- Five Years Ago Today: 1967 Hero, "Gentleman" Jim Langley, Dies
- QPR REPORT MESSAGEBOARD
- QPR History in Photos: From the 1880s to the 21st Century - Bushman QPR Photo Archives
- Five Year Flashback: On This Day, 1967 Hero, "Gentleman" Jim Langley, Dies
- Two More Goals (That's eight so far) for out-on-loan Striker, DJ Campbell
- Premier Clubs Form Guide (Fulham's is Worse!)
- 23 Years Ago: QPR under new Manager Don Howe Defeat Chelsea 4-2 (Two from Les Ferdinand)
- Birthday (Yesterday) for Les Ferdinand
- Birthday Today for Ludek Miklosko
Hanukkah Greetings from QPR
(QPR Report recently-expressed "concerns" re QPR Holiday Greetings (or non-Greetings). Concerns now assuaged, QPR Report would now like to thank the Club for the Hanukkah Greetings!)
- Photo Compilation from Yesterday's Wigan vs QPR
Tony Fernandes @tonyfernandes
Tony Fernandes @tonyfernandes
WIGAN PERSPECTIVE - GAFFER PROUD OF TEAM'S EFFORTS
Roberto Martinez admitted his and his players’ disappointment at not taking three points after a dominating performance against Queens Park Rangers at the DW Stadium, but also revealed his pride at the character shown by his injury-hit team to secure an important point nonetheless.
Latics took the lead in the first-half before pulling back an equaliser after the break, and although they had chances to make their dominance count in the score-line, Martinez was still impressed with their display, saying:
“We’re disappointed with the two goals conceded; in any games if you gift two goals like that it’s going to be very difficult to take three points.
“But having said that I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts of the team and the manner in which we coped with QPR’s threat; limiting them to very little.
“The first chance they got they scored from, after a set-piece and a free header for Ryan Nelsen, and in the second-half it was a similar story with a rare break forward leading to Djibril Cisse scoring.
“At times teams seem to find it too easy to score against us and it’s an area we need to improve in, but you look then at the character shown by the players was quite impressive.
“We started the second-half by creating chances and opening up their defence on numerous occasions and I think if we had of taken the lead at that point it would be a very different result at the final whistle.
“The reaction to going 2-1 down highlights what we have in the dressing room and the determination of the players to succeed. We have a real fighting spirit right now and it doesn’t matter if we have seven players missing or not, these players are ready to react and give everything for Wigan Athletic, which is something we should all be proud of and keep encouraging.
“I don’t look at the table in December, but the truth is that we need to start taking responsibility in certain aspects to get three points when we deserve them.
“But when the see the attitude and quality of the players I’m confident that will come and it will be another exciting journey for the club.”
James McCarthy was at the heart of everything for Latics, scoring his first goals since February 2011 to cap off a commanding personal display in midfield, and Martinez believes there is more to come from the Republic of Ireland international:
“We’re getting used to his level of performances, which is a good sign. Against QPR he had a little more freedom and license to go forward and you could see that in his play.
“Whenever he had the ball he was looking for the forward pass, played with a technical ability of the very highest level and was a complete joy to watch – it was a lesson in how to play football.
“To then get on the score-sheet twice is real recognition of his performance and at 22 years of age the best is very much still to come.”
Latics were able to welcome back Shaun Maloney to action in the second-half as well as James McArthur playing the full 90 minutes for the first time in eight games.
The gaffer was delighted to have them both back on the pitch and hopes to bring more players back over the Christmas period which will help the team grow stronger mentally:
“Shaun has been very frustrated lately after picking up the injury against Reading because he started the season in great form.
“His professionalism has got him back earlier than expected and it was great to see his quality once again on the pitch which I felt was going to bring us three points towards the end.
“It was great to see he and James McArthur back out on the pitch and I’m sure we’ll be getting more bodies back next week aiming to start the New Year in a healthy position in terms of quantity.
“We need to develop a mentality whereby going into a game and performing well will lead to three points, not simply hoping the win will follow the display.
“Believe me that the dressing room is devastated not to have taken three points from today’s game, but in the same manner I look at the difficult challenge QPR brought to our DW Stadium, with nothing to lose given their situation which can be a real threat.
