The extreme reactions to our weekend defeat against Ipswich continued today with Paulo Sousa explaining his team selections while Lee Cook condemned the supporters that booed Gavin Mahon. In amongst it all we got a player in the team of the week.

Comments have been flooding into LoftforWords on both the front page and message board since Saturday with people defending and condemning the treatment of Gavin Mahon in equal measure.



Paulo Sousa, who turned around and demanded more from supporters during the home game with Reading, actually took time out after Saturday’s match to praise the fans despite their disgraceful attitude towards skipper Gavin Mahon who was booed by sections of the crowd during the second half. While it is hard to justify abusing your own player it is reasonably to wonder why Mahon was left on when clearly having a stinker as Sousa removed first Di Carmine, then Delaney and then Miller to little affect.


Sousa defended his captain and decisions in the after the match saying: “I wanted to keep a physical presence in midfield. It (the booing) is normal, I can understand it. It was not a good game for Gavin but we can count on him in the future.


“I have always said that we win together as manager, players and fans. Each and every player takes responsibility when we win and when we lose. It is no different after this game. The fans want us to win every match and their frustration is our frustration. I understand the fans' frustrations, but as manager when you lose, you all lose. Some players didn't play to their best ability, but the way to help is support.



“We created the first goal, but then allowed Ipswich opportunities to score and we conceded a lot of possession. We made a lot of mistakes in the first and second moments and they took advantage. We started well, but came under a lot of pressure and began to make mistakes and conceded through their counter-attacks. In the second half we came back into it. We created chances, far more than Ipswich, but the goals didn't come for us.”



Lee Cook was less diplomatic in the London paper branding the treatment of Mahon as “a desperate situation”.



Cook said: “That is disappointing – all the boys could hear it. It is sad when our own fans are booing their own players – that’s a desperate situation. But Gavin’s a strong character. He was already talking about Wednesday straight after the game. He knows what it’s all about and he can take it. Where we didn’t win the game against Ipswich was the first half. We beat Derby and Blackpool away recently and we’ve got to use that as the incentive for the next two games."



In amongst all this Wayne Routledge, who set up the first goal for Sam Di Carmine, made the Championship team of the week for his performance. Ipswich scorer Pablo Counago was also included. Routledge returns to his former club Cardiff on Wednesday night sure of a hot reception while Di Carmine has been talking to the media back in Italy about his time with QPR and hopes for a future at Fiorentina.



Di Carmine, admitedly through a Google translator and reading between the lines, said: “I had offers from Italian teams from Serie A and B, and QPR. I was in London on vacation with my girlfriend, and the experience intrigued me, because I had a chance to play more than in Italy. Here I'm playing, and this is fundamental, but I'm also learning what you do not learn in Italy. Football is much more physical, and I had to get used to playing against defenders of two meters and with a team that often to throw the ball forward. I regret only that I have just scored three so far, but I'm sure when I come back to Italy I will be much more complete. I'll come back because I am on loan and the dream is to play in the Fiorentina shirt.”



For those of you that like to watch the reserves a reminder that, probably taking into consideration the appalling state of the Loftus Road pitch, the second string will face Gillingham at the Harlington training ground on Thursday not HQ as advertised.



In former QPR news Tony Roberts marked his 400th appearance for Dagenham Redbridge with a penalty save against Accrington at the weekend. The Daggers drew 0-0. Keiron St Aimee has been released by Dagenham’s League Two rivals Barnet after 18 months and 15 starts. Former manager Gigi De Canio is being linked with a second return to Napoli who have slipped to tenth in Serie A.

Photo: Action Images

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