With many thanks to Vital QPR editor Boxer, we ask a few questions about the game on Sunday.
With many thanks to Vital QPR editor Boxer, we ask a few questions about the game on Sunday. We ask about their gaffer Mark Hughes, QPR’s likely threat during the game and his prediction on the outcome of the match.
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1) In a nutshell, sum up your season so far?
Well I don’t think I’ll surprise you by saying that it’s failed to capture the imagination! The performances are sporadic and the results are awful. At times we look good, but I don’t need to tell you that playing for 45 minutes in a given game will yield you very little.
The last fixture was a positive performance, but blighted by our old friends inconsistency and indiscipline. We need to make our performances count and we need to do it now.
2) Who are the player/s to look out for?
That’s the rather ironic thing, we have lots of excellent individuals – getting them to resemble a team is something of a difficulty for Mark Hughes. Adel Taarabt is a matador, Junior Hoilett is a livewire and Esteban Granero is a creative spark – individual genius, collectively suspect.
3) With the quality you have, you will be disappointed with your current position. Where do you think you will end up?
Disappointment isn’t the word – I will admit to not seeing this coming. My judgement isn’t completely clouded, but I expected us to be mid table at this point in the campaign. I think and hope we will be outside the bottom three – my guess would be bottom six.
4) Some Rangers fans have been unimpressed by Mark Hughes start as manager. Do you agree with this and is he to blame for your poor start?
Ultimately he must carry the can – but I don’t subscribe to the view that it is entirely his fault – moreover I believe he can and should be given the time to turn it around. He has purchased a lot of players and then has stated that they need time to combine effectively, that for me is not an excuse.
The way we ended last season I did not think that the wholesale changes were warranted to this extent. We had avoided relegation and we had an excellent run at home, with Taye Taiwo the solitary loss, I expected to kick on and it hasn’t happened.
5) Who has been your best signing this season?
Julio Cesar. We lost Paddy Kenny for one reason or another, whether it be Hughes didn’t fancy him or he wanted to go back up north will have to be debated, but there was a sizable void there to fill. Rob Green attempted and to be frank looked about as reliable as my home made curry.
His confidence was evidently shot and I can honestly say that I think we have our best keeper at Loftus Road since Stejskal or Seaman. A tremendous shot stopper that is not being done much justice by the defenders in front of him.
6) If you could offload any player from your team, who would it be and why?
There is still some dead wood to clear, and although I’ve not been inspired by signings such as Park or Fabio, I’m willing to give them a chance to prove themselves – less so Fabio as I don’t think it’s our job to cultivate other’s players.
That being said I think Rob Green is a player that clearly doesn’t want to be around. Against West Ham he sat with a face of stone after Adel Taarabt slammed home a stunning goal to halve the arrears. Other than that, most are new and need time.
7) Expected line up for the game?
Cesar (GK), Bosingwa (RB), Nelsen (CB), Ferdinand (CB), Traoré (LB), Mackie (RM), Granero (CM), Diakité (CM), Taarabt (LM), Hoilett (S), Zamora (S)
8) What’s your prediction for the game?
Saturday is the day. I get the impression that your confidence will be every bit as low as ours after the Arsenal result. However I think as the home team, an early goal could at last see us prosper. 3-1 QPR.
