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Quest for hooped happiness continues with Reading visit - full match preview
Quest for hooped happiness continues with Reading visit - full match preview
Tuesday, 20th Oct 2009 08:13

QPR face a quick turn around following Saturday's magnificent win against Preston with Reading, languishing fourth from bottom of the table, at Loftus Road on Tuesday.

Queens Park Rangers (10th) v Reading (21st)
Coca Cola Championship
Tuesday October 20, Kick Off 8pm
Loftus Road, London, W12


Happiness is, so the old advert goes, a cigar called Hamlet. It's all subjective I suppose, blow the smoke of one of those things in my face and you'll be swallowing it spicy end first but anyway.

Without wishing to turn these already notoriously long winded, wishy washy, ultimately pointless match previews into a series of online philosophy lectures I would say happiness is different things to different people. I could stop 100 people in the street and ask them for one thing that would make them truly happy and they’d all give me a different answer. Actually that’s not true, I couldn’t stop 100 people on the street because I’m chronically shy, lacking self confidence and live in constant fear and dread of having to go out on my day job every Thursday morning and stop six people on the street and ask them a vox pop question for the local paper I work for. But were I a normal, confident person then I could stop 100 people on the street and get different answers to the question.

Some would say a speed boat, or a desert island holiday, or a billion pounds in non-sequential bills. Some would say a decent cup of coffee, or a plate of fish and chips on the sea front at Cleethorpes, or having the woman you love fall asleep on you in front of the television. Whatever floats your boat - as they say.

Having said that, had I stopped 100 people on South Africa Road at 5pm on Saturday and asked them what would make them truly happy I’m sure I could have found a fair few who would simply have said: “more of that on Tuesday night please.” Football gets a bad rap, mostly deserved, from fans of other sports who laugh at our scoreless draws and overpaid, undereducated, needlessly randy and violent players but football when it’s like it was on Saturday is brilliant. To see players stroking a ball around like that, attacking at every opportunity, scoring great goals, entertaining the crowd and enjoying their sport was a joy. To see players doing that while wearing hoops, proper hoops, was incredible. People for whom the word misery was invented streamed out of F Block on Saturday tea-time sporting broad grins.

So from lamenting the absence of Rowlands and predicting a defeat in this column on Friday, and then spending the pre-match in The Green wondering whether the fine performance at Chelsea, thumping win against Barnsley and creditable draw at Newcastle would actually be looked back on as the high point of the season, I’m now riding a little euphoric wave down to Loftus Road from Derby (yes that mad midweek dash again) for Tuesday night’s game with struggling Reading – actually it’s the 1801 East Midlands Trains service from Sheffield via Leicester but it will feel like a euphoric wave. QPR normally specialise in ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ type displays in these circumstances, and it would be vintage Rangers to follow the Preston win up with a defeat here against a side that has made a habit of taking points from us in recent years and is stronger away from home than its league position suggests.

Let’s not hedge our bets any more here – play like we did on Saturday and Reading are in big, big trouble at 8pm on Tuesday. Consistency is the key, go and make us all happy again lads.

Five minutes on Reading
Recent History: Reading are in danger of becoming the latest headstone in the modern day Premiership graveyard. Of the 24 teams in the Championship this season 15 of them have been in the Premiership since it came into being in 1992, and at least nine of them have been in or very close to administration since leaving it. As the rich get richer at the top they seem to forget, or not care very much, that three of the 20 top flight teams must be relegated every May and the higher and further away that Premiership gets from mere mortals like us the harder the teams fall when they crash out of it – League One now boasts seven former Premiership teams if you count MK Dons, and even League Two has one disaster zone that dropped right through.

Basically you can either go up to the Premiership and hope to be bankrolled into staying there as has happened at Wigan and Fulham for example. You can bounce up and down several times not spending outlandishly when there and accumulating big earners that are difficult to pay in the league below, presumably in the hope that one day you will be strong and experienced enough to consolidate there – as West Brom have done in the past decade. Or if relegated you can try and hang onto your best players and top earners while you still have the parachute money and hope to God you get back up inside two years before that cash flow dries up – Reading tried that and failed, and they look much more Norwich, Leeds and Charlton like at the moment than West Brom, Fulham and Wigan.

The Royals built steadily towards their top flight ascent in 2006 with first Alan Pardew and then Steve Coppell proving to be shrewd managerial appointments who carried them up from the third tier, and then into the Premiership as record breaking champions with 106 points. They’d been very close once before, losing a thrilling play off final to Bolton in the 1990s, but when QPR were first relegated from the Premiership Reading were the little club down the road, squatting in the squalid surroundings of Elm Park and looking as far away from a Premiership team as anybody ever had before. The Madejski Stadium may be just another soulless, out of town, identikit stadium but having moved there, appointed the right managers and steadily built an impressive side Reading were able to not only stay in the Premiership at the first attempt with few new signings, but flourish in it.

