View from the Conny

A game we dominated without ever looking like winning. In fact for most of the game it looked like we would lose, trailing as we did to a very nice strike mid first half. Barnsley rarely threatened. But then, neither did we.  Only an absolute pearler from that man Freeman with 4 mins remaining spared us from a loss we wouldn’t have deserved but wouldn’t have e done enough to avoid.

The thing about absolute pearlers as I see them is that they are bonuses, never a reflection of the team’s performance. Freeman’s goal wasn’t a chance created. It wasn’t the result of neat interplay, smart tactical thinking or brilliant closing down. It was just a moment of brilliance from a young player who tries things. He picked the ball up 25 yards out, did that leg flick thing which defenders never buy, ran horizontally for a few yards then unleashed a shot of real venom which dipped and swerved and had the goalie grasping at air.

Other than that I remember one chance of note, which fell to Pavel who had time and space on the right but sliced horribly wide. That happened in a much improved second half where we upped the tempo and the pressure and the dominance but didn’t up the actual ‘chance’ ratio. Delivery from the flanks was poor again all night and whilst the three musketeers hustled and harried and did their thing they just don’t get enough movement from the outside to make much of it.

We gave Samuels a start which excited me but judging on this performance he needs to be bedded in slowly. He wasn’t at the races. Mackie started up front on his lonesome. That doesn’t fill me with joy. He’s neither a striker or a man who can play with his back to goal so it surprised me to see him there instead of Mat Smith or, more pertinently, Sylla. I gather Sylla was injured and that’s a shame. I wish he’d get his run because I’m sure he’ll get us goals. Washington’s had a year and a half to prove himself in that department. I hope Sylla gets a fifth of that.

At the back we started with Caulker and he didn’t have a bad game before being sacrificed for Smith later in the second half. But the truth is he still looks nervy and doesn’t boss things. Maybe that will change with a run. I hope so. He partnered Robinson who continues to impress in the central position. Bidwell is as Bidwell does. Solid enough at the back but offering no outlet going forward. And Baptiste impressed again on the right. He gets forward alright even if he often looks like a fish out of water when he gets there. He can’t cross. This is a problem. But he gets in the position and creates space. In defence he is really solid and assured. I really like him.

Pavel and Samuels on the wings couldn’t beat a man. And if they can’t do that, what’s the point? I do like Pavel because he possesses skill and he has a good work rate but his pace is an issue and he often crosses too slowly. I was screaming for Lua Lua (only inside you understand. Screaming at Oakwell would have singled me out as some sort of nutter, it’s the quietest ground I have visited for some time and I can’t remember the home fans mustering a single chant) but he came on only after 75 mins. Immediately caused problems. What does he have to do to get a start?

Washington came on at half time. Fair enough. Samuels was getting nowhere. But for all his running around he didn’t create or latch on to anything. Not that there was much to latch onto to be fair but as I’ve said many times recently, he needs a break. Sylla please.

We dominated the second half. That can either be seen as a good thing because we kept going and searching and trying. But it can also be seen as a bad thing because we didn’t ever look like scoring but for the Pavel slice.

It’s that sort of season at the moment. If you’re a glass half full supporter, things aren’t bad. We’re drawing games we would have lost last season. We have three great midfielders. We are operating above expectations and below average budgets. If you’re a glass half empty supporter, and god knows there are plenty on twitter, you’ll point to four games without a win and some of the old tinkering from last season returning.

Three games in six days. This was the first. Maybe that’s the excuse for the eccentric first eleven that was chosen.

Manning dropped after a good game in our 3-2 defeat away to a very strong Middlseborough side last Saturday. Yeni in his place! Not sure how to explain that but I think it’s got to be due to the aforementioned pile up which sees us travel to Barnsley right now (I sit here writing this on the way up to watch the game) followed by Fulham at home on Fri night.

Furlong got a start and immediately looked like the kid he is, getting burned by their winger early doors resulting in a post hit and a lucky escape. Washington led the line but god knows if anyone could do with a rest it’s him. He had a really poor game. Indecisive and headless chicken-like but stayed on the pitch for the full 90 which I also thought bizarre. I cannot tell you what a charmed life this hard working, likeable but ultimately goalless centre forward leads. He’s been first choice for a season and a half. I’d have Sylla every time. Lazy he may be but he has an eye for goal and goals are in short supply from the front.

Burton were huge but played a little football and set up neat and tidy and hard to break down. But we got dragged into a clog fest with them and it was only when Holloway changed things at half time that we started to take control. Yeni went off, Samuels came on. Furlong went off, Smith came on. Pavel reverted to wing back (a position I like him in - he doesn’t have the real pace to destroy teams further up the pitch but he has a good engine and a good brain) and we looked a lot better. Samuels did what any decent winger should do - took on his defender. And he had some success in doing so which bodes well. Smith was able to battle with the huge centre backs much more effectively than either Washington or Mackie. In fact I would say that had we started with this eleven we might well have won.

Sylla came on for Mackie later and I wondered why he hadn’t come on earlier. In the end it was to no avail. But we lost this fixture last year and I never thought Burton were mugs there for the taking. I’m just a little disappointed we didn’t have the guile and cunning to see them off with the better team we have now.

That’s two home games without a win and a loss at Middlesborough. No disasters in any of the results but it has somewhat put the brakes on after the excitement of Ipswich. These next two games are very important. Lose them and we’re in a bit of a hole. Win them and we can safely say that after nearly a quarter of a season we have started well.

I’m hoping the eccentric team selection was at least in part to preserve us so we can get the right results both tonight and on Friday and if that’s the case, then Holloway has to be credited.

We’re about to find out.

What a difference three days make. QPR came up against a dogged but essentially ugly Millwall side and just couldn’t get their rhythm going. A completely different performance to the one against Ipswich three days earlier.

Plenty of talking points though. Millwall down to 10 men late in the first half for a straight red after a series of tough tackles ended in one the ref thought was too much. Scowen writhed in agony. Their player got sent off. Bit unlucky in my view. All this after Millwall had scored early after Freeman made a mistake on the left which their player took full advantage of, finishing nicely.

And from then on Millwall dominated. It wasn’t that we weren’t trying and we did string the occasional move together. But Millwall were just up and at us and we couldn’t find any rhythm. 

Worse was to come. Start of the second half we went two down after more slack defending and everyone thought that was it. In fact you wondered whether we would totally capitulate in the driving rain and let in more. It’s been our way over recent seasons. But to our great credit Olly made changes and we battled on. Smith, Sylla and Lua Lua came on. Onuoha was sacrificed at the back and Conor and Mackie were straight swapped. Conor’s only real contribution had been to hit the bar when he really should have scored and it’s a recurring theme, isn’t it?

Smith added much needed grunt and Lua Lua did exactly what he did on Saturday by getting his not insubstantial bulk in front of his marker and drawing the foul almost every time. He’s a player that presents a real danger for me and I think he should start. But impact sub he’s proving to be. And of course another impact sub came on and did the business late doors yet again. Mat smith prodding home after Luongo had got us right back in it with a decent effort from the edge of the box.

By then the roles had been completely reversed and Rangers made the extra man tell very well. It was a real bombardment and the man of the match was certainly their goalkeeper who made a string of fine saves to deny us.

Although it was a very entertaining game full of incident and endeavour, I have to say I left the ground frustrated.

Frustration 1. We didn’t come out of the blocks like we usually do and Millwall were first to everything.

Frustration 2. We couldn’t adapt to the different style Millwall played with. We need to learn how to beat teams that don’t give us space.

Frustration 3. Conor. Still not firing.

Frustration 4. The crowd. Although it was a good atmosphere, I was expecting more than 12,000.

Frustration 5. Pinging ball after ball after ball out to Baptiste on the left. He’s no winger and it got us nowhere but we continued to do it.

Frustration 6. Setting up with absolutely no midfield for the final half hour. We did a lot of good work but much of it was telegraphed because it was obvious the long ball was coming. We had far more success when we used Luongo and Freeman and we had patience.

Frustration 7. We couldn’t find the third we threatened to. A combination of bad luck and good goalkeeping. But not many would have argued had we got it. Although, on reflection, after their first half performance, Millwall deserved a point.

Frustration 8. I broke the golden rule and backed us because I thought we were nailed on after Saturday’s performance. I should know better. Like I said in the last post, we’re going to win a load. We’re going to lose a load. 

All in all I think most QPR fans went home happy, certainly judging by twitter. I left with the eight frustrations.

Special mention to Smithies who made one incredible save in the first minutes of the game. Really world class. Second special mention to Olly. He made key decisions at key times and they worked. Third special mention to Freeman who, mistake apart, was once again our driving force and our creative outlet.

