| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly 15:24 - Mar 23 with 2311 views | YorkRanger |
Queens Park Rangers 1 Everton 2
The graffiti was scrawled on the wall at Goodison Park under cover of darkness. It encapsulated the urgent, furious response to Everton’s brutal regression this season, the sensation that the removal post haste of Roberto MartÃnez would be a step in the right direction. “Not good enough,” it read.
They say the same thing at Queens Park Rangers, though here they have not seen the need to reach for the paint cans in anger. The mood is more one of weary acceptance, and that is not the sort of thing that brings out anyone’s inner Banksy.
QPR, put simply, are not good enough for the Barclays Premier League, and that is why, barring the most far-fetched of turnarounds, they will not be in it next season.
This defeat felt like the moment the clock started to tick. Chris Ramsey’s team started the afternoon four points adrift of safety, but with precisely the sort of game those threatened with relegation crave: an Everton team sapped of confidence by their travails this year and drained of energy by a long journey to Kiev last week. The scales weighted in their favour, QPR had to win. They did not.
Instead, they left with nothing. They could not hold on to a point – of value psychologically, if nothing else – when the bright Eduardo Vargas cancelled out Séamus Coleman’s artful opener. Aaron Lennon secured the visiting side a victory that left MartÃnez looking up, talking about soaring up the table and finishing the season on a high.
Ramsey, by contrast, was left counting his blessings that none of their rivals at the foot of the table picked up points and convincing himself, as much as anyone, that “a low total” will be enough to preserve top-flight status this season. Even then, though, he admitted QPR need a “miraculous run of form” to avoid the trapdoor that is opening beneath his feet.
His side have 22 points, and eight games of the season remaining. Five of those are away from home, where they have thus far managed to win just once. They have to go to Anfield and the Etihad Stadium, and they have to welcome Chelsea to Loftus Road too. Ramsey thinks four wins might be enough to keep them up. No wonder, when asked what they need from their trips to West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa, Ramsey just said: “Six points. That’s the reality. We can’t carry on saying we were unlucky.”
On this evidence, they will not go quietly. “We played well today,” said Ramsey. “Very, very well. They showed the fans they have plenty of fight left in them. I did not see any apathy at all. Everyone did their shift. We showed the fans that if things don’t work out, we are not going down with a whimper. We will keep fighting. There have been teams in slightly worse situations that have survived.”
That is almost certainly true, but while QPR do not lack heart, there is something missing that will, eventually, count against them. They ran and scrapped and battled here, to such an extent that you wondered if it was all a little bit too desperate, if they were producing an awful lot of heat and not a vast quantity of light.
That, ultimately, is their problem, much more than all of the off-field drama that has become such a familiar backdrop to this club. The rhetoric of football is such that it would be easy to believe that games are decided by who tries the hardest, who, to use the parlance, wants it more. That is delusion.
QPR wanted this more than Everton, but they still lost, because at some point what really matters, what determines these things, is who is better at football. It is here that Ramsey’s players just fall short. There are too many who do not see the pass until it is a split-second too late, who need just a moment too long to think, who do not quite make the right decision. This is not a team full of bad players. It is just a team of players who are, when it comes down to it, not good enough. Not by a lot, but still not quite.
And so for all their effort, they struggled to create chances against a team that has been alarmingly porous this season. There was a Charlie Austin cross that fizzed just past Bobby Zamora’s head, and there was a Zamora flick that his strike partner could not quite turn into a shot. Everton, by contrast, needed just one decent passage of play to take the lead: Lennon turning Arouna Koné’s cross back to Leon Osman, who slipped a pass into Coleman’s path. The Irishman drilled home off the far post.
It took 50 minutes for the hosts to rise above the ordinary, Junior Hoilett cutting in and crashing a shot off the bar, the follow-up ruled out for a narrow offside. When the equaliser did come, it was by sheer force of will: a Sandro shot blocked, Austin waiting and waiting for the ball to stop squirming around, Vargas arriving and finishing with the power of a man who knows this is not the time for artistic impression.
That point would not, in the grand scheme of things, have made a vast amount of difference, but even that was denied to the hosts, Lennon tapping home after Nedum Onuoha took Coleman’s cross off Koné’s toes. MartÃnez’s team would not be caught again, despite Adel Taarabt hitting the crossbar in stoppage time.
The Spaniard described it as one of his “most satisfying” moments at Everton, even if it was not “the sort of day for a technically perfect performance”.
“It had character, it had guts,” he said. QPR had plenty of those too. In the end, that was still not enough.
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 15:42 - Mar 23 with 2251 views | kropotkin41 |
At least we had character and guts.
