So finally the heir apparent has succeeded to the number 10 shirt. It is about time too. Whoever decided that Jay Bothroyd should have the iconic shirt last season clearly had no understanding of Q.P.R. and our traditions. The shirt so cavalierly worn by Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles, Simon Stainrod, Johnny Byrne, Roy Wegerle and, before his career sapping injuries, Akos Buzsaky should only be worn by a flamboyant player, a player with style and swagger. It should be a perfect fit for Adel Taarabt. However I think this is a double edged sword. Many comparisons have already been made between our Moroccan magician and those previous heroes but there will be many, many more made this season. There is no doubt that he has the talent. In our promotion winning season he destroyed Championship defenders for fun, twisting and turning them until they were thoroughly disorientated, bewitching them with his dazzling footwork, wrong footing them with a drop of his shoulder, nutmegging them at will. His impressive tally of 19 goals and 16 assists highlight his mastery of the defenders, Iâve not seen a statistic showing how many times he was fouled but this would show their desperation in facing him. But yes, that was in the Championship, in the Premier League last season it was a different matter. He took some frightful punishment early in the season with very little protection from the referees, it was as if the Premier League establishment wanted to keep the new upstart firmly in his place. Taarabt slipped back into his shell and Q.P.R. struggled. The Africa Cup of Nations gave him the opportunity to escape and to start to rediscover himself. On his return from Gabon a few glimpses of the old Taarabt materialised. A few nice touches to create himself some space and a few incisive passes helped to start rebuild his confidence. In no time he started to look to be Q.P.R.âs most creative player and finally the long awaited moment came with his first Premier League goal. To the unadulterated delight of the Loftus Road crowd, he slipped the ball passed Vermaelen, left the Arsenal defender trailing in his wake and then curled an inch perfect shot into the corner of Szczesnyâs goal. The flood gates did not open but his confidence continued to grow, boasted further by his goal from a direct free kick against Spurs. While he wasnât tearing the league apart he was finally starting to look like he belonged in the Premier League. With a new contract extension under his belt hopefully removing any transfer rumour distractions and with some new team mates adding more quality and competition to the playing squad this is going to be a very important season for Taarabt. This season he has to deliver. I have said many times that he is the player I am looking forward to watching more than any other as Iâm making my way to Loftus Road, the one I really hope plays well. More than any of the other players he is the personification of the Q.P.R. tradition. He has the skill, style and flamboyance demanded of a number 10. Personally I donât care if he throws the occasional tantrum, to me that is just the flip side of his genius, but whether I am prepare to accept that is not really here or there, it is whether Mark Hughes is that matters. With the squad that Hughes is assembling Taarabt is no longer the fulcrum of the team, therefore it is more important than ever that he rises to the challenge and makes it impossible for Hughes to leave him out. Taarabt is going to have to live up to the weight of expectation that comes with the number 10 shirt, if he doesnât I fear for him and feel that rather than him being on the lookout for a bigger club it will be the club looking on his behalf. I think that this season will be make or break for Taarabt at Q.P.R., in my mind it is now or never.
Great read as usual Roller and welcome back. You have been too quiet lately. Totally agree. Think he will be under less pressure this season as he has better players around him. Would just love to see him playing in the centre of a midfield three or just behind Cisse or Zamora. He is obviously much much more effective going forward with the ball than running the wings. The scene is now set for him. He has no more excuses. Let's hope he is given the freedom to do what he does best.
Another excellent article Roller, not sure if I've commented on one before but I always enjoy reading them - well written, not too wordy and you always make very valid observations! As for Taarabt, I was genuinely excited for the guy not when he started playing with confidence or tricks or flair again in the PL, nor when he banged that all important first PL goal in against Arsenal (I was there for that by the way, pure class!); it was when he started tracking back and defending, staying with his man. We all knew that sooner or later his attacking flair would come back to him, but the development of his defensive play was a sign that he is truly on the road to becoming a great all-round player in my opinion, and if that development continues into the new season then I think he could potentially be up there with some of the best players in the PL.
Very good article and I agree with everything except accepting tantrums. I could never do that. For me, the last sentence sums it up.
He has nowhere to hide now, in the Championship he got away with several below-par performances because there was no alternative, he won't have that luxury now and his performance level will need to be much more consistent than even the levels of our Championship-winning season. It will be a sign of maturity if he rises to the challenge...
Very good post Roller. I do have a nagging concern over the Hughes/Taarabt dynamic - we went to City for the crunch match and Sparky must have considered him too much of a luxury to play. That was in spite of his improved defensive work. Might feature only in home games with Park and Hoillet playing away but I'd guess a lot depends on pre season and JH's ability to keep things tidy in our own half.
Top post Roller. Cometh the hour, cometh the man - and what a man Taarabt !!! Let's cheer every trick, dink, nutmeg and give him the confidence that he lacked last season. The Loft voice can drive him on !!!!!
Eamon, I've been waiting 15 months for you to agree to a post of mine. It was worth the wait! While you have a nagging concern Matt, its a great comfort to me. The very fact that Hughes won't just slap his name down on the Team sheet for the sake of it means we've a Manager who's not afraid to make tough calls. Tarbs was woeful for a large part of last season and wouldn't have gotten into a pub side. However, its a new dawn and if he listens to his Manager he can become great.
I agree that there was a significant lull in the early to mid part of the last campaign but he was listening to the managers (his improvement started around Christmas) and he was putting in good all round performances and match winning moments by the end but still got dropped. I fear that MH doesn't fancy him for the big games and will use him to solely bamboozle lesser opponents but the fact that his goals were crucial ones against Spurs and Arsenal suggest that he can produce in the big games.
I have a feeling he might get the role he really wants,the one playing behind the front man(Cisse)and being allowed to roam freely thus wreaking havoc all over the place!
Yet he ways played in them games by Hughes. To be honest I don't fancy him 90% of the time, never mind against big teams. Hughes had every right to be wary of that lads temperament and was right to leave him out at City. He's shown in the past that mentally he can lose it in the big games. Not until that improves will Sparky trust him - and quite right too.
His head and attitude noticeably improved dramatically in the last third of the season and so the question would be how much does he need to prove himself and how can he justify selection in pressure games if he now gets dropped for a more defensive option?
That's the big question Matt and I'm glad you raised it. Personally, I think he has a ways to go. A few games towards the end of a season is not sufficient in my opinion although it is a good start and its great to see him heading in the right direction. On the other hand, I'm not an advocate of defensive tactics but I'm afraid we'll see plenty of that away from home next season. Which is the lesser evil? Negative tactics or a potentially useless / disruptive, frustrated Taarabt? Reluctantly I'd go for the former and I think that's the way Hughes will as well. If Tarbs proves in the games he plays at the start of the season that he is solid and trustworthy, then and not till then will the Manager begin to have faith in him. And I believe that is the correct way to progress with this lad. Cautiously.
Great post as alway roller and a good read. For me, the jury is still out, He had a bad season, by anyones standard last season but started to come good in the last 8 games or so. I'm not gonna buy into the crap that he had a good season, as is posted continually on various websites, but i will say he improved immesurably under MH. I'm also not going down the boring route of excuse after excuse, goals scored, asists blah blah blah.... Personally if i was picking the team, Cisse's name would be before his every time. You have hit the nail on the head on 2 good points though.. Firstly, he has everything it takes and more ability wise, to wear our No.10 shirt Secondly, and more importantly, with all thats gone on pre-season...he is all out of excuses now. He has to show what he's got and deliver. No more substandard players, bad manager, other team etc excuses. He has it all on a plate in front of him. Come on Tarbs, step up to the plate...please...
