Except for maybe starting Bale at LB and in hindsight starting Sig which he rightly substituted at half time, AvB didn't do much wrong IMHO. We should give QPR credit for great pressing, they were really up for it in the first half, forcing mistakes. We sorely miss someone who can effectively switch play and initiate attacks when we regain possession, Dembele is too fond of the ball and lacks the required vision to be effective in that role. But I think much of the disappointment with how we play stems from us being thorougly and utterly spoiled having had one of the best playmakers in the world dictating our midfield play. "Give the ball to Modric, he'll do something smart". He will be instrumental for RM in the future and will eventually get the trophies he deserves and that we couldn't provide for.
Without him, we are not that quick on the break anymore which were our main threat under Redknapp, and as such not so pleasing to the eye looking better than we really were. What Modric did so brilliantly was getting an instant overview over players in good positions, and then opening up space for to pass in. Now it seems to me that we try to play the same way, but end up relying on difficult passes and "bombing forward", leaving us all-or-nothing too easily. Admittedly, we look quite directionless on the pitch at present, but I think that has more to do with players adjusting, our point of reference and level of expectation than AvB being clueless. Add to that we have always struggled against so called lesser teams, even with Modric we were generally poor at keeping possession for prolonged periods, building up play and breaking teams down.
Anyway we should either seek to bring in a "Modric-esque" player no later than in the January window, or overhaul the entire system to fit the player material we have. This takes time, sometimes a lot of time, and probably won't look pretty in the process. And even more, we cannot expect players to be something they're not. Dembele is no Modric, Sig is no VdV, Bale is no Ronaldo and they never will be. Like Carrick and Berbatov before him, the fee recouped for Modric doesn't in any way compensate for the immediate loss in team structure (blatantly disregarding their inexcuseable desire to leave us of course).
All in all, I'm pretty satisfied given the circumstances and have adjusted my expectations accordingly, and seek positives where they are. Having two great keepers for once, Verthongen and so on. Now make something out of Harry Kane.
Without him, we are not that quick on the break anymore which were our main threat under Redknapp, and as such not so pleasing to the eye looking better than we really were. What Modric did so brilliantly was getting an instant overview over players in good positions, and then opening up space for to pass in. Now it seems to me that we try to play the same way, but end up relying on difficult passes and "bombing forward", leaving us all-or-nothing too easily. Admittedly, we look quite directionless on the pitch at present, but I think that has more to do with players adjusting, our point of reference and level of expectation than AvB being clueless. Add to that we have always struggled against so called lesser teams, even with Modric we were generally poor at keeping possession for prolonged periods, building up play and breaking teams down.
Anyway we should either seek to bring in a "Modric-esque" player no later than in the January window, or overhaul the entire system to fit the player material we have. This takes time, sometimes a lot of time, and probably won't look pretty in the process. And even more, we cannot expect players to be something they're not. Dembele is no Modric, Sig is no VdV, Bale is no Ronaldo and they never will be. Like Carrick and Berbatov before him, the fee recouped for Modric doesn't in any way compensate for the immediate loss in team structure (blatantly disregarding their inexcuseable desire to leave us of course).
All in all, I'm pretty satisfied given the circumstances and have adjusted my expectations accordingly, and seek positives where they are. Having two great keepers for once, Verthongen and so on. Now make something out of Harry Kane.
