Any positives from last weekend’s undeserved defeat against Liverpool have been overshadowed by a tide of self-generated newspaper headlines ahead of a key clash with Aston Villa at Loftus Road on Monday.
Premier League >>> Monday October 27, 2014 >>> Kick Off 20.00 >>> Loftus Road, London, W12 >>> Live on Sky Sports 1
Last week, for the first time in nine years running this site, there was no match preview for the weekend game. And to be honest, for many reasons, I’m quite glad about that.
For what would a preview of the visit of Liverpool have said? Post West Ham, post ‘Arry press conference, with Tim Sherwood circling, and Tony Fernandes Twittering — no doubt yet another lament at the state of our once proud club, and prophesy of doom ahead at Loftus Road on the Sunday. The Liverpool Echo asked me a few questions the week before and I answered them truthfully. The first comment underneath was "with fans like that who needs…”
So when my laptop emerged from the dark recesses of cabin baggage on the way home from a work trip to France on the Friday evening and refused to even cough, a part of me was actually glad to avoid the contractual obligation to Fans’ Network for one week at least. Writing negative articles about Queens Park Rangers is like shooting a large fish in a small bucket: take your pick of topics, themes and scapegoats. Whenever I see an article from elsewhere linked on our message board with somebody saying "this is absolutely spot on” my heart sinks and I rarely read them, because I know what they’re going to say. And when my variations on the theme get retweeted multiple times, and often forwarded directly to Tony Fernandes, it sinks still further, and I wish people wouldn’t, because it’s still my club and our club at the end of the day and it gives me no pleasure whatsoever to slag it off, nor read other people doing likewise. In fact it’s tiring, exhausting and demoralising.
I don't think you can knock people for being negative. The club is poorly run, it's as simple as that. Whatever you think of Tony Fernandes, Phil Beard, Mark Donnelly and Harry Redknapp you only need to look at the balance sheet, the league table, the squad and the training ground to see that.
It's right that these things are criticised and talked about, and I hate the happy clappy "you've got to be positive about everything or you're not a proper fan" bullshit that I see at games and online. But equally, I find the whole "it's not my club anymore", "the club went away from me when Gary Waddock/Ian Holloway/ Alan McDonald/ Tony Scully left", "I stopped being a QPR fan when...", "I go to Saracens/Brentford/Wealdstone/Hampton and Richmond/London Broncos these days instead" stuff quite tiresome at times as well. Particularly when it morphs into some sort of weird joy when QPR mess up because it means they're right.
And no, I’m not so self-centred and ignorant to believe that a lot of the stuff on here doesn’t come across in the same self-righteous way as well, including the last five paragraphs.
Amidst the devastation of that last five minutes against Liverpool - when QPR turned a game they should have led 3-0 at half time into one they should at least drawn and then, like the shopkeeper in Mr Benn, magicked into a last second defeat after all - I was actually quite pleased. Pleased because our QPR are never going to be as rich, or as good, or as successful as Liverpool, but they can show effort, commitment, attacking intent, fitness and some semblance of a gameplan and give them a bloody nose every now and again. That’s really all we’re asking for isn’t it? Certainly standing ovations at half time and full time last weekend, despite the scoreline, suggest so. Pleased because for the Aston Villa match preview, I thought, I’d at least be able to say nice things about potential corners being turned, about encouraging performances from players like Nedum Onuoha, Alex McCarthy and Yun Suk-Young - who, in my humble opinion, should have been regular picks long before last weekend and surely must be now — about a goal threat from Eduardo Vargas, about a gameplan, about some effort and so on.
Because contrary to popular belief, the knuckle-dragging gibbon in front of us at Southampton, and the occasional Twitter troll, I don’t enjoy being negative, I don’t look for the negative in everything, I don’t enjoy it when QPR do badly and I don’t get a kick out of sitting here every week and slagging off the club three generations of my family loved. Do you think, 1-0 down at Southampton, I want Rangers to play yet another shambolic short corner routine rather than cross a proper ball into the box, just so I can snap and lose my rag for 30 seconds? Do you think I wouldn’t rather them swing over a peach of a ball onto Steven Caulker’s forehead so he can burst the back of the net with it?
