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Walcott’s lightning start enough to slay QPR — full match report
Walcott’s lightning start enough to slay QPR — full match report
Monday, 6th May 2013 01:24 by Clive Whittingham

Theo Walcott scored with the first attack of the game as Arsenal won at Loftus Road on Saturday, but the predicted cricket score failed to materialise adding weight to the theory that QPR have clocked off in other matches this season.

QPR, as ever, are talking the talk. Rarely can a relegated club have commanded as many column inches as Rangers have clocked up this week with manager Harry Redknapp and chairman Tony Fernandes both hitting the press beat in prolific fashion.

After the big boasting words of last summer the temptation at most other clubs would be to keep quiet after a humbling 2012/13 campaign and perhaps try walking the walk in the Championship next season before picking the phone up to those favoured reporters again but you’ve more chance of John Terry writing the forward for a book on the art of monogamous relationships than Redknapp and Fernandes keeping a low public profile. In that respect QPR’s current manager and chairman are made for each other, and they’re at exactly the right club – all three have a historical thirst for newspaper headlines.

Fernandes has said mostly the right things this week – although his bizarre refusal to rule out Mark Hughes one day returning to the club in a capacity other than a severed head on the end of a stick in the midst of a pitchfork wielding mob was one question he perhaps should have dealt with more astutely. But getting things right on the football pitch or the race track has proved more difficult for the Malaysian and a key difference between his point of view and Harry Redknapp’s is already emerging in the rhetoric pouring forth.

The chairman says the most disappointing aspect of the season has been a lack of heart from the players. Not enough effort on the pitch, not enough disappointment after defeats, too much focus on the post-match nightclub of choice rather than the basics of the profession which affords them such a lifestyle. He stopped fractionally short of branding the sport immoral.

Harry Redknapp on the other hand disputes this idea that the team hasn’t tried hard enough. “Start the season over again with this group of players and you’d still be relegated,” he said on Friday. The manager sees it as a badly balanced squad, lacking strength at centre half and goals in attack, further damaged by injury, and totally incapable of dealing with the rigours of top flight football.

Redknapp and Fernandes don’t talk to newspaper journalists for want of something better to do with their time. The chairman is buying time, recognising that he’s fortunate to have escaped criticism from a small but passionate QPR support base which has never been shy of turning on the club’s owners in the past. The Loftus Road faithful are happy to point fingers at individual players and the Mark Hughes/Kia Joorabchian love-in that brought them all to the club and that suits the chastened owner just fine.

Redknapp is positioning himself for next season. The hatred of Hughes means that he too has largely escaped criticism for any part in a turgid season which was already 13 games and no victories old when he arrived, but that hall pass will swiftly be withdrawn if Rangers fail to hit the ground running at a lower level. Redknapp is already playing down the chances of that happening, pointing to the apocalypse at Wolves as a more likely outcome than a West Ham-style bounce back and talking glumly about what a difficult division it is. It’s a thinly veiled attempt to buy himself time in 2013/14, and also loosen the purse strings for another summer of spending beyond the club’s means. To agree with the chairman that the main problem this season has been the attitude and application of the playing squad would be to suggest that it merely needs a summer of Redknapp’s famed motivational skills to turn the stricken vessel around. The manager wants to embark on yet another summer that’s more revolving door than transfer window and so it’s in his interest to convince Fernandes that Jose Bosingwa et al have, in fact, poured their heart and soul into the campaign and simply not been good enough, rather than half arsedly engaging with the club and their jobs before going home to sleep on a pile of money surrounded by many beautiful ladies.

The upshot is everything both men say should be taken with a pinch of salt and judgements should be formed from the actual actions on the pitch. Little more than ten seconds into Saturday’s game at home to Arsenal and it looked like Redknapp had a point – the Gunners were able, from their own kick off, to flood the QPR defensive third with unmarked players and work Theo Walcott in for the opening goal of the game. Armand Traore, starting at left back against his former club; veteran centre half Clint Hill starting alongside Nedum Onuoha in Chris Samba’s continued absence; and goalkeeper Rob Green, who is currently preferred to Julio Cesar as he’s more likely to still be at the club next season, could all be held culpable for the softest of openers. The team is, as Redknapp says, simply not good enough.

Arsenal need points to secure Champions League money for next season and had won six of their last eight coming into the fixture. QPR weren’t very good when there was something at stake and now their survival hopes have gone west they hadn’t even managed to score a goal in their previous three matches. A cricket score looked likely in the early stages.

