Only At QPR.

New Years Day 1992; A rampant Rangers annihilated a Manchester United team locked in a title battle with Leeds thanks to a Dennis Bailey hat-trick. However in typical Rangers fashion the rejuvenated squad travelled to The Dell to lock horns with Southampton in a FA Cup game in which saw a lack luster performance punished with a 2-0 loss. Ironically, QPR failed to register another win until the 7^th March when a 4-0 win was recorded against the blue half of Manchester.

 

After three performances of quality against recognized premiership opposition, QPR fans would have been forgiven for thinking that the tide had changed in relation to the Premiership battering dealt out at home to Bolton on the opening day. How wrong they were. On the back of a spirited performance at home to Aston Villa, Rangers took to Craven Cottage on a sunny October afternoon in a game which had promised so much for Rangers fans. Talk of an away win was predominant and thousands upon thousands made the short trip along the Hammersmith Road in a game which was predicted to be the closest in many a year between the West London rivals.

Yet, bad omens began to appear early for the Hoops’ with Matt Connolly getting injured in what seemed to be an innocuous challenge with Shaun Wright-Phillips a few days before in training. With Armand Traore suspended, Clint Hill out on loan and Danny Gabbidon still recovery from an ankle injury picked up away at Wolves a make shift back four was set; Luke Young filling in at left back, Fitz Hall and Anton Ferdinand in the middle with Bradley Orr recalled for the right back slot.

 

In the opening 78 seconds Mousa Dembele left footed strike was parried by Paddy Kenny straight to the feet of Andy Johnson who fired in for 1-0. The result was all but secured 18 minutes later, confusion between Fitz Hall and Paddy Kenny led to Andy Johnson once again sneaking between the pair before being hauled down by the R’s keeper. Up stepped Danny Murphy to make it 2-0 before 20 minutes had gone on the clock. If truth be told, Rangers looked unlikely to even get a foothold in the game at this point, even with all the possession and play across the midfield, the R’s rarely looked like scoring with Jay Bothroyd leading the line. The emphatic 4-2-3-1 system which has worked so well in the past was looking weak and unusually for a Neil Warnock managed team a lack of fight and desire was visible for all to see. Joey Barton was chosen to operate along the right hand side rarely in the first half provided Bradley Orr with any cover and the much criticised full back at times was a rare boost to the R’s back four with a number of crucial interceptions and clearances. However this didn’t stop Rangers going in 3-0 down at the break with a number of changes expected at the break. Warnock duly obliged and decided to sacrifice Shaun Derry and Adel Taarabt with Tommy Smith and DJ Campbell replacing the pair. With the formation switched to a 4-4-2 formation the next goal was crucial for the travelling team, yet just 15 minutes later the Rangers defence was caught napping as a quick free kick was taken into the feet of Johnson, and the former Palace star fired a neat finish into the bottom corner. Johnson then had a role in the fifth with some neat movement in the box before laying the ball back to Clint Dempsey who finished from just inside the penalty area. Bobby Zamora completed a miserable day for the blue and white hooped half of west London with 15 minutes left to play.

 

Rumours were surfacing after the game that Taarabt, the Moroccan international with exceptional talent and an erratic personality had been seen at the bus stop outside the ground still fully kitted out. The rumours of him standing out on the Fulham Palace Road ‘thumbing’ a 220 back to W12 always seemed exaggerated, yet it could not be argued that the talismanic midfielder left early with pictures appearing in today’s Evening Standard (3^rd October 2011)of him with fans. When challenged with the issue of Taarabt in his press conference, Warnock was quick to change the subject and made light of the issue deciding to focus on the overall team performance and the deficiency in defence. Yet sources close to players feel that this is happening far too often with Taarabt and his punishments differentiating from that of other players if they were to commit a similar offence. This thought process can be supported by evidence from the match against Aston Villa, with minutes remaining a naïve Armand Traore flew into a tackle to receive his second yellow card; which could have easily warranted a straight red on another day. Warnock was clearly livid with the French man and proceed to pull him back before walking down the tunnel and tell him exactly what he thought of him and his actions. Post match, Traore was labelled a ‘disgrace’ in Warnocks press conference and the public humiliation may make Traore think before rushing into any challenges in future. However would our mercurial Moroccan receive the same treatment?

 

With rumours surfacing of dressing room cliques and Warnocks ‘favorites’’ maybe all is not as idyllic behind the scenes as is made out. QPR World recently uploaded an interview with Joey Barton titled ‘Banter is Great‘. But maybe this is the problem; are the players finding everything to lax? Joey Barton is QPR’s Hollywood name and arguably our most talented footballer. Yet, at the same time it cannot be argued Joey in the past has been the cause for dressing room unrest. His constant commentary and advice offered to Mike Ashley and the Newcastle board was ultimately what led him out of the toon on a free over the summer. Also, it is well know on ‘Twitter’ that the players regularly communicate and engage in ‘banter’ of an evening yet it is always the same players; Joey Barton, DJ Campbell,Anton Ferdinand, Jason Puncheon, SWP. Undoubtedly, these players have provided much need Premiership quality throughout the side, yet if cliques are forming, much like the days under Holloway where Bircham and Gallen would run amok amongst other players with practical jokes, is it good for the overall morale of the squad? On the other hand, this could all be seen as light hearted camaraderie which is helping a fresh looking squad gel and bond for the rest of the season.

 

A 6-0 drubbing at the hands of one of your closest rivals in something very few would cherish yet there are positives to be taken from the game. The travelling R’s faithful showed once again what a loyal bunch we are with over 3,500 descending to Craven Cottage with the performance being backed for the full 90 minutes. Interestingly, every player to ‘tweet’ about their performance have all pointed out the superb support received throughout the game and in truth made a joke out of the plastic fans that have been encouraged to Fulham over the last few years. Jamie Mackie was also a welcome return after a nine month lay off after a disastrous injury away to Blackburn in the FA Cup in January and on another day may have won a penalty.

 

Yet after all this, I’m quietly confident in the team and especially manager Neil Warnock. Fulham was clearly a blip and as the statistics show Rangers had 17 shots towards goal with Fulham only registering 3 more. Corners also were level with 4 each, so the problem is clear. We are crying out for a goal scorer. The midfield seem very comfortable with the ball and before the weekend we had 3 clean sheets and in truth the Aston Villa game was more comfortable than we made it look. So what is the answer? Jay Bothroyd has been chosen for the majority, yet clearly lacks the cutting edges as chances are being made yet none taken from him DJ Campbell is on the bench and I often hear fans crying out for him, but truth be told he is not the right frame to play the hold up game and invite the SWPs and Taarabts into the game, he is more suited to a 4-4-2 in which he can play off of a Bothroyd-esque player. So all we are left with is Heidar, who can play the lone striker with his fantastic leap and strength in the air but is he Premiership quality? Should more have been made of bring Peter Crouch back to Loftus Road?

 

As Rangers found out last season, we are prone to off days. Watford at home and Scunthorpe away spring to mind with Rangers succumbing to a 3-1 to the Hornets and a shock 4-1 defeat at the hands of Alan Knills’ Scunthorpe. However they were clearly just this to the R’s, off days. Rangers went on to win the Championship with style and flair with the best defensive record in the league. With Blackburn up next for the outfit from W12, a win is vital with Tottenham and Chelsea games looming. Yet Rangers have shown in the past, nothing is simple and this season is proving to be no different.