“It could have been a very dangerous game for us but we never panicked, left ourselves exposed and kept playing the way we wanted to play.” Wigan
OBSERVER REPORT
Richard Jolly at the DW Stadium
A damp, dark afternoon in the Lancashire drizzle hardly had the feel of a historic occasion but the record books now need rewriting. Since the Premier League's inception in 1992, 45 clubs have started 426 campaigns between them. Only one has begun by going 16 games without a win. This Queens Park Rangers team have plumbed depths that even Swindon's slow starters of 1993-94, who failed to record a victory in their first 15 matches, did not. They are in uncharted territory.
"You don't go that amount of games without winning if you are that good," Harry Redknapp said. He remains unbeaten in his brief reign, three games at the helm producing as many points, but this was a spurned opportunity nonetheless. When Djibril Cissé, who secured their last victory against Stoke seven long months ago, slid them into the lead, they sensed a belated action replay. Instead a depleted Wigan teamwho, to borrow one of Redknapp's favourite clichés, were down to the bare bones, rallied and James McCarthy scored his second goal to extend Rangers' long wait.
They are running out of time, if only for the recruitment drive Redknapp envisages in January. "If we don't win a game or two [before then], I wouldn't ask the owners to spend any more money," he said. "It would be unfair." Nevertheless, Robbie Keane's bubbly character and proven goalscoring record appeal. "I'd love to get Robbie," Redknapp said, eyeing a loan deal from LA Galaxy. "He's the type of lad you need in this situation. But I haven't spoken to anybody."
Yet Rangers' star-studded buying contrasts with Wigan's more economical policies and this was an advertisement for the manager Roberto Martínez's approach. Both Wigan goals came from McCarthy, signed from Hamilton as a comparatively unknown 18-year-old. He was incisive and, twice, decisive. "He is a top player," Martínez said. "His attacking play was outstanding. He has got the potential to play anywhere in the world."
His goals bookended the game, the second earning a point when he beat Robert Green with a precise poke. The opener was a drilled volley, clipping off Jamie Mackie's foot, after the Scot had headed a corner away. The fault, however, lay with Adel Taarabt who failed to react. "The man on the edge of the box stands there picking his nose," Redknapp said.
Yet this was part relegation battle, part scientific experiment. A side without strikers – Cissé began on the bench while Redknapp complained about a lack of balance in the squad he inherited from Mark Hughes – faced a team without a defence. Shorn of four centre-backs – two injured, two suspended – Wigan's trio comprised a reserve, a relocated right-back and a central midfielder, in Adrian López, Emmerson Boyce and David Jones respectively.
While Jones almost scored twice, López erred for the two goals Rangers did get. He lost Ryan Nelsen when the Rangers captain met Taarabt's corner with a powerful header to open his account for the club. Scored emphatically, it was celebrated energetically. "They get a free header the first time they come into our box," Martínez said.
Then, following a period of Wigan dominance, López misplaced a pass, Boyce was robbed by Stéphane Mbia and Shaun Wright-Phillips set up Cissé to sidefoot in. "We scored against the run of play," Redknapp said. "I thought maybe it was going to be our lucky day."
Fortune had already favoured Rangers when Jordi Gómez's shot bounced back off the bar. Nevertheless, Rangers were still grateful to their goalkeeper for procuring a point. "Robert Green had an outstanding game," said Martínez, remembering saves from Jones, McCarthy and the substitute Mauro Boselli. It earned the goalkeeper, along with Nelsen, praise from Redknapp. "You'd have them in your team all day long," said the manager. "If you had 11 of them you wouldn't have a problem."
As it is, they have unprecedented difficulties. "We just need that one win," Redknapp said. "It could kickstart it." He has proved an expert at escapology before and remains the master of the one-liner. How many points did he think it would take to keep QPR up? "I'm hoping it's going to be about 14," came the reply. He is halfway there. Observer
Ali Al-Habsi, Piscu, Emmerson Boyce, David Jones (Shaun Maloney, 77), Ronnie Stam, James McArthur, James McCarthy, Jean Beausejour, Arouna Koné, Jordi Gómez, Franco Di Santo (Mauro Boselli, 85)
QPR
Robert Green, Armand Traore, Clint Hill, José Bosingwa (Fabio, 85), Ryan Nelsen, Adel Taarabt (Djibril Cissé, 58), Shaun Derry, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Samba Diakité (Esteban Granero, 77), Stéphane Mbia, Jamie Mackie - Guardian Stats
Daily Mail/Ian Stafford - Rob Green's Perspective
Green: I'd joined QPR to be the No1 keeper but then Hughes told me I could leave whenever I liked
Rob Green remembers the precise moment when his world turned upside down at Queens Park Rangers.