But there was plenty to back Fernandes’ line on heart and attitude in the subsequent 89 minutes. Against the high flyers in the Premier League this season Rangers have acquitted themselves well – unlucky to lose the corresponding Arsenal fixture the R’s have also taken four points from Chelsea and performed creditably in games with Man City and Spurs. When they put their minds to it this team can play a little bit and they set about their work for the remainder of this game with rather more competence and effectiveness than they’ve managed in the games against the Premier League’s lesser lights this season. It could reasonably be argued that Arsenal got nervous, or simply took their foot off the gas after scoring and would have upped their own input into the fixture and scored again had they shipped an equaliser. What isn’t in doubt is that QPR were far better here than they have been in recent less high profile matches against Stoke, Everton and Reading – and that can only be an issue with their commitment and mindset.

Ji-Sung Park, starting wide of Stephane Mbia and Jermaine Jenas in midfield, chose to pass rather than shoot when he had a sight of goal just after the quarter hour and later lashed over when well placed to do better. At the other end bodies were flung in front of a shot from Santi Cazorla and Green tipped another Walcott shot onto his post. Remy found the top tier with an ambitious shot from distance and Walcott missed the target when Lukas Podolski sprung a rusty offside trap.

This was an even match, far more so than it ever should have been given the form book. Tal Ben Haim, not a man Portsmouth fans would associate with a positive attitude, impressed from right back and made a conscious effort in the second half to chase and harry the visiting team as they attempted to control possession in their own half. That Ben Haim was selected ahead of Jose Bosingwa rather suggested Redknapp doesn’t actually believe what he’s saying himself. Later the manager sent on Shaun Derry for Mbia at half time to try and inject more of the same and his brutal chop on Thomas Rosicky that brought the easiest yellow card of referee Jon Moss’ career to date typified the desire not to let the Gunners have an easy ride on QPR’s own patch. That sort of thing has been sadly lacking this season – as has the flowing move where the Bobby Zamora, fresh from a three match ban, fed Traore on the run wide left and his cross presented Park with a chance to hit a deflected shot wide of the target.

Andros Townsend had plenty to play for, on loan from Arsenal’s bitter local neighbours and rivals for a top four place Spurs, and he was the home team’s biggest attacking threat. As the time ticked down towards the break he curled a free kick across the face of goal and wide with goalkeeper Szczesny beaten after Park had been fouled on the corner of the box.

And the Super Hoops continued to grow into the game at the start of the second half, with Townsend at the heart of some eye catching moves. An early chance from a free kick when Aaron Ramsey was rightly penalised by Moss for a handball saw Zamora nod a back post cross down into the area but behind all his team mates who’d got a little over excited and been sucked en masse into the goal mouth when anybody showing the intelligence to hang back slightly would have been rewarded with a simple tap in. No matter, soon Townsend was standing a dangerous cross up having accelerated to the byline and Jenas and Remy both delayed shots too long in the subsequent spell of pressure. When Townsend took on the shooting duties himself Szczesny’s fumbled save betrayed his nerves.

Arsenal were getting tetchy, niggly, and perhaps even a little worried. Monreal had no choice by to cynically hack Townsend to the floor and take a yellow card after the winger had burned him for pace and Ramsey allowed himself to be dragged into prolonged spells of whinging and moaning to referee Moss, often while the game went on around him. An advert for the Premier League, or Arsenal, it most certainly was not.

It was well after the hour before the visitors posed any threat at all. When they did work up a small head of steam they found Green flying by the seat of his pants with saves from first Koscielny, then Cazorla and finally Walcott - which he had two attempts at - kindly described as unorthodox. Jenas – a ghostly presence, absent for long periods, immaculate hair - was booked for tripping Rosicky as Wenger’s team started to dominate.

QPR sent on Taarabt in an attempt to wrest back the initiative. Zamora collected possession wide on the right and sent in a cross that fell to Remy who hit a trademark first time shot on the turn that Szczesny turned around the post with the save of the game. Wenger would be a fool not to ask QPR to name their price for the French forward this summer. Zamora later tried his luck from 40 yards and, as they used to say on Family Fortunes, if that had gone in I’d have given him the money myself.