So it’s been with an ever growing amount of utter despair and dejection that I’ve seen QPR, totally without prompting, take all the positives from last Sunday and make very, very, very sure they’re all absolutely buried and forgotten beneath a whole pile of new negative headlines and coverage, all entirely of their own making. I’ve pictured Ian Taylor and the media team this week in a similar state to the spin doctor on the original State of Play series, doing his best to brief and pitch to the party’s advantage only for the people within the party to make his job increasingly difficult with each passing minute and self-inflicted disaster. They must dread every time their phones ring. Christ, they even succeeded in getting QPR’s wonderful community work onto the front page of the Standard this week — a paper that’s rarely shown a shred of interest in anything QPR do. And yet all anybody is talking about is how fat Adel Taarabt is.
Post-Liverpool things looked, relatively, good. Or, at least, better than they did before Liverpool. A week of ‘corner turned’ rhetoric awaited, lots of talk about "getting up to speed” and "seeing the real QPR now” and "getting some players back”. Few interviews through an interpreter with Eduardo Vargas, the new great white hope, perhaps. Nedum Onuoha at a primary school. Plenty to work with, from a PR point of view, ahead of a monumentally important match against Aston Villa on Monday night.
That lasted about a quarter of an hour. Then Harry Redknapp, in his post-match press conference, was asked why Taarabt wasn’t selected, and instead of straight-batting it with some nonsense about an injury or illness, he decided to launch into one about his weight and his attitude and his wages.
Now of course all focus has been on the flippant "three stone overweight” comment because it gives a perfect chance for a newspaper to picture Adel with his shirt off — good on the Mail for obliging on Monday — to show what utter bollocks that is, but of more concern to me is this penchant Redknapp has developed for revealing the pay of his players when it suits him. He did this with Jose Bosingwa as well after Newcastle away two seasons ago, and he’s done it with Adel this — most have little sympathy for either, given their respective behaviours and attitudes, but it’s not right that a manager should be revealing things like that. What message does it send to the rest of the squad or perspective signings? When questions were raised about the pay of the players at the last fans’ forum attendees were told that was an inappropriate topic for discussion in public. Quite right. When asked by the press, Redknapp has previously said he’s no idea how much anybody at QPR earns, and he leaves such things up to the board. Yet, when it suited him, he knew how much Bosingwa earned ("more than anybody I had at Tottenham last year”) and now he knows how much Taarabt earns, and he’s happy to tell everybody about it. When it suits him.
When it suits him. That’s the thing here isn’t it? When it suits him. It suits Harry, who might be about to get the sack, to go off on one about Taarabt, because otherwise he might look stupid not picking him while bemoaning his lack of options in attack — and Harry wouldn’t want Harry looking stupid less his newspaper columns, Match of the Day appearances and potential future job offers/golf day invitations dry up when he does eventually leave the club would he?
Nor would Adel Taarabt, no doubt still convinced that he’s on the cusp of a move to AC Milan, PSG or Lyme Regis Seconds in January, want the world to think he’s fat, lazy, out of shape and unfit to play football. So off to the Daily Mail he goes, stomach sucked in, with a nice exclusive for them, which I doubt he gave away for free.
To hell with the impact this is having on QPR. There’s personal reputation and ego on the line here. I mean if a proper journalist had actually dug something up on Rangers and hit them with it and they’d had to go into damage limitation mode this week because of that then fair enough, but here we are handing the bloody stuff to the press on a plate. Suddenly nobody is talking about all the improvements we saw against Liverpool, or focused on Villa, we’re all concerned with Adel’s belly fat.
Somebody with QPR at heart might have thought this was all getting a bit unseemly. "Not doing the club a lot of good this is it?” they might have said. "Plastering negative headlines all over the back page of every paper, having a row in public, behaving like a couple of tiny, little, immature children.” But, like I say, Harry looking stupid doesn’t do a lot for Harry, and so — incredibly — back he goes to the Mirror on Tuesday, saying Taarabt only lost weight because he had tonsillitis and he’s the worst pro he ever worked with and he’s been his only friend and his dad’s bigger than Adel’s dad, and, and, and….
Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. What sort of club needs the chairman to put a public statement on the official website on a Tuesday night apologising to fans for the embarrassment caused by his manager (His. Manager.) using his various media chums to conduct a public spat with an equally outspoken, tremendously well paid, footballer currently contributing nothing to the QPR cause? Good on Fernandes for doing that by the way, it was very necessary sadly.
A club where the tail continues to wag the dog is what. The players and the management do as they please to serve their own self-interest.
We’re now treated to the news that Rio Ferdinand - "fentastic, fentastic professional” — is going to use Saturday night’s Jonathan Ross show to announce his retirement from professional football at the end of the season.
