Compilation Articles Re Hughes Out/Redknapp In

[Macmoish]

and first one I'm posting

Paul Warburton/Fulham Chronicle

The reason behind the sacking of Mark Hughes at QPR


NO LAUGHING at the back ­­– but Mark Hughes targeted a Europa League place before the season started.

Hard to imagine now after Sparky collected his belongings from the QPR training ground this morning to become the 11th change in manager in just over four years.

Back then, a top seven finish made sense after QPR spent £25m in under 10 months on pretty much a brand new side.

But Harry Redknapp is slated to take over on Sunday, and it’s not hard to see why.

Sparky was excellent at coaching and preparation – not so hot, I’m told, on man management.

“He couldn’t get you out the door quick enough if you went to see him on a personal matter,” reckoned one of his former Premier League players.

Ironically, it needed the avuncular arm around the shoulders from previous manager Neil Warnock to lift one or two Rangers spirits. That was, and never is going to be the Hughes way.

“You wouldn’t want to play poker with him,” was another comment from the Rs training ground. But with that excellent self-control and endless patience over media questions about his future came a detachment not always appreciated by the squad.

He depended on them to be professional, well prepared and ice cold dealing with Premier League games. Surely, the ex-manger would have known it doesn’t always work like that, especially after a massive dent in confidence underwritten by the worst start in QPR history?

Clearly, he didn’t, and said so after last Sunday’s 3-1 home defeat to Southampton that banged down his coffin lid with a thud.

Hughes claimed he was ‘frustrated’ in trying to understand his team’s performance, but the fact he failed to see it speaks volumes about a detachment from the emotional side of things.

The previous low of 10 games without a QPR league win was two games back. But of course in the ways these things go, Rangers will amazingly win at Manchester United tomorrow just to add to Sparky’s frustration.

The biggest losers as Hughes picks up the best part of £5m severance pay has to be the Rangers board.

Chairman Tony Fernandes and CEO Phil Beard are just what is needed after the club became a laughing stock under the previous regime: I give you documentary ‘Four Year Plan’ and say no more.

But even the new men were beguiled by players’ advice just 10 months ago that saw Warnock out the door, and wrongly in my opinion.

Still, at least one player awaits the arrival of Harry with baited breath. The rumour mill had it Rob Green was coveted by Redknapp when still Spurs boss in the summer.

The keeper that started the Hughes rot with a gift to Swansea on opening day might just have inadvertently given himself a second chance as a result of a howler that led to putting the Spark out.

]


www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-qpr/2012/11/23/the-reason-behind-the-sacking-of-mark-hughes-at-qpr-82029-32294198/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Macmoish]

Goal.com
Vital QPR's Adam Boxer


No effort and no ideas: Hughes' QPR sacking was inevitable
The players had visibly lost faith in their manager, observes Vital QPR's Adam Boxer, with a change of direction the only viable course of action for the Premier League strugglers

By Adam Boxer | Vital QPR

Inevitable - that would be the best word to describe Friday's departure of Mark Hughes from QPR.
D

In a way it is sad that the club have built their very foundation around a man who they thought was going to take them to the next level but has now been removed.

It will be a huge regret for the board that, despite their admirable and steadfast support of the beleaguered boss, things frankly never looked like taking off at any point this season.

Hughes is a self-confident individual who has few regrets from his managerial and playing past but, even through his rose-tinted spectacles, he will surely be able to see that he had a squad of talented players at his disposal, whom he was responsible for assembling.

Unfortunately, he could not organise them effectively or prevent them from conceding the same calibre of goals, week after week.

DAMAGE ALREADY DONE?
15/8 QPR are 15/8 with Bet365 to finish bottom of the Premier League I was tentatively behind Hughes, even given the poor start that we had made to the season, as I saw a semblance of positivity in our play despite the ludicrous defensive lapses and the profligacy up front.

Against Southampton, however, we decided not to turn up at all and in truth it was the players, rather than the board, who had decided that Mark Hughes was not the man to take the club forward.

