To all those who are old enough to have watched Marsh & Bowles

[W12_Ranger]

Do you think a talent like Taarabt would have been appreciated more back in those days by the Rangers faithful. Do you get annoyed when you see younger supporters directing abuse and frustration at Taarabt or do you share their sentiment?

Our proud history has been built on skillful cult players, ones who break the mould, who don't follow the rule book, why do you feel we have a section of our support who struggle to accept Adel for who he is.

This thread has an age limit, no one under the age of 40 need reply.

[pkloft]

Do you think a talent like Taarabt would have been appreciated more back in those days by the Rangers faithful. Do you get annoyed when you see younger supporters directing abuse and frustration at Taarabt or do you share their sentiment?

Our proud history has been built on skillful cult players, ones who break the mould, who don't follow the rule book, why do you feel we have a section of our support who struggle to accept Adel for who he is.

This thread has an age limit, no one under the age of 40 need reply.

just about remember Marsh but Stan was my era & in all honesty if either of them were playing for us today they would get the same treatment as Taarabt, saying that i don't think Taarabt is in the same class as Rodney & Stan (yet, but he has the potential to be on their wave length) the reason being, QPR fans have changed with the times, it was as cheap as chips back in the day so you wasn't really bothered about laying out a couple of quid for the days experience, whereas today it costs a small fortune

[askewboy]

just about remember Marsh but Stan was my era & in all honesty if either of them were playing for us today they would get the same treatment as Taarabt, saying that i don't think Taarabt is in the same class as Rodney & Stan (yet, but he has the potential to be on their wave length) the reason being, QPR fans have changed with the times, it was as cheap as chips back in the day so you wasn't really bothered about laying out a couple of quid for the days experience, whereas today it costs a small fortune

i think the main difference is the players alongside stan were of a very high standard too.whereas half of our present lot are 2 bob.

[gilly]

I started supporting the club in 1967 when I was 9. I loved the fact that our club had a strange name, played in an unusual kit and had a number 10 who was different to every other team's.

I think Adel gets frustrated by the quality of players around him. Wouldn't you? You do something brilliant, you pass it to Ramage and it bounces off his shin to an opponent.

I love to see nutmegs and dragbacks and all the rest. I want to see players doing things I could never do. I don't want to see the ball lumped down the channels - I can go to the local park for that.

[geejaybee]

Aged 66 - do I qualify.Played golf with Marsh several times and sold Bowles's house for him.As players, both were flambouyant showmen on the pitch,but unlike Taarabt,they knew where the net was and when to pass. I don't think Adel would have gone down quite so well with the fans back in the 70's and 80's but there didn't seem to be the abuse you get nowadays.

[superhoop67]

Players have to win over fans, can be done in 2 games or a season [Sir Les ] , i remember Bowles being dug out for a few games because he didn't have a right foot . Also players don't get as much stick now as they used to

[Fawny]

I am old enough and lucky enough to have seen the entire careers of both Marsh and Bowles, Taraabt has plenty of skill, but is nowhere near the same class as those two. He may well become as good, with good coaching etc, he certainly has the potential. I love to see his skills, but they have to have an end product, which the other two definitely produced.
I think the other thing to bear in mind is that with saturation TV coverage now, compared to the 60's-80's, means that every player gets analysed to bits, and we see top players from all round the world all the time on our screens.
When Marsh came, we had only ever played 4 seasons in our history at the level we are at now, and when Stan arrived, it was only 5 or 6 years after that, so expectations were not so high either.
These days, fans of almost every team have very high expectations, and get hysterical in their demands for success, as do too many chairmen.
I think if Taraabt had been around 25 years ago, he would have been tolerated better by most, and if Stan & Rodney were around now, they would get more criticism when their tricks didnt come off. Reflection of the times I think.

