QPR Assistant Manager Mick Jones brings us his latest blog direct from the Harlington training ground … It has been a great few weeks here at QPR, but I have to say the way we performed in our two games since the closure of the transfer window has not surprised me. In fairness, our displays against Newcastle and Wolves just showed how necessary it was for us to make those late signings. The squad we had wasn't strong enough for the Premier League, but I have to say we couldn't have had better results than who we managed to bring in prior to the takeover of the Club. Of course, once the takeover went through, the Manager was suddenly in a position to take the Club forward. How Neil Warnock got those signings made in the last 48 hours of the window - and particularly in the final 12 hours - I'll never know. I have never seen a Manager so determined to get those players in. He knew they were vital to us. Had we not got them, I think we would have struggled this season. Now we have better prospects of being successful. And that's no reflection on the lads who got us up. It's just normal - the higher you go, the better the player. We had to bring quality in, and we're delighted that we managed to do that. The target for us from the start of the season was 17th place in the Premier League. And that shouldn't change. If you ask any QPR fan, if we finish in that position at the end of the season to stay in the top division, I am sure they would be delighted. The message from within the Club is not to get carried away and to keep our feet on the ground. I know a lot of fans are finding that difficult at the moment, particularly with how we played against Newcastle and Wolves. And I can understand that. After our goalless draw with Newcastle, Neil Warnock, Keith Curle and I were in a room at the stadium and we were like three kids at Christmas with a new toy! Our performance that night was stunning. What was even better was how we carried that into the game at Molineux. I know Mick McCarthy and I admire his footballing philosophies. He was at our game last Monday and he told me after the match at the weekend that he had left Loftus Road very impressed with what he had seen. And we carried that into the Wolves game - we started so well and were like the home team for the first 20 minutes up there. The new group of lads have only been with us a couple of weeks and yet there is already a very strong team spirit amongst them. And the reason for that is the players that have come in are all great characters with personalities. They have all played in the Premier League, they know the Premier League and every one of them has a point to prove. Look at Anton Ferdinand. He has always been a top centre-half, but has never been the centre-half he should be. I think Neil will make him that centre-half. Danny Gabbidon has been in the wilderness for a couple of years, Joey Barton with all his off-the-field problems, DJ Campbell, Jason Puncheon, Jay Bothroyd, every one of them has got a point to prove. But the biggest thing I have noticed is the way the bar has been raised in training. Joey on the training ground is different to any other player I have seen in my career. He trains in a way that is vital to him, and everyone else looks at him and thinks: 'I better get up to that level.' There is no doubt that Joey has been inspirational to us already. The Manager made Joey his captain. He met with Adel Taarabt privately to explain it to him first. After that meeting, I asked Neil how it went, and he said it went well. Neil told me that Adel accepted Joey had to be the Captain. And what's happened to Adel in the last couple of weeks is that he has looked around the training ground and he has seen how people like Joey train. And Adel has thought to himself: 'If I want to play at the highest level, that's how I have to react.' And I have heard Joey during training sessions say to Adel: 'If you want to sulk, do it while you're running back! Don't do it walking, If I ask you to do something, do it.' And Adel's reaction to that has been fantastic. And not many people could say that to Adel and get that sort of reaction. But Adel recognises Joey's status in the game. That tells Adel that Joey must be right. Shaun Derry - who is another natural choice for captain because he is another great leader - said that it was a great decision too. At this particular stage of Joey's career, he is the perfect choice to be QPR Captain. *If you have a question for Mick Jones, or a topic you would like him to discuss in a future blog, e-mail [email protected]
What a brilliant article, it's great to get a little insight into the club from someone as well respected as Mick Jones. Our Joey is no shrinking violet is he? Cheers Northolt.
