Ask The Opposition 2014/15: Queens Park Rangers (Premier League - Home)

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Back by very popular demand is the return of Ask The Opposition. Our segment where we ask fans of opposing teams forums some questions and post a selection of the responses back on here.

I've asked questions to QPR fans on We Are The Rangers Boys and here are their responses. Thanks to some newbie users for providing some of the questions (they have been credited):


Q1: After a poor start to the season, do you think van Gaal is the right man for Manchester United?

winalotto: Without doubt yes , could never understand the David Moyes decision

FurtiveFox: Maybe. Has though changed dynamic of United from a club that developed talent to another one that just buys lots in at vast expanse, another Man City. A minority view but personally would have preferred to see Moyes given at least two full seasons. I remember it took SAF a while to properly get motoring.

qprvoyager10: No because he didn't bother replacing defence.

zeberdee: Yes but following SAF is bound to be a mare, expecting a 'transitional season' for utd myself

Romney Marsh: Yes, until you get Mourinho.

Oliver0203: You should of gone for Brendan Rogers


Q2: What’s your opinion of Harry Redknapp as your manager? (question suggested by R'hllor)

MattyRangers: Overrated. Had Bobby not popped up & scored that winner at Wembley, he would have been castigated. Struggled through the season playing terrible football for the most part. That said, think he is more suited to the PL so hopefully will improve this year.

Jimmy Rabbit: Very capable in this division. Once we've settled into our system we'll do ok.

Southport: Experienced, with good man management skills. Capable and happy that he is here

winalotto: Very good with players, players want to play for him , that says a lot about a manager

FurtiveFox: Jury out for me. Was poor in Premiership in our relegation season, has time to at least make a fight of it, and we were poor most of last season. On plus side think he has done well in changing personnel given rubbish we were lumbered with when he joined.

zeberdee: Good, he has made big positive changes to the club and delivered the target of promotion last year

Romney Marsh: He's a top geezer.

Ginger Ninja: Got us promoted after a massive overhaul on a relegation hangover, reckon he will keep us up.


Q3: How do you expect both Manchester United and QPR to do in the league this season?

MattyRangers: United 4th, us 17th.

Jimmy Rabbit: Us 14th/15th you 4th

Southport: Man United 6th, QPR 11th

winalotto: with your window and January's window 4th QPR 16th

FurtiveFox: Man Utd think around about fourth and then push on. Too much change to realistically challenge but think Van Gaal a good manager who, if you look how he interacts with players at international level, seems to get best out of them. For Rs we have solid defence, good midfield but very short upfront. I'm thinking probably about 15th. We look much better than last time we were at this level.


Q4: Are you happy with the transfers you have done this summer?

MattyRangers: Very. We have certainly learnt our lessons in the transfer window (albeit the hard way). Very happy we told Defoe & Borini to jog on at £90k / week demands.

Jimmy Rabbit: Very although getting Defoe would have been the icing on the cake.

Southport: Yes. If Remy was going to go, it would have been better to have happened earlier but we couldn't stop him when he did go

winalotto: Best window we have had ever

Romney Marsh: Needed another striker.


Q5: I see you’ve got a five page thread on a possible FFP penalty. What are your thoughts on Tony Fernandes’ management of the club and the punishments you could incur?

MattyRangers: Fantastic owner. Was naive at first & was taken for a ride (he openly admits that), but has his heart 100% in the right place &, personally, wouldn't swap him for anybody. Has his critics though (as all people do).

Jimmy Rabbit: Naive to start. Mark Hughes & Mike Rigg tucked us right up & only thing Fernandes guilty for was trusting the wrong people. He's learned quick.

1QPRDK: Tony is a very good chairman. Don´t think our accounts will be as bad as the media expects

QPRwisco: Couldn't ask for a better owner, great man

Southport: TF is the best chairman in football. We are INCREDIBLY lucky that he is involved with QPR. I don't necessarily have a problem with a punishment for FFP but the current proposals are stupid. If spending too much endangers a football club, then giving them a financial penalty pushes them closer to the wall. Why not follow UEFA and simply insist on a smaller squad size the following year.

winalotto: im not to bothered , some nice new grounds in the conference that i haven't been to

FurtiveFox: TF made mistakes but a very astute business man and long term should be great for the club. FFP is mehmehmehmehmehmeh. I would be interested to see it challenged although shame it could be us as a test case!

zeberdee: If you want to go on a fast track to becoming a 40k stadium EPL club you will have to take some gambles - TF got stung first time around but big improvements since HR arrived

Ginger Ninja: Naive to start with. But imo FFP will never come in. We have the best owner in the country bar none.


