QPR boss defends system after derby defeat
Harry Redknapp insisted QPR’s formation was not the reason for their 4-0 thrashing at Tottenham.
Rangers’ former Spurs boss is keen for his team to play a 3-5-2 system this season but reverted to a back four at half-time after seeing them trounced in a one-sided first half on his return to White Hart Lane.
However, he said: “I don’t know if that’s a problem. We played okay last week and played that way. I don’t think it’s about systems.
“You can’t suddenly start scrapping systems when you bring people in to play those systems.” – Harry Redknapp after QPR’s defeat at Spurs.
“That system allows me to get two strikers in the team; three in midfield, two up front, push your full-backs on. The shape of the team’s good.
“Otherwise you play one up [front] or play 4-4-2 and get slaughtered in midfield – Spurs played three there today and are all over you. It’s not easy.
“It’s about energy really – we didn’t play with enough. We were slow on the ball and looked off the pace.
“In certain areas we weren’t sharp enough and we’ve got to work harder than that, with and without the ball.”
Recent signings Leroy Fer and Mauricio Isla made their debuts and both struggled.
Fer was dominated in midfield before being substituted in the second half, while Isla was given major problems on the flank.
Redknapp said: “A couple of them I threw in. It was the right-back’s [Isla’s] first game – he hasn’t played since the World Cup – and I don’t think Fer had played 90 minutes since the end of last season.
“I brought the little right-back in and he’s a wing-back really. He had problems in the first half – with Danny Rose they were overloaded down that side.
“We worked on the three midfielders shuffling across but he got isolated out there and it was difficult for him.
“But he is a wing-back, I brought him in to play right wing-back, so you can’t suddenly start scrapping systems when you bring people in to play those systems.
“It was a disappointing day. We started poorly and didn’t get out of it. We looked a bit like a team of strangers.
“We let Spurs play, stood off them and didn’t really get close to anybody.”
Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
24/08/2014 @ 7:57 pm
If we (Q.P.R.) don’t put the effort in to close down players when we don’t have the ball.like every other team in this division we WILLbe relegated.we looked disjointed,lethargic,and sometimes disinterested in the whole thing.we will only get better if we put the effort in.we need to show more guts and more determination.we need to get the basics right.its not formations or tactics to blame foy this abysmal performance but guts and determination.
24/08/2014 @ 6:42 pm
Team of strangers apparently.
Early days but I was expecting QPR to do well today.
Last week the team were good all game so to many changes.
Faulin was our best player last week but did not play today?.
I did thing Simpson was lightweight so would if tried the new lad.
Harry said he struggled as well so not sure.
Our best defender and my man of the season Onuer has not started?.
As I said early days but on Tuesday I go back to work where everyone supports Spurs.
I’m the boss so they will need to be polite.
Still confident QPR will find a balance.
GVS.