Can QPR cut it in the Premier League?

Neil Warnock and his side will be battling it out with fellow money bags Manchester City and Chelsea next year. Former chairman Flavio Briatore promised Europe to fans by the 2012/2013 season, and although that may appear a little too optimistic, leading the Championship all season is no mean feat and with a few important additions this summer, Rangers may just find themselves back on the footballing map once more.




For those of you thinking that QPR have ran away with the league, think again. Yeah, they may have been at the top since September, and the table never lies, but Warnock has seen his men win some of their most important points through 1-0 wins and the odd late comeback here and there. The reason why Rangers have looked so formidable is because they have the perfect Championship squad – they boast the best defence in the league playing behind the instrumental Adel Taarabt (Championship Player of the Year), not to mention Heidar Helguson having without a doubt his best season to date in front of goal. Add Warnock to the equation and you have the perfect ingredients.

Rangers really should make a How to win the Championship for Dummies edition, featuring tips on how to top the table stay there. Since a 4-0 drubbing over Barnsley on the 7th August, they have never looked back. One result which truly defined their Premier League credentials was the 1-0 win away from home (as I mentioned, important points coming from 1-0 wins) over Reading in February. The R’s were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half time, but showed immense grit and pugnacity to scrape a goal and hold onto their lead.

So what has turned this once mid-table, underachieving side into one of Premiership ambitions? The arrival of Warnock definitely didn’t hinder. Warnock joined in March 2010 and helped his side comfortably avoid relegation, starting his era with an emphatic win over West Bromwich Albion. In the summer he introduced the likes of Paddy Kenny, Bradley Orr, Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Jamie Mackie and Adel Taarabt in the hope of building a successful team, but few could have believed they would gel like they did. I mean look at City, who completely ruin the idea that money buys you success.

Only those of you living in a cave for the past 8 months would not have heard of Adel Taarabt. Some would argue that QPR are just a one man team, but the 1-0 win (I sense a pattern emerging) over Doncaster without Taarabt even in the country shows they have strength in depth required to do well in England’s top division. I guess you could counter-argue my point and say that if QPR fans are praising their side for winning without Taarabt, surely this shows that they have relied too heavily upon the Moroccan magician this campaign? I mean, he is our top goal scorer with 15 (the majority of which will be in the running for Goal of the Season) and leads the assist tally in the Championship, and like many others, I believe that QPR would still be a mid-table side without him.

The problem for QPR this summer will be holding onto Taarabt. He can be hard to deal with, hence the reason why Harry Redknapp let him leave Tottenham, but we are talking about a player who is capable of bullying any defender to the extent where they need psychiatric help. Chelsea, WBA and Newcastle are rumoured to be interested in Taarabt who himself has said that Manchester United are after his signature. Hmm, is that a hint of cockiness I smell from the Moroccan, or is Sir Alex Ferguson really preparing a bid for the maestro? I can’t see it myself, but stranger things have happened.


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