Q6: What do you make of what Manchester United did on deadline day, selling Welbeck and signing Falcao?

MattyRangers: Stunk of panic buying IMO - no need at all for Falcao when you're crying out for a big ugly centre back & nasty centre midfielder. Great analogy I heard was it's like needing a heart transplant and instead buying some new fake t1ts. That said, you have a scary amount of fire power & will thrash some teams this year. Think you'll miss Welbeck's effort & desire - think he is an underrated player tbh. Strange that you sold to Ar$enal.

Jimmy Rabbit: Falcao great, Welbeck selling was a bad move. What he brings in energy, physicality & odd goals is invaluable. Way to quick to get rid under LVG.

Southport: A few days before the match, and it am tempting fate if I speak honestly on Falcoa! He could be good, but he is expensive, has little resale value and there are question marks over his injury. I am not sure he is what you needed, but will be a better addition than Welbeck. I don't see him as being as good a signing as Costa was for Chelsea. Selling Welbeck made sense if he wasn't going to get game time. Selling to Arsenal was odd. I don't know if there were other options but if you could have sold him for £12m to a relegation battler (assuming he was willing to leave) rather than £16m to a direct rival would have made more sense

winalotto: Wouldn't have sold Welbeck to Arsenal that could be a big mistake , very good window for yourselves to , and i expect more to follow in Jan

FurtiveFox: I like Welbeck and think they should have kept him although probably good for player as has real chance of being regular starter for Arsenal. Falcao though could be a spectacular success of underwhelming depending how he settles, a calculated gamble.

Romney Marsh: Falco will score goals, especially against lesser teams, but you're going to have an imbalanced side.


Q7: How has Rio played and been received by fans so far? (question suggested by FC Ronaldo)

MattyRangers: I have been on holiday for all 3 games so far so don't know about his reception, but had mixed reviews upon signing. I think some (me included) were wary of signing an older player given how we went about our business last time around. However, the longer its' gone on the more I think it is a very astute signing for us. Brings fantastic experience & will be superb for Caulker to play alongside him.

Jimmy Rabbit: been superb & fans have seen early what class he really is.

1QPRDK: Played very well apart from the mistake for Hull´s goal.

Southport: He has been ok. I think that most of us realised that he is not in his prime, and perhaps behind the scenes and in training is an area in which he would help strengthen us. He has been better than I expected

winalotto: Rolls Royce mate Rolls Royce

FurtiveFox: Press say not that great but I've been impressed. Has that extra touch of class and timing, over and above most other defenders in division. Also he seems to be buzzing around the place generally.

Ginger Ninja: Solid as a rock against Sunderland. At fault for Hulls goal but otherwise solid then. Crap against spurs, but then everyone was. Will prove to be a great signing for his experience on and off the field.


Q8: How have you found the three at the back formation which you’ve also used this season? (question suggested by FC Ronaldo)

MattyRangers:
Judging by pre-season and the 2 league games we used it in.... $HIT.

Jimmy Rabbit: So so. Will reserve judgement for another 10 games.

1QPRDK: Looked good against Hull, but bad against Spurs, so that´s 50/50 so far

Southport: Before the season began I loved the idea. But I would rather we just played well, so am happy we ditched it, if it means we play better

winalotto: Looked ok against Hull very unlucky to lose that, against top top sides no we haven't the personal there yet to play that way , no way will we play that sunday or it will be a cricket score

Romney Marsh: About as good as yours.

Ginger Ninja: Really dont like it. No coincidence that when we went to 4-4-2 against spurs we played a lot better. And we played 4-3-3 against sunderland and won.


Q9: With Loic Remy sold, how do you think your attack will fare in the league? (question suggested by MUFCSTHLM)

MattyRangers:
OK I think. Charlie will bag a few, and I think that Vargas is a top signing. Fer will grab a few from midfield too I reckon.

Jimmy Rabbit: We will struggle for lots of goals if Vargas doesn't chip in with at least 9-10 this season. We don't score a lot from midfield so lots of tight games with us nicking goals I think.

