Queens Park Rangers: 6 Potential Replacements for Mark Hughes at QPR By Emma Booth (Contributor) on October 9, 2012 With Mark Hughes's future looking shakier than a car with three wheels, Tony Fernandes may well have spent his Sunday Googling out of work managers who he could potentially tempt to West London. Loftus Road has had a revolving door installed for a while now, with no less than 14âyes 14âchanges in management in the past six years. And although Tony Fernandes has assured Mr Hughes that he will keep faith in him, tweeting his support after the defeat to West Brom (via Independent), chairmen are not renowned for always sticking to their promises. So if Hughes does eventually hear the bell toll on his Rangers career, who would be the best man for the job? Let me know if you have other choices below. Alan Curbishley Alan Curbishley has been linked with every Premier League job going in the past few years, and will no doubt be mentioned should Hughes get the sack. A Charlton Athletic hero, Curbishley took them into the Premier League in 1998, but then promptly back down again. However, after gaining promotion the next year, Charlton and Curbishley spent seven very good seasons in the top flight, and he nearly led them to the Champions League. A man with great experience, he was even tipped for the England job by Sir Bobby Robson. Curbs has spent a while out of management, and could be looking to get back into the game. Mick McCarthy Good ol' Mick McCarthy was unfairly sacked from Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, and the team paid the price for it through relegation. McCarthy is a very solid mid-table manager, after long spells at both Sunderland and the aforementioned Wolves. McCarthy is very hands-on and straight talking, and could be just what QPR need to shake up the dressing room: Anyone who uses the word quintessentially in a half-time team talk is talking crap. (via Independent). Having ruled himself out of the running for the Nottingham Forest job in the summer, stating his reasons as wishing to work in the Premier League , McCarthy is still looking for a full-time role. Well, QPR are in the Premier League, and could well be looking for a manager very shortly. Hold tight Mick. Rafael Benitez Should Rafa Benitez take the (potential) QPR opening, he would have been in a very similar position before, just at the other end of the table. Benitez took over at Liverpool in 2004 from Gerard Houllier and utilized the Frenchman's signings to the best of their ability; winning the Champions League in 2005. Ensuring Steven Gerrard stayed at the club, rejuvenating Jamie Carragher's career and signing Xabi Alonso were all strokes of genius by the Spaniard and he only left the club after disagreements with the owners, or "mutual consent," as it is called nowadays. The chance of Benitez joining QPR may well be slim to noneâseeing as his last three clubs have been Valencia, Liverpool and Inter Milanâbut Rafa could be a huge scoop for Fernandes and Co. should Hughes be relieved from his role. Yuri Semin Dmitry Korotayev/Getty Images Yuri Semin may not be a familiar name to some readers, but he is a legend in Russian and Ukrainian football: winning the Russian League twice, the Russian Cup five times, and leading Dynamo Kiev to the UEFA Cup semi-finals. After spending 13 years at Lokomotiv Moscow, Semin was appointed Head Coach of Russia in 2005. Unfortunately for Yuri, that didn't quite work out, but his managerial expertise was still sought after by former team Lokomotiv Moscow, Dynamo Moscow and Dynamo Kiev, all of whom he has spent time managing up until the present day. Semin left the Ukrainian side just last month and may well be looking to spread his wings from Eastern Europe to West London. With his great tactical sense, Yuri could be the one for me. Ray Wilkins Ex-QPR legend Ray Wilkins is high up on my priority list for Hughes's replacement, should Rangers need one. Player-manager of QPR between 1994 and 1996, Wilkins got the managerial bug (I've heard it's contagious) and moved to Fulham a year later. His tour of West London was complete when Wilkins was appointed caretaker for Chelsea in 2000. However it was Wilkins's stint at the club nine years later that caused people in the game to sit up and take him seriously as a manager. With Wilkins unfairly dismissed from the club in 2010 (via Guardian), he could well be looking to reap revenge on the Blues, and what better way to do that than to lead rivals QPR to a Premier League title? Okay, I may be getting ahead of myself here, but you get the gist. Harry Redknapp Harry Redknapp is the name on most Rangers fans' lips, and for good reason: this is 'Arry territory. Worst start to the season. Two points in seven games. Bottom of the table. Sound familiar? Well Tottenham were in the exact same positionâalbeit having played a game moreâand Redknapp managed to completely overhaul the Spurs' season. After the introduction of Harry, the team climbed from bottom to eighth, and only narrowly missing out on a Europa League spot. Should Harry be appointed manager of QPR, eighth would be great, but most fans would agree, anywhere above eighteenth would be a dream come true right about now.
Rafa all day and all night long for me! - Good shout with Semin - would add Kasper Hjulmand F.C Nordsjaelland (my local club) Has singlehandedly transformed a club no bigger than Wycombe Wanderers to Champions League. Has the whole club playing exactly the same way from under 8s through to Senior team. Has a touch of Michael and Brian Laudrup about him with his humbleness and knowledge -and I'm not his agent!! HR,AC,MM - No,No,No - Would prefer MH in situ Wilkins - Someone's having a very nasty Paul Magrath here!!!
Shocking that anyone should even mention Judas Wilkins in relation to QPR after colluding in our downfall. And surely no one would want McCarthy droning on as he does. Benitez is the obvious choice should the need arise.
Out of those six, only redknapp should really be considered. Lynch mobs would form if Wilkins were appointed, curbishley and McCarthy would without a doubt send us down, semin doesn't speak English as far as I'm aware and Benitez whilst fondly remembered here on merseyside, would lead us into certain debt as his eye for talent is not as good as many claim and he regularly spent 40 mill per transfer window at Liverpool
Don't know about Semin but Morose Mick? No thanks. Curbs out too long to effect significant change. Rafa or 'Arry. Might even get some decent players following 'Arry in January! Academic for me as I think Hughes here til at least end November and likely long haul.
Sparky out, Spunky in! QPR fans are open mouthed at the prospect of Russian Semin arriving in the bush. etc etc etc
Perhaps Mark Hughes drives one of these? please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
only one name of those mentioned would give me confidence and that is Rafa,he is the only one with any pedigree.
Without using profanities.......Wilkins! - never! - he has shown recently that he is more ´blue´ than Sparkless. Don´t want him anywhere near LR. Rafa and Harry would be the most popular choices if Sparkless did leave, but I am really beginning to think that we might come good against Everton, I can feel it in my water. Please don´t play SWP and you might just be ´Sparkling´ on the evening of the 21st.
Not sure Wikins even knows his own name anymore, god forbid he comes anywhere near LR. Of the list above only Harry to the end of the season or Rafa. Still in a state of shock over anyone even considering Wikins., WTF!
Should Harry arrive then so may legendary past QPR strikers Sir Les and Clive Allen who think were both part of Harrys backroom staff at Spurs. Who knows if results dont improve we may sign them up in January as players and they may still be able to be a potent force up front if Djbrill and Bobby start firing blanks. Joking aside Sir Les and Clive Allen in my opinion hve been the best 2 strikers to play for QPR in the 35 years ive supported them with perhaps a surprising choice of Gary Bannister not a million miles behind.
