Is Isla another Redknapp World Cup knee-jerk buy? By Sam Parker Posted on August 8, 2014 Harry Redknapp only spoke a couple of months ago about the perils of doing your shopping based on the World Cup tournament, with the Queens Park Rangers manager having been burned far too many times before by signing players on inflated wages after a decent showing on the international stage. The likes of Florin Raducioiu spring to mind as Redknapp has seen international reputation not translate to Premier League ability. Portsmouth were littered with impulse buys, while he bemoaned the status of the QPR squad when he took over 18 months ago as too many players were failing to pull their weight for the Super Hoops. Redknapp at the time complained that he had too many players with big reputations on massive salaries who simply werenât up to the task of a relegation battle, before promptly signing Christopher Samba on wages in excess of £100,000 per week for a disappointing spell as the Râs hurtled towards the Championship. A squad still littered with internationals then made a ham-fisted attempt at getting back into the top flight as they failed to justify their tag as instant favourites to get promoted, only just about sneaking back into the Premier League courtesy of the play-offs. Given a Burnley side with a wage bill just a fraction of QPRâs managed automatic promotion with relative comfort, playing some lovely football along the way, there was much scrutiny over QPRâs policy of paying large wages for players who felt that was enough to justify their existence at Loftus Road. Promotion has seen an unfortunately familiar pattern emerging for QPR, with experienced Rio Ferdinand being drafted in on what one can only assume is a sizeable wage packet, and while Steven Caulker appears an astute signing, the signing of Mauricio Isla from Juventus has raised eyebrows once again. Once again, Isla appears to be a knee-jerk reaction to a decent World Cup performance, though at least Redknapp has learned from previous mistakes and ensured that at least this will be just an initial loan with the option to buy should QPR stay up this season. Isla had looked a decent player in Chileâs march to the second round of the competition as he played all four games, making seven interceptions, three blocks and winning 55% of his contested tackles. However, this was preceded by two seasons at Juventus in which he has made just 29 appearances, with the defender playing the full 90 minutes on just six occasions in the past season. This did see him complete 56% of his tackles as he won 18 in total in his 18 appearances, but with his general position seeing him line-up at right-wing back, just nine interceptions for the season is a terrible return and displays a lack of reading of the game that often sees players struggle in England. One only has to see how compatriot Gonzalo Jara has struggled to impress in his spell in England to culminate in his release from Championship side Nottingham Forest this summer and South American defenders have often struggled to adapt to the English game more so than attackers. Redknapp has at least learned a lesson to ensure that Isla has only joined on an initial temporary deal, but loans with struggling clubs often fail to work out as the player loses motivation in the knowledge they will be going back to much cushier surroundings come the end of the season. His lack of first team football over the past two years is a worry despite an impressive World Cup, and the frequency of the South American defender to struggle in the Premier League is another cause for concern that this could be a mistake. Redknapp has been prone to many a folly in the transfer market throughout his managerial career, and the worry is that yet another knee-jerk response to a major international tournament has seen him buy yet another player who is not up to the task of playing a positive role in QPRâs survival bid for the campaign.
What a bullXXXX article! We are going to play a new system with 3 at the back and need a right wing back (Simpson being a right full back). RWB is Isla's position, he's 25/26, on loan and we have the option to buy. Great signing in my opinion and if it doesn't work out we wont have been taken to the cleaners.
Also conveniently ignore the success of Beausejour at Wigan. I hope Redknapp and his coaching crew have been studying this (and hopefully a lot more like it) if we really are to go 3-5-2: [video=youtube_share;wwMlKgv_2kA]http://youtu.be/wwMlKgv_2kA[/video]
Bollocks, Mr Parker. You answered your own question by stating that it was a loan. Do you also know how much Rio is earning? I think not.
I do not know a great deal about this player. However the purchases so far have been for players to strengthen the squad in areas where needed. The previous mistake was buying players simply because they were available irrespective of squad balance. I agree with the above comments that we do need another right back or wing back. He will also provide cover for right midfield. Very sensible areas to be strengthening. If he is successful in the Premier League is another matter. However there are no guarantees on any player that you buy. This Is a low risk signing. If he is not successful we do not buy him at the end of the season.
Good to see someone take his record in IMO. Of course its knee jerk based on WC performances None of us knew Isla before a few weeks ago and no one on here during the World Cup highlighted him It's a gamble Redknapp is a bullshitter of the highest order
The journo acknowledges the loan and then calls it a buy in his conclusion. Although I'm not familiar with Isla, I don't know what more can have been done to make it a sensible deal even if Arry saw something in those World Cup games alone. It also assumes our scouts have never seen him either. After the Rio signing, I feared the worst but will admit that every transfer since has been both exciting and reasonable. I'd just like that striker now.
Agree only time will. Aspects that are different, its a loan;he is young; he fits our system (as with Rio) !!
That article is ridiculous. Our promotion squad was 'littered with internationals' was it? Er, Dunne, Yun (who hardly featured for us), Hoilett, er, Green quite a while ago, er, any more regular internationals? (discounting Cesar, he was never relly part of that squad.)
