My thoughts on QPR's return to the Premier League.

May 24th 2014: 

The day had arrived...

I think I speak for all QPR fans when I say this was a day I woke up feeling extremely excited at seeing little old QPR at the home of football in-front of 40,000 R's fans, however I was also very nervous at the same time.

As the mourning wore on my thoughts were a bit all over the place in truth, I was thinking what team I'd start, how the players would fare on the biggest stage, would we stand up and be counted? Or would we hide? If we failed to get promoted what players would leave? Would Harry and his team pack it in for retirement? Would Nedum, Joey, Junior, the ageing Clint and Dunne be up for another fight in the Championship? Something in my mind was saying no, this was a MUST win game, otherwise our beloved club could see a downfall spiral. This was the chance to get our rangers back.

As me and my dad walked down the stairs of Wembley station hearing QPR chants in the distance and seeing the huge arch of Wembley at this point it all became very real, and seeing Wembley way lit up with blue and white made my hair stand on end. Being among fellow QPR supporters walking down Wembley way I felt a sense of optimism and there was genuine excitement amongst our fans, furthermore as the squad was released this reassured me that this could be our day. Players like Green, Simpson, Dunne, Kranjcar, Barton, Hoilett, Zamora, I mean the amount of Premier league experience meant although to me being inside Wembley was surreal this shouldn't phase players who have spent most of their careers playing at the likes of Old Trafford, The Emirates, Stamford Bridge, St. James Park, Villa Park etc.

The view from my seat

As Lee Mason brought the first 45 minutes to a close there was very little to choose between the sides, however as everyone will never forget on the 60th minute the ever reliable Nedum Onuoha gets nut megged and Gary O'Neil takes down Derby's Johnny Russell. For a second there was a glimmer of hope as Lee Mason consulted  with his assistant, although when the red card was produced there was that split second delay of a dreaded roar from the Derby fans who immediately knew this was there game, they had been on top all second half also. This was when all QPR fans around me had hands on heads looking around at each other in disbelieve and fear knowing that for the next half an hour with 10 men we had to defend against a young attacking Derby side who had easily knocked 6 past Brighton on aggregate in the play off semi finals. We all feared the worse at this point and it was a case of when they'd score rather than if. Everyone talked abut our squad having the experience and in typical QPR fashion it looked like this was going to bite us as Derby had a young, possibly fitter squad and I doubted our ability to be able to defend for 30 minutes, get to extra time and defend for another 30 minutes. Unfortunately all the thoughts going through my head in the mourning started to filter through as Derby pilled on the pressure producing wave after wave of attack. 

Come around the 83rd minute or so time seemed to be moving so slowly, it was just Derby attack, Derby corner, Derby attack. It was endless, at this point we hadn't even have had a shot on target and we couldn't even get out of our own half, we had players like Karl Henry playing when we needed Ravel on but the circumstances just didn't allow and I felt like our attacking players were too tired to even get up the pitch with both Junior and Charlie working extremely hard on the wings to protect both Simmo and Armand.

89th minute....

It was all a bit of a blur and happened so quickly but I remember Bobby winning a throw on, Simmo just sticking it down the channel to presumably give the team a much needed breather and run down the clock. At least ease the pressure for a couple of seconds before the ball would be pumped back at us, however somehow Junior wins the ball off Buxton and puts the ball in to Keogh.... and from that moment on Bobby has given me a memory I will tell my grand kids about, a memory I will bring to the grave with me. From my seat I perfectly saw the ball fall to Zamora and for a split second there were bellows of 'SHOOT' and we could see perfectly the ball curve into the bottom left hand corner. The ball felt like it was airborne for a age and time seemed to stand still but when the ball hit the back of the net the Rangers fans exploded into absolute delirium and I just remember jumping up and down uncontrollably for about a minute straight with both my dad and his friend. We all couldn't believe it, our first shot on target was the goal that sealed our promotion and after an admittedly quick 3 minutes of extra time all fears were completely put to bed and we had won at the famous Wembley! We were back in the Premier League amongst the big boys.

