Red-Robbo

Originality of all QPR chants 0/10. For a large away contingent, seated in a part of the ground that amplifies songs and celebrating winning a game, I thought they were quite quiet apart from immediately after goals. The blahhhhness of their support is exemplified by me just catching a whisper of "is this a library" sung by about 10 blokes with the voices of church mice. I sit 30 yards from the Atyeo, but I could barely hear this attempted taunt.

TBH I'd probably laugh if I was pulled off my feet in full view of the ref so that a team that was holding its own, conceded a stupid penalty. I can't see "the player laughed" as evidence of a wrong decision. The wrong decision was made by the Gas defender.

Miah. He had his arms around him as the Sky footage makes clear. If you are going to get that intimate with another man, he should have least bought him flowers first... ?

Agreed. It's unfortunate that this loss came on the back of two rather less surprising losses on the road, and that - unlike in those - we didn't play our best yesterday. I think the fall down the table after the heady heights earlier has unduly depressed some people. Nonetheless, I think the OP has a point, and the subs made - bar Semenyo - lost us all sorts of attacking momentum.

Penalty was nuts too. Upend a player posing little threat in full view of the ref. Picking up on what others are talking about, I'd personally love it if Barton bought the club off Wally. Top flight footballers earn a fair bit, but I don't think he'd have anywhere near the pockets of the 11th richest person from the Arab World's poorest nation. Even if he brought a few Scouse gangsta types in on the deal.

Well, he did have a nice watch...

RIP fellow red

I guess we can admire great players without cheering as Abu Dhabi FC walk the league again.

I agree we have few options now. I can see positives in Naismith's game, so, if we had Kalas & Klose fit as a central defensive unit, I do wonder if midfield might be tried. Hopefully, it would be a more of a Sergio Ramos experiment than a Richard Foster one! Ultimately, you could see yesterday confidence drained away from the back line after that first goal, and when you get nervous about the players around you, you make mistakes. As I've said elsewhere, I'd like to see a player who can establish a proper defensive screen in front of the central defenders. James is as near as we've got to that IMO, but of course, was unavailable yesterday.

I suppose, that he slips the ball forward quite well, can dribble (not all BCFC players can), and takes a decent set piece. Certainly, other sides have played him in a more advanced role in the past.

Anyone have a screenshot of when their keeper appeared to handle outside the box? I'll admit my seat doesn't give me the best view, but those behind the goal and our players seem pretty emphatic that he had.

Great post, @Harry. The subs killed the momentum that had built up and - let's be honest - a period of play when it was no surprise we scored. Martin gave us no additional goal threat, but just pushed other strikers into less-favoured wide positions; the subsequent triple sub, diluted a MF which had finally started firing and placed us very much on the back foot.

ASAP. Tuesday hopefully.

Anyone think Naismith might be more effective in mf? The Klose/Kalas injuries, Baker retirement and lack of experience of other players in the CD role, means Pearson is more or less forced to play him there. The return of the "big K's" might allow him to absolve himself for his clangers in a more creative position.

I felt the problem was as much about the kind of area that should be covered by defensive midfielders, as it was with the actual defending. The ball got continually lost in what you might call the Cole Skuse zone - the middle third of our half - leaving the defence scrambling to get back and wrong-footed. It was either loose back passes, or dallying on the ball for too long and getting caught looking around, that led to these losses. Naismith and Vyner were primary offenders, but a number of other players also lost the ball in this very dangerous zone. Basically, we need someone in that area who is very difficult to get past. Yesterday, we didn't have that. When opponents gain unexpected possession 30 yards out from our goal, they have the option to run directly at goal gathering pace, something all defenders hate. There is also time for them to bring the ball to our box and wait for their team mates to catch up.

Nice respectful clap on 69 minutes yesterday. Glad to see QPR fans joining in.

Tear gas in a crowded situation like a stadium, is never going to help a crowd surge and the responsibility for the tragedy is mainly on the police who used it. Questions have also to be asked why there appeared to be opposition fans present (it was meant to be home fans only after previous crowd trouble) and why 42,000 tickets were sold for a 38,000-capacity stadium. I imagine the design and stewarding of the venue also fell far short of First World standards. It took various tragedies in Europe for football to address such issues and make crowd safety paramount. Let's hope this review announced in Indonesia does the same over there.

Yes. Next question...

I hope so. I always like watching his stuff and as well as a great stand-up, he's a very good comic actor. From years of using White City tube station, I developed a healthy dislike of QPR fans. Always unpleasant encountering them when they were playing at home.

That doesn't wash with me. When I lived in south-west London I watched Wimbledon a few times, Plough Lane was a 10-minute walk, but I'd never call myself a Wimbledon fan. I remained a City fan and still attended the Gate on a season, and supported City when we played in London.

Why on earth is Bill Bailey a Horrible Hoop?! I mean, I get he now lives in London, but the bloke's from Keynsham.

That's another thing that's shit - Gold by Spandau Ballet.

The "Thatcher's Gold" song always irks me somewhat, when I hear it at the Gate. Might as well celebrate Vimto.

Maybe his brother made the comments, and Joey didn't realise.

It's a city and it has a big university in it. Plenty of nightlife and - although I'm observing from the standpoint of a happily married man - plenty of attractive young ladies out in the bars and clubs. You've got a direct rail link with London as well. It isn't like you're asking incoming players to live in Sidmouth.