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The managers of both clubs will play down the importance of this one game, they will quite rightly say nothing is won after 18/19 games of the season.
Behind the demeanours of both managers a game like this, does in my opinion have a potential psychologicial effect on the rest of the season. If either of the teams can gain a comfortable victory, than as a player you know that you belong to the best team in league , that in turn gives you even more confidence for the reminder of the season, lose it and doubts might well creep in short term, leading to a dip in form if not managed right.
If we win the game Saturday, whatever happens we will be 5 points clear and in my opinion be clear favourites for automatic promotion. Many will point to the fact, we have not found ourselves in these lofty heights for a number of years. The big difference this time around is both the character we have on the pitch and the steely/determined belief of the management team.
In big games in recent years, its Cardiff who have not got a particularly good record and that bodes well for the match on Saturday. As a typical QPR fan we always have doubts, but the way this club is going about its business is highly professional and envy of every other football fan in this division.
We all deserve a change of fortune and even though this game, will not win us promotion on Sunday, I do think it will do wonders for everyone connected with the club and give us the fans a growing sense of belief. For us the fans, this match is much more, its against one of our main rivals Cardiff city and whoever comes out of this match on top, will deserve all the bragging rights when that final whistle blows
In regards to the starting 11, I think Warnocks knows his best team and with no apparant injuries, think many of us could write it down now on a piece of paper, right now. Some intriguing battles on the pitch, none more so on how Bellamy copes with Kyle Walker, because make no mistake the player we have on loan from Spurs can easily frustrate the welshman , because I doubt he will get much change out of him all day.
In Michael Chopra and Jay Boothroyd, they have lethal strikers who are proven at this level, but there records against QPR haven't been that great against us and in Gorkss and Connolly we have solid defenders who won't allow them time and space. I can actually see Cardiff players being a little over-hyped and a potential for a sending off is obvious.
We clearly have a superstar in Adel Tarrabt and it depends very much on which Adel turns up. If we can squeeze out a repeat of his second half performance against Preston, than in my opinion its us who will win the game comfortably, play like he did against Bristol City and we will struggle.
Its not known yet whether he will be man marked, but I suspect Cardiiff players will close in on him, in twos and threes , that will leave space for other QPR players to exploit. If we ever needed Adel to be a team player its this one against Cardiff.
Tommy Smith and Jamie Mackie work-rate for the team cannot be under-estimated and they will cause their full backs bundles of trouble. Much of this game will be played on the wings, simply based on the fact both teams have good wide men, but its the centre pairing of Derry/Faurlin where this game could be won and lost. Faurlin is the intricate passer of a football who invariably finds his friend on/off the pitch Adel Tarrabt and Derry who will stop the balls being fed through to Chopra and Boothroyd.
All in all, this is mouthwatering contest and on paper its a very tight to pick a winner, but I'm guessing a victory over the Bluebirds come 5 o'clock will make fans believe promotion is likely and thats something we could only have dreamed about 12 months ago.
Behind the demeanours of both managers a game like this, does in my opinion have a potential psychologicial effect on the rest of the season. If either of the teams can gain a comfortable victory, than as a player you know that you belong to the best team in league , that in turn gives you even more confidence for the reminder of the season, lose it and doubts might well creep in short term, leading to a dip in form if not managed right.
If we win the game Saturday, whatever happens we will be 5 points clear and in my opinion be clear favourites for automatic promotion. Many will point to the fact, we have not found ourselves in these lofty heights for a number of years. The big difference this time around is both the character we have on the pitch and the steely/determined belief of the management team.
In big games in recent years, its Cardiff who have not got a particularly good record and that bodes well for the match on Saturday. As a typical QPR fan we always have doubts, but the way this club is going about its business is highly professional and envy of every other football fan in this division.
We all deserve a change of fortune and even though this game, will not win us promotion on Sunday, I do think it will do wonders for everyone connected with the club and give us the fans a growing sense of belief. For us the fans, this match is much more, its against one of our main rivals Cardiff city and whoever comes out of this match on top, will deserve all the bragging rights when that final whistle blows
In regards to the starting 11, I think Warnocks knows his best team and with no apparant injuries, think many of us could write it down now on a piece of paper, right now. Some intriguing battles on the pitch, none more so on how Bellamy copes with Kyle Walker, because make no mistake the player we have on loan from Spurs can easily frustrate the welshman , because I doubt he will get much change out of him all day.
In Michael Chopra and Jay Boothroyd, they have lethal strikers who are proven at this level, but there records against QPR haven't been that great against us and in Gorkss and Connolly we have solid defenders who won't allow them time and space. I can actually see Cardiff players being a little over-hyped and a potential for a sending off is obvious.
We clearly have a superstar in Adel Tarrabt and it depends very much on which Adel turns up. If we can squeeze out a repeat of his second half performance against Preston, than in my opinion its us who will win the game comfortably, play like he did against Bristol City and we will struggle.
Its not known yet whether he will be man marked, but I suspect Cardiiff players will close in on him, in twos and threes , that will leave space for other QPR players to exploit. If we ever needed Adel to be a team player its this one against Cardiff.
Tommy Smith and Jamie Mackie work-rate for the team cannot be under-estimated and they will cause their full backs bundles of trouble. Much of this game will be played on the wings, simply based on the fact both teams have good wide men, but its the centre pairing of Derry/Faurlin where this game could be won and lost. Faurlin is the intricate passer of a football who invariably finds his friend on/off the pitch Adel Tarrabt and Derry who will stop the balls being fed through to Chopra and Boothroyd.
All in all, this is mouthwatering contest and on paper its a very tight to pick a winner, but I'm guessing a victory over the Bluebirds come 5 o'clock will make fans believe promotion is likely and thats something we could only have dreamed about 12 months ago.
NPower Champions 2010/2011
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