The England star's bag was packed and he was about to leave home for a Capital One Cup clash against Walsall in late August when he flicked on the television to catch up with the sports news and saw pictures of Brazil World Cup goalkeeper Julio Cesar arriving at Loftus Road.
Green, who had signed from West Ham just a few weeks earlier in the belief that he would be first-choice goalkeeper at Rangers, had heard rumours of Cesar joining but insists he had been assured by the club that it was just 'paper talk'. Now, in front of his disbelieving eyes, it had become reality.
Eye on the jersey: QPR keeper Rob Green
Eye on the jersey: QPR keeper Rob Green
As Green reflected on events that he says were the worst moments in his 16 years as a professional, he recalled his shock at realising the new challenge he had planned for himself at QPR was about to go horribly wrong.
'I came to QPR looking for a new challenge after six years at West Ham, a wonderful time capped off by promotion at Wembley,' said Green. 'Kevin Hitchcock, the goalkeeping coach at QPR, is an old mate and I came to work for him on the understanding that I was first choice. I'd played for England in May, I was in the European Championship squad and, at 32, I'm in the prime of my life.
'If he'd said to me we're also going to sign someone who's won Serie A five times and the Champions League and is one of the biggest names in South American football, I would have thought twice before signing.'
Out of luck: Mark Hughes was sacked as QPR boss
Out of luck: Mark Hughes was sacked as QPR boss
Green says that when he saw the news that Cesar was joining QPR, he rang the club and asked what was going on.
'I said I'd just seen Cesar turn up at the ground,' said Green. 'They replied, "Oh, is he here, then?" I thought to myself, "OK, now I've got to get my head around this and go off and play a football match".'
Hail Cesar: Julio Cesar in action for QPR
Hail Cesar: Julio Cesar in action for QPR
Ever the professional, Green did just that and QPR won comfortably on the night, but the goalkeeper still needed some answers.
'I'd read rumours in the press about Julio coming, but when I asked officials at the club they dismissed it as paper talk and said he wasn't going to sign. Now that the Brazilian had joined the club I needed to know where I stood.
'I asked (the then manager) Mark Hughes. He told me Julio was going to play, that I'd done nothing wrong and that he wanted two top keepers competing for the position. I replied, "Well, if he's going straight into the first team he's not really competing, is he? Where does that leave me?" Hughes replied, "You're free to leave whenever you want". It wasn't quite what I wanted to hear.'
Green has known the highs and lows of professional football.
The last-minute injury which ruled him out of the 2006 World Cup and the blunder that allowed the United States to equalise in the 2010 World Cup must be weighed against a long and successful career at Norwich and West Ham and his 12 England caps. But Green says he had never experienced anything like this.
'During my talks with the club they admitted they had done this with not a great deal of consideration of where it left me,' he said.
'It made me realise that I would struggle to play because Julio is a couple of months older than me, and anyone looking in would soon be asking why their top Brazilian, signed on a four-year contract, was not playing. I couldn't compete on a financial level and it was out of my control. I also knew Mark Hughes traditionally stuck with his preferred goalkeeper at all his previous clubs.'
Green has no quarrel with Cesar.
Out in the cold: Rob green (back, centre) was shunned by former QPR boss Mark Hughes (right)
Out in the cold: Rob green (back, centre) was shunned by former QPR boss Mark Hughes (right)
'The first thing Julio did on arriving at the club was to seek me out and shake my hand, which I appreciated,' he admitted. 'He's a nice fellow who hasn't done anything wrong. I remember saying to Brian Murphy, an Irish keeper also at the club, "This is going to make my situation even harder as Julio's such a nice guy".
'The last game I played for QPR under the Hughes regime was our defeat at Manchester City, and by then I'd been told, even before the kick-off, that I would be dropped for him afterwards.'
Green's exile would last the best part of three months.
'In a 16-year professional career I'd been dropped twice for four-week periods. This was, by far, the longest out of first-team action. I made the most of it by clearing up niggling injuries, getting fitter with a personal trainer and joining a local gym to add to my daily training, analysing myself and others as keepers and realising that negative things have happened to me before and I've seen them out.' It was clear, however, that he was making no headway with his manager.
'The manager and I never spoke, but it was clear I wasn't happy,' he added.
In the hot seat: Harry Redknapp is the new manager of QPR
In the hot seat: Harry Redknapp is the new manager of QPR
Meanwhile, QPR slumped to the bottom of the Premier League with no wins, eight defeats and just four points from their opening 12 league games. The inevitable happened a fortnight ago when Hughes was sacked and Harry Redknapp became the new boss.
