Ikeme On Life With The Rs

Carl Ikeme will be leaving QPR (on April 6th to be precise) as his 3-month loan spell rapidly comes to an end. And under League rules we won`t be able to extend his loan – which will make things interesting because we`ll be back at square one in respect of having no creditable alternative to Radek Cerny unless Warnock makes a move for an emergency loan keeper. (But the loan market is going to shut in a few days time, although I`m not sure how it works with goalkeepers!)

Ikeme is bitterly disappointed that he cannot stay at Rangers until the end of the season (at the very least!) “I`m massively disappointed. I really wanted to stay here and continue playing, but obviously there`s nothing that I can really do about it. Looks like I`ve got to go back but to be honest I`d really love to stay here,” he admitted.

Ikeme today told QPR Player that he felt that the start of his loan period was difficult, with results consistently going against us. However, overall, he has really enjoyed his time with QPR, particularly more recently since we`ve returned to winning ways under new manager Neil Warnock.

Regarding his own form, Ikeme feels that he has: “got more comfortable as I`ve played more.

“Playing with the same lads every week and the same defence, you realise what their strengths are and they can help me out more coz they realise how I play as well. It`s going ok,” he continued.

Since joining Wolves, originally as a striker – but Wolves needed another goalkeeper and he “auditioned” for, and won, the part – Ikeme has been sent out on loan five times (including his current spell with the Rs). Ikeme likened being sent out on loan to the first day at school: “To start off with it`s a bit daunting but I`ve been out on loan a few times this season so I`m used to it. Spending all your time in a hotel is not great but it`s all about playing football at the end of the day for me and that`s what I want to do; so I`ve got to do it,” he observed.

Ikeme had nothing but praise for veteran Rs` keeper, Radek Cerny, who Ikeme is currently keeping out of the starting XI: “Radek`s brilliant. He`s helped me a lot in the games and in training. He`s been there, done that, so for someone like me who wants to continue to learn, it`s brilliant for me.”

Rangers seems to be a much happier Club since the boardroom and managerial changes of the last few weeks, which Ikeme, technically an “outsider”, was quick to point out: “It`s a bit of a change from what we`ve been used to, sort of what we needed, I think, “ he observed about the man-in-charge, Neil Warnock.

“He just wants us to work hard and play with a smile on our face. It helps with the results as well but it`s a different place here at the minute,” he noted.

“I think that he demands that you give everything for him and as long as you give everything, if you make a mistake, he`s not really going to hammer you for that. As long as he knows that you`ve given one hundred percent. And obviously, if you give one hundred per cent you are going to get more out of yourself,” Ikeme responded to a question as to whether Warnock does, in fact, get more out of a player than that player realises he has in him.

Finally, Ikeme turned his thoughts to tomorrow`s game at home to Paulo Sousa`s Swansea City. Sousa has today criticised Neil Warnock`s method of player-management but it is more likely to cover up the fact that his team have not been doing too well of late and, importantly for us, and Ikeme in particular, have not been scoring too many goals away from home.

With a wry grin, Ikeme responded: “Thanks for that! We`ll probably get thrashed 5-0! I`ll blame you if they do!” he told the QPR Player interviewer!

Trying to be more diplomatic than Sousa himself, Ikeme continued: “It`ll be a good game. They`re a good side.”

Ikeme also had a special message for the Rs` faithful: “The fans are brilliant and they`ve really got behind us when we needed them. So, hopefully they`ll continue that for the rest of the season.”

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