Post by Zamoraaaah on Oct 21, 2009 17:29:06 GMT
Good piece and his first for a while on 606
Where did it all go right?
QPR
by David McIntyre - BBC Sport (U1628513) 21 October 2009
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A58650780
It was interesting to hear Jim Magilton suggest after the win against Reading that a turning point in QPR’s fortunes was the Carling Cup game at Chelsea.
Magilton feels the performance that night - and subsequent comments from Carlo Ancelotti and Ray Wilkins - gave his players real confidence after a difficult start to the season.
That momentum, Magilton pointed out, was then taken into the Newcastle game and Rangers have grown in stature.
I’ve also heard it said that the signings of Ben Watson and Jay Simpson were a turning point.
Perhaps another pivotal moment was Magilton’s public criticism of Akos Buzsaky, which at the time seemed a risky, even foolish, move.
Buzsaky’s form has since been excellent, which suggests Magilton made the right call.
But it’s also worth remembering that as well as criticising Buzsaky, Magilton stood by him at a very important time.
The period in which Buzsaky and Rowan Vine had to rediscover their sharpness was always going to be difficult – especially at a volatile club where new signings have been seen as the answer to every problem.
Magilton handled this well, resisting moves to send Vine out on loan and weathering the early storm while giving both men enough game-time to build up their match fitness.
It would have been very QPR to look elsewhere when they failed to make an instant impact on their return.
Magilton didn’t stop short of criticising or dropping them to the bench, but he still kept them involved in those difficult but important early weeks of the season.
The going was tough and the inevitable whispering about the manager’s future was starting.
But Magilton – like Paulo Sousa before him – was adamant that getting Buzsaky, Vine and Martin Rowlands fully fit was crucial, and a necessary stage Rangers had to go through before coming out the other side.
Yes Magilton slated Buzsaky, but he also never doubted that he and Vine were quality players who would in time be key men for Rangers again.
And look at Buzsaky now; back to his brilliant best while Vine continues to feel his way back in after such a serious injury.
It’s just a shame that Rowlands, another tremendous player Rangers were robbed of last season, has again been sidelined.
His importance to the team cannot be overstated, but they can get by without him – especially if Alejandro Faurlin continues to flourish and Watson’s loan is extended.
Kaspars Gorkss is another player in inspired form, and again I think a rocket from Magilton has done the trick.
Gorkss was given some serious stick from the touchline during friendlies and the opening matches of the season. He was also left out at one stage.
The criticism seemed harsh. But with hindsight, Gorkss was at times sloppy and cannot afford to be because, as is now obvious, he too is a vital player for Magilton.
Gorkss is now razor-sharp – and he needs to be because of the way Magilton wants to play.
Building from the back, primarily through Gorkss, is the starting point for so much of what this Rangers side do.
He needs to be on the ball – in more ways than one – because opposing teams are now likely to target him, believing they must stop Rangers moving the ball into midfield where there are players capable of destroying any Championship team.
So, talking of turning points, the second goal against Reading was in my view the most significant moment of the season so far.
Rangers have been impressive, but I was looking to see what happened when opposing strikers pushed up on Gorkss and perhaps make him pass backwards or to Damion Stewart, who is less comfortable on the ball.
I thought Preston would do this, but they didn’t. Neither have several other teams Rangers have enjoyed success against this season.
But it was only a matter of time before teams, based on reports they’d been given on Rangers, set about jumping on Gorkss in this way rather than making the mistake of defending deep and allowing some seriously talented players to run at them.
I felt watching Rangers take teams apart recently has been like watching a promising boxer, who has ability but won’t answer any real questions until his chin is tested.
And although Reading were wide open and in many ways perfect for QPR, they did make a point of consistently trying to close down Gorkss and stop Rangers doing what they’re good at. They also had an extra man after Watson’s sending-off.
So the second goal was telling, as well as superb.
With no sign of the sluggishness which angered Magilton earlier in the season, Gorkss knew exactly what to do as he was charged down. The ball was quickly shifted out to the right and seconds later it was in Reading’s net. Brilliant.
It wasn’t just a great move, it was a sign of a team that’s well coached and can adapt.
It’s not all good news for Rangers. Another suspension for Watson will stretch them in midfield, especially as Mikele Leigertwood is a doubt for Saturday’s game at Derby despite being close to recovering from flu.
And although Matt Connolly now seems to have made progress in his recovery from glandular fever, he is unlikely to play for a while yet.
But while others hog the limelight, players like Peter Ramage and Gavin Mahon will have a massive role to play if Rangers are to sustain a promotion challenge.
