Djibril Cisse is raring to crank up his goal tally as QPR embarks on pre-season tour

Djibril Cisse is raring to crank up his goal tally as QPR embarks on pre-season tour
By DARYL GOH
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BACK in the January transfer window, Queen’s Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes gambled big to keep the west London side in the Barclays Premier League (BPL).

Hughes, fondly known as Sparky, needed more goals and firepower for QPR’s top flight survival.

As a former striker, Hughes has always emphasised attacking play in his managerial career. By adding new recruits Djibril Cisse and Bobby Zamora to the squad in January, Hughes, to his credit, managed to conjur up a miracle — QPR only escaped relegation from the BPL on the final day of last season.

But everything points back to that fateful afternoon on May 6 at Loftus Road when Cisse, who came on as a substitute, banged home the late winner against Stoke City.

Pandemonium erupted at QPR’s home ground after that match, with Cisse giving his team a lifeline in the Premiership.

Despite losing to Man City on the dramatic final day of the season, QPR managed to survive the drop when other results went their way.

The report card for the January signings, then. Hughes got one of his signings spot on. Cisse, who scored six goals (in eight appearances) and received two red cards, will always be an enigma – on and off the pitch – while Zamora, who tucked in two goals, is still waiting to find his form with QPR.

Cisse, on the other hand, remains a fan favourite at Loftus Road. Despite defender Clint Hill scooping both the Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Year 2012 awards at QPR, it will be the flamboyant Frenchman who will turn the heads when QPR arrives in Malaysia for their pre-season matches next week.

Cisse will be an integral part of QPR’s pre-season touring party when the team plays a Sabah Select XI on July 17 at Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu and Malaysian Super League champions Kelantan at Shah Alam Stadium on July 20.

The new look QPR squad, which has seen Hughes dipping into transfer market wisely, will also include new signings Park Ji-Sung, Andy Johnson, Ryan Nelsen, Samba Diakite (permanent deal), Robert Green and Fabio da Silva (on loan).

“When I came to QPR, I promised the supporters I would bring colour, craziness and goals. I want to do the same this season – but more goals. Definitely more goals,” said Cisse, 30, in an interview ahead of the intriguing match-ups in this region, which also includes a game against Indonesian side Persebaya Surabaya in Surabaya on July 23.

“Whenever I play I hope to score,” he added. “I always approach games like this. I always want to do my best and I always want to score goals.”

Cisse, who won the Champions League (2005) and FA Cup (2006) with Liverpool, is eager to get off the mark in the pre-season.

“It is going to be a fantastic experience for all of us. I am really looking forward to this tour,” he said.

Despite playing in France, Greece and Italy, Cisse regards the Premiership as one of his favourite leagues. After stints at Liverpool and Sunderland, the man is aiming for an improved season ahead with QPR.

The British media, even in the post-season, has already been on the French star’s trail with sizeable tabloid coverage on his new black and blonde mohawk (and facial hair) and recent deejaying stint at a popular club in Saint Tropez, France.

Attracting attention, as Cisse reckons, is part and parcel of the modern day game. But he remains a family man at heart. The father of three children — Cassius, six, Prince Kobe, three, and Marley Jackson, two — has been married to his wife Jude since 2005.

Of all his football career stops, he still rates the fans in England as the best in the world, especially after enduring racial abuse while plying his trade for Panathinaikos in Greece and Lazio in Italy. As always, Cisse chooses to keep his chin up and to get on with the game.

“One of the things I really love about English football is how passionate the fans are. And that excitement and passion for the Premier League is matched in Asia.”

Optimism is running high at QPR as the new season approaches, according to Cisse, who is raring to make next week’s matches in Malaysia memorable ones.

“We are very fortunate to play in one of the best leagues in world football. It will be great to visit Malaysia and Indonesia, and to play in front of the supporters there.

“In Tony Fernandes we have a very passionate chairman and if the people we meet are as passionate as he is, it will make for a great trip,” he promised.

Tickets for the Kelantan v QPR game at Shah Alam Stadium on July 20 range from RM33, RM53 and RM73. Game starts at 9.15pm

 

Great man but I have to ask - Prince Kobe?

Has he taken a leaf out of Frank Zappa's book of excellent children's names?

 

Cant wait for cisse to start banging in goals.i think he will start most games still dont rate zamora and i cant see AJ tearing up teams..
i will be having a few quid on cissie top scorer for the season (ew)

 

Him staying fit and available, will determine how good our season will be.

 

This is true. If Cisse gets injured, can't see the other two strikers blitzing them in.

The amount of goals the midfield can chip in with will see how far we can go up the table. Can see Diakite getting a few and Taarabt having a stormer!

 

Fact is we need another proven goal scorer if we're to compete all season.

 

Jamie Mackie. Phenomenal goals to games ratio given that he has played most games from wide positions. Worth an experiment on the tour. I don't think he has found his best position yet.

 

Heidar is fit! and so is Dyer

 

Totally agree. And I also think that making him captain would give him an extra boost.