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The Borrowdale problem

Championship QPR

by David McIntyre - BBC Sport (U1628513) 29 December 2008

Rangers’ signing of Gary Borrowdale could turn out to be an expensive mistake.

Borrowdale has not made a single appearance since joining on an initial loan deal and is not rated by Paulo Sousa, who has chosen Damien Delaney and even an out-of-position Matt Connolly ahead of him at left-back.

The problem is that the deal to sign Borrowdale from Coventry for around Ł700,000 was agreed before Sousa’s appointment. As things stand, he is a QPR player.

That leaves the club with a full-back who is struggling to get a look in and Borrowdale facing the prospect of his Rangers career being halted before it’s even started – a far from ideal situation for both parties.

Heidar Helguson on the other hand has proved to be a useful addition and barring no late hitches, his permanent move from Bolton will go through.

Helguson gives Rangers something extra up front and their midfield would really be strengthened if they can finally pull off the signings of Ben Watson and Wayne Routledge.

Both players have been targets for some time.

Watson was wanted by Iain Dowie and Rangers also tried to sign Routledge before he moved to Aston Villa, where he has failed to make an impact.

Routledge has been in good form for Cardiff and is scheduled to stay on loan there until 20 January.

If he ends up at Loftus Road it will be interesting to see what the fans make of him.

Routledge has never really been my cup of tea but I reckon he’d go down a storm.

He’s a very exciting winger at Championship level and would have people on the edge of their seats.

Routledge is already hugely popular at Cardiff, who want to keep him.

My concern about Routledge would be the same as it has been with several others who have been brought to Rangers. He’s yet another who wouldn’t be cheap but has little chance of developing into a Premier League player should the club get there.

It’s why I strongly disagree with the theory that this QPR regime hasn’t spent a lot of money.

Most of their signings have improved the squad but I would argue only Akos Buzsaky could cut it at a higher level, although Connolly perhaps could in the future.

For what they have signed, Rangers have shown little restraint in the transfer market despite the soundbites about not overspending.

We’ll soon know how far they are willing to push the boat out for Watson, who is no Buzsaky but would certainly do a good job for Rangers in his absence.

Watson had a brief spell in the top flight as a teenager and many believe he deserves another crack.

A number of Premier League clubs have watched him very closely for a long time but have decided not to take the plunge.

If that changes in January, it will obviously be tough for Rangers to get him even if they can agree a deal with Palace.

The games over Christmas definitely highlighted the areas that need to be improved and Sousa’s changes didn’t go down well with some.

I like what Sousa’s trying to do with Rangers but it is his – and the club’s - good fortune that Flavio Briatore was not at the Watford match.

The tide turns very, very quickly against a QPR manager who fails to please Briatore and his guests at a home game.

For now though, Sousa is still enjoying a honeymoon period and should keep Rangers in the play-off race with a decent signing or two.

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comment by andy_aj8 (U2885980)

posted Dec 29, 2008

Bla bla bla

This sounds remarckably similar to what you lot were all saying in the summer about Watson being a QPR player.

Good one

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comment by winalotto (U11608786)

posted Dec 29, 2008

Hi David, dose this mean Rangers are stuck with Borrowdale? has everthing been signed because we have another Delaney in my eyes a converted centre back at left back.

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comment by RangerCol (U13397761)

posted Dec 29, 2008

I've never seen Borrowdale play. Surely he can't be as bad as Delaney!!? Is he quick? Slow? What?

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comment by Buzsaky10 (U4990839)

posted Dec 29, 2008

I thought it was a loan. He's clearly not going to play so just get rid and look for someone who is capable of replacing Delaney and on current form, surely that can't be that hard. Also, we have to look for a right back (please not another bloody CB!) Ramage tries hard but simply cannot play football. He can challenge hard and punt a ball, thats it. If we want to play some decent football then lets atleast get a few players who can actually play a bit. We are quite strong in goal, at CB, we have an ok Midfield but maybe room for a more creative force behind the strikers? (Please god, heal Buz!) and if Helguson signs, i think we'd be ok uptop. So there you have it. Two new full backs and a new midfielder. Over to you Sousa....

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comment by RangerCol (U13397761)

posted Dec 29, 2008

I'll keep saying it till I'm blue in the face....we need two good attacking full-backs to make Sousa's diamond work. With the average to poor full-backs we have at the moment, we achieve little width at all!

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comment by sandydl (U13644794)

posted Dec 29, 2008

Er, Andy, hop back onto your little site, why dont you?

No-one here has said we've BOUGHT Watson - we're just discussing the possibility of what he could bring to our team SHOULD we buy him!

Dont they teach you how to read properly on the south bank of London?

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comment by zone1ranger (U12559759)

posted Dec 29, 2008

without putting words in David's mouth i think it reads that we have him on loan until January when his agreed signing for 700k will take place...i.e. we are tied into signing him.

I agree David alot of Rangers fans say Flavio et al havent dipped into their pockets but if you look at it we have gone from a club scooping free players to one buying 500k+ players everytime - since Leigterwood was signed for around 900k when the new owners came we have been slowly builing a squad of quite pricey players (relative to hitoric cost of rangers players) and haven't shown much restriant or selectivity for a championship club and maybe this signing highlights that. Of course we haven't gone nuts considering the money that must be available.

I really want to see routledge in - my colleague is a Cardiff fan and is has been hugely impressed by him. Yesterday confirmed we don't have anyone in midfield who can ghost past a player - even cook a wing man hasnt been doing this of late and from all accounts routledge is brisk and moves past players with ease.

As for Watson - he is proven and from all accounts has room for improvement and growth. Again yesterday confirmed we need a foil for Rolo cause Mahon isn't good enough and Legs isn't versatile enough (although will be useful in games when a more defensive player is required). So I would welcome both signings.

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comment by classwilltell (U13712104)

posted Dec 29, 2008

the football league is trying to encourage "home grown" talent and yet QPR seem to be ignoring what they have already.Angelo Balanta, a player of great potential, has been loaned out to Wycombe,and Danny Maguire another outstanding prospect is playing in the reserves.Maguire although a midfielder has had outings at full back and been man of the match playing there.

Reading all the match reports full back appears to be a problem position for QPR. I wonder why he hasn't been given a run out in that role.By all means buy some "great" players but we need to to be advancing our own young players rather than keep buying very ordinary players from outside.

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comment by MaccaQPR (U12788895)

posted Dec 31, 2008

Hopefully something can be sorted out with Coventry because clearly Borrowdale isn't in Sousa's plans. He needs to go back there and get a move somewhere else in the future and Rangers need another left back!!!

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