Who is the ‘Little Boy’?

The much travelled Eduardo Vargas has endured some difficult loan spells since he was named the second best player in South America (Neymar was first), but if QPR can get him settled they could have a player on their hands.

Rangers signed the ‘Little Boy’ as he is affectionately called by Redknapp, on loan and can make the deal permanent at the end of the season for just £8 million – which could prove to be a real steal in the current market.

The 24-year-old was one of the best young prospects coming out of South America not so long ago and his playing style means he could fit into the Premier League very well. He stands at 5’7 but despite his small stature is very well built. He’s lightning quick, can play a either up front or out wide and is comparable to Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero. He works hard, scores goals and plays on the last defender.

Vargas comes from Chile’s capital Santiago and trained when he was a youngster with both Universidad Catolica and Palestino, before winning a contract at Cobreloa thanks to an appearance in a ‘Football Icon’ type programme in 2005.

At the age of 16, he was scoring goals in the third amateur division for Cobreloa reserve side, who as a club have a good track record for producing young talent from South America. He was impressing so much that they moved him into the first team where he went on to score 10 goals in 49 appearances before his 17^th birthday.

After three seasons he moved to Universidad de Chile for just £700,000 where he was managed by current Chile boss Jorge Sampoli. His game rapidly progressed as a forward but Sampoli recognised that his pace and directness would enable him to play out wide. La U won the Copa Sudamerica as well as the Apertura and Clasura in 2011 and Vargas was named the player of the tournament by his fellow professionals. Deportes La Serena skipper Mauricio Salazar heaped praise on his performances in the illustrious competition: “He was the key man, his speed opened up the flanks, he scored goals and made them as well.”

In the same season he scored 25 goals and assisted a further 11 in 44 appearances leading to him being named the Chilean  Player of the Year and a move to Europe beckoned. Despite interest from Internazionale and Chelsea it would be Napoli that secured the pacey forward for £11.5 million.

After moving in the January of 2012, he struggled for opportunities and was unused substitute in the Copa Italia win over Juventus. The following September saw him lead the line for them in their Europa League campaign and he became the first Chilean to score a hat-trick in the competition when he netted three against AIK Fotboll.

Despite scoring six goals in nine games, Vargas’ opportunities remained limited in Naples and loans to Brazil with Gremio and Spain with Valencia followed. Upon returning from Spain, where he scored three times in 17 games, Rafa Benitez had replaced Walter Mazzarri and made it clear he would not be in his plans for the following season.

A promising World Cup under Sampoli again led to reported interest from Arsenal, but Tony Fernandes made it his mission to get the striker. A night of WhatsApping between Fernandes and the players representatives enabled the airline tycoon to thrash out an unlikely deal for a player that was wanted by some of Europe’s elite not to long ago.

After the performance against Liverpool, QPR seemed to have turned a corner and Vargas’ goals will give the striker a welcome confidence boost coming into a tough run for the R’s.

Perhaps the Loftus Road faithful have found a new favourite?

Pre-Liverpool – Time to cut some slack…

It’s been a busy few weeks for QPR since the dismal showing at West Ham, Super Les has come in to do a ‘stupidly named’ role, whilst Nick Daws has left for Scunthorpe. When I put my fans hat on, I’m rapidly following out of love with the club – but instead of going on about why that is now, you could read Jawad Laouira  brilliant blog post on it by clicking here.

Yet at the same time, from an aspiring journalists’ point of view it can be brilliant to be so close to the club when clearly things are not going too well.

In recent weeks I’ve been so out-of-the-loop and really not bothered talking much about QPR hence me not updating this blog as much as I would have liked. This has been for a number of reasons really; the standard of ‘local’ journalists covering QPR is really good and I mean really good. David Mcintyre has been there, got the t-shirt and done it for years, whilst Rob Brennan has revitalised the QPR coverage on the Brent and Kilburn Times so it’s good to learn from these guys.

But I often think, with these big boys giving their views, mine are somewhat irrelevant. I’ve started covering boxing too and it’s certainly different to dealing with footballers and I’m enjoying it. Added to that, I’m back at Uni and training for my fight in December – so it’s very busy time.

After saying all that I’m back at Loftus Road for the game against Liverpool and having attended Harry Redknapp’s press conference this week, I’m even more sure he is the right man for the job.

Some of what Redknapp said I didn’t fully believe. Like that they only decided late that they needed to go and get some deals done in the window. I don’t believe that for a minute. I don’t believe that he didn’t think Loic Remy would leave. I don’t believe he isn’t feeling the pressure either, I think he is and I think he is doing his upmost to try and turn the club around.

