Ainsworth stands by decision to take off Chair in QPR defeat
Gareth Ainsworth stood by his decision to take off Ilias Chair during the second half of QPR’s 3-0 defeat at home to Coventry.
Relegation-threatened Rangers were again appalling defensively and devoid of attacking ideas.
They particularly struggled to create chances after boss Ainsworth withdrew Chair on 65 minutes – a substitution which seemed to surprise the playmaker and annoyed the home crowd,
Chair, who has been fasting during Ramadan, was once again asked to operate on the left flank, with Albert Adomah on the right.
Ainsworth said: “Ilias, with two games in a week with Ramadan – he’s fasting still.
“I thought both wide-men gave a lot – gave a hell of a lot of running – and it was right to change both of them.
“You live and die by those decisions and that’s one I made today.”
Ainsworth was left mystified by more awful Rangers defending.
Their shortcomings at the back have been a major factor in a slide down the table which has left them in serious danger of dropping into League One.
And Viktor Gyokeres’ early opener, which came after Kenneth Paal had given the ball away, means they have conceded a goal in the opening 10 minutes in five of their past six matches.
Ainsworth said: “We’re too easy to score against and once the goal goes in we’re too fragile.
“We then start looking around, going into individual mode and we’re not a team then, and that’s tough to take.
“I thought we were OK and not out of it totally until the second goal. That goal is so disappointing because we are wide open at the back.
“It’s not as though we haven’t worked on that in training. Why we sometimes don’t replicate what we do in training is a mystery.
“We’re wide open, we really are. We’re gung ho in the 70th minute and once the second goal goes in that takes us out of the game.”
Rangers, who were top in October, have won just one of their past 20 matches – their only win in their nine games since Ainsworth took over.
Ainsworth admitted: “It’s hard. But I came in with open eyes.
“There’s a hell of a lot to change here, but I can’t do it in the period of time I’ve got until the end of the season.
“I’ve just got to try and manufacture teams that gets results.”
16/04/2023 @ 5:27 pm
Yes, lets take one of our better players off and leave the other ones on the bench while fighting for survival.
16/04/2023 @ 2:22 pm
Ainsworth has lost the dressing room. Players do not know what they should be doing , & then he takes IIias Chair off after 65 minutes. His style of play is not suitable for this squad of players. Even if we Do Stay Up He Must Surely Go. The players are not playing for him. It was a mistake to appoint him as manager in the first place. He could be a manager that takes down 2 Clubs in 2 Seasons. Hardly a Good Reference on his CV.If the owners can JUST SACK HIM NOW. Just bring in someone from within the club who knows the players. A Different voice might make a difference. At the end of the day they cannot do any worse than Ainsworth & the previous manager. Ainsworth said that we needed to win 2 matches. That was weeks ago. Since then we have drawn one game & lost the rest. His record is 4 points from 9 Games. Saying that we needed 2 Wins Now looks Highly Unlikely. For what ever reason he has failed . The owners made a Big Mistake in appointing Ainsworth. He will destory this club if he is allowed to carry on as manager. The style of play that he wants to play is not what the players want to play. It was a MASSIVE MISTAKE APPOINTING Ainsworth. Every week the players are scored between 1-10. Most weeks the defenders get on average 5. The midfield is No Better. The Forwards are the same.His style of management might suit WW but it is not the style the players are use to play here at QPR. I plead with the Owners to Get Rid Of Ainsworth Now. We Will Go Down if he is allowed to stay. We have people like Chris Ramsey who knows the players. He could take charge of the squad for the last few games. We have nothing to lose. Well We Do If We Stay With Ainsworth. Ainsworth will take QPR Down. Can you picture the players that he will want to bring in. Big players, Route One Football.