Green is not prepared to admit that the departure of Hughes gave him cause to celebrate, but the events hardly surprised him.
'It wasn't too difficult a decision for the board to make, was it?' he said. 'We hadn't won a game. You've got to draw the line somewhere. I've seen 18 managers go at the clubs I've been playing for. It's a part of football, isn't it? It's not like a steel worker in Sheffield getting a paltry pay-off and no new job prospects. I'm sure he was disappointed but he'll get another job in football.'
Nevertheless, Redknapp made an immediate impression on Green.
'At the end of his first training session Harry made a point of coming over to me. He had tried to sign me when he was at Portsmouth and Spurs, and it was good to hear him tell me how much he liked me as a keeper. It gave me a boost. That's why everyone in football likes him, and that's why he's a good manager. I said my bit about what had gone on and I told him all I wanted was a fair crack at it. He said it was a fresh start for everyone.'
Food for thought: Rob Green is keen to keep his QPR place
Food for thought: Rob Green is keen to keep his QPR place
Cesar started the next game, the draw at Sunderland, but he injured his groin and Green replaced him at half-time.
Green then played in the 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa, and the 2-2 draw at Wigan.
'I'm in the jersey now and it's up to me to play well enough to keep it,' said Green. 'I believe Harry when he says it's a fair fight on form alone so we'll see how it all turns out.'
Green believes that under Redknapp, and despite having a squad featuring 13 new signings still learning to gel, relegation is far from inevitable.
Man in possession: Rob Green in action for QPR against Wigan
Man in possession: Rob Green in action for QPR against Wigan
'I remember being at West Ham when we never got out of the drop zone all season under Avram Grant and the situation was only addressed 45 minutes after we got relegated when they got rid of the manager.
'It was a situation that needed to be addressed at QPR. How long do you leave these matters? It hasn't helped having so many new players in the short term, even though I'm one of them.
'I don't want to sound like a member of UKIP but with so many different nations, cultures and languages there have been a lot of changes and it takes time to gel. I don't believe we've got close to our potential, the quality in the squad is high. Harry arriving has boosted us all, he has a track record of getting teams out of trouble, and with two or three wins we'd be out of this immediate mess.'
As for Green, his future at QPR is by no means certain. Cesar's injury is minor and he may even be back competing for the jersey next week. Green does not mind the competition.
'I back myself, I'm confident and I'm in great shape,' he said. 'Now that I've been assured it's a fair fight Julio will have to play well to get his jersey back.' DAILY MAIL
- Yesterday in the Sun: Julio Cesar Talking about QPR
- Photos from QPR's 1932-33 Season -at the Bushman Photo Archives
- Compilation of the Old Michael Wale Reports (Bushman Archives)
- QPR and England's (and Liverpool!) Raheem Sterling Turns 18
- Sir Bobby Charlton Raising Doubts about Mourinho at Manchester United
- Forty-Four Years Ago Yesterday: Les Allen's First Game in charge of QPR as Player Manager (and 50 years ago: Video of Allen Scoring for Spurs
- Three Years ago Yesterday: QPR Lost at Watford: But the big story that came out were the allegations (denied) re Jim Magilton-Akos Buszaky
_____________________________________________________
- Five Year Flashback: On This Day, 1967 Hero, "Gentleman" Jim Langley, Dies
- Two More Goals (That's eight so far) for out-on-loan Striker, DJ Campbell
- Premier Clubs Form Guide (Fulham's is Worse!)
- 23 Years Ago: QPR under new Manager Don Howe Defeat Chelsea 4-2 (Two from Les Ferdinand)
- Birthday (Yesterday) for Les Ferdinand
- Birthday Today for Ludek Miklosko
Hanukkah Greetings from QPR
QPR FC
@OfficialQPR-
"Wishing all our Jewish #QPR fans around the world a happy Hanukkah #QPR"
(QPR Report recently-expressed "concerns" re QPR Holiday Greetings (or non-Greetings). Concerns now assuaged, QPR Report would now like to thank the Club for the Hanukkah Greetings!)
REACTIONS TO WIGAN vs QPR
- Photo Compilation from Yesterday's Wigan vs QPR
Tony Fernandes @tonyfernandes
- Can't fault the dedication and passion. Probably our longest streak of not losing. But we need wins. Had a chance. Bring on fulham.
Philip Beard @philipb1
- We may have the worst Premier League record but with a couple of wins we can defy the stats and still save our season. #QPR
Tony Fernandes @tonyfernandes
- 3 wins before the FA cup and we are in the same position we were last year. Can be done. Keep believing.
