Who have we missed the most?

[ThatJa]

I was thinking earlier, who we have missed the most out of the players that have left us during the last 24 months and my conclusion is Paddy Kenny.

Why? Well i think we have had about 8-9 keepers signed for us in the last 24months, no club who has 8-9 different keepers is going to do well as imo thats one area that NEEDS to have the same player in. I also do think we have missed Morgan aswell although hes not left, it feels like he has.

Who do you think we have missed??

 

[grafikhaus]

Warnock? Beattie? The Kyles?

More recently, it would have to be Morgs who, when we knew he was out for the season, should have been replaced immediately but we've just tried any number of combinations hoping it would come right.

Also Andy Reid. I just don't buy this 'he wanted to play in the Premier.' The teams near the top - Cardiff in particular - manage to get in Premier-quality players, and I suppose Taraabt would prefer to be in the Prem. but QPR, unlike us, haven't rolled over at the first sign of interest ('couldn't stand in his way', 'clause in his contract.' etc. etc.)

But who/what we've missed most is a decent manager who could have made sure we were not in danger of being demoted from this very avarage division.

 

[SwissBlade]

Sure Paddy was a decent Keeper, but we played all of last season without him and managed to finish mid table.

For me its Morgan and a decent centre half partner, last season he had Killa and Bartley and this season Bartley was doing OK but we've not managed to find a Morgs to play alongside him, although i'd say Lowry has potential.

It was noticeable on Sat that the Back 4/5 look more composed with Lowton and Lowry in the centre and Mattock looked impressive at fullback. Christ even Nos had a "composed" game by his standards!

And Simmo looked less of a gibbbering wreck in goal. I believe he even claimed a cross.

 

[Revolution]

Sure Paddy was a decent Keeper, but we played all of last season without him and managed to finish mid table.

I think that seriously underrates Kenny. The gap between him and, say, Bunn was there for all to see last season. We might have done a lot better had we had him in the side.

In that regard, any mention of him by QPR fans or in match reports this season comments on how consistently good he's been. In fact the word used most often is "brilliant".

Of the players we've sold since we raised the white flag in January 2009, he's the biggest loss, though Walker runs him close and of course it's been a crying shame that Morgs has missed so much time.

 

[Grecian2000]

Morgan for me.
If only for the fact if he'd been fit all season we wouldn't have spunked good money away on Collins. Best performance by the team on Saturday since he arrived, no coincidence that!

 

[SwissBlade]

Sure Paddy was a decent Keeper, but we played all of last season without him and managed to finish mid table.

I think that seriously underrates Kenny. The gap between him and, say, Bunn was there for all to see last season. We might have done a lot better had we had him in the side.

In that regard, any mention of him by QPR fans or in match reports this season comments on how consistently good he's been. In fact the word used most often is "brilliant".

Of the players we've sold since we raised the white flag in January 2009, he's the biggest loss, though Walker runs him close and of course it's been a crying shame that Morgs has missed so much time.

I wasn't looking to underrate Kenny, merely stating that we had a midtable finish without him, compared to languishing in the bottom 3 this season.

 

[davidpinder]

Paddy
beattie
kyles
morgan
killa
am sure there is a few more if we think.

 

[Revolution]

I wasn't looking to underrate Kenny, merely stating that we had a midtable finish without him, compared to languishing in the bottom 3 this season.

And we had a 3rd place finish in 2009, compared to a mid table finish without him last year.

Anyway, the wider point is that we had a collection of really good defenders and sold all bar one of them, but no need to open that argument up again...

 

[ListerBlade]

I don't think it's been Kenny that we have missed the most this season, but since he has gone we have definitely missed him. I think this season it definitely has to be Morgs that we have missed to set a fighting example and get stuck in.

I'll get shot down, but I think we should have been playing Yeates a lot more this season, it's been said here before that a consistent winger at this level is almost unheard of as they get snapped up, but if we had played him a lot this season we would have seen more of the Yeates we saw at (for example) Leicester away.

 

[Robbie]

I'll get shot down, but I think we should have been playing Yeates a lot more this season, it's been said here before that a consistent winger at this level is almost unheard of as they get snapped up, but if we had played him a lot this season we would have seen more of the Yeates we saw at (for example) Leicester away.

Behave yourself,
If Yeates can't show what he is capable in the couple of minutes of cameo performances he is handed, then clearly he shouldn't be in the side

 

[Revolution]

I'll get shot down, but I think we should have been playing Yeates a lot more this season, it's been said here before that a consistent winger at this level is almost unheard of as they get snapped up, but if we had played him a lot this season we would have seen more of the Yeates we saw at (for example) Leicester away.

Agree 100%. Cotterill all over again.

