http://www.joeybarton.com/qpr-pre-season-diary/ Interesting stuff, includes club videos - shocking lack of fitness during bleep tests from Taarabt in video 3
Cheers seagull. Great to see the boys getting in some light fitness work. Granero, the conundrum grows ?? Absolutely awesome in the fitness tests !!! Could he be the revelation this season ? Hope so.
Wouldn't that be so very QPR - no longer is Adel the prodigal son, maybe, just maybe Granero is going to confound all the critics and become the new darling of Loftus Road - he certainly looks up for it if that video is anything to go by...
Thanks for sharing that seagullhoop. I was one of the Granero nay sayers, I hope he does shine for us if he is staying.
How do you think Stan Bowles would have looked if he'd been in that video? He probably wouldn't have even bothered to show up.
You cant compare, times have changed. The expectation is of greater responsibility on players to maintain fitness levels.
I agree. I just find this constant criticism of Taarabt a little tiresome. Most seem to have welcomed Barton back after his terrible antics at the City game, plus him saying that he didn't want to play for us and I feel that if he can be welcomed back then so can Taarabt. As I've said elsewhere, I don't want to lose our tradition of a maverick number 10. I certainly don't want a team of hard working water-carriers. There's a need for all types, but I don't want to see us lose our identity. Bowles would have looked unfit and disinterested in pre-season I'm sure (I remember Francis saying something about it and saying that he didn't particularly get on with Stan away from the pitch, but that they were almost telepathic on it)............yet worshipped on the pitch.
Col, Agree with all you say, and I dont believe there is a single QPR fan that wouldn't want to see Adel's skills on the pitch every week. But at what cost ? When Joey went to Marseille, he trained hard and put a shift in on the pitch When Adel went to Fulham, he continued his petulence; he did well at Milan, but they aren't exactly beating down the door to take him back ? Joey continued his "rehabilitation" with continued strong committed performances for us last season. We shall see if Adel is interested in starting his "rehabilitation" ?
Sorry to be a pedant Col, but I think they got on well off the pitch as well. I've seen photos of them in each other's houses etc. Bowles and Givens were not great mates though. As you know I am totally with you re the QPR number 10. If it's Adel, great (though I know AC Milan are still interested), if not........this will be the most difficult position to fill. Redknapp does at least have a history of using flair players, lets hope that's not jettisoned in the frantic attempt to stay up.
I've always been firmly in the pro-Taarabt camp, and, although I still expect a deal to be reached with AC Milan, the possibility of seeing Adel does make my season ticket seem slightly better value.
Excellent points here KPDHoopster; I agree totally. The example of Joey Barton is one that I have been holding up as the hope for Mr Happy Feet. I think the context and environment are perfect for Adel Taarabt this season. But.... there's a big 'but' here.... I have come to the conclusion that the fellow just doesn't see it. My hope is that Steve Black can provide some input here. Now I accept that football breaks all typical business rules, nonetheless here's a comparison I would draw if I was Harry Redknapp: I have a little mantra when I'm recruiting staff - 'employ those with CAPs not those on LSD! ' Take those who have: C ommon Sense A ttitude that's Positive P ractical Skills Avoid those who are: L azy S tupid D ishonest So where would Mr Happy Feet fit with my recruitment I wonder? And would I take him on?
Competition is really strong amongst the lads, which is great to see. In the cheese making test Granero left us all standing with his magnificent manchego. I was still struggling with my basic cottage cheese. Butter churning was won by Armand Traore, who used his great jumping ability brilliantly, but got a bit of his beard in the mix. Clint and Dunny develop a brilliant culture for the yogurt. Yummy! Kelvin Henry is apparently still with us. All spoilt though by Adel, who ate all the produce, despite it being Ramadan and I don't think it was Halal. As Nietzsche said 'What the ****'.
I think the biggest 'camp' or group in the Adel argument is that of the "we'd love Taarabt to be our player if he changed his attitude." I think the opinions of those in the other two camps are flawed, with the pro-Taarabt at any cost camp being the most flawed. Sadly, all the evidence points to Taarabt not changing, although his time at Milan gives a bit of hope.
Brace yourself Roller, I aim to keep an incessant stream of upbeat wit and intelligence flowing all season, to the undoubted delight of all those sitting within 50 feet of me.
I'm not seeing Yun Suk-young in any of those videos? Unless this is pay-back by South Korea for us holding him back from their WC training camp? Would have liked to have seen him out there with the rest of the gang. [video=youtube;sRTB_fGL7yw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRTB_fGL7yw&feature=youtu.be&a[/video]
