I’ve always regarded Queens Park Rangers as being an entertaining club. Through the years, the famous hooped shirt has been graced by the likes of Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis, Rodney Marsh, Ray Wilkins and Les Ferdinand who played with flair and verve. Former managers have included gregarious types such as Terry Venables and Ian Holloway. Their brand of football emphasised fun and excitement if not always success.
However, the last 15 years have been largely barren and dull by QPR standards. Somehow the club seemed to have lost its mojo underlined by the revolving door installed in the manager’s office. No less than 12 managers came and went between 2006 and 2010.
Enter Neil Warnock – the marmite of football management. Love him or hate him, you certainly can’t ignore him. Regularly outspoken, Warnock is always worth listening to and he immediately got a reaction from the players. His first full season in charge saw a long-awaited return to top flight football achieved despite concerns over the transfer of Alejandro Faurlin which threatened a point deduction from the FA.
The cloud of uncertainty over Loftus Road hardly dissipated during the summer amid questions over the ownership of the club, the security of Warnock’s tenure and availability of funds to make the squad fit for purpose in the Premier League.
The opening day drubbing at the hands of Bolton Wanderers seemed to confirm the pre-season jitters. Urgent action was required and Tony Fernandes duly obliged. His arrival as the majority shareholder at the club in mid-August was timed perfectly, enabling Warnock to splash some cash before the transfer deadline.
Luke Young, Armand Traore and Anton Ferdinand have joined Danny Gabbidon, who signed earlier in the summer, to form a brand new back four. Meanwhile, Shaun Wright-Phillips and the much-heralded Joey Barton were drafted in to bolster QPR’s attacking capabilities. Each seems an astute acquisition by Warnock for a variety of reasons. Young has a wealth of experience and has established himself as a dependable and consistent performer in the Premier League over the last decade. Traore has been starved of opportunity at Arsenal and spent most of the last three years on loan. He will be relishing the prospect of regular first team football and a chance to fulfil his promise. Anton Ferdinand’s career has often been in the shadow of his older brother’s many achievements in the game. He lost his way under Steve Bruce and must now prove himself once more.
Wright-Phillips and Barton will also bring an abundance of desire and talent. Wright-Phillips may have been limited to the embarrassment of riches at Manchester City but he remains capable of creating mayhem with his dazzling trickery and pace. His work rate is equally admirable and if Warnock can boost his self-belief then he could become a QPR legend. Barton’s acrimonious departure from Newcastle will only spur on the highly motivated midfielder to greater things. He has been installed as club captain and he may add further to his solitary England cap if he can guide Rangers to safety.
The new signings all fit Warnock’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system perfectly too. In particular, Wright-Phillips and Barton not only bring their own unique abilities to the team but also take some of the pressure off Adel Taarabt to be QPR’s playmaker-in-chief. This should allow Taarabt to regain the form that saw him crowned Football League Player of the Year 2010-11.
Having attended QPR’s 3-0 demolition of Wolves on Saturday as a neutral observer, it was impressive to see how the new boys have settled into the side so quickly. It was a highly polished team performance. Paddy Kenny organised the defence well whilst Derry and Faurlin held the fort in midfield giving Wright-Phillips, Taarabt and Barton license to create opportunities further forward. Up front, Jay Bothroyd was an adept lone striker. His tireless running pulled the Wolves back line out of position on a number of occasions, creating space for others.
So the football was entertaining, in-keeping with QPR traditions but will be enough to survive? If they can avoid injuries and suspensions and add a few more to the squad in January there is sufficient quality in the ranks to suggest as much.
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