Forget Paris or whichever major football city Adel Taarabt believes he should be lighting up, the best place for him might be Glasgow.
It’s probably not an option he or his advisors have considered while dreaming of moves to Milan, Barcelona, Manchester or up the road to Chelsea.
Think about it though.
Here’s a man who is – as many good judges inside the game expected – finding it hard to make his electrifying attributes work for him in the Premier League.
The Championship was tailor-made for him in so many ways. It’s a different story in the top flight, not only on the pitch but in the dressing room.
At the next level, Taarabt has found that his team-mates are less willing to induldge him not only on the pitch, but off it too.
“He could be a sensation in Glasgow and have the kind of impact and profile achieved by the likes of Paolo Di Canio.”
Being indulged to the extent he was last season enabled him to enjoy star billing and QPR to win promotion. But it in no way equipped him for the next stage of his career. As a result, that career is now in danger of stagnating.
Neil Warnock knew this could happen, which is why he has always sought to play down how far Taarabt will go and has subtly hinted that the player may find that in many ways last season was as good as it’ll get for him.
It’s also why Rangers spent the entire summer trying to negotiate his sale to Paris St Germain and would have accepted any half-generous offer that came their way.
Despite talk of interest from Europe’s elite, Taarabt’s best route out of QPR has always been to a rich overseas club where non-football people have a major influence on footballing decisions.
PSG fitted the bill. It was no accident that it was them Rangers spent so long in talks with and did seem to finally be edging towards an agreement before the whole thing collapsed.
So the notion that Rangers are now willing to sell Taarabt and have slapped a price tag on him is a bit daft. They spent weeks trying to sell him and his stock has gone down since then.
And the issue with Taarabt isn’t only his attitude or immaturity. That misconception is one that flatters him greatly. There are also question marks over his actual ability.
What now, then, for the man who lit up W12 last season?
Taarabt wants to play on a big stage, to be adored, and to mix it with Europe’s best. What he needs, however, is to grow up, and to play at a level where his naivety isn’t exposed while he matures as a player.
One way he might get all of that would be to join the other Rangers or the other Hoops.
Taarabt has spent years under the deluded impression that he would grace a top English or Spanish team. He would certainly grace Rangers or Celtic’s.
The standard of the SPL is more similar to the Championship and is a level at which Taarabt would undoubtedly rip sides to shreds and hog the limelight in the way he did last season.
But this isn’t about taking a swipe at the standard of football north of the border or Taarabt himself. And, despite the surname, I have no Scottish blood or links to Scotland. I just think it would have a lot to offer him.
Both the country’s top clubs could give him big stages to play on, the possibility of European football, and the starring role he craves.
He could be a sensation in Glasgow and have the kind of impact and profile achieved by the likes of Paolo Di Canio – in some ways a similar type of player and character, whose spell in Scotland was the platform for an impressive Premier League career.
It would also offer Taarabt a totally different environment and football culture to play in. One that could well make a man of him.
In the absence of hooking PSG back in, a fresh start at Loftus Road or the big move he wants, an initial loan deal may well be an option QPR would consider – and is one Celtic and their city neighbours Rangers should be alert to.
It would give them a chance to sign a potential star of their league and him an opportunity to showcase his talent.
Further down the line it may also give him the prospect of either Champions League football or a return to west London as a better and more mature player.
The imminent arrival of more new signings at QPR and the potential impact on Taarabt’s already dwindling first-team chances ought to deal even his advisors a much needed dose of reality.
He is at a crossroads in his career and, whatever his shortcomings, has ability that should not be allowed to go to waste.
www.twitter.com/davidmcintyre76
This post was last modified on 30/11/2011
View Comments
I think he just needs better advisers. Whoever has been filling his head with these dreams hasn't really helped him. Over the last few seasons I've seen him over and over displaying the same issues talked about here. I thought he would struggle in the Prem with him not having nearly as long on the ball and having to play against much better quality.
He only played a handful of Prem games before joining us on loan and speaking to my Spurs pals they all say the same - promised so much but just didn't have the attitude.
It looks like this infiltrated his regime over the summer ,he looks in terrible shape and it shows.
A loan would be best IMHO, and to Celtic/Rangers is a great idea for all Dave's points above, improve the attitude, fitness and work o the passing game and he could again be a gem.
I agree with everyone here. In the sense that the great Dave Mc is right - Adel would absolutely destroy the SPL and, yes, nobody has suggested it yet. But also that I still have high hopes for him at Loftus Road and am hoping this statement from NW about his conditioning is a positive step for us. With his head right, his conditioning right, playing in the right position in the right formation and, now that he may realise he's not earning himself his big money move at this rate, with his application right, we could still have a winner on our hands.
Afternoon all! Cheers for the responses.
Am not writing him off by any means. I'm just saying, amid the usual nonsense about Melchester Rovers and other top clubs supposedly wanting Taarabt, that Celtic or Rangers would be great for him yet have never been mentioned.
Personally, I'd not only want to keep him but would play him too. He'd get in my team most weeks. I always expected him to struggle in the Premier League but would persist with him.
I took some stick for saying I thought Buzsaky was a better all-round player with attributes more transferable to the Prem than Adel, and I stand by that. But I still think Taarabt has quality and, like Dave B says, he's shown it at times this season.
Ah Dave, Also think he is being written off a bit early. Its his head thats wrong. By not playing and with experienced players around him it will not be long before the penny drops. What i do agree with is get him to Glasgow on loan for the second half of this season, and yes he sbould flourish. Everybody forgets he is still a kid and has astonishing ability. Massive mistake to let him go unless its for good, no sorry Great money. He could be our next legend. Give the lad a chance I say and put on the effort and we will have a serious player on our hands in two or three yrs. By the way, he s doin very well at international level since his return s oring the goal that qualified Morocco for african cup of nations. Praying he blazes a trail there! That could revitalise him. Oops, was supposed to be a short reply!
I agree with daveB. Taarabt looked like a real star against a newcastle united side that have proven to be greater then the sum of their parts. He mesmerised the much (over) hyped Tiote & Cabaye and I had him down as the MOTM but it really was very close with Wright-Phillips. His biggest problem is the coughing up of easy posession and the poor physical condition he is in. Both in my opinion can be easily addressed. But workrate as always is the key. Should he commmit himself for the rest of the season there is a great change still there for him. If not we will see more tantrums and spurs away like performances. His once tattered name will be tarnished again and he will not fufill his huge ability.
I think thats a bit harsh on his ability to step up, I think he's done ok this season especially against Chelsea, Newcastle and Wolves. He needs to do more but i think writing him off so quickly is a big mistake.