By FRANK FOSTER PUBLISHED: 15:11, 18 December 2012 | UPDATED: 15:11, 18 December 2012 Comments (15) Share QPR chairman Tony Fernandes admits he would probably have given Mark Hughes more time had he not feared losing out on Harry Redknapp. The Welshman was sacked last month after the west Londoners failed to win any of their opening 12 league matches, with a 3-1 home defeat to fellow strugglers Southampton proving the final straw. Redknapp was quickly installed as Hughes' successor, with the Hoops boss revealing he had been just hours away from taking control of the Ukraine national team. Sacked: Hughes failed to win any of his first 12 league games with QPR this season The interest in Redknapp appears to have forced Fernandes' hand, with the QPR chairman revealing he was not prepared to risk losing out on the former Tottenham boss. 'Harry is a special manager,' he told the club's official website,*www.qpr.co.uk. 'If he wasn't available, I would probably have persevered with Mark, but Harry is a fantastic manager. 'I've known him for years going back to when he was at West Ham. Harry being available swung it for us.' Motivator: Redknapp has got the best out of Adel Taarabt since taking charge at Loftus Road He added: 'We're all in this together. No shirking. Let's see what Harry and the boys do. 'It's up to the 11 guys on the pitch to make it happen for us now. Belief: QPR owner Tony Fernandes is confident that the club are moving in the right direction 'If we can pick up a couple more wins before the new year, we're back to where we were this time last season. 'Coming off a win and three draws, there's a bit of renewed confidence about the place now.' QPR are unbeaten in four matches since Redknapp's arrival and picked up their first league win of the season against Fulham on Saturday. The R's are still only five points adrift of safety though, and remain in danger of going down. There had been suggestions that relegation to the Championship could see Fernandes leave Loftus Road - something he has been quick to deny. 'Come what may, in May, we'll still be here,' he said. 'I'm firmly committed to the club. I'm not someone who's going to run away from things, there are still a lot of good things happening. 'The training ground is well on track and the stadium plans are progressing. We're hopeful of getting category two status in the Academy. 'There's no change to our off-the-field strategy. There are lots of good things going on.' Tough test: QPR must aim keep up their good run against out-of-form Newcastle He added: 'We inherited a club that needed a hell of a lot of work and we'll continue to progress with our short, medium and long term goals. REDKNAPP'S RESULTS Sunderland 0-0 QPR - 27 Nov QPR 1-1 Aston Villa - 1 Dec Wigan 2-2 QPR - 8 Dec QPR 2-1 Fulham - 15 Dec 'I'm a strong character who has been through a hell of a lot in life. 'The aviation business isn't for those with a weak heart. 'But I've got to say, the run of results - before Harry came in - really affected me. 'It's been really tough. 'I'm the leader and it's a great shame that after so much honest effort, we are where we are in the league'
Ya know, as they say, everything happens for a reason and for good reason the timing was what it was, and I am glad that it happened, as I am sure all R's supporters are, now. Of course that fear of losing Arry was perfect timing - I mean you can't write this stuff in Hollywood scripts, can you? So here we are. Yay
Complete blinder by Arry. Turned down the villa job as it was too far to commute but Ukraine was apparently an acceptable distance. "It's only a 3 hour flight so I can stay at home". Majestic bs and pr. I can't wait till deadline day just for the interviews.
"I want the Ukraine job" was exactly the bait Arry wanted and TF bit. Claiming interest in the job flushed out the interested parties from out of the undergrowth and we had to show our hand. I feel quite flattered that he picked QPR especially when you think that 12 months ago he was the manager of a Champion's League side and was being touted as the nailed on next England manager. I even think he might still hang around if we get relegated because top jobs are few and far between and Spuds was probably the biggest club that would have him and as he gets a bit more long in the tooth other major sides will be looking elsewhere. England and Spuds loss is our gain, just a shame we have had to get to such a precarious position before all the pieces fell together.
'Arry's been available since mid June. The dearth of managers with proven ability to negotiate their way up the prem table means he could've been picked up at any stage by anyone south of Brum. Most vulnerable time in terms of missing out on 'Arry was in the weeks leading up to El Sackio, when Adkins was as prime for the push as Hughes was (and Hughes had prem experience and home advantage on his side for that one). Whilst our record of odd-goal losses and draws shows why Tone (like many of us on here - including me) was so hesitant to make the necessary change, the failure to balance the squad in the summer, the under-performances on the pitch week in and out and the evident lack of team / squad unity, were all alarms screaming 'imminent disaster' at least a month before we dialled 999 and asked for Redknapp. What a relief he was still available. What would we have done if he wasn't? That's one near miss we have to learn from. Warnock went when he lost the dressing room and we lost league position. Despite his smart suit an' ting, there's nothing to say Hughes ever achieved anything like it - other than some blagged management-type camaraderie with Phil Beard and Uncle Tone. Dangerous ground, over-familiarity. For all his success, Warnock wouldn't have got so much leeway - and neither should Hughes. Sure, hindsight's a wonderful thing - but a little detachment and foresight are so much better!
