Typical Start to the Season

Fireworks, explosions, flags, WAGS, models, billionaire owners and their billionaire mates, wheeling out the legends before the game – we’re getting used to the spectacle that comes with Mr Briatore at Loftus Road by now.  Did it match what I saw on the pitch? Not really.

Good, steady start
After what was a quite tentative, slow paced opening, which Rangers totally dominated, ‘big Ben Burgess’ opened the scoring for the very poor Blackpool side on 37 mins.  Up to that point the R’s had bossed the game and looked the far superior side.  Nice passing, injections of pace but ultimately poor finishing was the main story of the opening period.  Blackpool didn’t offer anything going forward apart from their goal.  Typical Holloway side – all huff but no puff.

The need for a goalscorer
This is so obvious it’s unreal. It smacks me in the face every week.  Surely the board / management can see it too??  Vine missed a great chance, Helguson looks lazy and lethargic, Agyemang is not a finisher and Taraabt is awesome, but a typical number 10, rather than a number 9. Please, please, please address this problem. We look a great side up until someone needs to put the ball where it hurts – then we look weak. We wont get as many chances against better opposition in this league so we need a ruthless, deadly and clinical goalscorer.  I seriously cannot believe we haven’t addressed this after going on about it so much last term and all of the summer (or was that just me?).

Ramage
Slowly winning me over after the terrible start he made in a hooped shirt last term. Seems to care more than most and that goes a long way.  Both full backs (Ramage and Borrowdale) had solid /decent games in my opinion.  I think Ramage is solid but basic.  His goal was a pure fluke but so what, let him enjoy it!  It just goes to show how much of a state we’re in when our goal threat comes from a marouading right back who scores from a cross-come-shot. Oh dear.

Predictions for the campaign ahead
Without the 20+ man we need – 10th. With a goalscorer I truely beleive we’ll make the play-offs with an off-chance of making the top 3.  Our midfield and defence is more than good enough to mount a charge. We need to spend big on securing enough goals to get us in the Premiership  – over to you Mr Briatore / Mittal / Ecclestone.

You can view highlights from the 1-1 draw, courtesy of the BBC, by clicking here. Count how many chances Blackpool have.  Quick mention for Aldershot Town who started the season by winning 3-1 against Darlington – well done Wads!

RR

Jim Magilton / Toying With Our Loyalty

We’re gonna do this, we’re gonna do that – but what do they do? They hire Jim Magilton.

Now, I’m the type of fan that will give Jim time to prove what he can do – but will the other Rangers fans do the same? I very much doubt it.  On the positive side, Jim Magilton plays football the right way and I always admired him as a player – so here’s hoping this translates onto the pitch at Loftus Road.  However, you can’t escape the fact Jim was sacked as the manager of divisional rivals Ipswich Town and their fans don’t seem too bothered to see the back of him (despite worshipping him as a player).  Has the appointment inspired me to renew my season ticket? No, not really.

Toying with our loyalty
The noise eminating from the Loftus Road boadroom certainly doesn’t match the decisions they are making.  We we’re all sucked into the hype at the end of last season when new owners Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone, Lakshmi Mittal and Amit Bhatia marched onto the pitch alongside QPR greats Sir Les Ferdinand, Paul Parker, Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh.  Pyroclastics, cheerleaders and a huge unvieling of the new club crest joined them on the pitch – whipping the crowd into a frenzy – promising Champions League football in four years. Wow! (well, to be honest I thought it was all a bit of a let down personally – I mean, where was Zidane?).

Anyway, one season later where have we gone? How far have we come? Not far at all. One minute we’re being promised Premiership football, high profile players and managers and the next we get season tickets hiked, Iain Dowie, Samuel Di Carmine and Gary Borrowdale. What the fuck are they doing with our club? We’re not a toy – so stop toying with my years and years of loyalty. All I ask is that you listen to the fans, stop telling outrageous porkies and deliver on achieveable promises.  We’re not stupid. Loyalty does not equal stupidity.  Treat us honestly and fairly and we’ll repay you with a buzzing Loftus Road – uniting under the same cause – promotion.