[Pre-Match Tweets
Tony Fernandes @tonyfernandes
- Come you rangers. I hope we finally begin to show the potential. Nothing has gone right. Huge huge challenge. Here's hoping for a good sunday morning.
- Come on you rangers. Players you got to stand tall and be counted.
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - REDKNAPP: 'WE TRIED TO HANG ON'
Bosses post match reaction to Wigan draw...
MANAGER Harry Redknapp admitted his side were always going to have to try and hang on when they went 2-1 up at Wigan Athletic.
Queens
Park Rangers recorded their third draw in a row under the former Spurs
chief despite leading the Latics at the DW Stadium.
However,
just three minutes after taking the lead through substitute Djibril
Cisse, Wigan rescued a point as James McCarthy grabbed his second of the
afternoon.
“They got on top in the second
half and we scored against the run of play and you hope you can hang
on,” Redknapp said after the match.
“We started
well, kept it and passed it. They get a corner and the man on edge of
the box stands there picking his nose and riffles in a shot.
“But I can’t lack the effort of the side as they are trying for sure.
“I
don’t think it’s a confidence thing, I think it is a bit of quality but
its three games we haven’t been beaten and we have just got to keep
going.”
Stand-in Captain Ryan Nelsen pulled
Rangers level with his 26th minute header whilst keeper Robert Green
made a string of fine saves to keep Wigan at bay.
And Redknapp was quick to praise the pair, along with Clint Hill.
“You would have them on your side all day long,” he said.” If we had eleven of them we wouldn’t have a problem.
“Nelsen is a leader and then Clint Hill gives me everything he has got when others might have written him off.”
Reading’s
defeat at Southampton means bottom placed Rangers have closed the gap
on the Royals by a point whilst Sunderland are also now a point closer
in 18th.
QPR host Fulham at Loftus Road in
seven day’s time and Redknapp stressed it is important that his side
continue to keep in touching distance of those above them going into
January.
“We need to win next week against
Fulham at home and get to the window still in there to get one or two
who might make the difference,” said the 65-year-old.
“This is similar to when I went back to Portsmouth with the team struggling and we managed to go on a run a stay up.
“I
knew something wasn’t right with the amount of games we hadn’t won for
but we have had three draws now and we have to try and make the
difference on the training ground.” QPR
by Paul Chialton
Martinez admits there is room for improvement but sees great signs in QPR draw
Roberto Martinez admitted his and his players’ disappointment at not taking three points after a dominating performance against Queens Park Rangers at the DW Stadium, but also revealed his pride at the character shown by his injury-hit team to secure an important point nonetheless.
Latics took the lead in the first-half before pulling back an equaliser after the break, and although they had chances to make their dominance count in the score-line, Martinez was still impressed with their display, saying:
“We’re disappointed with the two goals conceded; in any games if you gift two goals like that it’s going to be very difficult to take three points.
“But having said that I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts of the team and the manner in which we coped with QPR’s threat; limiting them to very little.
“The first chance they got they scored from, after a set-piece and a free header for Ryan Nelsen, and in the second-half it was a similar story with a rare break forward leading to Djibril Cisse scoring.
“At times teams seem to find it too easy to score against us and it’s an area we need to improve in, but you look then at the character shown by the players was quite impressive.
“We started the second-half by creating chances and opening up their defence on numerous occasions and I think if we had of taken the lead at that point it would be a very different result at the final whistle.
“The reaction to going 2-1 down highlights what we have in the dressing room and the determination of the players to succeed. We have a real fighting spirit right now and it doesn’t matter if we have seven players missing or not, these players are ready to react and give everything for Wigan Athletic, which is something we should all be proud of and keep encouraging.
“I don’t look at the table in December, but the truth is that we need to start taking responsibility in certain aspects to get three points when we deserve them.
“But when the see the attitude and quality of the players I’m confident that will come and it will be another exciting journey for the club.”
James McCarthy was at the heart of everything for Latics, scoring his first goals since February 2011 to cap off a commanding personal display in midfield, and Martinez believes there is more to come from the Republic of Ireland international:
“We’re getting used to his level of performances, which is a good sign. Against QPR he had a little more freedom and license to go forward and you could see that in his play.
“Whenever he had the ball he was looking for the forward pass, played with a technical ability of the very highest level and was a complete joy to watch – it was a lesson in how to play football.
“To then get on the score-sheet twice is real recognition of his performance and at 22 years of age the best is very much still to come.”
