Everton: Talking to the Opposition – QPR Fans

I’m not going to ask what I usually ask, in how you feel you’ve fared because it’s fairly obvious, having languished at the bottom of the table for the majority of the season and now lying in 19th place. Has this season come as a massive shock to you though?

WA Hoop: We’ve fared as well as can be expected having appointed Mark Useless and not sacked him after the opening game of the season.

UxbridgeR: While I didn’t share the heightened expectations of some, being at the bottom almost all season has been unexpected. We really should have done much better with the resources we have.

wrinklyhoop: I think it has, considering how we scraped survival last time. I don’t think anyone foresaw this season being even worse, with Hughes making a total disaster of things.

Loïc Rémy has come in and done fantastically well, with 5 goals in 8 games, leading to much media attention. Just how do you rate him?

Esox Lucius: He has the tools to be the next Thierry Henry. He is that good.

Montag: He’ll score a sackload at Arse next season.

Jamie: He’ll be at a Champions League club next season, leading the line. Easily good enough.

Remy is very-highly rated amongst QPR fans, most don’t expect him to be at the club next season.

Are there any players that haven’t been getting the praise they deserve from the media and even your own fan base this season? 

WA Hoop: I think all our players have received precisely the praise they ‘deserve’.

avigar: Besides Townsend, none of our players have been outstanding. Too many let-downs to list. Jenas hasn’t done too badly either.

Esox Lucius: Adel Taarabt. Expectations weigh heavily on his shoulders so that even a good game isn’t enough anymore.

Have you fully written yourselves off for the drop now? If so, do you expect to keep your better players and come straight back up?

BiscuitRanger: Not even partly written off.

Jamie: Pretty much, yeah. No idea – we could easily keep a load of players and try and PR spin it as the board backing the side to bounce back, or be lumbered with some overrated players on wages no one else wants to pay.

Montag: We’re still in with a chance though Peggy Mount is out of her dressing room. Players? Some will stay, some won’t.

QPR are seven points from safety but their fans haven’t lost hope just yet.

 There has been much debate by the neutral football fan over the years over Redknapps managerial ability. What do you make of him as a manager?

wrinklyhoop: I’d say he’s shown his reputation for man management is well deserved, but he inherited an awful situation and it turned out to be too big an ask.

John Honney: Well, he’s better than Mark Hughesless, but then again, so was Paul Hart.

UxbridgeR: He’s done OK, since he came in, but his record so far would not have been much better than relegation form. Of course, it’s not his team, and he did make some good signings in January. Not a manager who is going to build something for the future, though, which is what I would prefer to see.

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Moving on to Everton…

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How do you think we have fared this season?

avigar: Exceeded most people’s expectations, as per usual. They are enjoyable to watch and Everton fans should be proud of their team’s achievements and their entertaining football.

wrinklyhoop: By our standards, fantastic, by yours, perhaps a tad disappointed? I think a European place is too big a stretch this year, but finishing above Liverpool should compensate?

John Honney: Very good as ever.

Who do you think will be the biggest threat to your QPR side in the upcoming game?

Biscuit Ranger: M’Bia.

WA Hoop: Our defence.

UxbridgeR: Leighton Baines is always a threat going forward, and Kevin Mirallas seems to be on fire at the moment too.

John Honney: Basically, anyone in a QPR shirt!

Jamie: Baines and Pienaar attacking Bosingwa and Townsend.

avigar: The QPR defence, Baines and Fellaini.

Montag: All of them.

wrinklyhoop: Mirallas looking good just now, Fellaini of course if he plays.

Esox Lucius: Clint Hill.

 If you could take one Everton player for the rest of this season and wherever you end up next season, who would it be and why?

UxbridgeR: Phil Jagielka. Versatile, consistent and would be just what we need in central defence.

Jamie: Realistically, I’d take Phil Neville at the end of the season on a free.

avigar: Fellaini and if Samba were to leave Jagielka. Wouldn’t mind Baines either as we’ve missed all our penalties this year.

Montag: Mr Baines.

wrinklyhoop: Has to be Baines – for me the best LB operating in the PL at the moment.

Baines was the popular answer.

What is your opinion of David Moyes and what do you make of the job he has done for Everton?

Esox Lucius: Dour. He does well getting the players he has got to perform.

wrinklyhoop: Moyes must be at legendary status for you guys – just wonder what he might have done with a bit of cash!

avigar: Fantastic manager. Keeping him should be number one priority for the Everton board.

Jamie: Done very well, especially in the transfer market, but maybe unfairly I think that he could perhaps have done better and won a cup.

John Honney: Works miracles, but not sure he would do well elsewhere, would like to see him have some cash to really go for it…

UxbridgeR: Moyes has done a terrific job at Everton, and I’d love to have seen him win a Cup to top it off. He doesn’t seem to have the funds to take it much further though, and it does look like he will be off in the summer. I’ll be interested to see how he does at a “bigger” club.

BiscuitRanger: Top, Top Manager.

WA Hoop: Top, top, top manager.

Where do you think us Toffee’s will finish come the end of the season?

UxbridgeR: 6th.

Jamie: Outside the top 4.

avigar: 7th after Liverpool. Sorry but I see them finishing strongly.

Montag: 6th.

wrinklyhoop: Just off the top four, say sixth at a guess.

Finally, predictions for the game?

Esox Lucius: 0-2.

wrinklyhoop: I think there’ll be a few goals in this one – we seem to be good at 3-2 defeats.

Montag: 0-0. We’ll be parking a bus. If not expect a goal feast both ways.

avigar: 1-1.

Jamie: We’ll get a 1 – 1 draw. Fellaini header and a Remy poached effort.

UxbridgeR: We’ll lose 2-1.

WA Hoop: An unexpected 3-1 to the R’s…because that’s how we roll.

BiscuitRanger: 0-0, after kick-off I’m less certain.