| The real quiz - Column 10:30 - Jul 29 with 4653 views | Northernr |
As Infantino's Trump-Fest Sponsored by Pepsi disappears into the rear-view mirror, Dorse wonders whether QPR have it within them this season to restore faith in our once beautiful game.
 The real quiz - Column 29th Jul 2026 10:29As Infantino's Trump-Fest Sponsored by Pepsi disappears into the rear-view mirror, regular columnist Dorse wonders whether QPR have it within them this season to restore faith in our once beautiful game.  6
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| The real quiz - Column on 12:25 - Jul 29 with 4273 views | dmm |
It's always a pleasure to read your stuff, Dorse. Thanks. |  | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 12:30 - Jul 29 with 4252 views | terryb |
Thanks Dorse.
And yes, I care far more about the results of Queens Park Rangers than I did about England losing to Argentina. Come to that, I care far more about the results of Chesham United & Wakefield Trinity than England!
I do have concerns about this season though, mainly as to why I've no real pessimism coursing through my veins!
COME ON MY TEAM |  | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 12:44 - Jul 29 with 4211 views | GaryBannister86 |
Really entertaining read, Dorse, thanks. And thanks for reminding me about sweepers....whatever happened to them? Age is dulling my memory but didn't Roeder, Fenwick, Parker do it for us? Could just see Mbengue cleaning up back there, if not Morgan. |  | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 13:10 - Jul 29 with 4107 views | colinallcars |
Excellent stuff old chap. |  | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 13:23 - Jul 29 with 4080 views | daveB |
For me, I care about both the same, I do get the argument of Club over country, I just love both of them.
England losing in a World Cup hurts a lot more in the moment than most QPR defeats which I'm usually over by the time i get home. Imagine that Wrexham game we threw away being our last game in that competition for 4 years, that would bloody hurt as much as that Argentina game did, still even typing that I feel despair at how that game ended. I'm not over the Italia 90 semi final yet either.
When we lost to France in 2022 I was so down I couldn't get myself out of bed the next day to even see QPR get thrashed by Burnley. Each tournament exit feels worse than the last maybe because I am getting old and running out of chances to see England win something.
International football for all the horrors and greed surrounding it off the pitch remains for me the best form of football on the pitch. Not about money or looking to enhance the career, every team every player giving it everything to win for their country, it's a joy to watch that no club football tournament can match imo even though the teams are certainly better at club level.
Going back to QPR last weekend felt like returning to work after a nice holiday, nice to see everyone but that nagging feeling that I'm stuck with this crap for the next 9 months,
World Cups & Euros feel like a full season of emotions crammed into a few weeks, You have the group stage like early season, with some optimism but it doesn't feel like it's got going yet and then a full season of emotions the highs, the hope, the doom, the despair—all squashed into 2 weeks.
Obsessed with what Harry Kane is doing, what Morgan Rogers is having for breakfast and how good they all are at darts. Podcasts, wall-to-wall TV coverage—it fully took over my life and didn't help that I work at ITV so my day job has been World Cup focused for months.
When the season starts, it will be all QPR for me and I won't be even slightly bothered by England losing to Spain in September as much as I would be by QPR losing at West Brom but for those 6 weeks every 2 years I do enjoy my break away from QPR to have my affair with England before returning home to the wife more battered and bruised than when I left. |  | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 13:45 - Jul 29 with 3999 views | Superhoop83 |
"Look, watching England is fine and all, but seeing them flame out in the semis just doesn’t hurt the same way as QPR getting turned over in added time by Wrexham. It can’t just be me, right?"
Spot on, for me anyway. I watched the semi-final goals again the following morning, but I still can't bring myself to watch the Wrexham highlights.
To be fair, my son and I agreed in the pub, when England were 1-0 up, that we'd take a draw rather than a win at Portsmouth in return for England winning, but we wouldn't go further than that. |  |
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| The real quiz - Column on 14:59 - Jul 29 with 3839 views | Philothesuperhoop |
Great read Dorse - thanks.
As much as I get so invested in England, I completely agree that QPR is the real deal.
I agree that this year maybe we have a shout. But as we all know we need some real box-to-box midfielders to join. Plus with the radio,silence around Madsen I fear that might be three of those required. But that aside we have a defence some keepers and strikers others are envious of. So we’ll see.