No effort, no ideas tactically and making Southampton look like Barcelona - it was the last straw for many and certainly displayed to me that things were on the decline and nowhere near the upward curve that Hughes continually purported was occurring at the club.

A delusional post-match press conference after a recent defeat against Stoke City had also only fuelled question marks that were persistently lingering over his leadership.

Harry Redknapp is rumoured to be the man taking the helm and, while he would not have been my first choice, I consider him a fine man-manager and someone who would be able to attract players of genuine quality in January.

We need to get organised tactically and play to our potential - if we do, then the two or three wins that are required to haul us out of the bottom three should be forthcoming.

Any turnaround in fortunes will not happen overnight and certainly not on Saturday but, despite all the things I don't expect at Old Trafford, the fans expect effort in spadefuls and a performance that shall hopefully spur us on to take points against Sunderland afterwards.

We can but live in hope, but Friday's move to sack Hughes was definitely the step which was necessary in order for all parties to move forward.
www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/11/23/3550501/-?

[Macmoish]

London 24

No effort and no ideas: Hughes' QPR sacking was inevitable
The players had visibly lost faith in their manager, observes Vital QPR's Adam Boxer, with a change of direction the only viable course of action for the Premier League strugglers

23 Nov 2012 13:30:00
MORE ON : QPR, M. Hughes




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By Adam Boxer | Vital QPR

Inevitable - that would be the best word to describe Friday's departure of Mark Hughes from QPR.
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In a way it is sad that the club have built their very foundation around a man who they thought was going to take them to the next level but has now been removed.

It will be a huge regret for the board that, despite their admirable and steadfast support of the beleaguered boss, things frankly never looked like taking off at any point this season.

Hughes is a self-confident individual who has few regrets from his managerial and playing past but, even through his rose-tinted spectacles, he will surely be able to see that he had a squad of talented players at his disposal, whom he was responsible for assembling.

Unfortunately, he could not organise them effectively or prevent them from conceding the same calibre of goals, week after week.

DAMAGE ALREADY DONE?
15/8 QPR are 15/8 with Bet365 to finish bottom of the Premier League I was tentatively behind Hughes, even given the poor start that we had made to the season, as I saw a semblance of positivity in our play despite the ludicrous defensive lapses and the profligacy up front.

Against Southampton, however, we decided not to turn up at all and in truth it was the players, rather than the board, who had decided that Mark Hughes was not the man to take the club forward.

No effort, no ideas tactically and making Southampton look like Barcelona - it was the last straw for many and certainly displayed to me that things were on the decline and nowhere near the upward curve that Hughes continually purported was occurring at the club.

A delusional post-match press conference after a recent defeat against Stoke City had also only fuelled question marks that were persistently lingering over his leadership.

Harry Redknapp is rumoured to be the man taking the helm and, while he would not have been my first choice, I consider him a fine man-manager and someone who would be able to attract players of genuine quality in January.

We need to get organised tactically and play to our potential - if we do, then the two or three wins that are required to haul us out of the bottom three should be forthcoming.

Any turnaround in fortunes will not happen overnight and certainly not on Saturday but, despite all the things I don't expect at Old Trafford, the fans expect effort in spadefuls and a performance that shall hopefully spur us on to take points against Sunderland afterwards.

We can but live in hope, but Friday's move to sack Hughes was definitely the step which was necessary in order for all parties to move forward.

www.london24.com/sport/qpr/new_players_caused_qpr_problems_says_man_united_boss_fergie_1_1706784

[haqpr1963]

Why do we have the same story twice?

[FloridaR]

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/23/mark-hughes-sacked-by-qpr

Queens Park Rangers have confirmed the sacking of Mark Hughes, with Harry Redknapp poised to replace the Welsh manager at Loftus Road.

There has been no official confirmation of Redknapp's appointment, although he is widely expected to take charge of the west London club on Sunday.

Hughes's sacking has not come as a surprise given QPR are bottom of the Premier League having gained just four points from their opening 12 fixtures, and having lost 3-1 in abject fashion to 19th place Southampton last week. However, the timing is somewhat curious given the team face Manchester United at Old Trafford in less than 24 hours.

