And this great piece re Taarabt from year ago
4 years ago - Paul Fletcher/BBC Blog
Adel Taarabt - a mercurial talent, Monday, 21 March 2011
QPR manager Neil Warnock opted for "talented, exciting and frustrating" when asked to describe his captain Adel Taarabt in three words.
It is the first two qualities that saw the mercurial Morocco international named the Football League player of the year at an awards ceremony in London on Sunday.
The 21-year-old has undoubtedly been QPR's ace in the pack this season as they have built a nine-point lead at the top of the Championship with eight games remaining. He has scored 15 goals and provided at least the same number of assists (the exact figure is the subject of disagreement, with estimates ranging from 15 to 20).
But Taarabt is about so much more that statistics.
He is prodigiously talented; capable of the sort of tricks, turns and long-range strikes that few others would dare attempt, let alone execute. His body-swerves and the mesmerising changes in direction - all pulled off with exquisite close control saw him dubbed the new Zinedine Zidane when he first arrived in England after signing for Tottenham from French side Lens in 2007.
"Adel is the most talented player that I have had under my wing in my entire 30-year management career," said Warnock.
"Many QPR fans have been brought up on the likes of Rodney Marsh and Stan Bowles and, although Adel is not a club legend in comparison, he is similar in terms of ability."
Taarabt himself readily admits that many of his slaloming, weaving runs are purely instinctive. "I do not think about it, I just do it," he said. "It is a gift from God."
Warnock was so convinced about Taarabt's worth that he built a system to accommodate him. Rangers have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation this season, with Taarabt given a largely free role as one of the three forwards behind a lone striker, usually Heidar Helguson or Rob Hulse. Taarabt has virtually no defensive responsibilities (as the graphic below shows), with team-mates told that they will be fined if they pass to him when he is in his own half.
"We have got to have some restrictions or he would be taking goal kicks if we let him," added Warnock.
Holding midfielder Shaun Derry plays behind Taarabt and has the best view in the house to watch and admire his team-mate.
"There have been times this year when even though I have been playing in games I have felt like a supporter," said veteran Derry.
"When we have needed a bit of magic to get back into a game, he has given us a bright spark by either scoring or creating a goal.
"In this division you look for individual talent that can singlehandedly change games and you cannot look further than Taarabt."
He is viewed as a luxury player and although he is QPR's captain it is Derry who is the principal on-field organiser. Taarabt can also be frustrating when Rangers are attacking, ignoring the obvious and sensible pass, instead losing possession after trying to beat several opponents.
"You've got to kind of disregard him at times," added Derry. "He will be in the attacking third when we are defending for our lives and you cannot rely on him in that sense.
"You have to bite your tongue at certain times but he is the maverick in our team. I have never played with anyone quite like Adel - he is a one off."
Taarabt has a reputation as being slightly petulant and sulky, the spoilt little kid who will take his ball home if he does not get his own way. He angrily kicked a water battle after he was substituted at Ipswich earlier in the season. Against Hull in January he lazily wandered around the pitch, making it clear to everyone that he did not want to play and wished to be taken off.
Warnock's predecessors Jim Magilton and Paul Hart struggled to assimilate him into the Rangers team and could not cope with his perceived poor attitude. At Tottenham, former manager Juande Ramos did not even give him a squad number, while Harry Redknapp was happy to loan him to Rangers, with the move made permanent last summer.
Adel Taarabt touches of the ball in the away (left) and home games against Coventry
He had played in every Championship match before missing Saturday's defeat of Doncaster after a family bereavement.
The way Warnock has created an environment that has allowed Taarabt to flourish is arguably one of the finer achievements of the straight-down-the-line, tell-it-like-it-is Yorkshireman.
"When you have got someone like Adel then as a manager you are tempted to focus on what he cannot do, whereas I have focused on what he can do," said Warnock.
"It has been a great challenge but I think we are both seeing the benefits of it, of having a little bit of perseverance and showing confidence in him."
Taarabt himself readily acknowledges a debt of gratitude to Warnock.
"I will never have a manager like him again," said Taarabt. "I do not have family over here but he is a manager who treats me like his son.
"[Before I signed] he was calling me every day saying that he wants to help make me one of the best players in the world. If I do not play so good for two or three games he tells me not to worry, that I will be playing the next game.
"He has given me confidence and changed my life."
Taarabt sounds like a young man who needs to be loved and reassured if he is to flourish - and it seems that Warnock is reaping the rewards for embracing the rare talent that he has at his disposal.
Derry, a steely, no-nonsense player, joined Rangers last summer and admits that in the earlier months of this campaign he would yell at Taarabt when the Moroccan was greedy or took a selfish option.
