Monday, 29th Sep 2014 19:34 by Clive Whittingham QPR suffered a fourth straight away defeat of the season at Southampton on Saturday, despite an overall improvement in performance level. If Harry Redknapp is wrong and QPR donât survive in the Premier League this season, the club may well look back at August and September as the time when the damage was done. Business always starts late in a World Cup summer, and the play-off final winner is at a real disadvantage as the manager cannot begin planning until the end of May, well after all other 19 clubs in the top division. Redknapp openly admits that his forward planning had stretched only as far as which golf courses heâd take a membership out at when the Wembley final against Derby in May seemed to be slipping away from his team. But the mitigation stops there for Rangers because the rest of Redknappâs excuses ring very hollow indeed. Redknapp says a number of players were late back from the World Cup â as if QPR were the only team with players in Brazil â and he was hampered by having eight players on loan last season who all had to return to their clubs, as if somebody else foisted those temporary signings upon him against his will. The manager has also admitted that his team isnât fit enough, and thatâs there for all to see. Against Southampton on Saturday the Râs looked a good deal fitter and more up to the pace of the game than they had in abject surrenders at Tottenham and Manchester United in the previous away games this season. But it was still only good enough to hang onto the coat tals of a team who have just as much excuse as QPR for poor performance â the sale of half a dozen of their best players and departure of the manager during the summer canât have been easy to recover from â but are absolutely ripping into this yearâs Premier League and currently, implausibly, sit second. http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/footba...her-defeat-and-injury-at-southampton-–-report
A very worrying write about our away support that. I read that just after watching the game and agree with most of his comments on the game. Henry, with Nico, was about our best and deserves to keep his place however fit Sandro is or isn't. I'd be very tempted to play Ned at Hammers too, but instead of Isla at RB, and use Clint instead of Rio. Still leaves us with Caulker who didn't impress either. Vargas was the big disappointment for me, he wasn't bad but still looks like a lost little boy - I'd like to see what I heard he could do go past defenders and score, but he looked too scared to try.
All joking apart, from Clive's in depth QPR match reports is the behaviour of our fans away from home. Snorting coke and attacking parent's who have children with them! ( See comments at the bottom of the article. ) Family club my arse. It's difficult enough going to away games as it is with the football on display. If that isn't bad enough you may possibly be verbally or physically abused by your own fans! **** that!
I too find the report about our travelling support very worrying. Does a regular away fan have a different view? Hard to disagree with much of Clive's report, although he always comes across to me as though he really doesn't like the club much. Plus, although Isla has been very poor, the one thing I don't think he is is "slow across the ground".
Bit worrying reading about some sections of our "supporters" - would make you think twice about taking a kid to these games. Is this just Clives observations, or have any other regular away travellers noticed this?
There is a whole thread on there about the fans behaviour. Very disappointing. http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/forum/126316/usual-punch-between-fans/#107
I'd like to hear from Sussex and Judo. It's horrible, but if you read again he's talking about 2 cretins on Saturday (what did the surrounding fans, including Clive, do during this incident? Didn't make the victims feel welcome and safe in another art of the stand by the sound of it), a nasty chant, and alleged cocaine use at the Charlton game. Why we would have any nicer fans than anyone else is beyond me, and in fact we seem to have many who define their support negatively, hating Chelsea being more vital to them than supporting QPR (doubtless what the Remy song is about). One of the most boring things about LR is the anti Chelsea dirges that a few dozen drone on and on with. Hope these idiots get identified and banned. But there is a never ending supply of them at every club, sadly.
Criticism of Isla is a bit contradictory moans at stages about him being caught up the field but then also moans about us not attacking teams enough. Isla got forward well when we were losing. Offering another outlet further up the pitch and showing for the pass. Have a look where he was for Austin's goal. Right up by their box and that helped create the space for Vargas to make the cross. I'm glad he did that rather than holding back to protect our shape a necessary risk of that against Southampton is being exposed to counter. Arguments at away games are just what you get on here. Happy clappers vs Harry boo boys. Not that bad and not that common. There is an element of our fans (young and old) who've watched one too many Danny Dyer films but wholly untrue to suggest they are hostile to our fans. Isolated incidents will happen. Remember a skinhead in his late 40's sitting near me at Ipswich away call Benayoun a 'Jewish c*nt' about 4 times. Fortunately Benayoun was subbed at half time and the bloke never reappeared at half time. The toilets at away game often are smoke filled and busy cubicles with colombia's finest being consumed. But no kid is aware of that going on and those types are normally the ones that create the atmosphere. Think this is an unhelpful article centred on isolated incidents
I have often seen Judo and Sussex beating on old folk on Shepherds Bush Green … Once 9s had to hose the pair of them down … both had been drinking Red Bull may I add
Its going to hurt Clive when he has to post something positive aboutus isnt it? Just give him his bloody trophy and let him move on
They're a right pair of nutters I admit and all of what you say is true. However I did video Judo outside Westfields trying to flog ladies tights and then you came along after in your lime green coat......................... [video=youtube;AQ8HjDRrHt0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ8HjDRrHt0[/video]
As a long standing and loyal reader of Clive's articles I will refrain from polemics regarding his articles. However, I will add that they are probably amongst the best available on any football blog/forum, but that is my personal opinion and I personally respect his knowledge and opinions. However, this report actually disturbed me. The comments on fans' behaviour is very disturbing. Is the reference on coke sniffing an exaggeration, or is prevalent and one of the root causes of the problem?
I have read or glanced through those 4 pages of comments. Apart from the issue of unacceptable behaviour which is very dissapointing and sad, and should never be approved of, there the issue of sitting or standing whilst supporting. I really would support the option of safe standing areas which are successful in Germany. The sooner it is implemented in the UK the better. Then there would be a clear choice.
I'd like to comment but I'll end up in trouble. Just say the problem is a lot closer to home than he makes out. EDIT: I must say that Clive is in no way involved in drug taking of any sort, as far as I am aware.
Not a regular away attendee - but happened to be across the isle on Saturday from where this all kicked off. Sitting with my teenage daughter I was really thankful not to have been stuck next to these morons. The lad was in tears and Clive's report of the 'brave' perpetrator who came back for more once he'd finished getting a consolatory cuddle from his other half was spot on. Sure, every club has this element, but it doesn't make me inclined to rush back for more. Embarrassing this week to be confronted by locals down here who could see the trouble from the other end of the stadium. As they asked - why are you fighting each other when there's a team to be supported and a chance of a point?
Sadly, the use of cocaine at football matches is widespread and we're one of many clubs affected by this. You'd be surprised at the number of 40 and 50+ year old supporters who are regular users and add that to recreational joint smoking away from grounds and problems are waiting to happen. Often it's blamed on drink but I can assure you there's plenty of the white stuff floating about...
