Just watched our Tone in a trilogy of recent interview clips on the offish. Effortless reflections and very, very impressive. Nine months ago I’d barely heard of him. Today, despite his comparative youth, he’s a household name and a warm, wise father figure: someone we’ll want to have around for years to come. Compare the people we have as owners to those at other prem clubs: typically they’re either moneyed and remote OR warm, accessible and relatively skint. In our case, our owners seem to have all the positives and none of the negatives. Quite a turnaround from the days of the Goons and the acidic nothingness of Scrooge. Give thanks: the wheel of fortune has definitely turned in favour of this club of ours! But despite such positive change, there’s still been the inevitable debate amongst us fans. No harm in that since deliberation’s what fans do when and wherever we get the chance. First we shrugged Tony off as a Hammer and potential purchaser of Goon shares, on the grounds that he was well short of billionaire status, wouldn’t be able to afford what the Goons were asking AND the kind of players needed to keep us in the prem. When he finally took over we became less critical for a while for two reasons, the first being relief at finally seeing the back of the Goons; and secondly because Tone comes across as a decent (west London) chappy. However, we still saw him as a bit lightweight and wondered how long it’d be before he was swamped either by the Mittals or his faceless Malaysian backers. Then, when he took the tough decision to sack Warnock and get Hughes in, the **** really hit the fan(s)! He was two-faced, disloyal and utterly ruthless. Despite his overtures to the fans (pub crawl, sitting in the lower loft etc.) we remained pretty wary about that decision right up until our survival was actual. Even since that time there’s been mild speculation that Fernandes would be out of the picture sooner rather than later! Well, on the evidence of the offish interview(s), what we originally saw in Tone is what we’ve got and that is most unlikely to change anytime soon. A really decent chap. Feet firmly on the deck, no airs or graces, huge respect for the club and especially us as fans, knows his football, has his vision for success and well in the process of implementing all the necessary changes. You only have to look into the man’s eyes (and QPR-Player gives you no opportunity to do anything else) to know he’s absolutely genuine in what he thinks and says. There’s no hesitation in his musings and wonderment, and certainly no stage management or rehearsal involved. The man’s as straight as a plumb line and keen as they come. Never look a gift horse in the mouth they say. Well, I just did and his teeth are in pretty good nick for his age! Turns out he used to play at Harlington for his university team. What a guy! Any doubters left after watching that interview? Let’s be ‘avin’ ya!! URRRssss!
it always makes me laugh at WHU and Norwich fans who dont trust him. He is definitly and R now, I dont even consider him foreign since he grew up right around LR. Imagine my surprise when i was walking to the turnstyle and Tony was walking alongside me to sit in the loft. I just dont know how he has all the energy for F1, QPR and his airline, hes always doing something non stop.
I love the bloke! It is such a far cry from where we were this time last year it really is unbelievable and the stuff of dreams. He is such a genuine guy and clearly not only talks the talk, but walks the walk. The Goons did neither. TF is right, communication with fans has been the absolute key. Him being on Twitter has endeared himself to all of us, and gives him the chance to communicate in a 'softer' way than an offical statement on the website. I still cant really believe we have somehow ended up with such a decent bloke in charge. The ONE fault I will give him is that he/the club havent talked to the fans about the family stand and kicking hundreds of supporters out from their long term seats. That is his only mistake.
True but they havent made a decision yet, I tried to move my seat because I knew a guy was being moved out and they said it cant be done until the 1st week in July. There is still time to reverse it.
Well they bloody well should reverse it. It is a disgrace. But dont want to hijack the TF thread about that!
Doubt it as it's in-house QPR... But there's nothing in it we haven't heard before really. It's more the way he says those things. Great sense of conviction and commitment and very convincing. Sounds just like a regular, awe-struck fan musing over the club's development and potential. If you didn't know better, you wouldn't guess he's the guv.
One of the first things that struck me about the guy was the fact that he spoke English, in complete, cohesive, coherent sentences. I remember thinking, this guy is tuned in. I do believe we have struck lucky. However, I think we need to look after the man, he seems overweight, we can't have him dropping on us at a match. Lets get him a dietician etc..............
Great write up Brix, will try to get a chance to see the interviews. To be honest though the bloke has got me hook, line and sinker. So far he has done nothing wrong and always seems to say the right things. On the couple of times i've met him (as a QPR fan) he has always been a pleasure to talk to and his enthusiasm for the club is always on show, he definatly wears his heart on his sleeve. Also i like the way he is ready to take responsibility for his actions (ie the Warnock sacking), and never shyed away from the fact it was a difficult decision to make but he took that decision on his shoulders and was more than willing to face the often vile abuse he took for it. Was he right ? Could Neal of kept us up ? That we will never know but i for one am happy that TF is OURS and long may he stay. The future isn't gonna be all plain sailing thats for sure, but it is gonna be bloody exciting
You too?!! We've had the same from Flyer and North already on this thread - and notwithstanding his pub crawl and watching the game in the fans' seats, we've heard it fairly often from others too. Speaks volumes for our man in the big chair. In this department Rangers rule the roost!
