´óÏó´«Ã½

Scott Sinclair should have won, no question, he's scored way more goals and as steve says he also contributes defensively which quite frankly makes him a better player. And I said Swansea would batter Nott Forest :)

Hello Steve,

Been down the Liberty Stadium a few times this year. It was obvious from his first game that Scott Sinclair was a class act at any level. His movement was top draw, giving great width to the team and could cut inside to finish. Dyer on the right also impressing to a point.

But..Do you think Sinclair thrives due to the 4-3-3 approach adopted by Swansea? rare in the Championship. I could not imagine him contributing so effectively behind a single striker nor as a conventional 4-4-2 wide midfielder.

xwarex SCFC - He has scored 2 more league goals than Tarrabt which in my opinion does not equate to "way more goals".

Also I dont have the statistics to hand but Tarrabt asisits have been even more than his 15 goals.

As for Steve Claridge's view that defending makes him a better player this is a typical ex "kick and run" championship at best Strikers view on the world.

If you can't watch it at work - no one cares. If you want a text version - no one cares.

Steve, what do you think of the appointment of Martin Allen at Barnet? I remember that he was a great manager at Brentford then had a rough patch following his spell at Leicester. Is he the man to save Barnet from relegation in his second spell?

Adel Taarabt is a completely different player to Scott Sinclair. SS relies on touch and frightening pace to get past players, much like our very own Wayne Routledge. Both Routledge and Sinclair are quality players but neither are special like Tarbs is.

Touch, vision, skill, passing ability... The kid has it all, finally an excellent comparision by Claridge (notice the emphasis on ADEL when he mentioned him!) with Robert Prosinecki. One of the best midfielders of his generation was Prosinecki who graces the Bernabeu and the Nou Camp during a glittering career. If Tarb turns out to be half the player he was then he will be a fantastic player.

Hmmmmmm....Another chance for Steve to knock "Abdul"....What a surprise!

On a related point....good to see Steve noticing that Sinclair can "go either way"....I presume he means that he can use both feet, and cut inside or go outside.....Hmmmmm....So what has "Abdul" been doing all season then?

Try to use the same yardstick for BOTH players and I'm sure you, and your readers, will see that Taarabt was the only reasonable choice for Champ Player of the Year.

@4. If people want a text version I don't see why the ´óÏó´«Ã½ won't create one. Anyway, you won't be bothered next month whether people want a text version or not as Barnet will be in BSP and Claridge doesn't comment on that

I must admit as a Wycombe fan I wasnt complaining about the dodgy goal but hope it is further proof for the need of the technology we could use.... My question for Steve is this.... Put your money where your mouth is, Who is getting promoted from the 3 leagues... give us your cast iron predictions!

Steve,

I thouht QPR were only top thanks to 'Abdul'? If that's the case surely you think he must be footballer of the year as surely he has now almost won the league on his own?

Your views might look a lot less silly if you didn't always contradict yourself.

I gave up listening to Steve 'The Expert' Claridge a while back as it was utter drivvle. Therefore without listening to it I would like to make a guess that as usual Steve has made no sense at all with no insightful comments and has taken a rather long time to do it. Am I right?
In response to leshark, why bother asking Steveo for his thoughts on whether Martin Allen is good for Barnet or not - he would only respond with a cliche riddled answer "short time to turn it around" "tough to change a losing habit" "he'll have to shake things up a little" "get them playing more direct" rubbish anyway and his opinion is pointless anyway.

Can't beleive one pundit can talk so much drivel , and that is being polite !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

For anyone to suggest that Scott Sinclair is anywhere near Taarabt is simply ludicrous.
Yes SS has frightening pace, and has found an eye for goal this season, but Adel is simply on a different planet.

He can beat a man and cross, he can play a sublime ball (see coventry at home) he can score from long range. He has the lot.

I am so glad that we wont have to suffer this mans stupid views next season as will have proper pundits ala Hansen, marvelling at Adel's ability.

For the recoed, I hope Swansea get 2nd place in the battle they have with Norwich, but lets be sure of one thing; Adel Taarabt is by far and away the best player in the N Power Championship, and will shine in the Premiership next season.

