DONâT DOUBT OUR SPIRIT PUBLISHED 14:38 17th October 2012 by @OfficialQPR Mark Bowen reveals âfantasticâ feeling within the QPR camp ⦠âYes, we know where we are. And we know why weâre there. But we believe in the fact that it is temporary" Mark Bowen Mark Bowen says the feeling within the QPR camp is âliterally fantasticâ as the Râs prepare for Sundayâs Premier League clash with Everton. Despite occupying bottom spot in the table, Mark Hughesâs No. 2 says he has been impressed by the attitude of the players during the break in fixtures owing to the international matches last weekend. âSometimes international breaks can be a bit of a bind because players enjoy having matches but with the way the season has gone so far, it was nice to get on the training pitch and really work with the players,â Bowen told www.qpr.co.uk âWe have done a lot of repetitive, defensive work. At times when you do that, the other players in the group can get a bit frustrated but the feeling within the camp has been great because they all understand and recognise where our problems have been. âAnd it isnât a case of just looking at the defenders, itâs everyone â we have to defend as a team. Going into Sundayâs game, we hope we will see that work come out in our performance.â Owing to injuries across the backline, Hughes has been unable to field a consistent back four and Bowen â who enjoyed an 18-year career as a left-back â admitted: âItâs been a difficult time with injuries, particularly to the defence. âI hate to keep going on about it but it has had an impact on us. At the moment weâre spinning plates and trying to get everyone back to the same level of fitness, which has been difficult. âLook at Everton. I would suggest theyâve got six players who are used to make up their back four. Theyâve got Tony Hibbert, Phil Jagielka, Johnny Heitinga and Leighton Baines. If Hibbertâs out, Seamus Coleman comes in, and theyâve got Sylvain Distin if one of the centre-backs get injured. And theyâve been playing together as a group for a couple of years. They know each otherâs strengths and weaknesses, which is massive. âWeâve had a stuttering start to the season but we know we can come through it.â The Râs may still be looking for their first league win of the campaign, but Bowen and the rest of the coaching staff have been taken aback by the feeling within the group ahead of this weekendâs fixture against the Toffees. âWhatâs the mood like within the training ground? It has been literally fantastic,â Bowen revealed. âWhen I tell people that, they look at me quizzically. How can it be fantastic when you are bottom of the league? I hate saying those words! But the spirit really is that good. âWe have been in the game long enough to know that when things arenât going well, you will hear players moaning about this and about that, moaning about training, moaning about their team-mates. I can tell you now, we have genuinely heard nothing like that from this group of players. Nothing. âYes, we know where we are. And we know why weâre there. But we believe in the fact that it is temporary. It will turn for us, I have got no doubts about that at all. âNow we have to show some character, and Sundayâs game against Everton is huge.â
Can't wait until Sunday, absolutely buzzing to see the the Rs seal our first victory of the season. Come on Rangers....2-1! 3 points............ URssssssssssss.
"It truely is remarkable. Yes, I know that we're bottom of the league, but the laughter and smiles as we step on the bus that takes us to the bank every week have been absolutely fantastic". "Even the security guards who have to watch over the hold-alls stuffed full of twenties and fifties have been joining in. It's great stuff." "Things WILL get better" said Bowen, "We all know that. We have new financial advisers who have invested the money well and, ofcourse, we pay very little tax. So now our wages are worth 3.27% more than at the beginning of the season." "We usually make the trip to the bank on a Monday, although this week we have a match with Everton. However, once that is out of the way it will be business as usual." "Nobody has complained during training. I think that can be put down to the new electronic wristband - each controlled from a central computer by Wi-Fi - that shows each player just exactly how much money he has made during the previous five minutes. Technology has certainly come a long way since I was playing. We used to have to queue at the 'hole in the wall' outside Tescos to find out that information." ..........
If the spirit is “literally fantastic” when we are bottom of the league what adjectives would he use if we were 4th from bottom !!!!!!!!!!! My god if we were mid table, I’m sure words would fail him and he would require medical supervision for the uncontrollable happiness…………..
Its the usual Thursday before the game bollocks, usually its Clint or Jamie expressing his faith in the 'gaffer'. How can the mood be happy, relaxed and 'fantastic' when you're rooted to the bottom?
Of course the spirit is fantastic. You have a bunch of OAPs by footballing standards who have been given lengthy contracts with which to see out their careers. They win if they perform well and win if they don't. And if they really under-perform they might even get to negotiate another pay day somewhere else. Gis a job.
Its good positive stuff. Surly we would prefer to hear this type of spin than, Cisse bought a new pair of Beats headphones and sits in the corner of the dressing room listening to music and won't listen when a member of the coaching team tries to explain the offside rule, Ceser, Graneo and M'bia haven't said a word for nearly two weeks now and just sit there shaking their heads however they do smile occasionally when then read their contacts! I know we would all prefer to hear nothing and just let the performance speak for the team but in this media driven world that is never going to happen.
I recommend that all of us book Monday off. That way, if we lose, we can head off down to the training ground and cheer ourselves up by immersing ourselves in the mirth and merriment.
Jim Bowen: We've got Ray Farrell here, from Belfast. He's been on the game tonight. How many do you score... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200329/quotes
