QPR boss reveals surprise strike partner for Zamora

QPR boss reveals surprise strike partner for Zamora
By Paul WarburtonFeb 5 2012 Add a commentRecommend Recommended inShare.0




QPR boss Mark Hughes is ready to re-launch Adel Taarabt as an out-and-out attacker.

The loss of Djibril Cissé to a three-match ban after the £4million new signing was red carded in the 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Saturday has left Sparky with a lot of square pegs for a round hole.

The manager could have anything up to three target men ready to play alongside Bobby Zamora at Blackburn on Saturday – but what he wants is someone with a different set of skills to compliment Saturday’s scorer.

Hence the idea of pushing Taarabt one slot forward from central midfield.

Hughes added: “Adel can be moved up and play off Bobby.

“Hopefully, Heidar (Helguson) will be better for a week’s training. Jay Bothroyd might be an option and possibly DJ Campbell. There are a number of combinations we can use.

“But it’s a it’s a hard lesson for him (Cissé) after he made a good start. It’s a shame for him and us.

“Given Djibril’s injury history you can understand his reaction (to the foul by Roger Johnson), but referees have to stick to the letter of the law


Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/lo...tner-for-zamora-82029-30272570/#ixzz1laZhDBvk

 

Is that the understatement of the season so far?! Catastrophe more like.

 

he could've cost us relegation with that stupid reaction, hopefully not but will certainly make things harder, we could of had nice little cushion between us & bottom 3, no way we would have lost that match with 11 men.

 

The only bright spot on a miserable day was the performance of Adel. He looked sharp, quick and above all committed. If he continues this form for the rest of the season he will lift us out of trouble.

As for the rest of the team on Saturday our remaining members of the Championship side looked out of their depth (including Paddy) and our new boys (1st and 2nd wave) looked scared of the ball. Saturday is now a massive game and Hughes has very quickly got to install a sense of belief in this set of players otherwise the consequences will be dire.

Given the size of our wage bill with some of the underperforming newbies (swp, barton, bothroyd, dj etc) relegation could be a disaster!

 

I think Taarabt would work well as a forward, although he works VERY well (certainly on Saturday) in the hole in front of the striker(s). It would be ashame to waste what appears to be an astonishing turn around from being quite a greedy and selfish player to one of the best passers of the ball we've got, his vision has improved hugely the last few games and I think we should utilise this and play him where we played him Saturday. Don't fix it if it's not broken (Referring to Taarabt, not the team)!!!

We WILL stay up and once again Taarabt will be a staple, followed closely by the acquisition of the new players we signed in January. Hughes will get us there!

 

AGREED.......Saturday is a MUST win! 6 pointer! Play the team we played Saturday (minus djibril obviously) and stick in HH and we will be the victors! Certain of it! We need to get Taiwo on them free kicks and get him up there attacking getting his fercocious shots off at the keeper!

 

what do you think?

Traore and Young as acting left wing backs, more of an attacking side, with Traore and Young (good engines) bombing on and acting as wing backs! Obviously Diakite in there when he is back, raplace Traore at half time with SWP when we're a few goals up and get diakite covering over to the left when SWP bombs on, leaving Barton to boss the midfield with the assistance of the three centre halves we'll have!

Cerny

Onouha Ferdinand Taiwo

Barton Diakite
Young Traore
Taarabt

Zamora Helguson

 

-------------------Cerny-----------------------
-----------------------------------------------
-----------Onouha Ferdinand Taiwo-------------
------------------------------------------------
Young----------------------------------- Traore
--------------Barton----- Diakite---------------
-----------------------------------------------
------------------Taarabt----------------------
-----------------------------------------------
-------------Zamora-- Helguson ---------------

 

As I said yesterday (with variations for injuries or uncertainties)

Kenny
Young or Onouha - Onouha or Hall - Ferdinand - Traore
SWP - Derry or Diakite - Buszaky
Taarabt
Helguson or Zamora - Campbell

 

Problems with Taarabt up front with Zamora:

1. he's not a hold up and play others in merchant; and
2. ever seen him head a ball?

 

But I'd say that would be the job for Zamora. Taarabt just needs to get up there quickly to support him and/or get on the end of the headers.

 

Without Cisse I think it would be a good idea for Adel to play off Zamora in a free role:

1) It would enable us to have a 4 in midfield who are stronger defensively. After our disintregration against Villa and Wolves, and after being totally overwhelmed by Chelsea, obviously we need to stiffen up our defense, essentially get everyone defending harder and better when we loose the ball. In the 4 4 2 MH prefers we need to have 2 solid 4's supported by one of the front 2 (Adel) getting back when we loose posession, and the other (Zamora) harrying the opponents back 4 wherever he can.

2) The realistic alternatives to Adel, HH and Bothroyd, are too similar to Zamora, all are essentially target men. I don't think DJ is fit enough or Mackeda good enough. We need just 1 such target man with a a quicker technically better player playing off him. Adel fits the bill.

3) Adel could operate freely when we have the ball going back to pick it up and setting up the wide players in midfield, and playing off Zamora, and getting into the box as much as he can.

Really hard work will be required from Adel! And everyone!

 

That might work if we had a decent midfielder who could pass a ball or not give the ball away.

 

Lets hope he has his shooting boots on when we play Blackburn, what more does he need to do to get off the mark,keepers can't keep making blinders off him.

 

Adel has been shooting very well from distance all season but been very unlucky. I'd like to see him shooting from inside the box a lot more than he has. Playing off Zamora up front should give him more opportunity to do this.

 

What do I think?
Er....no!!