The game sadly petered out rather towards the end. Arsenal disrupted proceedings by introducing first Oxlade-Chamberlain for the fairly anonymous Podolski, then fat legged Jack Wilshere for Santi Cazorla who’d been pretty without ever being overly effective, and finally Thomas Vermaelen for Thomas Rosicky who’d stood up well to one or two meaty challenges. Meanwhile Armand Traore realised he was in danger of making it through a full 90 minutes without complaining about some pathetic twinge or other and started limping about during three minutes of injury time necessitating the introduction of Fabio Da Silva.

That QPR have been able to raise themselves for performances against the better sides in the league while folding pathetically against the rest suggests that Tony Fernandes, and the majority of the supporters, are correct in assuming that several members of this squad have not been as fully committed as they might have been for the whole campaign. That they did so again here against a team bang in form with plenty to play for at a time when everybody in W12 is just begging for the campaign to be over adds further fuel to that particular fire. That they conceded after ten seconds and lost anyway backs Harry Redknapp’s theory that the team simply isn’t good enough.

Thankfully/sadly the solution to either point of view is much the same – serious squad surgery during the forthcoming transfer window. ‘Twas ever thus. Mercifully, it’s just the two games left now.

Links >>> Photo Gallery >>> Have Your Say >>> Message Board Match Thread

QPR: Green 6, Ben Haim 6, Onuoha 6, Hill 6, Traore 5 (Da Silva, 90 -), Townsend 7, Jenas 6, Mbia 5 (Derry, 46, 5), Park 5 (Taarabt 79, 6), Zamora 5, Remy 6

Subs not used: Murphy, Granero, Mackie, Bothroyd

Bookings: Derry 64 (foul), Jenas 77 (foul)

Arsenal: Szczesny 7, Sagna 6, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 5, Rosicky 6 (Vermaelen 90, -), Arteta 6, Ramsey 5, Cazorla 6 (Wilshere 89, -), Walcott 7, Podolski 5 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 85, -)

Subs not used: Mannone, Jenkinson, Coquelin, Gervinho

Goals: Walcott 1 (assisted Arteta)

Bookings: Monreal 58 (foul)

QPR Star Man – Andros Townsend 7 Quick, threatening, positive – as a Tottenham player on loan he was one of the few QPR players with something genuine to play for other than pride and it showed. Gave Monreal a torrid time and was unlucky to finish without a goal and on the losing side. He goes back to Spurs at the end of the this season as a proven talent in the Premier League, capable of demanding top level first team football either there or elsewhere.

Referee Jon Moss (Yorkshire) 8 Very little to referee and went about his business in an unfussy manner and without attracting controversy. Might have benefited from telling Ramsey to shut up and go away.

Attendance 18,178 (3,000 Arsenal approx) All the atmosphere of the International Space Station, which is understandable really.

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JAPRANGERS added 02:20 - May 6
"All the atmosphere of the International Space Station"

Love it!
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Kiwi76 added 04:03 - May 6
You'll have earned your summer break from these Clive!
Appreciate the effort even when having to look pretty damn hard to find a positive or two.
Have absolutely no expectation we will do anything over last couple of games but would love to get something out of Pardew and Rodgers....will have to wait a season for Lambert!
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MelakaRanger added 04:05 - May 6
After the dreadful header by Traore, straight from the kick off to an Arsenal player, that led to the goal I was expecting us to be marmerlised! But it never happened.

I don't think we were that good and Arsenal were not that bad. At times they had the ball for 2 or 3 mins without us even attempting a single tackle. But the onslaught never came.

Park was pretty useless. He really is a waste of space. Ben Haim had probably his best game for us and Townsend was MOM (again)

Its a shame that Remy was so quite - again - but I guess if we don't deliver the ball to him, he cant deliver the goals.

If we are relying on Zamora to lead our attack next year then we are in trouble.

And where was the 'fight'? Not much of it on show and that which was generally came from Townsend. We will really miss him next year.

Having said all that, I really think we deserved a point.

Now onto next week. Being selfish I hope Newcastle beat us and avoid the drop. Why? Well if they drop they will be far too strong for the Championship and surely would be almost guaranteed a top 2 spot. That would mean the rest of us are effectively battling for just 1 promotion spot .

