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As a Posh fan it's been great to see us producing such attacking football. Hopefully if we get promoted back to the Championship we'll actually make a better attempt to stay there next time, although it looks like it'll be without Craig Mackail-Smith, surely the best player in League One.

not available in my area....great ´óÏó´«Ã½...reading the sun today you probably chauffeured him to the studio for a cost of £2000.

1. At 12:49pm on 16 Mar 2011, andyh wrote:
As a Posh fan it's been great to see us producing such attacking football. Hopefully if we get promoted back to the Championship we'll actually make a better attempt to stay there next time, although it looks like it'll be without Craig Mackail-Smith, surely the best player in League One.

CMS is in fantastic form, is a great goalscorer this season and looks destined to move on, but best player in League One is a little bold! Adam Lallana and a few from Brighton anyone? And thats just to start with

Hi Steve,
Thanks for all the questions you have answered from me throughout this season, but I have only one more question to ask.

As you probably know, Micky Adams is considering resigning from his post at Sheffield United. Sadly it has not worked out for him at his dream club bar a scrappy 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

Our club needs stability but I think his record of signing players [Bent and Collins], style of play [hoofball], and results [1 win out of 15] shows that in my opinion that he does not deserve the chance to take us out of League 1 if we go down. I don't think we are down yet if we rid of him though.

He may be the 4th manager this season, but he has brought in as many players as the others if not more and has still surpassed the previous 3 managers dismal record. We have had no budget or quality all season, but the other 3 had our heads above water.

Do you think it is time for him to leave and at least give us a fighting chance of staying up?

I just cannot see him keeping us up judging by his lack of character and performances, and most importantly: results.

Thanks,

BG3

In writing please. Cant watch it at work.

@pedrobarca. Don't believe everything you read in The Sun. Just a tip for you.

How many Mankinis have you seen, Steve?

Enjoyable watch, Steve.
Personally I like the video format as it makes a change to the written word. It also helps to see your face (however dodgy) when you make comments as it conveys whether you're having a laugh or not. I'd certainly like a video blog of McNulty sometimes as I am sure some of the ridiculous things he writes must be with his tongue placed firmly in his cheek. Perhaps.
BTW isn't it nice not to have twenty whingeing QPR fans on here so far this week?

will brighton win the league?

Bladegunner3:

I really like your optimism (I mean that too), but to me you look doomed this season. The loss at Crystal Palace was probably the pivotal game of the relegation dogfight and it was imperative that you just didn't get beaten there.

Looking at the fixtures at the cluster of teams in the relegation fight I see that Palace have two very winnable games at home against teams with nothing to play for (Derby and Barnsley), whilst you have to play a few of the promotion contenders. I wish you luck, but think you'll be the favourites to gain promotion back to the Championship out of league one next season.

PortseaBlue:

Thanks, but I think we are more likely to slip into League 2 after next season like Plymouth unless our owner Kevin McCabe puts money into our first team squad.

Most of our players are on loan and that has to change.

Still me may win some silverware, in the FA Youth Cup!

@pedrobarca - no wonder you read the Sun because it's clear that you can't read. Above the video, it says "Non-UK users can see a special international version of Steve's video blog here."

Also echoing Clive Plattini's sentiments, exactly what I thought when I heard you mention the mankini.

And what's with all the people who can't watch videos at home after work?

When will Steve Claridge's videos be subtitled for the benefit of the 2.5 million viewers whose license fees subsidised the ´óÏó´«Ã½? I have posted this question before and did not even get the courtesy of a reply. We are awaiting your response...

9. At 5:41pm on 16 Mar 2011, paxtonstyle wrote:

will brighton win the league?

Nah - Poyet's style of passing play can't be done at this level - the table speaks for itself :facepalm:

"a place where we tackle all the burning issues" erm..............
climate change?
cuts to local services?
alternative voting?
garth crooks yakult?
prison overcrowding?
price of a brass in Peterborough?
and lack of brass houses in Peterborough?

Luke

luke1978

You forgot about the requisite numbers of fingers and toes needed to qualify as a resident of peterborough!

