Shaun Derry column: Tjaronn Chery’s reaction to being substituted against Fulham was appalling… Chris Ramsey has got a tough enough job as it is at QPR

Shaun Derry was a firm fans favourite during his time at QPR PA Archive/PA Images

Former QPR midfielder Shaun Derry discusses Friday night’s thrashing at Fulham, Tjaronn Chery’s conduct and the impact Clint Hill can still have on the field.

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Karl Henry (left) and Nedum Onouha (right) look on bemused during Friday night's game Karl Henry (left) and Nedum Onouha (right) look on bemused during Friday night's game

Hello all and welcome to my second column for the Brent & Kilburn Times.

Firstly I want to clarify to some people on Twitter who questioned why I should be commenting on matters concerning QPR, that I do watch the club on a regular basis.

In fact I’ve had access to watch all of their games so far this season, which is only right considering I have a column covering the club, so therefore I feel I am within my rights to express an opinion on them.

Now that’s been cleared up where do we start? There aren’t any positives to come out of Friday’s match at Fulham – no-one can come out with any kind of credit from the 4-0 thrashing at Craven Cottage.

It’s bad enough losing in that manner full stop, but especially when it’s too one of your rivals. This is something that has happened on far too many occasions in the past few years when Rangers have played in derby matches.

Braver

QPR have been without Charlie Austin for a month QPR have been without Charlie Austin for a month

I felt Chris could have been a bit braver in terms of his team selection on Friday night. For me seeing Jamie Mackie lining up alongside Charlie Austin upfront from the start would have shown real intent from QPR to attack from the off.

It would have taken a lot of pressure off Charlie in terms of his workrate too, and kept Rangers further up the pitch as a result.

Fulham play a certain type of football when they try and play through the thirds, and to stop that you’ve got to get closer to people at the back.

When you’re playing so deep with one person upfront it’s impossible to counteract that, and for me that’s why Fulham found it so easy on Friday night.

Let’s not blow it all out of proportion though, and get too down and despondent. At the end of the day Rangers are three points of the play-offs.

That’s not to say the disappointment shouldn’t be shown because it should be. But a manager can’t be judged on one really, really bad result like the other night.

It’s a tough, tough job Chris has got at QPR, I don’t think some people realise that. That squad isn’t as strong as some people make out.

Chris Ramsey has got a tough job on his hands at QPR, insists Derry Chris Ramsey has got a tough job on his hands at QPR, insists Derry

I really felt for him on the touchline, I’ve been on the receiving end of a few results like that in management, and believe me you just want the ground to swallow you up.

With Charlie and Jamie now out for a prolonged period these are very concerning times for Rangers. One of them scores goals for fun and the other completely changes the dynamics of football matches.

The club’s recruitment strategy will now come under serious scrutiny. They’ve got to go out and utilise the loan market, as without those two there going to struggle.

Very poor

One thing in particular that angered me on Friday night was Tjaronn Chery’s reaction to being substituted.

I thought it was very poor. He showed a complete lack of respect to the football club, the manager, his team-mates and the fans.

Derry was unimpressed with Tjaronn Chery's behaviour against Fulham Derry was unimpressed with Tjaronn Chery's behaviour against Fulham

I know he got a round of applause from the Rangers travelling faithful but I couldn’t get my head around there. They shouldn’t have done that, it’s setting completely the wrong example.

Too many times at QPR in the past few years players have shown a complete lack of respect either by being substituted or when being picked for football matches; I’ve seen it in close quarters. It’s like a cancer you’ve got to cut out and get rid of.

Incidentally I remember the team I was part of which got beat 6-0 at Fulham a few years ago and I clashed with Adel Taarabt at half-time when we both got taken off.

His actions were appalling and a complete lack of respect to the badge. It didn’t go down well with his team-mates in the dressing room when he decided to leave the ground and hop on the bus home, believe me.

Chris was trying to make a change for the better of the team – it was no personal vendetta against Chery.

He could see they were getting overrun in midfield and wanted to change that as soon as possible before the game got even further out of their grasp. I think Chery needs to remember no one player is bigger than the football club. He has got a lot of making up to do now and has only heaped more pressure on himself.

Derry believes Clint Hill (middle) should be recalled to QPR's starting XI Derry believes Clint Hill (middle) should be recalled to QPR's starting XI

Reliable

What Chris needs in his team now is reliable and honest characters, so for me the sooner Clint Hill is back in that team, the better.

He’s such a resolute character, so having him in that team is a must for me at the minute.

I know Clint very, very well as a team-mate and as a friend. I know what it makes him feel like when he pulls on that blue and white shirt. Whether or not he’s 36 or 26, he has got a massive part to play still at QPR.

I’ve been surprised that Clint hasn’t played much over the last few weeks because of the results the team have had, but I’ll be even more surprised if he’s not involved again in the coming weeks.

You need reliable characters to come and play for QPR at the minute and Clint is one of those. The positives for me far outweigh the negatives concerning him.

How many times have we seen the likes of Clint being recalled at certain times, not just in the Championship but in the Premier League too? People shouldn’t write him off.

I know that Clint gets frustrated when he doesn’t play regularly. What that doesn’t stop him doing is being the best professional I’ve played with. He’s such a wonderful example to the younger players – those type of footballers are very few and far between in the modern game.