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In need of a playmaker

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  • In need of a playmaker

    Watching us in the 2nd half yesterday when 1-0 down it was so blindingly obvious the team lacked a playmaker in the middle of the park. Harry played Mutch there but on that evidence he is no No.10. All the players could do was knock the ball from side to side, hit it long, or use the wings. But nothing came from the middle - be it a defence splitting pass, someone who could run with the ball or make something out of nothing. And all Harry could do was throw on a 3rd striker and change the wingbacks but at least he seems to agree with Wally Downes Jr (below) judging by his post match comments and is trying to sign the right type of player this week, with his mention of 3 or 4 new arrivals.

    Wally seems to agree with me and has written a very good piece here. It's the one missing piece in the jigsaw imo (other than a 4th striker perhaps):


    "There was a commanding goalkeeping showing from Rob Green in the 1-0 defeat to Hull, marshalling his defence and looking impervious, especially when Tom Ince bore down on his goal unchallenged and looking certain to score. Meanwhile, barring his failure to mark James Chester for the game's only goal, Rio Ferdinand and his two teammates, Richard Dunne and Steven Caulker, in the Rangers' back three looked solid.

    On the flanks there was what every team thrives on and all teams fear: pace. And the central triumvirate of Ale Faurlin, Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch was industrious and technically sound while in attack, Loic Remy looked like he wanted to play for QPR, and Charlie Austin typically posed a constant threat.

    It seemed like nothing was missing -- it looked like a fully formed and complete team. But as the back line remained stoic, the midfield stayed dedicated and the strikers appeared alert, it was a touch of genius, a flash of guile and a moment of magic that was desperately lacking from the Rs' side.

    Where there once was Yossi Benayoun poking and prodding the opposition defence there was, instead, Armand Traore. Where Niko Kranjcar used to languidly stroll around the final third, edging ever closer to a killer ball, there was Jordon Mutch. And in the place of the gifted show pony Adel Taarabt there was workhorse Joey Barton. It was a team well organised, a plan carried out, but it was easy to defend against -- it was predictable.

    Mutch showed enough to prove he is a steal at 6 million pounds. He is a powerful midfielder with a turn of pace, he times his runs into the box well, and on another day he would have struck twice. But he is no playmaker and nor are Barton, Faurlin, Junior Hoilett, Matty Phillips or Bobby Zamora.

    Benayoun was, Kranjcar was, when on loan Tom Carroll and Ravel Morrison looked like they could eventually become playmakers and Taarabt is one and so much more -- too much more. But where is the No. 10 Harry Redknapp has been asking for and fans have been dreaming of?

    It sounds like Kranjcar's wage demands are the sticking point blocking a return for him, and while his contribution to promotion hasn't been forgotten, he looked well out of shape during his loan last season and he may not get away with such play in the Premier League.

    Rafael van der Vaart is now a fixed topic at Redknapp's news conferences and while he probably could be lured from Hamburg, his superb ability masks a soft underbelly. During his two full seasons at Tottenham, he was substituted in 35 Premier League matches. He's 31 now and that sort of durability and reliability is unlikely to have improved with age, especially against the demanding rigours of England's top-tier football.

    As the tragic footage of Taarabt training away from the rest of the Rangers squad showed last week, the maverick Morocco international looks out of shape and out of favour. Redknapp refused to take him on the preseason tour of Germany due to the condition he came back in from his summer holiday, and relations between the pair have not improved.

    Even the most ardent Rs should start questioning Taarabt's commitment to the club, even if Redknapp is not to their taste. At West Ham he got the best out of the erratic Paulo Di Canio and at Portsmouth he had Paul Merson playing effervescent football despite the former Arsenal midfielder later admitting he was battling alcohol and gambling problems during his rich vein of form.

    So where will Rangers find a playmaker? Of all positions and persuasions, the role of orchestrator is the most difficult to fill. It's the part that even the hardest-working footballer can't play. It's reserved for football's free-spirited renaissance painters and the closest Rangers have right now are trustworthy council decorators."

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  • #2
    We have one, the missing piece in the jigsaw really. He won't play though.
    "When you went to the corner and saw our fans celebrating the way they were you just wanted to be part of it" - Shaun Derry after we beat the scum 1-0

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    • #3
      Originally posted by SuperHoopNik View Post
      We have one, the missing piece in the jigsaw really. He won't play though.
      I actually question this Nik. The one thing Adel could do very well to set up another player was deliver a telling cross. Other than that, every piece of play making he did was for himself. How often can you remember Adel threading the perfect pass for somebody else to score? No, I don't think he is the missing piece in the jigsaw.
      'Only a Ranger!' cried Gandalf. 'My dear Frodo, that is just what the Rangers are: the last remnant in the South of the great people, the Men of West London.' - Lord of the Rings, Book II, Chapter I - Many Meetings.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by dsqpr View Post
        I actually question this Nik. The one thing Adel could do very well to set up another player was deliver a telling cross. Other than that, every piece of play making he did was for himself. How often can you remember Adel threading the perfect pass for somebody else to score? No, I don't think he is the missing piece in the jigsaw.
        you got a short memory mate! over 75% of QPR goals were made or initiated by Adel vision and passes. im sure the history repeats itself , mistreating Adel at the start of every season and when the gaf see its going downhill then they called Adel to play!! pathetic and stuborn coaches. I would prefer 10% fit Adel than 99% of this whole squad fit at 120% . and be sure, if Adel stays he will be again the top QPR scorer and top EPL creative midfield as always.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by rockandroll View Post
          you got a short memory mate! over 75% of QPR goals were made or initiated by Adel vision and passes. im sure the history repeats itself , mistreating Adel at the start of every season and when the gaf see its going downhill then they called Adel to play!! pathetic and stuborn coaches. I would prefer 10% fit Adel than 99% of this whole squad fit at 120% . and be sure, if Adel stays he will be again the top QPR scorer and top EPL creative midfield as always.

