When we set off for Loftus Rd yesterday, me and my two sons were in quite a subdued mood. We discussed things for the hour long drive and knew that, with the way Arsenal had been playing, we were probably in for more disappointment!! Things didn't feel much better at the ground as my youngest waited for the players to arrive, hoping to get the signatures that he didn't yet have. After most of the players had filed through, Joey Barton arrived, rushing through, head down and acknowledging no-one and not stopping to talk or sign autographs!! Then Cisse came striding along Loftus Rd, flanked by stewards, with the fans seemingly disinterested in him!! None of this filled me with confidence. So to the game......MH got his selection spot on by playing the 4-2-3-1 formation that many of us had been calling for. Onouha in his best position at RB, Hill back alongside Anton and Taiwo at LB. Derry and Diakite were the holding midfielders, with Taarabt, Barton and Mackie behind the lone striker Zamora. Wenger, by contrast, got it badly wrong by playing Ramsey on the left of his midfield 5. For once, Rangers started well, although Arsenal did keep the ball well and looked dangerous. Taiwo whacked Walcot after 30secs and Hill did the same in the first 5mins!! For the rest of the game, Hill and Ferdinand kept RVP very quiet and Taiwo was magnificent against Walcott...only getting skinned once in the entire game! Then, it happened. The moment many of us have been waiting for. Hill played a ball forward that was meant for Diakite, but it was misplaced and found its way to Taarabt who was where we wanted him to be...up the pitch in the attacking third. His first touch, as usual was good, his second sublime as he took the ball away from Vermaelen, accelerated towards the penalty area and un-leashed an unstoppable, curling shot into the bottom corner. Cue pandemonium around the ground. Taarabt was superb all game and finally showed everyone that he can be one of the best players on the pitch against other top players in the Premier League!! Arsenal continued to keep the ball well and got the equaliser after Van Persil managed to poke the ball through to Walnut, who managed to play a 1-2 with the post before finishing coolly. I think a lot of us feared the worse. Early in the 2nd half Van Parsnip ran clear. I was convinced he was offside, but to be fair to the lino, after seeing it on TV he was half a yard onside! Paddy Kenny pulled off a stunning save to deny the League's top scorer! But to their credit Rangers continued to play well in the 2nd half and went deservedly into the lead when Mackie, after some usual persistence laid the ball back for Diakite who hit a superb drive into the top corner from 15yrds. (Diakite was superb for the whole game and even though he can be a little frustrating when he tries to dribble with the ball in his own area I simply love the guy. He and Taiwo are really growing into the Premier League). From then till the end of the game Rangers continued to hassle Arsenal and make them play in front of the two holding midfielders. Also, as well as working hard and hassling, Rangers played some good stuff at times and the excellent Barton was denied a third by a stunning save from Szczesny, tipping a rasping drive over the bar. The last 10 mins seemed like an hour to me but, in truth, Arsenal never really looked threatening, which is testament to just how well the back 4 and entire team played!! Special mentions from me for Barton and Zamora: Barton was superb yesterday, having by far his best 90mins of his time here. He looked committed and looked like the player we all thought we'd signed. Zamora was absolutely awesome in the first half....running every ball down and totally bullying the Arsenal back 4. He also looked quicker than their two centre backs and won nearly every header. He dipped a bit in the 2nd half, but that was totally understandable having put in such a shift in the first half as the lone striker. All in all this must rank as our best display of the season and gives us hope to avoid the drop. Oh...and on a personal note...my youngest had an under 13 game this morning, still in with a chance to win the league and they did a QPR v Liverpool. With 5mins left they were 2-1 down, equlalised in the last minute and then my son hit a screamer with the last kick of the game to win it!! Carsberg don't do footballing weekends....but if they did......................... Player ratings and comments: Kenny - 8 Superb save from Van Pierced Nipple to keep the scores level. He's not half as bad as some on here are suggesting!! Onouha - 8 Looks so much better at RB. Solid throughout. Ferdinand - 8 Kept Van Winkle very quiet with an assured performance and looks much happier with Hill alongside him! Hill - 8 Solid and dependable. Another superb display from our warrior! Taiwo - 8.5 His best game by a mile. Looked really good on the ball and did brilliantly against Walcott. Derry - 8 Covered so much ground and even caught up with Wingnut on the one occasion that he got away from Taiwo. Diakite - 8.5 Another who played his best game so far. A typical rash challenge near the end aside, he won a lot of tackles, played good, simple passes and took the winner superbly. Mackie - 8 Never stopped trying and hassling and did brilliantly to set up the winner. Barton - 8 Great display from Joey who really looked like he cared!! The fans supported him throughout and he tackled and ran like the player we know he can be. Taarabt - 9 Looked the best player on the pitch for me. Worked hard, sent in good dead ball kicks, linked play really well and took his goal with skillful genius!! Zamora - 8.5 I will never accuse him of being lazy again! Simply ran himself into the ground whilst winning most headers, holding the ball up well and bullying the entire Arsenal back 4! SWP - N/A. Dare we believe? I think we may!! Thoughts?
