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Thread | Bit late...a tribute to Super Ray
at 10:32 7 Apr 2018
Ive just read some fantastic tributes to the great man on here and feel the need to add mine. At the time of Ray's arrival from Rangers, I was going to every game, home & away and thinking back, probably never missed a Wilins performance in that time.
As I recall, Trevor Francis signed him from Scotland on a free shortly after we'd acquired Peter Reid. I'll hold my hands up now and say that I didn't like it, two ageing dinosaurs in our midfield, what on earth is Trev doing?! Especially a bloke who just passes sideways. Well, cut to the Palace away game and a demonstration of total football from the two old guys and Sinton running riot with a 3-0 win, it all changed for me. I was onboard. Strangely though, Reid was off into management a few weeks later so it was down to Ray to hold the midfield together and become one of the greatest players I'd seen at Loftus Road, before and since.
The travesty of all this is that when you speak to others, the crab nickname and sideways passing always comes up, yet you couldnt wish for a more attacking midfielder at times, whether it be threading one through to Les or being the furthest player forward as we defended a corner, gesticulating that he wanted the ball early from the keeper. and the goals. the chips v Sheff Wed & Wimbledon, the cracker where Grobbelaar didn't even move v Liverpool, you've all seen them in recent days on excellent tribute videos. But it was little things I remember in his performances that stand out for me. Once, at Oldham, he threaded a ball with the outside of his boot to put Sinton away and left me speechless with the amount of spin he put on it. The most theatrical dive at Old Trafford when surrounded by United players that made even Utd fans laugh, or the time he mocked Tony Roberts at the Loft End when the young keeper started moaning about something. Ray put his fingers to his lips in a "diddums" kind of way which slaughtered the keeper in front of everyone and demonstrated that at times he could find a nasty side.
I was lucky enough to meet him a few times, and will point out that his generosity and thoughtfulness knew no bounds. it was just automatic. Once at Norwich, at the game where he set Bailey up for that last minute winner, a certain Brian McCarthy lost his carkeys in the celebrations. We returned to the ground and tried to phone help, with the surreal help of Gerry Francis making an sos call on our behalf to the local constabulary. Whilst waiting outside, the players emerged and Ray approached us to ask our plight. When we explained, he said why don't we come back on the team coach. As a true die-hard Rangers fan, I was in heaven, but it was short-lived. Ray came back over and explained that Richard Thompson, the chairman, was travelling back on the coach also and would "not approve" us being on there. Gutted. But then Ray produced an envelope and had managed a whip round between the players, I kid you not, so that we could get home. What a bloke and it encapsulated the bond between club and fans at the time that I fear we'll never get back to.
Like many others, more recently, I had seen him a few times in the Crown & Sceptre and as stated, he was always approachable and charming. Of course, there were things he did that I didn't like, his time as manager being the obvious one. His referral to scumbag Terry as simply "John' all the bleeding time really rankled, as well. But, nothing will ever change my view that the world, and football in particular, has lost one of its most prized assets. For me, he was simply Super Ray, a bloke who fitted into QPR like a glove in spite of his Chelsea connections. Lovely tributes from Les, Ollie etc which makes it all the more hard to accept he has gone. I read Clive's piece on him and agree, could we have done more to appreciate him while he was still alive? But, as a fan who stood on terraces all over the country watching him in his stint at Loftus Road, I'll never forget what he did for me and my club. Thank you Raymond, may you be rest dangerously well in piece... |
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Thread | I maybe wrong...
at 20:23 2 Jan 2018
but was i seeing things when we were flagged for offside late on and the defender took the resulting free-kick at least 2 yards inside our half?
Bonkers decision |
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Thread | if you had to choose one game to win...
at 19:21 1 Nov 2017
who would it be? Forest away with all that heartache, or Villa at home for the obvious...?
Personally I'd go with Forest. Ridiculous that over a hundred years has passed and not one bloody win there |
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Thread | A lovely day out...
at 21:54 18 Feb 2017
Some days everything goes your way. Today was certainly one of them. Seeing all four strikers score and everyone putting a shift in, it seems, fingers crossed that things are slowly turning. Credit to Les and Ollie eh? In spite of a spirited Birmingham display, we managed to get goals at key times and also look a threat overtime we went forward. The key element for this for me was down to the inclusion of Freeman and Smith. I'd wondered where LF would fit in when he was signed in the window but now I can't imagine our starting line-up without him. All this after a game and a half. I've pointed out that in the Huddersfield game, Smith I think won more headers than we've won all season with Sylla & Polter, and his presence today terrified Brum and allowed Washington to roam all over the place and react nicely to Smith's inevitable flick ons. Freeman has such lovely balance and very quick feet and he wasn't afraid to exploit empty space and not waste time in getting a shot away. Luongo take note. Suddenly from corners, we are a major threat - delivery and execution perfect for the first goal. And deserved too, even though it has to be said the home side, on a rare foray early on, missed an absolute sitter that could have changed everything. As I said, it went our way early on and continued even though the Keeper Kuszczak pulled off a couple of great saves to deny Smith and Freeman.
The only criticism I had with how we played first half was leaving ourselves open in midfield, with Manning and Freeman not really designed for putting their foot in once Hall reverted back into defence. This allowed Brum space to play and we rode our luck until half time. A minute after, Washington scores and this wounds home side greatly. They still come at us but our counter-attacking is by now consisting of some real quality, with Woszlek now coming into his own down the right side and Bidwell having some joy pushing forward, albeit with a couple of really poor deliveries when in great positions. The game ebbed and flowed like a cup tie, end to end and I felt Luongo should have been introduced to shore up the middle. That didn't happen surprisingly and Freeman suddenly got a second wind and really stepped up, with one particular mazy dribble down the left hand side really catching the eye.
