First time poster here. I think we have a fantastic chairman in Tony Fernandes and it's to his credit that he's stuck with the manager this long, when the majority of clubs probably would have sacked him a month or so ago - but has he stuck with him too long? I think Fernandes genuinely likes Mark Hughes, but coupled with this, if he were to sack him, there would be a massive pay off and I wonder whether this is the reason he's held off for so long. The other issue is stability - is it reckless to keep changing your manager? I do agree that a manager should be given time to gel his team, but Hughes had half of last season (albeit he inherited a struggling team), the whole summer and a third of this season. The majority of the team yesterday were his signings. I think it took him 11 games to pick the correct starting 11 (at Stoke), but he still got the formation wrong, which suggests that he doesn't know his strongest side and can't find the correct balance either. We should, in my opinion, be playing 4-5-1 which can translate to 4-3-3 - I think quite a few would agree with this. For the short term, I would pick a back 5 of Cesar, mbia and nelson central, onuha right back (Bosingwa has a poor work rate) and Fabio left back (Traore is a bit hit and miss at the moment). I'd have a midfield triangle of Granero, Faurlin, Diakate with Faurlin and Diakate taking it in turns to hold, which will free up Granero to roam forward and pick out passes. I feel really sorry for Granero at the moment because Hughes sticks with either 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 which means that he plays on the right, where he's absolutely wasted and ineffective. Away from home we can be more cautious if needed, and have Faurlin and Diakate holding and switch to more attacking as and when we sense a chance to do so. I think we'll see the best of Park as well, should he have an opportunity to take up one of these central 3 positions - he's another who's been played wide and out of position and as such has been ineffective. We can then have Taarabt and Hoilett roaming in from wide areas - far harder to pick up than if they're playing centrally, where they can be targetted. I'd then keep Cisse as the focal point up front. The reason he's been ineffective is because he's a poacher, but he's had nothing to poach and therefore we've been carrying him. By freeing up the likes of Granero, Taarabt and Hoilett, I think we'll see his goal tally rise. The full backs can provide the width. I keep hearing reports from players who've worked under Hughes and have praised him highly - Kompany said last night on motd that he's a manager who will take a club to the next level. But where is this Mark Hughes? He can't seem to find a balance with a side and religiously sticks with the same formation, i.e. 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 which suggests a lack of adaptability that top managers have. Also, when things aren't going well like now, he seems to lack the personality to inspire and motivate players - my perception (maybe unfair) is that he has a negative aura, arms folded shaking his head. At other clubs like Fulham and Blackburn he may have struck a decent balance in the side and so didn't need to motivate, but at QPR it's now vital! On a final note, I did speak to an ex QPR player at an event earlier this year (I won't say who out of respect) and he did say that it's hard to know what Mark Hughes is thinking and he rarely loses his temper or raises his voice. The same player also acknowledged that sometimes players need a rocket, but that's never forthcoming with Hughes. Although he didn't outright criticise him, the implication was there that this guy doesn't motivate. I think that if there were a lack of viable alternatives available I would be seriously concerned, but with the likes of Redknapp and Benitez out of work currently, I think Fernandes needs to pull the trigger now before it's too late. This is a case of, do you spare one man's feelings over the future of an entire football club?
Good post mate. Good addition to the board. Look forward to more. Yesterday's performance has to be the death knell for Hughes. Unforgivable from Fernandes if he persists with him.
Welcome to the board. Great first post. I don't see that sacking Hughes is a dilemma for Fernandes. If we go down we would lose at least £150m in TV rights alone (Sky have increased their payment for 2013/14 by 70%). If Hughes costs us £20m, surely that is good business. Personally, we shouldn't pay him a penny. He hasn't fulfilled the terms of his contract so why pay him off?
Welcome aboard, Possum. Your post is a terrific introduction for you here. To be frank, I really feel for Fernandes. In the space of little over 15 months he has presided over significant and positive change in respect of our little football club. He has been prepared to put a lot of money into new players, new training facilities and new scouting networks. The search for a new ground presumably continues behind the scenes too. He acted decisively when the squad was underperforming last year and understandably will have felt vindicated in his appointment of Hughes through the club's PL survival last May, albeit by the skin of its teeth. He backed Hughes extensively both in January and during the summer in the transfer market, and it is not unreasonable for him to expect his investment to start showing some return by now. After a reasonable pre-season, the home thrashing by Swansea seems to have been an event that the squad has been unable to get over. At the time it was easy to pass this result off as an aberration and assume it would very quickly become nothing more than an unpleasant memory as the Rs surged up the table. That this has not been the case can only be laid squarely at the feet of Hughes. To a qualified extent I also have sympathy for Hughes too. It would be churlish to accuse the manager and his staff of not caring sufficiently, or not trying to do everything to reverse the fortunes of the club. I am sure that this is not the case. But, because of this and the fact that this reversal has not come about, one can only conclude that Hughes has tried every tool in his toolbox, and none has worked. It would be easy to point the finger of blame instead at the players, and to some extent it is warranted. But here you have to remember who assembled this squad of has-beens and journeymen at no modest outlay. Here you have to remember who picks the team. Here you have to remember who dictates the tactics. Here you have to remember who motivates or chastises the players. It's the manager. Hughes has tried and failed and there are no signs that retaining him (and his staff) will lead eventually to any other outcome to the miserable, apathetic tripe we've been served up to date. I don't think any employer has ever believed that he'd dismissed somebody too early. Mr Fernandes must act swiftly and decisively once more, before it is too late.
