From My Seat: QPR (H)

"Many were wrestling with the notion of ‘Are we that good’ or is the second team in the championship ‘That bad’?"

A goodly number of us assembled at our meeting place and the room of nonsense soon was abuzz with the possibilities of the day and indeed the possible outcome of the transfer window. Hot off the press was that Baines was not in the squad due to negotiations regarding atransfer to Man United. This was to be Jelavic's last game in a Blue shirt and we would get Dos Santos. Well, I told you it was the room of nonsense.

The teams were received via the cyber-space gateway which set off more permutations of comings and goings in January and after eleven years of Moyes putting out weakened teams in the cup, the same seemed the same today. Not many saw this as a foregone conclusion yet by 5.00pm we had trounced them and the cult following that Martinez is enjoying got larger.

The walk up to the ground was about as lively as the weather which could best be described as overcast and dank. It’s strange on cup days how the buzz of a Premier League match is replaced by a sort of suck-it-and-see attitude considering the team changes. After entering the ground an announcement was made informing all of a 10-minute delay due to excessive queuing at the Bullens Road/Park End ticket office as once again on a cup day the ticketing operation was not as smooth as might be expected of a multi-million pound business.

Still the resident record player operator put on all the cup songs of the past yet I noted the Manfred Man song that we replaced the word Quinn with Ev-er-ton was missing. Still its cup day so let’s get at it. The teams duly arrived and our Ref was Howard (I’m the greatest) Webb accompanied by the assistants and today we had a Judy Lino who seemed better than the bloke who only seemed to raise a flag when the great one told him.

Off we went attacking the Park End and right away the Martinez way was in action no matter the personnel on show and but for a weak effort to connect with a cross as the goal beckoned was to be our only scare of a half which was going to consist of us probing and passing in search of the opening that we could profit from. We had varying degrees of success but never that ball that produces a goal, some a bit over-hit, some a bit under-hit. All over the pitch we seeing good performances and none better than the young Stones at centre back.

The half though was being built around Barry and McCarthy who were instrumental in repelling what was building up toward our goal and the catalyst for all the forward moves which in turn let every member of the team put down a marker. Barkley was quality one minute then ordinary the next but could never be ignored which was a source of trouble for the visitors who incidentally had many players of premier and international experience within their ranks. Wherever you looked we had players playing well but just that final finish was missing. It was mostly all one way but the crowd were getting a little restless at our inability to score yet with the patient build up throughout the team it just seemed a matter of time.

Around the half hour mark Barkley surged and hit a shot that the Brazil international keeper could not hold and the quicksilver Osman was first to react but put his stretched effort over the bar. We were not to be denied though as on 35mins the excellent Oviedo roared forward down the left and a peach of a ball fed Barkley who took it on and curled a pearler home leaving the keeper stranded. We needed that goal and the reaction of the crowd whilst celebrating seemed to somehow know it was ‘Game over’ but let’s have a goal spree anyway. The ball was sprayed about front back and sides as the Blues built and probed and it was no surprise just before the break when our play was rewarded a second time and everyone was delighted for Jelavic as he got a break in mid-field from a mistake by a QPR player and strode on and despatched a 20yarder beyond the keeper. Cue raucous celebrations and delight by players and fans alike as the Croat broke a very unwanted statistic. Just a minute of added time and the break was reached to the satisfaction of all of a Blue persuasion.

H/T time and mostly the chat was light-hearted with many believing it could have been five!

Second half, no changes from our manager and two goals to the good we set about the opposition again and this half followed a similar pattern to the first with us spraying the ball about in what is now known as the Martinez way which is great to see, but every now and again a slight slip whilst passing across goal brings the ‘Watch it’ roar from the assembled. Otherwise this was a very one-sided half and many were wrestling with the notion of ‘Are we that good’ or is the second team in the championship ‘That bad’. Whatever the reason we played some great stuff and from keeper who was keeping his first clean sheet to Jelavic up front getting his first goals since, what is it, March 2013? Every member played a part.

Coleman had a couple of raspers saved; one was a brilliant save from the keeper. Barkley had surges and blasts, mostly off target, it has to be said, but a constant threat. Oviedo was playing the left touchline in great fashion with excellent defending and productive runs and dangerous crosses. This lad can play. It was his slalom of a run that set up the second for Jelavic who was left just a couple of yards out and free to accept the great pass from the Costa Rican and tap home. (He wellied really). ‘Jela’ was the word on the lips as two goals in a game was thought by many to never be seen again.

Just about ten minutes later the Oviedo machine was at it again as he powered his way into the box and eventually the keeper brought him down and even Howard Webb agreed with the faithful that it was a penalty. ‘Jela’ – ‘Jela’ - ‘Jela’ was the cry. No team-mate made any effort to take the ball so the stage was set for a Jelavic hat trick.

He placed the ball with precision and on the whistle he sashayed to the ball and dinked a slow motion shot that beat the keeper but sadly not the bar and the groans could be heard in Kirkby. Could he challenge Lukaku for a starting berth on this form or will he be moved on? January sounds exciting as long as you believe nothing till something happens. I think he deserved to take the ball home today but it was not to be.

It was easy-peasy now but fair play the Blues did not shut up shop and none roared forward with purpose more than Coleman and near the 80min mark Barkley had another devastating run with swerve and power and played the marauding Coleman in down the right and in keeping with his present form he smashed it across the keeper and tested the net fastenings. Much celebrating took place as the scoreboard clicked over to read 4-0 and that score line was a surprise to no-one. That was goal number 6 from our right back.

He was then subbed and Hibbert made his return and on his first touch the roar of ‘SHOOOT’ was prominent. That brought more smiles to faces. With little more than 5mins to go the excellent Barry made way for Heitinga and Barkley left the field to a great ovation as Mirallas took over.

No one was pushing themselves now as we kept ball as the clock ticked down. Such was our dominance today the faithful idn’t even bother with the ‘Ole’s .

Final whistle and we all filed out satisfied and made our way to destinations various. Many stopped off at the Fat Van and chippies and queue’s had formed. Someone asked what a Fat Van was, Mike I think, well it’s a large mobile caravan that cooks all the processed trans-fat meats and cholesterol laden multitudinous calorie carriers that our health police say will ensure an early grave to participants. The warnings seem unheeded.

M.O.tM. Many great performances that no matter who you pick would be hard to argue with but for me the Barry – McCarthy axis dictated the play from front to back which allowed all the others to strut their stuff. Our keeper didn’t have a save to make all match- wow

Back to the room of nonsense and no heavy tactical discussions needed. Just a Brown/Bitter and a laugh did me. I took Dick Fearons advice of a brown bitter is also called a ‘communist’ so I ordered with confidence. However our lady bar person loudly requested I go away in jerky movements!
Back again next Saturday for the visit of Norwich. Will not be as easy as today but we can’t afford another slip up at home.

See you there to ‘roar em on’!

UP THE BLUES.

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