A positive end to a frustrating evening against a side who didn’t play too much football but set about us with plenty of energy. We struggled against that and the problem is, there will be plenty more teams like that this season.

We’re not suddenly world beaters. We’ll win games. We’ll lose games. We are that sort of team at the mo. But yesterday’s performance felt like a real corner-turner for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, we played some actual football. Width, passing, movement, the odd back heel for god’s sake. It wasn’t perfect, but we tried things and it was good to watch.

Secondly, the crowd responded. Loftus Rd has been a bit of a cemetery for the past couple of years but yesterday the crowd got behind the team and there was noise and appreciation. It makes a huge difference.

Thirdly, we looked solid defensively. For the whole 95 mins. Onuoha didn’t put a foot wrong. Robinson was silky smooth and Baptiste was so steady I may start calling him Eddie. Three at the back who all complemented each other. All of them able to carry the ball out of defence and all of them putting their bodies on the line when needed towards the end.

Fourthly, we controlled the tempo for the whole game. We were busy, industrious, annoying. Quick on the ball, harrying off it. To be fair Holloway has been instilling that all season so far but it was again very much in evidence yesterday.

Fithly (I know but allow me) the bench provided us with real options. Lua Lua came on a drew foul after foul, relieving pressure we brought on ourselves by not being out of sight early doors and conceding late.

Sixthly, our opposition have started like a tractor-train. Third going into the game, fourth since the defeat, clearly they are up there on merit, they came with confidence, they tried to play, we just didn’t let them. A good team almost completely nullified.

Six good reasons to believe we may well have turned a corner. Again, important to re-iterate we are absolutely not anywhere near the real deal yet. For that to happen we need a striker capable of banging goals in. For me Washington isn’t that striker. He went off to a deserved standing ovation for his work rate and his touch but I think everyone knows he isn’t going to be a 20 a season man. Weak shooting and lack of immediate pace were on show again. The yin to his yang of a good footballing brain, a nice touch and a great attitude.

In short, nobody had a bad game. Washington may not have scored but he still contributed. Bidwell may not have roamed too far forward as a wing back should do but he got forward a little and defensively he was sound as a pound. Pavel did both jobs well on the right and saw a lot more of the ball. His delivery was excellent for the most part and he works very hard the we don’t have the ball.

The real jewels though are in the middle. Scowen, Freeman and Luongo are really beginning to click. Like I said I my last musing, Luongo is turning into some player. He’s involved in everything and he has a new found tenacity. Add his undoubted class to the mix and you get what you’re seeing now. A player enjoying his football and finding team mates with ease. He made a number of surging runs against Ipswich which were skilful and powerful and, but for half a yard more pace, could have been deadly. That lack of pace is annoying but he’s dealing with it by getting his bulk in front of his marker and using his body position very well. Contender for MOTM no doubt. Scowen describes himself as a rat when he’s playing. Good description. Unpleasant, scurrying, survivor, wise to traps. He sits at the back of the midfield and cleans up. He’s always an option and that gives the back three more time. It’s why Onuoha had the space to make runs with the ball from deep time and again. Freeman was an absolute bargain buy from Bristol City ad that was clear immediately. He continues to add creativity and business to the midfield and that all important attacking threat. He did brilliantly to make Smith’s goal three weeks ago. He did even better against Ipswich to make his own. Lovely trick to create space, great shot from 20 yards. That’s what we pay to watch. Together, we know what we’re getting from these three and I certainly won’t be getting bored of them.

Mackie was a pain in Ipswich’s side all game. He ran and ran and chased lost causes and turned them into found ones and he showed his striking partner how to bury a shot first time into the bottom right corner. He isn’t our 20 a season man either but he is our diehard and our tempo setter and our shining example and Ipswich hated him all game.

I’ve always been a big fan of Holloway and I don’t think we could have a better manager with our current financial status being what it is and with the club he took over so lacking in real identity and passion. This performance has the mark of Holloway all over it. He’s not perfect either. But he’s just what we need and I wonder if Les is now really finding his feet in his role too because these signings are a million miles away from the disgusting way Hughes and Redknapp squandered our precious resources. Judging by the way Fernandes is tweeting away, that’s never going to happen again and praise be to that. Embarrassing. 

Luongo is turning into some player.

He went about his work with real gusto, doing the simple things very well indeed and adding grit and class in equal measure when needed. He pulled a lot of strings and the only shame is that there still isn’t enough movement in front of him. If I was a striker playing in front of Luongo right now I’d be running some mental lines because it seems to me he can hit who he wants. Unfortunately Washington runs tirelessly but his lines are predictable, and Mackie just doesn’t run strikers lines. No gambling on space from him. Its a makeshift position for him and not a long term solution to play him up top in a 4-4-2. 

In a game that featured so much positive stuff, the only negatives were the front two. Nothing wrong with the attitude and intent. Just not much going on. No real threat from them. When Sylla and Smith came on it clearly changed the game. You know what’s coming when Smith comes on and not everybody likes it, but it can be effective and Smith came close twice with headers before finally getting us level. It’s direct, it’s punchy. It’s not something I want to see 90 minutes of because it forces us into the long ball, but it’s a great weapon to use from the bench and it gives us something different when the chips are down just like yesterday.

Other talking points from an entertaining game...

1) The treatment of Lua Lua from a large section of QPR fans.

2) Smithies and the match winning save on 90 mins when the score was 1-1.

3) Sylla.

4) Our midfield

Sometimes I really despair at the fans who surround me. Everyone has a right to air their frustrations and voice their opinions. But at QPR we have a lot of numpties who just want to come and barrack our own players to ridiculous levels. Nasty, vicious stuff which serves no other purpose than to make them feel better about their own shit life. What on earth could be the point of spilling out that sort of hatred towards a player clearly trying his best? There can be no positive outcome. It can’t make the player play any better, can it? It’s mindless and the people who hurl their abuse are morons. 

Lua Lua is a player whose game is to take on defenders, beat his man, get to the byline, link up play down the right, cause uncertainty. A player who does that isn’t always going to get it right. In fact he’s only going to get it right a handful of times a game. But when it goes right it leads to real chances. It creates space for our strikers to run into and hopefully tuck the ball into the net. Lua Lua created a handful of those chances yesterday. They weren’t buried. The rest of the time he failed. But each time he failed the morons wailed and cried like babies a little louder.

The news came out later that he played just a day after the death of his father. Regardless, no player at QPR should be hounded like that. I want to watch players with attacking intent who go and try to beat their man. I don’t mind if they fail, as long as they try. Lua Lua gave three terribly misplaced passes and was very weak defending for their goal. He also created plenty of space down the right. Good game or not, he doesn’t deserve that kind of reception from sad idiots. I hope he starts next week. We don’t have pace or attacking guile in the team and he is much needed. 

Smithies. What a fantastic performance. The best goalkeeping performances come from goalies who only have one or two things to do all game but happen to do them brilliantly. That’s what Smithies did yesterday. On 90 mins at 1-1 he made yet another world class save with his feet when a goal beckoned. Moments later Sylla bundled the ball into the net for our winner. You could easily put Smithies there on the goal sheet along with Idrissa. Priceless. 

Speaking of Sylla, his impact on introduction was immediate. A cracking snap shot on the turn in the box, FIRST TIME. It’s exactly what Conor lacks. The ability and confidence/instinct to hit the ball first time. It’s so important for a striker. Hit the ball first time and the defence has no time to react. With Conor you feel he needs two or three touches, he needs to set himself up. And then it’s just too late. Sylla has an eye for goal and was rewarded with the winner. Not particularly pretty but it’s telling that Conor had first dibs on the chance and couldn’t make it count. Sylla followed up nd banged it in and that’s what I want from a striker. Conor has a fantastic attitude and work rate. But he won’t be a 20 a season striker. Sylla could be.

Lastly, our midfield. Scowen, Freeman and Luongo are an exciting trio. Lots of industry, some decent movement and the odd bit of flair. Freeman did wonderfully well for the equaliser, twisting and turning on the left before delivering the perfect cross for Smith to bury. Scowen was busy all afternoon. And Luongo we’ve already discussed. We have Manning waiting in the wings too. Between them they can really cement themselves and give us a great engine room. Their tempo is excellent and they have desire. They set the tome and with some more movement in front of them we can be really dangerous.

