First things first: Congratulations to Queens Park Rangers on their promotion to the Premier League. Now on to business and something that you may find a bit strange. I think the first thing they should do is to ship out the Championship Player of the Year, Adel Taarabt, at the next available opportunity. This is why:
Firstly, the Premier League is unforgiving and as many newly promoted sides soon find out, defending with 11 willing players is hard enough, how would Q.P.R fair then defending without Taarabt who Warnockseems to have given licence not to track back and help out with the mucky side of the game. In the Championship Q.P.R have accepted that Taarabt does not contribute defensively and without the ball he becomes a passenger. At Championship level this is not as big a problem as it will be in the PL as the quality of the opposition isn’t as great but how can Q.P.R cope when sides playing against them will dominate the midfield in possession, occupying the spaces in which a more defensively able and more willing worker than Taarabt would attempt to plug.
Secondly, like Charlie Adam, Blackpool’s talismanic captain, Taarabt undoubtedly has the technical ability to compete and possibly shine in the Premier League. With the media speculation surrounding him now and that which would inevitably follow a successful start to the campaign; can Q.P.R afford to allow the same relentless transfer speculation that followed Adam to disrupt their season? Since January Blackpool have picked up only 10 points in the league and have plummeted down the table as the constant media glare has been intent on disruptively linking their captain with Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United.
Disagree if you please, but I think that this has definitely had an effect on the performance and mentality of the whole team as the results show. The way in which Q.P.R have coped with the disruptive media speculation surrounding the Alejandro Faurlin saga suggests a resilient character of the squad, but in a greater league and amongst much greater pressure and where things are less likely to be going so well for them, would they really want to be taking any chances with this? I doubt it.
I’m a big Taarabt fan but 19 league goals in 44 against Championship opposition do not entirely suggest he has the ability to single-handedly keep Q.P.R up in the Premier League. No disrespect but the Manchester United’s and the Chelsea’s and the Arsenal’s are a completely different kettle of fish than the Scunthorpe’s, Middlesbrough’s and Watford’s of this world. Will Taarabt even be able to cope with the step up in class? His time in the reserves and warming the bench for Tottenham suggest that he does not possess enough of an all-round game at this level to justify inclusion. Does his ability warrant Warnock taking a gamble on him to keep them up?
I think Q.P.R will stay up providing they strengthen in key areas however I do fear for them if they persist on the gamble of playing 10 + Taarabt and pinning their survival hopes on the ability of such a mercurial talent. I believe Warnock should cash in on reported interest from Dortmund, Chelsea and Lazio and use the money to strengthen more areas of his team such as a couple of proven Premier League forwards and securing Routledge on a permanent basis to mount a more flexible and sustained attempt at Premier League survival.
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Totally agree. Whilst some great touches this season he is basically lazy and not a good example as a Captain. Time to sell.
Disagree. In the 2nd half of the season, Adel was putting in more work than a lot gave him credit for, warnock aside. And there are a lot of prem teams with players who don’t do defensive duties and save their best work for offensive play. So long as they fit the overall pattern of the team. Furthermore, Taarabt’s not just about 19 goals – he assisted more than that, and that doesn’t account for the double/triple marking that created space for many of our other players. He is desperate to play on the big stage, he’s only 21, and I think he is going to get better yet. Why shouldn’t that be with us. With our owners, we don’t really need £8m anyway. We need creativity to try and win games though and this lad will provide it. Sure, have a go at getting Joe Cole in, but have them both in the squad – a much better set of options.
Sounds sensible to me. granted he is exceptional in the championship, but i believe he has gotten too much credit than what he in truth deserves. Arguably Warnock’s most prized asset but in the Premiership most unlikely to benefit from constant marking, Warnock would be more equipped purchasing improved players for other positions.
I agree, granted he had minimal experience while at Spurs but his time there proved that he isn’t of a high enough quality to be as successful as he has been this season. The gulf in class between the teams they have played against this season and the likes of Manchester Utd and Chelsea implies that he will have lesser impact, and his lack of defensive efforts mean that he will probably hinder, more than help QPR as they try and survive in the premiership
The boy was growing up. His all round game is improving. At Cardiff he was helping out in defense. I say that he should stay at QPR for at least next season. I want QPR to carry on there fine tradition of allowing expressive players to flourish: the likes of Marsh, Bowles, Currie, Stewart, Wegerle etc etc. I like the idea of Charlie Adam though!
He is lazy, and won’t fight the cause. I understand you are a QPR fan. Although i understand Warnock has a good rapport with Taarabt, who is to say Warnock will be the manager come next season? Taarabt is easily replaced in the premiership with a more defence minded player. He is dispensable at this level unlike the championship, which will in turn lead to QPR having a better chance of surviving the drop.
warnock is the manager next season. and you’ve never watched taarabt play consistently, week, week out. i have and i got to spurs a lot with a mate and see plenty of live prem footiball. if he keeps developing at the rate he has been then the boy can cut it. definitely. why sell? and why would a buying club have more use for his so-called appalling work-rate than us?
The lad is going to be a huge star with QPR in the Premiership under Warnock.