QPR's midfield partners have both the technical and defensive attributes required for Hughes to build his team around them. I doubt there has been a better midfield performance in this season's Premier League than the first half display Faurlin and Granero turned in against Spurs on Sunday. They dictated the pattern of play entirely, comfortably out-passing their opposite numbers, Sandro and Dembele, and seemed to be unerringly in the correct position to pick up every second ball available. As a result QPR dominated Tottenham in the first period, and ended up with 56.7% possession over the whole match, even when put on the back foot for much of the second half. Faurlin made the goal for Zamora with a beautifully disguised pass through the Spurs defence. Despite a slight drop in their level in the final half hour, it's fair to say that if these two can stay fit all season, QPR should end up comfortably nestled in the top half of the table. Alongside these two Hughes sent out Park Ji-Sung and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the flanks, with Hoilett also dropping back into midfield on occasion to harry Spurs' beleaguered central players. This was very effective in the first half, and should prove effective again when playing against teams that line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, something that is particularly in vogue at the moment. Indeed this was the formation Chelsea sent out at QPR a week ago, where QPR again had the best of possession, with Andy Johnson fulfilling Hoilett's role. The work rate of these five players pressures the opposition into ceding possession early, and the skill of Granero and Faurlin in particular, ensures that QPR don't do the same. Whilst all five of these midfielders are small fellows, their tenacity overwhelms any notion that they may be bullied by teams in the Premiership. Spurs' twin monsters of Dembele and Sandro were not able to force QPR's midfield off the ball through their physical presence, often ending up frustrated and giving away fouls as a result. There may still be concerns up front for QPR, where an over-reliance on Zamora might cost them in the long run, but their midfield looks settled for a strong season. Nabbing Granero from Real Madrid looks like a masterstroke, there should have been plenty of teams rivalling QPR for his services, and in teaming him up with Faurlin, Hughes has quality in spades in the centre of the park. http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...PVqgzu5M238rCpfAA&sig2=ZJIORyrsOe0KqRPdToYqNg
Good article. If Cisse can hit a bit of form he would be the ideal front man to run onto the chances that these two will provide.
