QPR keeper reveals the ‘heartbreak’ driving him on this season

QPR keeper reveals the ‘heartbreak’ driving him on this season - QPR - London 24

Paddy Kenny
EXCLUSIVE: QPR keeper reveals the ‘heartbreak’ driving him on this season

Ian Cooper Tuesday, November 8, 2011
11:52 AM

Paddy Kenny on his second chance in the Premier League, his relationship with Neil Warnock and the Rs’ survival chances

Paddy Kenny believes that he is in the form of his life at QPR this season, and admits that helping the Rs secure Premier League survival would finally banish the pain of his Sheffield United nightmare.

Kenny is still haunted by the memories of the final moments of the 2006-07 campaign, a rainy day at Bramall Lane when he was in goal for Neil Warnock’s Sheffield United side who were beaten 2-1 by Wigan Athletic and relegated to the Championship on goal difference.

The agony on that final day of the season was the beginning of what Kenny labels one of the toughest periods of his career. Two years later, in September 2009, that career went into freefall when he was banned from the game for nine months after testing positive for the banned substance ephedrine.

He returned to play only a handful more games for United, the club who he had spent the best part of a decade with, before in the summer of 2010 Warnock, who had since moved to QPR after rebuilding his own managerial career at Crystal Palace, told Kenny he was needed to underpin Rangers’ push for promotion to the Premier League.

And after making the switch to west London, Kenny has barely looked back. He was an ever-present as the Rs won the Championship last season, and has begun the current campaign in equally impressive form. At 33 years of age, Kenny has been handed a second chance – and it is one which he has no intention of wasting.

“I feel like I’m at the peak of my form,” Kenny told London24. “In my position a lot of it is down to experience, I’m 33 now, and you’ve seen a lot of keepers over the last five or 10 years who have been at their best when they’ve turned 30. Hopefully I’ve got all those best years to come.

“When you get relegated like I was with Sheffield United, you never know if you’re going to get another opportunity. The circumstances; going down by one goal, were heartbreaking, so to get promoted last season and get a second chance is massive for me.

“As you get older you don’t know how many more chances you’ll get. I want to do well this season and hopefully achieve what I couldn’t at Sheffield United – stay up.

“I spoke to the manager during that summer before I came down and he said to me ‘we’re going for promotion, plain and simple’, and he wanted me to come down and be a part of it.

“When I got that opportunity, I thought it was a chance after my ban to kick-start my career again. It was a new challenge; I had new fans to impress, fresh staff, and fresh team-mates. It’s been a time that I’ve enjoyed and I think it’s brought the best out of me.

“It [the drugs ban] did change my outlook, you never know if that’s the end of it. I sat down a few times and had a good think, and realised that I’ve got the best job in the world.

“Sometimes you don’t appreciate what you’ve got, and it made me realise that. I think that’s what’s making me play better this season. At the moment I feel I’m doing really well and hopefully that can continue and maybe even improve as well.”

Kenny lays much of the credit for the resurrection of his career at Loftus Road with Warnock, who has now managed the charismatic goalkeeper at three clubs stretching back 13 years, first at Bury, then at Sheffield United, and finally at QPR.

“It works both ways with me and the manager, he knows what he gets from me week in, week out, and I know what I get from him,” said Kenny. “It’s worked well over the years and I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for me, and hopefully I can repay him this season by doing my bit.

“He gives out praise at the right time, but obviously he wants to keep your feet on the ground as well. As well as things go, they can soon go the other way, he helps you keep a steady head.”

Such is the confidence Kenny inspires in his defence, his was just about the only position safe when new owner Tony Fernandes’ arrival heralded a flood of new signings during the summer.

Indeed, Kenny has rendered himself virtually irreplaceable, producing a string of fine performances which have helped Rangers to a respectable 12th place in the Premier League table.

QPR have shown a stubborn resilience at Loftus Road, which was in evidence again against Manchester City at the weekend, and Kenny believes their form on their own turf will be vital.

While Warnock’s men were narrowly and undeservedly beaten by the league leaders, there have been enough encouraging signs this season to suggest that Kenny’s second stint in the top flight will have a far happier ending than the first.

