Tottenham Hotspur: Ratings for Spurs' Starting XI Against Queens Park Rangers

Tottenham Hotspur won impressively against Queens Park Rangers at White Hart Lane on Sunday. If it weren't for several missed opportunities, Spurs might have won by four or five goals.

The win was as impressive for the team performance put in by Spurs as it was for the brilliant individual performances of Gareth Bale and Scott Parker. And boy were they brilliant.

Tottenham's quality shone throughout the match, only faltering for a short while in the second half when QPR were allowed to believe a comeback was possible. It never really was, and Bale made sure to emphasize that with a strong left-footed effort.

This win pushed Spurs's unbeaten run to a remarkable seven games, and they have gotten three points in six of the seven games. Tottenham are currently even with Chelsea on points and only one spot out of fourth with a game in hand.

If Tottenham can continue this run of form, especially with performances similar to Sunday, they will be hard-pressed not to be playing Champions League football next season.  

Brad Friedel

The American goalkeeper has been great this season for Tottenham, but on Sunday there was little for Brad Friedel to do. His first save didn't come until midway through the second half, and he only had one other ball to deal with.

Friedel was mainly kept involved by back passes from his teammates and could have been forgiven for napping during the first half.

The save he did have to make was pretty good, if conventional, and he did well to beat Shaun Wright-Phillips to the only other dangerous ball from QPR. It was a decent performance, but he was not required to be great.

Rating: 6/10

Kyle Walker

The young Tottenham right back has impressed with his speed and recovery ability, and Sunday night was no exception. With Fabio Capello on hand scouting, Kyle Walker put in another solid performance against QPR.

Despite having to deal with arguably QPR's best player in Shaun Wright-Phillips, Walker held his own all night. Walker was only clearly beaten by SWP once, but only after a skillful flick on the end line. He more than made up for that slight error later on with a crucial tackle on Wright-Phillips in the box with only Friedel in defense.

While in past games Walker has been good in attack, he wasn't called on to get forward too often in Sunday's match. However, the few times he was forward, he looked dangerous and reminded QPR that there is no Spurs player who can be left unaccounted for.

Rating: 7/10

Younes Kaboul

Younes Kaboul has been forced to start the past several games for Spurs because of injuries in Tottenham's defense. Many fans, myself included, were worried Kaboul would be given too much responsibility, but he has been sound at the back. The match against Queens Park Rangers was no different.

Kaboul was hardly troubled in the final third, and most of his defensive duties were reduced to clearing long passes from QPR. 

Kaboul was guilty of a few wayward passes throughout the game, which led to turnovers, and the one time he tried to dribble forward he was corralled into a mistake.

That said, he was good in his defensive duties and made no major mistakes—all you can ask from your center back.

Rating: 7/10

Ledley King

The Tottenham skipper made a return to the starting lineup against QPR, and it was business as usual for the oft-injured center half.

King was sturdy and reliable throughout the fixture, and many times was exactly where he needed to be to intercept a pass or pick up the pieces for Spurs on defense. King is certainly Tottenham's first choice center back, and Tottenham haven't lost this season when he is on the pitch.

I wanted to rate him higher, but King was beaten in the air on the pass that set up Jay Bothroyd's lone goal for QPR. Without that, King was flawless. He even helped set up the second goal when his shot was fortuitously deflected right to Rafael van der Vaart's feet.

Rating: 7/10

Benoit Assou-Ekotto

Benoit Assou-Ekotto is a player that I've gone back and forth on over the past few seasons. One week he will be shockingly poor and almost useless, but the next week he will be fantastic and a pillar in the squad.

This season, Assou-Ekotto has made the next step in his career. He has been consistently good all season.

Sunday he proved that he could be one of the best players on the team, on his day. From the first kick, he was whipping in crosses, getting forward in support of the attack and, surprisingly, not neglecting his defensive duties.

Assou-Ekotto was unfortunate not to get an assist on at least one of his great crosses into the box and was also unlucky not to score on a bending left-footed shot that Patrick Kenny parried away.

His only knock was that Bothroyd was able to beat him in the air on the only goal for QPR. I place the blame on King for allowing the ball to be played to Bothroyd, but Assou-Ekotto could have done better.

