Emmanuel-Thomas has real talent and can be an asset for QPR
So JET is a Ranger. And Bristol City fans – I’m one of them, for my sins – are sad to see him go.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is arguably comparable with some of the mavericks who have graced the hooped shirt in the past. This is a man blessed with a silky touch that belies his bulk.
But QPR fans know there is no such thing as a gift horse and they will be closely inspecting the teeth in the months ahead to see if they really have landed a thoroughbred.
They will also wonder what it was that made Bristol City discard him so readily.
At times, his form was so sublime for runaway League One champions City that there was some debate in the West Country about whether he might be the most skilful player the club have had since ex-Poland and Celtic forward Jacki Dziekanowski turned up at Ashton Gate in the early 1990s.
But Emmanuel-Thomas began the season as an impact substitute and pretty much ended it that way.
In between, he was given a starting role alongside Matt Smith, who was on loan from Fulham, because of injuries to the no-frills pairing of Kieran Agard and Aaron Wilbraham.
“QPR is a great platform for him to take his game to the next level.”
Rangers director of football Les Ferdinand on Emmanuel-Thomas
He was so good during those winter months – and so entertaining – that any thought that he might be ending his two-year association with the club by the end of the season, when still only 24 and seemingly at the height of his powers, would have seemed absurd.
JET unpicked defences at will and lit up some humdrum afternoons with audacious touches, dribbles, nutmegs and wonderful goals.
One in particular, against Doncaster in the FA Cup, typified his eye-catching qualities – a waltz through a despairing defence that evoked memories of Kanu at his finest for Arsenal.
“JET will tear you apart!’ the City fans would sing to the tune of that great Joy Division anthem. At times he was unplayable.
Already a cult hero and forever adored for scoring a stunning winner in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against rivals Bristol Rovers the season before, the man could do no wrong.
And yet, no sooner were Agard and Wilbraham fit again after lengthy lay-offs, than JET was once again sidelined, reverting back to the role of impact sub.
In truth, he was hardly needed as City’s well-oiled machine cranked up another gear to get the job done. But what did Steve Cotterill’s treatment of him tell us?
A clue came early in the season when the Bristol City boss voiced concerns he had about Emmanuel-Thomas “getting his huge frame moving”.
Arsene Wenger, another former boss, once said: “When his fitness is right, Jay will be not only a good player, but a great player.”
It seemed to find an echo at Ashton Gate. The languid style may have been easy on the eye for City fans, but Cotterill’s work ethic demanded more. Call it the Dimitar Berbatov conundrum if you like.
That said, JET carries none of that Berbatov attitude, and that may just be another problem identified by the manager. He is laid back to such a degree that not starting matches hardly seems to trouble him. Or if it does, he hides it well.
“I’ve always admired Jay from afar. We’ll give him a platform to play and express himself.”
QPR head coach Chris Ramsey
By rights, he should have been demanding a starting role at City every week, such was his star quality and the success he was achieving on the pitch.
Fans felt for him when he missed out on a starting berth for the JPT final at Wembley, but he seemed happy enough just to play out a cameo of no real consequence late on and to concentrate his energies on leading the post-patch revelries – splashing the champagne around and playing a lead role in the outpouring of selfies on Twitter and Instagram.
He was at it again in the promotion and title-winning matches – seemingly happy on the fringes.
JET is a lively character and is great for the dressing room, which will be very welcome at Loftus Road, but who maybe lacks that little bit of extra ambition that might have seen him break through at Arsenal before he embarked on what already looks like a typical journeyman career.
With the extra pace and demands of Championship football, maybe Cotterill figured he would be even less likely to turn to his popular striker to earn him points next season. Wages were probably a factor too, though that was never publicly aired.
Only time will tell whether Cotterill was right, or whether he has missed a trick. Rangers are gambling on the latter. If they’ve got it right, there is no question the W12 faithful will be in for a treat.
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25/06/2015 @ 10:50 pm
As a Bristol City fan I can only wish JET all the best. He has always been a very talented and exciting player to watch. I felt he was a real asset having him in the team because he would nearly always be capable of changing a game, regardless of work rate.
Effort does not merit reward, iits goals that win games and JET never had much trouble scoring them or help create them. I personally believed he should not have been on the bench as much last season, but it’s gamble to mess with a winning team I guess.
24/06/2015 @ 11:20 am
A real marmite player, some will moan constantly about this work rate, some will absolutely love him. He will often be anonymous for 89 minutes but then pop up with a winning goal or a piece of skill that sets up the winning goal.
I believe Mick Mccarthy also said of him – “he’ll either be a world beater or a panel beater” He needs to stay match fit, he’s a big lad that is perhaps not naturally fit.
He’s also a great off the field and will do lots with fans and the local community.