“You’ve got to look at your home games, it’s massive that we have good home form this season, and hopefully pick up some points away from home as well,” he added.

“If you’d looked at the games we’d had prior to the Chelsea one, you wouldn’t have picked that one out as your first win, but things don’t always work out like you’d expect.

“Apart from the couple of hammerings we’ve had, we’ve given it all we’ve got and picked up a couple of good wins away at Everton and Wolves. Without a doubt we’ve shown that we can stay up this season. Apart from the Bolton and Fulham game we’ve been a match for anyone. I don’t see why we can’t.

“You want to finish as high as you can, but I think if someone offered us 17th now we’d snap their hand off. You can’t be too greedy, it’s our first season up, we’ve had a big turnaround in players, we’ll just see how the season goes and you never know, we might finish higher.”

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Thanks Northolt. Great read and more (as if we needed it) evidence for Warnock's man management skills. We just need to secure premiership survival and then next summer / start of 12/13 season will be an unbelievable ride for Rangers' fans.

 

Super Paddy Kenny.

 

[video=youtube;amX06jeiF_M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amX06jeiF_M[/video]

 

He's been decent this season, not sure I'd describe it as ''the form of his life'' though.

His form last season was far better.

 

infinitely better quality oppo this season though Madge. I wish he'd play for Ireland again.

 

When I seen the title to this thread I thought it was going to read "Pizza Hut closes in W12"!

 

I suppose so but I can't remember him being at fault for a single goal last year (maybe rose tinted syndrome as it was our promotion season etc).

He was dodgy against Fulham and although Citys first two goals were good, I think he could have done better with them.

 

Very harsh there Madge lad. True it was silly when people were saying hes the best in the Prem but I think hes carried his great form from last season into this. He made some great stops at Spurs and I can't see how you could fault him for City's two.

He's not perfect. He spills the odd one and his distribution can be poor at times but show me the perfect player and I'll show you City snapping them up!

 

paddy,s already a Q.P.R. legend. end of

 

QPR keeper reveals the ‘heartbreak’ driving him on this season - QPR - London 24

Paddy Kenny forgot he left his wristwatch in his pocket during training
Feeling a sharp pain in his groin it was revealed that he had smashed the timepiece into a thousand small bits
Doctors have removed most of the parts however a few cogs are missing
Kenny was quoted as saying
"These loose cogs are driving me nuts"

This would explain why he is on form at the moment ... Like to see him take a cross in the air more ... Stoke will test him we have to be on the metal there

 

Needs to be more dominant in his penalty box,great shot stopper

 

Average keeper in my opinion, reminds me of Lee Camp.

 

I've heard it said that Murphy for the Stoke game to deal with the crosses should be considered.
Don't know about his readiness though; it's a hard one.

 

Yeh, I think Dave wrote that, beacause I was thinking at the tiime I got no idea how good Murphy is. Paddy against Stoke doesn't fill me with comfort, but how ready the 2 potential replacements are I have no idea -Cerny seemed also to be a better shot stopper than he was at dealing with crosses. Paddy has made some great saves this season, but doesn't seem to come for many crosses convincingly - the ones he does come for he generally seems to flap away to often unsafe places, while I'm thinking sh*t, that could just as easily have gone in our own net. He was at fault for 2 goals at Fulham, and I thought a good PL keeper would have saved Silva's shot on Saturday at his near post. I agree he's good, but I'm not convinced he is good enough for the PL at present. Hope he steps up a level otherwise hope Jones and the Scouts are scouring Holland for another tlike Swansea found, all ready for January!

 

Yes Oslo; the aerial bombardment will definitely feature at Stoke, but looking at their site I was surprised to see that Crouchie may not play, as Pulis seems to favour Jones instead as a target man.
But it would be a radical move to drop Paddy if he is not injured.

 

You are right Twins, I think Paddy has done enough, and giving a reserve an unforced PL debut at Stoke would be a stretch! Interesting what you write about Crouch - maybe he's back on Neil's target list again....

 

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Paddy - a legend​

 

Can't see NEIL dropping Paddy for anyone atm... and I'm more than happy with that! Paddy's the man.

Col?

 

Just about sums you up Bobby