Former Arsenal defender reckons life at QPR was a 'playground' 2 Jan 2014 10:00 Traore's frank admission about the antics that took the club down Share on print Share on email Armand Traore Armand Traore Armand Traore reckons last season at a struggling QPR was a âplayground.â The Rangers defender turned midfielder recently earned the praise of his manager who insisted the Frenchman was a different character â one now integrated with the rest of the squad rather than a part of a fragmented group that saw the club relegated. Traore agreed, but revealed things were different now. He said: âLast year it was a bit of a playground - now itâs more serious and itâs working for the team. âFor me, Iâm all right with everybody. I just turned 24 and itâs now time for me to concentrate on my football.â Physios back home in France and at Rangers reckon theyâve got to the root of Traoreâs problems that have limited him to just 44 appearances in his two years since moving to Loftus Road from Arsenal. He said: âIâm getting on top of that after someone in France told me where I was weak and QPR physios also helped me. But I havenât been playing and so I donât know how much Iâve improved. âI now do a lot of core work. I have strong thighs, so I need to work on my glutes so there is a balance.â Traore has got used to playing left midfield when he gets the chance, rather than left-back where he started. He also reckons the chances of winning his original slot back are pretty much nil after the superlative performances of loanee Benoit Assou-Ekotto. He added: âI donât think Benni is going back to Spurs this month. âHarry (Redknapp, manager) doesnât like to change the back four, and Benni is playing well so there are not so many opportunities to play at left back.â
I agree. I think his ability to deliver crosses is better than Hoilett who 8 times out of 10 cuts in and runs into trouble. Charlie would thrive on decent delivery. If his head and attitude are right, I'd certainly give him a chance.
Like the beauty at Man City for Mackie's header. Still love that memory. Wish we had held on and deprived them!
I think BAE and Traore would work well together. Plus Hoilett while constantly "looks threatening", constantly fails to deliver
Townsend has two feet and bale is one of the best players in the world. Take SWP on the left, all he does is cut in right into traffic, he never beats his man or crosses the ball.
When we were picking teams for Doncaster I had him as Left Wing in front of BAE. common sense isnt it. Both can attack and defend and deliver a decent cross. could be a great partnership IMO
Never thought he had the right instincts to be good defender but certainly has ability with his crossing etc to be a reasonable left midfield.
Its a pity he didn't buck that trend then isn't it? Its all well and good saying the Club was like a playground but what did he do to improve it or at least, make sure he could hold his own head high by not letting his own standards drop? As far as I can remember he was an uninterested, uncommitted hanger-on during that period. Far from helping solve the problem he was part of it. I don't know what he's trying to achieve by saying what's he's said here.
The SWP problem, the difference is Traore will go down the outside anyway while SWP is stupid enough to be funnelled inside where he does a 360 and falls over.