"I realised that to get on with him you have got to get him on his level and in the best possible sense he like an overgrown child - all he wants is to get ball and excite people."
Taarabt has excited Rangers supporters and neutrals alike all year - and Warnock is working on refining his talent ahead of what is looking increasingly likely to be a Premier League campaign next season.
Warnock expects to stick with the same 4-2-3-1 system but will change the parameters of Taarabt's role. This season Rangers have been able to largely deal with the times when Taarabt has needlessly squandered possession but the Premier League will not be so forgiving.
Taarabt has shown that he is capable of flourishing in the second tier but the top flight will present an entirely different challenge for the mercurial talent and his manager
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QPR Official Site
Friday 13 March 2009
EXCLUSIVE: SPURS STARLET SIGNSFriday 13 March 2009
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce the loan signing of Tottenham midfielder Adel Taarabt.
The 19-year-old has joined until the end of the season, and goes straight into Paulo Sousa's squad for this weekend's Championship encounter at Southampton.
Taarabt, who initially joined Spurs on loan in January 2007 before making the switch permanent the following summer, is relishing the opportunity to show R's fans what he's capable of.
"Harry Redknapp told me that Tottenham are not really in a position to give young players like me an opportunity right now, and he said that QPR were keen on me," Taarabt told
www.qpr.co.uk"He told me to come here and show what I can do. As soon as he told me about the move, I was interested.
"Other Championship clubs came in for me also, but QPR is a team that plays football in the way that I like to play it, so this is why I wanted to come here.
"I said 'yes' straight away. This is good for me."
The Moroccan international - he made his debut for the national side last month in a friendly against the Czech Republic - knows the Championship will offer a physical test, but he is confident he can rise to the challenge.
"The physical side of the game isn't really my style but I know this is something I will have to learn to cope with," he added.
"I have come here to learn, and I know that the physical side is something I will need to handle. It will be good for my experience and for my development."
Equally adept on either wing or up front, the highly-regarded Taarabt has promised to excite the R's faithful with his skills.
"I consider myself to be an attacking midfielder," he explained. "I can score, I can give assists, I can dribble and I can cross.
"I hope here at QPR I will score and do well for the team. I can't wait to play."
Taarabt will wear squad number 39.
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qprreport.proboards.com/post/349202/edit#ixzz3V0UWvYMfMarch 23 2009
6 years ago: Taarabt scores for Sousa' QPR
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Ramage, Connolly (Helguson 61), Lòpez, Alberti (Routledge 46), Di Carmine (Cook 73), Ephraim, Taarabt. Subs: Mahon, Vine.
Scorers: Lòpez (65), Taarabt (82)
Daily Mail
QPR 2 Bristol City 1: Loan Ranger Taarabt is winning his Spurs under Sousa By Ian Gibb 23rd March 2009
Adel Taarabt's rolling gait and natural swagger makes it look as if he is carrying an injury, but the 19-year-old Moroccan showed why his loan signing from Tottenham was such shrewd business by QPR boss Paulo Sousa.
Taarabt scored the 72nd-minute winner, having looked head and shoulders the game's most skilful player - and that on a disgrace of a pitch which made it impossible to play a passing game.
According to Mikele Leigertwood, he does not confine his trickery to games but takes the rise out of his new team-mates on the training ground.
The QPR skipper said: 'Adel tries all his tricks in training with the nutmegs and stepovers. If that's what gets him buzzing, that's what he's got to do. He's bubbly and lively.
'He still gets tackled in training, though. Jordi Lopez gave him a whack just to let him know he was there on the first day.'
Next for Taarabt is World Cup qualifying business on Saturday in Casablanca against Gabon after snubbing eligibility for France.
The only crumb of comfort for City boss Gary Johnson was Michael McIndoe's screaming volley to equalise a spectacular free-kick swerver from Lopez.
But City's play-off hopes are fading fast and he said: 'I feel very deflated. 'We didn't do enough. The only bits of quality were Ivan Sproule's cross and Michael's volley.'
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1164003/QPR-2-Bristol-City-1-Loan-Ranger-Taarabt-winning-Spurs-Sousa.html#ixzz1HDMIwmEmQPR OFFICIAL SITE
Rangers made it two wins in a week, with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City.
In the 65th minute, Jordi Lòpez struck from 25 yards with a wonderful free-kick for his first Rangers goal, but when Michael McIndoe smashed home a leveller 12 minutes later it looked like a draw was in the offing.
But Rangers refused to be deterred in their quest for the points, and after Damien Delaney went on a lung-busting run down the left, his cross fell perfectly for Adel Taarabt to sweep home and send R's fans into raptures.
