With Briatore staying away and the brilliance of Buzsaky, QPR are finally looking good

By Jess Whittock in Mirror Football Blog

Published 10:29 29/09/09

What a difference an Italian not interfering with team selection makes. That isn’t quite as poetic as a Dinah Washington classic but it does make good reading for QPR fans. Flavio Briatore has not been seen at Loftus Road since his legal troubles began and clearly Jim Magilton and the players aren’t missing his pre-match pep talks too much.

On Wednesday we began with a strong workman-like effort against Chelsea and followed it up with a sparkling performance against Barnsley. Saturday was, in fact, the first time we’ve scored five goals in any league since we put that many past Blackpool on the first day of the 2002/3 season. (You’ll also recall we were promoted that season.)

Apart from Flavio staying away, there is one other major factor, consisting of two words, why we’ve been impressive in recent weeks. Those words are ‘Akos’ and ‘Buzsaky’. I believe that any success we have this season will be entirely dependent on how the Hungarian’s recovery from injury progresses and if he can re-capture the form he displayed when we first signed him in 2007.

On Saturday he was magnificent and, low and behold, so were the rest of them. For the first time this season, we look like a team capable of making an impression. (Jim Magilton also deserves some credit for this, although the jury remains out until Christmas at least.)

Buzz’s second goal might have already won him goal of the season and the only downside to when he is in this form is that basically every manager outside of the Big Four will have noted him down as a potential buy for the January transfer window.

Buzsaky is a classic QPR player, in the tradition of Bowles, Marsh and Wegerle. He defines what Rangers are about – skill, speed of thought, flair and intelligence. Last season, with Buzz in the treatment room for most of it, we were in dire need of exactly those things. His presence gives the others the boost they need to look for the smarter pass, try the snapshot or play the one-two. He’s as vital to us as Steven Gerrard is to Liverpool.

I’m unsure of the way Magilton is handling him, going for harsh criticism for poor performances and mild praise when he’s firing. However, it seems the manager is starting to realise how important is to the rest of the team and Buzz has apparently won his place back in the starting line-up. If we are to pick up anything at Newcastle, who are on fire at the moment, Buzsaky must lead by example.

One final thing. All those supporters who booed Adel Taarabt at the end of the Barnsley game, apparently for “not passing”: you are an embarrassment. I’m not going to entertain your arguments about his selfishness on the ball, whether he’s good for the team or not; you do not boo your own players if you’re about to win by three goals. If you do, you need to have a think about yourself, i.e. “Am I a moron?” The answer is probably yes.

Personally, I’m glad that Taarabt reacted to you, and I think you’re lucky you didn’t receive the two-fingered salute. He may not be anywhere near a finished article, but he’ll pick us up points on his own this season like he did against Bristol City last season and that, for me, is reason enough for you to keep it shut.

With Briatore staying away and the brilliance of Buzsaky, QPR are finally looking good

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