Once again you cant help but bring up negatives about Taarabt. All season you have said QPR are only top of the league because of him but then you can't commit and so he was the 1 and only worthy winner of the player of the year award. 15 goals and 15 assists, he can do things will the ball other players only dream of. To moan about his defensive work is petty, you clearly haven't watched him in the last month because he is doing more work every game. Obviously he is never going to make a crunching tackle but give me an attacking player who does? Torres? Drogba? Messi? No none of them do, he is the best player in the division and easily the most skillful player to have graced this division. Where is Leroy Rosenior's blog btw? That might be worth a watch.

"Scott should have won, no question". Whilst Scott was a worthy contender, to suggest it's beyond question is frankly laughable. A clear bias towards your own player that has no place in an educated debate.

Steve claridge's face always reminds me of that Alien in Alien Resurection


'shudders'

more tripe from claridge who will do anything for some moolah

everytime i have hear him this season he has said how qpr are all about tarabat now he is contradicting himself yet again

a bore of a pundit

comparasion with prosecniki isnt great either he was a world class playmaker at his best something even the most ardent hoop wouldnt say adel is (yet)

Steve(no boubt about it)Claridge,
Why do you do it?? It seems every time you open your mouth, you contradict yourself!! You make it so easy for people to dislike you and question your ability(or lack of) as a pundit. You are easily the worst pundit currently employed on any tv/radio station and you just dont help yourself!! Watch some of your blogs back to back and have a look at how silly you make yourself look time and time again. I realy hope we(QPR) get promoted this season just so i dont have to look at your face any more and hear the garbage that falls from your mouth.
In an ideal world the ´óÏó´«Ã½ would remove you from you contract and use that money to keep 606 going as i think its far more informative and beneficial to fans than you!!

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

I was listening to the Monday night club on 5live the other day and they were discussing John Terry regaining the captaincy, cue Claridge having a go at "know-nothing" Capello. Wind on ten minutes and Claridge has somehow gone to the other extreme and is vehemently wondering why all the fuss is being made about it!!

How can you be so decisively indecisive? It's clearly a talent that the world is just not yet ready for.

*yawn* we all know you hate QPR Steve, so your comments were hardly a surprise.

whilst I am not sure Taarabt should have won, I don't agree with anyone who thinks he'll 'shine' in the prem next season. Will he getthe time and space he currently gets...doubtful. A good player but time will tell if he's a luxury or more than than that. Also, being the most skillful player doesn't mean to deserve player of the year. Fans of each clubs can tell us who's been consistant this year in their teams...

As 2002 said, Steve's assertion that Taraabt shouldnt have won player of the year is rather worrying for English football. On the basis that Sinclair does more defensively?

Has Steve considered that they are completely different types of player? By his reckoning, does not tracking back and putting in lots of tackles make Messi a lesser player? Of course it doesn't.

Also, as many have mentioned, Steve has been banging on all season about how we are a one-man team, and that without Taraabt we wouldn't be anywhere near top. That may be a fair point - no team in this division would do as well without Taraabt as they would with him. I suspect Swansea would be top if they had Taraabt this season doing what he does. But does that not tell you a little something about the measure of the player?

Sorry Steve, you are SO far wide of the mark on this one it's painful.

As a Shrewsbury fan who saw the awful Wycombe 'goal' at the weekend I'm still in shock at the linesman's decision. Sitting behind him, I'm still amazed at how he came to the decision as a. footage shows it clearly wasn't over the line and b. regardless of that it was physically impossible to see as players including the keeper would have been without doubt blocking his view, so clearly the linesman either guessed or lied. What made it even worse was how insistent he was that the ball had gone over the line.

Still it wasn't the only controversial decision made by the officials in that game, Shrewsbury had a goal disallowed for offside - despite the scorer seemingly behind the crosser - Town had a clear run on goal halted by a foul by a defender who still somehow escaped even a booking, and worse in the last minute the other linesman flagged for a foul on Matt Harold, however the referee instead of giving the penalty blew for full time to avoid having to make a decision.

Given how tight the division 2 promotion / playoff race is those 2 points extra Shrewsbury should have gained could be crucial. However, there's not been enough coverage about this particular refereeing performance. I wonder, will the FA be dropping the official into the lower leagues like they have done with Clattenberg etc in the past whenever a dodgy decision has been made in the premier league...somehow i think not.

I know this has been raised before by QPR fans and you then explained yourself on a subsequent blog not very succesfully, but seriously you seem to have an issue with QPR.

I'm not some blinkered QPR fan who thinks that my club are immune to criticism, far from it, but anyone that has kicked a ball in a park who occasionally follows the beautiful game would have said that Taarabt deserves it.

