2010/11 PLAYER OF THE SEASON

and

2010/11 YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Adel Taarabt is the deserved winner of the Player of the Year and young player of the year awards.

Taarabt signed a three year contract at QPR at the start of the season and has produced a quite incredible season.to be seen to be believed. He scored one that day, made the other two and was breath taking to watch.

The move to Rangers brought a mixed reaction from fans, some delighted to see him return others unsure if he could ever be part of a winning team. On the opening day of the season though Taarabt began to prove the doubters wrong. He was given a free role and created chances, cut open the defence before winning a penalty, later scoring a penalty and going off to a standing ovation.

That was just the start of an incredible season for him, the goals and assists kept coming although the player himself claimed he was nowhere near fit and would get better, little did we know how much better, The season perhaps turned for him after a poor night at Bristol City where he was taken off and struggled to make an impact. The following week he scored a fantastic solo goal against Burnley and his season took off.

In the home game against Reading he was like a matador, teasing the reading defenders with some outrageous skills. the only way they could stop him was with some rough cynical fouls but that just made Taarabt try even more extravagant skills including a back heel flick on the half way line which had to be seen to be believed. He scored one that day, made the other two and was breath taking to watch.

His form continued as he tore Preston apart with a devastating second half performance and he won the key game for Rangers with a special winning goal against Cardiff. Inevitably his for dropped a little but he was back to his very best on Boxing Day causing havoc again for Swansea City and was far more clinical than I had seen him before.

He created the first goal, won a penalty for the second, scored the third and then the fourth, oh my the fourth goal. An interchange of ole passes on the left, a back heel before Taarabt got the ball back and with his quick feet he dragged the ball one way then the other and then through poor Joe Allen's legs who turned away with the look of a man who had just been humiliated. Taarabt strode away and smashed a shot into the bottom corner, I spent several minutes screaming "Fucking hell" at the top of my voice and had just seen the goal of the season.

Taarabt went on to create the killer second goal at Coventry days later and scored and made one in the draw with Bristol City, basically if QPR scored a goal it was a safe bet to assume that Taarabt had been involved in it.

The arrival of Wayne Routledge gave him even more space to work in and he scored another special goal in the home win against Coventry before a quite majestic pass with the outside of his foot split open the Coventry defence to create the winning goal.

You never know what you are going to get with Taarabt though and he was at his sulky worse at Hull where he threw a quite unbelievable tantrum that my two year old would be proud of, walking around almost in tears as Derry didn't pass to him he demanded to be taken off much to the joy of the Hull fans. Taarabt played on that day and made up for his childish antics with the key opening goal in the win over Portsmouth before creating the second goal as well.

He missed a game for the first time all season at Doncaster amid rumours of him leaving the club but he returned for the next home game tormenting and teasing a poor Sheffield United side in a 3-0 win.

Taarabt finished the season well and scored some key goals to get us over the line. In the opening minute at Barnsley he got on the ball on the left, danced past the right back before shooting into the bottom corner of the net. Rangers held on for a 1-0 win which ultimately gave us enough points to secure promotion.

He had a poor game against Robbie Savage and Derby the next week but was back to his best at Cardiff. After falling a goal behind Taarabt collected the ball on the left, cut inside and angled a beautiful curling shot into the top corner. Later in the game he raced onto a pass from Routlegde to break clear of the defence and equalise for a second time and ensure that Rangers were one win away from promotion.

He had chances to secure that promotion in the draw with Hull but he got us over the line at Watford. In a dull game Taarabt was the one providing rare attacking inspiration and with ten minutes left he found space in the middle, re adjusted his body shape to lean back and top poke a Tommy Smith cross into the back of the net which brought about jubilant scenes among the travelling fans. Rangers had won promotion and Taarabt with nineteen goals and twenty three assists had played a massive role.

Taarabt is not everyone's cup of tea, he is a showboat, a throwback to the mavericks of the 1970's. People talk in awe of Rodney Marsh and Stan Bowles forgetting many were quick at the time to call them lazy show ponies but they produced where it mattered on the pitch and when it mattered. Taarabt does things in a similar vein and whilst he has a lot of improving to do if he is going to become the superstar he deserves to be I honestly think he is the most naturally talented and skilful footballer I have ever seen in a QPR shirt.

Here is the top five for this award

Player of the Year 2010/11
1st Adel Taarabt	2nd Paddy Kenny	3rd Shaun Derry
4th Heider Helguson	5th Alejandro Faurlin	6th Tommy Smith