I think - and I know it's banging the same drum again - that events off the field really screwed up a lot of what would have ideally happened in the close season, particularly with regard to the transfer window. NW knew we weren't strong defensively, hence the last minute scramble for Bassong which fell through when Spurs' attempt for Cahill failed. As good as we were defensively last season, I think very few of us believed that what we had at the back, particularly in the middle, would be good enough for the Prem. We did sign (last minute again) two good centre backs imo but we didn't have the time to get sufficient cover for them should the worst happen. And happen it has. Injuries, suspensions, (not to mention the fact that one of them has been the target of a race-hate campaign by the worst kind of scum), have left NW barely able to field the same back line from one game to the next, shuffling around an increasingly threadbare pack while playing against teams who have a lot more financial clout and a lot more experience of playing at this level as a team than we do. (Deep breath while I go statto for a sec).... To continue my point, just take the four defensive signings NW made over the summer; Gabbidon on a free, then, after Ecclestone and Briatore buggered off with a sackful of cash, Young, Traore and Ferdinand. Now consider our results and performances in the six games these players, (i.e. the players that NW thought could perform for us at this level), have started together: Newcastle (H) - Draw Wolves (A) - Win Villa (H) - Draw Man City (H) - Loss Stoke (A) - Win Norwich (A) - Loss. The three home games we should have got more from, and, even against Norwich, on another day, we'd have had a point. The rest of the time is just treading water imo, square pegs into round holes, that sort of thing. I ask the question yet again of the Warnock haters who seem to think he should be wearing sackcloth and ashes for every post-match interview instead of talking the team up. What did you expect from this season? He had Danny Graham at his house and still he wouldn't sign for us. Does that not tell you about the state of disarray we were in 6 months back? What did you expect from this season? At this time we were owned by a couple of "investors" looking for a return on their investment. They wouldn't spend a penny on the future because all they wanted to do was load their saddlebags up with gold and toddle off into the sunset. Meanwhile all the teams we play against now had none of this nonsense going on. They had already lined up their signings, got the signatures, and welcomed them into a well-run club, not the standing joke that, by now, we'd become. What did you expect from this season? Eventually they ****ed off with their return, leaving well-intentioned (I hope) new owners in their wake, and a manager with something like 10 days to catch up on what his contemporaries had been doing all summer long. What did you expect from this season? And so with all that behind us we now play week in, week out in the Prem. One week we play Manchester United fielding something like £150m of talent against ours which cost less than a tenth of that.(And don't even get me started on Chelsea). What did you expect from this season? The next week we're up against well-run clubs like Norwich or Swansea, who haven't had the ongoing soap-opera in the background that we've all endured. What did you expect from this season? The week after that we're up against a "seasoned" Prem survival outfit like Bolton or Wolves. Again what did you expect from this season?
Decent post Telford, but doesn't excuse blatant mistakes in terms of team selection, formation and substitutes by NW, however little time he had to assemble a side.
And it is a horrible feeling. Does any one player encapsulate the phrase "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration" more than him?
He's the elephant in the room for me. All the discussions on our board revolve around this guy even when he's not mentioned. To re-cap: 1) Redknapp won't touch him with a bargepole. 2) Neither will any other Prem team. 3) Which is why he signed for us at the start of last season. He had nowhere else to go. 4) His attitude stinks. 5) Which is why he somehow thinks it's appropriate to flounce out of a tonking at Craven Cottage - and craven is the word here - to go home on the bus with his minder, while the fans stayed till the bitter end. **** me I wish I got £20k a week to walk out on my job. 6) Which is why he's fighting over taking a penalty kick with HH against Chelsea. 7) Which is why, even after the successful conversion of said penalty, while every Rangers fan in the world is celebrating the goal, he's still there waving his finger in Helguson's face.
Telford, are you drunk? Pretty sure you've been speaking to yourself this whole thread. Anyway, im not going to partake in your Taarabt bashing, to me its quite obvious that he's our best player, so i'll leave it at that.
