Post by Zamoraaaah on Mar 18, 2009 15:18:13 GMT
Nice piece by David. I have to agree, Ephraim had an excellent game last night.
Hogan for England?
QPR
by David M - BBC Sport (U1628513) 18 March 2009
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A48759718
Paulo Sousa reckons Hogan Ephraim can develop into an international player.
Ephraim had an excellent game against Swansea last night and in his post-match press conference, Sousa predicted a bright future for him.
Thatās high praise indeed, because Sousa is usually very deliberate about what he says about his players and chooses his words carefuly.
He encourages his team and publicly backs them to the hilt, but the only other time I recall Sousa singling out an individual for such praise was when he told me in January that he wanted Rowan Vine back as soon as possible ābecause heās a player for
the Premier League.ā
So how far can Ephraim progress? He doesnāt turn 21 until later this month so has time on his side.
And thatās not the only thing in his favour.
Ephraim, who qualifies to play for England, the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria, is well placed to make a name for himself if he keeps developing.
The Italian influence at QPR has been well documented and both Fabio Capello and Ireland boss Giovanni Trappatoni have recently been visitors to Loftus Road, with Trappatoni recommending Liam Miller to the club.
England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce also watches the odd Rās game, so Ephraim definitely wonāt slip under the radar if he continues to impress.
Iām pleased for Hogan and glad heās getting some recognition.
When I spoke to him after his return from injury early in the season, he was very bullish about his first-team prospects and determined to establish himself.
His fortunes have been mixed since then but heās stuck at it and despite being far from the finished article, has done enough to suggest heās got a long-term future at a club where the turnover of players is phenomenal.
Playing through the middle has also helped him.
Sousa has made it clear Ephraim is not a winger in his eyes and will always be regarded as a central player while he is in charge.
Many Rangers fans probably regard Ephraim as a wide-man but it was never his position when he was at West Ham, the club that sold him to QPR last January.
Ephraim first came to Rangersā attention when he went to Colchester on loan in 2006.
He was a forward or attacking central midfielder but, at the time, Jamie Cureton and Chris Iwelumo were scoring goals for Colchester so he was used on the wing and ended up playing there when he arrived at QPR the following season.
Sousa has put a stop to that and some of Ephraimās performances ā especially against Swansea and after coming on as a substitute at Blackpool ā seem to have vindicated that decision.
Against Swansea he linked up particularly well with Adel
Taarabt. They both stood out on a night Rangers might otherwise have struggled without Dexter Blackstock and Wayne Routledge.
Blackstock has a hamstring injury, while Routledge has been nursing a knee problem which a scan has shown is not a cause for concern.
He could play on Saturday against Bristol City, whose manager Gary Johnson watched last nightās game and was certainly given food for thought.
Hogan for England?
QPR
by David M - BBC Sport (U1628513) 18 March 2009
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A48759718
Paulo Sousa reckons Hogan Ephraim can develop into an international player.
Ephraim had an excellent game against Swansea last night and in his post-match press conference, Sousa predicted a bright future for him.
Thatās high praise indeed, because Sousa is usually very deliberate about what he says about his players and chooses his words carefuly.
He encourages his team and publicly backs them to the hilt, but the only other time I recall Sousa singling out an individual for such praise was when he told me in January that he wanted Rowan Vine back as soon as possible ābecause heās a player for
the Premier League.ā
So how far can Ephraim progress? He doesnāt turn 21 until later this month so has time on his side.
And thatās not the only thing in his favour.
Ephraim, who qualifies to play for England, the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria, is well placed to make a name for himself if he keeps developing.
The Italian influence at QPR has been well documented and both Fabio Capello and Ireland boss Giovanni Trappatoni have recently been visitors to Loftus Road, with Trappatoni recommending Liam Miller to the club.
England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce also watches the odd Rās game, so Ephraim definitely wonāt slip under the radar if he continues to impress.
Iām pleased for Hogan and glad heās getting some recognition.
When I spoke to him after his return from injury early in the season, he was very bullish about his first-team prospects and determined to establish himself.
His fortunes have been mixed since then but heās stuck at it and despite being far from the finished article, has done enough to suggest heās got a long-term future at a club where the turnover of players is phenomenal.
Playing through the middle has also helped him.
Sousa has made it clear Ephraim is not a winger in his eyes and will always be regarded as a central player while he is in charge.
Many Rangers fans probably regard Ephraim as a wide-man but it was never his position when he was at West Ham, the club that sold him to QPR last January.
Ephraim first came to Rangersā attention when he went to Colchester on loan in 2006.
He was a forward or attacking central midfielder but, at the time, Jamie Cureton and Chris Iwelumo were scoring goals for Colchester so he was used on the wing and ended up playing there when he arrived at QPR the following season.
Sousa has put a stop to that and some of Ephraimās performances ā especially against Swansea and after coming on as a substitute at Blackpool ā seem to have vindicated that decision.
Against Swansea he linked up particularly well with Adel
Taarabt. They both stood out on a night Rangers might otherwise have struggled without Dexter Blackstock and Wayne Routledge.
Blackstock has a hamstring injury, while Routledge has been nursing a knee problem which a scan has shown is not a cause for concern.
He could play on Saturday against Bristol City, whose manager Gary Johnson watched last nightās game and was certainly given food for thought.