Redknapp: QPR are not missing Steve McClaren QPR manager Harry Redknapp 21/03/2014 By David McIntyre Harry Redknapp has insisted that QPRâs slump has not been caused by the loss of Steve McClaren. The former England manager was brought in by Redknapp to oversee pre-season training while the Rangers boss was recovering after a knee operation. McClaren left to take over at Derby in September and Wally Downes was subsequently added to QPRâs coaching team in his place. Derby have since shot up to third in the table â one place above Redknappâs side, who look all but out of the race for automatic promotion after losing five of their last eight matches. Steve McClaren McClaren had a short-term role at QPR. But Redknapp is adamant that injuries to key players like Charlie Austin have taken their toll and that McClarenâs departure did not affect Rangersâ form. âNo. Wally has come in and done great,â he said. âWe didnât have the injuries we had back then. Charlie was scoring every week and we were very strong. âSteve did a great job when he was here, but after that we were okay. We beat Derby, but itâs since the injuries that weâve suddenly had problems. âWe were relying on Charlie. Heâs a handful, the crowd loved him and he went, we lost Matt Phillips and Danny Simpson, and suddenly weâve lost three young players with lots of energy and a bit of pace about them.â Simpson, sidelined for two months with a back problem, is in the squad for Saturdayâs game at Middlesbrough, where he is likely to be among the substitutes. Austin is closing in on a return to action following shoulder surgery, but an ankle injury will keep winger Phillips out for the rest of the season.
Not only were we top of the league while he was here, nobody could even score a goal against us. We now look a very average championship side.
I think it's too easy to cite one particular reason. No doubt a change of coaching methods and personalities have had an effect, as have injuries. As such, I suspect it's more accurate to surmise that it's the combination of these, plus other factors, that have ultimately resulted in a decline in fortunes when comparing autumn results to spring. But hey, we're in the box seat for a play off tie, and with the risk of echoing a sentiment that has previously been opined on these forums; in June last year, observing Wolves slide into the third tier, I'm sure there's plenty of supporters that would have welcomed this with wild optimism.
TBF there are a lot of reasons for our slump in form and Redknapp is clearly not to blame for an appalling run of injuries at least until someone can prove that the training and conditioning regime is flawed. However on the whole I don't buy the 'bad luck is entirely to blame' line and Redknapp is responsible for transfers in, transfers out, team selection, tactics, and attitude on the pitch. Those taken together have cost us more than the injuries we've suffered to key players. We're supposed to have a squad of 25. That means proper cover in all departments and not reliance on key players not picking up injuries.
Redknapp will never admit anything like that otherwise he'd be undermining his own position. I think McLaren's departure was a blow to us as he is clearly a top coach but there are plenty of other contributing factors that have helped derail our promotion push and all the excuses mentioned have been part of that...
Well said. Plus, it's easy to forget that it's not all about us. I think that the teams around us (eg Derby, Burnley, Leicester, Wigan) have all improved over the course of the season too.
I also wonder whether us fans may have also had a negative impact as I would hazard a guess that the majority were expecting promotion - possibly automatic. I for one would also have never have thought that Burnley would be doing so well. Injuries and suspensions are part and parcel of the game but it is having the necessary replacements ready to come in that should have been addressed in the transfer windows. Although Hitchcock is out on loan, wouldn't it have been more productive to have brought him back? After all, he would have been given an opportunity to prove himself - surely someone that young and hungry would be out to prove to HR that he is ready for first team footie? McClaren leaving has had an impact as he was someone wanting an opportunity to re-invent himself after a few mistakes at other clubs. Anyways the Boys from the Bush just need to start believing in themselves and start winning and stuff everyone else.
Can someone ask Harry why Hoillett was on fire at the start of the season when mclaren was here then reverted to his old self when he left Is this not coaching