Perhaps, a little bit like Hull City in the first half of last season, they caught everybody by surprise. The trick, as Ipswich found in the past and Hull seem to be facing up to now, is to follow up that consolidation with similar high achievements in the now notorious ‘difficult second season’. Reading again added few quality players to the team that had got them into the top flight and kept them there – and the loss of midfielder Steve Sidwell to Chelsea was crucial. Dave Kitson and Kevin Doyle were never likely to succeed as readily as they had done in 2006/07, simply because history teaches us that strikers don’t in such circumstances, and in the end they were relegated with a whimper.

Coppell, as his his style, seemed keen to resign at the end of all of that but was persuaded to stay on last season and Reading looked a good bet for promotion in the first half of the season at least. Indeed when QPR went there in November and got a 0-0 draw they were the first team to stop Reading scoring at home that season. Coppell did get his way in the summer, leaving after six successful seasons, following a play off semi final defeat to Burnley when they were completely outplayed across the two legs. In truth that was predictable, Burnley had been excellent all season and kept their good form going through to the end whereas Reading started well, faded badly and are now without a home league win since February – some 15 wretched games ago.

Coppell’s replacement in the summer was Brendan Rodgers – a former youth coach at Reading who had served an apprenticeship under Mourinho at Chelsea and then done wonders at Watford last season. Rodgers was immediately faced with a tiny squad shorn of Leroy Lita, Michael Duberry, Marcus Hahnemann, Kevin Doyle and Graeme Murty from its first team. Andre Bikey and Stephen Hunt soon followed but it was the fact that so many first team players of reasonable quality were allowed to leave before a manager was even appointed that should have started alarm bells ringing during the summer – non football reasons must be at the heart of such decisions.

Reading’s team is in need of a complete rebuild and although this season has started poorly and the fans are understandably restless it would be foolish of the board to appoint a bright young manager, give him that task, and then sack him when results are not achieved immediately. In my opinion I wouldn’t expect Reading to be any kind of a force in this league again for at least three seasons, and that’s only if Rodgers is given time to complete the rebuild himself. Chopping and changing managers is just the next step on a well trodden path to midweek league games at Hartlepool.

The Manager: Steve Coppell’s departure after six years in the job left a big hole to fill, and in Watford manager Brendan Rodgers Reading certainly took a risk in doing so. Rodgers was well known to Reading after coaching in their academy prior to taking up a similar role at Chelsea and then his first managerial position at Watford. He did an admirable job at Vicarage Road, leading a team limited in both ability and financial muscle away from the drop zone and into mid table with a run of just four defeats from their final 18 matches last season. Rodgers seems to have the ability to get the best out of players, with Tamas Priskin going from a puzzling enigma to one of the division’s hottest striking properties under his guidance and then back to his previous mediocre worst as soon as he left for Ipswich in a £1.6m deal. That ability is probably what attracted Reading to him following their post-parachute-payment clearout in the summer that left them with a squad that was a shadow of its former self. After learning his trade under the likes of Mourinho and impressing in trying circumstances at Watford Rodgers’ reputation as a promising young coach remains secure and nobody expected the rebuilding job at the Madejski to be easy but dissenting voices are growing with only two wins so far, and none in six at home, while established players like Jay Tabb strangely cannot get into the team and Liam Rosenior is out on loan. Rodgers may well find himself wishing he’d stayed with Watford a little bit longer.

Three to Watch: While the traffic was flowing almost exclusively out of the Madejski Stadium during the summer transfer window one eye catching incoming name was that of midfielder Brian Howard. A combative and skilful attacking midfielder who caught the eye at Swindon after coming through the ranks at Chelsea and then made his name on the national stage by scoring at Anfield during Barnsley memorable FA Cup run the season before last. He was hot property after that but ultimately elected to stay in the Championship with Sheffield United, presumably with the intention of climbing into the top flight with the Blades as soon as possible. That didn’t happen, despite Howard scoring in the play off semi final against Preston last May, and United were beaten at Wembley by Burnley.

Howard then became the latest in a long line of players to criticise the methods and tactics employed by United manager Kevin Blackwell and promptly up and left for Reading less than a year after moving to Sheffield United. He looked a good signing for Reading but it’s doubtful whether he is finding the football much more agreeable under Rodgers with Reading languishing at the bottom of the table while United again push on for the top six.

Another impressive signing that passed a little under the radar was that of Doncaster Rovers centre half Matt Mills Rovers picked him up relatively cheaply, around £400,000, from man City when they were promoted after being impressed with him on loan. His ability in the air and composure on the ground caught the eye of Championship scouts and he plumped for Reading this summer in a £2m deal ahead of Nottingham Forest who were also very keen. As well as strong defensive capabilities Mills provides a threat from attacking set plays and scored at West Brom at the weekend. Reading have also added Chelsea’s Ryan Bertrand and Shaun Cummings to their back line on loan but are strangely still shipping goals at an alarming rate – five in their last two games.