Latics were able to welcome back Shaun Maloney to action in the second-half as well as James McArthur playing the full 90 minutes for the first time in eight games.
The gaffer was delighted to have them both back on the pitch and hopes to bring more players back over the Christmas period which will help the team grow stronger mentally:
“Shaun has been very frustrated lately after picking up the injury against Reading because he started the season in great form.
“His professionalism has got him back earlier than expected and it was great to see his quality once again on the pitch which I felt was going to bring us three points towards the end.
“It was great to see he and James McArthur back out on the pitch and I’m sure we’ll be getting more bodies back next week aiming to start the New Year in a healthy position in terms of quantity.
“We need to develop a mentality whereby going into a game and performing well will lead to three points, not simply hoping the win will follow the display.
“Believe me that the dressing room is devastated not to have taken three points from today’s game, but in the same manner I look at the difficult challenge QPR brought to our DW Stadium, with nothing to lose given their situation which can be a real threat.
“It could have been a very dangerous game for us but we never panicked, left ourselves exposed and kept playing the way we wanted to play.” Wigan
OBSERVER REPORT
Richard Jolly at the DW Stadium
A damp, dark afternoon in the Lancashire drizzle hardly had the feel of a historic occasion but the record books now need rewriting. Since the Premier League's inception in 1992, 45 clubs have started 426 campaigns between them. Only one has begun by going 16 games without a win. This Queens Park Rangers team have plumbed depths that even Swindon's slow starters of 1993-94, who failed to record a victory in their first 15 matches, did not. They are in uncharted territory.
"You don't go that amount of games without winning if you are that good," Harry Redknapp said. He remains unbeaten in his brief reign, three games at the helm producing as many points, but this was a spurned opportunity nonetheless. When Djibril Cissé, who secured their last victory against Stoke seven long months ago, slid them into the lead, they sensed a belated action replay. Instead a depleted Wigan teamwho, to borrow one of Redknapp's favourite clichés, were down to the bare bones, rallied and James McCarthy scored his second goal to extend Rangers' long wait.
They are running out of time, if only for the recruitment drive Redknapp envisages in January. "If we don't win a game or two [before then], I wouldn't ask the owners to spend any more money," he said. "It would be unfair." Nevertheless, Robbie Keane's bubbly character and proven goalscoring record appeal. "I'd love to get Robbie," Redknapp said, eyeing a loan deal from LA Galaxy. "He's the type of lad you need in this situation. But I haven't spoken to anybody."
Yet Rangers' star-studded buying contrasts with Wigan's more economical policies and this was an advertisement for the manager Roberto Martínez's approach. Both Wigan goals came from McCarthy, signed from Hamilton as a comparatively unknown 18-year-old. He was incisive and, twice, decisive. "He is a top player," Martínez said. "His attacking play was outstanding. He has got the potential to play anywhere in the world."
His goals bookended the game, the second earning a point when he beat Robert Green with a precise poke. The opener was a drilled volley, clipping off Jamie Mackie's foot, after the Scot had headed a corner away. The fault, however, lay with Adel Taarabt who failed to react. "The man on the edge of the box stands there picking his nose," Redknapp said.
Yet this was part relegation battle, part scientific experiment. A side without strikers – Cissé began on the bench while Redknapp complained about a lack of balance in the squad he inherited from Mark Hughes – faced a team without a defence. Shorn of four centre-backs – two injured, two suspended – Wigan's trio comprised a reserve, a relocated right-back and a central midfielder, in Adrian López, Emmerson Boyce and David Jones respectively.
While Jones almost scored twice, López erred for the two goals Rangers did get. He lost Ryan Nelsen when the Rangers captain met Taarabt's corner with a powerful header to open his account for the club. Scored emphatically, it was celebrated energetically. "They get a free header the first time they come into our box," Martínez said.
Then, following a period of Wigan dominance, López misplaced a pass, Boyce was robbed by Stéphane Mbia and Shaun Wright-Phillips set up Cissé to sidefoot in. "We scored against the run of play," Redknapp said. "I thought maybe it was going to be our lucky day."
Fortune had already favoured Rangers when Jordi Gómez's shot bounced back off the bar. Nevertheless, Rangers were still grateful to their goalkeeper for procuring a point. "Robert Green had an outstanding game," said Martínez, remembering saves from Jones, McCarthy and the substitute Mauro Boselli. It earned the goalkeeper, along with Nelsen, praise from Redknapp. "You'd have them in your team all day long," said the manager. "If you had 11 of them you wouldn't have a problem."