QPR's official Twitter account confirmed the news on Friday, saying: "Queens Park Rangers Football Club has terminated the contract of manager Mark Hughes with immediate effect," with a statement from the club following.

It read: "Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today [Friday] terminated the contract of manager Mark Hughes with immediate effect. This decision has been taken after careful consideration by the board of directors, following numerous meetings over the last few days. The board of directors wish to thank Mark for his commitment, hard work and dedication in his 10 months in charge.

"Mark has shown integrity and professionalism throughout his time here, but ultimately the circumstances we find ourselves in have left the board of directors with very little choice but to make a change. The Board will now be working actively to put a new managerial structure in place as soon as possible.

"Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki will take charge of the Rs' trip to Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. The club will be making a further announcement in due course."

QPR's chairman, Tony Fernandes, who backed Hughes significantly in the transfer market over the summer, had continually taken to Twitter following recent bad results to voice his support for the manager. But the derision among the crowd at Loftus Road during the loss to Southampton suggested Hughes had lost the backing of the majority of QPR fans.

Crisis talks were held at the club's Harlington training base on Monday evening but Hughes continued as manager, preparing his side for the test at Old Trafford this weekend.

But the decision was taken by the board to end Hughes' tenure as manager with the board aware that any increase in the five-point gap between QPR and Reading in 17th would make it harder to find a replacement.

Redknapp has been out of work since leaving Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season and was this week linked with the vacant manager's job with the Ukraine national team. That speculation could have forced Fernandes's hand.

[Macmoish]

Hughes - QPR better off

www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-qpr/2012/11/23/hughes-claims-qpr-a-better-place-than-when-he-found-it-82029-32294571/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Hughes claims QPR a better place than when he found it
By Paul Warburton Nov 23 2012 Add a comment Recommend

SACKED boss Mark Hughes has departed QPR claiming one of his major legacies is a much better training ground.

Even though Hoops have a site in Osterley earmarked to be ready by 2014, the departed manager reckoned the current Harlington base is twice as good as it was when he arrived in January.

As a player with Chelsea, Hughes used to train at the Imperial College sports ground in Sipson Lane before it was handed over to Rangers in 2001, and joked the walls still had the same paint 16 years later.

But the need to shift to Osterley immediately was reined in when Hughes rang the changes at Harlington over the summer.

He said: “We shifted the club towards a different path.

“There had been a lack of investment, and I’m sure previous managers wanted to do a lot of things but we were denied the resources.

“We were able to change the environment and the mentality.

“Guys now hang around this place and they like being in it. We have plunge pools and baths that weren’t there before. Aesthetically, it’s not the most fabulous of buildings, and it looks the same as the past, but as a functioning place it’s a lot different.”

After not a single away win during his 10-month stay, and nothing at all this season, Hughes was sacked this morning becoming the 11thchange in QPR management in just four years.

Harry Redknapp is on stand-by to make it a round dozen at the Loftus Road helm.


Read More www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-qpr/2012/11/23/hughes-claims-qpr-a-better-place-than-when-he-found-it-82029-32294571/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz2D3hxiCrN

[sharky]

From the Daily Mail online

SACKED! QPR finally fire Hughes as Redknapp is handed reins (but not until after trip to United)
By NEIL ASHTON

PUBLISHED: 10:59 GMT, 23 November 2012 | UPDATED: 12:55 GMT, 23 November 2012

Mark Hughes has been sacked as manager of QPR - and Harry Redknapp has been appointed as his replacement.

Hughes's assistant manager Mark Bowen will take Rangers, winless and rock-bottom of the Barclays Premier League, to Old Trafford tomorrow with former Tottenham boss Redknapp in the stands.

Redknapp will take formal charge of the team on Sunday.

WITH HARRY THERE'S HOPE
QPR are the only team out of 92 league clubs yet to win a match this season. But Harry has performed miracles before. When he took over from Juande Ramos at Tottenham the team had only two points and his only brief was to stop them slipping them into the Championship. He managed to finish in eighth place that very season, and took Tottenham to the Champions League two years later.

Hughes's position has been hanging in the balance all week after defeat to Southampton at Loftus Road, a match dubbed 'El Sackico'.

