Warnock's criticism of Hughes prompted a withering response from Bowen, who worked alongside the former Manchester United striker at Wales, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham and QPR. Bowen claimed Warnock's Premier League record paled in comparison with that of Hughes. "I'm not going to sugar-coat what went on at the start of the season with Mark's situation," said Bowen. "We were 10 games into the season and without a win. There are reasons for what has gone on at QPR and what we inherited. We finished the season getting rid of 21 senior players who weren't, with all due respect to them, up to the Premier League. "Out of all of the players that left not one of them went on to gain a Premier League contract. These are players who Neil Warnock had brought in to the club. "Everybody knows the club has been in a huge transitional period but it does stick in my throat a bit that Neil has lost another job and started throwing mud around. When you look at Mark Hughes's Premier League record, before he went to QPR, it was fabulous, he had never been out of the top 10. "When you look at Neil Warnock's record, I think the three times he's been in the top leagues he's been relegated twice, with Notts County and Sheffield United, and won the sum total of about 14 Premier League games. "That's what hurts me the most. There's no need for it, Neil doesn't need to come out and say things like that."
I'm pleased Neil has said something that other managers have all thought. NW might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I reckon he has far more respect in the game than MH.
I lost all respect for NW when he didn't personally respond to my email thanking him for, what he did for QPR, when he said he would. On prime time TV too. I wouldn't trust the dodgy northerner as far as I could throw him.
I never had any respect for him, but as always doggedly stuck up for whoever our manager is, and he did a great job in appalling circumstances in the championship. But sitting near the dugout at the Emirates last season and hearing the unending stream of foul mouthed insults he hurled at the officials made me sick to my stomach that this bloke represented my club. Now we are going to see him all over our TV screens because he is a 'character'. Nothing has ever, ever been his fault at any club he has been at. Quite enjoying this handbags stuff with Bowen though.
Of course Warnock isn't fit to lace Hughes' boots in any capacity, but Sparky did fail you this season. He bought badly and failed to get even average performances from the squad. 'Arry has a squeak of a chance of saving you, but had he arrived two months earlier he'd be cruising it.
My Arsenal supporting mate, who sits behind the away dug-out at the emirates said exactly the same thing about Hughes this season. He reckons it was relentless.
NW is showing us now what we already knew IMO. I lost all respect for him selling Gorkss and ****ing things right up. If i was an owner I would shortlist the likes of NW to take any club forward ... he hasn't got the skills. I stand that Hughes is a good manager and simply didn't get the results and he will bounce back. He got things dreadfully wrong I do not hate him like many. I would always prefer a London man and one day I hope Birch gets the job. I would also buy El Tel until he dies as an advisor
When things go wrong they all start blaming eachother and telling porkies. Bowen goes on about letting 21 players go and implies that they we all brought in by Warnock. Well, that is crap for a start. Warnock has said some equally stupid things. I have no time for any of them.
Precisely - Warnock is like an old rough headed mongrel dog who would lick you to death, Hughes is about as inviting as a fart in an elevator. A dog that was born out of wedlock, commonly referred to as a bas_tard ................. How fitting.
I agree NW was way beyond his capabilities in the PL but your comparison with MH makes no sense. Warnock had to get by with a makeshift squad put together in a few days once Briatori had taken his pound of flesh. Hughes had an entire summer and a crate load of cash to build something fit for purpose but abjectly failed to even get the basics right (squad balance, age balance, tactics, team spirit, etc). I know football is a crazy world but given the resources at his disposal and the almost farcical level of failure I will be amazed if he ever works as a club manager again.