 

[HoodedClaw]

For me its a Chairman with balls enough to have gotten rid of Blackwell at the end of last season (I personally would have preferred it if he'd accepted his resignation after the POF) and not 3 games into the start of this season, closely followed by Morgs

 

[SwissBlade]

I'll get shot down, but I think we should have been playing Yeates a lot more this season, it's been said here before that a consistent winger at this level is almost unheard of as they get snapped up, but if we had played him a lot this season we would have seen more of the Yeates we saw at (for example) Leicester away.

Then consider this an RAF assault...

Yeates and Cotterill before him have consistently proved that they are not able to be, well consistent.

When Riise came on v Leeds, he showed what Yeates and Cotterill have too often failed to do - make an impact. I'm not talking about just sticking the ball in the back of the net, but he made pentrative runs, closed down and pressurised the opposition, delivered the ball into the box. Passed it when it was sensible, but didn't admire his pass, moved to create space for either himself or the man receiving the ball.

Cotterill and Yeates have both been guilty of making penatrative runs down blind ally's and trying to put impossible balls into the box, but rather than vary their play, they continue down the same route which has failed to get results, time after time, game after game. Quite simply they both failed to exploit the defenders and rarely got round the back.

On Saturday we got two goals from getting in behind the Leeds defence.

1st goal - Monty and Quinn combined to allow Quinn to put a great ball across that had the defender missed it, Ched had an open goal.
2nd goal - Quinn played the ball to put Riise in behind and again set himself up to either slam the ball home or put the ball across into the danger area.

Obviously these are just recent examples, but consistency is the key and Yeates has not done this. So can he step up to the plate? we'll see

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

We have missed Captain Morgan the most. End of.

 

[Tuns]

Paddy
beattie
kyles
morgan
killa
am sure there is a few more if we think.

Paddy - maybe we'd been spoilt with some great keepers before him but I'd rate him as good not great. Should have been relatively easy to find a decent champ level keeper to replace him and we've made a right meal of it.

BT - one of the most overrated players at United in my time. Took a good pen and free kick to put a gloss on his goals total. Didn't we actually pick up more points when he didn't play over that season.

Kyles - the decision to sell will be regretted more and more as the years go by and we realise we aint going to produce them again.

Morgan - knew he was important to the club didn't realise just how important till this season.

Killa - bit lightweight and drove a very poncy white 4 x 4

 

[Bladesman]

BT - one of the most overrated players at United in my time. Took a good pen and free kick to put a gloss on his goals total. Didn't we actually pick up more points when he didn't play over that season.

Nope we picked up more points with him in the team and you remove BT's goals when under Robson/Blackwell and we would already be in League 1.

The thing with BT is he could score and he made mince meat of most defences in the championship much like Kevin Phillips.

Goals win games.

 

[Bladesway]

All of em, even Tonge. We had a good team once, and now its shit. BT, Killa, Tonge, Kyles, Naysmith, Paddy, Cotts, Dyer, Hulse. Bloody frightening isn't it?

 

[Muttley]

Alan Woodward!

 

[ListerBlade]

Swiss, I see your point, Riise and I agree that Riise is a better winger than Yeates and Cotterill-far better. I am slightly biased to Cotts and Yeates as I've always liked a good winger but the reason Riise does what those two didn't/don't is because he's a Premier League player, I remember him playing regularly for Fulham when Hodgson was there (I think).

Wingers who can continually get in behind the defense and make smart runs, and can put a good ball in and get on with it instead of admiring it get snapped up by Premier League clubs or clubs a lot better than us. Inconsistency in a winger is to be expected IMO at our level.

I have memories of Cotterill tearing up defenses in our play off season, and the end of the season before that when he was on loan. He seemed to be getting a bit more regular play (and of course was in a much better team).

I just think that this season, if Yeates had been played week in week out on our flanks we may have had a better attack. He would have improved and a bit more consistency at his performances may have resulted from it. It's all if's and but's, but I think he'd have made a difference.

 

[diplomat]

With paddy in net that mid table team last season would have been a play off team. Probably a losing play off team but hey.

It's no coincidence that QPR have such a good defensive record. And that starts with a good keeper and progresses with a settled back four. Our team that came third wouldn't have with any combo of Simmo, Bunn et al

 

[Highbury_Blade]

My My my, what short memories some people have. Paddy is playing a blinder at QPR because he's back with a manager getting the best out of him. Pretty much every week he was getting slated for not commanding his box the two seasons after warnock left.

 

[rotweissler]

I miss having a team full of permanent signings - a team I can relate to

going into a POF with one up front, a loan signing was the pits

 

[diplomat]

I never got the 'he doesn't command his box' gang. If your keeper isn't the biggest or isn't strong at that then set your defence up to deal with it. I'd rather Simmo not even tried to try and command his box most of this season and let the defenders deal with it rather than knock them over and him palm it to a n opposing player.

Paddy was a very adept shot stopper. Had better distribution than most gave him credit for (again, compare him to what we've seen since) and in my opinion was worth a few places in the table to us compared to having a Joe average keeper.

