QPR: From the over-acheivements of the 90s to the present By David Bardsley Posted on November 2, 2015 please log in to view this image In the early days of 1992/93, a Queens Park Rangers team was put on the field in the Premier League’s inaugural season. For the players it wasn’t an issue thinking of how we would deal with playing the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal to name just a few clubs. Obviously there was always respect given in the highest order until we walked over the white line to perform. There was an attitude around the club from manager to coaches, players and fans that were going to emulate into hard performances, win or lose, giving 150% effort wherever we played. With the likes of Gerry Francis and Frank Sibley at the helm, the players had only one focus; to be proud to wear the shirt if selected to play, to perform with commitment and passion, and to stand up for your team-mates when harm was in their way. There was an everyday training attitude with each player trying to raise his own level for the coming week’s games, to put right bad performances as soon as possible, to make the club and fans proud of them, and that approach worked to some degree. For the players to run out away from home and see such QPR support, one felt pride right away. please log in to view this image Les Ferdinand scored 81 league goals in 164 appearances for Queens Park Rangers from 1987-1995. Within the squad lay players without egos, no attitude problems. Players like the great Ray Wilkins, Ian Holloway, Simon Barkers, Sinton, Ferdinand, Maddix, Wilson; this mixed with the great youth of Andrew Impey, Kevin Gallen, Bradley Allen and later on the great Trevor Sinclair. Lastly there was the fantastic Alan McDonald, the great leader we all followed on to the pitch, a true man with fantastic ability and a true love of something he believed in, being a captain of QPR. In many ways we were a group of players from lower league clubs, bar Wilkins, Stejskal and Wilson, that had nothing to prove to anyone but ourselves and the club. This was ample attitude for every game, and the way forward for the next few years of success. Without doubt it was a big surprise to many just how well QPR did in the Premier League’s first three years. Top London club in 1992/93, finishing fifth, a fantastic season culminating in a ninth-placed finish in 1993/94 and eighth in 1994/95. In many eyes, with that squad one can never be sure if we overachieved; the expectation from the opposition was for us to be wiped out every game, but as an entire club we showed great resilience. please log in to view this image Ray Wilkins protests to the referee after he sends off David Bardsley against Southampton in 1995. Over the many years that have passed, I’m afraid to say we’ve seen a huge decline in this kind of player and club attitude. It returned in some ways with Holloway and his strong team, as well as Neil Warnock’s solid promotion side in 2011/2012, taking QPR back into the Premier League, built on a very strong 4-2-3-1 formation around the gifted playmaker Adel Taarabt. After promotion and a few games into the season, Warnock was released and from that moment many issues hurt the club badly. There appeared to be a new QPR model. Mark Hughes was appointed; many were disappointed in his efforts. However, was this the right club for Hughes and his staff? Ultimately not, as results failed, but he’s gone on to be a good manager and proving himself now at Stoke City. We witnessed so many big name players come in with what looked to many as power spending, and not reality to where QPR needed to go. This was emphasized by the lack of attitude and desire to really wear the shirt for the right reasons. There still remained a few players within the club who, from my perspective, respected what was required; Shaun Derry, Clint Hill and Jamie Mackie all showed the correct way forward. The only people getting hurt were the QPR faithful. please log in to view this image Mark Hughes had a win ratio of 23.53% as QPR manager. With a fantastic chairman in Mr. Fernandez, anything appeared possible. His generous outlook to QPR was mind-blowing, and to think he wanted so much success at any cost. Harry Redknapp became manager of QPR in November 2012 after an advisory role at Bournemouth. To hear the news that Redknapp was joining, what a great manager to bring in to steady the ship. Along with him came a legend in Joe Jordan to coach, and also the very experienced Kevin Bond. Even with these on board, the on-field struggles continued. There were some good results along the way, specifically beating rivals Chelsea 1-0, but not much else really went right. In this spell one could see frustration on faces around the fan base, as players were perceived to not show any passion or even understand what QPR was all about. This was clear to me with some players who just didn’t want what the fans begged for; effort, love of the club and attitude. For many professionals, losing is hard; we’ve all made errors, been hurt by our fans’ frustration and listened to a well needed ear bashing. It should make players more passionate towards the people who love to watch them play. In April 2013, QPR drew with Reading and were relegated with three games left. A moment of sadness for me came when watching a player laughing walking down the tunnel. Let alone losing but relegation. Much was lost at QPR. Youth development was totally wasted, with nothing really coming through the system and not much hope for younger generation players to break into a club they might love. Many local youth players appear to look elsewhere at neighbouring clubs because of this. The days of Gallen, Danny Dichio, Impey, Sinclair and Michael Meaker all breaking into the first-team appear gone for the moment. Chris Ramsey has now come in as manager with Sir Les Ferdinand as DOC. Relegation in the 2014/15 season from the top flight is always debatable as to if QPR could’ve stayed up. However the slate is now clean for the 2015/16 season in the Championship, and Ramsey has chosen the way he will be judged. With the surprising success of keeping Rob Green, Charlie Austin, Leroy Fer, Matt Philips and adding some bright players like Tjaronn Chery, Massimo Luongo, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and defensively James Perch, Gabriele Angella and Paul Konchesky, QPR should look without doubt a strong candidate for promotion with this squad, of which 10 Premier League players remain at the club. To add to the depth, the addition of bringing in Neil Warnock, a surprise to many, can only help with the overall experience needed to rebuild. please log in to view this image Charlie Austin scored 18 Premier League goals for QPR last term. The season has started reasonably well, with QPR sitting 11th- five points off sixth place. Already I see possible formations that don’t compliment the present players’ best individual qualities. An example, Chery playing wide left when he’s possibly far better behind two strikers to create; this would obviously mean a 4-3-1-2. Whatever formation, without doubt the present squad isn’t playing to their potential. I would’ve liked to see young Furlong playing regularly at right-back, as this position is still a problem. Consolidation is a word mentioned around the club and terraces, but this surely can’t be the case with this very strong squad. All QPR fans want is professionalism, quality on the field, hunger, passion, honesty, desire and love of the club from their players. David Bardsley is a freelance football analyst, youth coach and a former England international who made 253 league appearances for QPR, 100 league appearances for Watford and also played for Blackpool, Oxford United and Northwich Victoria in a 20-year career. Since retiring as a player he has moved to the USA where he now works as head coach and academy director for QPR USA. He covers MLS, Premier League and European football for Squawka. Follow him on Twitter. Read more at http://www.squawka.com/news/qpr-fro...90s-to-the-present/505590#rgLujUUJjBk71AUt.99
It's a shame, a bloody shame. So much needs to be done to fix the mire that our club is in at present. More pain until we start getting it right imo!
simon barker, paul parker, warren nei,l andy sinton, mark dennis, kenny sansom,roy wegerle, gary bannister, mark falcao, would walk into this team