As it is, they have unprecedented difficulties. "We just need that one win," Redknapp said. "It could kickstart it." He has proved an expert at escapology before and remains the master of the one-liner. How many points did he think it would take to keep QPR up? "I'm hoping it's going to be about 14," came the reply. He is halfway there. Observer
Ali Al-Habsi, Piscu, Emmerson Boyce, David Jones (Shaun Maloney, 77), Ronnie Stam, James McArthur, James McCarthy, Jean Beausejour, Arouna Koné, Jordi Gómez, Franco Di Santo (Mauro Boselli, 85)
QPR
Robert Green, Armand Traore, Clint Hill, José Bosingwa (Fabio, 85), Ryan Nelsen, Adel Taarabt (Djibril Cissé, 58), Shaun Derry, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Samba Diakité (Esteban Granero, 77), Stéphane Mbia, Jamie Mackie - Guardian Stats
| Man Utd | 15 | 36 |
| Man City | 15 | 33 |
| Chelsea | 16 | 29 |
| Tottenham | 15 | 26 |
| West Brom | 16 | 26 |
| Arsenal | 16 | 24 |
| Everton | 15 | 23 |
| Swansea | 16 | 23 |
| Stoke | 16 | 23 |
| West Ham | 15 | 22 |
| Norwich | 16 | 22 |
| Liverpool | 15 | 19 |
| Fulham | 15 | 17 |
| Newcastle | 15 | 17 |
| Southampton | 16 | 15 |
| Aston Villa | 16 | 15 |
| Wigan | 16 | 15 |
| Sunderland | 15 | 13 |
| Reading | 15 | 9 |
| QPR | 16 | 7 - Full Table |
Daily Mail/Ian Stafford - Rob Green's Perspective
Green: I'd joined QPR to be the No1 keeper but then Hughes told me I could leave whenever I liked
Rob Green remembers the precise moment when his world turned upside down at Queens Park Rangers.
The England star's bag was packed and he was about to leave home for a Capital One Cup clash against Walsall in late August when he flicked on the television to catch up with the sports news and saw pictures of Brazil World Cup goalkeeper Julio Cesar arriving at Loftus Road.
Green, who had signed from West Ham just a few weeks earlier in the belief that he would be first-choice goalkeeper at Rangers, had heard rumours of Cesar joining but insists he had been assured by the club that it was just 'paper talk'. Now, in front of his disbelieving eyes, it had become reality.
Eye on the jersey: QPR keeper Rob Green
Eye on the jersey: QPR keeper Rob Green
As Green reflected on events that he says were the worst moments in his 16 years as a professional, he recalled his shock at realising the new challenge he had planned for himself at QPR was about to go horribly wrong.
'I came to QPR looking for a new challenge after six years at West Ham, a wonderful time capped off by promotion at Wembley,' said Green. 'Kevin Hitchcock, the goalkeeping coach at QPR, is an old mate and I came to work for him on the understanding that I was first choice. I'd played for England in May, I was in the European Championship squad and, at 32, I'm in the prime of my life.
'If he'd said to me we're also going to sign someone who's won Serie A five times and the Champions League and is one of the biggest names in South American football, I would have thought twice before signing.'
Out of luck: Mark Hughes was sacked as QPR boss
Out of luck: Mark Hughes was sacked as QPR boss
Green says that when he saw the news that Cesar was joining QPR, he rang the club and asked what was going on.
'I said I'd just seen Cesar turn up at the ground,' said Green. 'They replied, "Oh, is he here, then?" I thought to myself, "OK, now I've got to get my head around this and go off and play a football match".'
Hail Cesar: Julio Cesar in action for QPR
Hail Cesar: Julio Cesar in action for QPR
Ever the professional, Green did just that and QPR won comfortably on the night, but the goalkeeper still needed some answers.
'I'd read rumours in the press about Julio coming, but when I asked officials at the club they dismissed it as paper talk and said he wasn't going to sign. Now that the Brazilian had joined the club I needed to know where I stood.
'I asked (the then manager) Mark Hughes. He told me Julio was going to play, that I'd done nothing wrong and that he wanted two top keepers competing for the position. I replied, "Well, if he's going straight into the first team he's not really competing, is he? Where does that leave me?" Hughes replied, "You're free to leave whenever you want". It wasn't quite what I wanted to hear.'
Green has known the highs and lows of professional football.