The tired, frail, confused old man I was expecting to shuffle out never appeared. Instead, out he bounded, shifty trilby donned, legs a-dancing, arms raised I salute, milking every moment. I hadn’t been particularly looking forward to the day, but I felt my appearance was the least Stan Bowles deserved from me. He had, after all been not only the figurehead for the most amazing period in QPR’s history, but also the icon for my formative years growing up in 70s Ladbroke Grove. If asked to bring back memories of this time I don’t conjure up images of flared jeans or the Bay City Rollers or Hendrix or winters of discontent or summers of drought or Dennis Waterman in The Sweeney. No. The 70’s for me brings up one image immediately. That of a long haired, long pork chopped blue and white magician dipping his shoulder in some sort of mesmerising dance. A ball charmer with a swagger and cheeky smile and style like no other. He also saved me the inconvenience of having to buy fifty baby name books or have agonising long discussions with the other half when we started a family. If the baby was a boy, and possibly even if the baby was a girl, the baby was going to be named Stanley. I braced myself as they announced his name. Here he was about to appear, surely a shadow of his former self, a stark reminder to us all of the frailty of life. Then out bounced Stan. Hair shorter, bones brittler. But in every other aspect every bit the Stan that used to bounce out of the very same tunnel 40-odd years before, always last and always a little late so he could milk the separate applause/abuse only players of his ability ever elicit. As he came out it was clear to see he was enjoying the whole thing, milking it in fact. The louder the applause got as he made his way to the middle, the more the swagger returned until he was quite literally dancing along, arms aloft once again the centre of attention at Loftus Rd. The consummate entertainer, it was as if he’d never been away.

I clapped him the whole way round and tried not to get too emotional. But I couldn’t help feeling a little sad and I began to explore why.

I guess the main reason is I’m getting older. Not old old. But old enough to start realising life is short. Youngsters have my permission to roll their eyes now, but it seems like only yesterday that I was watching Stan running out and terrorising defences and captivating me. But like I said, it was actually 40 years ago. Scary. I’m not one for the tired ‘it was better back then’ rhetoric but in the case of QPR I think it’s pretty clear that it was! It had me wondering, who do the seven year olds look to in our current team? Who captivates them? Who are their role models and why? Can it possibly feel as magic for them as it did for me? I looked round the ground. Ellerslie Rd was completely empty. The away end was a quarter full. And whilst SA Rd and the Loft more than made up for the empty seats with their reception, it just made me wonder if we could ever recapture those days. Not for me necessarily, but for a new group of local youngsters. Something to grab them and drag them off Overwatch for a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon. We’re a very different club to the one I started supporting back in ’77 and football is a very different game. That made me sad.

It also made me sad that the whole day hadn’t been a sell out. I wondered why it wasn’t. Iffy weather. Lots of people on holiday. Not a lot of spare cash around. All reasonable excuses. But for me it's safe to say that in the modern history of this club there are no more than a handful of people who are as important, have made such an impact, are such a figurehead as Stan Bowles. Stock, Gregory, Sexton, Marsh, Venables, Ferdinand at a push. But nobody defines the club more than Bowles. Bowles is the icon. And here he was, doing his thing in front of 10,000 hardy souls. I consoled myself with a reminder that we’re talking about a man who played for us 40 years ago. 40 years. It’s a lifetime. It’s to be celebrated that 10,000 people turned up. 10,000 people who remember what this man did and wanted to say thank you. But at the same time it also served as a reminder as to how important our history and culture is and how we must fight not to lose it. Our club could learn a lot by remembering how we went about things back then. Look back to look forwards. Tony Fernandes has made every mistake in the book since taking over QPR. All of them could have been avoided if he looked at the history and culture of this club and especially the period when Stan reigned supreme.

So, sadness at my own mortality, sadness at the sight of a half full Loftus Rd for the greatest player in the club’s history and sadness with the current state of things at QPR. But the sadness dissipated as Stan did his lap, dancing and jigging as he went. We heard from other greats like Hollins and Francis, who compared Bowles to Messi. Praise indeed but when you look at it, their styles are incredibly similar. What a reception he got as he went round. It was clearly thrilling for Stan and he milked it. It gave me hope, made me feel better about things. Football’s become less and less important to me over the last few years. I still go to every home game but I fear it’s more out of habit than any love of the modern game, or for the culture my club is trying to build. The last few seasons have really knocked the stuffing out of the team I think. I can’t remember a worse team in our history than the one that was relegated with Redknapp. A group of soulless mercenaries rinsing us for every penny we had led by a manager who was no respecter of our values or our income. And a chairman so obsessed with staying in the Premiership short term that he completely lost sight of reality and tried to spend his way there without accepting that QPR were never that sort of club and never will be. And worse than all this, a set of fans who largely encouraged the whole thing, so hooked on the Prem crack the majority of us seemed to be, so blinded by the lights of the Prem that we couldn’t see what all this overspending was doing. Buying two world class international goalkeepers? At QPR? How could that possibly work? We forgot our place and our strengths. We bought Stan from Carlisle not Liverpool. He had a point to prove and was hungry, had real belief in his ability and was desperate to prove himself. Compare that with the signing of, say, Bosingwa. A man who the previous season won the Champions League with Chelsea and had only one thing on his mind when he signed to little old QPR. You could name 20 similar signings over the last five seasons. Embarrassing. But seeing Stan enjoy his moment made me think about our new manager and Director of Football. I’ve always been a huge fan of Holloway as both a player and a manager at the club. He may have limitations but they are all made up for with his energy, passion and hard work. And whatever the doubters think, that’s what we need now. In fact it’s the most we can ask for because only someone with a deep regard for the club, its history and culture can pour in the energy needed on the limited resources we have available to us now. He did it almost single handedly in his first tenure as manager and there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again given time and support. Same goes for Ferdinand. Here’s a man who has stopped the rot when it comes to our signings. We are now back in the habit of buying players the Stan Bowles way, with something to prove from lower divisions and Ferdinand is to be applauded for that. Holloway and Ferdinand are igniting my interest again. I enjoy watching Furlong (raw but classy) and Manning (tender but tenacious) so much more than the big name mercenaries that came in for one more quick pay cheque. Youngsters we have developed. Not the finished article but I look forward to watching them develop this season. I’m also loving watching Freeman, a player we picked up from Bristol City for a small fee. He plays with verve, just like Bowles did. He plays like he’s got something to prove. And against Bournemouth I also got a first look at Scowen, a player we bought from Barnsley. He looks like he enjoys his football, and how many QPR players could you say that about over the last few seasons? Remember Assou Akotto? Remember Traore? Players that simply didn’t want to be there. Oh to have them at Loftus Rd to see Bowles making the most of his likely last ever visit. Might it shame them into realising just how lucky they are and how appalling they attitude was?

As Stan disappeared back down the tunnel I realised he had made me think an awful lot about all sorts of things. My own mortality. The state of football in general. The state of my club. And he made me realise there’s actually much to be excited about for the coming season. So I knuckled down and took a keen interest in the second half of this final warm up game before the new season started in earnest.

The game itself was full of huff and puff and actually for long periods we matched our Premier League counterparts, themselves playing the role of the ultimate underdogs in the Premiership and more power to them for that. It’s what gave Stan his powers. The role of the underdog. Bournemouth have been using it to good effect and we have to start doing that again. We are not big, never will be. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be brilliant. But while we matched Bournemouth for effort we couldn’t match them for guile in the final third. I spent most of the game wondering if Stan was even bothering to watch. I’m not sure there was enough on offer to keep him truly entertained and that’s what he’s all about. Entertainment. The current team would do well to remember that over the coming season. As I said, I like what Holloway is doing despite his critics. He’s working with a pigs ear and, given time, he could turn them into a silk purse. But before he does that he’s got to muster desire and effort. I saw enough of that against Bournemouth but the problem is, it was deathly dull. Every attack ended with the ball coming back from the ‘winger’ to a central player only to be snuffed out when the defence organised themselves. The key to getting space in the final third is simple. Beat a man. Beating a man creates space. Not just for the player that did it, but for the players close by who find themselves unmarked as opposition players pour towards the player with the ball. Stan was the master of this. Beating a man. The story goes he did it once and then, when the defender was on his arse, he turned around, came back and did it again. Apocryful it may be. But the best ones always are. The irony of the Bournemouth game was that there wasn’t anyone in the QPR team who could do what Stan did. Beat a man. Enjoy their football. Do something different without caring about ridicule. I’m so pleased we’ve managed to snaffle Lua Lua back from Brighton for the coming season. He’l miss more than he scores and he’ll try things that don’t come off. But he’ll have e a go at a defender and occasionally it’ll come off. That’s when goals happen. We need a few more players like this. Something to prove and a no fear attitude. It’s what Stan had in abundance. For years we were able to attract those players. Bowles replaced Marsh. Then Currie and Stainrod replaced Bowles. Then Byrne. Then Wegerle. There was a production line. A quite amazing production line at that. But it stopped after Wegerle. We still had fine sides. None finer than the one Ferdinand graced. But you can’t call Ferdinand a replacement for Bowles. Two totally different players. One full of guile and cheek and impudence. The other full of power and speed and aerial ability. No, we never got a true replacement until Taarabt turned up. And what an impact he made. For all his character flaws he had the ability to make the ball stick and just didn’t give a damn what anyone else was expecting on the pitch, he just did what he felt like. For me it was the most enjoyable period in QPR’s recent history. Watching him was worth the entrance money alone. It really was. He destroyed the championship almost single handedly and was expertly managed by Warnock. A difficult character who needed constant attention (I’m not talking about Warnock in this instance!). Redknapp just didn’t know how to deal with him and didn’t understand his cultural importance. With him on the pitch you felt there was always a chance. And so it was with Bowles. Anything could happen, and usually did. I don’t think Holloway or Ferdinand would let a talent like that slip through their fingers in the same way Redknapp did. Again, it’s about understanding the fabric of the club and the players we need, however high maintenance. Taarabt was a young QPR fan’s Bowles. A small taster as to what it was like back then. Here’s to finding the next one. If we really want to find success, unlock defences, get the crowd going, we’re going to need to find that player.

