the first-team significance was last night? A look at John as a left winger? Unlikely as he got switched to left back at half time. Another chance for Immers and to impress and a chance to look at Skapetis? Yes to both but the way we set up and played may have been more meaningful. Very close to a Slade type 4-4-2 with the ball being regularly hoofed out of defence didn't bode well early on but there was method to the madness. The first goal was stunning, the second and third weren't goals we see at first team level either.

I'm assuming that the switch to a midfield four was largely to have a look at Huws alongside a central midfield partner and while he wasn't stunning he has an energy and a desire to get forward that Whitts hasn't got coupled with a range of passing that Ralls doesn't have for now. He was involved in a lot of the breaks and other good stuff we did, he didn't go missing when QPR had the ball either. Food for thought for Warnock if he's looking to get away from the current 4-1-4-1 that Huws doesn't seem to fit into.

One other thing. If the first team were set up to play like that, who would we use up front? While Zohore is rightly fourth choice for now, surely Lambert, Fred and Chamakh would all have needed jet packs to have kept up with the breaks last night. I don't know much about Newport but get the impression that Jon Parkin's injury has led to them playing a counter-attacking game which has suited Rhys Healey perfectly. If we want to change to that type of game, have we got the style and quality of forward to make it work?

[the other bob wilson]

Yes, it does feel like there's a real significance to these games now. I thought it interesting that the game was played at all, I'm sure the club wouldn't have wanted two games in three days on a wet pitch and would have wanted it moved or postponed but there was obviously an importance attached to it as Rowberry was doing the coaching again while Nicholson and Johnson spent most of the night sat in what looked like naughty chairs behind the dug-out.

On saying that, I wonder what the first-team significance was last night? A look at John as a left winger? Unlikely as he got switched to left back at half time. Another chance for Immers and to impress and a chance to look at Skapetis? Yes to both but the way we set up and played may have been more meaningful. Very close to a Slade type 4-4-2 with the ball being regularly hoofed out of defence didn't bode well early on but there was method to the madness. The first goal was stunning, the second and third weren't goals we see at first team level either.

I'm assuming that the switch to a midfield four was largely to have a look at Huws alongside a central midfield partner and while he wasn't stunning he has an energy and a desire to get forward that Whitts hasn't got coupled with a range of passing that Ralls doesn't have for now. He was involved in a lot of the breaks and other good stuff we did, he didn't go missing when QPR had the ball either. Food for thought for Warnock if he's looking to get away from the current 4-1-4-1 that Huws doesn't seem to fit into.

One other thing. If the first team were set up to play like that, who would we use up front? While Zohore is rightly fourth choice for now, surely Lambert, Fred and Chamakh would all have needed jet packs to have kept up with the breaks last night. I don't know much about Newport but get the impression that Jon Parkin's injury has led to them playing a counter-attacking game which has suited Rhys Healey perfectly. If we want to change to that type of game, have we got the style and quality of forward to make it work?

I saw that Nicholson was there, but I missed Johnson - as you say, our last two under 23 home games have been different from what we have become used to on a couple of levels and I sense that a manager who appears to be far more hands on than his predecessors is at the heart of it.

As I mentioned in my piece I think there is an element of putting a few players in the shop window to the recent selections and, of course, fringe players are being kept match fit in a way that they weren't before (someone like Ajayi was going months without a game at times).

I watched Huddersfield's first goal on Saturday and thought "we couldn't score a goal like that" and, before last night, I would have thought the same if anyone scored a goal like any of our first three against us, so it was so heartening to see us do it last night. Of course, it was all done at a lower level, but pace is pace whatever level you play at and I think QPR's first team would have struggled to prevent out first goal.

Regarding Huws, I could see him and Gunnarsson working together in a 4-2-3-1, but, evidently, Warnock thinks Ralls is doing a very good job despite the criticism he's getting on here this season and it's hard to see how he gets into the squad if we want to have two strikers on the bench - I think if it was me in charge, I'd go with one striker (Pilkington gives you the versatility to bring on Noone or Harris and still have two strikers if you want them) and have Huws or O'Keefe on the bench.

It's shocking really that all of our specialist strikers are, essentially, the same sort of player and, until we get to January, I think we are going to have to make do with the likes of Pilkington, Hoilett or Harris to give us different attacking options,

[Loramski]

I saw that Nicholson was there, but I missed Johnson - as you say, our last two under 23 home games have been different from what we have become used to on a couple of levels and I sense that a manager who appears to be far more hands on than his predecessors is at the heart of it.

As I mentioned in my piece I think there is an element of putting a few players in the shop window to the recent selections and, of course, fringe players are being kept match fit in a way that they weren't before (someone like Ajayi was going months without a game at times).

I watched Huddersfield's first goal on Saturday and thought "we couldn't score a goal like that" and, before last night, I would have thought the same if anyone scored a goal like any of our first three against us, so it was so heartening to see us do it last night. Of course, it was all done at a lower level, but pace is pace whatever level you play at and I think QPR's first team would have struggled to prevent out first goal.

Regarding Huws, I could see him and Gunnarsson working together in a 4-2-3-1, but, evidently, Warnock thinks Ralls is doing a very good job despite the criticism he's getting on here this season and it's hard to see how he gets into the squad if we want to have two strikers on the bench - I think if it was me in charge, I'd go with one striker (Pilkington gives you the versatility to bring on Noone or Harris and still have two strikers if you want them) and have Huws or O'Keefe on the bench.

It's shocking really that all of our specialist strikers are, essentially, the same sort of player and, until we get to January, I think we are going to have to make do with the likes of Pilkington, Hoilett or Harris to give us different attacking options,

Vardy's goals led a counter-attacking side to the Premier League title. Saadi rhymes with Vardy, it's a sign.

Johnson was there last night. He came to the touchline to talk to Rowberry in the first half. Presumably to ask if he could go home early as he didn't seem to be needed.

No Matty Kennedy last night. He may have a knock, of course, or may be in line for a starting spot on Saturday for all I know but it looks as though his time here could be over. That would be a shame.

Yes, Gunnarsson and Huws would be an interesting pairing in a 4-2-3-1. I like Ralls though and, as you say, Warnock seems to as well, maybe he'll end up back on the left again?

Seeing the difference that a bit of pace can make, it's a shame that Kadeem Harris can't quite force his way in at the moment. A lot for Warnock (and us) to think about. Interesting times.