Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

QPR showed two very different faces within just the first four days of this season, from a convincing victory over Barnsley in the league to put them top of the pile, to a dismal fall against lower-league opposition in the league cup which would have left the few who did turn up at Loftus Road questioning why they had bothered.

Hearing the words of assistant manager Mick Jones, who makes his return to Sheffield United today, (alongside his boss Neil Warnock and a hatful of players, most notably keeper Paddy Kenny who can expect a frosty reception following his summer walk-out) summed up pretty concisely the two extremes which Rangers provided their supporters this week.

First the excellent start to the league campaign, which Jones was clearly delighted with, despite conceding that Rangers had a stroke of luck in not conceding a penalty to Barnsley which could have made the game 1-1.

He said: "It was a fantastic performance. Once we went 2-0 up, it was game, set and match. It was not only a great performance, but there was some great football and of course a terrific performance from Adel Taarabt."

You get the feeling that Taarabt could often make the difference for Rangers this season and perhaps with his mind now fully on playing for the club, rather than fixated on auditioning for a move to a top-flight club in England or Spain, he will blossom into the truly exceptional player which he could be at this level. Neil Warnock has been quick to see the frustration inherent in watching Taarabt play and hinted that this was perhaps the reason he hadn't been able to find a big-club move, but he also showed against Barnsley how pivotal he is to QPR's creative options. It isn't stretching the point too far as well to suggest the club may have performed better against Vale had he been available for selection.

Jones, while speaking to the club's website, also revealed the quandary Warnock finds himself in when it comes to the first round of the league cup, something 'he doesn't like, never has and never will'.

For those who sat through the game, it's hard to stomach a less than committed approach to the game and looking at the personnel on the pitch, the team should still have been able to find a result, regardless of any lack of ambition for the cup. But now it is out of the way, it's back to the only competition that the manager and the players clearly want to be judged on.

It couldn't really be a tougher fixture, particularly when you throw in the number of personal grudges that could come to the surface. Warnock still speaks fondly of his time at United and enough water may have passed under the bridge to let him escape fairly unscathed, though he will have re-ignited some unpopularity by in effect poaching Kenny this summer and the keeper is likely to receive a very hostile welcome.

The defence ahead of him may be better well placed to cope though and provide a tougher challenge than the poor excuse for a defensive performance which was witnessed on Tuesday. Peter Ramage is available for selection again after serving a disciplinary ban and it will be interesting to see if he is considered a first-choice option. Likewise Kaspar Gorkss could also return, as Taarabt will almost certainly do.

That leaves Akos Buzsaky who should face a late fitness test to see if he has overcome the thigh problem which kept him out of the friendly between England and Hungary. If we are not going to judge Rangers on the league cup this season then, games like this afternoon's are the ones which will fall under scrutiny and which will decide if the club can mount a reasonable promotion challenge.