And as a postscript can I add that the next time he throws the toys out, we should all lay ourselves down as volunteers to be a "human bridge" between him and the nearest bus-stop. It's a double win you see. For all the lovers his feet don't even have to touch the earth. The rest of us can just laugh ironically as he does literally, what he did metaphorically at Craven Cottage.
Actually that's quite insulting. Why would I have to be drunk to have an opinion contrary to yours? Or indeed have an opinion at all? Is your life governed by the idea that anybody who might disagree with you is under some other influence? If so, and, on the off chance you're right, ALL HAIL LONDON CALLING. "Speaking to myself", that's what we all do when we type these words, right? If you want to debate then address the issues I have raised. If not then meh.
Telfords had a beer, ( and good luck to him. Brilliant poster. ) it's still a great post though. I understand where Telford is coming from, i've done a few of these myself. We only want what's best for QPR and our fantastic fans. It's born out of the frustration of getting there, having the oppotunity and seizing it. Alas, we all expect to much too soon. That's a reflection of the society we all live in... everything is now instant. I want it now! Football included. I still think we arrived here prematurely. That includes , the team, the manager and the fans. Let's see if we can together, coax along and somehow manage to stay up. If we can get through this season intact, maybe we can re-build from there. Be prepared. For this season we wern't, but we'll give it a good bloody go!
No I haven't. Just because you disagree with a particular point of view it doesn't mean you've "had a beer", and it's appalling arrogance fron London Calling to suggest this. Therein lies the danger in conformity.If I disagree with you then I must be under some influence or other right? I just don't subscribe to the Taarabt show that so many do. I may use exaggerated means to make my point, but my point stands until I'm convinced otherwise. I daresay that if I go back far enough on this site I'd find many to agree with me. Have they all "had a beer"? I say again to anybody who disagrees with my posts address the points I raise.
Telford, I'm a fan mate! Loved your overlong OP. Tidy piece of writing that. When I realised it was gonna be a long 'un, I gulped but you kept me well interested throughout. (More please!) HOWEVER... Can't agree with your ramblings about Taarabt. Sure there's nothing sweet about him (till he pulls something off) but he ramains our biggest gun. It's worth our while to fire him up - like fattening a cow before market. He's potentially worth loadsa millions and if the eventual sale proves as lucrative for us as has been mooted, there's funds in our kitty for next summer's scramble. All good mate.
Telford, interesting post and some decent points raised but i would like to pull you up on one point. Nobody here is a NW hater. We all love QPR. We all recognise the incredible contribution that NW has made to our beloved club. But this is an open forum and people can raise whatever point they want to here about any of the players and staff and yes that means NW too. I am a realist. I know we are not world beaters. The fans here are entitled to raise any point they want. If people raise a point about NW, criticize him or question him, that does not make them NW haters. It does not mean that they respect his achievements any less, it just means that NOBODY is above our beloved club. Too many people on this forum use those words "Warnock hater", they don't hate NW, they just question his decisions, and sometimes IMO correctly.
Go Telford! I dont believe you are under the influence mate but just hope the hangover is not to severe!!!! Meant to put a smily face on then but dont know how - f...ing computers!
i dont think lc was having a go at you or your opinions telford but of the 16 replys 10 are from you so it does appear that you are talking to yourself having said that you do appear to make more sense than most your ramblings about tarbs apart had to work today so missed the game but the reviews of tarbs look good..nice to see him start a game
What did I expect? A team containing Kenny, Young, Ferdinand, Traore, Faurlin, Barton, SWP, Tarbs, Mackie and Helguson to be higher than 16th. We don't have a bad side. Just look at those 10 names. Why have we underachieved? Tactics? I wouldn't say personnel. Can't be injuries, DJ has been the only long term casualty. We've been luckier than many other teams in that respect.