Sinclair has been outstanding this season and maybe you're all toying with QPR fans for a giggle (doubt it) but 15 goals (which as you point out Steve is miles behind Sinclair's 17) and 15 assists, what would Taarabt have to do to be worthy of winning the award in you eyes? I know defending like John Terry, tackling like Bryan Robson and goalkeeping like Gordon Banks.

Do me a favour.

The reason that Claridge is just an awful pundit and not currently an awful manager is because he fails to recognise just why Adel is the player of the year.

Also of relevance is that individual awards are entwined with club success. Just as the world player of the year in a world cup year is normally a world cup winner (Messi an understandable exception).

I just googled recent winners and the following supports my view. Adel has dragged QPR to the top and ensured promotion. Swansea could quite easily finish in playoffs and not go up.

Championship player of the year: 2010- Kevin Nolan- Club: Newcastle- Position: 1st
Championship player of the year 2009 Ebanks Blake- Club: Wolves- Position: 1st
Championship player of the year 2008- Kevin Phillips Club: WBA- Position 1st

Championship player of the year 2008- Adel Taarabt Club: QPR- Position 1st

See any correlation Steve???

A question to all 606ers, if you had the choice, would you keep Steve Claridge as pundit on the Championship/Claridge kicks off/5 Live or bin him off and keep 606??

@rrrrrs

The latter ;-)

I'm sure there are some who think his punditry is fine, but I'm yet to meet anyone who does. It's really rather worrying that the Beeb are paying out licence payer's money to a guy who can barely string a sentence together, constantly contradicts himself, and appears to base his punditry on his feelings about certain clubs (QPR included), rather than any actual fact.

I'm sure if (when) QPR win the title, Steve will still maintain that we didn't deserve it, are a one man team (contradicting this blog), and that a host of other teams below us were far better.

He kind of reminds me of a biased supporter of a club who can't see when one of their players puts in a horror challenge, but bays for blood if someone in the opposition team tugs a shirt. In other words, he completely ignores the truth to fit his own agenda.

The scary thing is, we are all paying for his views.

I havn't watched every game which sinclair has been involved in, but i think that taarabt has been the stand out player this season,not doubt both him and sinclair will be playing in the premier league next season and both are extremely bright prospects for the future, both are great dribblers with the ball, tarrabt is more of a playmaker, whereas sinclair is more of a winger, both have created and scored goals this season and have carried their teams on many occasions, good luck to the both of them in the future.

complete utter tripe claridge bbc should get rid of your wages and keep 606- your opinions are awful and so anti-qpr and im a newcastle fan, a 5 year old can give a better blog than you

As a Rangers fan i have say that for the first time as much as it may seem a negitive punt at Adel he is on the ball. I refer you back to the artical written only a few days ago by Paul Fletcher which i think is a true reflection of the lad...

/blogs/paulfletcher/2011/03/adel_taarabt.html

Adel is as mentioned a player of fantastic potential and skill, and compared him to the likes of many other quality players in their day, however i think this is the point Steve was making out that is Adel is not the complete package against the likes of Scott Sinclair, which is a very fair point as well all know. He is without doubt an out and out attacking player who rarely contributes defencively, Then again the system we deploy has be built around him to play his style of football, and not how he has fitted into an established system.

Pointing out that it was said "When" we go up is certainly a positive! It was also mentioned that we are top because Adel has performed when we needed him to, that he was a worthy winner of player of the year and that he has not only contributed with goals but also assists.

If anything im stunned about his comments on Connor Wickham!

and there was me about to say.... i would almost go as far as saying a half decent blog =S

I would like to have seen Sinclair win it but that's mostly for the pride of having a Swans player win the award. Taraabt was a worthy winner, and I think as RobSteiner said it just makes sense for a player who has been the inspiration behind the best team in the league, which it looks like QPR will be confirmed as being come the end of the season, to win the award, especially when they're so far ahead of everyone else on points. I just wonder why the awards are given out 8 games before the end of the season, surely it would make more sense to have them at the season's end? Unlikely to happen, but what if Scott Sinclair makes enough assists in the last eight games to overtake Taraabt's tally, and continues to score goals at the rate he's been scoring them, eventually inspiring the Swans to pip QPR to a 1st placed finish. Alright, Taraabt's probably been the better player over the course of the season, but why are these last 8 games not taken into consideration? Just wondering...