One of those goals, the first at West Brom on Saturday, was an absolute farce. It began with a Reading corner that was partially cleared and then inexplicably kicked in behind his own defence by Job McAnuff who left Jerome Thomas with an open goal once keeper Adam Federici had raced from his area to deal with it and missed. Nevertheless however poorly McAnuff is playing and however bad things are for his teams the former Wimbledon winger always seems to play very well against QPR. Fleet of foot and with a decent trick or two up his sleeve McAnuff can give full backs a torrid time when he is in the mood, sadly his career has been stunted by inconsistency at both Crystal Palace and Watford. Brandan Rodgers took him with him in the summer and will be hoping to harness that talent to greater effect this year.

Links >>> Reading Official Website >>> Reading Message Board

History
Recent Meetings:
Rangers and Reading shared a dire goalless draw at Loftus Road last season, one of eleven stalemates the R’s were involved with in 2008/09. When the LFW match report starts by praising Damien Delaney and Gavin Mahon you sort of know what kind of game it was and although Heidar Helguson had a great chance to follow up a brace at Blackpool with the opening goal in the first half here a bore draw always looked likely and so it turned out.

QPR: Camp 6, Connolly 7, Stewart 8, Gorkss 8, Delaney 8, Routledge 7, Mahon 8 (Ephraim 77, 6), Leigertwood 7, Miller 8, Cook 5 (Di Carmine 90, -), Helguson 5 (Blackstock 85, -)
Subs Not Used: Hall, Alberti
Booked: Helguson (repetitive fouling)

Reading: Federici 6, Rosenior 7, Duberry 5, Pearce 7, Armstrong 7, Kebe 7 (Gunnarsson 90, -), Harper 6, Cisse 6, Stephen Hunt 6, Lita 6, Doyle 6
Subs Not Used: Andersen, Matejovsky, Bikey, Long
Booked: Stephen Hunt (foul), Duberry (dissent)

Rangers went into the game at Reading last season under the caretaker guidance of Gareth Ainsworth for the first time. Iain Dowie was sacked the day before the game, televised by Sky Sports, after a 0-0 draw at Swansea during the week where Rangers failed to register a shot on target despite the Swans losing their goalkeeper and having o play with a centre half between the sticks. Gareth Ainsworth took charge for the first time at the Madejski Stadium, moved Leigertwood to right back to great effect and oversaw a 0-0 draw that may have been dull for the neutral but was a terrific result for QPR.

Reading: Hahnemann 6, Rosenior 6, Bikey 5, Ingimarsson 7, Armstrong 6, Kebe 7 (Long 80, -), Gunnarsson 6 (Harper 73, 6), Karacan 6 (Cisse 73, 6), Stephen Hunt 6, Noel Hunt 6, Doyle 6
Subs Not Used: Andersen, Kelly
Booked: Rosenior (foul)

QPR: Cerny 8, Leigertwood 8, Stewart 8, Hall 7, Connolly 7, Buzsaky 6, Mahon 7, Rowlands 7, Cook 5, Di Carmine 5 (Blackstock 60, 7), Parejo 6 (Balanta 86, -)
Subs Not Used: Delaney, Tommasi, Cole
Booked: Parejo (kicking the ball away)

Head to Head:
QPR wins -24
Draws – 17
Reading wins – 35

Previous Results:
2008/09 QPR 0 Reading 0
2008/09 Reading 0 QPR 0
2005/06 Reading 2 QPR 1 (Furlong)
2005/06 QPR 1 Reading 2 (Cook)
2004/05 QPR 0 Reading 0
2004/05 Reading 1 QPR 0
2001/02 Reading 1 QPR 0
2001/02 QPR 0 Reading 0
1997/98 QPR 1 Reading 1 (Spencer)
1997/98 Reading 1 QPR 2 (Spencer, Swales og)
1996/97 QPR 0 Reading 2
1996/97 Reading 2 QPR 1 (Spencer)

Played for both clubs:
Michael Meaker
QPR 1990-95
Reading 1995-98

Although born in Greenford, Michael Meaker would go on to fulfil a footballing career as a Welsh U21 international and now currently plays in the Welsh leagues. Meaker came through the ranks at Rangers and made his debut as a 19 year-old in December 1990 in a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City. He would then go on to play for Rangers for five of their most successful seasons in seasons. Although never really a first-teamer with the R’s Meaker was part of the squad that finished top London side in 1993, and two more top half finishes in the Premier League earning Welsh U21 and B international caps along way. In 1995 after never cementing a permanent place in the R’s first team he made the switch to Jimmy Quinn’s Reading. Again at Reading Meaker was never a first team player and as the team became marooned at the bottom of the First Division Jimmy Quinn was sacked and replaced by Terry Buillivant and Meaker found himself surplus to requirements at Elm Park. He later turned out for Bristol Rovers and Plymouth before entering non-league football with Northwich Victoria. Now plays in the Welsh Western Leagues with Bitton and the QPR Masters team and runs a football academy at his local gym.

