Although it may turn out to be too little too late, QPR have enjoyed a good week with Chris Ramsey's views and methods seemingly having an effect and positive results on the road offering some hope of salvation ahead of Chelsea's visit.
There remains the distinct possibility that Queens Park Rangers are teetering on the brink of disaster. Not a little one either, a proper one. Like Leeds United. Or Bradford City. Or Portsmouth.
Heavily indebted, that the money is owed largely (but not exclusively) to the club’s owners, rather than banks and external hedge funds or lenders, is only reassuring until you remember what the same owners did with Caterham when it became clear that the perennial wooden spooners of Formula One were never going to get any better and were going to keep sucking up money while doing it. Dumped, mid-season, into such a mess they couldn’t even finish the campaign, with all the job losses you’d expect.
There are ongoing financial fair play issues. There are ongoing issues about the way the club is run, and how it signs players, and how it scouts youngsters, and the state of the academy? The promised new stadium and new training ground feel as far away as ever. There are constant concerns about the competency of the people at the top of the club making the key decisions.
And four points from two away matches against poor teams doesn’t change all that. It probably won’t even be enough to preserve the club’s Premier League status. But somewhere between arriving at The Hawthorns on Saturday and sitting down to interview Clint Hill on the QPR Podcast on Wednesday night I actually felt a little pang of hope and pride again.
It may be that QPR don’t survive in the top flight this season. It may be that Chris Ramsey isn’t the manager next season. It may be that he is the manager, but it doesn’t go well, and Rangers are stuck in the middle of the Championship next year, with costs mounting, trying to find a new manager in October. If you were an outside looking in, you’d probably tip that as the most likely outcome.
But on the field I think you can see Ramsey’s ideas and training methods coming through. Possibly too late, and getting so worked up over suddenly looking dangerous with planned and practised set pieces is a damning indictment of what went before, but still, it’s been lovely to see. We’re seeing players, Matt Phillips in particular, improve their games rather than regress. We’re seeing young players come in when senior players are injured, rather than square pegs shoved into round holes. Those youngster don’t look out of place — Michael Doughty did a sound job at Villa Park on Tuesday. And we’re having a go at teams, trying to beat them, trying to score goals — not sitting back and trying to hold on for point, not writing off games before they’re even played. It’s quite basic stuff. Quite direct, in a 4-4-2 formation. But there’s an honour and a pride to it. It’s an honest team and coaching staff now — giving their best, not making excuses.
Off the field I like the way Ramsey speaks. I like how he doesn’t get carried away whatever the result. I like that he turns up on time to his press conferences and gives straight answers to the questions he’s asked, even when those questions veer off into the ludicrous, irrelevant and at times downright offensive — which happens regularly. I like how he’s representing our club, and given how QPR have successfully transitioned from a second team to many supporters into this symbol of everything that’s wrong with the sport, to be mocked and hated in equal measure, that’s important.
On Saturday at West Brom I watched them pumping long balls to Victor Anichebe in an effort to recover a three goal half time deficit, and I listened — because despite being 100 yards away in a packed away end you could still hear him — to Tony Pulis yawping down on the touchline, urging his players to chase after the latest punt into the channel with greater vigour. On Tuesday at Villa I saw Tim Sherwood screaming in the linesman’s face, throwing his coat about, engaging in all manner of touchline histrionics when he should have been adjusting his team shape to counter what Ramsey had done post-half time. Given that both managers were heavily linked with QPR previously this season, and are more likely to keep their clubs up than Ramsey is at QPR, it was a Bullseye-style ‘here’s what you could have won’ week. And, particularly with Sherwood, you can keep it as far as I’m concerned. It surely can’t be long before the Villa boss starts bringing himself on to take the penalties and free kicks, such is his desire to make everything about him and him only. We’ve had enough self-centred pricks at QPR over the past five years without bringing the ultimate one in now.
Speaking of which… Harry Redknapp’s knee doesn’t need an operation after all. Who would have thought it? We know because he told BT Sport last weekend, and the Fantasy Football Club tonight, and Football Focus today. The spin and bullshit machine is in full swing there, absolving himself of any responsibility for QPR’s plight, while applying further pressure to Roy Hodgson by repeating the ridiculous notion that England should be favourites to win the European Championships next summer. All carefully timed, just as his departure was, to do the maximum possible damage to QPR.