Knew it was a wise move for Darren Ferguson to be reinstated. Not only have they continued their fine attacking football, but (as Steve mentioned) they're looking solid defensively. Fancy them for 3rd place this year (behind Brighton and Southampton.)

Peterborough can we have your striker please? . You'll go up anyway we promise.

lots of love

Norwich City FC

Good to see Orient featured.
When Russell Slade, predicted, with confidence, at an early season fans meeting a top 10 finish, we thought he was crazy - but he was absolutely right, top ten is almost a certainty and less than 'play-offs' will now almost be a disappointment.
That prediction was before the immense struggle to get past Droylsden in FA cup, where Orient were twice within a few minutes of elimination, before a late goal prolonged the tie.
So, is he a magician, what is special about him and why has he not achieved great success at a previous club?
Also how can he and the team - who have had significant injuries - be kept together, because the one thing that is not increasing is the crowd.
Do please keep an eye on the Olympic Stadium debacle which has been a shadow over Orient, since the possibility of a (very) nearby Olympic Stadium was first realised, at least five years ago. It is not a case of the majority of O's fans not wanting to see West Ham progress but we do not want Orient's too small crowd to be diminished further by the floating and new fans to be sucked in to the Olympics razzmatazz with very cheap tickets, which will make it even harder for O's to survive. Neither do we want to watch from an Athletics Stadium. If that was such a great thing ALL the other clubs would not have left them behind, despite Brighton and Rotherham - who both plan to play elsewhere ASAP!
Barry Hearn is an excellent Sports Promoter but has not been able to promote Orient like he has promoted his other sports - he is the man who put fishing on TV? Orient is always better to watch than that, what might it take to get the O's crowd to, say, a respectable 10 - 15,000 regularly?

Great to see the O's getting recognition for their achievements this season. On the topic of crowds I think they will always struggle because of their location sandwiched between Spurs and West Ham and the Olympic Stadium will only make matters worse.

Orient have been superb and I'm pleased they have had some recognition. 14 consecutive league games unbeaten!

Barry Hearn is doing a magnificent job at Orient and he is right to be concerned that West Ham appeared poised to move in to the Olympic Stadium.

What is in Orient's favour however, is in London there are few floating fans and the smaller teams such as Orient, QPR, Fulham, Brentford etc tend to keep similar home gate averages. It is accepted Premier League football increases that average due to the visits of the big clubs like Man U, Arsenal etc., but certainly in the Football League it alters little.

Orient have their loyal fans without the hangers on, and whether West Ham move into the Olympic Stadium or not I am certain the faithful will still be there.

I like Barry Hearn, and think Orient are very lucky to have him as chief. He does need a bigger stage however, and I'd like to suggest a trade with O's fans. Swap u Mike Ashley for Barry Hearn...

Monday night's game at MK looks like an interesting one...just hoping we can stop Peterbro...

Oh dear, are we going down the "Barry 'stole the ground' Hearn is brilliant" route again? Ho hum.

Steve,
You sir are a plumb!
That is all.

I was seriously impressed with Peterborough when I saw them at the Cottage in early January in the FA Cup 3rd round.OK, they got hammered 6-2 but they're a fine uninhibited attacking side who really took the game to Fulham from the outset ( 5 corners in the first 5 minutes )
and deservedly scored twice - which is, lets face it, 2 more goals than Spurs managed against Fulham in the following round.They looked defensively not great -tho' I believe they've tightened up recently- but nevertheless will certainly get promoted this season. And, I believe, will stay in the Championship this time. Good luck to the Posh.

Would prefer a transcript of this = ta

@28, I think this will help

"Erm, erm er, I think, erm QPR with, erm Abdul Taarabt erm, haven't been, you know, uh-oh, very good recently, you know. That's because erm, you know, ah, hmm, er, yes. Erm, Plymouth. Did you know, erm, that they are the best team to, erm play in green who,er ah, haven't been in, the erm Premiership"

Have you had a hair transplant Steve?

I have to say that it's pleasant to read these comments without the ubiquitous whinging, paranoid comments from some rabid QPR fans.

