"Who's on first" , "Butts on second"!

Now, let me start by saying it's rare that I criticise team selections and formations as it's very easy to do so after a game. But early on Saturday, when the team was announced, I thought we would struggle- it then became worse as the minutes went by.

We've done so well over the past 3 games and that makes this genuinely gutting to say, as i truly believed we'd turned a corner. However, the fact that i'm still fuming on a Monday morning speaks volumes.

So, here goes, hold on:

The management team ballsed that up on Saturday- royally!

1. As has already been said, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." If Ertl, along with the other 10 players from the PNE game were fit, they should have started as per Monday. It's called momentum.

2. Danny Butterfield as much as I love him, is not a player that we should be getting over-excited about on a return to fitness. Danny has put in a handful of truly remarkable performances this season- but the vast majority of those have been when he's NOT playing at right back.

I'm sure Danny would freely admit his pace isn't his strong point, so why throw him straight in against a team that use the wings with proper, decent wingers?

No way should he have replaced Ertl on Saturday. No quicker, no better in the tackle and more prone to 'napping'.

If Natahaniel Clyne and Butts were all of a sudden fit enough to be considered, and the management team felt Ertl wasn't up to it- then Nathaniel Clyne should've been the one to be thrown in. At least he could've kept up with the 4 QPR players that were constantly flooding our right hand side. Never before have I seen such a one-sided biase to an oppositions attack***

3. QPR are a great passing (Championship) side. Two things you don't give to good passing sides are time and space- so why did we serve up plenty of both on a silver platter?

The best way to prevent a team playing their passing game is to keep the ball (like on Monday.) On Saturday however, we couldn't keep hold of it for more than 5 seconds- anything above that resulted in a long ball- straight down the throat of Kaspars Gorkss. He certainly didn't need any dinner on Saturday night.

If you can't keep it by playing attractive, then at least try and stop them by playing a little uglier. Getting in their faces? We couldn't get near their faces.

Second to absolutely everything, it was like they had 15 players on the pitch.

4. Ok, Calvin going off is nobodies fault. But bringing on ANOTHER (not 100% fit) right back in his place? (***Did Hart & co. think playing two right backs in the same position would be an effective solution?) We had several better options on the bench- and even at that point it was clear we were being over run in midfield. We needed more guile, skill, craf... actually scrap that- we just needed another body in there to at least try and get in the way. Even putting Terry 'is this thing on?' Byfield in there would've helped.

5. I've read in a couple of reports that 'Clyne came on, so Butterfield was pushed up to right midfield and Scannell went upfront.' Well I'm sorry, but Danny Butterfield was not playing right midfield and Sean didn't look particularly 'up front.'

I've looked through all the pre-set formation suggestions on FIFA and i can't find 1 that even slightly reflects ours at the weekend.

'4-4-2'- no

'4-5-1'-no

and there doesn't seem to be a '4-fuck-sake' on the list.

6. On 70 mins: Alan Lee on, Danny B off... a striker for a defender... a positive move and a good substitution. Two upfront = double the chances of scoring yeah?

Again, it's not their fault that Lee had to come off but we still needed TWO goals with 20 minutes remaining. Sh!t or bust time right?

So out of Lee Hills, Nick Carle & Johnny Ertl- who is the most likely to create or score a goal? (hint: it's not Johnny Ertl.) Why did a striker come on for a defender, only to be replaced by another defender?

Truly baffling.

Benefit of the doubt tells me that Warnock's 3 years of inside knowledge eclipses Paul Hart's 28 days- understandable. What scares me though, is that even if the 'inside knowledge' Top Trump score was even between them- I don't think it would have made an iota of difference.

Back to normal at Derby please.

http://tinyurl.com/cs5evt

PTTP

Warnock, ringworm, chickenpox- all get under the skin, all very infectious.

In case you hadn’t heard, Neil Warnock returns to Selhurst Park tomorrow.

From the moment the QPR team bus rolls up to the moment that it leaves the ground, Neil Warnock will be the centerpiece of tomorrow’s family lunch. Agree or disagree, try as you might to not make it so, we just can’t fight it- there is no ignoring Neil Warnock… that’s why he’s Neil Warnock.

Whether it’s from the Blades, the Owls, the Eagles or the fruitbowl- the man loves attention. Some may suggest it’s for his ego to suckle on, but the smarter guys in the room will know that this is far from the truth.

When it comes to mind games, Neil could hold his own with Wenger and Fergie (he puts Benitez to utter shame!)

All his ranting and raving on and off the touchline is designed to take any pressured attention away from his players, and onto himself. And it works.

Neil Warnock builds teams based on confidence, work ethic and team spirit. It may take a little while to do but much like a fresh on the scene stepfather, Warnock busts a gut trying to win over his adopted charges. And when he does, it works.

A good performance will bring praise no matter the result. A bad performance will bring an equally passionate, less praise-based response. If Neil’s disappointed, he’ll be sure to let you hear it- but here’s the trick, he’ll only let you hear it directly from him, and never in the public domain. Should that frustration manifest itself as a bit of referee bashing, so be it. Why publicly humiliate your dressing room when you can give it to the (often-inept) men in black instead?

Neil Warnock doesn’t use a carrot and a stick… he’s somehow managed to combine the two into a big, orange, carrot-flavoured stick. Confusing? Sometimes. Frustrating? Often! Effective? Definitely…

For Neil Warnock, a player’s passion, attitude and work ethic comes first. If a player can show that they want it, then they’ll be given a chance to go out and get it. It’s only then that their abiity with a football comes into the equation.

Two polarizing examples: Clinton Morrison and Alan Lee.

Clinton’s one of our all time top scorers and a hero amongst many. However, he’s never been someone to burst his lungs chasing the ball and putting defenders under pressure. Always likely to grab you a goal, but his sleeves were very much rolled down.

So when it came to his contract expiring, was it any surprise that Warnock’s offer came with a very clear “not guaranteed a first team place” clause? Was it anymore surprising that Clinton didn’t sign it?

See also: Stern John, Ashley Paul Robinson, Nick Carle and pre-turnaround Victor Moses

On the other side, there’s Alan Lee. Signed by Warnock for £600k, he arrived out of shape and with a poor attitude. Deservedly sent out on loan, and unsurprisingly back with us when it ended. Yet this season saw him transform. Much fitter, committed to the cause and he now chases after the ball like it’s tugging on his… nose. That didn’t happen overnight and you can only attribute that to the Neil Warnock effect.

See also: Shefki Kuqi, Johnny Ertl and post-turnaround Victor Moses.

You either get on board, or you’re not invited to the party.

This is why I think we’ll overcome a faltering QPR side tomorrow. Not because their squad isn’t capable, not because they’ve got a bad manager, but the two elements haven’t met in the middle yet- it’s not Neil Warnock’s QPR. Let’s hope that consummation happens in the summer (£10million later) and not before 5pm tomorrow.

When he emerges tomorrow if you’re going to abuse him, do it after the final whistle. If you’re going to give him a warm reception, do it after the final whistle- everything before that needs to be focused solely on everybody who has stuck around for the fight in the red ‘n’ blue corner. Not for the mischievous little scamp in the naughty corner.

PTTP

(This blog wasn’t meant to be all about Neil Warnock, but in a weird way, I’ve proved myself right- there’s no avoiding him! That’s why he’s Neil Warnock.)

P-Diddy "will consider joining CPFC2010 consortium"

...sorry