Although I agree Taraabt is a worthy winner of the award an d he is going to be one hell of a player in years to come, he seems to me to be a bit of Ronaldo type player.

When things are going well he is unplayable, but a couple of times this season things haven't gone his way, for example at Carrow Road when Andrew Crofts marked hm out of the game, he has a tendancy to throw his toys out of the pram.

That being said, he would easily walk into any team in the Championship and probably most in the Premier league as well.

Also Steve seems to have forgotten that Taraabt also beat Grant Holt to player of the season, not just Scott Sinclair

I havnt even listened to the blog as I can pretty much work out what the crack is by looking at the comments. Claridge repeating all the negatives of QPR and now havin a go at the championship player of the year. Taarabt is the most frustrating yet exciting player to have played for QPR for years. His selfishness to shoot from every angle rather then pass to open man has left me and thousands of others tearing our hair out . . but then he dribbles the ball, takes it round 6 players and fires in a screamer, or picks out a 50 yard pass to open up the defence and can completely change a game. Stunning goals against cardiff and swansea and the amount of goals he has created as well as scored, the amount of games he has single handedly won and the amount of players he has torn apart are the reasons why he is the best player in the championship. I think sinclair is a quality player and him and swansea deserve to be playing premier league football with us next season but Taarabt is a different class to everyone else in that league. For claridge to moan about his lack of defensive qualities! we bought him to be an attacking threat, we have shaun derry, alejandro faurlin, paddy kenny and a mean back four to keep the goals out. We have the most clean sheets in the league and the best defensive record in england so why do taarabts defensive qualities matter? It will be great to watch him in the prem next season and I dont expect or want him to change his style one bit no matter how frustrating he can be. U RRRs

Totally agree, Dazz_ncfc.

Another point, on Conner Wickham. I can see why Steve Claridge has said what he's said, and I reckon the reason why Henri Lansbury didn't get it over him is that he doesn't belong to Norwich and we haven't had him all season. He's made more of an impact to Norwich's season than Wickham has to Ipswich's. Not to worry, we don't need recognition, we need promotion. Onwards and upwards, On The Ball, City!

Usual diatribe from Steve Garbage!
As for the Scott Sinclair vs Adel Taarabt saga... many have mentioned how Adel has scored 15 goals and created 15 opportunities for others to score goals (assists); looking at Scott Sinclair - 17 goals, but not even on the list for assists (which stopped at 6 assists and 32 other players listed below Adel). So maybe Adel is so busy pushing forward, scoring and unselfishly giving other players the opportunity to score goals. As they say: the best form of defense is attack! Clearly Adel is so adept and skilful at keeping defenses of other teams busy that he doesn't need to track back - he wouldn't be contributing his skills in the most gainful way dong that - there are other players to fulfil that role!
So no question that Adel is Player of the Year in the Championship. Nobody comes close to him, not even close.
And as for Scott Sinclair. Talented? Sure. But he sure ain't making chances for anyone else! I'd probably have to say Grant Holt or Luciano Becchio is closer than Scott Sinclair with greater contribution where you need them - up front scoring and making goals.

Usual diatribe from QPR supporters. Listen carefully to what he says and he's agreeing with you. Why do supporters of any club react so badly just because someone dares to have a different opinion of a player at their club. I dared to voice the same opinion on the championship board and was subjected to personal abuse.If he'd slated him you'd have grounds for your diatribe. How many times have you seen Sinclair play? Did you see what he did to Nottingham at the weekend, it was similar to what he did to us- thats a sign of a great player, producing it in the big matches. From what I've seen he is as good a player as Taarabat - you obviously haven't seen Becchio play that often, he's an honest player and we love him, but he's not up there with Sinclair...or Taarabat.

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

Leedsneil:

Sinclair has played against QPR twice this season. They never scored. Taarabt destroyed them. As others have pointed out Taarabt has 15 assists to his name, how many has Sinclair? Remember that total doesn't include the penalties he has won because defenders can't tackle him.

Sinclair was on loan with us and did nothing. He is at his level (probably harsh) but will not progress to the level taht Taarabt can reach!

As for Claridge? The rubbish he spouts shows why he failed at a mickey mouse club like Weymouth and could never have a hope of managing his way out of a paper bag!

Those that can, do. Those that can't, talk (garbage) about it!!