More praise for Harry: http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...but-only-for-cup-of-nations-duty-8424884.html Adel Taarabt is not interested in a transfer from Queens Park Rangers but has told manager Harry Redknapp he will play for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations next month if asked. Taarabt has been linked with a move to Manchester United and Arsenal next month but the 23-year-old is happy at Loftus Road. Redknapp sold Taarabt to QPR just under three years ago when he was Tottenham manager but he sees the attacking midfielder as key to the Loftus Road clubâs hopes of escaping relegation. Taarabt has already taken his game to another level since Redknapp replaced Mark Hughes last month. He scored twice in QPRâs first League win of the season, against Fulham, on Saturday. And Taarabt is adamant he loves playing for Redknapp and is not looking to quit the club. He said: âI see all the clubs linked with my name but Iâve just signed for four years at QPR. âI donât know what would happen if someone offered £20million but I love the club and the fans. And they love me too. âHe [Redknapp] is a peerless motivator. You believe you are the best player in the world when he talks to you. âBefore matches he is very strong. When you go on the pitch you fear nothing. At the end of the match against Fulham, he came to me to say, âI told you that you were as good as [Dimitar] Berbatovâ.â Redknapp hoped he could convince Taarabt to snub international duty next month in order to be available for key games as QPR try to climb to safety. Taarabt, who has been ignored by Morocco in recent months, could be missing for up to four weeks if he is picked to play in the tournament in South Africa. But Taarabt (above) has told Redknapp he will go if he is selected in new coach Rachid Taoussiâs squad. He added: âI will do everything I can to prove to him [Taoussi] that I deserve to be there. He [Redknapp] came to see me to ask me not to go but I told him, âIf they call me, I canât refuse, boss. I love my country, I love the Moroccan people and football means a lot to themâ. âI warned him that the only solution was that the coach doesnât call me up. âI hope to be there but even if Iâm not there â and that would be painful â I will be the biggest Morocco supporter.â
Getting praise from our Tarbs is like getting a character reference from a 17 year old with an ASBO. I don't think Harry will get too carried away with these compliments from his "fruitcake".
Good post but I still think TF was right to ride things out as Hughes is not a poor manager in my book. I think MH will be the only one who can truly understand the team's failure ... He has that pain. I still believe none of us really knew it would turn out so bad and it was only yesterday that we were tossing our caps in the air at our best ever signings at the club ... the main reason I still have tone of voice to many on here.
You know what, DT, I actually agree with you. Whilst not spectacular, there are certainly 'worserer' managerial records than Hughes'. Clearly there were some on here, however, that questioned the logic of some of the acquisitions during the summer, particularly the age of many of them. And to some extent they've been proven correct what with the injuries and so forth. Of course, nobody could have (not 'of') predicted the long-term absences of Zamora and Johnson, but you could take an educated guess that neither could play 38 league games. Selling Helgusson appears to have been a mistake too (although he wasn't without his injury worries too). I'm sure as he reflects, Hughes will acknowledge that whilst the squad undoubtedly played a part, he made mistakes.
Ok Brix, money where your mouth is time - how much leeway for Harold? Failure to stay up? Failure to get promotion first time if we go down? 14 winless games? Playing crap, nervy football? Hard to say isn't it? I think Tony has got it as right as anyone could with these incredibly hard decisions. Especially the Hughes one, the run was, for me, almost literally unbelievable. We have had no (Green aside)anti Hughes moans from the players, and the man himself has maintained a dignified silence, as have his staff, in marked contrast to his predecessor. He had a career damaging, possibly ending, nightmare with us in terms of results, which could not have been foreseen by anyone. The results were not anywhere near good enough, but we don't know what influence Hughes has had elsewhere, what foundations he helped lay. Right decision to get rid, but one that goes against most good management instincts to develop stability. Despite my doubts, we are certainly lucky that Harold was available and willing. First paragraph was a straw man, though I would be interested in your views. If we change manager again in the next 18 months we are back in the madhouse.
Really well said but careful with the sexism please x Seriously a great post You have to talk to a few players you see it their eyes they are QPR Look at them at the school next door to the ground ... Outstanding Time to support the team not follow and moan I love soup xxx
Not everyone was. Quite right Uber. To be fair to Flyer, he said Johnson was going to get crocked and was a terrible addition. And weren't those who questioned the age of the signings, by implication, questioning their physical endurance amongst other things?
Don't agree. TF Bad decision No 1 to fire C*lin. Bad decision No 2 to replace him with Hughes who did not have a good record with his scatter gun player aquisition policy, or with immediately turning round badly performing teams. Many of us were aware of this at the time, but apparently not TF. Bad decision No 3 was not to replace Hughes a lot earlier, after the West Ham game when anyone with any knowledge of football could see his tactics were Clueless and he was ridiculed by every pundit with a mouth (they have them!) before the game was even played, and this coming on top of no wins this season and no away wins since he took over. TF No 1 good decision it appears. eventually replacing C*lin with a Manager of the same kind in Harry, with a Clue, and at least as able to get the best out of the players and the team. It has taken him 10 months, perhaps we will survive without a relegation. Great man possibly he is, he 's putting his money in, but he has F*kked up big time with his Manager decisions.
Heard that before Oslo, your view is very clear and you are entitled to it. However, I think it is an insult to Harold to call him a manager of the same kind as Warnock. He's much, much cleverer in every way.