From the side that beat Swansea City in midweek, only Fitz Hall missed out owing to injury. In came Delaney at left-back, with Matt Connolly reverting to centre half alongside Kaspars Gorkss. Peter Ramage completed the back four.
In midfield, skipper Mikele Leigertwood joined Spaniard Lòpez in central midfield, Matteo Alberti took up residence on the right and livewire duo Hogan Ephraim and Taarabt, so impressive together against the Swans, positioned themselves in the centre behind Samuel Di Carmine and the left hand side respectively.
With players returning from various knocks and strains, the R's bench looked strong. Wayne Routledge and Lee Cook returned from their injuries, with Heidar Helguson, Gavin Mahon joining Rowan Vine, scorer for the Reserves in the week, completing the substitute line-up.
A tentative opening saw City striker Nicky Maynard and Taarabt trade long-range efforts, both of which failed to test either Radek Cerny or Adriano Basso and flew wide.
The R's went close soon after when Taarabt stole the ball in midfield and moved in on the Robins' goal, before releasing Di Carmine who had cleverly peeled out to the left. The Italian took a touch, before attempting to bend a shot around Basso.
The Brazilian however, was equal to it, and palmed the shot away with a smart diving save to his left.
Di Carmine tested Basso seconds later, but when he turned and fired from just inside the area following Delaney's pass, his deflected snap-shot bounced comfortably into the Robins keeper's hands.
Rangers were counter-attacking with some considered style, and when Taarabt fed Ephraim after a poor City free-kick, the former West Ham man carried the ball over the half way line and at the last second before being closed down, released Alberti.
The wide-man took a touch before thumping a low drive at Basso's near post. The Robins custodian got down well to save and held onto the ball in the process.
Meanwhile, City were looking assured of their attacking quality, but after fine build-up play, Maynard blasted over from 12 yards when well-placed.
Minutes before half-time, City won a free-kick 20 yards out, but Rangers organised well, and Jamie McAllister could only steer his attempt wide.
Rangers entered the second half with a change in the ranks, Alberti making way for Routledge.
And it was the home side that began the half the brighter. Fantastic football down the left saw Taarabt win back possession after losing out to Bradley Orr, and finding Ephraim tucked inside the box.
The attacking midfielder looked for an angle but, failing to find one, instead teed up Lòpez. The Spaniard took it first time and side-footed a fine effort that looked to be heading into the top right-hand corner. Frustratingly however, it continued to rise and flew inches wide.
Rangers were piling on the pressure. Taarabt, after a City clearance fell at his feet, tricked his way onto his favoured left foot and blazed his long-range strike high over the Robins' crossbar.
The only thing missing from the R's play was that little bit of fortune, and their luck took a turn for the worst on the hour mark. Connolly went down injured, and had to be replaced by Helguson.
The change meant Leigertwood dropped into the back four, and the Iceland striker joining Di Carmine up front.
The change nearly paid off. When Helguson won a free-kick 25 yards out, Lòpez stepped up to bend a shot over the wall and down to Basso's right. The City keeper saved comfortably.
He could do nothing with the next one. When Di Carmine won a free-kick in exactly the same spot, Lòpez went one better and curled a beautiful effort into the top left-hand corner to blow the roof off a noisy Loftus Road.
Rangers were firmly in their stride. Taarabt escaped down the left, beat Orr and crossed with the outside of his right boot for Helguson. Having no time to take a touch, he took the shot on first time and sent a wickedly curling shot narrowly wide of the target.
In order to keep the momentum going, whilst also protect the lead from the inevitable Robins fight-back, Manager Paulo Sousa introduced Cook for Di Carmine.
The home side were rampant; Lòpez wriggled his way inside the box and held the ball up expertly waiting for support. That duly arrived in the shape of Helguson, but his shot was superbly blocked by a lunging red shirt.
As is often the way when one team fails to put away it's chances, the opposition found an equaliser. When Ivan Sproule dispossessed Cook, he sent over a teasing cross from the right that evaded everyone except McIndoe, who thumped home a well-struck volley to level the scores.
Refusing to lie down and accept a draw. Rangers fought back superbly to score again and regain the lead. Delaney broke down the left, and after a driving run fired over a tantalising cross that Taarabt did not need a second invitation to attack and he tapped home from close range for his first Rangers goal.
Back came the Robins, but they found themselves up against a determined Hoops defence led superbly by Gorkss.
And the R's even had chances to extend their lead. A Routledge volley was acrobatically saved by Basso. But neither side could add to the goals, and Rangers held on for another valuable three points.
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