          Hahahahaha, stop rubbing Adel's back will you?


          For the record: WE are mistreating Adel?

          This guy is showing up for training looking like miss piggy, has no desire to play for us, thinks he is too good for us but in the meanwhile ticking aprox. a cool 50k a week.
          Also has his mind screwed over and over again by his agent every transfer period.
          He is insulting the club and the FANS and still there are a few who treat him like some kind of a god, that's pathetic!

          Did he set the world alight in our promotion year 10/11?
          Yes, he did, I loved to watch him that year
          But three seasons on and besides a minor few highlights in the PL he has never become the player I was expecting he was going to be for us.
          His mind is with the top clubs in the world not with us.
          Would I like to see him change completely and got dedicated to QPR and OUR cause and become that maverick again?
          Yes! But you and I know that that train has gone a long time now.
          From Holland with love

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          • #6
            I thought that we just lacked pace in the middle and the ability to run with the ball. That was until Hoillet came on. Personally think that Barton and Faurlin cannot play together. Hopefully the rumours about Fer are true. Also think when Isla will make a difference.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by rockandroll View Post
              you got a short memory mate! over 75% of QPR goals were made or initiated by Adel vision and passes. im sure the history repeats itself , mistreating Adel at the start of every season and when the gaf see its going downhill then they called Adel to play!! pathetic and stuborn coaches. I would prefer 10% fit Adel than 99% of this whole squad fit at 120% . and be sure, if Adel stays he will be again the top QPR scorer and top EPL creative midfield as always.
              Dumbest post in the history of Watrbs...... Puriile fanboy- ism. Beyond belief. People will still be posting stuff like this when Adel's moved on. Which he will.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by croxleyhoops View Post
                I thought that we just lacked pace in the middle and the ability to run with the ball. That was until Hoillet came on. Personally think that Barton and Faurlin cannot play together. Hopefully the rumours about Fer are true. Also think when Isla will make a difference.
                Jeez. Did you watch the first half, fella?? Barton and Faurlin did fine. It fell to Mutch to provide pace and to carry the ball. He did OK. And will do better. Good performance; bad result. That's it. You're right about Isla, I think. Not that I know anything about him.

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                • #9
                  ^^You realise this was Hull at home, probably one of the 5 easiest matches we'll get this season?

                  We need a #10 but that article is a load of waffle.

                  'Even the most ardent Rs should start questioning Taarabt's commitment to the club, even if Redknapp is not to their taste. At West Ham he got the best out of the erratic Paulo Di Canio and at Portsmouth he had Paul Merson playing effervescent football despite the former Arsenal midfielder later admitting he was battling alcohol and gambling problems during his rich vein of form.'

                  What a mor0n.

                  rockandroll is on the money.

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                  • #10
                    jesus christ tarabbt couldnt cross the rd...........his delivery was awful!
                    you know nothing john snow!!!!

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                    • #11
                      Adel is history now, move on. This has nothing to do with stubbornness from the coaching staff, this is all to do with the fact that Adel Taarabt considers himself bigger than the club and wants to move away back to Milan.

                      As for the current number 10 role open at the club, now it seems we've lost out on De Guzman to Napoli I would love to see us go for Holtby at Spurs, especially now apparently he's up for sale.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Rangers77 View Post
                        Jeez. Did you watch the first half, fella?? Barton and Faurlin did fine. It fell to Mutch to provide pace and to carry the ball. He did OK. And will do better. Good performance; bad result. That's it. You're right about Isla, I think. Not that I know anything about him.
                        Quality!
                        QPR
                        Best team in the world
                        Sort of

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                        • #13
                          lets forget tarab the brat......only interested in himself............fat..........overated......bad attitude......lazy................not wanted!
                          you know nothing john snow!!!!

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                          • #14
                            Pure rubbish from rockanroll...
                            PRIDE OF LONDON.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by dsqpr View Post
                              I actually question this Nik. The one thing Adel could do very well to set up another player was deliver a telling cross. Other than that, every piece of play making he did was for himself. How often can you remember Adel threading the perfect pass for somebody else to score? No, I don't think he is the missing piece in the jigsaw.
                              I remember him threading the passes. Can't blame Adel for SWP, Mackie and Cisse's finishing.

                              Only 6 players in the entire league created more chances:



                              Adel was also 12th that season in "accurate through balls". Bear in mind this is all while playing for one of the worst sides in the division.

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