Roll on the season.
Finally let’s hope the outrage at Plymouth and the fact that Wallll is the sat before the kick off that we’ll play a decent team in the league cup. |  | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 15:20 - Jul 29 with 3768 views | Dorse |
Thanks everyone. For my next column, I may write the Further Adventures Of Kone And Madsen: This Week 'The Deep Heat Murders' (with special guest Dom Ball as Sanchez) |  |
| 'What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!' |
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| The real quiz - Column on 15:21 - Jul 29 with 3765 views | WokingR |
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with pervy camera men mate |  | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 15:58 - Jul 29 with 3659 views | RamseyR |
Cheers Dorse. Very nicely put together. |  | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 20:58 - Jul 29 with 3270 views | OldPedro |
Enjoyable article - thanks |  |
| Extra mature cheddar......a simple cheese for a simple man |
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| The real quiz - Column on 21:36 - Jul 29 with 3199 views | TwoHalves |
Great writing as ever, Dorse, but I’m with daveB. I don’t see the club/country thing as being mutually exclusive. I was just as angry and depressed watching England throw it all away in the semi-final against Argentina as I was watching the absurd and unforgivable implosion against Wrexham. | | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 11:28 - Jul 30 with 2719 views | 7374Ranger |
| The real quiz - Column on 13:23 - Jul 29 by daveB |
For me, I care about both the same, I do get the argument of Club over country, I just love both of them.
England losing in a World Cup hurts a lot more in the moment than most QPR defeats which I'm usually over by the time i get home. Imagine that Wrexham game we threw away being our last game in that competition for 4 years, that would bloody hurt as much as that Argentina game did, still even typing that I feel despair at how that game ended. I'm not over the Italia 90 semi final yet either.
When we lost to France in 2022 I was so down I couldn't get myself out of bed the next day to even see QPR get thrashed by Burnley. Each tournament exit feels worse than the last maybe because I am getting old and running out of chances to see England win something.
International football for all the horrors and greed surrounding it off the pitch remains for me the best form of football on the pitch. Not about money or looking to enhance the career, every team every player giving it everything to win for their country, it's a joy to watch that no club football tournament can match imo even though the teams are certainly better at club level.
Going back to QPR last weekend felt like returning to work after a nice holiday, nice to see everyone but that nagging feeling that I'm stuck with this crap for the next 9 months,
World Cups & Euros feel like a full season of emotions crammed into a few weeks, You have the group stage like early season, with some optimism but it doesn't feel like it's got going yet and then a full season of emotions the highs, the hope, the doom, the despair—all squashed into 2 weeks.
Obsessed with what Harry Kane is doing, what Morgan Rogers is having for breakfast and how good they all are at darts. Podcasts, wall-to-wall TV coverage—it fully took over my life and didn't help that I work at ITV so my day job has been World Cup focused for months.
When the season starts, it will be all QPR for me and I won't be even slightly bothered by England losing to Spain in September as much as I would be by QPR losing at West Brom but for those 6 weeks every 2 years I do enjoy my break away from QPR to have my affair with England before returning home to the wife more battered and bruised than when I left. |
Me too. Had England gone on to win the World Cup that would have been the top experience for me as a fan. As it is, I have yet to see club or country win a major trophy at senior level. | | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 11:35 - Jul 30 with 2701 views | TheChef |
| The real quiz - Column on 11:28 - Jul 30 by 7374Ranger |
Me too. Had England gone on to win the World Cup that would have been the top experience for me as a fan. As it is, I have yet to see club or country win a major trophy at senior level. |
Better than seeing QPR lift the Championship trophy at Loftus Road?
Or lifting the Play Off trophy at Wembley?
I mean I like England to do well, but I'd prioritise QPR winning trophies every time. |  |
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| The real quiz - Column on 11:54 - Jul 30 with 2669 views | Rsole |
| The real quiz - Column on 15:20 - Jul 29 by Dorse |
Thanks everyone. For my next column, I may write the Further Adventures Of Kone And Madsen: This Week 'The Deep Heat Murders' (with special guest Dom Ball as Sanchez) |
Just try and keep the deep heat away from Dom’s balls….or don’t. Either way, that would make for an interesting YouTube video. |  |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| The real quiz - Column on 12:21 - Jul 30 with 2633 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Lovely stuff, Dorse.