Links >>> Reading 0 QPR 0 Match Report >>> QPR 0 Reading 0 Match Report >>> Match Report Archive >>> Connections and Memories

This Tuesday
Team News: QPR had seven our on Saturday and still won 4-0, presenting Jim Magilton with something of a headache on Tuesday. Ben Watson, whose introduction to the team sparked this sudden up turn in form, is back from his one match ban but on Saturday Mahon and Faurlin were two of our outstanding players in the centre of midfield so whether Watson will get straight back in is doubtful. Martin Rowlands (cruciate knee ligaments), Matt Connolly (glandular fever) and Lee Cook (knee) are long term absentees. Fitz Hall and Gareth Ainsworth both returned to the bench on Saturday after their respective lay offs but will do well to dislodge the in from players in front of them. Mikele Leigertwood should have recovered from his virus in time to play but again I would be a brave and harsh manager to drop Peter Ramage after his display at the weekend.

Brendan Rodgers has defensive problems ahead of this game. Matt Mills, a transfer window signing from Doncaster, scored at West Brom in defeat at the weekend but now has a shin injury. Loaned Chelsea full back Ryan Bertrand, who you may recall impressing against us in a similar spell with Norwich a couple of seasons ago, got clouted round the head at The Hawthorns and is unlikely to play.

Elsewhere: There is a full programme of Championship action this Tuesday night. Two of the division’s three form sides clash at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest meet resurgent Barnsley in the game of the evening. Newcastle have an awkward little trip down to Scunthorpe who will no doubt treat the visit of the Geordies as something of a cup final and pose stiff opposition. Bristol City at home to struggling Plymouth is something of a grudge match dating back to the 2003/04 season when ourselves and the Pilgrims pipped City to the automatic promotion spots and then laughed heartily as they failed in the play offs. Leaders West Brom host Swansea.

Referee: Andy Hall makes an unwelcome return to Loftus Road this Tuesday as Rangers face Reading. The West Midlands official has a long and chequered history with QPR including two farcical sendings off in an automatic promotion decider with Crewe at Loftus Road in 2003 that left the R’s hanging on with nine men and missing out on the second spot, a 4-0 cup defeat at Swansea, a 3-0 cup defeat at Northampton where he awarded the Cobblers a penalty and sent a QPR man off and a home League Cup defeat by Orient when the visitors got a penalty as well.

Links >>> Dean Sturridge Memorial Injury List >>> Arthur Gnohere Discipline Counter  >>> Old foe Hall returns to W12 >>> Referee League

Form
QPR: Although it was the source of some conjecture on LFW earlier in the week QPR are, over the last seven games, the form team in the Championship at the moment. The R’s have lost just once and won four times in that period, including consecutive wins at home against Barnsley and Preston scoring nine goals in the process. That Barnsley are the second part of a three way tie with us and Forest at the top of the form league, and Preston were fifth at the start of play on Saturday gives you some clue as to just how well QPR are playing at the moment having swept both teams aside with consummate ease. Rangers are unbeaten at home in 12 matches in all competitions since Norwich won here in March.

Reading: While Rangers tussle with Barnsley and Forest at the top end of the form table Reading are kept from the foot of it only by Ipswich. The Royals have won just twice this season and have failed to score in six of their 12 games. Having said all of that Reading are something of a bogey side for Rangers and have been stronger away from home than at the Madejski this season. QPR have won just one of the last nine meetings on this ground and that was in 1967, both last season’s meetings ended goalless. Both victories this year have come away from home at Preston (1-2) and Barnsley (1-3). They are currently fourth bottom with ten points, two points outside the drop zone, having lost their last two games conceding five in the process.

Prediction: Let’s be honest here there is only one sensible prediction to make here. Reading are very poor, QPR are very good, QPR are scoring lots of goals, Reading are hardly scoring at all and are conceding plenty – you’d be a fool to take Reading on even at 7/2 as some bookies are offering. Only QPR’s propensity to turn in a disappointing performance straight after a brilliant one, and Reading’s bogey over us, can scupper us here. I’ll do my bet by backing a draw (for people who don’t read regularly whenever I back QPR to win they don’t) but I really struggle to see anything other than victory here.
Score draw

Links >>> Championship Table >>> Total Form >>> Home Form >>> Away Form >>> Prediction League >>> Fantasy League

Photo: Action Images



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