 

[bladeinlondon]

We suffered last season as we didnt have a good goalie ( Mr Bunn?)
Paddy said he owed us his career after we kept his job open and then he left
Judas and I will never forgive him or Warnock the faux Blade. Paddy is quality and we have missed it
Losing Morgs too was the nail in the coffin
We never could score but we had a solid defence
the only suprising thing which could just save us is that Squinny has finally found his form!

 

[BerksBlade]

I agree with Highbury - Paddy used to get criticised every week on the old SUFC official forum for not commanding his area. Good shot-stopper but also prone to the odd "Calamity James" moment. And like BiL I can't forgive him for leaving when he "owed us his career". When Simonsen first arrived on loan I thought "Paddy who?" but since signing permanently he seems to have gone downhill - although playing with a different back four every week can't help....

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Gus Uhlenbeek.

 

[Ollessendro]

My My my, what short memories some people have. Paddy is playing a blinder at QPR because he's back with a manager getting the best out of him. Pretty much every week he was getting slated for not commanding his box the two seasons after warnock left.

Classic case of you don't know what you've got til it's gone Highbury. We took Paddy for granted. Best keeper outside the Premiership (and better than many it) for the Warnock years and still has a good claim for that now. We naively thought he could be easily replaced, but alas no. Kenny: absolute tosser, thick muppet, but very good keeper. Very good hot stopper and knew his limits. Saved us around 12-15 points a year 9as many good goalies do). I'd even stick my nekc out and say that with him in goal we would be safe of relegation.

I was thinking earlier, who we have missed the most out of the players that have left us during the last 24 months and my conclusion is Paddy Kenny.

Why? Well i think we have had about 8-9 keepers signed for us in the last 24months, no club who has 8-9 different keepers is going to do well as imo thats one area that NEEDS to have the same player in. I also do think we have missed Morgan aswell although hes not left, it feels like he has.

Who do you think we have missed??

Interesting thread/post. For me we've missed Kenny massively since he left (see above). Very good, albeit a little unorthadox, keeper and we have struggled to repace him. We've been spolit with keepers over the years and for me Paddy is not in the same league as Tracey or Kelly, but he is a good keeper. You only have to look at our fortunes (and the lacklustre Bunn and Simmo) and then see what the QPR fans are saying to see.

I lay a challeneg down to any Bl;ade who disputes the above. Ask the QPR fans a week on Monday what they think.

We have of course missed Morgs massively this season. I think Morgs is passed his best, but we've missed a leader. Also with poor performance at centre half and injuries then we could have done with his defensive qualities. I hear an interesting quote on the Radio the other day from Lee Dixon. He was talkig about the England captaincy and John Terry. Some asked Dickson what you wanted in a captain and he replied 'when you are losing, down on confidence and dounting yourself you look around and see a rock of a man. Someone who believes in himself, the team and has absolutely no doubt in his mind that the team will win. Then you take confidence from it". Step forward Chris Morgan. Massive loss this season.

We had a cracking defense a few seasons ago (the key to Blackwell's success) and we have missed Killgallon, Naysmith and Walker terribly to. There's plenty more to add to that list, but we had the best defensive record in the league that year and it almost got us promoted (hence me singling it out).

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I've always thought that the defence in front of him made him look a lot better than he actually was

 

[SwissBlade]

Regarding Paddy, Lets all not forget:

- He missed the entire last season because of stupidity
- We gave him a new contract when we should've really sacked him
- He upped sticks and left when he got the first sniff of cash

He could be the best keeper in the world, but for me we can do without tossers like him.

 

[Ollessendro]

Regarding Paddy, Lets all not forget:

- He missed the entire last season because of stupidity
- We gave him a new contract when we should've really sacked him
- He upped sticks and left when he got the first sniff of cash

He could be the best keeper in the world, but for me we can do without tossers like him.

Come out of it. Your constand defence of the club is incredibly boring.

He made a mistake and it was stupid. That's as far as I agree.

We offered him a joke of a contract. We thought we had him over a barrell and offeredhim a pittance. As a direct consequence a clause was put in his contract. It was short sighted from United. This 'we offered him a new deal' lines doesn't hold weight on closer inspection.

He moved to a bigger club, with better prospects, a better manager, a better city and more money. It is his last chance to eanr some decent cash and also to play in the big time. Only an idiot would not have gone. Yes, he should not have pladged his alleginace/future to the club, but the decision was a no brainer.

We are talking about how much we've missed him. You've been watching Unirted week in week out for the last 2 years Swiss. Are you seriously telling me that we have not missed him? Watching Bunn get down slower to the ball than my gran could and let pea rollers in from 30 yards and later Simmo flapping at anything and everything, as well as throwing in a few howlers. Come on. Kenny is twat, but we have really missed him a goal keeper!