Boy have we been on a run. No not THAT run. The run before. The run that consisted of five wins and a draw in seven games. That was a great run. And came off the back of an awful run of six losses in a row through December.

Holloway’s tenure has seen more ups and downs in the results department than the Shivering Timbers (look it up if you can be bothered). But the ups and downs have left this particular supporter more than happy with the way things are shaping up.

Since I last wrote on here we’ve got to the magic 50 point mark with relative ease although we’ve always been flirting with the lower half of the table. We’ve had some good performances that have got us no points. Some poor performances that have got us all three and some excellent performances that have got me thinking we’re heading towards somewhere half decent.

Reading away and Newcastle away (a 2-1 win and a 2-2 draw) were particularly pleasing in terms of application and intent. A 4-1 win away at Birmingham and a 5-1 win at home to Rotherham were no less pleasing for the fact they were against opposition clearly struggling. Lots of goals. Lots of desire. A little invention and lots of players finding the back of the net.

Recent performances away to Brighton and Villa deserved far more than the nothing we got. But we go into the last five games of the season reasonably free from relegation worries if not completely out of the woods or finishing on fire.

But there’s no pleasing some people. A run of losses is often taken out of context and the bigger picture is forgotten. And it’s the bigger picture I’m most interested in.

Holloway has been tinkering. And some people don’t like that. Fair enough. I understand the frustration with the lack of consistency in picking the first eleven. Especially when we often seem to have cracked it only for the team to change in the very next game. I, on the other hand, am thoroughly enjoying the airing the squad are getting. For the first time in - for want of a more technical phrase - yonks, I’m watching bright young players fighting for the position and asking questions of all of us. 

I wonder how many supporters who go regularly can confidently name their best eleven. I know I can’t. For the first time in ages we have real options. Options in the same positions, options in formations, options in attitude. There’s a lot there to tinker with and Holloway is certainly doing that.

Three at the back? Tried it. Some success. Some failure. Maybe some personnel changes needed if it’s to work properly. Is Lynch reliable enough? Is Onuoha? Do we have wing backs who push forward enough in Perch and Bidwell? Can Furlong and hamalainen develop into that role and can Robinson stay fit enough for it to work for him.

Straight back four seems to work OK but do we pull up trees when we play like that? Maybe not. 

Which system works better with which midfield combination? Luongo is hitting some fine form and adds quality. Manning is a tiger on his day but still young and needs cotton wool. Surely we have to fit Freeman into whatever formation we end up using most regularly. My new favourite player by miles. Where does Cousins fit in when he’s fit. Is Pavel always worth a starting birth or is he, like Mackie, one to bring in and out when needed? Goss is so highly thought of at Man U there must be more to come from him in a holding role. Hall is already proving his quality in that position. How much time does Ravel need to light the touch paper on his career or is he one firework that is never likely to explode?

Up front Matt Smith has proved wonderfully effective but will always draw accusations of us playing negatively when he starts. Conor has improved his goal ratio but is he honestly a 20 a season man (I love him but I seriously have doubts now)? Can Sylla add an all round aspect to his undoubted goalscoring abilities? Is Yeni a striker? He seems to play all over the place and I can’t quite get an angle on him although I like his contribution. Is Lua Lua staying? I bloody hope so, to me he’s been fantastic every single time he’s played. Not a goalscorer but certainly someone who creates space for others by consistently beating his man.

In short we have a shitload of options and all of them are interesting. When was the last time we could honestly say that? No wonder Holloway is tinkering. There’s a lot to learn and so much of it is good. The possibilities are endless and using the second half of the season to try them seems like great sense to me. 

It’s also dead entertaining! I’m actually enjoying my football at the moment. Each week comes with some surprises and a chance to look at players myself and form opinions. Interesting. And this time I care. These aren’t old dogs picking up one last big pay cheque. These are players who want to play for us. And often they are young. Under Holloway I’ve been lucky enough to see home grown talent flourish. Manning has been excellent early doors befor tailing off a little and I think Holloway is giving him the protection he needs now. Furlong too is an interesting young talent who we need to strike a very careful balance with. Enough games to give him the experience he needs to step up. Not too many to expose clear weaknesses which need working on. Doughty and Petrasso remain on the fringes but with a role to play. Wonderful stuff from Holloway. Recognising that this is what real fans want to see. Something to build on. Something to enjoy watching the development of, even at the expense of instant success.

Some fans moan. Inconsistent team selection shows he doesn’t know his best eleven. Why should he? We are a work in progress and always will be. We can’t buy in finished articles. Nor do I want to. I’m happy to sacrifice consistency for information. I don’t want to be consistently boring and shit as we were under JFH. I prefer the roller coaster ride we’re on now and the possibilities it throws up. Who the fuck needs consistency at this stage of our development and this stage of the season? What good will that do us right now? Tinker away. Go on great runs and bad ones too. Learn more. Develop more young players and give them confidence. That’s the spirit of this great club. The spirit of the underdog who punch above their weight. The reality is we can never be consistently brilliant so let’s find our way with players who care and see a future for themselves here.

That’s what Holloway and Ferdinand are bringing back to QPR. Ferdinand takes great credit for what he’s doing long term in my opinion. Signings have been excellent in the main and he isn’t letting the manager run roughshod over the whole thing like Hughes and Redknapp did which basically ruined the last few years for us. Ferdinand it seems has a vision which goes back to the great days. Develop young talent. Buy in players with something to prove. Sell them at profit. Trust me youngesters, it’s a philosophy that made us a great side three whole times in the forty years I’ve been a supporter. The Redknapp/Hughes way just doesn’t work for us. It’s crippled us and I think Ferdinand has to take great credit for putting a stop to the whole thing..

I don’t think you can accuse QPR of not giving Washington his chance. 24 games he’s appeared for us. 3 goals the return. One of them not really his if, like me, you backed Polter to score first at Fulham and felt robbed.

Anyway, that aside, 2/3 goals in 24 appearances or a goal in every 8/12 just isn’t the return anyone is looking for from their number one striker.

But we have in the main kept persisting. Why? Well there’s a lot to like about Washington isn’t there. His application and desire are first rate. He seems to have a footballing brain on him. He runs the channels selflessly and has worked hard in the wide position that clearly isn’t his favourite.

The problem is in front of goal. Washington gets himself into decent positions but he ALWAYS needs a touch to control the ball. It’s a real sign of a lack of confidence, needing to get the ball under full control before letting lose. A striker on form doesn’t wait. Good goal scorers have only one thing on their mind. Bang. Doesn’t matter if it seems greedy. Doesn’t matter if the shot could result in the ball ending up in the Joe Tizzard playground. Doesn’t matter if the crowd are baying for the lay off. A good striker has one thing on their mind and one thing only. And it’s not to get the ball under control and do something clever with it. It’s far more instinctive than that. BANG.

Conor thinks too much. He’s too selfless. And too worried. It’s time for Conor to stop running channels for everyone else. It’s time for him to stop worrying about whether the ball ends up somewhere near me in Block B row X of the SA Rd stand. I long for a first time shot from Conor that I can catch. It will be a good sign, trust me. What’s far more frustrating that a wayward shot is no shot at all, or a shot blocked by a defender given he time to think, get into position make a cuppa and simply stand in front of Washington. Unfortunately that’s all it takes to figure him out at the moment. He terrorises nobody, not because he’s no good but because he’s lacking confidence and with it the instinct to do something surprising.

