The author uses Blackburn's poor season as a reason to discount him and has obviously not seen Diakite play since he fails to mention his obvious qualities despite the fact that his signing is very much akin to Newcastle's highly effective transfer strategy (mainly unknowns). Faurlin will be like a new signing too and Green is still in his peak as a goalie. I don't think Nelson was meant to play 38 games this season but is seen as a stabilising addition to the squad and a help around the dressing room. AJ was a similar signing too IMO. Attempts to discredit Zamora neglect his hard work. On a wider scale, our form at the end of the season would be enough reason for optimism but has been mysteriously overlooked overlooked (although acknowledging that would also highlight Newcastle's polar opposite slide down the table as the season drew to a close). There may be more signings (with Ki being the most progressive) but I'd take the squad we've got more than happily. Further, despite the board saying that no business is planned for January, I feel that it's more like no panic buys. I do, however, think that Diakite style loans with a view to securing quality youngsters may materialise. In short, it was written by a myopic outsider looking into a window that's a bit too high for them. If we can't be optimistic now then we never can and I can't see my prediction of a 10-12th place finish being swayed by reading that compared to all the hope that anyone within the club is currently emanating.
Well said Matt. Although a non-dramatic 15th with a few large scalps along the way will do for me. I don't think we will ever experience anything like last season again... will we? I think that one day we will look back on what a wonderful season that was. We will realise what it felt like to be alive and yet survived.
I doubt that we'll see those highs and lows and that level of brinksmanship again for a long time (especially the drama and tension of Liverpool, Stoke and City). I do reckon that we can finish well up the drama table but we desperately need to get those first home and away wins under our belts early so it doesn't become a burden in itself. Hope your prediction form is as good this season!
Has he forgotten that our arguably most talented players are under 30 and that the players he's talking about us signing are meant to be short term? Also - 'If it had been Queens Park Rangers relegated rather than Bolton, the scary fact is that none of their ‘star’ players would have been forced to take wage cuts.', where did he get this from as the only person i respect to have mentioned this is Dave Mc who laughed off these reports.
My home prediction form was exemplary, it's the away form that let me/us down. Hopefully Sparky will address that. He is yet to win away, hopefully Norwich away will put that one to bed.
I saw an even worse article about a week ago saying how our first team was well over 30.. I gave up reading when they listed agyemang as in our current squad. . FFS..
Very well put Matt. Agree strongly. As Wilde stated, 'the only thing worse than people talking about you is people not talking about you'. Little 'Ol QPR is worth writing about all of a sudden and not that far into the future we will lose the 'Little 'Ol'.
All this talk of different transfer policies is complete rubbish. How can Newcastle fans be happy in the knowledge that the only players the board want to buy are ones they can sell? Not much chance of becoming attached to your team, when they could be sold the next day. Sounds like the boards ambition is to recoup the money they lost! The only transfer policy any club or manager should have is buying players the team needs to get stronger and compete. It doesn't matter if they're old or young, known or unknown. TF and the Mittals are, as far as we know, excellent businessmen. And nothing they have done so far, in all aspects of the club, leads me to believe we're going to be another Portsmouth or Glasgow rangers! They've always been as open, honest and transparent as is possible in modern football, so I think we'll be pretty safe in their hands for a long time to come...
Agree with many posts here. It is okay giving an opinion on something if you actually know about the thing you are giving an opinion on. What all this and some of the other deluded posts i have read is about is Jealousy. They are jealous that we have owners that have money and are turning us into something special. Jealous, that soon they will no longer be able to mock us. New training ground, new stadium, Global Branding (which i was mocked for saying last year on the old 606), now let them come back and mock me? But mostly they are jealous because we are now a threat next season and after.
The Toon need to either find another couple of rough diamonds like Ba, Cisse and the like or get that hee-haw Carroll back rapido. Their scouts should have their bonuses trebled for finding such talent but I doubt the same result can be achieved year in year out. I admit I am also concerned at the vintage of our recent signings but a bit of youth thrown in (Diakite, Hoilett) might just make for the right balance. This Doopey bloke could just have easily written a snidey piece about any other club, it's all too easy at the start of the season to make predictions. At the end when they don't come true who gives a monkeys but if we did get the drop he'd be able to point his smug finger at the article and say "I told you so". QPR could still end up in the mix as I reckon any of ten teams have the potential to be dragged into the bottom three this season. If Newcastle lose their best 3 players when the big money offers roll in they had better hope their scouts find a few more gems or else they will be one of those in the mix.
The potential problem is not so much having a squad with a high average age but in regard to the contracts such players may have. I think the club is gradually learning that lesson but in the last 5-6 years we have been suckers for giving very long contracts to guys looking to see out their playing days on a top wage.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Either fellas like this one are completely wrong or else, we (QPR) have got it wrong. Lets see where we are at the end of the season.
I wouldn't disregard this article as "jealously" immediately. If anything I'm envious of Newcastle! The author makes some valid points. But then again, we seen toward the end of last season that the team we put out onto the pitch, at home at least, is one capable of giving the very best teams a real scrap. In the run in there was a lot of other teams with poorer form. Aston Villa i'm sure would of went down had the league had two more games, nobody is speculating their future though? This team has got rid of the Championship standard players and brought in Premiership experienced ones. Not a bad trade. This only improves the team and the dressing room, especially now that Joey "I can't pass a ball" Barton is off to Fleetwood and is hopefully sold after. If Cisse gets injured i'm glad we have Andy Johnson to come in rather than some unproven 18 year old Brazilian starlet for arguments sake. Same goes for Nelsen and Park. The latter helping to globalize the club. We have a better team now than in that successful run in, Hoillett and Faurlin (basically a new signing) will come into the XI. The likes of Mackie raring to go from the bench. I just can't see us scraping like last season.