The last-minute injury which ruled him out of the 2006 World Cup and the blunder that allowed the United States to equalise in the 2010 World Cup must be weighed against a long and successful career at Norwich and West Ham and his 12 England caps. But Green says he had never experienced anything like this.
'During my talks with the club they admitted they had done this with not a great deal of consideration of where it left me,' he said.
'It made me realise that I would struggle to play because Julio is a couple of months older than me, and anyone looking in would soon be asking why their top Brazilian, signed on a four-year contract, was not playing. I couldn't compete on a financial level and it was out of my control. I also knew Mark Hughes traditionally stuck with his preferred goalkeeper at all his previous clubs.'
Green has no quarrel with Cesar.
Out in the cold: Rob green (back, centre) was shunned by former QPR boss Mark Hughes (right)
Out in the cold: Rob green (back, centre) was shunned by former QPR boss Mark Hughes (right)
'The first thing Julio did on arriving at the club was to seek me out and shake my hand, which I appreciated,' he admitted. 'He's a nice fellow who hasn't done anything wrong. I remember saying to Brian Murphy, an Irish keeper also at the club, "This is going to make my situation even harder as Julio's such a nice guy".
'The last game I played for QPR under the Hughes regime was our defeat at Manchester City, and by then I'd been told, even before the kick-off, that I would be dropped for him afterwards.'
Green's exile would last the best part of three months.
'In a 16-year professional career I'd been dropped twice for four-week periods. This was, by far, the longest out of first-team action. I made the most of it by clearing up niggling injuries, getting fitter with a personal trainer and joining a local gym to add to my daily training, analysing myself and others as keepers and realising that negative things have happened to me before and I've seen them out.' It was clear, however, that he was making no headway with his manager.
'The manager and I never spoke, but it was clear I wasn't happy,' he added.
In the hot seat: Harry Redknapp is the new manager of QPR
In the hot seat: Harry Redknapp is the new manager of QPR
Meanwhile, QPR slumped to the bottom of the Premier League with no wins, eight defeats and just four points from their opening 12 league games. The inevitable happened a fortnight ago when Hughes was sacked and Harry Redknapp became the new boss.
Green is not prepared to admit that the departure of Hughes gave him cause to celebrate, but the events hardly surprised him.
'It wasn't too difficult a decision for the board to make, was it?' he said. 'We hadn't won a game. You've got to draw the line somewhere. I've seen 18 managers go at the clubs I've been playing for. It's a part of football, isn't it? It's not like a steel worker in Sheffield getting a paltry pay-off and no new job prospects. I'm sure he was disappointed but he'll get another job in football.'
Nevertheless, Redknapp made an immediate impression on Green.
'At the end of his first training session Harry made a point of coming over to me. He had tried to sign me when he was at Portsmouth and Spurs, and it was good to hear him tell me how much he liked me as a keeper. It gave me a boost. That's why everyone in football likes him, and that's why he's a good manager. I said my bit about what had gone on and I told him all I wanted was a fair crack at it. He said it was a fresh start for everyone.'
Food for thought: Rob Green is keen to keep his QPR place
Food for thought: Rob Green is keen to keep his QPR place
Cesar started the next game, the draw at Sunderland, but he injured his groin and Green replaced him at half-time.
Green then played in the 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa, and the 2-2 draw at Wigan.
'I'm in the jersey now and it's up to me to play well enough to keep it,' said Green. 'I believe Harry when he says it's a fair fight on form alone so we'll see how it all turns out.'
Green believes that under Redknapp, and despite having a squad featuring 13 new signings still learning to gel, relegation is far from inevitable.
Man in possession: Rob Green in action for QPR against Wigan
Man in possession: Rob Green in action for QPR against Wigan
'I remember being at West Ham when we never got out of the drop zone all season under Avram Grant and the situation was only addressed 45 minutes after we got relegated when they got rid of the manager.
'It was a situation that needed to be addressed at QPR. How long do you leave these matters? It hasn't helped having so many new players in the short term, even though I'm one of them.
'I don't want to sound like a member of UKIP but with so many different nations, cultures and languages there have been a lot of changes and it takes time to gel. I don't believe we've got close to our potential, the quality in the squad is high. Harry arriving has boosted us all, he has a track record of getting teams out of trouble, and with two or three wins we'd be out of this immediate mess.'
As for Green, his future at QPR is by no means certain. Cesar's injury is minor and he may even be back competing for the jersey next week. Green does not mind the competition.
'I back myself, I'm confident and I'm in great shape,' he said. 'Now that I've been assured it's a fair fight Julio will have to play well to get his jersey back.' DAILY MAIL
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