Tottenham v Queen’s Park Rangers Match Preview (Premier League)
By Logan Holmes
Tottenham and Queen’s Park Rangers underwent major changes during the summer. Tottenham had a change of management with alterations to their squad while QPR have had a complete overhaul of their playing staff. Tottenham won their first match under Andre Villas-Boas last weekend at Reading but their three home matches to date have ended in draws. They will be hoping for that first home win against the visitors from west London. Queen’s Park Rangers have yet to win this season with two draws and two defeats, although they took a hard earned point from their clash with Chelsea last Saturday at Loftus Road.
Queen’s Park Rangers
Mark Hughes has overseen major changes to his squad from the team that lost at White Hart Lane last October under Neil Warnock and even since Spurs lost to Hughes’ QPR team in late April. The season, however, did not get off to the start that the manager would have expected with a 5 – 0 defeat at home to Swansea City. Having signed Rob Green from West Ham United during the summer, Hughes then went out and signed the experienced Brazil goalkeeper, Julio Cesar from Inter Milan and he made his Premier league debut against Chelsea. QPR recovered from that home defeat with a 1 – 1 draw at Norwich but lost 3 – 1 away to Manchester City. Two points from four matches leaves QPR in 18th position in the Premier League.
Of the team that lost at White Hart Lane last season, only Rio Ferdinand , Alejandro Faurlin and Shaun Wright-Phillips started the match against Chelsea. Adel Taarabt who scored the only goal of the game against Spurs in the return match was on the bench. Also included in the team was Ryan Nelsen who was released by Tottenham in the summer and Bobby Zamora who had a short spell with Spurs making 18 League and Cup appearance from July, 2003 to January, 2004. Radek Cerny is still with the club having joined from Tottenham in 2008 after three years at White Hart Lane. Luke Young is another former Tottenham player at Loftus Road and like Cerny has been excluded from the 25 man squad for the Premier League matches.
Queen’s Park Rangers invested heavily during the summer with their other signings including, Junior Hoilett from Blackburn Rovers), Manchester United’s Park Ji-sung who has been appointed captain, Andrew Johnson from Fulham but he sustained a serious injury last weekend, Fabio on loan from Manchester United, Jose Bosingwa from Chelsea and Esteban Granero from Real Madrid for £9milion. They now have a very experienced squad and Hughes will be expecting a rapid improvement in their results.
Last Season
Oct. 2011 v QPR (h) PL Won 3 – 1 Bale (2), Van der Vaart
Tottenham could have won by so many more but for the goalkeeping of Paddy Kenny and the lack of clinical finishing by the Tottenham players, especially Emmanuel Adebayor. Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart scored in the first half but in spite of their dominance failed to add to the score. QPR put Spurs under more pressure in the second half enabling Jay Boothroyd to pull a goal back with just over an hour played but Bale secured the points ten minutes later as Spurs extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
Speaking after the match QPR manager, Neil Warnock said,
"“I am so pleased that we gave them a game, they were a little nervous at 2-1, but it is difficult at this level and they were better than us today. We played with personality in the second half, but in the first half we were a little apprehensive and gave them too much respect. I even found myself clapping at the third goal.”"
Tottenham
Spurs’ fans were disappointed with the opening two Premier League draws against West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City but the scoreless draw against Lazio provided a much better display from Spurs who with better refereeing could have won the match. Competition for places in the Tottenham team is rife in almost every position. In previous years Tottenham have had a first team with limited scope for change. This season Andre Villas-Boas has to make decisions over a number of positions. Hugo Lloris make a competent debut against Lazio but Brad Friedel has shown that even at 41 years of age that he’s still up for the challenge of Premier League football and for his goalkeeping position. He didn’t take kindly to criticism from the former French goalkeeper, Fabien Barthez during the week and responded strongly.
On Twitter he responded to Barthez’ interview with Le Parisien in which the World Cup winner expressed his disbelief that Hugo Lloris had been kept on the bench at White Hart Lane by Friedel.
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Barthez may be further angered on Sunday when Friedel reclaims his position and Lloris returns to the bench ahead of a trip to to Carlisle in mid-week.
Steven Caulker made an impressive start beside Jan Vertonghen on Thursday evening but William Gallas will be expecting to return to the team against QPR. That will probably happen but it won’t be long before the younger player is stepping up to the first team on a regular basis. He is comfortable in defence and is confident in his play to move forward into midfield and apart from a refereeing decision would have scored the winner against Lazio.
In midfield the array of players available to Villas-Boas is commendable and his selection will depend on his decisions concerning style of play. It is only up front that choice is limited with Jermain Defoe likely to again play as lone striker if Adebayor is unfit.
Premier League Record (Home) v QPR
P 5 W 3 D 1 L 1 For 9 Ag 6
Home League Record v QPR
P 22 W 12 D 7 L 3 For 39 Ag 22
Previous Visits
Prior to last season, Rangers’ last League match at White Hart Lane was in December, 1995 when a single Teddy Sheringham goal was sufficient to give Spurs the points and complete the ‘double’ over their west London rivals.
Dec. 1995 PL Won 1 – 0 Sheringham
Oct. 1994 PL Draw 1 – 1 Barmby
May, 1994 PL Lost 1 – 2 Sheringham
Feb. 1993 PL Won 3 – 2 Sheringham (2), Anderton
The first game of the Premier League era saw Tottenham take a three goal lead but two late goals by the visitors gave Spurs a few nervy moments.
Sept. 1991 Div. 1 Won 2 – 0 Lineker (2)
Mar. 1991 Div. 1 Draw 0 – 0
Sept. 1989 Div. 1 Won 3 – 2 Lineker (3)
Tottenham will be hoping for their first home win, knowing that difficult games are to follow. Rangers have not won an away match in ten months but Hughes will have his team well motivated for this London derby, probably feeling that the pressure will be on Tottenham to make a good start or their supporters will get restless. The Europa League factor of a very competitive match on Thursday evening will be another concern for Spurs but something they will have to cope with this season. Tottenham need to win to build on last weekend’s result and the performance against Lazio to keep their season on track and build the team’s confidence. They should get the result but it will be tough and Rangers will present na formidable challenge to them. Anything less than a win for Spurs will be a big disappointment and leave supporters anxious about the prospects for the season.
What will be the result of the game on Sunday?