Washington needs to surprise himself. 

Luckily, in Sylla we have a striker who seems to have the things that Conor doesn’t. His goal against Wolves was an excellent example of a player who understands instinctively what to do with his body to get himself into a correct position and then to simply pull the trigger. Conor would do well to keep replaying that video. I believe he would have tried to get the ball under control given the same situation and the chance would have been lost.

It would be good to see Conor develop a partnership with someone else in the squad. I don’t know who. Could be Chery, could be Sylla. Could be Wszolek. I’m not great on the formations, I think we all place far too much importance on them. But partnerships are vital in a winning team. Players who feed off each other are treble trouble. It’s hard to defend against players who instinctively know each others movements and are therefore one step ahead. I’m not sure I’ve seen who Conor has that relationship with yet but there are a number of options and maybe he should work one of them. Sylla and Conor? Intriguing. Maybe Conor could be more the provider in that relationship. Chery and Conor? Conor needs to learn how to take his chances a lot quicker if that one’s to work.

What is clear is that at some point we’re going to have to pare back on our substantial investment and give Sylla the chance to develop his own partnership. He’s a better striker of the ball - Conor in his present state strikes the ball like a five year old - and gets himself into better positions in the box. He’s not as selfless and maybe hasn’t quite got the footballing brain of Conor, but goals are the currency and right now we’re skint. 

A seemingly terminal losing streak of 7 games ended yesterday with a hard fought win at Molineux against Wolves.

It follows a 3-0 loss at Brighton in which we played well for large periods in the first half before succumbing to a better team, a team riding high and with plenty of creativity up front. We weren’t helped by a poor decision to send off Onuoha for a challenge that didn’t even warrant a free kick, but in truth we were spent by then. Yet another game where we had possession and created opportunities but came nowhere near to converting. 

The bright spots after Brighton were the industry and creativity and delivery of Pavel  Wszolek and Ngbakoto beginning to find his feet. Significant both players because as Holloway has so rightly pointed out, we lack quality delivery and these two wingers have both been to blame for that. However, there were signs of improvement against Brighton.

Unfortunately there was a lot not to like. The ridiculous lunge from Luongo which led to the penalty early second half which killed the game for 2-0. Luongo’s contribution recently has been good in a very poor side but the crude and thoughtless challenge at a vital stage absolutely shows where we are lacking, and that’s with leaders, decision makers, people who take responsibility for a game, grab it by the scruff of the neck and change things. We haven’t got one single player like that to my reckoning, although Hall feels like he could develop into that sort of character.

Smithies is another player who has largely been lauded in a team failing so miserably. For me he has been outstanding. But only because he’s had a lot to do. He’s also made plenty of howlers recently, most noticably at Ipswich where his misjudgement cost us the second goal and then again at Brighton where he let Knockheart’s shot creep under him. Disappointing and time for Smithies to start doing the simple things well again.

Sylla’s complete lack of decent service for the whole of the second half was evident, although Mackie added directness when he came on for Borysiuk and was a breath of fresh air. Borysiuk is a player I simply can’t get an angle on yet. Pavel on the other hand is a player I think we’re starting to see the best of.

I don’t think anyone expected us to win at Wolves and I certainly wasn’t there to enjoy it unfortunately. But two things are very very clear to me from the highlights.

1) Sylla is our number one striker and for me needs to be first player on the team sheet. He took his goal like a proper striker, getting into a position to strike very quickly and naturally, head down, boom. That’s what we need in a striker, someone who gambles on space and goes for goal. Washington would have tried to take a touch to control Pavel’s cross and that would have been that.

2) Pavel is coming on leaps and bounds and starting to really show what he can offer. The cross for Sylla’s goal was quality and his strength and determination for his own late, ugly, beautiful winner was  there for everyone to see.

Channel 5 and Twitter left me in no doubt that we didn’t deserve the win on the balance of play but that doesn’t bother me one jot. Our problem is nothing to do with a lack of application of trying to play decent football. It’s a problem of confidence and this win will do us wonders however it is earned.

We’re nowhere near out of the woods here. In the same way as we’re nowhere near dead and buried when we go on a bad run like we just put paid to. Football fans are so ridiculously reactionary and short term in their views right now. From week to week we’re either the worst team in the history of the club or a team that could easily make the play offs.

But the irony is, we’re not far off matching either of those two descriptions. The difference comes with confidence and leadership. Get some leadership on the pitch and we will play with more confidence and be able to grind out a win or two even when we don’t deserve it. Just like we did yesterday. Continue to develop a squad without leadership on the pitch and this result may well be just a small blip on a continuing downward spiral towards division one. 

Summoning the energy to write something about QPR is difficult at the moment. Hence the long gap. Since the last post we’ve lost four, drawn one and won one. Oh and we’ve changed manager. Not such a big deal nowadays. Hardly worth mentioning really. Almost didn’t. We change manager about as often as we go on a losing run nowadays. Which is quite often. Although Jimmy didn’t even have to do that to get the bullet. Anyway, out he’s gone and in has come club legend Ian Holloway for his second stint. A small disclaimer here. Holloway was our manager at the time of me writing this. But his four game losing streak may well have him ditched by the time I’m finished.

“It’s a results game” said Les. Sorry mate. Beg to differ. Results are actually a very small part of what club football is all about. The rest of it is about how your club represents the local community and the supporters from that community who pay big money to come and support. Results help in that endeavour but they aren’t the be all and end all. Ask a Yeovil fan. Or a Shrewsbury fan. Or indeed a QPR fan. I want a club that is run with good business practices, takes care of its own, develops its youth and expresses itself with creativity and passion on the pitch. If they do all those things, then frankly I’m not that bothered about results. The results will follow naturally. concentrating on the results is the arse end way of doing things as the England set up has proved time and time again over the last 20 years.

Besides, if all it is is a results game, then what the hell is Les’s job for? I am as capable as Les of simply looking at the results and if we aren’t winning sacking the manager. In fact my mum could do that and she has no interest in the game whatsoever. “It’s a results game”. What a mindless statement. Trotted out by people who have no idea what the game is about. People who are in it for the money, not the real fans who will turn up week in week out regardless of the results. As you can probably tell, the first time I’ve lost patience with the man I used to call ‘Sir’ Les.

I was surprised with the sacking, which came after a decent performance away to Forest and resulted in a 1-1 draw. No, Jimmy hadn’t set the world alight. Yes, some of the football was a little workmanlike. But he had our rag tag squad comfortably in mid table and I felt the players were playing for their manager. Yes he was given over a season to get things moving. A long time by today’s standards. But is it actually a long time in reality? No. It’s not. The sacking disappointed me because it puts our club in the same pile as all the other clubs run by delusional megalomaniacs who simply ‘buy a new one’ when things aren’t working. As I type this, Rowett has just been sacked for getting Birmingham to 7th in the Championship. This, a club who were knocking on death’s door a couple of years back. In fact nearly a third of all championship clubs have sacked their manager already this season. And we can add ourselves to that idiotic bunch. Money chasers not dream chasers. People who look at the end rather than the journey. 10 clubs who think the way back to the Premiership is to sack the manager. That’s 10 teams all doing the same thing to chase three promotion spots. 

The irony is this. We replaced him with a manager we sacked 10 years previous!!! When we sacked Holloway the first time he had us going in the right direction but not quick enough for the owners. So we sacked him. He went on to take both Palace and Blackpool into the Premiership. Amazing achievements. Blackpool nearly survived the Premiership under his stewardship too. Still one of THE success stories. So we kinda missed the boat there when we sacked him first time. Now, after failing with Millwall and Leicester and then spending a good few seasons in punditry with Sky, we’ve suddenly seen what it is that’s great about him. Little bit late morons. Little bit late. 

Not that I’m knocking Holloway. I’ve always liked him. First as a player here and later the like became love when he single handedly turned round a club on the brink. For that he will always be a legend and a hero. But our new manager? I’m not so sure. What is different about Holloway now to when we sacked him back then? How does this decision represent clarity of thought? I just don’t get it. We sacked the man. He then went on to have major success and the best times of his footballing life. And now, those days long gone, we’ve got him back in. Well good luck to you Mr Holloway. Your enthusiasm is infectious and you’ll always have my support. But I think this board, Fernandes, Les et al, have basically lost it.

We’re one win and four losses in under Holloway. The four game losing streak is a worry but actually the real worry is the teams we’ve lost to. Wolves hadn’t won a game in eons. Came to Loftus Rd and won 2-1. 1-0 loss to Rotherham, singularly the worst team in the division by a country mile, cast adrift at the bottom and playing for pride. a 3-0 thumping to Ipswich who are going through a really bad spell. And last night losing a game we dominated throughout to a well organised but toothless Derby side who simply bided their time in the knowledge that we would not score if we kept playing till Christmas.

