Just a few hours after Neil Warnock left Queens Park Rangers for the final time this week, Mark Hughes was telling the squad about his plans. As the players listened intently to their new manager, one of them already had an idea of what was coming. Hughes gave Danny Gabbidon his debut for Wales in 2002 and both men came within a whisker of taking the team to their first finals since 1958. After defeat to Russia in the play-offs for Euro 2004, Hughes left to begin a career in club management which took in Blackburn, Manchester City and Fulham before arriving at Loftus Road. The 48-year-old has taken over a team who are just one point above the relegation zone after a run of eight games without victory but, having worked with him, Rangers centre-half Gabbidon is confident Hughes can turn things around. There was talk that some players were unhappy with the training under Warnock and, while Gabbidon is keen not to criticise the previous regime, he believes a new approach will pay off. He said: "Every manager is different. Neil Warnock was more old school with stuff, he has been in the game a long time. But our manager now is a bit more up with the times and uses a more modern style. He is a lot more in depth and no stone will be unturned. I know that preparation will be spot on for everything. Nothing will be missed. "I remember playing under him for Wales, I'd know everything about the team we were facing, the striker I would be marking and the way we were going to play. His reputation definitely helps. From what he has done as a player that instant respect is there. When he is talking, you're tuned in because after what he's achieved, you know he knows what he's talking about. Everyone at QPR will become better players under him. "Training has been very intense this week. The manager has been getting his ideas across and it's been going well. Everyone is fighting for places." Gabbidon, 32, is aware he faces a battle to stay in the team with the club eager to sign a centre-half. The club have had a £3million move for Alex turned down with Chelsea wanting double that for the Brazilian. Alex, on £60,000 a week, has also attracted interest from Juventus, who could be willing to meet the Blues' demands. While speculation about new arrivals continues, Gabbidon's focus is on Sunday's match at Newcastle and trying to keep the club in the top flight. He knows the pain of relegation having suffered it with West Ham last season before moving on a free transfer. Gabbidon said: "It would be a disaster if we went down. I had it last season at West Ham and it stays with you for months. You know the implications of what's happened, that people can lose their jobs. It's not just the footballers leaving, it's the tea ladies, the physios and the fitness coach. It affects everyone at the club. It's professional pride as well. It's not nice to have a relegation on your CV. "We have a run of games that if we can apply ourselves and take on what the manager says, we can pick up a few points and get out of trouble." Newcastle have defied pre-season expectations thanks chiefly to Demba Ba, who has scored 15 League goals since his arrival from West Ham. The good news for Gabbidon and his fellow defenders is that Ba is at the African Cup of Nations with Senegal. "That is one consolation," he said. "I knew he would do really well for them because I saw what he could do at West Ham last season but he has taken his form to another level. "However, they have two or three other strikers who are handful as well. Leon Best has done well for them and Shola Ameobi. It will be tough." Meanwhile, Rangers have until 5pm today to register signings for Sunday's match and were waiting for Tottenham's response to a £3m bid for midfielder Steven Pienaar. However, Manchester City are reluctant to let defender Nedum Onuoha join QPR until Vincent Kompany has completed his four-match suspension after the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool on January 25. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/stand...n-mark-hughes-wont-miss-a-trick-at-rangers.do
I was wondering how some teams managed to look good against us and we didnt know how to deal with them. I think this is good news in many ways as it will mean the players we currently have may be better prepared and therefore better on the pitch.
Will be great news for players like Faurlin, Adel, Mackie, Traore etc. who will hopefully be keen to be developed and improved under the new regime. Good to hear about the in-depth professionalism and preparation for individual players for each game too; just what we need in the club.
Faurlin is already done for the season, he's injured. Hughes will be gone by the end of season. They won't even cross paths on the field besides Faurlin watching from the stands.
Yappy, your predictions are worse than CernyBerny's. At least his have a 1/100 chance of coming true!
Couldnt agree more it bodes well to the future and will enable them to learn and improve little things will make such a difference to their overall games. Can someone take that Yappy dog to the vet and have him put down or at least nuetured.
