QPR blogger Gareth Parker puts fingers to keys for LFW for the first time, reflecting on the important role supporters can play in the success of Rangers' host of new signings.
We’re just into our second season in the Premier League and for some it’s like we are defending a Champions League title; such are the expectations being placed on the team.
A new influx of players this summer has got R’s fans’ hopes high, and I include myself in that.
It’s understandable considering the squad we now have at our disposal. The likes of Cesar, Bosingwa, Park, Granero and Cisse to name but a few, all playing in the famous blue and white hoops would have been laughable not so long ago. But with any new addition there needs to be time afforded to settle in and learn the ethos of a side, which is made that much more difficult when you basically go and sign half a team every transfer window.
Over the past few seasons I’ve noticed fans at games unreasonably shouting abuse at our own players. Now I won’t say watching Shaun Wright-Phillips, for the tenth time in a game, pick the ball up with options to pass then choose to run aimlessly into trouble isn’t bloody annoying - by that time the action deserves most to rise their feet with annoyance - but players are human at the end of the day and play well when inundated with confidence. One sure fire way of knocking that is when supporters jump on their backs.
Taarabt is a prime example of this. It’s obvious when he’s not happy, like when he’s pulled off the field of play or when the moans reign down from the stands after he’s tried to pull off something special and failed. The thing people forget is when it works we’re in raptures and not one person is shouting ‘you should have passed it’.
The player most lacking in that confidence at the moment would be Robert Green. There’s a number of factors behind this: joining a new club and after a month or so seeing his position become redundant is one, the other is us.
Yes he’s already made a few errors, but players make those all the time and carry on fine. Halfway through the first game of the season against Swansea the Paddy Kenny chant was sung amidst the other less delightful abuse like ‘Your sh*t’. To be honest the performance that day on the pitch was as disgusting as some of the things I heard. The thing you’ve got to ask your self is when does it stop? If Julio Cesar is unable to keep the ball out the back of our net, are you going to ‘give it to him’ as well?
I spoke to Charlton Athletic midfielder Bradley Pritchard – my cousin as it goes - about how much players react to fans and particularly new players. We came to the conclusion it’s all about first impressions for those in the stands reviewing those on the pitch and also the player and how he views those who support the team.
It depends on the player and his mentality too, if you’ve played for some of the biggest clubs in the country and have international experience for say a nation like England, then it’s less likely that whatever comes from the stands will affect you a great deal. However, younger players with less experience or those new to the country won’t react as well one way or another. It affects how you play your football sometimes the decisions made.
QPR have signed a player who I think will need everyone’s backing and that’s Cameroon international Stephane M’Bia. I’ve kept an eye on his tweets during his transfer to us, one thing for certain is he loved Marseille and the Marseille faithful loved him. I get the impression he didn’t request to leave and maybe didn’t want to leave. That’s fine, he was settled, but he is with us now and as a sportsman will always want to do his best by winning. The athletic defensive midfielder, who also can play in central defence, signed a two-year contract with the Hoops; my guess is that relatively short length of deal was at his request and not the club’s.
If things don’t go well from the off I fear followers will show him disdain and I can’t see M’Bia reacting well to this. I can see the headline already ‘M’Bia home sick’ with only a two year contract it really only means we are guaranteed to have him for a year. The club won’t want him going free if he decided against extending.
It’s down to all of us to really get behind this side and make all the players feel part of QPR. I’ve a feeling that this squad will pick up performances and when we hit that run we’ll be a match for most we just need to show a little patience in the meantime.
Gareth runs the R Block Facebook group which you can visit and interact with at www.facebook.com/rblockqpr
Tweet @R_Block_QPR
Pictures – Action Images