Rio will tell Jonathan: "You get to a time where you start understanding your body and the strains playing football (is) putting your body through, going out and training every day."
This the Rio Ferdinand we were assured was fit and healthy, available for selection for every Manchester United game last season, not at all like all the other over-the-hill has-beens QPR saddled themselves with previously, not looking for a final pay-day, well capable of making a contribution. Now, before we’ve even got to the end of October, after being deservedly dropped last week, turns out that’s all a crock of shit as well.
QPR will still, of course, pay Rio Ferdinand his wages through until June. There’s no suggestion that having palpably been found wanting at this level this season that Ferdinand might do the decent thing, hold his hands up, say he went on a season too long, and retire on the final day of December, covering in the meantime until QPR can go out and find a proper centre back of decent fitness and age in the next transfer window. Oh no. He’ll retire at the end of the season, another year of money pocketed. He’ll have to play a hell of a lot better between now and then for this not to look like a glorified book tour at QPR’s expense.
Doesn’t it just say so much about QPR at the moment that the retirement announcement of our big-name summer signing is made not through the club’s official website, not on the pitch after the final game of the season, not in the programme, but on the Jonathan fucking Ross show. The Jonathan Ross Show.
Fuck me even the advance notices in the press had to be accompanied by the following paragraph…
"Rio Ferdinand was speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, which is broadcast on Saturday, October 25 at 2210 on ITV1. He appeared on the show alongside Lindsay Lohan, Russell Brand and Daniel Radcliffe."
Lindsay Lohan, Russell Brand, Daniel Radcliffe and a QPR player announcing his retirement. It’s come to this.
We have players mouthing off on Twitter attracting attention, we have a manager mouthing off to the press and attracting attention, we have a player appearing on bloody Newsnight and Question Time and attracting attention. And we’re crap. Look at the league table - we’re crap. Which is probably why we’re seeing so much of all of them — got to protect their positions, don’t want to be associated with this failure, no collective responsibility here ‘guv.
Like I say, what a waste. What a waste of a chance to go into this crucial Villa game on a wave of positivity. What a waste of all that good will and hope and enthusiasm and optimism our team built up during 93 and a bit excellent minutes on Sunday. What a waste full stop. What a shambles. What an absolutely heartbreaking shambles.
Still our club though, you can stick Saracens up your arse.
Links >>> Opposition profile >>> Betting >>> Opposition Interview >>> Fixture History >>> Podcast >>> Referee >>> Press Conference thread
Mark Hateley leaves the field with a bloodied nose in a 1-0 home victory (Kevin Gallen goal) against Villa in the 1995/96 relegation season. We show this purely because we’re playing Villa this weekend, and it’s always nice to see Mark Hateley get a whack in the face.
Aston Villa have Christian Beneteke working his way back to full fitness but Nathan Baker left the field early against Everton last week and England new boy Fabian Delph is expected to be out for two months having had surgery on a dislocated shoulder.
Elsewhere: It’s Liverpool v Tigers Tigers Rah Rah Rah this afternoon so we’ll get to see then whether Mario Balotelli’s crucial half-time shirt swap has cost him his place in the team — his lousy performances didn’t seem to be any kind of hindrance to selection — and whether Brendan Rodgers has finally realised that Rickie Lambert is actually a more than capable Premier League starting striker or not.
That comes after Big Fat Sam’s Big Fat Brand of Entertaining Football against Manchester City, who hopefully won’t be put off by any cold weather or presence of opposition fans in East London this afternoon bless ‘em. Arsenal up at Sunderland at 15.00 would look like the archetypal two points dropped by the Gunners followed by a stream of excuses about how unfair it is that opposing teams are allowed to get physical with them occasionally, if Sunderland hadn’t lost eight nil last weekend. God knows what’s going to happen there now — Sunderland had the best defence outside the top four prior to that demolition at Southampton who this week aim their ballistic missile launchers at Meticulous Mark and the Taffia down at St Mary’s.
West Brom v Crystal Palace is also happening, and Swansea v Leicester is the evening game. Tomorrow, it’s Burnley v Everton in the Dave Thomas derby and Mike Ashley’s split loyalty battle between Spurs and Newcastle. Prepare the tissues and moist towels for 16.00 when Louis Van Gaal plays Big Racist John and the Boys with Jose Mourinho in the opposite dug out. Does Ed Chamberlain have enough hyperbole to cope?
Monday night it’s us. Hooray.
