the damned united

[stainrodisalegend]

apologies if already posted but watched the dvd last night and there was a good scene where clough is confronted by the leeds players saying "what is your strategy for stopping QPR? Don Revie would have given us a whole dossier on them." Clough just replies: "There is only one thing you need to know about QPR: stop Stan Bowles." We went on to win 1-0 at Leeds BTW (it was 1974).

Anyway, just made me think in relation to Adel - I saw on the Cardiff board they were saying we are a one-man team. Well maybe that's always been the QPR way, to have a flair player who most things go through. If we can harness Adel's ability - as NW seems to be doing brilliantly at the moment - then I'm more than happy to be called a one-man team.

[WeAreQPR12]

exactly what I said in another post Stain.

I rate Tommy smith but being a defender who am I going to be worried about Mackie or Adel? Yes mackie scored a few in that terrific run but it was an aygemang purple patch and he doesn't have much ability for a championship player.

Without Adel we would be very ordinary so thats why I would say we are a 1 man team.

[Fez]

We base the team around Adel because he's that good, if he was injured then I'm sure you'd see a change of tactics. Maybe if Cardiff took advantage of Bellamy more and based the side round him they would be doing a bit better!

I also think people are ignoring the fact Kenny has arguably been the best goalkeeper in the league this season, that we have in Kyle Walker the best full back in the division by some distance and that we also have the best defence in the league....presumably this is down to Taarabt as well???

[BennyBoyRs]

We do worse without Faurlin, than without Adel.

Never in a million years are we a one man team.

[WeAreQPR12]

agree Kyle walker is the best attacking full back in this division.

He isn't our player but if he was then we would be a 2 man team.

[stainrodisalegend]

Apologies mate if im repeating a post. I hope the goal against Swansea will re-ignite Mackie's season (he was excellent all round in that game) because he had been poor for some time before that and think fans tended to overlook this form because he is a "trier". Hope he proves to be more than an Agyman but accept he needs to show that over the remainder of the season, particularly as we will soon have Buz and Van Moen pushing for a start.

[BennyBoyRs]

So Paddy Kenny and our two main CB's aren't a vital part? Mackie's workrate helping Adel gain possession of the ball isn't needed? Faurlin and Derry protecting Adel, so as he can go on his runs isn't something that's important? Heider's ability to win nearly every header, flicking them on for Adel and others to run onto isn't a massive part of how Adel gets to run in on goal?

I honestly find those sort of comments very disrespectful to how well the rest of the team have played.

[stainrodisalegend]

I think what is meant by "one man team" is not that he is the only decent professional footballer. As others have said Kenny, Faurlin and Walker are excellent players and we have others too (I would add Gorks, Smith and possibly Connolly). But I think what Clough and others meant was the creative spark that would do the bit of magic to unlock a defence. The brilliant United team of a couple of years ago had Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs etc all of whom could do something amazing. We don't have that, but very few teams do. Indeed, most teams dont even have one magical player so we are lucky to have Adel. Plus if we did risk playing him with Buz we might even have two...

[Fez]

I think what is meant by "one man team" is not that he is the only decent professional footballer. As others have said Kenny, Faurlin and Walker are excellent players and we have others too (I would add Gorks, Smith and possibly Connolly). But I think what Clough and others meant was the creative spark that would do the bit of magic to unlock a defence. The brilliant United team of a couple of years ago had Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs etc all of whom could do something amazing. We don't have that, but very few teams do. Indeed, most teams dont even have one magical player so we are lucky to have Adel. Plus if we did risk playing him with Buz we might even have two...

Not exactly fair to compare us to what was at the time the best team in the world!

[stainrodisalegend]

Fez, if you read my post I'm not criticising us. I'm saying we have always been a flair club but unlike really massive clubs we have tended to have one or occasionally just two really creative players interspersed with some very solid but more workmanlike ones. Its a good combination and it works for us. I was actually criticising those Cardiff fans who say we won't go up because we are a "one man team". Well, by the same token we were a "one man team" when Stan was with us, and we did alright then...

[SeanInOz]

Interesting Observation

I agree with that observation.

Also I think this is first time in a while that virtually everyone will agree what our starting 11 is and that it is our best one.

Everyone singing from the same hyme sheet indeed and its a damn nice tune being sung.


Sean In Oz

[G.T.P]

exactly what I said in another post Stain.

I rate Tommy smith but being a defender who am I going to be worried about Mackie or Adel? Yes mackie scored a few in that terrific run but it was an aygemang purple patch and he doesn't have much ability for a championship player.

Without Adel we would be very ordinary so thats why I would say we are a 1 man team.

cant believe this mackie hate all the tie from you.
blokes pure class and the best buy of the season in this whole division.
hes not an agymang type, cos hes not a lone striker like him, hes not even meant to score like he has.
oh and he will hit 15 goals plus this season and you will feel a bit silly coating him as you have after the best ever season so far from a 100 grand man in my memory.
mark my words.

[stan_bowles]

cant believe this mackie hate all the tie from you.
blokes pure class and the best buy of the season in this whole division.
hes not an agymang type, cos hes not a lone striker like him, hes not even meant to score like he has.
oh and he will hit 15 goals plus this season and you will feel a bit silly coating him as you have after the best ever season so far from a 100 grand man in my memory.
mark my words.

Done a blinding job IMO and works 100% for the team all the time.

And a complete steal at that price.

[Leadham]

1 man team

Having seen alot of the 70s team (best team we ever had followed by lmid late 60s twin promotion and league cup winning team), which included Stan Bowles I have to say that we are a team first and a 1 man team second. Adel is a key player in probably the best team in the division (see league table).

As you probably gather we were not a one man team in the 60s (marsh) 70s (bowles) 80s (Byrne/Bannister) 90s (Wegerle, Ferdinand) or early 2000s (Gallen/Furlong) and we are not now. Rangers are the best unit: cohesive, bonded, tough, reslient and therefore CONSISTENT, therefore No 1.

I believe you will see by the end of this season Adel as one of 18 heros who will go down in history as one fo the best teams this club has ever had. Every one of this team has the qualities I have listed included Adel, he would not be able to exercise his skill in this cuthroat league otherwise.

I personally intend to relish every minute of this season good and bad in the knowledge that we are making history through these players and we will be talking about this season for many years to come. Enjoy it guys we have been through hell and back for 15 + years and enarly lost this great club.

[brightonr]

Stainrod,

I'm also very happy for us to be called a "one man team".

Unfortunately for the other sides in this division, sometimes it's Kenny, who has kept the most clean sheets of any keeper.

Sometimes it's Walker, as per yesterday.

Sometimes it's Mackie, who for a large proportion of the season was amongst the leading goalscorers in the division and our top scorer. Not bad for a £100,000 midfielder.

Sometimes it's been Helguson, with his unselfish play, hard work and aerial ability.

And sometimes, just sometimes, it is Adel. Our new top scorer. That bloke who reminds me of what watching football was like when I was just a boy watching Rodney and Stan. Someone who has the ability to do things that stand out from the others. I just stare in amazement on occasions, when he performs his stuff. Sadly, he cannot do it for 90 minutes, as he only gets to play 70.

It's when we are not a one man team and when several are on top of their game, when we really shine though, isn't it. Quite possibly why we are seven points clear of the next three teams with a game in hand over two of them.