Cracking read. |  |
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| The real quiz - Column on 13:42 - Jul 30 with 2540 views | daveB |
| The real quiz - Column on 11:35 - Jul 30 by TheChef |
Better than seeing QPR lift the Championship trophy at Loftus Road?
Or lifting the Play Off trophy at Wembley?
I mean I like England to do well, but I'd prioritise QPR winning trophies every time. |
It's not an either or choice though, I'd like to see both | | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 13:43 - Jul 30 with 2535 views | BrianMcCarthy |
| The real quiz - Column on 13:42 - Jul 30 by daveB |
It's not an either or choice though, I'd like to see both |
You'd like to see us win the Championship at Loftus Road and the the Play-Off Final at Wembley?
Reeeeally, not sure that's how the league works, Dave... | |
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| The real quiz - Column on 14:01 - Jul 30 with 2507 views | Rsole |
| The real quiz - Column on 13:43 - Jul 30 by BrianMcCarthy |
You'd like to see us win the Championship at Loftus Road and the the Play-Off Final at Wembley?
Reeeeally, not sure that's how the league works, Dave... |
Don’t worry Brian, Gianni has a plan and future funding for that… | |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| The real quiz - Column on 14:02 - Jul 30 with 2507 views | tommytanker |
| The real quiz - Column on 13:23 - Jul 29 by daveB |
For me, I care about both the same, I do get the argument of Club over country, I just love both of them.
England losing in a World Cup hurts a lot more in the moment than most QPR defeats which I'm usually over by the time i get home. Imagine that Wrexham game we threw away being our last game in that competition for 4 years, that would bloody hurt as much as that Argentina game did, still even typing that I feel despair at how that game ended. I'm not over the Italia 90 semi final yet either.
When we lost to France in 2022 I was so down I couldn't get myself out of bed the next day to even see QPR get thrashed by Burnley. Each tournament exit feels worse than the last maybe because I am getting old and running out of chances to see England win something.
International football for all the horrors and greed surrounding it off the pitch remains for me the best form of football on the pitch. Not about money or looking to enhance the career, every team every player giving it everything to win for their country, it's a joy to watch that no club football tournament can match imo even though the teams are certainly better at club level.
Going back to QPR last weekend felt like returning to work after a nice holiday, nice to see everyone but that nagging feeling that I'm stuck with this crap for the next 9 months,
World Cups & Euros feel like a full season of emotions crammed into a few weeks, You have the group stage like early season, with some optimism but it doesn't feel like it's got going yet and then a full season of emotions the highs, the hope, the doom, the despair—all squashed into 2 weeks.
Obsessed with what Harry Kane is doing, what Morgan Rogers is having for breakfast and how good they all are at darts. Podcasts, wall-to-wall TV coverage—it fully took over my life and didn't help that I work at ITV so my day job has been World Cup focused for months.
When the season starts, it will be all QPR for me and I won't be even slightly bothered by England losing to Spain in September as much as I would be by QPR losing at West Brom but for those 6 weeks every 2 years I do enjoy my break away from QPR to have my affair with England before returning home to the wife more battered and bruised than when I left. |
Great post and agree with every part. | | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 16:23 - Jul 30 with 2370 views | CiderwithRsie |
| The real quiz - Column on 11:35 - Jul 30 by TheChef |
Better than seeing QPR lift the Championship trophy at Loftus Road?
Or lifting the Play Off trophy at Wembley?
I mean I like England to do well, but I'd prioritise QPR winning trophies every time. |
Put this way: QPR win the FA Cup (oh alright then, the Championship) and all of us are going to walk around in our QPR shirts at every possible opportunity for at least a week, especially anywhere we know fans of other clubs might see us.
England beat Spain in the World Cup Final and where are you going to find a Spain fan unless you live in Gibraltar? | | | |
| The real quiz - Column on 15:04 - Jul 31 with 2187 views | francisbowles |
I finally got around to reading it and Dorse it was well worth it. Thank you, keep them coming. Btw for me, it's club first every time. | | | |
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