A very good piece of football writing that, I thought. |  |
| ‘morbid curiosity about where this is all going’ |
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 16:32 - Mar 23 with 2149 views | TacticalR |
'QPR wanted this more than Everton, but they still lost, because at some point what really matters, what determines these things, is who is better at football. It is here that Ramsey’s players just fall short. There are too many who do not see the pass until it is a split-second too late, who need just a moment too long to think, who do not quite make the right decision. This is not a team full of bad players. It is just a team of players who are, when it comes down to it, not good enough. Not by a lot, but still not quite.'
Very true. I would also add that we are missing a true leader who could calm nerves and hold the line. |  |
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 16:56 - Mar 23 with 2072 views | YorkRanger |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 16:32 - Mar 23 by TacticalR |
'QPR wanted this more than Everton, but they still lost, because at some point what really matters, what determines these things, is who is better at football. It is here that Ramsey’s players just fall short. There are too many who do not see the pass until it is a split-second too late, who need just a moment too long to think, who do not quite make the right decision. This is not a team full of bad players. It is just a team of players who are, when it comes down to it, not good enough. Not by a lot, but still not quite.'
Very true. I would also add that we are missing a true leader who could calm nerves and hold the line. |
Agreed, I thought that description was on the money. The thin line between success and failure | | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 17:44 - Mar 23 with 1952 views | vegasranger |
I think we would do a lot better if we didn't start these games with 10 men. Zamora would struggle to do anything in Div 1. It's criminal that Redknapp re-signed him and didn't sign the quality striker that was needed to partner Austin. |  | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 18:20 - Mar 23 with 1864 views | Match82 |
That's a good read. Captured it well. |  | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 18:37 - Mar 23 with 1825 views | Hunterhoop |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 16:56 - Mar 23 by YorkRanger |
Agreed, I thought that description was on the money. The thin line between success and failure |
Agree...and I thought it was the most eloquent argument ever made for why Adel Taarabt should start every week for us. A similar argument can be made for Eduardo Vargas. |  | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 18:45 - Mar 23 with 1807 views | kropotkin41 |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 18:37 - Mar 23 by Hunterhoop |
Agree...and I thought it was the most eloquent argument ever made for why Adel Taarabt should start every week for us. A similar argument can be made for Eduardo Vargas. |
I totally agree with that. With 8 games left and absolutely nothing to lose except the honour of finishing 19th instead of 20th, I think we should just put our footballers on and play football like we did for 10 minutes yesterday.
We're not going to win tight games by defending because we don't defend, or by hoping that BZ - as much as he really has been a great servant to the club - is going to dance his way around the ball and score enough goals to win any games.
ATTACK!ATTACK!ATTACK!
Play football not long ball. | |
| ‘morbid curiosity about where this is all going’ |
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:02 - Mar 23 with 1634 views | Lblock |
Not looking for a ruck but can I just ask you why you think Bobby Zamora has been a great servant to the club?
One goal at Wembley that he finished well but was served up to him by an opposition defender doesn't wipe it for me.
Unless of course you are being sarcastic and then I take my query back.
His goal return is shocking
His games started versus duration of time at the club is shocking
His assists stats are shocking
His wage is probably shocking
I suppose he played well against Man City and did used to plough on when quite obviously unfit due to his hip injury (but he refused the op on that).
Hardly the Alfred to our Bruce Banner in my opinion though |  |
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:11 - Mar 23 with 1614 views | RuislipHoop |
Whatever is said ,I think we must all realise at present we follow a shite club with a shite team run by a shite chairman.
Nothing lasts forever,pleasure or pain. | | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:16 - Mar 23 with 1602 views | smegma |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:02 - Mar 23 by Lblock |
Not looking for a ruck but can I just ask you why you think Bobby Zamora has been a great servant to the club?
One goal at Wembley that he finished well but was served up to him by an opposition defender doesn't wipe it for me.
Unless of course you are being sarcastic and then I take my query back.
His goal return is shocking
His games started versus duration of time at the club is shocking
His assists stats are shocking
His wage is probably shocking
I suppose he played well against Man City and did used to plough on when quite obviously unfit due to his hip injury (but he refused the op on that).
Hardly the Alfred to our Bruce Banner in my opinion though |
Nail. Head.
13 goals in 53 starts and 32 appearances as a sub is shocking even at sunday pub team levels.
His ONLY good season was at Brighton over a decade ago. I cant believe hes been capped by England. | | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:23 - Mar 23 with 1594 views | CiderwithRsie |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 16:32 - Mar 23 by TacticalR |
'QPR wanted this more than Everton, but they still lost, because at some point what really matters, what determines these things, is who is better at football. It is here that Ramsey’s players just fall short. There are too many who do not see the pass until it is a split-second too late, who need just a moment too long to think, who do not quite make the right decision. This is not a team full of bad players. It is just a team of players who are, when it comes down to it, not good enough. Not by a lot, but still not quite.'
Very true. I would also add that we are missing a true leader who could calm nerves and hold the line. |
Yeah, that passage stood out for me.
