The QPR squad became involved in unsavoury scenes at Euston station on Saturday night as fans travelling back from Bolton abused the players for their recent performances.
The QPR squad has regularly travelled to northern away games by trains in recent years, in fact fans and players getting off the train back from a win at Middlesbrough last season and giving a big ‘You R’s’ in unison on the platform was a high point of the season. Whether this policy may be revisited after the events of Saturday is unclear.
The LFW travelling party had taken a typically convoluted route home so weren’t on the scene, the best account probably comes from the This Is My England blog which says…
The QPR team had travelled back to London by the same train that some supporters had joined in Manchester. For some of us, the journey itself passed uneventfully. Carriage D offered a quiet and comfortable ride home to the capital. In other carriages, however, it seems that the drinks were flowing and that some of the drinkers were making a nuisance of themselves. A few of these herberts clearly knew the players were on the train (presumably in a first-class car towards the front) and by the time we reached the end of the line, they had decided to vent their frustration towards the team on arrival. As those of us who'd travelled in carriage D began the trudge along the platform, we were overtaken by a very small group who ran past us in their eagerness to confront the QPR party.
Opinions vary. Perhaps some people think it is helpful and constructive to tell a group of recently defeated players that they are a "waste of money" and angrily to ask them how much they are earning. Perhaps some people genuinely think this will be motivating and is in the best interest of the club and the supporters. It seems unlikely, but let's give the singers of such songs and the doers of such deeds the benefit of the doubt.
What is beyond the pale, though, is squaring up aggressively to our players, as one particular idiot did. Any reports you may hear about Jamie Mackie or other players reacting badly are false. Mackie looked justifiably rattled but it is the pleasant duty of this blog to report that all QPR players witnessing the outburst acted with restraint and commendable professionalism given the provocation. Clint Hill stood out as an especially cool head and Djibril Cisse was seen to remonstrate only very gently with those who saw fit to air their complaints.
As the players boarded their waiting team bus, the majority of decent supporters on the scene applauded and offered a traditional "U RRRRRRRRssssss." Some were keen to impress upon players and club officials - including the charmingly calm and pleasant Phil Beard - that the idiots were very much in the minority. It is to be hoped that this message really gets through to the team - that whatever the level of disappointment and frustration we all feel, only a very small number of utter tools would be stupid enough to seek an angry confrontation with the squad.
Let's keep this in proportion lest outsiders (press, fans of other clubs) try to use it to our detriment. No more than five people behaved very badly, and just ONE individual behaved appallingly tonight at Euston. Almost frothing at the mouth and doing his best to get up in the faces of our players, he turned in a performance that, we can only hope, he will be very ashamed of as he sobers up and reflects upon it. You know who you are, feller. Middle-aged, perhaps in your mid-40s. You wore a dark jacket and have shortish hair. You're a dismal excuse for a supporter and your brand of 'passion' is misplaced and unwanted by the vast majority of people who are able to temper disappointment with common decency.
It had already been a dismal day for Rangers, beaten in a relegation six pointer by a late Bolton goal and the controversial decision not to award Clint Hill’s 20th minute strike which clearly crossed the goal line by a good three feet.
During the half time interval the FA had issued a statement reiterating its stance on goal line technology. A spokesman said: “The FA has been a leading proponent of goal line technology for many years. We will continue to press for its introduction once further independent testing is complete later this year, so that anyone wishing to introduce the technology is able to do so at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Afterwards Mark Hughes said: “The officials really let themselves down today. Martin Atkinson is a good referee, I acknowledge that, but he was hugely let down by his assistants today. How they missed the Hill header which crossed the line is beyond me. Everyone else in the ground knew it was a goal. That's why the assistant is in the position he is in from corner kicks, so how has he missed it? Someone has told me the FA have released a statement saying they're fully behind the bid for goal-line technology, which does nothing for our situation - that's laughable. The timing of that statement staggers me. They're just covering themselves because they know how much criticism they'll get for the displays of officials that they supply.
“All we want is a fair crack of the whip and we didn't get that again today. I feel we should have had two penalties, but the assistant on the near side had lost his nerve by then. We've benefitted from an equaliser that was slightly offside, but that doesn't matter. The key decision, at the key moment, went against us. All we're asking for is a fair wicket, which we're not getting at the moment.
"You shouldn't underestimate the importance of the first goal in the Premier League, especially as an away side. It's vital and had he given the 'goal,' it would have given us a major boost.The significance of scoring first away from home is crucial.
"It's my job now to lift the lads. We're under no illusions that we've got a difficult run-in, but the circumstances today will bring us even closer together. Today wasn't about the football. We did okay without reaching the heights we're capable of, but we didn't get the support of the officials throughout the game."
Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan told London24: “I’ve seen the replay and it was behind the line. But as a linesman it is so hard to make a decision so quickly. So, we got lucky with that situation but we then dug in hard before we got the result. I wasn’t sure it was over or not at first. I hoped there was not going to be a whistle. As the seconds passed and there was still no whistle, I thought ‘great’. If you work you are going to get your luck and we worked really hard in this game.”
QPR goalscorer Djibril Cisse also spoke to London24 about the goal, but admitted QPR didn’t help themselves with some poor defending at the other end. He said: “We reacted really well, but we conceded that goal at the end. It was a mistake, because to be honest with five minutes to go you cannot really concede a goal like that. It’s not only the defenders who defend, it starts with the attack. The whole team should have done better on that goal. "It was clear that was a goal. The referee didn't see it, and it cost us the game. It’s difficult to take. The referees are only humans and they need help. They need whatever help they can get, and video technology is one option. They have to do something, because we saw how it cost us the game."
And Hill himself spoke to West London Sport after being denied what would have been a first Premiership goal of his career. He said: “You do look at everything – every decision, mistake, missed tackle or opportunity – and think ‘if only that had gone our way’. But at the end of the day, you’re there because of the games you’ve played. The league table doesn’t lie. We haven’t been good enough for whatever reason. We’re going to have to do it the hard way now. We’ve got some big teams coming up, and if we do manage to escape it will be one hell of a season.”
Hughes’ opposite number Owen Coyle told the Guardian: "There is nobody who is a bigger advocate of goalline technology than me – the sooner it's brought in the better. I can understand Mark Hughes's frustration but I have to credit my goalkeeper, Adam Bogdan, because it was a wonderful palm out."
Later in the evening vice chairman Amit Bhatia Tweeted: “It’s been a tough weekend for us with many of our rivals picking up points. Even though we have a very tough run-in, I think our team is as determined and as dedicated as any team I've seen in my five years at QPR. I hope the worst is behind us, and the commitment and quality of our squad and our management will shine through. Don't count us out yet, we've still got a lot of fight in us. The will to succeed and overcome is immense and that counts for plenty. Have a good week and try not to be too disappointed. We'll come good.”
Finally Rowan Vine will play for Southend reserves tomorrow night as he attempts to find himself either a short term loan deal for this season, or a permanent contract for next term when his deal at Loftus Road finally expires. Hogan Ephraim, another not in the 25 man squad and out of contract this summer, has signed a one year extension to 2013.
Former QPR boss Paulo Sousa has broken his silence on his time in W12 following the airing of the Four Year Plan last week. The film showed Sousa enduring a tense relationship with owner Flavio Briatore and chairman Gianni Paladini culminating in his sacking after just six months in charge.
Sousa, now manager of Videoton in Hungary, told The Mail: “I think people could see for themselves what was going-on. It was as it appeared to be. And that made it impossible for any manager or coach to be successful. As a manager, I’ve always said that I’m flexible. That I can adapt to the needs of the players, the staff and the club where I am working. But interference from the boardroom in team matters - both in the dressing-room and at the training ground - meant no-one stood a chance. In my time as a player and manager I’ve never known anything like it. Not before nor since.
“The players were confused. I'm sure if you speak to them, they will tell you that. The squad enjoyed playing for me, I had a feeling for them, the culture of the club and for the fans who are at the heart of QPR. I also had a positive relationship with Amit. He was a person with whom you could talk. I explained to him that the influence of Flavio and Paladini was a negative one. Unfortunately it was too late for me. When they stepped back, it was normal again. I remain convinced that I would have achieved things with that club if I had been allowed to operate how I wanted.”
- Arsenal’s return to form continued on Monday as Thomas Vermaelen snatched an injury time winner against Newcastle to move them to within a point of Spurs who lost 1-0 to Everton on Saturday night. Man City’s surprise defeat at Swansea means Man Utd now top the table after a home win against West Brom.
- Aston Villa have secured the signing of Australian international Brett Holman from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for next season. Holman, 27, has 53 caps for his country and was named player of the year by Australian journalists in 2011. He will join Villa on a free transfer when his contract expires in Holland.
- Stoke manager Tony Pulis has stated that any breaches of discipline will be dealt with in house after winger Jermaine Pennant was forced to deny Twitter rumours he had been fined for breaking club rules. Pulis said: "What happens at this football club in the dressing room stays in the dressing room. I've always managed that way. Men should be men. I'm not going to discuss what goes on and what doesn't go on.. I'm a little bit different. I'm not into Twitter or whatever they call it.”
- Arsenal midfielder Tomas Risicky has been rewarded for his sudden return to form with a two year contract extension.
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