Mackie: "I love QPR"

QPR star: Now watch us become a Premier League force
Ian Cooper
Friday, May 18, 2012
10:00 AM


Mackie believes Rangers can build on momentum of top-flight survival

Jamie Mackie is desperate to help QPR become a Premier League force next season.

Rangers narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship on Sunday, beating the drop by a single point despite a 3-2 defeat at new champions Manchester City.

Chairman Tony Fernandes is likely to invest in the squad again this summer, and Mackie believes the building blocks are now in place for QPR to enjoy an extended Premier League stay.

The Scotland international, who signed a new one-year deal this week, is adamant he has a big part to play, and believes many of the team who won the Championship last season but were written off thereafter have earned another shot at Premier League football.

“I honestly think that we will be a force next season, we will really kick on and be a club to watch,” said Mackie. “Momentum gathers. I think we could be a really big team.

“People looked at our run-in and said that there was no way that we could stay up, but as a group of players we’ve bought into the manager’s way, we’ve listened.

“The lads like [Clint] Hill, [Shaun] Derry and Paddy [Kenny], who were here last year, have been arguably the best players. We’ve spent money on big players and people say ‘you might not play’, but for us all we’ve done is add quality to our squad. We love playing for our football club.

“The nature of the chairman is that he’s going to invest even more in the club, so I can play with even better players and in turn become a better player myself.

“But the main thing is the club does well and I’m delighted to be part of it. I think you play better with better players. You feed off them, you learn from them in training. I hope we bring more quality in so we don’t have to leave it until the last day of next season.”

Mackie admitted he has never been involved in a game like Sunday, when QPR came astonishingly close to winning 2-1 at the Etihad and denying Roberto Mancini’s side the title.

Mackie’s second-half diving header had City on the rack, and the 26-year-old believes his side did enough to take at least a draw from a game they eventually lost in injury-time.

“I’m a bit gutted that we didn’t spoil the party because I really did feel that we deserved a point,” he added. “However, all that matters is us being in the Premier League.

“I think I cried when I scored! It was the most emotional game I’ve played in, it means so much to me. I love QPR for giving me the chance and I want to stay here and be part of great things.

“Four years ago I was playing in the Conference, and to be able to have a say in the Premier League title is unbelievable for me.”

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Forward makes QPR vow
May 18 2012 By Jacob Murtagh

Jamie Mackie

JAMIE Mackie reckons QPR will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

Rangers escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth in a dramatic Premier League finale at Manchester City on Sunday.

Boss Mark Hughes plans an overhaul of the squad to ensure the Rs are never in a survival scrap again while he’s in charge.

QPR this week announced plans to move to a brand new state-of-the-art training complex at Warren Farm for the beginning of the 2013/14 season – as we revealed in January.

And Mackie insists the future looks bright under chairman Tony Fernandes.

He said: “I honestly think that we will be a force next season. We will really kick on and be a club to watch.

“Big results like that [the Liverpool game] gave the whole club confidence that we can beat massive teams. People looked at our run-in and said that there was no way that we can stay up, but as a group of players we’ve bought into the manager’s way, we’ve listened.

“Momentum gathers. It could be a massive season and I think we could be a really big team.”

Hughes looks set to revamp his squad in the close season with up to 14 players set to be shown the exit door.

The Welshman will be given more funds to bolster his ranks again following a flurry of signings in January, with loanees Taye Taiwo and Samba Diakite expected to make their moves permanent.

However, eight-goal Mackie, who was this week rewarded with a new deal in W12, is confident he can make the cut again following his debut season in the Premier League.

He added: “We’ve spent money on big players and people say ‘you might not play’, but all we’ve done is add quality to our squad.

“The nature of the chairman is that he’s going to invest even more in the club, so I can play with even better players and in turn become a better player myself.”

 

I will probably be lynched for suggesting this but there no way Mr Twitter aka Joey Barton will captain our great club ever again so why not give the 'club' captaincy to Jamie Mackie?

He his never in the papers for the wrong reasons, he loves the club, always gives 110%, he is loved buy he fans, players and management team, he is part of the clubs long term plans after signing his contract extension and when interviewed he is always positive. I also think he would be a fantastic role model for the younger players at the club.

Back him up with Ale Faurlin as vice captain and I think we will have a strong leadership team on the pitch aswell as off it.

 

I'll be honest, I wasn't too sure that Mackie would be good enough for the premier league, especially after having to come back from a double leg break. I've been proved dead wrong and the guy's an absolute inspiration. As far as I'm concerned he has already made himself a club legend in less than two full seasons (taking into consideration the time he was out injured), plus he's still young and getting better and better.
Make him captain for sure

 

Makes me laugh! Rewind two years to when Jamie was signed and the volley of underwhelmed abuse Warnock was given on 606. We certainly know better now!...

 

I was always confident that Jamie would "cut it" in the Premier League, but it was always possible that he wouldn't. I'm delighted for him, his passion, determination and endless running (plus a good degree of skill) is a joy to watch. As well as the stars all successful teams have a "Jamie" and we have 3 along with Derry and Hill. One of those 3 should be made captain in my opinion.

 

I had very little confidence in Mackie making it in the Prem and am absolutely delighted to be proved so comprehensively wrong. And he's learning - you can see MH has taught him a lot about using his upper body strength already - something Hughes was masterful at.
But it's too early to be discussing captains - the captain should be a guaranteed starter, injuries aside, and we won't know about that until much further into the transfer window.

 

Well me and Mackie have one thing in common! Great words from a great guy who will always give 100% for the club. You R'sss!!

 

I'm not sure about captaincy because I'm not sure that he dominates games enough (nothing against him but some players just have presence).

He's more of a gherka than a general IMO.

Brilliant person, loves the badge and never stops - I'd have given him 3 years rather than 1 just because he seems liek one of us.

 

It's a one year extension to existing contract. We have him until 2015.

 

Thanks SB. And thank you all at QPR for keeping an exemplary player.

 

I don't see him as Captain either. That's for Clint, Derry or maybe Ale.

 

Spot on, plus what SB said afterwards...not a captain but certainly earned his place in the prem with us...!!

 

I like the way most on here will admit it if they are wrong.

Although I didn't publically say so I did have my doubts. No-one could fault his endeavour and attitude but it was the ability I think.
I have been very impressed with the way he has improved this season and I feel there is more to come. His contract extension would suggest MH feels the same.

 

Yeah, bad thing about that is I KNOW Tarbs is going be special next season, If he stays with us under MH..and I'm gonna be appologising too...!!..(happily i may add!)

 

This place is all about opinions, some right, some wrong. I've been happy to be proved wrong on several counts this season as many of us have...

 

Without doubt the most surprising player for us this year, so many doubted him (including myself), but he's proved everyone wrong, I cant remember being THAT wrong about a QPR player before either.

 

Col, take note.

 

Jamie has done an examplar job this season - for himself and for the club. Always had belief in him to be honest - just something about the way he talks and the attitude he shows to want to be at the top of his game and give 100% to be successful. Really glad to see the fans finally getting behind him now and seeing what a gem we have in the ranks. Hoping that Jamie can show further improvement next seasons and see some great battles like the one with Huth (except with Jamie winning more of the challenges!!). Well done Jamie. Well done!!

 

Didn't know much about him at Plymouth but got Mackie fever as soon as the goals started pouring in. Thought his raw desire would be enough to make him a prem player (similar to a fledgling Keegan). However, lost faith when he first came back... until that Scotland match - and later Liverpool. Totally convinced by him now. Like Keegan, his game will just keep getting better and better imo.