Rating: 8/10

Aaron Lennon

This was only Aaron Lennon's second game back from a groin injury, and he appears to have a ways to go to regain full form. His trademark bursts down the right flank were oddly absent, and he didn't always seem comfortable with the ball at his feet.

However, he did find a way to leave his mark on the game as he assisted both Gareth Bale goals.

On the first, he made a clever sideways run before slotting the ball for Bale to tuck into the corner of the net, and on the second, he played an intricate back and forth with Bale, and the Welshman blasted home with his left foot.

If Lennon can continue to make his presence felt, even without full fitness, he should be able to retain his spot in the squad. I look forward to seeing the little winger flying down the right side again soon.

Rating: 7/10

Scott Parker

What a signing Scott Parker has been for Tottenham. The man Harry Redknapp wanted to sign more than anyone has justified the admiration of the Tottenham manager. Spurs haven't lost since he joined the club from West Ham.

Parker's performance Sunday was good enough to steal the Man of the Match award from the brace scoring Gareth Bale. But, make no mistake, Parker fully deserved the accolade.

Parker has a motor that doesn't stop, and he isn't afraid to engage in any challenge. Even after watching the match twice, I literally couldn't keep count of the number of times that Parker broke up QPR's possession.

The man was everywhere. He has become an indispensable member of the team. Apologies to Sandro.

Rating: 9/10

Luka Modric

Over the past few matches, the Croatian sensation known as Luka Modric appears to finally have settled back in with Tottenham. He may not have gotten his dream move to Chelsea over the summer, but with the way Spurs have been playing, maybe he's secretly happy. Maybe.

Modric has formed a great partnership with Scott Parker in the center of Tottenham's midfield and continues to impress, even if his performances sometimes fly under the radar. 

Sunday against QPR, Modric was great. He was spraying passes all over the field, dictating play from deep and was inches away from scoring the goal of the season (a wicked volley from off the chest that couldn't bend enough in the end). Modric was unpredictable and, as always, extremely difficult to dispossess.

Modric's performance on Sunday led Joey Barton to proclaim via Twitter that Modric is the best player in the league "by a mile".

Rating: 8/10

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale must be paying attention to his haters. After his amazing performances against Inter Milan in the Champions League last season, many were calling him one of the best in Europe. At the time, maybe he deserved it. Since, he has been effective but far from spectacular, leaving many to question if he was even really that good.

Sunday's game should silence his critics, at least temporarily.

Bale was spectacular against QPR. His two goals were certainly the highlights, but he put in an exceptional overall performance. He was active on both sides of the ball, with a great tackle on the end line against Shaun Wright-Phillips that prevented a threatening situation. He was bright in linking up with teammates on the attack and, in all honesty, he probably should have had a hat trick.

Tottenham have been waiting on this Gareth Bale to show up all season. When Bale is on form, he is devastating. I expect this to boost his confidence and there to be more performances like this in the future.

Rating: 9/10

Rafael Van Der Vaart

Rafael van der Vaart scored again on Sunday against QPR—the fifth consecutive game in which he has scored—tying a Tottenham record.

The Dutchman has given Harry Redknapp headaches in the past about where to position him, but the 4-4-2 formation with van der Vaart as the supporting striker has paid dividends for Spurs. Van der Vaart's performance has kept an in-form Jermain Defoe on the bench.

In Sunday's match, van der Vaart displayed his versatility. He passed well, linked up well and was even seen tracking back on defense. I don't know what's gotten into the moody superstar, but I like it. He looks poised to score every game and, barring injury, will surpass his stats from last season.

That said, van der Vaart did waste a couple of chances, but that would be nit-picking.

Rating: 8/10

Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor was the player against QPR that I was least impressed with. The lanky Togolese striker missed at least three chances from close range—chances that he is expected to finish.

There was a specific miss in the second half where all Adebayor had to do was slot it past the keeper, but he pushed the shot wide. Behind him, Luka Modric threw his hands up in frustration, and you could see the disgust that Adebayor felt with himself. He should have scored.

Adebayor did play hard, however. His passing was above average, and he showed his aerial ability, even if it didn't translate into any goals for Spurs. Adebayor is a much better player than he showed on Sunday, and performances like this won't continue for a striker of his ability.

Rating: 5/10