Thursday 27 January 2011
ADEL TAARABT – A DIFFERENT LEAGUE OR FOUND HIS LEVEL?
There is no doubt that one of the best (if not, the best) player in the Championship this season is QPR’s star man Adel Taarabt. The Moroccan youngster was the difference in Rangers’ 2-1 victory at home to Coventry at the weekend when he scored his 13th goal of the season and showed his ‘tekkers’ when assisting a through ball for Wayne Routledge to score the winner. Rightly so, his impressive displays this season have made headlines, being linked to Newcastle United or more sensationally, being tipped to play for Real Madrid. However, the question still remains, has he found his level in the Championship or is he ready for the big time?
Let’s not forget that Adel is only 21 years of age and is still learning the game. His permanent move to Loftus Road last summer was crucial in him getting regular first team football in a competitive league. It is an experience he wouldn’t have got if he was at one of the top Premiership clubs. Also, his current manager Neil Warnock has had a significant impact on his career by shaping the Rangers team around him, a free role which suits his style of play; flair and creativity.
When Rangers captain, Fitz Hall got injured at the start of the season, Warnock gave the armband to Taarabt – a bold move at the time considering his age and experience but it has paid off with Adel leading by example on the pitch. Not only is he Rangers’ top scorer this season, he also has 11 assists to his name – a stat which could make the difference in the R’s promotion ambitions.
Regarding his future, Taarabt has said he wants to focus on getting QPR into the Premiership and then ‘he will see’, but hasn’t denied his ambitions for playing at the top level with his admiration for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal’s style of play. Is he ready for a big move in the summer? Or should he gain regular Premier League football with QPR, if they achieve promotion this season?
Adel is a different player from the one that made several appearances for Tottenham Hotspur where he showed an inability to pass to team mates, and despite going missing in the odd game this season, Adel has showed more intelligence to his play. Perhaps he is excelling in this Rangers team because Warnock has made him the talisman, if he was to make a move to bigger club, he will lose that big fish in a small pond title and instead be in a large ocean with bigger fish.
If he does want to move on in his career come the summer, it would have to be a wise move, to a club and manager that will nurture his talents rather than stifle him. Personally, I hope he stays at Rangers for as long as possible because he’s one of the most exciting players we have had in decades.
The ‘new Zidane’ finally coming of age – Premier League clubs ready to swoop
Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock will struggle to keep hold of prized asset Adel Taarabt, after a number of scintillating performances this season.
In truth, it has been a long time coming, but the Moroccan international has finally found his form under Warnock’s guidance, and how the Championship leaders have reaped the rewards.
Taarabt first arrived in England at the tender age of seventeen with Tottenham Hotspur winning the race for the sought after signature of a player who already had a growing reputation.
Upon his arrival his then agent Rudy Raba modestly proclaimed, “In France it is simple, he is considered as the new Zidane.
“He is exceptional, he is one of the most talented young players in France, perhaps the most”. No pressure then.
Martin Jol
On the ball I don’t think there’s another talent like him in England
Not long after, former Spurs manager Martin Jol compared Taarabt to Tottenham legend David Ginola, labeling the player ‘a wizard’. Jol told the Daily Mail, “On the ball I don’t think there’s another talent like him in England”.
But for all the promise, things didn’t work out for Taarabt at Tottenham who grew frustrated with an immensely skillful young player with absolutely no ability to implement his skills meaningfully in the Barclays Premier League.
Current Spurs manager Harry Redknapp took the difficult decision to move Taarabt on, initially on loan to QPR, who then decided they had seen enough to part with £1million last summer to bring him to Loftus Road permanently.
The Metro newspaper last week quoted Redknapp saying that Taarabt’s current form could see him get the sack for letting him leave for such a nominal fee.
It is now believed that a number of leading Barclays Premier League clubs are courting the magic-man, now 21, but the cost of his services now might not be so modest.
Newcastle are said to have offered £5million up front to take him to St James’ Park, but Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are also said to be keeping an eye on the situation.
Arsene Wenger was a whisker away from bringing him to Arsenal the first time around, when Taarabt opted for their North-London rivals on the advice of then Tottenham director Damien Comolli.
Now employed as the Liverpool director of football strategy, Comolli is once again thought to be closely monitoring the starlet, whose addition would serve as evidence of new Reds owners fulfilling their pledge to bring exciting young talent to Anfield.
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