A blog of two halves

Young sapling spearheads QPR strike force

Aramide Oteh looks set to become the latest Tottenham graduate to break into the QPR first team.

11 January 2018
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QPR striker Aramide Oteh is knocking on the first-team door. PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES

Aramide Oteh looks set to become the latest Tottenham graduate to break into the QPR first team.

The 19-year-old striker is knocking on the first-team door after impressing in the reserves. He will join Massimo Luongo, Grant Hall, Chris Paul and the recently released Steven Caulker who have made the trip across London and pulled on the blue and white shirt.

With QPR in dire straits up front, Oteh could sooner rather than later be leading the front line.

For now, the burly Matt Smith and Paul Smyth are filling the striker positions after striking up a nice little understanding.

Smyth burst onto the scene in spectacular style scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 win over Cardiff City on his R’s debut.

The former Linfield striker confessed that he used to have a soft spot for ex-Hoops forwards Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora. However, the 20-year-old may get even more heads turning at Loftus Road with his signature back flip goal celebration.

Mr QPR – Tony Incenzo – said it was one of the best debuts he had ever seen in the 45 years that he has been going to Loftus Road.

Can the Northern Irish talent continue his fine form against Burton Albion on Saturday?

Meanwhile, Rangers continued their abysmal form in the FA Cup third round with another early exit last weekend. The defeat to MK Dons gave the Hoops’ their 49th defeat at this stage of the cup competition.

R’s stopper Alex Smithies was unable to keep out the 6ft 5ins juggernaut Ousseynou Cisse who sealed the 1-0 win at Loftus Road for the MK Dons leaving QPR with just four wins in the FA Cup in 20 years.

The Rangers faithful clearly didn’t have much faith in their boys as the tie was played out in front of a half-empty stadium.

Can you blame them? QPR have hardly done much this season to get their fans off their seats as they languish in the underbelly of the Championship.

Saturday’s trip up to the Pirelli Stadium to face Burton Albion, who find themselves in even deeper trouble, is a chance to start their climb out of the bottom half of the table.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

Nick Skoric

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