QPR4Me:

Leeds have played against QPR only once this season, but Taarabt was non-existent. Does that cancel out the countless good performances he's had this season? No

GSBG

No it doesn't. LN asked how much we have seen of Sinclair. We've seen him twice this season and had him on loan. We sent him back to his parent club because he failed with us and his "mummy" complained!!

We know more about both players than the fool Claridge is ever going to know!

I completely agree with Mr. Claridge. Abdul is not all that; I've never seen him make a world-class save like Gordon Banks did from Pele nor a tackle like Bobby Moore made in the same game. He's a flash in the pan and a show-pony who should not have been scoring goals and setting up goals - that's not his job! After all QPR only have the division's best defensive record but they have still let in twenty-three goals. I blame Abdul for at least eighteen of those. Thank you once again Mr. Claridge for your enlightening views and coruscating wit. I will miss you next season although I will continue to watch you, Jimi Mistry, Lizzie, and the baldy bloke every week after MOTD.

I think we all have opinions on players which others will not agree with, thats the beauty of opinions. Players mature, and play well at certain clubs, and I don't think you can rate Sinclair solely on his performances for you (last season?) I think Spurs fans might say similar things about Taarabat. Just checking stats I'm amazed that Sinclair only has 2 assists this season..perhaps he fooled me, but then he has scored 17 goals this season. Looking at stats Cowie should have been runner up!

None of the teams in the Championship deserve to win it because 'they're not set up right' (s'right innit Steve)?
Even the teams in the Premiership aren't 'set up right' (s'right Steve)?
In fact the only team that was ever 'set up right' was Millwall in 2005 when a Mr Claridge was manager (s'right Steve)?
Pity Theo didn't see it that way!

lol at the QPR fans. I do agree Tarabbt was worthy of player of the year, i disagree with your opinions on Sinclair though

But if you want to go by all these goals/assists stats lets throw a few others into the mix, to make it interesting.

Appearances
Tarabbt 37 (0.40 goals per game)
Sinclair 33 (0.51 goals per game)

Shots ON/OFF target
Tarabbt 79/61 (0.10 goals per shot)
Sinclair 45/43 (0.19 goals per shot)

Now lets look at the strike force each player has to work with shall we?

QPR
Mackie = 42 shots (9 goals)
Smith = 21 shots (5 goals)
Helguson = 54 shots (12 goals)

TOTAL = 117 (26 goals) = 0.22 goals per shot

Swans
Dobbie = 71 shots (6 goals)
Moore = 42 shots (6 goals)
Beattie = 25 shots (4 goals)
TOTAL = 138 (16 goals) = 0.11 goals per shot

Even Tarabbt would struggle getting assists with our strike force lol. Both are great players, but your comparing apples and oranges when it comes to assists.

So take off those blinkers and take into consideration some of the other factors.

I always thought football was a team sport? To suggest that QPR are top only because of one player- I feel thats insulting all round. So does 'Abdul' play on his own in allpositions at the same time?

My point being we can all talk drivel! I certainly dont know what Im on about. Oh. my names Steve as well! lol

There's one thing I notice about a lot of these QPR posts. They all claim to not listen to Claridge's opinion, yet they all sit here complaining about it as if they've just sat here listening to it. My guess is they hang off his every word because they want something to moan about. Where is the sense in saying things like "I haven't watched this, but....". Watch it first, and then you might not look so foolish. And if they really are'nt concerned with Claridge's opinions, why even bother to comment at all? QPR fans opinions of Steve Claridge are as boring to the rest of us as they say Claridge's opinion is to them. So I'll do to them what they're doing to Claridge and say "I havent read the majority of QPR fans comments but I know what they all say and they're boring". Works for me.

Anyone who says QPR aren't build as a one man team need to look at two things. Taarabt scoring/creating 30 goals, and this article;



It works though! It's going to get you promoted, and you'll have the money to bring in quality players when you go up, so fair play to Warnock, he's done a good job. Build a solid team of experienced players at this level, and stick a mercurial talent in the middle and let him do what he wants. Personally, I'm glad that's not happening at my club, and even if we got offered the chance to sign Taarabt I'd prefer not to given his attitude problems. The "captain" sitting at half time not saying a word? Get real... the armband is clearly just an ego thing!