But if Wigan or Sunderland drop, then neither is assured of a quick bounce back and we would then have 2 promotion spots to battle for, not just the 1. Well that's my logic anyway:)
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R_in_Sweden added 07:29 - May 6
Cheers for the report Clive. I'm not at all convinced that we should stick with Redknapp next season, he's starting to contradict himself on a regular basis and is covering his back in case of a new meltdown which he is almost predicting. I'd like to see a fresh face. But what do you do about recruiting the right man when you don't have "football" people in charge? Fernandes musn't get shafted again.

Oh and Ji-Sung Park, f*cking dreadful.
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N12Hoop added 09:38 - May 6
Typical QPR. Put in a performance against the good teams, but not against the poor ones. Unfortunately next year most opposition will be poor so let's hope Harry fixes that little problem.
Tal Ben Haim is the sort of player I would like to see us sign. Some good attitude and experience (to go with the younger talent we supposedly looking to sign this summer)
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RonisRs added 10:26 - May 6
I agree with MelakaRanger's point about Newcastle, I would love to beat them, but like you say, I hope they dont get relegated, as they will be vying for the top spot vs hopefully us.
I wish the season would end..............., its painful.
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isawqpratwcity added 10:40 - May 6
T^hanks for the report, Clive.

Yep, I'm one that can't wait for the season to be over. Roll on squad restucture: it isn't going to be easy.
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francisbowles added 11:02 - May 6
Much too late with substitutions. Tarabt should have been on for Zamora around 60 mins.

What has happened to Diakite? Made a late cameo against Everton, doing ok, and hasn't even been on bench since. The player of last season would be a great asset in the Championship.

Mbia was poor and his form has dipped a bit lately.

Green had a good game and maybe was a bit unlucky with the goal.

Thought Ben Haim was terrific.
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tsbains64 added 11:49 - May 6
great report. Thought Green made afew good saves
Impressed with the gunner fans-we should have won that battle at least
Got to sock it to the Toon next week-need to finish the home games ona bit of a high atleast
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TacticalR added 11:54 - May 6
Thanks for your report.

As you've focused on the Redknapp/Fernandes debate I tend to agree more with Redknapp. The players aren't good enough - the team looks like a spent force. However, I don't think Redknapp should be saying such things publicly - that is counterproductive and unprofessional. Much better to do what Villa have done and not play Bent and Ireland.

Anyway, back to the match...another lifeless match that one commentator described as 'becalmed'.

Both goals in our victory last year came courtesy of Vermaelen, and unfortunately he this time he wasn't there to help us out. Instead Rosický was pulling the strings, and almost put through Walcott for an identikit second goal.

Park. In the right place for a shot on goal, but didn't take his chance. Never seems to come out of a tackle with the ball.

Townsend. Excellent as usual. Seemed to have no problem even when double-marked, and got a couple of good shots away.

Traoré. A howler for the goal, when he had a much easier header to Park right in front of him.

Mbia. Too many dodgy passes, but had to cover a lot of ground.

Ben Haim. A steady match, and a got a good shot away in the first half. Got rolled by Walcott once in the second half.

Jenas. Dithered when he had the opportunity to strike in the second half, and had another shot from the edge of the box with all the power of a wet fish.

Derry. Patrolled the central defence - Rosický started operating wide as soon as he came on.

Onuaha. Very uncomposed on the ball.

Zamora. Didn't look right and made some very heavy touches.

Rémy. Didn't really get any outstanding chances, but took a shot first time from the edge of the box that nearly caught out Szczęsny.
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QPRski added 12:23 - May 6
It was a suprisingly even match after the shock of the the first minute opening goal. I think we deserved a draw, however,this is the story of this season.

Have we set a new "anti-record" of conceding the fastest goal in the Premiership this season?
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Monahoop added 21:30 - May 6
Good report for such depressing times at W12.

The club had 89 mins and 40 secs to rectify the score. They didn't. Pathetic really!
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QPunkR added 11:52 - May 7
I feel sure Arsenal could've stepped up if they'd needed, but they were never in any danger really. 1st half was abysmal, players all following Ji $ung Park's example of studiously examining the ball from 3 yards but failing to put a foot in to try and retrieve it.
Ben Haim was probably the one exception to this, had a good game.
Why does Jenas keep starting?? All it means is that we're basically starting every game with 10 players on the pitch, he is the very epitome of ineffectual
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qprninja added 15:03 - May 7
Love your description of Jenas, I swear he's got a secret trap door somewhere on the pitch that he sneaks down for 15 minutes then pops back up again while noones watching, Maybe he's got a little make up room down there where he foofs up that immaculate hair?
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