Harry Redknapp pulls no punches over QPR indiscipline By Tom Moore Thursday, November 29, 2012 11:00 AM QPR manager Harry Redknapp is determined to sort out Rangersâ struggles at finishing a game with a full complement of players after taking over from Mark Hughes. QPR red cards under Mark Hughes Djibril Cisse (v Wolves and Sunderland) Samba Diakite (v Fulham and West Ham) Joey Barton (v Manchester City) Shaun Derry (v Manchester United) Stephane Mbia (v Arsenal) Adel Taarabt (v Tottenham) During the Welshmanâs 31 league games in charge, the west Londoners had eight players sent off during Premier League games â an average of one red card approximately every four games. By contrast, Tottenham, during Redknappâs four year reign, had nine players dismissed in the top flight and during his three full seasons in charge, Spurs were in the top five in the fair play league. And this is something he wants to repeat with QPR. âAbsolutely, [I want to sort it out],â Redknapp told London24. âYou canât win football matches with 10 men on the pitch. âYou canât win â very rarely anyway. âYou have got to give yourself a chance. âIf you keep getting people sent off, youâre up against it straight away. âDiscipline is all important. Only idiots keep getting sent off.â The Râs would break the record for the longest winless start to a season and still secure survival in the Premier League era if Redknapp keeps them up. Last season, QPR won all of their final five home games and this was the main reason why they are still in the top flight. And the 65-year-old knows that Loftus Road must become a fortress again if they are to defy the odds and survive, but there must be the right attitude on the pitch for that to happen. âThe fans will get behind us at home and make it an intimidating place if we put the effort in,â he added. âIf they see people chasing, running and closing people down then theyâll get behind us. âIf they see people losing the ball and standing around then they are going to get the hump because theyâre paying their wages and will think âhang on whatâs going on here.â âWe need effort now, we need people to go and have a go. âIf they do that then the fans will make it a difficult place to come.â Redknapp, himself, has experienced the Loftus Road atmosphere as a player and as a manager. âIt was always an intimidating place to play,â he explained. âIt was a nightmare with the Astroturf. âItâs a close little ground and creates atmosphere.â The first opportunity the Râs boss will have to put his plans into place at Loftus Road is when they face Aston Villa on Saturday.
I like the way he said the effort will get the crowd behind them, it will, just look at the Saints game where the players were pissing about and the crowd thought "sod it, why should I be bothered if they cant be arsed" Lets hope the walking red card takes note of this.
He got the bit about the fans paying the players' wages wrong though. We only pay a fraction of the wage bill through gate receipts. The rest comes from people with sky subscriptions, bank loans, the directors (?), Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.
