First time poster here. I think we have a fantastic chairman in Tony Fernandes and it's to his credit that he's stuck with the manager this long, when the majority of clubs probably would have sacked him a month or so ago - but has he stuck with him too long?
I think Fernandes genuinely likes Mark Hughes, but coupled with this, if he were to sack him, there would be a massive pay off and I wonder whether this is the reason he's held off for so long.
The other issue is stability - is it reckless to keep changing your manager? I do agree that a manager should be given time to gel his team, but Hughes had half of last season (albeit he inherited a struggling team), the whole summer and a third of this season. The majority of the team yesterday were his signings.
I think it took him 11 games to pick the correct starting 11 (at Stoke), but he still got the formation wrong, which suggests that he doesn't know his strongest side and can't find the correct balance either. We should, in my opinion, be playing 4-5-1 which can translate to 4-3-3 - I think quite a few would agree with this.
For the short term, I would pick a back 5 of Cesar, mbia and nelson central, onuha right back (Bosingwa has a poor work rate) and Fabio left back (Traore is a bit hit and miss at the moment). I'd have a midfield triangle of Granero, Faurlin, Diakate with Faurlin and Diakate taking it in turns to hold, which will free up Granero to roam forward and pick out passes. I feel really sorry for Granero at the moment because Hughes sticks with either 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 which means that he plays on the right, where he's absolutely wasted and ineffective. Away from home we can be more cautious if needed, and have Faurlin and Diakate holding and switch to more attacking as and when we sense a chance to do so. I think we'll see the best of Park as well, should he have an opportunity to take up one of these central 3 positions - he's another who's been played wide and out of position and as such has been ineffective. We can then have Taarabt and Hoilett roaming in from wide areas - far harder to pick up than if they're playing centrally, where they can be targetted. I'd then keep Cisse as the focal point up front. The reason he's been ineffective is because he's a poacher, but he's had nothing to poach and therefore we've been carrying him. By freeing up the likes of Granero, Taarabt and Hoilett, I think we'll see his goal tally rise. The full backs can provide the width.
I keep hearing reports from players who've worked under Hughes and have praised him highly - Kompany said last night on motd that he's a manager who will take a club to the next level. But where is this Mark Hughes? He can't seem to find a balance with a side and religiously sticks with the same formation, i.e. 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 which suggests a lack of adaptability that top managers have. Also, when things aren't going well like now, he seems to lack the personality to inspire and motivate players - my perception (maybe unfair) is that he has a negative aura, arms folded shaking his head. At other clubs like Fulham and Blackburn he may have struck a decent balance in the side and so didn't need to motivate, but at QPR it's now vital!
On a final note, I did speak to an ex QPR player at an event earlier this year (I won't say who out of respect) and he did say that it's hard to know what Mark Hughes is thinking and he rarely loses his temper or raises his voice. The same player also acknowledged that sometimes players need a rocket, but that's never forthcoming with Hughes. Although he didn't outright criticise him, the implication was there that this guy doesn't motivate.
I think that if there were a lack of viable alternatives available I would be seriously concerned, but with the likes of Redknapp and Benitez out of work currently, I think Fernandes needs to pull the trigger now before it's too late. This is a case of, do you spare one man's feelings over the future of an entire football club?
I think Fernandes genuinely likes Mark Hughes, but coupled with this, if he were to sack him, there would be a massive pay off and I wonder whether this is the reason he's held off for so long.
The other issue is stability - is it reckless to keep changing your manager? I do agree that a manager should be given time to gel his team, but Hughes had half of last season (albeit he inherited a struggling team), the whole summer and a third of this season. The majority of the team yesterday were his signings.
I think it took him 11 games to pick the correct starting 11 (at Stoke), but he still got the formation wrong, which suggests that he doesn't know his strongest side and can't find the correct balance either. We should, in my opinion, be playing 4-5-1 which can translate to 4-3-3 - I think quite a few would agree with this.
For the short term, I would pick a back 5 of Cesar, mbia and nelson central, onuha right back (Bosingwa has a poor work rate) and Fabio left back (Traore is a bit hit and miss at the moment). I'd have a midfield triangle of Granero, Faurlin, Diakate with Faurlin and Diakate taking it in turns to hold, which will free up Granero to roam forward and pick out passes. I feel really sorry for Granero at the moment because Hughes sticks with either 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 which means that he plays on the right, where he's absolutely wasted and ineffective. Away from home we can be more cautious if needed, and have Faurlin and Diakate holding and switch to more attacking as and when we sense a chance to do so. I think we'll see the best of Park as well, should he have an opportunity to take up one of these central 3 positions - he's another who's been played wide and out of position and as such has been ineffective. We can then have Taarabt and Hoilett roaming in from wide areas - far harder to pick up than if they're playing centrally, where they can be targetted. I'd then keep Cisse as the focal point up front. The reason he's been ineffective is because he's a poacher, but he's had nothing to poach and therefore we've been carrying him. By freeing up the likes of Granero, Taarabt and Hoilett, I think we'll see his goal tally rise. The full backs can provide the width.
I keep hearing reports from players who've worked under Hughes and have praised him highly - Kompany said last night on motd that he's a manager who will take a club to the next level. But where is this Mark Hughes? He can't seem to find a balance with a side and religiously sticks with the same formation, i.e. 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 which suggests a lack of adaptability that top managers have. Also, when things aren't going well like now, he seems to lack the personality to inspire and motivate players - my perception (maybe unfair) is that he has a negative aura, arms folded shaking his head. At other clubs like Fulham and Blackburn he may have struck a decent balance in the side and so didn't need to motivate, but at QPR it's now vital!
On a final note, I did speak to an ex QPR player at an event earlier this year (I won't say who out of respect) and he did say that it's hard to know what Mark Hughes is thinking and he rarely loses his temper or raises his voice. The same player also acknowledged that sometimes players need a rocket, but that's never forthcoming with Hughes. Although he didn't outright criticise him, the implication was there that this guy doesn't motivate.
I think that if there were a lack of viable alternatives available I would be seriously concerned, but with the likes of Redknapp and Benitez out of work currently, I think Fernandes needs to pull the trigger now before it's too late. This is a case of, do you spare one man's feelings over the future of an entire football club?