Since the heist at Craven Cottage we’ve been on the run somewhat. A draw at home to Reading was followed by a 1-0 win against Bristol City. But then we lost 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday and 2-0 at home to Brentford which hurts a little more obviously.

Social networks are full of fans who want JFH gone, who want Les gone, who want Gladwin gone. The answer is to get rid of everyone. Some advocate shooting. On the QPR fans’ facebook page a thread reads ‘who would you shoot first, JFH or Les?’. Like they are paedophiles or something. Some of our fans are morons and that’s a fact.

The more sensible ones point to the style of play and I have a lot of sympathy. We are not playing great football. While we start games better, if we go down we resort to the long ball and it’s truly awful.

But for me, I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. I don’t think we’re playing great, but in very small patches we’re not playing badly. Against Brentford on Friday night there were times when the tempo was high and there was a spark of creativity, usually Chery’s skill or Conor’s workrate. We were simply beaten by a better, more exciting, more confident side. Sometimes you have to accept that, although god knows many simply can’t.

Sheff Wed away by all accounts had its moments too, although I wasn’t there. And the win against Bristol City was interesting inasmuch as we created a few chances, something we haven’t done up until recently. And Sylla was there again to tuck in the vital one with 15 mins left.

Against Reading we scored a very well worked goal from open play - something of a rarity - until we were outplayed by Reading second half.

Lots not to like, but lots to build on and I’m certainly not one clamouring for the head of JFH or Les.

In fact as far as Sir Les is concerned I think he’s doing a great job. The players we’ve bought in on a budget have by and large been promising.  Borysiuk is cementing himself in the heart of midfield and will continue to improve. Luongo next to him is becoming a real shining light. Polter adds strength and awkwardness and drive to the team. Chery has real class. Lynch looked good playing out of position before his injury. Smithies is playing excellent football. Conor, although lacking goals, is making a huge go of it on the left, a position that is unnatural. His work rate and tempo make him one of the first names on the team sheet for me. And Sylla can definitely score. These are all players I expect to improve. All players Les has bought in. I’m happy with that.

We are working on a limited budget and we have cleared out the dead wood. Which means we have a squad in transition. So patience is required, as Les has stated on many occasions. Unfortunately patience is not something most of todays football fans have. Maybe it’s because of the money we pay. When it’s £30 and more to get in, I guess part of you expects results. But it’s unrealistic.

We are currently 14th in the Championship, five points off the playoffs. I certainly wouldn’t have expected to be any nearer when the season started and I don’t expect to be any nearer at season’s end. What are these expectations some fans harbour? Why should we be riding any higher considering our recent history?

 I expect nothing at the moment but effort and signs that we are gelling and growing in confidence. And I expect to be entertained just a little bit for my money. I see signs that we are gelling. Sporadic they may be but there are signs. Conor and Chery are starting to string things together. Sylla is gambling on space and crosses from the two wide boys. Luongo and Ariel are starting to work.

Where things are frustratingly poor is at the back. Seven or eight individually good players to choose from and no magic formula yet. We look so weak from out wide. Crosses come in too frequently, and when they do there’s always somebody there to beat Onuoha/Hall/Lynch/Caulker. Dunno what’s going on there but it seems to me nobody is taking responsibility. Onuoha as captain needs to be far more aggressive and assertive with his own players. Perch has come back and looked excellent, Robinson got a run out against Brentford and will come on for that. Maybe these two can cement the wing back roles. I like them both.

The other thing I’m finding interesting is that for the first time in a long time we have a squad with plenty of options. Onuoha and Lynch’s versatility give us any number of options at the back. Bidwell and Hamaleinenk have both had good moments and can be decent deputies as wing backs. Caulker looks good going forward although still loses concentration. And Hall has obvious quality. Henry is great cover in deep midfield. Shodipo is a lively promising youngster should Pavel or Washington or Chery not be available out wide. Gladwin gets a fearful stinging from the morons but in fact he has a creative edge that we most certainly need. So loads of options there. And maybe that’s been a bit of a problem. Nobody knows which team JFH is going to pick from week to week. And one wonders if he does really. I like the fact we’re getting a decent look at all these players. I don’t like the fact that we don’t have a settled 11.

Still, read the social networks and you’d think QPR were a club in turmoil, a club in freefall. When in fact we are a club that have learnt a lot of pretty harsh lessons the hard way over the last six years and are now doing what we can to put it right. Clear out the mercenaries who got us here, lower the wage bill, replace with players less accomplished but with more promise. 

“Fortress Loftus Rd’ wasn’t built in a day but there are green shoots of recovery. Youngsters in the squad, players with an appetite to get stuck in. Building confidence is the key. And that comes with a few hard fought wins, just like Bristol City and Fulham. I’ve noticed a definite change in the tempo, in the way we start games. But there’s still a weakness there when we go behind. It’s a mental weakness that’s all about confidence.

But not altogether undeserved. Fulham hammered us for vast periods down at the Cottage, but we came out 2-1 winners and the game wasn’t without massive drama.

Fulham got off to their usual flyer against us with a penalty after 5 mins. Caulker judged to be holding. Can’t say I saw it but I understand the need to be strict. Thankfully Smithies was very much up to the well taken penalty, diving to his right to palm away the firm accurate shot right in front of 3500 travelling Rangers fans. 

The injustice of a missed pen seemed to spur Fulham on though and they were playing some really neat stuff down both flanks and through the middle, ably assisted by a four man Rangers defence consisting of four centre backs who along with the wide midfielders in our attacking three, left acres of space on every time Fulham came forward. It was a carbon copy of the Newcastle game but thankfully Fulham’s finishing was more errant.

I like the look of Lynch and we should always find room for club captain Onuoha but the pair of them aren’t full backs. Lynch was keen to get forward but when we lost possession we were in trouble. henry seems to be deployed as last man now and if you spray the ball either side of him, we’re in for a rough ride. And so it was for vast swathes of the first half.

But Rangers weren’t totally inept. There were times we applied ourselves well. Those times almost always involved Chery, and with Washington busy as ever and Polter putting in his usual shift we weren’t without our own threat.

When we scored it was down the other end and looked like a weakish Washington shot got a deflection from Polter before going in. Against the run of play certainly but proof there’s life in the old dog.

Fulham scored soon after the restart after we were at sixes and sevens for the umpteenth time from the cross. A half clearance from Smithies was slammed home. 1-1. You feared for us. But actually it seemed to galvanise us somewhat.

And when Fulham inexplicably took off Parker we started to get hold of the middle. Luongo who was impressive throughout found more room and more influence. Shodipo came on for the pole and added pace. Sylla replaced Polter and you sensed there were still possibilities if we took the game by the scruff of the neck. And we did. Chery more and more influential, Luongo and Henry able to boss midfield and give the defenders the space they needed to get forward.

Chery got free down the right, beat his man to create space and delivered a perfect cross for Sylla to dive onto. Not entirely undeserved, especially on the evidence of the last 20 minutes.

Our weakness as a club and a team on the pitch was exposed for the umpteenth time as with virtually the last kick of the game we conceded another penalty. I couldn’t see it and will wait before passing judgement. Suffice to say it hit the post and the ref blew the final whistle immediately afterwards. 

Cue much celebration in the away end. Not just because we had finally won an away London derby (we hadn’t beaten Fulham at Craven Cottage for 36 years!) or we’d picked up our first three points since Cardiff, but because we showed a little spirit and ambition in the last 20. A little bit like the second half against Birmingham last week which we drew and a lot better than the dismal away performance at Burton which we also drew 1-1.

And on top of a promising if ultimately unsuccessful display agains Sunderland in the cup (1-2) there are signs that there is ability and intent in this squad.

The worrying side is the defence. Four excellent individual players today in Onuoha, Hall, Caulker and Lynch. But as a unit once again completely found wanting. It’s like nobody is taking responsibility. I wish one of those four were more vocal. And personally I can’t wait for Perch and Bidwell to be fit again. I liked Lynch. He’s going to cause a selection problem or two shortly.

In general, after such a lean few weeks I’m left wondering what this 4-2-3-1 system is all about. We seem to get ripped apart on the break by it. Luongo and Henry don’t move nearly enough to take pressure off the defence when any of them have the ball. 

And we certainly don’t have much fluidity up top yet. We just don’t seem comfortable going forward yet. We don’t ‘click’. There were times today when we did (nowhere near like Fulham did) and one can only hope that this all comes with a settled side and a little confidence.

