Shaun Wright-Phillips "Free Role" in QPR Side London 24/Ian Cooper EXCLUSIVE: QPR boss hints new midfielder could take Taarabtâs place Ian Cooper Tuesday, September 6, 2011 Warnock plans to hand Wright-Phillips âfreeâ role in side Shaun Wright-Phillips will be handed a âfreeâ role in the QPR side for the rest of the season as manager Neil Warnock looks to add some unpredictability to his attacking options. Wright-Phillips, who signed a four-year deal with the Rs on transfer deadline day, played primarily on the right and left wings in his spells at Manchester City and Chelsea. But Warnock has revealed he also plans to employ the 29-year-old behind the striker in QPRâs 4-2-3-1 formation, a position which Adel Taarabt made his own last season. The move adds weight to Warnockâs earlier assertion that Taarabtâs place in the side is far from guaranteed, with the temperamental Moroccan having to earn his place after beginning the campaign with doubts over his fitness and some indifferent displays. And with Tommy Smith and fellow new recruit DJ Campbell also all able to operate across the Rangers front-line, Warnock now has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal. âI think Shaun can play all over midfield really, within the system, so heâll have a free role in the side,â Warnock told London24.com. âHe can play on the right, the left, a little bit like Tommy Smith does, and also in the hole behind the striker. Adel Taarabt as well; he played on the left against Wigan and I thought he did well. It gives us options, which is crucial. âIâve told Shaun just to enjoy his football, he needs to be playing regularly and hopefully he will be.â Follow Ian Cooper on Twitter @QPRTimes http://www.london24.com/sport/championsh.... lace_1_1014343 iReader
Not too sure about that, much rather have his pace and flair on the wing. Never seen him as a playmaker as such, more of an out an out winger than chips in with a few goals. Surely the reason we signed him was because we needed pace on the flanks. I wouldn't drop Taarabt for him either, I reckon they'd work well together.
He may well switch between wings,but there's no way he's gonna replace Adel.I wish Neil would try 4-4-2,i just think it gives us more attacking options.
But where would you play Adel in a 442? Can't have him in centre mid and we'd get torn apart in midfield and as a winger he'd leave a full back exposed.
I hope he keeps him wide in the role Jamie Mackie played at the start of last season. It annoyed be a bit when Routledge played too central last season. I dont want to question Warnocks tactics but SWP has to play out wide surely? Adel should play more central just behind the striker in a 4-5-1 / 4-4-2 formation.
You lot ain't listening are you? The gaffer says 4231 and a FREE role for SWP all season! Our front three always swop positions anyway, so like you I'm not sure what this really means. If it means he mustn't be a winger, how FREE is that?
Brixton got there before me (a bit of a crash here - oh why can't connections be better at work!!!!). I think the arcticle was more dramatic the Neil's words - he welcomes the flexibility and might use it either during a match or as a full game plan. Just because he can, doesn't mean he will.
Rang some alarm bells as after watching the Ian Wright interview on QPRPlayer, he goes on about how excited they both were about Neils plans for Shaun re: where hes going to play and how Warnocks going to use him. Sounded like that was one of the main lures used to get his signing. Makes more sense now reading this.
The thing is 4-4-2 is a dated system that is being superceded by 4-2-3-1. The whole benefit of the new system is it allows fluidity for the forward players, they can inter-change and pull defenders all over the place and I guess SWP will operate as one of several inter-changeable players in this system. England are now playing it and Friday's game saw them pull the Bulgarian defence every which way, that's why Lampard and even Gerrard may be on their way out. It suits pacy aggressive players and we've now got some decent options up front...
Adel will be gutted to find that the manager has been dishing out free rolls while he has been away trying to lose a few pounds!!
Rubbish. Both players will play a part this season. Taarabt has been good so far. I recon SWP will be on the wing more often than not. Still, we'll see I suppose.
would a 4 3 3 be better as woud be more stability in middle of the park if adel and swp both "free" role up top / wings
Surely the point of the system is that all of the forward 4 all play in free roles when we are attacking, which is why we have 2 defensive midfielders. Taarabt, Smith, SWP, Bothroyd, DJ, Buz can all play across the park. I thought that one of the joys last season was watching Taarbs, Tommy, Routledge or whoever pop up in an unexpected position keeping the opposition defence on their toes.
My old man has said a few times that he'd love to see Tarbs play up off the striker. I know he's harping back to his days down the Loft with Stan and Rod etc but he reckons he would tear defenses apart, score loads of goals and win a rake of penalties. I'm not so sure myself but it would be interesting to see how he'd get on in a 4-4-2 playing off Bothroyd with SW Phillips out wide and Barton in the centre. One things for sure, we now have options with regards to the quality we have in the locker.
4-4-2 is out-dated! This is nothing new. The 3 behind the striker always always swap around in our system.
