In The Hoops’ Corner

Vital QPR Editor Boxer is next to take the Vital Barnsley ‘Getting To Know You’ interview.

Q: What made you become a QPR supporter?

Family influence initially. Having a fanatical father and brother can certainly have an influence on a child and from my first game onwards I was hooked. Growing up there was a desire for something different, away from the Manchester United and Liverpool supporters at school, and this served to reaffirm my allegiance to what had become an unfashionable club.

Q: Do you remember your first QPR game?

Like it was yesterday, every single thing about that day will live with me forever. While it was undoubtedly a fairly run of the mill fixture, to me it seemed like the greatest game that ever was.

1994 – QPR v Coventry City – Paul Cook gave Coventry the lead before Gary Penrice bagged a brace for Rangers. Deon Dublin netted for Coventry on his debut – and that is all from my memory!

Q: Who is your favourite QPR player from your lifetime?

In the period since I have been going I cannot look beyond Les Ferdinand. I really was spoiled as a youngster to watch a striker of his talent and have not seen one like him since.

His aerial presence, his precision finishing and the overall classy nature of Sir Les helped him become a Rangers legend and he’s a player I can say I am privileged enough to have seen.

Q: And your favourite current QPR player?

It’s hard to keep track who’s in and out nowadays, but I must say that Peter Ramage is a player that embodies the spirit and passion that I as a supporter associate with QPR.

Despite derisory comments and adverse reactions to his game, he has never been found wanting for effort, that is an attribute that is seeing him win over the crowd.

Q: What do you love about QPR?

It’s up, it’s down, but it’s never quiet – I can assure you of that much especially in the modern day. Having spoken to fans of other clubs it appears that we are also quite an infectious club.

Apart from a select few clubs nobody seems to wish us any harm, and I would consider us a family club with an excellent community spirit – quite an achievement considering our location.

Q: What would you change about QPR?

Speak to certain QPR supporters and it’s not a case of what but who they would change at Rangers – with Mr Briatore not the flavour of the month despite taking a back-seat.

At present however I wouldn’t change a great deal – the right manager, the right board, the right ideas – maybe a couple of more proven players on the books would stir my promotion band-wagon.

Q: Pick out the best and worst moment of last season?

Best: Derby County 2-4 QPR – Rangers truly arrived last season, and indeed peaked when you take into account our subsequent form and style. Stunning passing play and showed the world courtesy of the BBC what we’re capable of.

Worst: QPR 0-1 Scunthorpe United – It hardly seems possible that this was the same QPR just months down the line, but losing at home to the Iron really showed how threatened by relegation we were at the time.

Q: What are your expectations for next season?

I have said this for a couple of seasons now and I stand by this statement, we are capable of achieving a playoff place – realising this potential will be key, and under Warnock we have as a good a chance as anyone.

In fact, Warnock’s words pre-season have given me belief we can go one better, and maybe a couple of signings would assure me further that we can get automatic promotion – I would settle for the playoffs though!

Q: Who will stand out for QPR next season?

This is the key thing about QPR – we have no real stand out player. In recent seasons we’ve looked to that one talent on the field, Cook and Taarabt to name a couple.

A team ethic will be important and an all for one mentality, and Warnock I feel can bring that mentality. Alejandro Faurlín may well step forward as the division’s top midfielder if he continues the progress he’s made so far.

Q: If you could bring any player into the QPR squad, money and reputation aside, who would it be?

A proven goalscorer is the cry from the Loftus Road crowd and I would tend to agree – a signing to light up the crowd and give us the much needed goals we desire.

However there is an air of trust about QPR message-boards nowadays, outlandish fancies have been tempered as ultimately there is enough trust in Warnock to get the right men for the job.

If we don’t sign a player on sizeable wages it won’t be the end of the world, providing Neil can get the best from the existing crop – I have faith that with a couple of extra players, he will.

Q: Most memorable game against Barnsley and why?

I can only draw from personal experience on this one, but the Trevor Sinclair overhead kick is the defining moment in games between the sides, but evidently the game itself wasn’t the best I’d seen.

The 3-3 draw when Rangers were chasing promotion had all the peaks and troths of the campaign encapsulated in a game. 1-0 down; 2-1 up; 3-2 down and a last minute equaliser from cult-hero Paul Furlong – magic game.

With thanks to Boxer from Vital QPR for his answers to these questions and all the best for the new season.

More to come from our opponents’ Vital Editors later…