Adel Taarabt's in trouble after getting shirty

Trouble in midfield: Adel Taarabt, pictured,
playing for QPR before storming off after tossing
away his shirt following his team's Carling Cup defeat

Adel Taarabt seems certain to be on a collision course with managerNeil Warnock after his dreadful display of petulance capped an awful night for Queens Park Rangers as they slipped out of theCarling Cup to Rochdale.

Rochdale's Nicky Adams approached Taarabt to swap shirts only for theMoroccan to rip off his top, turn away and toss it behind him before stalking off.

Warnock then conducted a bizarre press conference, where he praised the midfielder - courted all summer by Paris St-Germain - and said he needed to improve his match sharpness.

The Rangers manager said, surely with tongue fixed firmly in cheek: "I was really pleased with

Taarabt's attitude.

"He doesn't train very well, so he has to play. I was very pleased he came through because he does need three games in a week to just push him on. He looked good fitness wise, the best he's been, apart from the last 15 minutes.

"And if we can get another game out of him on Saturday [at Wigan] before the international break, then he promises to be back to what he should be for theNewcastle match. That's quite good, really."

Asked why Taarabt doesn't train well, Warnock retorted: "Because he doesn't like training!"
That's an extraordinary state of affairs for a player who was made captain last season and led the charge to the Premier League.

A year after the capitulation to League Two Port Vale, Warnock tried to brush off the consequences of last night's defeat as an inferior competition he is not much interested in with top flight survival all important.

Last season's defeat came amid a 19-game unbeaten League run but this reverse to a League One side, even with multiple changes to the line-up, has to be damaging for the club's morale.

In the first home game since Tony Fernandes's takeover, Rochdale deserved the win with goals from former Toulouse and Grimsby striker Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro after five minutes and then a glorious chip by veteran Gary Jones after 81 minutes.

Warnock added: "Yes, I'm pleased we're out; the competition needs revamping."

But Rochdale manager Steve Eyre countered: "He didn't say that before the game. Any competition in League or Cup that has a front line of Taarabt and [Jay] Bothroyd tells me he was taking it quite serious, pre-game.

"Post-game he has wished us all the best and said he hopes that we get the tie we want. He's a fantastic man and you're looking at 1,000 games and more he's managed in - I've not done even a 1,000 minutes yet.

"And he's someone I can call on, someone I respect. He's done plenty more than I have."

Warnock's mood will not have been lightened by news that, after losing right-backBradley Orr to injury last night, Fulham have joined the chase for Aston Villa's Luke Young, who is on QPR's wanted list.

The former Tottenham and Charlton defender, who can play either side, favours a move to Craven Cottage as Villa target Spurs' Alan Hutton.

Warnock knocked back moves for Joe Cole and former Rangers striker Peter Croucheven though Fernandes will be hoping to bring in up to four new players. "I'd love them both but I can't see they'll be at QPR if I'm honest," said the manager. "We couldn't afford one of Crouch's shoelaces! It's easier said than done, bringing players in, even if you've got money. It's not easy to get four or five good players here in a week.

"How busy will I be? Too busy. I'm doing 12 weeks' work in eight days and I'm finding it difficult - and tiring!

"I hope we get at least one in by the weekend to start it rolling and then push on, Monday and Tuesday. The chairman is really trying his hardest. I spoke to him inMalaysia and he's as excited as I am. But he wants to sign them
yesterday."

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