''One man and his dog'' sums up the QPR fanbase ( who wouldn't support Chelsea or Fulham in that area ? ), and Steve is certainly fair in his appraisal of all football league clubs, and the ''Rs'' have looked preety ordinary this term.

Also, why do people complain that they can't see the video content at work ?

Is it really that hard to view this when you come home from work ?

Response to 31 above The_soul_patch_of_david_villa

Before any QPR fans get upset about your use of the adjective ‘rabid’ let me make it clear that in the correct context it means ‘fanatical’. The term ‘fan’ in the football supporter sense is an abbreviation of ‘fanatical’. ‘Fanatical’ in the dictionary is described as ‘a person filled with obsessive enthusiasm’.

So in that context, as a lifetime QPR fan myself (I watched my first game in 1963 at White City Stadium) I certainly agree with you that most if not all QPR supporters can be summed up in this way; as they are ‘true fans’. I am extremely proud of that fact, which is one of the reasons that QPR is such a great ‘family club’ and why the QPR fans always pull together.

It is also interesting to note you are unable to understand why a ‘true fan’ does not choose to support a bigger or more successful club. Fans (QPR’s or otherwise) do not choose their allegiance based upon success. Their reasons for supporting their team are much, much deeper and in my case goes back four generations.

Other true fans of the so called ‘smaller less successful clubs’ will tell you the same.

QPR fans, Orient fans, Norwich fans, Peterborough fans, Stockport fans etc. are the life blood of football. Anyone can support a successful football club for the sake of it. I have always felt sorry for those who are ‘hangers on’ and not (real) fans and those who change their allegiance like I change my car, because they can never appreciate the passion of fans who support their team through the hard and difficult times as well as the good.

Whilst we all aspire for Premier League glory, the Football League is about real fans, which is why at the end of the 1990s QPR trademarked the phrase ‘Real fans, real football’.

There is a saying ‘You change your job, you change your house, you change your car, you even change your spouse (or partner) but you never change your football team’.

Real fans understand!!

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Steve

Hull City have had a massive turnaround this season. At the start of the season, following relegation from the Premier League we were all over the place and looked closer to relegation than the mid table security we wanted. What would you say were the contributing factors in getting into the top half and what would a realistic target be for next season, (assuming we don't make the playoffs this season)?

Response to Tommytiger666 35 above

I have seen quite a bit of Hull City over the past three seasons. I also know Iain Dowie quite well and know he feels he took over a team very low on confidence toward the end of last season. He was however, disappointed at not keeping Hull City in the Premier League and was very sorry to leave as he thinks Hull City is a great club.

The first game I saw Hull City in this season was their opening game v Swansea. At the beginning Hull City played like a team low on confidence and I noticed the fans were beginning to lose patience with some of the players. However, that changed as did the game when Bostock scored a fabulous goal after 23 minutes. After that Hull City never looked like losing the game and deserved their win. Apart from an early strike on goal, which struck the bar I cannot recall Swansea ever threatening after Bostock scored. Hull City certainly deserved their 2-0 win.

The last time I saw Hull City was at home to QPR on 29th January. I noticed a big difference. Hull City were well organised and very tight as a unit throughout the 90 minutes. Connolly and Miller missed chances for QPR but overall QPR’s efforts were reduced to a minimum. In fact at the death Fryatt missed the chance of the game, when he really should have scored to give Hull City all three points.

Overall I believe Nigel Pearson has got the team well organised and playing for each other. Everyone knows what they have to do and exactly what is expected of them. The confidence, owing to good performances and results has returned. Pearson is doing a great job and is helped by superb home support virtually filling the 25,000 seater KC Stadium every week. I, like you will be interested to hear what Steve Claridge has to say, but personally believe if Pearson continues to make similar progress in the coming months, then 2011/12 could be a great season for Hull City.

Hull City are of course capable of making the Play Off’s this term, but promotion might be one season too soon for them. It is however, a terrific response by a club which had to reorganise from top to bottom and sell so many players following relegation!

Response to Tommytiger666 35 above

I am sorry, having read through my last post again I should have included 'in the August 2010 Swansea game Hull City had a certain vulnerability. Five months later against QPR however, that vulnerability had diminished and the progress was clear to see'.