For now, I am grateful for a little breathing space and a win in a big London derby. It’s a big step forward after the last few weeks of pure drudgery and the off field ‘scandal’ involving JFH and his alleged dishonest dealings. 

If that’s what it takes to galvanise a team and a club I will personally invite the Telegraph to come and entrap the whole squad on some spurious jumped up nonsense cos it’s worked a treat today.

I demand we pick our strongest team.

I demand we come out the blocks.

I demand we don’t look at this competition like it’s beneath us. It’s not. It’s above us. We’re shit. Nothing is beneath us. We should take every chance we get to get some sort of a roll going. League Cup is a good start.

I demand we treat this as an important fixture. Win this and then three more games and we will be experiencing one of the top five days in the club’s history. What’s all this bollocks that the cup isn’t important? It’s our only bloody hope.

I demand that we don’t set up as the whimpering underdogs. Sunderland are there for the taking. However badly we don’t want to be there, I guarantee they will not want to be there more. They are playing badly. They have other things on their mind. They are as far away from home as possible. They are there for the fucking taking.

I demand we play some actual football. Sunderland are the ones under pressure, not us. Please god we actually go out and look like we’re enjoying ourselves.

I demand we cease with this ridiculous notion that doing well in the cup will somehow harm our form in the league. I’ve been watching football 40 years and I have seen no evidence whatsoever that this is the case. Good performances breed good performances, whatever the competition.

I demand we get it into our heads that there will be probably six and a half thousand reasons to play well tomorrow. That’s enough innit?

I demand the players and management make this the best £6.50 I’ve spent since I was in Nando’s.

I demand Chelsea in the next round.

At last. A football team. There is plenty to improve on but you couldn’t have wished for a more dominant display for the season’s opener.

Defensively we were rock solid for all but the last few minutes of the game.

In midfield we were utterly dominant in the first half and held our own comfortable second half.

Up front there was a good work rate and occasional sparkle.  Polter scored a cracker too with virtually the last kick of the game to add a bit of pizazz to a hard working performance.

Bidwell made his debut at left back and he impressed. He looks keen to get forward and comfortable beyond the half way line which gives great cause for hope considering the players who have held that position in recent history.

I never thought I’d see Caulker in a QPR shirt again (at least I hoped I wouldn’t) but by all accounts he’s been fantastic pre season and he looked excellent today. Commanding. Hall next to him simply picked up where he left off last season. Very comfortable on the ball, good in the tackle, good positional sense. Obviously early days but if Jimmy Floyd can get Caulker motoring then we’ve got potentially two excellent centre backs on our hands.

Onuoha found himself on the right again. I’m not sure he likes it there and he’s certainly no natural flanker but he was untroubled today and netted me £330 for scoring first, although how much he knew about it I’m not sure. Rob Green - making his Leeds debut - did what he’s always been prone to doing which was flap and get outmuscled in the six yard box, and when the ball brushed off Ned’s thigh we were 1-0 up. Possibly fortuitous but not considering our dominance and early pressing for those first 10 minutes. 

That was largely down to debut boy Shodipo’s business on the left wing and his link up play with Bidwell. Shodipo is young and raw but he already shows a keenness to use both feet and also, joy of joys, to actually beat a man. It’s something we’ve been lacking for yonks. Someone with the ability to actually beat a man, with either pace (Feraday) or trickery (Taarabt) or sheer doggone head down determinedness (Mackie). Beating a man is what creates space and gets us going the right way. I think QPR have forgotten that over the last few years. Anyway, Shodipo’s performance was full of bristling intent and promise even if the final product was what you’d expect from a youngster.

Chery knows how to beat a man too. Last year’s best player (in my book anyway) and the closest thing we have to a true quality attacker was in good form again. He always looks dangerous going forward. His final ball let him down a little today, but he buried our second, a penalty, with aplomb in the bottom right even though Green guessed right. The penalty came after another debutant Jordan Cousins was felled by a clumsy challenge after getting the wrong side of the defender. Cheap and easy.

El Khayati came on for Gladwin mid way through the second half. The thing to note here is that Gladwin doesn’t seem to have worked on his speed in the pre-season. I’m not sure if it’s even something that can be worked on, speed. You either have it or you don’t. Gladwin doesn’t. He was hauled off after his lack of shift left him dangerously exposed on a yellow. I saw enough of Gladwin last season to understand there’s talent there. But blimey. you could almost make out the silvery trails on the grass after each of his ‘runs’. Judging from some tweets, he’s going to get some stick before long which is unfortunate and not something I will ever understand. But I do wonder why he’s out there on the right. Call me olf-fashioned but a winger should have a turn of pace, no?

Lots to like about Henry’s performance in the middle. Rock solid as usual. Much maligned is Henry but he’s been our most consistent performer over a tough two or three years and he really keeps us ticking over. Luongo didn’t do his usual disappearing act next to Henry and that was promising too. He involved himself throughout and looked creative and industrious. So nice balance there.

Up front Polter was big and strong and did a lot of donkey work. He ran onto a chery through ball in the first half, cut inside beautifully and was unfortunate to hit the post, but he netted our third deep into injury time with a good run, collecting a tough ball on the left, outmuscling his marker and slamming the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle. The Polter on the cake, rather than the Chery.

Bidwell got a booking in the first half for showing, at worst, mild annoyance at a bad decision from the referee. I only mention this because if that’s the new law, there’s going to be a lot of trouble in the bedding down. Many a player is going to find themselves on the wrong side of a sending off for doing nothing much and I hope JFH has briefed the players accordingly.

Leeds for their part didn’t look bad. They just didn’t offer enough up front and we were so dominant in the middle that they found it hard to get hold of the ball and develop anything. All good from our point of view. But I think we’ll play a lot better sides this season and a lot worse.

The big difference today was tempo. Right from the start we played with tempo and intent. We dictated play, and we dictated it was fast and strong. And we didn’t let up or go to sleep or lose concentration or not get out of the blocks. There’s so much to look forward to this season. A new signing from Metz, a team of players with something to prove who aren’t rinsing us week in week out. All overseen by two good young footballing brains in Sir Les and JFH. This upped tempo really was the big difference. It’s something we’ve lacked for many seasons.

There are three distinct groups forming in the QPR squad. The biggest one, thankfully, is ‘players who have the scope to kick on. Those in this group I see as players with real potential. Raw now. Physically not quite up to it yet maybe. Mentally green. But players who, with enough game time, enough good coaching, enough confidence, enough attitude and enough good luck, could turn out to be half decent. In this group I would put Ingram, Robinson, Kwepeka, Petrasso, Luongo, Gladwin, Washington, El Khayati and Polter. That’s a pretty big group and it shows how much this squad’s changed. Because I wouldn’t have even had this as a group name two years ago.

‘Established first teamers’ are players I see as relatively finished articles who we can always rely on to put in a shift and produce something decent in the Championship. I have down Smithies, Perch, Onuoha (although he flirts dangerously with a group I shall come on to), Chery, Henry, Hoilet (another flirting dangerously with another group) and Philips (you know what these brackets are for right?). 

The final group are players we are best off shipping out, either because they are past their best, are never going to be good enough, or haven’t got the right attitude. In this group I would put Toszer, Konchesky and Mackie. Tozser I just can’t envisage improving. I may be wrong but I just can’t see him being the midefield general we’ve come to rely on in Henry, Faurlin or Derry before him. Konchesky is past his best surely. And Mackie unfortunately seems to have become more and more fragile.

The club announced straight after our final game of the season (1-0 home win against Bristol City - great strike from Henry) that Faurlin and Hill were being released. I don’t think there’s a QPR fan who isn’t sad to hear that news about either of them. They have been great servants. 100% committed during some horrible times. But it would have been hard to envisage Hill getting a full season at his age and we have some decent cover in his position. Faurlin was possibly more a decision based on money and the worry of his knee giving way again. Whatever the reasons, it’s sad to see two such great professionals leave a club who have been starved of great professionals for so long. Also going are Traore (Bye bye. See ya. Bye now), Yun Suk Young (such promise, god knows what happened there), Diakite (a remnant from a different time, a different world) and a bloke called Oscar Gobern who may as well be a hamburger seller in the South Africa Rd Stand for all I know about him. We’re currently in talks with Henry and Hoilet to renew contracts.

For me, if someone came in offering decent money for either Hoilet of Philips, I would take it. Both can do a job for us next season but they both remain symbols of an old QPR I’d rather forget about. Under Jimmy and Les there’s a definite feeling that we are moving on. This won’t lead us to instant success. But chasing instant success is what led us to the dreadful financial and spiritual state we find ourselves in now. The finances will take a number of years to right themselves. Getting rid of a few high earners is only a start. We have no parachute payments coming as of next year and I don’t see this squad as one capable of making a serious challenge for promotion. If all the players in the ‘Players with scope to kick on’ group do so, then maybe in a couple of seasons, who knows? Until then we have to be happy with mid table mediocrity. So, financially, things aint looking good.

