The Rant, The Abs, and The Villans on the Horizon

Queens Park Rangers will host their fifth home league match of the season as they welcome Aston Villa to Loftus Road for a Monday evening encounter.

Rangers have met The Villans on 42 previous occasions with the R’s winning 20 and drawing 10 of these games. Recent history suggests we may see another draw on the board as three of the last four encounters have ended in draws; although the last match against these two teams ended in a 3-2 victory in March of 2013. Goals should also be on the agenda as there hasn’t been a goalless draw in the 21 league matches played between the teams at Loftus Road.

Coming of the agonising loss at home to Liverpool FC last weekend, QPR will be looking to bounce back up with another motivating performance in front of the home fans. Taking on the look of a Championship outfit for much of this campaign thus far, last Sunday was easily QPR's best performance of this term as it was the first time this campaign they had looked like a top-flight team. While there’s still much improving that can be done to a side struggling to score timely goals, the signs are beginning to point in the right direction in terms of Rangers at least beginning to show where the back of the net is located. Against Liverpool numerous chances were squandered as Leroy Fer found the crossbar twice, while Charlie Austin and Sandro each failed to manage to put away numerous opportunities. And although the end result was not what the R’s fully deserved (especially to lose to two own goals no less), comfort can be taken from the fact that the squad responded from a turbulent international football break with its best footballing of the season thus far.

In comes an Aston Villa side who are in the midst of a slump of their own. Coming off the heels of a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Everton last weekend, four straight defeats have knocked Villa off their magical early season form into 12th place on the Premier League table. Three of the four defeats have come against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City and producing an overall goal difference of -11 during the four match losing streak. With a side who hasn’t scored a goal in over a month since their 1-0 victory against Liverpool on the 15th of September, The Villans may be coming to Loftus Road low on confidence and in dire needs to end their goalscoring drought. This poses extra precautions and emphasis on a QPR defence which has allowed 18 goals and three own goals in eight league matches while only registering one clean sheet.

While all this should have served as enough fuel for QPR to really focus on getting after Aston Villa, instead the week has been filled with more on-going drama within the club dressing room. Day after day the club manage to find itself in the backpages of newspapers and in the medial headlines thanks in part to the continuing drama of Harry Redknapp and Adel Taarabt. Yes, the aging wheeling-dealing Houdini and the Moroccan enigma were once again showing their displeasures for each other in various public forums for all to see. In my opinion it was yet another humiliating display of egoism which cast another dark cloud over my beloved club. While Redknapp may have been upset with his continued failed attempts to get Taarabt on the pitch to perform for the R’s, the post-match press conference was in no way the appropriate forum to verbally attack Adel. And I understand the need for Adel to respond and protect what little integrity and reputation he has left at the club, yet his response to also go to the media and conduct a “whoa-is-me” interview and taking selfies of his stomach also displayed yet another level of immaturity for our maverick midfielder. To me each man was in the wrong and each share the blame for this public black eye. If I was Harry I would put Taarabt in the match against Aston Villa and let him have a go for all 90 minutes barring any injury setback. Either he will perform or sink. Let the supporters see for themselves the match fitness and how the “3 stones” of overweightness is affecting his performance.The results of this public mess has led to the R’s Chairman Tony Fernandes expressing support for the manager, the player’s abs and waistline on full display for all to see, and our supporters to once again divide themselves over the support of a player who contributed a massive role in delivering one of the best seasons in recent memory which concluded in a Championship Division title and promotion to top flight football in 2011. Regardless where you fall on the side of the Redknapp/Taarabt coin, it’s very important for ALL of the staff, players, and supporters to come together for the better cause as we are once again mired in an early season relegation battle after just eight Premier League matches. Failure to do so will only lead to more division amongst the club and supporters; which could ultimately lead to another dire season like 2012-2013.

A desperate opponent on the road. A home team seeking to turn results and misfortune around. A home fan base in dire need of performance and desire that is fitting of the QPR shirt. Each club needing a result to kickstart their season. Recent history has shown QPR to rise above and produce results whenever faced with turmoil the week or so prior to matches. This week can be another instance of a repeat in history. A rejuvenated and determined QPR side needs to be on-hand behind another raucous crowd at Loftus Road for Monday Night Football. Anything less and this could be another rough night for Rangers supporters. I see another good performance in the cards and a 2-1 QPR victory.

http://statesidesuperhoop.weebly.com/blog/the-rant-the-abs-and-the-villans-onthe-horizon

 

I just hope Arry has the guts to go for the jugular as Villa are in freefall (But he wont!)>..........

 

The vastly over used 'must win'. I'll go for 'essential win'.