Vital QPR Editor ‘Boxer` helps us preview Saturday`s showdown at Loftus Road.
Vital QPR Editor ‘Boxer` helps us preview Saturday`s showdown at Loftus Road…
How has the season gone compared to your expectations?
You could say that it’s not quite gone to plan, but that would be the understatement of the century. I was as naive as the board clearly in my expectations of mid-table safety, and the fact we’re in a scrap shows that hindsight is a marvellous thing.
There were a few in the summer that cast doubts over certain deals, I prefer to let the players do the talking in living up to their opinions or even confounding their critics. Suffice to say they haven’t lived up to expectation and we find ourselves in a perilous position.
You ask me week to week and you’ll get a different answer. We really are a roller-coaster of emotions at QPR and there is rarely a quiet moment. I was sure that a loss at Southampton would have condemned us, but a win has got me hoping again.
The win however means nothing if we can’t back it up with a couple more on the spin to really spur me on to believing properly. I keep putting my faith and money into this club and keep getting my fingers burned – I’ll support them from the stands, albeit hiding behind my seat.
What happens if, worst-case scenario, QPR are relegated?
In truth from an operational perspective I don’t expect a great deal to change. I think we’d try and offload some high earners where possible, but financially we’re not going to do a Portsmouth or Leeds United because it is Tony Fernandes and his shareholders that burden the club’s debt.
If we do go down the financial shortcomings will fall on their shoulders and not that club itself. I can perhaps see a Newcastle situation where the chairman asks the players to a man to stay and sort the problems that they’ve helped to cause – hopefully Harry Redknapp will stay at very least.
Is Harry Redknapp really the right man for the job?
There was only one man I’d have wanted to take on this poison chalice and it is the man we have in charge. Somehow he’s taken Mark Hughes high-earning flops and got them playing as a team at times – quite whether it’s enough or too late remains to be seen.
I can’t think of a better person to bring us back should the worst happen either. He has limited but successful Championship experience and I firmly believe that he would steer us back quickly should we drop down.
Key player on Saturday?
For QPR, Loïc Remy. He is a born finisher and the composure for both of his goals really belies any logic as to why he joined us. If we can get him fit and fighting then he will be the difference not only on Saturday but in a testing run in.
Elsewhere Adel Taarabt can work magic if given the opportunity to do so, but having been left out against Southampton it remains to be seen whether Harry will turn to him against Sunderland. An undoubted talent however.
One player you’d drive to his next club & why?
Jose Bosingwa. Do I really need a reason? He refused to sit on the bench and while his gargantuan wages are not a factor in that decision, it is galling as a supporter to see someone not caring about the club’s plight in its hour of need.
He has come back into the picture now, and will probably start on Saturday, but I think there are defenders of equal stature that could put in a more passionate plea for safety that Mr Mercenary, Jose Bosingwa.
One Sunderland player you’d sign?
I’ve made no secret in the past of my admiration for Stephane Sessegnon. Last season at Loftus Road he tore us to shreds with some surging runs and scything passes. He’d be a player I’d be interested in seeing in a blue and white shirt.
Match prediction?
A really tough one to predict. We need the points that little bit more than you do and I hope that’s reflected in the fixture on Saturday. I’m going for 2-1 to QPR for a successive weekend, with Loïc Remy scoring both.
Cheers Boxer. Got to say I`m nervous about this one despite our excellent record against you in recent times!