RR

So What Are People Saying About QPR?

In my job I have tools available to me that can track the levels of buzz/chatter on the web – especially looking at social media (blogs, social networks, forums and video/image sharing sites).  Using these tools, I was interested to see what the general feeling was about QPR amongst football fans. I decided to dig around, pull a few charts and see how the ‘buzz’ surrounding QPR has changed over the last month – looking at managers, owners and whether people associated ‘relegation’ or ‘promotion’ with my team.  The results are interesting…(I think)

This first chart shows the levels of buzz/chatter surrounding the various managers we’ve been linked to in recent weeks. It’s interesting (but unsuprising) to see that recent buzz has focused on Blackwell, Boothroyd and Magilton (who’s hanging about like a bad smell).  Buzz surrounding Jim Magilton has remained pretty consistent over the last couple of weeks – especially when it ’emerged’ that Magilton and Calderwood were favourites for the job around May 14th.

Rather dissapointingly, the buzz surrounding Curbishley has tailed off (he would be my choice anyway) and Gigi Di Canio is non-existent in comparison.  The most interesting thing about the chart above is that Blackwell was associated with QPR way back in April/start of May  – not sure why – and then this buzz went quiet during the busy play-off period with Sheffield United.

The next chart shows the share of this buzz. It looks like Jim Magilton is a consistent force.  Interesting to see Boothroyd, Calderwood and Blackwell sharing an equal(ish) share – 20%.  Niether would be my choice – but they seem to be the focus of the chatter online.

How are the owners of QPR fairing in this debate? They are the ones responsible for our managerial appointment.  They are the ones making the decisions.  It seems as though Falvio is domiting the buzz relating to Rangers in this time. Interesting to see that both Gianni Paladini and Amit Bhatia are not being mentioned – yet they are the guys ‘on the gound’ making the decisions and interviewing potential managers.

Many Rangers fans would expect that our club is mainly associated with promotion, NOT relegation. However, it’s interesting to see that 40% of the social media discussion – in relation to ‘QPR’ – surrounds the word/term ‘relegation’. I’m quite suprised by that to be honest. Are you?

I would be interested to see whether any of this suprises you? So, please feel free to comment/interpret this information. Who is to blame for dragging our clubs name consistently in/out of the mire – constantly being associated with what I consider ‘tier 2’ managers? Who do you think should be appointed? Interesting times lie ahead, that’s for sure.

RR

Aidy Boothroyd. Please Flav NO!

Rumours coming out of W12 suggest that Aidy Boothroyd is well-placed to be the next QPR manager. Personally, I think this would be a disastrous appointment.  I’m very confused about the direction in which Flavio, Bernie and especially Gianni want to take my club.  The managerial merry-go-round is making our club a joke and lets be honest, I can’t see where we are going. It’s a ship without a rudder.

I understand why Dowie was sacked. His brand of football (if you can call it a brand) was shockingly bad and I thought Sousa would improve this – but that never really happened. Only Gigi Di Canio delivered the type of football I want to see down Loftus Road but he had to leave in unfortunate circumstances.

Anyway, those days are gone and now we turn our attentions to Boothroyd.  The ball will certainly get more air-time than grass-time if the rumours turn out to be true. Yes, I want success (and Boothroyd delivered this at Watford) but I want to be entertained doing so. I’m not one of those “get me results whatever the style of play” type of supporters. If I’m to pay £600 for a season ticket this season I want to be entertained. If Boothroyd is appointed then I wont get that. Why would I buy into a product/brand that I know wont deliver what I liked about the brand in the first place – even if I am extremely loyal?  Aidy Boothroyd will be a BIG BIG mistake.  I’ll still love QPR, as the club are bigger than any one individual (player, coach, manager or chairman) but they wont be seeing my £600 if he’s appointed. I’m sure I’m not the only Rangers fan concerned by these rumours.

RR