@#48 - You are missing the point. This isn't some aimless hate campaign by QPR fans (if you think this way you will end up like Steve). This about the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s continued use of a man who has a biased opinion against the leading team (and best therefore bext players) in the division. His continued lack of praise and criticism of QPR is laughable given the teams continued exploits (we are clearly a cut above the rest in this league?). Even now when Adel Taarabt picks up a coveted award Steve still finds time to down play it and disagree.

Do you find this in the Prem league? I don't hear the same criticisms of Man U or Rooney (even though Rooney has not had a great season!)??

It's about time the ´óÏó´«Ã½ recognised this and replaced this man with someone who a) knows something about football punditry and b) gives unbiased opinion......

To all QPR fans - lets have a whip round and buy Steve a one way ticket to Australia. He is probably better suited to provided mediocre punditry to a mediocre league. The longer he does this for the championship the more degrading to the very good players and well run clubs that perform within it.

Tarrabt is certainly a worthy player of the season - Sinclair I'd reckon has probably been the signing of the season.

@39
"Sinclair has played against QPR twice this season. They never scored. Taarabt destroyed them"

The two of them have played against Norwich 3 times this season - in all three times times both were anonymous.

My point, which somehow broke the rules (I don't know why) still stands - I think Wes Hoolahan is at least up there with both. Yet for some reason he is being overlooked in all this.

Fair do's, you QPR fans have a real chip on your colective shoulder... Both players are good, better than good. Scott suits our system, Taarabt suits yours. I wouldn't swap Sinclair for him, or any other player though, and with Fabio up front, I expect a partnership to develop that will see us promoted.

As for your lad, yes, class, but when you're one of the richest clubs in the World, if not a big club itself, then you expect to bring in quality players, with Swansea, we have to search a little harder.

One things for sure, they should definitely rename this, the QPR's winge board! It's the only thing that anyone says on here. So steve doesn't think Tarrabt should have won, he gave his reasons and he was very complimentary of a fine footballer and one who would be a credit to any team in this league. And as someone has already pointed out you're more than likely to get promoted and you won't have to listen to his opinions next year will you so there's not really much point in crying about it, calling for his replacement is just ridiculous, even if your protests worked they wouldn't replace him before the end of the season anyway, and then how would that affect you?

#45 Dean - Spot on mate

I'll just pitch in with the fact that Siclair has also scored another 5 goals in FA and League Cup appearances which although doesn't come into considerstion when awarding the player of the year award, it is further evidence that he is a better player. [SS 22 - 15 AT]

Lastly then, to all those out there who are moaning about sub-titles because you're in work, two things come to mind here, firstly, should you really be watching this whilst in work? And secondly......anybody ever heard of headphones? lol

55. Sinclair has scored 2 more league goals. Taarabt hasn't played any cup game as he was rested for them. Taarabt has 13 more assists than Sinclair. Care to comment? In our 4-0 win over you, Adel scored 2, won the pen and set up Mackie's goal by beating 3 of your players. I went to the Liberty and both times against us Sinclair was anonymous. Adel deserved the award because he has scored or assisted 30 league goals as opposed to Sinclair's 19.

Hoolahan was much more threatening than Sinclair in both games against us. Sinclair is another one of these yo-yo players. Maybe too good for this league but not good enough for the Prem. He has pace and is a decent finisher but for the brain dead Claridge to say Sinclair deserved it because he is better defenisively is a joke.

"Maybe too good for this league but not good enough for the Prem"... I see. Remind me, 'Punch', how did Taarabt get on in his stint at the top....?

So the measure of just how good a player is... 'How did he get on against Swansea'? Blimey, we've come a long way.

@Arganth " Wes Hoolihan is up there with Adel Taarabt" hahahahaha nearly spat my tea over the lap top... yeah alright mate!

As a lifelong Spurs fan - who also has a soft spot for QPR due to living in Shepherds Bush for the last 11 years - I've seen plenty of Taarabt both on television and occasionally at games, and I have to say that the player that he most reminds me of is Luka Modric.

Considering I see Modric as Tottenham's most important and influential player these days, that is a major compliment to Taarabt.

AT, I'm also a Spurs fan

I've seen Taarabt on television and I would not compare him to Luka Modric at all! Modric is the must important player in our team, always busy, always has time on the ball and can always play a pass, retains possession and does a lot of simple things really well. From what I've seen that's nothing like Taarabt, who often tries fancy tricks, regularly takes on defenders and tries shooting from anywhere. Modric is very much a team player, Taarabt is more individual.