Their professionalism has been vital recently and may well be invaluable later in the season.
Where did it all go right?
QPR
by David McIntyre - BBC Sport (U1628513) 21 October 2009
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A58650780
It was interesting to hear Jim Magilton suggest after the win against Reading that a turning point in QPR’s fortunes was the Carling Cup game at Chelsea.
Magilton feels the performance that night - and subsequent comments from Carlo Ancelotti and Ray Wilkins - gave his players real confidence after a difficult start to the season.
That momentum, Magilton pointed out, was then taken into the Newcastle game and Rangers have grown in stature.
I’ve also heard it said that the signings of Ben Watson and Jay Simpson were a turning point.
Perhaps another pivotal moment was Magilton’s public criticism of Akos Buzsaky, which at the time seemed a risky, even foolish, move.
Buzsaky’s form has since been excellent, which suggests Magilton made the right call.
But it’s also worth remembering that as well as criticising Buzsaky, Magilton stood by him at a very important time.
The period in which Buzsaky and Rowan Vine had to rediscover their sharpness was always going to be difficult – especially at a volatile club where new signings have been seen as the answer to every problem.
Magilton handled this well, resisting moves to send Vine out on loan and weathering the early storm while giving both men enough game-time to build up their match fitness.
It would have been very QPR to look elsewhere when they failed to make an instant impact on their return.
Magilton didn’t stop short of criticising or dropping them to the bench, but he still kept them involved in those difficult but important early weeks of the season.
The going was tough and the inevitable whispering about the manager’s future was starting.
But Magilton – like Paulo Sousa before him – was adamant that getting Buzsaky, Vine and Martin Rowlands fully fit was crucial, and a necessary stage Rangers had to go through before coming out the other side.
Yes Magilton slated Buzsaky, but he also never doubted that he and Vine were quality players who would in time be key men for Rangers again.
And look at Buzsaky now; back to his brilliant best while Vine continues to feel his way back in after such a serious injury.
It’s just a shame that Rowlands, another tremendous player Rangers were robbed of last season, has again been sidelined.
His importance to the team cannot be overstated, but they can get by without him – especially if Alejandro Faurlin continues to flourish and Watson’s loan is extended.
Kaspars Gorkss is another player in inspired form, and again I think a rocket from Magilton has done the trick.
Gorkss was given some serious stick from the touchline during friendlies and the opening matches of the season. He was also left out at one stage.
The criticism seemed harsh. But with hindsight, Gorkss was at times sloppy and cannot afford to be because, as is now obvious, he too is a vital player for Magilton.
Gorkss is now razor-sharp – and he needs to be because of the way Magilton wants to play.
Building from the back, primarily through Gorkss, is the starting point for so much of what this Rangers side do.
He needs to be on the ball – in more ways than one – because opposing teams are now likely to target him, believing they must stop Rangers moving the ball into midfield where there are players capable of destroying any Championship team.
So, talking of turning points, the second goal against Reading was in my view the most significant moment of the season so far.
Rangers have been impressive, but I was looking to see what happened when opposing strikers pushed up on Gorkss and perhaps make him pass backwards or to Damion Stewart, who is less comfortable on the ball.
I thought Preston would do this, but they didn’t. Neither have several other teams Rangers have enjoyed success against this season.
But it was only a matter of time before teams, based on reports they’d been given on Rangers, set about jumping on Gorkss in this way rather than making the mistake of defending deep and allowing some seriously talented players to run at them.
I felt watching Rangers take teams apart recently has been like watching a promising boxer, who has ability but won’t answer any real questions until his chin is tested.
And although Reading were wide open and in many ways perfect for QPR, they did make a point of consistently trying to close down Gorkss and stop Rangers doing what they’re good at. They also had an extra man after Watson’s sending-off.
So the second goal was telling, as well as superb.
With no sign of the sluggishness which angered Magilton earlier in the season, Gorkss knew exactly what to do as he was charged down. The ball was quickly shifted out to the right and seconds later it was in Reading’s net. Brilliant.
It wasn’t just a great move, it was a sign of a team that’s well coached and can adapt.
It’s not all good news for Rangers. Another suspension for Watson will stretch them in midfield, especially as Mikele Leigertwood is a doubt for Saturday’s game at Derby despite being close to recovering from flu.
And although Matt Connolly now seems to have made progress in his recovery from glandular fever, he is unlikely to play for a while yet.
But while others hog the limelight, players like Peter Ramage and Gavin Mahon will have a massive role to play if Rangers are to sustain a promotion challenge.
Their professionalism has been vital recently and may well be invaluable later in the season.
