Taarabt: My head was in Paris during poor form for QPR Moroccan midfielder says he was not focussed on the Hoops at the start of the season as his Premier League form dipped following the collapse of a move to Paris Saint-Germain 3 Apr 2012 08:40:00 By Daniel Cross Queens Park Rangers playmaker Adel Taarabt has blamed his early-season dip in form on the collapse of his proposed move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer. The Moroccan midfielder was all set to move to the French giants but the move was blocked by PSG sporting director Leonardo at the last minute. Taarabt finally scored his first Premier League goal in Saturdayâs win against Arsenal, having struggled to replicate his Championship form of last season and believes his hurt pride contributed to a lack of scoring. âI was hurt early in the season because my head was in Paris,â he told The Daily Mirror. âWith Paris it was done. I was already in Paris where I met the Qataris but the arrival of Leonardo blocked things.â ADEL ON SONG? Adel Taarabt is 9/2 to score in his second successive match when Manchester United play QPR on Saturday. Last season, Taarabt scored 19 goals along with 16 assists on his way to the Football League player of the year award, but has failed to repeat those heroics at Premier League level. His goal against Arsenal came after 68 failed shots on goal in the league and it now seems that the talented 22-year-old is ready to return to form - just when his club need him most. QPR have won two of their last three games, beating Liverpool as well as Arsenal, but the west Londoners are only above the relegation zone on goal difference. The Rs also face a tricky run-in, with Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City among their seven remaining opponents
This doesn't do anything to endear him does it? Basically saying he played poorly for QPR because he was annoyed no one would buy him. I am a huge Taarabt fan and I still believe people will tell their kids they saw him play in years to come but comments like this are a real kick in the teeth for the fans at QPR. Will he ever grow up?
I agree to a point and his loyalty has always been on a knife edge but do also see that he's a very young 22 year old and does get distracted and carried away. You can read that the other way and it says that he is focussed now and is currently happy here. His reaction to his goal wasn't that of a man waiting for the next plane out. He was also directing things on the pitch on Saturday and looked like more of a captain than at any time previously I remember. I love the fact that he's ours still and maybe, just maybe he's starting to enjoy his new found responsibility within the team (plus our need for his creativity). If we stay up he might just stay for Hughes and where the club is heading.
Aaaaagh, I'm touched by your naivity. Adel is a glorious player, but loyalty is unlikely to be one of his strong points as its a fairly rare commodity nowadays, and either down to success (Giggs, Scholes, Neville, why would they ever leave Utd?); lack of choice - if no one else wants you, your 'loyalty' to where you are is a given; fear of change and challenge - may be doing him a disservice but Gerrard could have done more away from Liverpool but I think was afraid of moving. Adel is of course unusually dim in coming out with this now. Doubtless he was 'misquoted'.
Personally i just cant believe he is stupid enough to come out with this AND get photograohed with a "dodgy pipe" in his hands... He really needs new advisors! As said, the quote was probably taken out of context; BUT please..get him a baby sitter asap!!
I was being sarcastic with the 'misquoted'. We know hacks will make anything up for a story, but no smoke without fire, or at least a sisha pipe.
Sadly conjecture though Mattie... and that's all this guy ever leaves us with. Be nice to hear him say he was wrong to turn against us so cynically last summer - especially being our captain at the time. Be nice to hear him say he owes the Rs for our loyalty towards and affection for him. Be nice to see him brandish the badge in front of the cameras as a mark of his regard for the little club that, unlike 'Arry, Leo or others on his wish list, gave him licence to perform as both buffoon and genius. Needs to get his head out of his arse, feet on the ground and prove his worth. The opportunities he craves will surely follow - and with it a well deserved proper pay-day for QPR. But...
He's a 22 year old with the intelligence and make-up of a 12 year old, he'll never change and he'll show no loyalty when the crunch comes. You accept him for what he is and hope we benefit from that, no more no less...
Another way of reading this is - Dear Qataris, I've got over being dissed by that Leonardo and am back to playing good. **** QPR, come and get me in the summer. Love from Adel. Club's response to that has to be £20m and you've got yourselves a deal.
Little molehills Oz? Would we really be in our current position if he'd come up with the goods this season?
Firstly, I agree with the comment regarding loyalty. Why should we expect Taarabt (or anyone else for that matter) to show the Rs loyalty? Why exactly do we feel he owes us this? He an exceptionally talented footballer - albeit one that still needs to mature emotionally, it would seem - with obvious ambitions to make it to the top of his trade. You would be the same in his shoes. The only thing that will keep him here is if the club matches his own ambitions, and I can't see the Rs playing in front of 80,000 fans in the Champions League final any time soon! Secondly, the reporting is lazy and open to interpretation. My take is that he was clearly distracted and disappointed at the failure of the PSG move, but is saying that he has gotten over that. This can only be a good thing for the Rs in the battle against relegation. If Taarabt wants to put himself back in the shop window for a big-money summer move, then its a win-win for the Rs in that (a) he's going to turn in potentially match-winning performances to attract European suitors, and (b) he's price will go up as a consequence. If the Rs stay up, then he can go wherever he wants with my blessing and is welcome back anytime.
Talking of misquoted I think I am bering misquoted here! I never said I expected him to be loyal. I do think it unacceptable if he gives anything less than 100% while playing for our club.
Apologies mate, think I just embellished your comments in my head. I just don't get what people are on about when they bang on about loyalty from players. Agree 100% Adels problem is disrespect, allied to brain cell shortage. Best thing he can do is play to his full potential for the next seven games, then what will be will be....
