mind the expectation gap

Seasoned London commuters think nothing of the Underground network's recorded messages warning passengers to take care when stepping from the station platform to the train door. Small children and out-of-town visitors, however, often seem to find the recording remarkably amusing. So much so that among latter group there exists a market for t-shirts bearing the familiar slogan.

This Sunday, visiting Aston Villa fans using the Central Line to get to White City seem to be especially aware of the gap. The gap, that is, between their expectations for the season ahead and the sudden surge of optimism being expressed by supporters of their opponents on the day.

Since this is my england last bothered to report on a QPR match (their [deliberate?] tumble at the first hurdle of the League Cup), new majority shareholder Tony Fernandes has delighted the Rangers faithful with a wealth of exciting signings. So far, these additions to the squad have combined to good effect.

Almost immediately after a hectic transfer deadline day, the Shepherds Bush outfit dominated visiting Newcastle United, albeit without hitting the back of the net. As the only QPR fan watching the 0-0 stalemate in my local boozer, I found it to be a tense affair, but the R's were very clearly the better side on the night. As reported by the Guardian, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was heard, in his nasal tones, to ask and answer his own rhetorical question thus: "Am I disappointed with a point? No, not when when we didn't deserve any more."

Better was to follow when the West London side travelled up to Molyneaux to face Mick McCarthy's Wolves last Saturday. Neil Warnock's team ran rampant, scoring three goals without reply, hogging possession and gathering praise for a stylish performance.

What of the new recruits?

The midfield upgrade

Well, wasn't it inevitable that the first appearance of much-maligned midfielder Joey Barton would come against the club from which he had just departed in acrimonious circumstances? Against Newcastle, though, Barton simply looked usefully efficient, making his own contribution to QPR's good performance and seeming to bring out the best in established Rangers players. In both of Barton's QPR appearances thus far, his companions in the centre of QPR's midfield are playing like men transformed. The grey-haired veteran Shaun Derry, he of the endless perfectly-timed and crucially important tackling, had already made a successful adjustment to top flight football. Playing alongside Barton, he looks even better. Also improved is Alejandro Faurlin. Already looking comfortable in the Premier League, the Argentinean was described as an "outstanding" contributor to the win over Wolves by the Daily Mail's Alex Kay. Before the season started, it was the temperamental but brilliant Moroccan Adel Taarabt who was being spoken of as the one QPR player likely to be a transfer target for more prominent clubs in England and abroad. Now I wonder if Faurlin will be the one to attract most interest during the next transfer window. His passing and positioning looks excellent.

Solid at the back
Via Twitter, no end of mockery was expressed about the signing of 21 year-old Armand Traore, the French-born left back acquired from Arsenal on deadline day. The young full back had last been seen looking no more effective than the hapless team mates around him on the day the Gunners capitulated miserably to a rampant Manchester United side. So the theme of most mocking tweets seemed to be around QPR having done Arsenal a favour by relieving the north London club of a useless player. I don't think I was alone, however, in paying no heed to these remarks. Other glimpses I'd had of Traore in an Arsenal shirt (and on loan at Portsmouth in 2008-09) had given me cause to believe that the Rangers were signing up a player with great pace, good versatility and the ability to present a much-needed attacking option down the left flank. So it has proved. In a hooped shirt, Traore is now zooming the length of the pitch and whipping in inviting crosses to good effect. Verdict: looks like a top signing. Arsenal, I feel, may come to regret the transaction, too.

Also joining the QPR back line since Tony Fernandes started getting his chequebook out: Anton Ferdinand, formerly of Sunderland and Luke Young, joining from Sunday's opponents. Young,  aged 32 and with a few England caps to his name, brings much-needed top flight experience to the Rangers defence and has ousted Bradley Orr from the right back position. Prior to the season, some QPR fans were worrying about a lack of both pace and proven Premier League credentials at the back, with the two full back positions looking a particular worry. That such concerns were expressed in no way detracts from the appreciation felt for the efforts of Orr on the right and Clint Hill on the left during last season's successful promotion campaign. Doubtless, most supporters will have developed some affection for both players, who came across as solid, dependable and likeable professionals. So, this is my england joins those sending good wishes to Clint Hill as he begins a loan stint with Steve McLaren's Nottingham Forest.

Villa: Why worry?
Both QPR and Sunday's visitors from the Second City have gained seven points from their first five fixtures. While six of QPR's points have come from away wins, Aston Villa have set out their stall as draw specialists, picking up four points from tied matches. The lone win came against a Blackburn side that, recent heroics against Arsenal notwithstanding, must surely count among many pundits' choices for relegation.

Perhaps, then, there is some justification for the wailing and gnashing of teeth emanating from some Aston Villa Internet forums and messageboards.

In response to a match prediction piece at the Villa Blog, M5Villa writes "We'll get beat on Sunday, regardless of how well our team plays because our midfield does not have enough steel", adding "I don't think we're any better than Wolves and QPR caned them." Similarly pessimistic, TheBlackPearl opines that "it's a QPR win for me, they have too much quality in the middle of the park and we will likely give them the majority of the possession as per usual."

At Heroes and Villains, meanwhile, contributors are lining up to predict a home win, with some fearing a real drubbing.

I wonder, though, if it's a bit premature to be thinking of the Rangers as genuinely tough opposition. This comes, after all, in the wake of just two performances good enough to attract warm praise. So while it's tempting as a QPR supporter to get carried away by the current mood of excitement, I do still keep in mind that the Tony Fernandes revolution is at a very early stage. I wonder, too, about the effect of opponents sitting up and taking notice in the wake of recent good results,  now not making the mistake of underestimating Neil Warnock's side. I also worry a little about the impact of any unhelpful combination of injuries. QPR, for me, now have a decent Premier League team. But a strong squad? How much top talent is sitting on the bench or playing in the reserves for QPR? Not enough, perhaps.

I also wonder if Villa supporters, though perhaps justifiably disappointed by their club's approach to the transfer market, are making too much of a slow start. While I wouldn't tip Villa to be in the running for a top six or seven finish, I daresay they won't flirt for long with the lowest reaches of the table. My sense is that Sunday's opponents are of mid-table quality. Given that right-thinking QPR fans would surely be delighted with a mid-table finish, perhaps the visitors' followers are paying a newly assembled Rangers side too much respect when predicting a thrashing at the hands of the Londoners.

Whatever happens, I'll doubtless be feeling as nervous as usual unless QPR quickly build a two-goal advantage as in the Wolves match.

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