More of the same please

We forget our pleasures, we remember our sufferings.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

Tonight we see the return visit of the side that endured possibly our best performance of last season and one of our greatest pleasures, let’s remember it. All season we taunted the opposition with cries of “Taarabt’s too good for you”, but never has that been more true than against Swansea on Boxing Day last season. The best passing team in the division were almost single-handedly dismantled by what must be Adel Taarabt’s finest performance of his career. The Moroccan maestro was heavily involved in each of our four goals in this outstanding victory.

In the 16th minute he loped towards the Swansea defence in that deceptively languid style we have all come to love, attracting defenders towards him like wasps to jam. Surrounded, he slipped the ball into Jamie Mackie’s path who gleefully dispatched his shot into the bottom corner of De Vries’ goal . 1 – 0.

In the second half Taarabt drove into the Swansea penalty area bamboozling Ashley Williams with his close ball control who lunged into desperately frantic attempt at a tackle. Williams should have been sent off for this foul and may have indeed been glad to have been dismissed to save him for further humiliation, but Helguson coolly converted the resulting penalty to ensure justice was observed. 2 – 0.

Thriving on the big occasion Taarabt continued to dictate proceedings. He collected Helguson’s pinpoint knock-down, powered forwards and fired his shot under the hapless De Vries’ body. 3 – 0.

The young Moroccan international finally produced the masterpiece he had been striving for. After teasing the Swansea midfield with an contemptuous flick he received the ball back wide on the left hand side of the pitch. With ridiculous ease he nutmegged the dumfounded Joe Allen and surged into the space behind him. No Swansea defender could close him down quickly enough as he unleashed a curling shot into the far corner of the goal. 4 – 0. Loftus Road rose as one to celebrate a magnificent goal which completed the annihilation of one of our strongest challengers for promotion. The seeds of doubt that had been planted by Rangers’ first defeats of the season were destroyed, all thoughts of a typical Q.P.R. self destruct were pushed firmly back into the darker recesses of our minds, our season was back on track.

Swansea must still be haunted by that match. Whatever formation Hughes plays, whether Taarabt is off the front man or wide on the left, we must get the ball to him early in the match and as often as possible and tell him to do what he does best. Come on Adel, more of the same please.

 

Yes! Come on Adel and come on you R'ssssssssss!!! I won £250 last year on the fixture - £5 on 4-0 at £50-1. I will be betting the same today.

 

I thought it was 10 v 10 and the game was stretched hence Swansea fell over ... and the game was very open .
Teams have sorted them out now .. I hope we keep our discipline as they will be looking to play up on that ... Don't be surprised if we have another sent off

 

Hill and Tate were both sent off, but whether they were on the pitch or not, Taarabt still would have ran them ragged. He was already doing it in the first half but just didn't have a goal to stand for it.

 

Alrite Roller? Good holiday mate?

As for Cicero. He's right you know... I can only remember them Goons - and Fulham away!!