Quick summary. Despite the results, proir to the Arsenal game I thought we started to make progressive improvements and even after that game excluding the first 25mins i felt we looked comfortable. Then Reading....abject performance no team spirit/game plan. Then Southampton...I wanted to shoot Hughes and most of the team. One of the worst days as a fan for a long time. However, some of the things that he and others have said got me thinking. MH agreed when interviewed that maybe some of the players were only here for the money when responding to the fans chants. His players I know but does this mean the penny has dropped and maybe the team for saturday may have a very different look. There are no guarantees when buying players and with the exception of Boswinga, in my view on paper all his signings looked good to me. Yes its his job to get the best out of them which he clearly has not. Rednapp has had more failed signings than good ones but he reacts to the bad ones more quickly..lesson for Hughes. When TF announced the project it was a long term one which is why contracts were longer, players invested in, new training ground, acadamy etc. he felt MH was the man with his back up staff were right for the project. Although recent results are bad, sorry shi& does TF still feel MH is right for the PROJect..we dont know. In my Business we select investment funds for clients and if a particular fund has a short term poor performance do you get rid of it? NOt always its depends on the reasons and circumstances also the timeframe objective. So this could be how TF and crew feel about MH. To me the key is what are the plans if we are relegated and also if the cost of bronging in a new manger is so high it means any to incumbent will still inherit some mercenary players with little chance of getting rid. Despite the way we all feel I still feel better than i did 3 years ago and for that I will trust in TF as if he is true to his word on the project then he will do what is required to get there but will make mistakes. If little change to the team on SAturday then I guess the penny didnt drop after all we are the rangers boys
I would like to know the investment / involvement of Mittal. Another post indicates he will reconsider his position if we are relegated. This brings up another question, if he pulls out do we face financial stress or would it be OK for long term plans. QPR will survive despite the short term setbacks. Despite the results it appears that the organization is being out in place for the long term future. I would prefer Hughes to leave but if he stays then I will back him. I do not think Harry is the man to replace him.
I was willing to give Hughes a fair crack of the whip even though I had doubts about him from the start. Sadly, it has nt worked out and we are getting worse by the week as confidence ebbs away. I know that some steps have been taken to restore our scouting and Academy set up but that will take a few years to produce results. However for as long as the first team squad is being recruited from has-beens and fringe players at the Big 4 it is clear that any talented younger players will never get a chance in our starting line up unless of course they have previously done a good job for Mark Hughes or one of his taklent spotters has said "Snap him up now boss. That boy can kick." The mistakes in recruitment this season especially are frankly unforgivable and the wholesale destruction of the team spirit which took us from relegation candidates in the Championship to the laughing stock and relegation certainties we currently are cannot in any way shape or form be regarded as progress.
And another point. The Mittals know the value of their investments. That is why they were not prepared to pay over the odds to buy out the Goons in the first place. TF was. They will not be prepared to pay him more than what they regard as the true value for the club. I remain confident that they will be there if the time comes when TF feels he has to cut his losses but they can afford to wait. If that day does come, I suspect they will not be so quick to splash the cash around on the basis of reputation and recommendation from others. Our ambitions will be restored to a healthier level.