Referee: I guess having refereed QPR’s play-off final victory against Derby, Lee Mason should be back in the good books, but Rangers did that with ten men (deservedly) and he booked Bobby Zamora for over-celebrating a last second winner to seal promotion at Wembley Stadium so he’s clearly still a bit of a knobber. The Shaun Derry incident at Old Trafford a couple of years back still burns bright in the memory. Not an official who’s been particularly kind to QPR over the years, as you can discover by clicking here.
Villa: Aston Villa defied the critics to start the season in fine form, winning 1-0 at Stoke and Liverpool, not exactly easy venues to get points from, and following that up with a home win against Hull and draw with Newcastle. That ten points sees them twelfth and has covered for a run of four straight defeats without scoring a goal prior to this fixture — admittedly playing against Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Everton.
Betting: Professional odds compiler Owen Goulding says…
"QPR return to Loftus Road after a performance that came from nowhere last week. Shepherd’s Bush and Liverpool are both areas well accustomed to robberies, and one was staged at W12 last Sunday lunchtime.
"Two very unfortunate own goals condemned Rangers to an undeserved defeat - one which makes the Monday night visit of Aston Villa all the more important. I was taken aback by QPR's performance. Harry Redknapp suddenly stirred up some passion in his belly for the first time I can remember during his tenure at Loftus Road. Players looked interested, chasing down left right and centre, tackles flying in. It was a joy to watch. I was sitting in a pub full of Stoke fans watching the game and was constantly hearing comments such as "how the hell are QPR bottom of the league based on this performance?” but the truth is this has taken a long time to materialise.
"Where does this leave us from a betting point of view for Monday? I have to assume QPR will play with the same urgency they showed last week and if so, three points could be on the cards. A quick look at the opposition shows they aren't in great form - four defeats in a row and the loss of England midfielder Fabian Delph won’t help their cause. But looking closer, those four defeats have come at the hands of four of last season's top five. Although comprehensively beaten by Chelsea, Everton and Arsenal, a good performance warranted more than the defeat they suffered against Man City. Readers of my columns will know I’m a big fan of Christian Benteke and he is slowly returning to full match fitness after a long lay off. If QPR can keep him quiet, then success could prevail for the Hoops but Villa are better than their recent form suggests.
"Price wise, QPR are best priced 7/5, with the draw at 23/10 and Villa at 12/5. In truth, none of those seem over generous and so I’m looking in the goal scorer market. Neither team can keep a clean sheet at present so there could be a bit of value in the scorer markets. The two players who are overpriced both play in midfield. Leroy Fer has flattered to deceive in recent weeks but has obviously been told to push further forward if Sunday’s set up was anything to go by and he nearly netted on a number of occasions - 13/2 seems generous. And for the opposition, with Delph missing, this gives Cleverley more licence to get forward. At 11/1 to score anytime, he is worth an interest too.
"Eduardo Vargas also looks a great price at 7/2 to score anytime if he starts, but I’m not convinced he will so keep powder dry here until team announced. It’s going to be nervy for both sides and I feel the side who makes the least mistakes may come out on top.”
Recommended small bets: Leroy Fer to score anytime 13/2 Paddy Power
Tom Cleverley to score anytime 11/1 Paddy Power
Eduardo Vargas (if starting) to Score Anytime 7/2 Paddy Power
Prediction: Reigning Prediction League champion WestonSuperR tells us…
"I’ve seen it suggested that this is a ‘must win’ game. At this very early stage of the season this obviously isn’t the case - no relegation for us if we don’t win - however I do think that while not a ‘must win’ in the strictest sense of the term then it is vitally important to get all three points.
"It almost seems to have slipped by un-noticed but if we lose this match we will have played nine and have four points which is the same start we made during our disastrous 2012/13 season. This start was one of the worst in Premier League history and we are in danger of a repeat.
"Paul Lambert may be a pretty obnoxious character but he is also a reasonable Premier League manager and will without doubt make his team very clearly aware of the massive pressure we are under to get a result. A slow start or, even worse, a goal conceded and the crowd could turn and we could be in for a very difficult night. Play anything like we did v Liverpool though and I think we will win comfortably, especially as I am not convinced by Villa’s defence. They have got a dreadful record in London and are on the back of a poor run.
"QPR never do things the easy way, so no chance of a smooth ride but I do think we will scrape through with three points.”
John’s Prediction: QPR 2-1 Villa. First scorer Charlie Austin.
LFW Prediction: QPR 1-1 Villa. First scorer Leroy Fer.
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