To Steve Claridge I say, your job is much harder than it looks!

Good blog. Ta.

What more can Brighton do to get a look in on the football league show??
I appreciate The Posh are scoring for fun but we never seem to be a featured side? Instead its a 15 second "and by the way Brighton won again" I wont bore all of you non Albion fans with the stats but what have we got to do to get some recognition for having a remarkable season? Ps what happened to Bournemouth's form? Saints will get runners up in my opinion.

"The tightest mankini I have ever seen..."

You seen many mankinis then, Steve?

JCFG, i believe they were a few weeks ago werent they? he was talking about the styl of football.

So Adel Taraabt has won the Championship Player of the Year Award 2010/11!

Tony Currie; Rodney Marsh; Stanley Bowles; Roy Wegerlie; Trevor Francis: all skilful footballing geniuses wearing the legendry blue and white hoops of Queens Park Rangers. Given a season or two, Adel may well be set to join that illustrious line up!

Well done Adel, and as the worthy captain of a very good Rangers team, following the receipt of this award you can lift the Football League Championship winners trophy for 2010/11 (very soon).

The only question is:

'Newcastle United won last years Championship 11 points clear of second place West Bromwich Albion, so will QPR achieve an even greater points difference between themselves and whoever manages to claim second place?'

I (personally) have no doubt they will, because QPR are the best team in the Championship by miles. Neil Warnock, having spent just £2.5 million in the transfer market whilst manager of QPR has an unbelievable record of winning promotion from various Football League divisions whilst managing numerous Football League clubs. Mr Warnock's record speaks for itself.

To sum Neil Warnock up as a professional football manager in just one sentence is easy:

'Neil Warnock, as a manager knows how to win football matches'!

Come on you R's!

To some of you above, please don't talk of QPR fans whinging. Talk of QPR fans celebrating, which we are - and wouldn't you?

Surely a segment must be dedicated to the brilliance of Adel on this weeks Claridge show. Would be nice if this wasn't filled with back handed compliments or outright criticism of what he doesn't do.

A couple of questions for Steve; has there ever been a more skillful and talented player in the Championship? Has there ever been a player with a more single handed influence on the Championship?

I would like to add my support to RobSteiner (42 above).

We have heard the opinion on the video blogs and the Football League Show how QPR do not blow teams away etc., which has been widely criticised by supporters; so how about now giving some credit where it is clearly due? A feature on the best player outside of the Premier League and this years Championship Player of the Year - Adel Taraabt!

I would like to add......


On second thoughts I will forget it as Steve's assessments simply aren't worth commenting on any longer.

If Posh want get promoted then they need southampton to take 2nd if they dont. The saints and Brighton are both going up.... Its that last place thats up for grabs.

Anyway posh will only yoyo. The team now isnt as strong as it was last year or two years ago. Plus CMS is going.

If posh dont get promoted expect a clear out of the bigger names ther. Joe Lewis, Boyd, CMK... The future of posh is in the balance!

Steve answered my question on Clough/Boothroyd. This still doesn't mean that I like you Steve. But thanks...

QPR fans should be banned from this blog. The same saddo's turn up every week to gleefully tell us that they wont be commenting on these blogs anymore (whew thats a relief) only for the same saddo's to turn up a week later and comment that they're not commenting again (gutted about that). Then they say things like "I dont care about Steve's opinion anyway" and then proceed on a five minute rant about the problems they have with his opinion.

Some of you QPR fans are trully bizarre but if thats the image of yourself you want to cast countrywide then your doing a fine job of convincing everyone that you have no brains.

Not a great fan of Steve's, but even less of a fan of thicko's.

It beggars belief that the football league and fa have known about faurlin's registration since last summer and they have only now decided to act and to leave it until 24 hours before last match of the season is ridiculous. It means the fans and players of QPR could miss out on having the deserved celebrations as the table doesn't lie they've been by far the best team in the championship this year. If it was that serious why wasn't faurlin banned from playing until this was resolved. Once again the fans and players are being punished for misgivings off the field just like points deductions when clubs go into administration how does that help the club try and raise money when they more than likely be playing a league below the following season.