Even if Villa stay up and we don’t, I’m pleased we dodged the Sherwood bullet. Likewise with Pulis at West Brom. And I couldn’t be more delighted that Harry Redknapp is no longer infecting our club.
What Chris Ramsey, and his revitalised players, need now is a victory here against Chelsea. For momentum, for mood, for the relegation battle. And because he, and they, deserve it.
Links >>> We just like hearing Clint Hill — podcast >>> Winning ugly - opposition profile >>> Betting >>> Falco’s dipping volley — history >>> Marriner gets Chelsea game — referee
Heidar Helguson celebrates breaking the deadlock against Chelsea at Loftus Road in 2011. The Icelandic striker’s first half penalty turned out ti be the winner as the visitors had two men sent off in a tempestuous game that eventually brought an end to John Terry’s reign as England captain and Fabio Capello’s as manager.
Loic Remy will make his first return to Loftus Road since a deadline day move to Chelsea, and get a rare start for his new club with Diego Costa ruled out with a hamstring injury. Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic are both just one yellow card away from two match bans but are not expected to be rested here despite forthcoming fixtures with Man Utd and Arsenal. Fabregas will play in a mask to protect his broken nose, suffered against Stoke a week ago.
Referee: For the second time this year, Andre Marriner takes charge of a QPR game as Chelsea head to Loftus Road on Sunday. The West Midlands official was in the middle for January’s 2-1 loss to relegation rivals Burnley. His full QPR case file is available here.
Chelsea: Chelsea are unbeaten since losing to Bradford in the FA Cup on January 24, but have drawn six of those 12 matches, resulting in elimination from the Champions League against PSG. They’ve shown a defensive vulnerability of late, with six goals conceded in the last four games including two in a similar contest to this at Hull a fortnight ago — though they did recover to win that 3-2. Their last league defeat was at Spurs on New Year’s Day and overall Chelsea have won nine, drawn four and lost two on the road in the Premier League. But the Blues have only won one of their last 13 league games on this ground.
Betting: Professional odds compiler Owen Goulding tells us…
"As I left Villa Park on Tuesday night, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at the result, but happy that I had at least got value for money watching a Premier League match - something that happens very rarely across the board in the top flight.
"A Matt Phillips inspired QPR attack has made Rangers look likely to score every time they enter the pitch. However, the problem is they look like they are going to concede at every opposition attack. Chris Ramsey was given a lot of credit for changing the formation after what can only be described as one of the worst half performances I have ever witnessed live at a game (and there has been a number of them) by Niko Kranjcar but my worry is that this was apparent to all and sundry in the away end after 20 minutes and should of been sorted much sooner than the fiftieth minute it was actually dealt with. A better side would have had us put away well before half time and it’s impossible not to see QPR conceding on Sunday.
"However, Chelsea themselves are no great shakes in the defensive stakes, failing to keep a clean sheet in seven of their previous ten away games in all competitions and conceding twelve goals in the process. With Charlie Austin having the golden touch and Phillips currently providing more assists than a Dignitas nurse, I'm struggling to make a case for QPR NOT to score. Boylesports are currently 21/20 that both teams score and this is well worth a betting interest.”
Recommended Bet: QPR v Chelsea - Both teams to score @ 21/20 (Boylesports)
Prediction: Reigning Prediction League champion WestonSuperR tells us…
"As the season begins to draw to a close our performances and results become more difficult to predict. We were nothing short of dreadful in the first half against Villa, even worse than dreadful when you consider how hard Villa have found it to score this season - they could, maybe should have been out of sight by half-time. Play like this and Chelsea will find it far too easy. The second half of this match was of course very different and if the effort and spirit can be repeated on Sunday then I genuinely believe we get something from this game. I am sure our players will have their tails up following a decent point’s haul and performances from the last two matches so for me it is vital to start quickly and not conceded early.
"Chelsea haven’t looked unbeatable recently and let’s hope they see this as a simple ‘turn up and take the three points’. It will also be interesting also to see if our fans can add a bit of the intimidation factor to the match as we have done so effectively during previous matches although the kick-off time on this occasion may affect this.
"No matter how positive I try to be though the fact remains that Chelsea are clearly a very decent team and will sadly almost certainly be crowned Premiership champions this season, so it’s a repeat of the score at Stamford Bridge that I will have to predict.”
John’s Prediction: QPR 1-2 Chelsea. Scorer — Charlie Austin
LFW’s Prediction: QPR 1-1 Chelsea. Scorer — Charlie Austin
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