[Scarlet pimple]

I am old enough and lucky enough to have seen the entire careers of both Marsh and Bowles, Taraabt has plenty of skill, but is nowhere near the same class as those two. He may well become as good, with good coaching etc, he certainly has the potential. I love to see his skills, but they have to have an end product, which the other two definitely produced.
I think the other thing to bear in mind is that with saturation TV coverage now, compared to the 60's-80's, means that every player gets analysed to bits, and we see top players from all round the world all the time on our screens.
When Marsh came, we had only ever played 4 seasons in our history at the level we are at now, and when Stan arrived, it was only 5 or 6 years after that, so expectations were not so high either.
These days, fans of almost every team have very high expectations, and get hysterical in their demands for success, as do too many chairmen.
I think if Taraabt had been around 25 years ago, he would have been tolerated better by most, and if Stan & Rodney were around now, they would get more criticism when their tricks didnt come off. Reflection of the times I think.

Agree with Fawny, but you must remember that Marsh and Bowles had an end product, which was goals and plenty of them.

I remember a match where Rodney was having a stinker of a game, and in those days the rules about subs stated a player could only be subbed if injured, well marsh feined injury and came off, to the cheers and laughter of the LR crowd, those guys were loved and could do no wrong.

Adel, if he comes back has to earn that love and respect.

[Factamondo]

....tarabbt shouldnt be mentioned in the same breath as marshy/stanley.....these two were legends over seasons for qpr.....tarabbt,as good as 'he' seems to think he is, has had four or five decent games in the second tier of english football !!!...sorry fellas i see no comparison with even the likes of sinton,sinclair,thomas,wegerle when it comes to mr tarabbt!!

[qprgary]

Adel Taarabt is the modern day equivalent of Rachid Harkouk!
His ability level and end product are about the same.
He doesn't come within a country mile of Bowles,Marsh,Currie,Stainrod,Byrne,Wegerle and even Ian Stewart.
The lad is at present just a junior apprentice and should be treated as such.
Just my opinion, you understand!

[Goddard]

....tarabbt shouldnt be mentioned in the same breath as marshy/stanley.....these two were legends over seasons for qpr.....tarabbt,as good as 'he' seems to think he is, has had four or five decent games in the second tier of english football !!!...sorry fellas i see no comparison with even the likes of sinton,sinclair,thomas,wegerle when it comes to mr tarabbt!!

Saved me the bother of saying it.

For the younger viewers... It's like comparing Jay Simpson to Les Ferdinand.
Not in the same league.

But... Adel is a huge talent, and it's not so much his greed and showboating that has alienated him from a few fans, it's his body language and tantrums when he hears a moan and groan from the fans.
Neither Bowles or Marsh did that.

Stan Bowles was one of the hardest trainers at QPR, and saved his antics for the opposing fans and players.
Big difference.

[kingo]

Like Fawny and few others, I was lucky to see Marsh and Bowles and I never remember ever getting frustrated with them (maybe because I only remember the good bits) and I do with Adel. All of them have very good skills on the ball but both Rodney and Stan knew when to pass. Hopefully if Adel does come back he will learn to do that and also to carry on his runs when he hasn't got the ball rather than get frustrated with those around him.

[superhoop67]

Saved me the bother of saying it.

For the younger viewers... It's like comparing Jay Simpson to Les Ferdinand.

Not in the same league.

How did Ferdinand shape up in his first 2 seasons

[qprgary]

Ferdinand was put out on loan to Besiktas and did pretty good.
To try and compare Taarabt at this early stage to any of our top past players is a joke.

[W12_Ranger]

....tarabbt shouldnt be mentioned in the same breath as marshy/stanley.....these two were legends over seasons for qpr.....tarabbt,as good as 'he' seems to think he is, has had four or five decent games in the second tier of english football !!!...sorry fellas i see no comparison with even the likes of sinton,sinclair,thomas,wegerle when it comes to mr tarabbt!!

No one is saying Taarabt is better than Marsh, Bowles etc. I started the thread as a way of assessing the changing attitudes of football fans.

Also I'll bring to your attention Taarabt was good enough to earn 2 player of the month nominations in what has been a very turbulent season, which is more than any other Rangers player has achieved in a while so maybe a few than 4/5 good performances this season?