Incidentally, for those who wanted Sherwood ahead of Ramsey because of his motivational skills, it highlights why it wouldn't have made a f*ck of difference | | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:31 - Mar 23 with 1576 views | PunteR |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:16 - Mar 23 by smegma |
Nail. Head.
13 goals in 53 starts and 32 appearances as a sub is shocking even at sunday pub team levels.
His ONLY good season was at Brighton over a decade ago. I cant believe hes been capped by England. |
I wanted us to keep him this season,but only because I thought he would improve team spirit we lacked previously in the prem.I thought he could come off the bench and add something different. I didn't intend for him to be our main striker though. He's past it,and has been over played but that's down to management not him.
We should have signed another decent striker. Or play Vargas. [Post edited 23 Mar 2015 23:01]
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:33 - Mar 23 with 1571 views | derbyhoop |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:23 - Mar 23 by CiderwithRsie |
Yeah, that passage stood out for me.
Incidentally, for those who wanted Sherwood ahead of Ramsey because of his motivational skills, it highlights why it wouldn't have made a f*ck of difference |
And highlights that for all the supposed interest, why it didn't happen. |  |
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Find me on twitter @derbyhoop |
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:51 - Mar 23 with 1529 views | johncharles |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 18:45 - Mar 23 by kropotkin41 |
I totally agree with that. With 8 games left and absolutely nothing to lose except the honour of finishing 19th instead of 20th, I think we should just put our footballers on and play football like we did for 10 minutes yesterday.
We're not going to win tight games by defending because we don't defend, or by hoping that BZ - as much as he really has been a great servant to the club - is going to dance his way around the ball and score enough goals to win any games.
ATTACK!ATTACK!ATTACK!
Play football not long ball. |
Yes please.
We the fans deserve to see some football. We had 10 minutes yesterday for which I'm grateful but can I just repeat....MORE FOOTBALL PLEASE. |  |
| Strong and stable my arse. |
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 08:29 - Mar 24 with 1316 views | YorkRanger |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 18:37 - Mar 23 by Hunterhoop |
Agree...and I thought it was the most eloquent argument ever made for why Adel Taarabt should start every week for us. A similar argument can be made for Eduardo Vargas. |
I would play Tarrabt and Vargas at West Brom. You like to think it can't get any worse.... | | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 09:10 - Mar 24 with 1286 views | PinnerPaul |
Spot on report, we're not good enough, everything else is just "noise" around that issue. | | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 09:14 - Mar 24 with 1275 views | Discodroids |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 09:10 - Mar 24 by PinnerPaul |
Spot on report, we're not good enough, everything else is just "noise" around that issue. |
very good report.
the first time i think we've ever agreed on anything PP.
we've maxed out on ability in this league.end of.
just not good enough.the rest is , as you say, white noise. |  |
| "...The monkey is never dead, Dealer. The monkey never dies. When you kick him off, he just hides in a corner, waiting his turn." |
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 10:23 - Mar 24 with 1213 views | PinnerPaul |
Not quite true Disco.
Think you once said despite our disagreements, we both cared about this great club.
We agreed on THAT as well I seem to remember! 
Cheers
Paul | | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 10:33 - Mar 24 with 1207 views | Discodroids |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 10:23 - Mar 24 by PinnerPaul |
Not quite true Disco.
Think you once said despite our disagreements, we both cared about this great club.
We agreed on THAT as well I seem to remember!
Cheers
Paul |
thats so true mate...bloody ruins my weekend when we lose..  | |
| "...The monkey is never dead, Dealer. The monkey never dies. When you kick him off, he just hides in a corner, waiting his turn." |
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 11:39 - Mar 24 with 1160 views | PinnerPaul |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 10:33 - Mar 24 by Discodroids |
thats so true mate...bloody ruins my weekend when we lose.. |
What's annoying me, about myself!, is that I have now taken a sort of "whats the point" attitude at LR - didn't even jump up when we scored v Everton, as it seems a bit pointless - was same v Arsenal & Tottenham.
Self preservation I guess - its the hope that kills you - but I'll be back to screaming & shouting in August I'm sure. | | | |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 11:45 - Mar 24 with 1150 views | LowerloftLad |
It's a nice way of saying your rubbish
Guts and effort means they ran around they could have just jogged
Did QPR want it more maybe or more to the point a poor Everton side were still fooked for being smashed Thursday night and got lucky they had QPR next and not chelsea [Post edited 24 Mar 2015 11:49]
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| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 12:16 - Mar 24 with 1102 views | TheBlob |
| The Times Match Report - just about captures it perfectly on 22:23 - Mar 23 by CiderwithRsie |
Yeah, that passage stood out for me.
Incidentally, for those who wanted Sherwood ahead of Ramsey because of his motivational skills, it highlights why it wouldn't have made a f*ck of difference |
How can you tell?It's a pointless exercise - literally. |  |
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