Even in the few appearances Taarabt made with Spurs he seemed to have great trouble recognising that he did actually have teammates he could pass too!

Although I seriously can't believe that this blog has attracted over 50 replies all about QPR!!

mtrenners (COYS!).....while Taarabt still has his moments of individual brilliance, I've seen him become a lot more of a team player since joining QPR. This is evidenced by the spread of goals across the team and his individual assists tally too.

He's not the same player we saw at the Lane and gets more involved with build up play and patient probing, rather than trying to take on an army down a dead end.

And I suspect most QPR fans on here will agree that he has changed the way he plays and his contributions over the course of the season. Although I'm happy to stand corrected if the majority suggests otherwise. I'm nice like that. :)

Adel seems to be maturing as a person as well as in his game.

I'm sure if we do get promoted, the Spurs fans will see a different Tarbs to the one that was at the lane.

@JeffroQPR On reflection I think you're right. I don't recall Hoolahan being anonymous in BOTH games between the two teams this season.

I now see my error in elevating Taarabt to the same level as Wessi.

"I now see my error in elevating Taarabt to the same level as Wessi", yea, Wessi is untouchable. if you'd compared him to messi, well, that's more believeable.

I know I'm biased, but I cannot believe that no-one has mentioned the ridiciulous fact that Danny Graham didn't even make the shortlist, when he's scored 25 and 7 assists - way more than Taarabt, Sinclair and Holt. What's more, he's a consumate team player and works his backside off every game.

Am I missing something obvious?

Don't start bringing other players into this debate, we've had enough trouble already. If Graham had been playing for a top 6 side he would be in the shortlist. I find it strange that we're getting quite so worked up about a 2 bit award, and that we've still got 8 games to play in the championship and they've already decided who's the best player- why decide now when one player could knock in a hatful of goals which carry his team to promotion..stand up Max Gradel/Robert Snodgrass! Perhaps they've decided QPR are already champions.

To leedsneil 1966 (66 above) - Just do the maths, if QPR are not going to be champions they have to lose the equivalent of at least four of their last eight games. They have lost only 4 in 38, so of course people have decided QPR are 'already champions'!

Regarding the real debate here, I use the following examples: Rodney Marsh, Alan Hudson, Stan Bowles, Tony Currie, Glen Hoddle, Mathew Le Tissier, Frank Worthington, Paul Gascoigne and Charlie George – Adel Taraabt has a similar ability and the potential to be as good as any of the aforementioned. None of them tackled back to help out the defence, but all were exciting crowd pleasers and on their day worth paying the ticket money alone for. However, Gascoigne excluded none earned the international caps their quality deserved.

Only Sir Bobby Robson was brave enough to build his team around the undoubted talent of a maverick and look what happened in Italia 90. It is not all about tackling back to help the defence. Taraabt has missed only one game this season and yet QPR boast the best defensive record in the Championship. Why should Taraabt defend? The system QPR play clearly works and works well. Let others defend and let Taraabt do what Taraabt does best – Taraabt makes and scores goals.

Steve Claridge has taken the easiest option when giving his opinion, which is not the correct one. Taraabt has brought something different to the Championship this season and despite being amongst the top scorers his 18 assists, which incidentally almost double his closest rival, clearly emphasises he is also a team player. However, he is a flair player who loves to go forward. He has the talent to do special things that most Championship players can only dream of.

Of course the decision to award Taraabt the Championship Player of the Year Award was the correct one. Taraabt is a unique talent and is what enjoying football is all about.

It doesn’t really matter whether Steve Claridge thinks Adel Taraabt is not as good as Scott Sinclair. The fact is Taraabt is better, which is why he has won the award and why he will be playing Premier League football with QPR next season - when they go up as Champions!

With most of the last 16 seasons being absolute dross, there´s enough goalscorers, pacy wingers, water carrier type players around, to keep me in my seat.

Taraabt gets me out of it several times in every game, even if only for the histrionics. This fella is a talent, how good he can be, we will find out in the next few years. Lets hope he stays in the English game.

If Snodgrass, Holt or Graham fancy a move to QPR would be more than happy to see any of them at the club.

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

I'm QPR fan and I'm going to whinge. The reason being is that Steve Claridge has TV and this blog to spurt his anti QPR rubbish. He gets too much publicity and too much opportunity to say what he says. We have the right to redress the balance.