When celebrating at the final whistle I'm sure all QPR fans couldn't stop trying to take in the roller-coaster of emotions and everything that had just happened. What an incredibly emotional day for all the QPR family and it was what we've deserved after all the mercenaries that we've seen entering Loftus Road with a big smirk of their face thinking about that huge pay check they would be receiving, the dire performances, the lack of effort. I think it's fair to say we all sort of fell out of love with going to see QPR just because of all the 'overpaid wankers' taking liberties at our club. Like all QPR fans I've probably seen the goal back 100+ times and on the short journey back from Wembley I couldn't help but get excited at the fact QPR would be going to all the top grounds and facing all the top teams and  all the top internationals from City, Arsenal, United etc at the peak of their careers would be coming down to packed, manic  Loftus Road.

After Bobby scored the goal that awarded us with £134 million as well as TV rights money I knew we'd do things the right way this time around with Tony Fernandes frequently taking to Twitter to assure supporters that this time things will be done the correct way and that lessons, extremely expensive lessons that  have been well and truly been learnt. Also who couldn't get exited at the teasing that Amit Bhatia and Tony do between them when we have a signing wrapped up.

Lastly, I couldn't be happier with the business we've done so far, Rio, Caulker, Mutch, Isla, Fer, and Vargas are all extremely good players with a lot of international experience between them with half of our summer signings featuring at the World Cup in Brazil and Vargas even scoring the only goal of the game against Spain to knock them out of the group stages. He's been linked with Arsenal for years and really is a world class player and probably the signing that excites me most. Although I really like Charlie, I noticed against Hull in the second half, a game we were extremely unlucky to not come away from with a point after creating 6 shots on target, the most shared with Arsenal on the opening weekend, that in the Premier league you can't be static with your hand up asking for a ball in the box.

 Remy offers runs in behind and his movement and pace alone creates chances and I feel that Vargas will offer a very similar skilful direct play on the shoulder style. Little words need to be said about Rio, so experienced, led United with Vidic to a Champions League and multiple Premier League honours and will be great for all the younger players especially Nedum and Caulker. Caulker as well was one I was extremely happy about, a typical strong English centre half with age on his side and no doubt a future England regular. Isla will provide stiff competition for Simpson and gives a bit more pace and threat from RWB. Mutch and Fer are also both great midfield additions to Joey, Ale and Karl. With Mutch being both footed but particularly having a great left foot and a long range shot on him, with Leroy offering more of a traditional box to box tireless approach in the engine room that's so needed at this level. The prospect of Loic Remy staying now also looks like a strong posibility after Harry's press conference this mourning in which he said he's spoke with Loic, he's impressed by the signings made here and is enjoying himself at QPR. Let's get Remy secured on a new contract and for me although he was going to join Liverpool, will be the best bit of business this summer. This could divide opinion but I'd love to see Adel get fit and firing again, he is the perfect player to put balls through to our strikers and even is a goal threat himself, I think he'd be the perfect man to have a free role behind the strikers. Also, Alex Mccarthy from Reading would be a good signing and strengthen our GK options, Lastly I'd love to see loan deals for Niko and Andros to return back to Loftus Road and that would be amazing summer business from the board and Harry. No doubt we will make Loftus Road the fortress it once was and turn around our dreaded away form around that has haunted us for years! 

After 5 years of being a season ticket holder at Loftus Road this is the season I feel we are all most optimistic about and I think we will stay up this year and hopefully keep pushing on! Lets give the big boys a run for their money!

Lets say a final thanks to the promotion winning side and especially Bobby because without them this legacy that is being created right now at Loftus Road wouldn't be possible! Good luck to all who departed from that squad.

The good times are coming back to Loftus Road! Lets enjoy every minute of it!

Roll on Spurs! 

My starting XI for Spurs on Sunday, Fer on the bench because he's recently came in and needs to adapt to his new players style. Ale played very well before coming off against Hull so he'd get the nod for Sundays game.

Thanks for reading! 

Come on you R's!