Smith received a good ovation when he made way for Sylla and it wasn't long before Pawel's run and sublime cross picked him out for a Fulham-style header which sealed the win after 80 odd minutes. And then when it's really going your way, Yeni steps up with a Ronaldo-style free-kick that eludes Kuzcnek with it's power and dip, and flies in off the bar. I did feel he should have saved it, mind.
The standard opposition goal was a little disappointing but by then we didn't care, singing our hearts out and taking numerous photos of the score-board with the emphatic score illuminated in massive style. A fine win, and much needed too, and good support from the Rangers fans. Zola received some treatment from both sets of fans, and players and fans rejoiced at the end, although Lynch looked like he had the right hump as Bircham tried celebrating with him. Quite odd that.
Special mentions to Ned and Furlong, both excellent today, as was the whole side really. The ref was the usual gash and quite how the linesman didn't give us two blatant throw-ins I'll never know.
So all eyes on Tuesday and Wigan, a massive game in which to build on today's success hopefully. I'm quietly confident. Well done Ollie... |
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Thread | Free kicks
at 19:51 27 Oct 2012
The sending off and ultimate defeat were obviously a pisser but the one thing that infuriated me more than anything was the two free kicks we got late in the 2nd half 20 yards inside their half. A normal team would pump the ball into the box but instead we knock it short and both times end up moving backwards. Astonishing especially as Arsenal were getting nervy at the time. Unbelievable jeff |
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Thread | Match thread
at 08:17 18 Aug 2012
Is it 3pm yet? Can't fookin wait
2-0 Cisse, Park
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Thread | Qpr sky sports??
at 15:35 9 Aug 2012
Vaguely remember programme coming up on sky (6.30am?) tomorrow mentioned on here last week. Supposedly featuring malaysian tour. Anyone confirm? |
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Thread | penalty taker?
at 09:39 29 Apr 2012
who will take it if awarded one today? If Cisse plays I would expect him to step up but ain't got a scooby if he doesn't. |
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Thread | Scott Parker - the referee's mate
at 10:48 22 Apr 2012
What a surprise that this bloke escaped without a booking yesterday. The dive was fcking outrageous and how he escaped a yellow in the first ten minutes with a nasty tackle from behind on possibly Diakite (?) just baffled me. This is the same player who at White Hart Lane must have fouled our players around 20 times without a card from Howard Webb and then walked off with the mom award. Can't believe what he gets away with. Still, 1-0, have that you tosser. Justice |
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Thread | supporters today - take a bow
at 00:03 1 Apr 2012
Brilliant support today, from the first minute booing Arsenal in possession and making LR exactly what it should be every game - was absolutely rocking. To witness ocasions like these is why we go to football. Immense. |
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Thread | 1st signing you'd make if/when we go down?
at 11:33 31 Mar 2012
goalkeeper for me followed closely by a bid for Sterling on loan for the season, if not permanently if rumour is true he wants to return to London.
If Blackburn drop I'd love us to sign Robinson but may cost too much given our position. What other young keepers do ytou think are decent targets? |
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Thread | Finally, we don't have to make do...
at 09:29 4 Feb 2012
"Making do" has been the motto of this season for me. At the start of the season we went into the game vs Bolton anticipating a potential buy out and possible investment whilst cautious about our chances. Losing that one told us the stark reality of not strengthening and although we enjoyed a surprise win at Everton, a further defeat v a poor Wigan side meant we had to make do until the next few days when the likes of Barton & SWP arrived.
We then ran out of time for NW to properly strengthen our attack even though HH stepped up and we weren't doing too badly by the time we won at Stoke. Such a great win that one. But in our minds we always knew we'd have to make do until january's window opening and worryingly our form dipped dramatically resulting in management changes. Even before Hughes arrival we still had to make do with over 3 weeks of inactivity in the window whilst we supposedly haggled for deals, with results and performances hitting new lows. Macheda had arrived but that barely registered amidst talk of proper targets being attained by Warnock himself and seemingly the whole Rangers board via twitter.
So, Hughes arrived and for an agonising week or so he quite rightly had to assess his new squad whilst we were all pulling our hair out urging the board to sign anyone. Even when the cheque book was finally ripped open, we still had to make do without our two African Nations players whilst thinking what they were doing out there in the first place as both Morrocco and Senegal bombed out at the opening stages.
Everyone happy? Still we went into the Villa game making do without our star new signing Zamora plus Taarabt and Traore getting a good point despite leading 2-0 at one stage. So now we come into the Wolves game and finally I'm not saying we're making do without such and such. All present and correct and the wave of optimism, well in my house anyway, is palpable. So come on my team, my new look team, let's get such a vital 3 points today.
Of course, to finish this post I guess it's creditable to acknowledge that we are still making do without arguably our best player - Ale Faurlin. Always something isn't there...? |
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Thread | Right! In a nutshell...(sort of)
at 22:10 20 Jan 2012
Barton - out of order going public. Grow up and concentrate on performances
Warnock - Go graciously mate. We all love what you did, but last two months have been very disappointing. Move on
Fernandez - Have a word with your captain, nice and quiet. Home truths. you are paying his wages.
Hughes - massive job on. Inspire troops tomorrow. Give Campbell and HH a go?
Bothroyd - Pull finger out and bust a gut
Us the fans - Lift the roof off tomorrrow. Forget indifferences with certain players, we are as one, cup final and all that.
Media - leave us the fck alone!!
And finally Esther, get through tomorrow and we have ten days before our next vital league fixture. Players will sign in that time, I'm sure. The Chelsea game should be enjoyed, not the end of the world to lose it. All about Wigan and Villa and, hopefully, the new arrivals. Come on U Rssss!! |
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