Tarrabt is the best Championship player. The only reason he is not in the Premiership right now is due to his character. He has the ability to play at a far higher level.

That is all.

The best player in the best team in the league should win this award seeing as he has made the biggest impact on the division throughout the season, hence his team being top.

Step forward Adel Taarabt.

Non believers please note the League Table.

Taarabt is player of the season, no question.

On a separate note, Does anyone have a recommendation for football forums similar to 606? I often like to read and make comments but can't find any decent sites.

Cheers

NEIL WARNOCK

1987 was historic in footballing terms because the 1st non league team won automatic promotion to the Football League - the manager of Scarborough, Neil Warnock!

Huddersfield Town - cup triumphs and promotion - the manager, Neil Warnock!

Plymouth Argyle - promotion - the manager, Neil Warnock!

Sheffield United - FA Cup semi finalists, League Cup semi finalists, promoted to the Premier League - the manager, Neil Warnock!

QPR - Champions elect 2010/11 Championship (so many points clear it's a joke) - the manager, Neil Warnock!

STEVE CLARIDGE

Manager - Plymouth Argyle, 25 games - failed

Manager - Millwall, failed

Manager - Weymouth, failed

Warnock Football League Championship Manager of the Season 2010/11 - without doubt!

Taraabt Football League Championship Player of the Season 2010/11 - obviously!

QPR Football League Championship Champions 2010/11 - of course!

Result: QPR won, Claridge lost. Scorers, Warnock and Taraabt!

Match report: Steve Claridge's comments make no difference whatsoever!

As an unashamedly biased Hornet, I too feel the non-inclusion of the best striker in the division (in terms of goals scored - isn't that how they're measured?) was a bit disappointing. I agree with 66 (leedsneil1966) that if he belonged to a top 6 side, he'd be in there. But they must have been struggling after Taraabt and Sinclair to find another, so lumped Holt in. Seriously? The guy probably threatened to eat the Football League if he wasn't included.

As for Connor Wickham, congrats to him on the Apprentice award (beating our own Adam Thompson), but young player of the year? The Liverpool scouts were raving more about Sordell when they came to see Wickham at the Vic earlier this season. And in order to stay a bit more objective than most of you on this blog (you know who you are), how about Lansbury, Zaha@Palace, Bennett@'Boro, Rodriguez@Burnley and, oh yeah, Sinclair and Taraabt. At the moment, Wickham is not as good and an award for underperformance such as this could ruin his career!

How does steve Claridge have a job? U are Clueless...

To say that he's not the most skillfull player in the championship is crazy. NO ONE has as much skill as him. His job is not to defend his job is to score goals or create them. Please look at nottingham forest away, U are clueless. U have the football Knowledge of a cat....

Arganth - seriously now, "Wessi" is a good player but certainly not in either Sinclair or Tarraabt's class. To even try to suggest otherwise is complete bias and utter lunacy. It would help his cause if he knew how to take a penalty!

Although I do believe Taarabt was a worthy winner the award I think the fact that he is playing in a team that is keeping hold of the ball and getting it to him certainly helps.

Going on statistics, surely the fact that Taarabt has had 140 shots yet only scored 15 testament to the fact that QPR's successes are much more as a result of a solid team and a good manager than it is down to 1 player. Having only watched a subdued Taarabt play the 1 game this season - the 3-1 defeat by Watford and a promising Sinclair twice, I'm probably not in the right place top make such a judgement.

However surely the fact that Danny Graham has scored 22 goals and 7 assists for a club with serious financial troubles and a very young one at that from a meagre 64 shots (well under half that of Taarabt) justifies, at least being nominated for the award.

Steve - quit before you're pushed!

As A rangers fan. Claridge and our fans do not get along, He needs to also know how to spell Taarabt. I am glad Taarabt won he had been really good 4 us this season. Sinclair has done okay but no where near as good as Taarabt. Also well done Ainsworth you have had a great season at Wycombe.p He will always b a ranger in my hart :-)

I have been looking at your comments and all i have to say is: Taarabt has done more then score 15. I have been 2 all games at home so far and he has put the ball thro 5-7 players legs, beat evey defender he has come up against, Scored every penalty he has taken and he has won the Championship's player of the season award in 1 season at the club. What a talented young lad.

'theres no doubt about that' haha how many times do you want to say it!