Good stuff as always Col. I'd have put BZ as MOM. I thought his hold-up play was superb and vital in giving a reliable outlet upfield time and again; reminiscent of Hughes in his prime. I just hope for a strong ref next Sunday. If so and in the same role he could have some joy against Evans and Ferdinand.
TBH mate, I could have made anyone of 4 or 5 MOM. Had to go for my mate adel I suppose!! Completely agree about Zamora's performance, especially first half!
Great read Col and congrats to the lad. Nothing at all to add about the game. The atmosphere was rocking and we must now make Loftus Road the fortress it should have been a long many months ago. Out of interest, what does a player have to do to get a 10?!
I was tempted to give them all 10 mate! Just tried to keep it in perspective. You're right about the atmosphere....special wasn't it? Oh and BTW...the lad's goal was an absolute belter!! Happy days!
Every time we've had a great atmosphere we've done well, Chelsea, Man City, yesterday and possibly Liverpool
We definitely should, but not so sure that we will, I just wish more of the stadium participated sometimes, if you get what i mean !
Nice report as always col. Congratulations also for the win of your sons team. Is he gonna be a future rangers star? IMO our whole team was great yesterday but i have to mention three players Kenny ,Barton and Diakate because they all have had their shares of criticsism on this season. Kenny has really improved in his last three matches and Barton was yesterday the player we thought he would be when we bought him. Diakate has played superbly as he learned what the playing in EPL needs.
Good read thank you decided to turn off for the weekend and escape to Dorset and turned everything off Turned on at 19:00 and was elated A result next week and we are in the mix ... Villa could be sucked in
Great report Col, agree with everything you said. The formation and selection were so important and, imo, were 100% right. I hope we keep the same starting 11 next week. I just gave MOTM to Zamora but it could have been any one from 6 or 7 tbh. And what an atmosphere!
Atmosphere was fantastic eh? Yep...I'd go with the same line up next week. If all are fit I can see no reason to change it!
Good report as usual Col. Taraabt was fantastic along with everyone else including barton. I've said all along that if joey keeps it simple then he will look good!. Hope we continue from where we left off.
Excellent as always col. Congratulations to your son, I can still remember the important goals I scored when I was a kid. I hope he will too. The plaudits are well deserved to all the players mentioned. I would just like to add one for Jamie Mackie as he seems to be slightly overlooked this weekend. I thought he had his best performance as a starter for us yesterday, it's difficult to believe that he was playing non-league football a few short years ago. Maybe we're taking him a bit for granted, when he's not available for selection is when we'll probably realise how much we will miss him. Mackie's not every purists cup of tea, but every side at every level needs a Mackie in their squad.
Agree with this Nines. I'd hate to play against him. He's always busy trying to make things happen even if they don't always come off. If only his enthusiasm and zest had been matched by others all season we'd be mid-table now. It was a horrible match to watch, but the turn around he single handedly inspired in the second half against Blackburn was awesome.
just wanted to add a thank you for holding out yesterday. I put 10 quid on you to win after you went ahead the second time and made 70 quid. The bookies are giving 16 for you to beat man u, and 5 for a draw. Of yesterdays performance, and knowing how much you'll want it, that's got to be worth another two 10 bets no?