The former Manchester United striker had been preparing his team for the clash at Manchester United with the expectation that he would be on the touchline.

However, owner Tony Fernandes finally snapped this morning, showing Hughes, who had replaced, Neil Warnock the door after 10 months.

Crisis talks were held at the club's Harlington training base on Monday evening.

But the decision was taken by the board to end Hughes' tenure as boss with the board aware that any increase in the five-point gap between QPR and Reading in 17th would make it harder to find a new boss to take charge.


On the ground: Beard watches training as shareholder Muhammad Amiruddin (right) shares a joke with a QPR staff memeber today


The boss men: Redknapp (left) will take charge on Sunday, while Bowen (right) will be in charge of the QPR team for the trip to Manchester United tomorrow


On the brink: Mark Hughes took QPR training this week before being axed this morning

FERNANDES TWEETS OF SUPPORT

OCTOBER 21 (QPR 1-1 Everton)
'Stop wasting your time and energy on negative tweets. QPR needs time and stability. We have great squad great manager great ceo. Takes time and a bit of luck.'

OCTOBER 29 (two days after Arsenal 1-0 QPR)
'I honestly believe we have one of the best managers in the premier league. And we are in for the long term. Whatever happens. We love QPR. Ill be there at reading so rangers fans ill be available to meet and chat. Trust me on this one. Keep the faith. Stability is the key.'

'Completely right. Mark has my backing and the shareholders. We need a little luck and no injuries. What’s written in the press is all rubbish. RT @wayneoeyers: @tonyfernandes we must stick with Hughes. We haven’t been playing poorly. The club needs stability, manager change would be suicide!'

NOVEMBER 4 (QPR 1-1 Reading)
'We are doing our best. Keep the faith. Need to get behind the team now. Positive energy is what we need. RT @martingreen_qpr: Message to the entire QPR team, staff, manager and **** head @tonyfernandes. Please don’t **** up another one of my weekends.'

'A game of 2 halves. Players getting used to premier league and different type of teams. Keep calm we will come good. Plenty of time. Many opps to win the game. I’m calm. Won’t please everyone. But as I keep saying stability is key.'

NOVEMBER 10 (Stoke 1-0 QPR)
'We got to cut out errors. One error cost us and we got to take our chances. Team played as planned. Must win next win. No panic. Table is compressed. Defense was awful now fairly solid. Midfield strong. Got to score now.'

'Keep the faith. Panic is not what the doc ordered.'

NOVEMBER 16
'Won’t be happening. For the one millionth time. Hahaha. Stability. RT @timnmcollins: jeffro_QPR @tonyfernandes @lieyam_M Maybe you can practice the “You’re fired” line on Mark Hughes? #QPR'

NOVEMBER 17 (QPR 1-3 Southampton)
'I feel gutted. I have put my heart and soul into this with my other shareholders. And done all we can to give support to players and all management. I can only apologise to the QPR fans. we keep fighting.'

'Let me tell you Fans come first. Everyone including me let the fans down. Many of us need a hard look at themselves. QPR has amazing fans. They deserve better.'

A club statement this morning said the Rangers board were now looking to appoint a replacement as soon as possible, however Sportsmail is able to confirm that Redknapp is the new manager.

The club's statement read: 'Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today (Friday) terminated the contract of manager Mark Hughes with immediate effect.

'This decision has been taken after careful consideration by the Board of Directors, following numerous meetings over the last few days.

'The Board of Directors wish to thank Mark for his commitment, hard work and dedication in his ten months in charge.

'Mark has shown integrity and professionalism throughout his time here, but ultimately the circumstances we find ourselves in have left the Board of Directors with very little choice but to make a change.

'The Board will now be working actively to put a new managerial structure in place as soon as possible.

'Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki will take charge of the R's trip to Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 'The club will be making a further announcement in due course.'

Former QPR winger Richard Langley told BBC Radio 5live: 'The frustration has been brewing and the main thing is they've got such a talented squad at the moment and the results haven't been coming so you can understand the frustrations at the club. They haven't been playing as a team.'