Southport: Big question mark here, though I see lots of goals from our midfield (compared to other teams projected to be in the bottom half). I think Charlie will do well, and Bobby as a super sub will get a few. How good will Vargas be is the question? A striker would be nice in January. We all hope Adel forgets what year it is and thinks he is back in the championship. We all think he could be brilliant, but he has not made the most of his potential in the premier league yet

FurtiveFox: Austin has potential but he is it apart from a part time Zamora so very limited options. We have wide players that can play alongside or behind but not ideal.

Romney Marsh: Struggle a bit.

Ginger Ninja: We have 4 if you count Taarabt as a striker. Austin will get at least 7 imo, Zamora has proven to be a reliable supersub but cant see him getting too many goals, not sure about Vargas, doubt Taarabt will score many knowing his attitude.


Q10: Do you think you could become an established Premier League club like we’ve seen over recent seasons with Swansea who managed to win a cup and get into Europe? (question suggested by Krusty)

MattyRangers:
Don't see why not. With our financial clout it certainly isn't out of the realms of possible, especially given how tight the PL is from, say, 8th place & down.

Jimmy Rabbit: Yes. With our owners and their vision I believe we are in very capable excellent hands.

Southport: Yes, but we would never be truly established until we get a bigger ground and more revenue, until then there is always the risk that things could go wrong

zeberdee: Depends - I dont think Hughes was on track to do it but things have changed a lot since he left so it is possible but that kind of thing can take 5-10 years

Romney Marsh: Absolutely. We have been before and will be again.

Ginger Ninja: Think we can with a bit of stability. Talk of Europe is very far off though.


Q11: Which XI would you like to see your team field against us?

MattyRangers:
Green
Isla Rio Caulker Traore
Barton Sandro
Phillips Fer Vargas
Austin

Jimmy Rabbit: Green, Onouha, Rio, Caulker, Isla, Barton, Fer, Hoilett, Phillips, Vargas, Austin

winalotto: Green ..Isla.. Ferdinand.. Caulker.. Yun.. Barton..Fer..Sandro.. Holiet.. Kranjcar..Austin..

FurtiveFox: Green, Isla, Traore, Ferdy,, Caulker, Fer, Barton, Mutch, Vargas, Phillips, Austin.

qprvoyager10: I have faith in whoever Harry picks. Unless its SWP

Oliver0203: doesn't really matter who we put out Sunday its going to be so comfortable for us


Q12: Finally, your predictions for the match?

MattyRangers:
4-0 United.

Jimmy Rabbit: head says 2-0 loss heart says 1-1

Southport: 2-1 for the superhoops

FurtiveFox: 2-0 Utd. I'm hoping we can make a game of it but best will in the world you have a much stronger squad.

Oliver0203: 1-4 Dennis Bailey Hat Trick COYRS

qprvoyager10: 1-0 Rio Ferdinand goal for the mighty Rs
 
Good to see they are pleased with Rio and can appreciate what a class act he is.
 
Good to see Rio being appreciated over there. Found there comments on Welbecks sale interesting as well. Basically all of them thought it was a bad move.
 
It's amazing how many rival fans hold the opinion that because we bought big this summer suddenly we are a club that no longer develops talent.
 
How can you say Falcao isnt much needed, and how can you say we've done nothing to strengthen our defence. If you see RVP/Rooney play, its just so obvious that they are on the decline. They are way over their top. We've bought Blind, Shaw, Rojo , our main problem was the LB last season. And we've added a good CB. Arsenal just conceded 2 goals less and we had less goals against than Liverpool, while our defence was injured all the time, we didnt play the same defence for 3 weeks in a row unfortunately, I think our shit defence talk is way overrated.
 
It's amazing how many rival fans hold the opinion that because we bought big this summer suddenly we are a club that no longer develops talent.

It drives me mad! They're all ignoring the fact that we've always bought big - Veron, Rio, Rooney, even 4m for Keano back in the day was big money. Only difference is this season we've spent more but that's because it's simply in keeping with the market and we've had to bring in more players due to years of neglect.
Anyway, that's another topic!

Great to see Rio getting respect, really hope it goes well for him there.
 
Brilliant thread idea and fair play to the QPR fans, they've spoke the proper truth. Will be hilarious when we're playing Liverpool or City and we ask them serious questions:


Falcao has now scored 20 goals in 10 games for United, do you think he was a good signing?

City fans: He's shit and only with Manure because we rejected him, stinks of panic buy!

Liverpool fans: Even though Sturridge has only scored 3 goals he's 10 times better, Falcao's overrated and only at yawnited for the £££££