I also found myself agreeing with him about the injuries not helping the team settle and how really, QPR were always going to be near the bottom if not bottom.

Last year I was one of Redknapp’s harshest critics with regards to how the team were playing and how they should have been walking that league. I still believe they should have, but at the end of the day he got them up. Yes it was lucky, but he managed it.

Harry ‘the top, top lad’ ‘triffic bloke’ ‘got a lot of time for him’ ‘ not been a minute’s bovver’ Redknapp . The cockney who’s a ducker and diver, the media darling. We all know what he’s like, but he’s also a very good manager, his record says so. So good in fact, he was the people’s choice for the England job. He’s also the best man for the job at Rangers at the minute.

He’s a far better option that Tony Puis who is a classic ‘trendy’ at the minute manager. Pulis did very well at Stoke, but the ‘incapable’ Mark Hughes went in there and improved them in every aspect so he obviously can’t be too grand. Of course, he went into Palace and kept them up, although Palace had a team full of players that would buy into the managers ethics and ideas. I wouldn’t be so sure that would happen at Rangers.

Tim Sherwood would be the same, I’m adamant that it doesn’t matter who you bring in, the problems will always be the same. Tactics become somewhat irrelevant when the large majority of the players have a mentality towards the club that is so poor.

Redknapp it seems has a good relationship with Fernandes, that’s not to say he won’t sack him but I get the impression they get on well. He also seems to have a good relationship with his ex-players, it could be just a PR line but they all seem to want to work with him again.

To think you can just sack the manager and the results completely turnaround is just too one-dimensional, especially when you look at the managers in the past that have come and gone. It’s time to start looking deeper than who is in the hot seat and instead more at why the the good managers and good players suddenly look so lost when they come to W12.

The players themselves should be looking to shoulder a large portion of the blame for the poor start this year and I’m not talking about Rio Ferdinand who seems to be the annual boo-boy. He ticks all the boxes: ex-Man Utd, best days are behind him, high-earner, poor performances, off pitch commitments. He’s been poor, but he’s been hung out to dry a little.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that he’s lost his pace and can be exposed, but he hasn’t been helped but the systems or his team-mates. The midfield have been non-existent and his full-backs have been Mauricio Isla and Armand Traore. Bobby Moore would look exposed playing with those two. Ferdinand was made for the sweeper role in the 3-5-2, as was Isla, but the Chilean and the formation have both been bombed in favour for 4-5-1 after poor results.

Ferdinand got dogs abuse on Twitter for letting James Tomkins get a cross in against West Ham, but Nedum Onouha was the one caught ball watching, resulting in him losing Sakho for one of the easiest goals he is likely to score and he seemed to bypass any criticism.

He looks like a sitting duck sometimes with no protection from his midfield, so until that changes don’t expect his performances to either.

That’s where the problem lies for me – in the midfield. They seem totally inept, it doesn’t matter what midfielders you play if they have no structure or effort, it’s all rather wasted. They don’t create enough, they don’t to look stretch the opposition with powerful runs to create space – they just sit in the middle playing very one paced, passing left to right.

There never seems to be any game play or style of play. But I don’t think that is down to the manager, I don’t think he is sitting there before the games not giving instructions. Perhaps the players just aren’t good enough to carry out the instructions.

Redknapp had mentioned this week that he wanted more energy and to get at Liverpool from the off, so it will be interesting to see if the players do that.

I like Leroy Fer, especially at home where I think he prefers playing but I don’t think you can start him and Adel Taarabt in the same team at the minute. I’d rather play Taarabt. Despite all the money spent and all the comments made about him; he still cares, he still demands the ball and is probably still our best player. He doesn’t care who he is playing, he pays the same way. He cares not for reputations of the opposition, he will still try and run at them and create something. The only one that gets people off their seats and is worth the entrance fee alone.

If it was me choosing the side, Edu Vargas would be starting as well, his work rate is immense and he can play too. He also gives you pace on the counter and the ability to defend from the front – both things Rangers have lacked in recent weeks.

I’d love for them to give it a real go against Liverpool, countless times I’ve watched them play the bigger teams and just crumble. Spend all game with men behind the ball before losing 2-0 without having a shot.

For the sake of the fans first and foremost, the board, Redknapp and Ferdinand, I hope we get a result today.

Feel free to leave a comment, I’ll make sure I respond to them all whether you agree or disagree. I’m on twitter here too.