Ever the optimist, Chris King returns to LFW with some silver linings for the clouds currently gathered over W12.
QPR would have, by a mile, the best team in the Championship if they were to be relegated along with the other 'likely lads' at the foot of the Premier League table. That is perhaps the best silver lining any jaded writer who bleeds the clichéd blue and white can muster at this point in time.
Two weeks ago, the story was as follows: another Saturday, and another inept home defeat, where once again the fast-becoming archetypal overpaid stars failed to even leave the dressing room. A clean sheet was once again conspicuous by its absence, as Pavel Pogrebnyak netted early on.
Ironically, the Polish striker was signed as a replacement for Bobby Zamora, who jumped from Mohamed Al-Fayed’s relatively stable Mediterranean yacht to Tony Fernandes’ rapidly sinking paddle steamer in January. Upon his arrival at Loftus Road , Rangers fans were quick to rub it in and revel in the arrival of the fleetingly prolific, sometimes England forward. Equally, the Cottagers fans sitting in their expensive wine bars adorned on all sides with wooden panels must have been choking on their Chablis at Zamora ’s departure. Not anymore, with an aggregate 7-0 pounding of the hapless R’s and that rarest of Fulham commodities, an away victory, in the bag. Disconsolate Rangers supporters were left surveying their watered down pints in the local dive with, to continue to the bizarrely irrelevant food and drink theme, egg on their collective face. Fried in a greasy pan of disappointment.
Everton were up next. Lose, and the season really was over. It had the feel of a “last chance saloon game”. Fernandes displayed the common touch Briatore kept back for his many attractive acquaintances in the director's box, by choosing to sit amongst the fans. Fortunately, a defeat did not transpire at home for once, and the side showed tenacity to recover from going a goal down to Royston Drenthe’s stunning strike. Zamora ’s equaliser from Akos Buzsaky's free-kick was somewhat fortuitous, but in the end Rangers could have won the game. It was hard to know how to feel afterwards. Coming back from a goal down at home was so unusual, and shockingly, QPR actually competed, so from this perspective it was nothing but positivity. However, more astute fans will have observed the run in. Everton at home is winnable, in a way that Manchester City away simply is not.
Games are literally running out before the glazed over, numb eyes of the fans. As the proverbial saying goes, the fat lady hasn’t quite sung yet, but she’s got a belting voice on her and the curtain will be drawn back very soon indeed. Last week was a step forward, but still Bolton Wanderers await the R’s like a dark cloud over the horizon. Lose, and can anything other than relegation be a possible ending for this most frustrating of seasons?
Quite often in life, the big issues are somewhat bypassed and dealt with by a human mind capable of coping with seemingly insurmountable catastrophes and disasters. It is, more often than not, the little things that are so destructive, and the current malaise in W12 is a case in point. The club is not moving in drastically the wrong direction, as it was back in August. The players are not so unfeasibly lacking talent that they couldn’t escape from the mire by May. Nor is Mark Hughes the wrong manager to be leading the team in its possibly doomed battle against relegation to the second tier of English football.
The frustration is a few minor changes would yield an improvement so palpable down in West London that, shock horror, they might actually survive. Said betterments include:
- Barton being removed as captain and replaced by Anton Ferdinand
- Barton being forbidden from taking a set piece again for the remainder of the season
- The players being trained on discipline in matches and the vital importance of keeping 11 men on the pitch at all times
- The art of possession being taught to the panicky rabble that is the first team squad
- Jamie Mackie being deployed as an out-and-out striker
- Armand Traore deputising as a left wing back with Luke Young in the equivalent right wing back position
These are minor changes that, if implemented in a timely and professional manner, could have a significant impact on the fortunes of the semi-conscious horse that is Queens Park Rangers Football Club. Their consideration by the management would at least demonstrate that, rather than continue along the same tedious path to probable failure, the club is willing to admit its failings to date and work to improve the situation.
And if this writer is wrong, then at least LoftforWords didn’t ask for a detailed “disaster management” plan with the proviso that, should the volcanic flood be halted, a-la 1997 thriller Volcano, a lump sum shall be paid to the value of £1m. It’s time to start earning your bonus, Mr Hughes, while there’s still money left to pay you.
Tweet @chriskking, @loftforwords
Pictures – Action Images