| FOUR STAR CARDIFF BATTER
CLAPPED OUT RANGERS
Most Rangers fans
have been consoling themselves since the Vauxhall debacle with the
thought that things couldn't get much worse. Don't you believe it!
Just when you think Rangers have hit
rock bottom they grab a shovel and start to dig! The capitulation
against Cardiff was one of the most depressing sights I have had the
misfortune to witness.
Holloway made changes after the
Vauxhall game, three of them were easy choices but again he failed
to clear the team of the dead wood that is holding us back. Royce
was back in goal for his final game of his loan spell. The back four
was Forbes, Carlisle, Shittu and Williams. The midfield was made up
of Bircham, Palmer, Langley and Willock with Gallen and Angell up
front. This was not bad for Holloway with only three of the midfield
four being played out of position.
The fact that Palmer, Williams and
Willock were in the team at all will have half surprised the Rangers
fans. All three have been diabolical in recent weeks but our
inspirational leader doesn't seem to think that playing poorly is
any barrier to a first team start.
In fairness, Rangers looked like a
different side following last Tuesdays showing. All the early
running was made by the R's and most of it stemmed from the
excellent target man display from Brett Angell. A few eyebrows were
raised when he was brought in as he has a cart horse reputation but
he is one of those players who, when his name is read out, you think
"Oh shit, Brett Angell".
Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander was
having one of those nights were everything seemed to go straight at
him. He saved well from Gallen and also did well to turn away
efforts from Carlisle and a first shot on target from Willock, not
bad in his third game.
Brett Angell sent an effort over the
bar whilst at the other end Dan Shittu had livewire Robert Earnshaw
in his pocket, The threat was always there though and he managed to
wriggle clear of Carlisle a couple of times only for the big man to
turn up and save the day. The only effort at goal Cardiff could
muster in the first half was a Graham Kavanagh effort high into the
stand.
So half time, 0-0 against one of the
division's most potent outfits, all is well at Loftus Road again.
Wrong! After a promising initial flurry in which Gallen volleyed
over Rangers conceded a sloppy goal that would open the flood gates
to an arse whooping.
Cardiff won a corner and Kavanagh's
delivery caused havoc in the box. Royce tried to claim it but made a
mess of things and all of a sudden the ball was pinging around in
the box. It fell to Earnshaw who prodded home despite the best
efforts of Shittu to hook it clear.
Rangers nearly grabbed an equaliser
but were denied by the offside flag. Marc Bircham, playing in a
right wing role not really suited to a combative midfielder, swung
the ball in and Angell controlled and volleyed home. This was to be
his last contribution to the game as Holloway made the crazy
decision to replace him with Paul Furlong. Angell had been a
constant threat all game and linked up well with Gallen on a number
of occasions. If he was injured then fair enough, if not, this was
the decision that turned the game completely.
Furlong was greeted with a chorus of
boos and cries of Chelsea reject when he came on. This was out of
order and didn't help anyone but you could understand the sentiment.
Following his penalty miss in the shoot out against Vauxhall, his
penalty miss at Crewe and a succession of lacklustre displays he has
become a latter day Mark Hateley for the R's fans.
Almost immediately Earnshaw made it
0-2 with the goal of the game. Willock gave the ball away whilst
trying to control and it fell to Earnshaw. He danced his way toward
goal, skipping past half hearted challenges as he went before
slamming the ball into the top corner. It was a great finish to be
fair but that was it for Rangers and with little in the way of
inspiration coming from the bench the game was all but up.
Dennis Oli had entered the fray to
inject some much needed to pace to the front line. He had replaced
Willock who had once again turned in another piss poor performance.
He doesn't have a first touch, he has an only touch! I can't
remember the last time I saw a player miscontrol so many routine
passes. If he is a Premiership footballer then I am a little upset I
am not making my way as a pro today.
Furlong had a terrific chance to drag
Rangers back into the game. Yet another Bircham cross was
brilliantly headed down by Oli into the path of Furlong. The
perennially injured front man had plenty of time to smash his volley
into the crowd to send the inhabitants of the Lower Loft diving for
cover.
Minutes later it was 0-3 as the
Rangers defence suddenly started to dish out some early Christmas
presents. A nothing ball was punted forward and last seasons player
of the year, Terrell Forbes attempted a header back to Royce. He had
failed to notice Earnshaw waiting between him and the keeper and he
was left with a simple lob over Royce to complete his hatrick. He
was subbed moments later and former Middlesbrough striker Andy
Campbell came on. Surely he didn't have enough time to score as
well?
Wrong again I'm afraid. Campbell
seized on a poor Williams back pass to bear down on goal. His first
effort was saved by Royce but the rebound was put away to compound
yet another humiliating evening for the beleaguered fans of QPR.
There are now two weeks until our next league match so that is
another two weeks of constant piss taking before we can get battered
by another team. Thanks Olly.
I'm not going to slate Holloway as you
are all doing that already, I'm not going to slate Furlong as I
would imagine you are already doing that as well. Also, I won't
slate Williams, Willock, Palmer, Carlisle or Langley for their
shabby efforts last night.
Gentlemen, you have two weeks to put
this right, I suggest you work your arses off between now and then
and find out where you have put our Queens Park Ranger's and give it
back. If you don't find it, then can I suggest you find something
that at least looks like it as I am fed up of watching this crap.
simon@qprnet.com |
