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Adel Taarabt joined QPR on loan in March 2009 and has gone on to become one of the most talked about players at QPR since Les Ferdinand first burst onto the scene.

He made his debut at Southampton as a late substitute, his first touch saw him try several stepovers before beating one man, trying to take on another three before losing the ball. Instantly he got people off their seats and continued to do so for the rest of that season as he produced some exciting performances in wins over Swansea and Bristol City and he ended the season with many screaming for him to be signed up, my thought was that he was far too good for us and destined for big things in the game.

Taarabt was back at QPR not long afterwards though on a season long loan from Spurs. he scored a fantastic individual goal in a pre season win over Southampton and hopes were high that he could take us to the Premier League. Taarabt played with a swagger so rarely seen in modern football, he played for himself, to entertain himself and didn't seem to care if he had better options it was far more fun to try another nutmeg or step over. He could was mesmerising to watch at first and could be incredibly frustrating. he scored a fantastic goal beating several players before tucking it away for our first win of the season at Scunthorpe but he could just as easily disappear from games and offer little.

As the teams form picked up Taarabt found himself in and out of the side. He almost left the club after a 5-2 win over Barnsley, he cam eon as substitute towards the end and choose to take players on and shoot wildly over the bar rather than set up Buzsaky for his hat trick. Some fans booed and he motioned to the bench to be taken off whilst throwing a hand gesture or two at the QPR fans.He was calmed down by QPR fans and club Chairmen Gianni Paladini and stayed at the club before improving his own form.

He scored the 2009/10 goal of the season against Preston with a sensational run and shot. the team were now flying and his tricks were being far more appreciated as he added another goal in the 4-2 win at Derby and another in a defeat against Leicester.

His form fell away though with the team in November and by Christmas after the departure of Jim Magilton he was back on the bench and looking a bit part player. Mick Harford and Paul Hart both avoided picking him and his QPR career looked as good as over until Neil Warnock arrived.

The arrival of Warnock changed everything for Taarabt, he was given the freedom to express himself on the pitch and was superb for Rangers adding goals to his game and producing one of the finest individual performances of the season in an away draw at Preston. Taarabt ended the season with another row with fans after wasting a good opportunity against Cardiff and he demanded to be taken off. We didn't see much of him after that but all in all his good points outweighed his bad and he fully deserves the reward of being named young player of the year on this web site.

That looked to be the end of it but after much talked about moves to Spain never quite materialised he was back at QPR just a few days before the start of the season in a transfer said to be worth £500,000.

The move 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.
Previous Awards on This Web Site:
 
2010/11
2010/11 Player of the Season
2010/11 Young Player of the Season
2010/11 Goal of the Season 2nd vs Swansea
January 2011 Goal of the Month vs Coventry
2010 Player of the Year
2010 Young Player of the Year
2010 Goal of the Year 2nd vs Swansea
2010 Goal of the Year Runner Up 2nd vs Preston
December 2010 Goal of the Month 2nd vs Swansea
December 2010 Player of the Month
November 2010 Goal of the Month 2nd vs Preston
November 2010 Player of the Month
October 2010 Goal of the Month vs Burnley
August 2010 Player of the Month
2009/10
2009/10 Young Player of the Season
2009/10 Goal of the Season vs Preston
March 2010 Player of the Month
2009 Goal of the Year vs Preston
2009 Young Player of the Year
October Goal of the Month vs Preston
August 2009 Young Player of the Month
2008/09
2008/09 Best Loan Signing of the Season
March 2009 Young Player of the Month
 
QPR Career
*upto and including the end of the 2010/11 season*
Club
Year
Apps
Subs
Goals
Avge Rtg
Assists
Yellow
Red
MOTM
QPR
2010/11
43
1
19
7.1
23
7
0
8
QPR
2009/10
32
12
7
6.5
12
4
0
2
QPR
2008/09
4
1
1
6.7
0
2
0
2
TOTAL
 
79
14
28
6.8
35
13
0
15

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