From the Express
www.express.co.uk/sport/football/502562/Memory-lane-at-White-Hart-Lane-for-Glenn-HoddleMemory lane at White Hart Lane for Glenn Hoddle
GLENN HODDLE will take a trip down Memory Lane today (or White Hart Lane to be precise) with a point or three to prove. And a reputation to reinforce.
By: Colin MafhamPublished: Sun, August 24, 2014
Hoddle will return to White Hart Lane 11 years after Spurs sacked him [GETTY]
Along with manager Harry Redknapp, Steven Caulker, and possibly Adel Taarabt, QPR's new first team coach will be reunited with the Spurs heirarchy that dispensed with all their services.
Not so much on a revenge mission, but enough to give the game some extra spice and Rangers' players more confidence than they might previously have expected ahead of a game like this one.
Hoddle's return comes 11 years after Spurs sacked him and less than a fortnight since Redknapp, also surprisingly dumped by today's opponents, invited the former England manager to join his Loftus Road revolution.
And if the QPR players are anything to go by he has already made the sort of impact that still marks him out as one of England's greats and had Crystal Palace eyeing him as a potential new manager recently.
Veteran defender Richard Dunne, a pivotal player in the three-at-the-back formation Hoddle favours, has already noticed a big difference since the new man arrived.
He says: "He has been great. In the few days he has been here he has really helped us and the more sessions we have with him the better we are becoming.
"If he had left (to join Palace) after just a few sessions it would have been terrible."
Teammate Joey Barton, never slow to voice an opinion, echoed those sentiments. He said: "Glenn gives us a boost. He sees different things because of the kind of coach and player he's been.
"He's one of the last England managers any of us enjoyed watching. They actually had a couple of decent sides who played decent football."
It is Hoddle's influence that has inspired new confidence in the QPR camp despite last week's opening defeat by Hull and given the ex-Spurs contingent a real appetite for this afternoon's clash.
Particularly Caulker, brought back to London for £8million after being little more than a bit part player at Spurs before moving to Cardiff in search of regular first team football.
Dunne says: "He's not said a lot about the game, but I'm sure it will mean a lot to him. Getting a victory over them is what we're all aiming for and if we win there will be a lot of happy people about the place."
And then there is the enigma that is Taarabt, rescued by Rangers after Spurs sent him packing four years ago.
Redknapp will be hoping that his QPR side can take some points away from White Hart Lane [ACTION IMAGES]
Dunne has no doubts about the inconsistent Moroccan's abilities - even if others run out of patience with him - or what he could do to Spurs today given the chance.
"I don't know how he is with the manager, but with the ability he has I'm sure he would love to be in the team," says Dunne.
"Adel is a matchwinner for us and in terms of the group we would like him to stay and be the man everyone is talking about because he has so much potential.
"Sometimes you need a player like Adel, sometimes you can't afford to have him. But there are some top teams looking at him so it's up to the manager to decide whether we can afford to have him or it is time for him to move on."
As far as Dunne is concerned manager Redknapp, who also threw the Irishman a lifeline when injury threatened to wreck his career, will make the right decision.
Just like he has consistently done since taking over QPR when the club appeared to be falling apart.
"I wasn't here when Harry arrived, but I've heard the stories," Dunne recalls.
"Since day one when I came in it has been great and we have added people who have bought in to the mantra the manager sets and there has not been a minute's problem.