Post by Zamoraaaah on Dec 8, 2008 16:28:58 GMT
Credit where it's due
Championship QPR
by David M - BBC Sport (U162813) 08 December 2008
Fair play to Radek Cerny. His performance against Wolves on Saturday was excellent.
Cerny seems to have won over the majority of QPR fans in recent weeks and has certainly produced some eye-catching saves.
I remained unimpressed, still regarding him as a poor signing (a view I held when he was brought to Rangers) and a much inferior keeper to Lee Camp.
Cerny remains the master of the Hollywood save and often stands out because he makes the straightforward look spectacular.
In terms of overall goalkeeping, I was never impressed with him at Tottenham.
And at QPR, I still feel he has sometimes won people over by diving around like a schoolboy in typical Cerny fashion.
But his display against Wolves was very good. No arguments.
He produced a couple of genuinely fine saves with minimum fuss rather than theatrics and more importantly, his all-round game was impressive.
His positioning and command of his area was the best I’ve seen it and he claimed or punched the ball with real conviction.
It also shows the difference a bit of confidence makes. His has clearly doubled with the applause he’s enjoyed of late and this has affected his decision-making and overall game for the better.
Overall, there were lots of encouraging signs for Rangers ahead of two important games.
Hogan Ephraim is adjusting well to a new role in Paulo Sousa’s midfield ‘diamond’ and deserves his recent run in the sied.
Ephraim was was very bullish about his chances of holding down a first-team place when he returned from injury earlier in the season – even with the likes of Cook, Ledesma and Buzsaky in contention.
It didn’t happen for him initially, but Buzsaky’s injury has
given Ephraim a chance to impress and he has done well.
Rowlands was also excellent and despite Sousa suggesting Cook would get a place on the left flank when he returns to full fitness, he made the most of an unexpected opportunity to come on and play behind the front two when Dexter Blackstock limped off.
That gives Sousa food for thought and some useful options once Cook is fully up to speed.
At the back, Rangers looked solid again and up front they are much more of a threat with Heidar Helguson on board.
But everyone knows the key to Rangers sustaining a promotion bid is improving their away form.
Sousa gave me the impression last week that he will relish tough away matches in the Championship and wants to prove he can produce a team that wins them.
The games at Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth will tell us a lot.
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A44601932
Championship QPR
by David M - BBC Sport (U162813) 08 December 2008
Fair play to Radek Cerny. His performance against Wolves on Saturday was excellent.
Cerny seems to have won over the majority of QPR fans in recent weeks and has certainly produced some eye-catching saves.
I remained unimpressed, still regarding him as a poor signing (a view I held when he was brought to Rangers) and a much inferior keeper to Lee Camp.
Cerny remains the master of the Hollywood save and often stands out because he makes the straightforward look spectacular.
In terms of overall goalkeeping, I was never impressed with him at Tottenham.
And at QPR, I still feel he has sometimes won people over by diving around like a schoolboy in typical Cerny fashion.
But his display against Wolves was very good. No arguments.
He produced a couple of genuinely fine saves with minimum fuss rather than theatrics and more importantly, his all-round game was impressive.
His positioning and command of his area was the best I’ve seen it and he claimed or punched the ball with real conviction.
It also shows the difference a bit of confidence makes. His has clearly doubled with the applause he’s enjoyed of late and this has affected his decision-making and overall game for the better.
Overall, there were lots of encouraging signs for Rangers ahead of two important games.
Hogan Ephraim is adjusting well to a new role in Paulo Sousa’s midfield ‘diamond’ and deserves his recent run in the sied.
Ephraim was was very bullish about his chances of holding down a first-team place when he returned from injury earlier in the season – even with the likes of Cook, Ledesma and Buzsaky in contention.
It didn’t happen for him initially, but Buzsaky’s injury has
given Ephraim a chance to impress and he has done well.
Rowlands was also excellent and despite Sousa suggesting Cook would get a place on the left flank when he returns to full fitness, he made the most of an unexpected opportunity to come on and play behind the front two when Dexter Blackstock limped off.
That gives Sousa food for thought and some useful options once Cook is fully up to speed.
At the back, Rangers looked solid again and up front they are much more of a threat with Heidar Helguson on board.
But everyone knows the key to Rangers sustaining a promotion bid is improving their away form.
Sousa gave me the impression last week that he will relish tough away matches in the Championship and wants to prove he can produce a team that wins them.
The games at Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth will tell us a lot.
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A44601932
