Editorial Inquisition: Queens Park Rangers - 28th August

Simon Skinner, 32, account manager

I have been a Rangers fan since the age of about four or five when my Dad
took me to my first game.

I can remember my first game was against Palace and seeing as I shared his
first name, Simon Stainrod became my favourite player.

The game up at Hillsborough when we beat Wednesday 3-1 to pip you guys topromotion wins it by a distance. Seeing 8,500 R's fans packed behind the
goal and watching the lads turn in a superb shift, spurred on by some shady
scoreboard announcements by Wednesday it has to be said, will live long in
the memory. The scenes at the final whistle were superb.

Rangers started atrociously last season and didn't manage to get a win on
the board until October by which time slick haired failure merchant John
Gregory had got the chop. Things picked up when Harford took charge on a
caretaker basis and then when Luigi De Canio took over he changed the style
of play overnight almost. Obviously we were lucky enough to have the funds
to strengthen heavily in the window, if we hadn't then it wouldn't have
mattered who was in charge, we would have been in deep trouble. In the
second half of the season though the only club in England that outscored
Rangers was Manchester United so it was pretty entertaining stuff.

There was plenty of activity this summer with eight players coming in either
signed or on loan and six players loaned out and flogged off. There has been
some real quality signed in Parejo and Ledesma, on loan from Real Madrid and Genoa respectively, but the jury is still out on some players like Cerny and Gorkss.

How have the team shaped up so far in the Championship?

Some good and some bad really. We managed to beat Barnsley on the opening day despite being less than convincing and then got pummelled at Sheffield United. As a result of that Dowie changed formations from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1 against Doncaster so we could utilise our midfield talent and cover the fact that we are still a bit short up top. The Carling Cup has gone well though with a decent win at Swindon and a real hiding handed out to Carlisle this week.

At the moment you cannot look past Emmanuel Ledesma. He bagged a sensational hat-trick in the cup and also scored the second against Doncaster. He is a left footed Argentinean midfielder that plays on the right of our three attacking midfielders. He has a peach of a left foot and is also learning the defensive side of the game well. He does like a dive up though so prepare for some amateur dramatics on Saturday!

If Bristol City try to hang some crosses up in the six yard box for Adebola
to attack then Cerny might be found wanting. He is a good shot stopper but
he doesn't command his area and like to try and punch like most continental
keepers.

I think we have a decent chance of making the play offs, automatic promotion is too far away this time in my opinion. We are playing some good stuff and if we can start to be mean at the back then we will certainly win more than we lose.

I fancy City for a play off spot this season. I did think that it might be a
case of after the Lord Mayor's show this term but the fact you have started
well has already changed my mind on that. Gary Johnson was the outstanding manager in the division last season given his achievements.

Dele Adebola always turns in a decent shift against us no matter who he
plays for but I would probably have to go for Maynard as three of the back
four aren't exactly Usain Bolt impersonators and his pace could cause some
real problems.

I think you would have to compare them to an Alfa Romeo. Plenty of Italian
style and class but you know at some point they are going to leave you
furious as they break down without warning at the least expected moment!

Frustrating - Expensive - Resurgent

We have started to look a lot tighter defensively in the last couple of
games but those were at home and we seem to be a bit leaky on the road. We will carry a goal threat though so I will go for a repeat of last seasons
2-2 draw.

I don't think you can look much further than Birmingham City. They have
started like a train and if they can keep Phillips in shape, as well as the
other four top class strikers they have, then they should stroll it.

Having seen them take us to bits I think Sheffield United have a really good
chance. They aren't the prettiest side but they are effective and should
score plenty of goals.

Three northern team on the way out I think - Barnsley, Blackpool and
Doncaster.