Spiritually,things have got somewhat better this season to my mind. We are finally anonymous again. A blessing. It beats being a laughing stock, a team reviled for their policy of trying to buy survival at the expense of every principle the club was built on. We now have players with something to prove. We now have youngsters. In reality the football isn’t much better, but the feeling is. Best of all we have a young talented manager and a relatively young director of football who have gotten to grips with the realities of our situation and are prepared to remain and slug it out. That gives me hope. So I wouldn’t be sorry to see Philips and Hoilet go if it gave us a bit of cash. Out with the old...

Onuoha is a weird one. I like him. When he’s on form he’s an imposing player. he has his moments with the ball at his feet and he can play on both flanks althoughI think it’s not where he’s at his best. The doubt is twofold. Positionally he’s constantly found out. We’ve been weak from corners and crosses all season and he has to take his share of the blame. Secondly, he’s no captain. It’s a post that’s wasted on him. He’s simply not vocal or confident enough and I would have no qualms handing that honour to either Henry or Hall next season. We haven’t exactly got players queueing up for the role though. IT’s a worry and a feature of our squad for many seasons over the recent years.

Where are we light? If Hoilet and Philips move on we have no width, although many would argue we have no width with them here! Petrasso woudl have to have one serious summer to become the one we could rely on to create out wide next season. Robinson really looked like he could stretch opposition wing backs when I saw him and that’s hopeful. But the wings still represent an area of weakness. Up front we’re light. I like Polter. He puts a shift in and I can’t imagine there are many defenders who will be delighted at the prospect of having to deal with him. But he’s not going to be prolific. I guess we’re hoping Washington’s the man to bang them in. He hasn’t banged one in yet though, and if he doesn’t kick on we’re incredibly light up top. I have high hopes for Washington though and am looking forward to celebrating more of his international goals this summer. Defensively it doesn’t feel too bad. Angella is in a group all on his own. ‘Very decent squad player’. He provides good cover for Hall and Onuoha. Onuoha is versatile. Perch is solid and there’s some good talent coming through.

Personally I woudl be looking for an out and out goalscorer (easy huh?), a player with width and a new midfield enforcer to help Henry out. It’s going to be lonely in there for him without Faurlin. Everything else can wait. And I’d buy a bulk order of cotton wool to wrap Chery up in.

It’s been six games since I last wrote. Is that laziness or a lack of anything really interesting to talk about? Well in truth it’s probably a bit of both. That, and the fact that I’m revelling in this end of season malaise. How nice it is not to be watching through my fingers through fear and embarrassment, nor being on tenterhooks trying to work out permutations to stay up or go up. What a relief not to be in the papers, big players announcing their intention to leave the sinking ship, chairmen making pointless statements, fans going ape on twitter.

It’s a nothing end to the season and that’s something to be thankful of. 

The BIG news? I went to three games in one week. Haven’t done that since my younger days. Middlesborough and Charlton at home were punctuated on a quiet Tuesday night by Leeds away and I managed to get to all three courtesy of the fact that I was in Leeds that Tuesday on business. I’m afraid I’m not far gone enough not to wait around all day in Leeds to go to a game that was never going to be a belter. Luckily I was rewarded with a free QPR top courtesy of the club. Everyone who turned up (about 300 I believe) was given one. Very nice. 

It only sweetened the turgid fare a little though. Elland Rd is a deathly place when it’s half full. The Leeds fans did their best to perk up the atmosphere but that’s a lot of space to fill, especially when the away fans have no interest in adding to the proceedings. Leeds fans chanted gamely throughout the second half whilst we sort of sat there watching on.

The first half was particularly dull. The second half came to life when we let a cross drift into the back of the net and then spent the rest of the half gamely trying to redress the balance. It’s something we never looked likely to do until Polter came on for Washington and Chery came on for Mackie who limped off injured.

Those substitutions changed things somewhat and confirmed what many of us have been thinking for a while, that these are two of our best players, however different their approach. Polter brought real physicality and Chery a touch of class. But it took till injury time for us to get a deserved equalizer courtesy of the penalty spot  after good strong work from Polter. Chery dispatched with aplomb, and however bad the game was, you can never moan about an injury time equalizer from the penalty spot.

Other things to note? Washington needs a hell of a lot more time. Mackie doesn’t look like he’ll get a run of games under his belt ever again, and that’s about it. 1-1. I just got the feeling QPR will be looking forward to next season a little more than Leeds judging by their disgruntled fans who don’t have a good word for the chairman or manager, whereas some of us do for ours.

Charlton on the Sat was an entertaining affair. Charlton, already down, really went for it and didn’t deserve to lose but it was a cracking finish in the dying minutes from El Khayati to nick it. a curling right foot shot from the left beyond the dive of the keeper. If he can do that a few more times he’ll force his way in. He looks a bit off the pace at times but always manages to produce one or two pieces of skill which make you wonder what might be there. JFH obviously thinks he’s got something as he brought him in from Burton and it’s the progress of players like El Khayati which brings a level of interest to the dying embers of the season that otherwise wouldn’t be there.

Other players who come into that category are the two keepers Smithies and Ingram, Chery, Gladwin, Luongo, Polter, Washington, Robinson, Petrasso and Kpekawa. Having got ourselves into a position of safety relatively early doors, it’s nice that we’ve been able to get a good look at all these players and great to see JFH and the rest of the back room staff pushing them through. I’m really hoping that experimentation will stand us in good stead come the start of next season and we hit the ground running. 

Robinson looked a really promising left back against Charlton. At last someone in that position who really kicks on in the style of Bardsley or Wilson. Haven’t seen that in years. Luongo shows flashes of Quality but often looks a little lost and isn’t the most physical. He struggled against Leeds I felt. Gladwin looks like a direct type but again needs more games under his belt. Washington too. He always looks bright and alive when he comes on but he needs a lot more time. He started in the 4-0 drubbing against title chasing Brighton but I didn’t go, didn’t see highlights and wasn’t interested in reading the twitter reports so I can’t comment. I like his movement and energy though when he comes on. Kpekawa started in the 1-1 draw against Reading and I can’t remember anything bad or good in the performance. Petrasso I can’t get an angle on either at the moment. He looks determined and he has quick feet. A proper winger. But I’m not sure he’s lightning quick. He started in the 1-0 loss which clinched Burnley promotion. I’m watching that game on record as I type. It’s not a bad performance by any means and we’re becoming a team that are hard to beat. But with little space it’s hard to know what Petrasso is all about just yet. 

What I can tell you is that all these players are young and they play like they have energy and verve and something to prove. This is such a joy that frankly I don’t care if they all turn out to be duds. It’s just such a pleasure to see players who want to play. This is why this end of season actually means something even though it’s not exactly scintillating. The one I’m missing out is Chery. You know what I think of him. A real star in the making. Easily our best, most dangerous creative outlet. I love him in the position behind Polter with a little freedom and lots of involvement. He has a great shot on him, a good engine, a deft touch. He’ll be the ‘worth the entrance money’ player if we can hang onto him. And I think there’s more to come from him.

In amongst those six games was a 0-0 draw at Cardiff. I saw highlights. They took 20 seconds. apparently we were well worth the draw. Other than that it was notable only for the debut of Ingram who had a fine game and since then starred in the draw with Reading where he was arguably MOTM. Two great young keepers. Are we the sort of club who can keep the one who sits it out on the bench interested? Hmmm. Not sure.

Six games. Lots of experimentation. Only one thumping, and that at the hands of a very good Brighton side. We gave as good as we got against Burnley but couldn’t quite spoil the party. Draws, wins, losses, a bit of everything. Just what you’d expect from the experimentation and I hope Jimmy and the rest of the coaching side are gleaning a load of stuff from this. It’s not like we’ve had the luxury of an end of season like this in a long long time. We can start next season with a group of young players who have all had first team experience and all understand the football JFH is trying to play. Save for the Brighton game we are now proving very hard to beat home and away and that’s very handy. I guess a little more guile and creativity up front is what we’d be looking for. Maybe El Khayati, Petrasso and Washington can kick on. Let’s see. 

OK so it’s not exciting, but it’s certainly interesting and I believe in what is going on at Loftus Rd for the first time in many years. It might not get us up for a few seasons but it feels like, if the chairman can keep his head, that under JFH we can start to build some stability.