QPR rise to the occasion

QPR rise to the occasion


November 17, 2014


By Rafael Fernandez – @RafaFernandez82, Shoot’s QPR blogger

With the international break just about over, normality will be restored this weekend as game week 12 will see a return to Premier League football all around the country. And with the current run of form and rejuvenation filling the air in and around Loftus Road, supporters of Queens Park Rangers will be eager to get the weekend started as the Hoops take a trip north to do battle with the Magpies of Newcastle United.

The last international break in October saw QPR in the midst of on-field turmoil, public embarrassment, and lacking in overall identity as a Premier League squad. But compared to the most recent international break, Rangers have seemingly righted some wrongs and turned for the better. Following the break in October, matches against Liverpool, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Manchester City yielded four out of a possible 12 points. While that type of output may not showcase a significant improvement in form, it is the quality of play on the pitch that has supporters excited and eager for what may yet to come.

This past month of football saw a rejuvenation of passion and desire injected into the squad beginning with a loss at Loftus Road against Liverpool. While the last 10 minutes of regulation stole the headlines and rewrote the book on how not to lose at the end, the match is also remembered as the beginning of a turning point in the club’s fortunes. Inspired play by the entire squad and a wonderful brace by Chile international Eduardo Vargas gave hope that better things were to come.

The following match against Aston Villa at Loftus Road was preceded by a sense of optimism and confidence where many supporters and pundits alike were stating that, if Rangers came to play with the same hunger, fight, and desire that was shown against Liverpool, then the match was there for the taking. Indeed that is exactly what happened as a Charlie Austin brace saw off a Villa side who set a club-record by not scoring for the fifth consecutive league match in a 2-0 loss.

After that match came the west London derby as the R’s paid a visit to bitter rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. For much of the match Rangers frustrated the Blues midfield as the scintillating in-form pairing of Sandro and Karl Henry frustrated their more skilled counterparts. It took a goal of the year nominee from Oscar and what seemed to be a soft penalty in a 50-50 challenge by Eden Hazard to see off a QPR side that continuously piled the pressure on the pitch to the very last moments of regulation. Another Charlie Austin goal was sandwiched in between the Chelsea goals and ensured that the supporters were loud and proud; a point that was clearly hit home by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho with his praise to the QPR supporters for essentially making the home supporters seem like they were in a library.

Though the 2-1 loss was not a result many felt we deserved, spirits were high within the QPR camp, and a visit from the Premier League champions was next in order as Manchester City came to Loftus Road. Again many thought that a result could be there for the taking as City were in poor form themselves after suffering recent defeats in the Champions League and in Premier League play. A thrilling match ensued where two Sergio Aguero goals cancelled out another Charlie Austin goal and a Demichelis own goal for a 2-2 draw. But like the previous three matches, Rangers played with the defending champions for 90 minutes and let it be known that the Citizens were not going to just walk into west London for an easy match-up. Again the R’s took the game to the opposition and made it clear that they were there to play and counter-attack.

The recent run of play has seen some amazing performances from some unsung members of the squad. In defence, Yun Suk-young has really been a diamond in the rough at left back. His great play in the back has resulted in multiple man of the match performances. A player who was brought in before the Championship during the 2012-13 Premier League campaign, he displayed potential in a few Championship matches last season before really being given an opportunity to showcase his skills during this term. He’s done it now against some of the top competition in the league, and should continue to hold his place in the starting XI.

As mentioned previously, Sandro and Karl Henry have really stepped up in the absence of Joey Barton in midfield. Before being substituted due to injury against Manchester City, Sandro really began solidifying his midfield position by displaying the skills and toughness that earned him his “Beast” nickname from his Tottenham days. Karl Henry has been playing out of his skin alongside Sandro picking out players going forward while showing the tenacity needed in midfield to disrupt the opposition.

Bobby Zamora has become the player we all expected him to be as a target man upfront. His play has complimented Charlie Austin by freeing him up in the box while Zamora tends to do all of the hold up play and making runs to attract defenders away from Austin. And as for that man known as “Chaz”…he is simply on fire! Four goals in that four-match stretch has seen him begin to climb the goalscoring table and mentions of an England call-up are very much on the cards for the former bricklayer.

While many of those men are playing a significant role in the revival of Rangers this season, fact is that the squad as a whole has literally stepped their game up. Everyone that is on the pitch is giving it a go and putting in a shift. The players, the coaching staff, and the backroom staff have all stepped it up a notch. Give Harry Redknapp credit, he has stuck with virtually the same line-up for a month now and produced spirited and up-tempo play which has turned the personality of the squad around. Coming this weekend and barring any further setbacks, QPR will be at its fittest as Joey Barton, Jordon Mutch, and Niko Kranjcar will all be healthy and available for team selection.

Many will view it as the squad getting stronger at just the right time. A string of fixtures between now and Boxing Day have the R’s going up against mid-table opposition. This side of the fixture list can really see Rangers do some damage and climb their way back up and out of the relegation zone. And with the current form the team is on at the moment, from a confidence standpoint it has never been higher. But the time is now. The squad is the fittest it’s been all season. The desire and passion is back. The excitement is back. And as always, the supporters are there waiting to cheer on their beloved Hoops. Queens Park Rangers must only look to build on the positives that have been established since the West Ham United fixture. Failure to do so only means reverting back to old ways and habits that will surely do us in as the season gets older. Here’s to looking forward to the holiday season fixtures. Onwards and upwards! Come on you R’s!!!

 

Not a bad article. However, like many it fails to make the link between Rangers improvement and the dropping of Rio Ferdinand.

 

Great article from our US contingent always good reading.

UpminsteR, this is very positive reading why look for negatives?

 

Well maybe there are other factors and not just that one.

 

Wasn't trying to be negative. Maybe I should have said the recall of Richard Dunne who brings a strength to the leadership quality of the back 4 which had previously been missing.

 

I meant to ask him last time he was on here how often he gets over

 

Fair enough

 

I agree, our improvement coincides with Rio being benched, then suspended by the FA for a further couple of games, but we now appear much more determined & comfortable as a back 4. When Rio was playing he was constantly being beaten and out-muscled off the ball, not even jumping at times, with some poor positional play getting caught out. If he were to win a place back in the team, unless there was a significant improvement in his commitment level of play, I really hope he does us all a favour and hangs up his boots in January. Perhaps, to be fair to him, he just doesn't have it anymore, as can be demonstrated in his last season with Man Utd, despite Giggs telling Harry that he still had the right stuff.