i cant believe with his record at qpr the man is still in his job, i know he wont resign but if it cost to get rid for god sake do it, if we keep him we will surely go down,the man is a total waste of space and hasnt got a clue
I think the problem is that both TF & MH are looking at the long term project, which in itself is the way to go, all businesses must plan long term. Unfortunately football is unlike any other business in that it is short term results that are key rather than long term and based on yesterdays woeful performance from the team & management i have a horrible feeling that we will struggle to get more points than Derby did a few years ago and with the money involved we could be looking at a pompey like situation. MH will not resign so either TF wields the axe or we are stuck with MH whether we like it or not......a real dilemma. Good first post Possum81
You have no idea what the terms of his contract are so dont talk rubbish. Hughes clearly isnt the right man but enough with the bile.
Nice one Possum. I agree with your thoughts on stability, team selection and formation. Like you, I don't imagine that Hughes can be a great motivator because he never shows any passion. However, if TF feels the time has come to pay off Sparky, the size of the pay-off will be dwarfed by the money realised from EPL survival and the pay-off could be seen as a very sound "investment".
Nice one Possum, welcome. It's definitely stick or twist time, and there's no point sticking now. Though the alternatives don't inspire me, if they have a touch of luck, bring them in.
Good post Possum, I think there really is no way back for MH, he's lost the players and now he's lost the fans which is usually the point of no return. The trouble is he is inflexible and continues to set up the team in a disjointed 4-4-2 pattern which just doesn't work with this team and by time he realises this games are invariably running away from us...
Thanks for the warm welcome guys - much appreciated. I totally agree that Hughes needs to go, but understand Fernandes' reluctance. I know Redknapp isn't everyone's cup of tea, but he knows how to structure a team and find a balance. I'm convinced that the players we have at the moment are good enough to get us out of trouble, but they need motivation and utitlised in their most effective positions - I'm not convinced Hughes is going to succeed with either of those aspects.
I do believe this plus the simple painful truth that he refused to invest in defenders is the nub of the problem. The latter can possibly be fixed (but not until it is too late); the former cannot.
Welcome to our happy club. Having watched a number of games over the weekend, there is little doubt that we simply do not play as a team going forward. Whether that's down to the individuals or their instructions, we are so easy to read. We know that the ball will, in the absence of Zamora inevitably be played to an overlapping full back whose only aim is to put a centre in. Only Taarabt looks to create anything with an incisive defence splitting pass but only Cisse is available and Cisse seems to have difficulty at the moment in reading the game. Either he mistimes his run and fails to get away or he goes too early and is caught offside. Even Granero by and large, plays the ball to the wings. Hoilett is a natural winger but he is intent always on cutting in and shooting rather than playing anyone else through. Why is that? And, more importantly, why can Hughes not see that problem? How many times on Saturday did we get into a theatening position to find that it was left to Bosingwa of all people to put the ball in the middle for Cisse. However nobody else had ventured into the penalty area at all. I can see only one reason for that. The Swansea drubbing. The lessons being drummed into the team are that it is better to ensure you can get back in time to defend a counter-attack rather than try to score. Only one man is responsible for that disastrous tactic. I am going to OT on Saturday but know fulwell that it is a waste of my time and money because we will look to contain and spoil rather than score goals. If we manage to win the ball we will set off slowly towards the other end and perhaps play a few passes around their penalty area before losing the ball again through a misplaced pass or a lofted ball up to nobody at all in the penalty area. Hughes will walk away saying how well we played because United only scored once or twice and until they did we were always in the game. Last season we only had the one long range deflected shot from Taarabt to show for the journey. I really do not see the point in being competitive with Spurs 1-2, Arsenal 0-1, Chelsea 0-0, West Brom 2-3, West Ham 1-2 and City 1-3 if we are not prepared to have a go until it is too late. It is the negativity and lack of passion that has led us to this sorry predicament.
Great first post mate, welcome to the board. Pretty much sums up my feelings right now. I really feel for TF as he has done all he can and is taking alot of stick for it. I supported MH up to the Stoke game, which was the final straw for me. I had had enough by then.
I'll add my welcome too, and good post! I have been a long time defender of stability and the need to have some longevity, mostly based around the dreadful Goons era that made our club a laughing stock. But yesterday was so woeful, and the capitulation so complete that it suggests MH really has lost not just the confidence, but the respect of the players as well. I'm not convinced that HR is the right man to save our season. He and Benitez are used to having serious cash to spend. Without funds, I can't see either of them turning things around which leaves us where? Does TF want to spunk another £10-20m on a last ditch January gamble given the wage bill we have already - and more to the point perhaps, who in their right minds would come to us at the moment? Established Premier League quality don't want to be in the Championship next season... we're odds on to be there. All which leaves available the troublemakers who are a disruptive influence and the mercenaries who are just looking for a short term contract payday... seems like Groundhog Day.
Agree seagull hoop. I have supported MH along with others on here for longer than we really should have out of trying to wish stability on the club as TF has mentioned alot. But there is only so long you can do that and put up with poor performances/results. That time was last saturday for me and I am thoroughly in the MH out camp now.
Do you know, I've been thinking about the whole will Hughes stay or go saga all day. I really feel that, if he hasn't gone by the end of this coming week, he will be here till season's end! If Fernandes doesn't get rid, after us reaching the complete bottom against Saints, then he won't sack Hughes at all!