Hughes has been walking a tightrope since QPR lost at Arsenal on October 27. Fernandes was set to sack him then but had a change of heart and has tried to support him.

They have not won all season but have an easier run of fixtures coming - and Redknapp will be licking his lips at that prospect.

The former Southampton and Portsmouth manager, who was snubbed by England after Fabio Capello left his post, will eagerly look forward to a new year clash with Tottenham, his most recent club.

QPR's chief executive Philip Beard was seen talking to the players during today's training session following Hughes' departure.

Former Manchester City boss Hughes oversaw 34 matches as manager at Loftus Road, winning just eight of those fixtures.

He managed to keep the club in the Premier League last season despite a 3-2 defeat at City on the closing day of the campaign, picking up memorable victories over Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham along the way.

Marquee signings such as Park Ji-sung, Junior Hoilett, Julio Cesar, Jose Bosingwa and Esteban Granero were brought in before the transfer window closed but Hughes could not bring the best out of his expensive talent.

[Bushman]

Harry Redknapp waits on QPR after Mark Hughes dismissal

Harry Redknapp insists he has not personally spoken to QPR about taking over as manager, but indicated that he may attend Saturday's match against Manchester United with the club.
The 65-year-old said that "we'll have to wait and see" whether he is a guest of Rangers at Old Trafford.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20466488

[kenthoop]

are you certain it is Harry only according to what i have just read he is saying he has not personally spoken to Qpr about taking over, also rumours circulating it could be Di Matteo so lets not get too carried away urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs

[jjqpr]

Nov 23, 2012 15:53:39 GMT kenthoop said:

are you certain it is Harry only according to what i have just read he is saying he has not personally spoken to Qpr about taking over, also rumours circulating it could be Di Matteo so lets not get too carried away urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs

Have to agree for once, we are jumping the gun a bit here...I'm waiting till its official...would be happy with harry or O.G.S whos in the country in manchester right now for fergies do...we might end up with niether!

[Macmoish]

Kosky - why should look beyond Redknapp

www.london24.com/sport/qpr/why_qpr_chairman_should_look_beyond_harry_redknapp_1_1707048


Why QPR chairman should look beyond Harry Redknapp

Ben Kosky
Friday, November 23, 2012
3:38 PM


“A fool and his money are soon parted”, the saying goes, and rarely has it been more applicable to any individual than Tony Fernandes.

When the Malaysian businessman took over QPR in August 2011, the general consensus was that his stewardship of the club could only be an improvement on the unpopular regime of Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone.

Fernandes has made different mistakes to Briatore and Ecclestone. But, just like his predecessors, he appears unwilling to learn from them, or incapable of doing so.

The Rangers chairman has sanctioned enormous spending sprees – on wages if not actual transfer fees – in each window since he took over. That gross irresponsibility is the main reason that the club find themselves in a perilous position at the foot of the Premier League.

Fernandes bandies around the buzzword ‘stability’ an awful lot, yet he does not seem to understand its meaning.

At least half of the players QPR signed last summer were not needed. Why did Mark Hughes want two goalkeepers? Or three midfielders? Or an ageing, average centre-forward to replace perfectly decent back-up strikers like Heidar Helguson and DJ Campbell?

It was inevitable that such an unnecessary recruitment drive would lead to turmoil – poor team spirit and a manager with no notion of his best side.

But Fernandes is so clueless about football that he totally embraces the Sky Sports mantra: signing another player is always good news because it shows ‘ambition’ and ‘healthy competition’ for places.

Apart from the scale of Rangers’ frenzied spending, questions need to be asked about the area in which their net has been spread. Almost without exception, all their recruits have joined from bigger clubs than QPR.

How motivated can the likes of Esteban Granero, Julio Cesar and Park Ji-Sung be about playing at Loftus Road? Why do Rangers appear to have no interest in attracting younger, hungrier players who would relish the step up?

Given these blunders, it makes no sense to turn to Harry Redknapp – the epitome of a manager who is only interested in buying and selling. But mostly in buying – and usually ageing players with limited resale value.

It’s hard to imagine that if – as all indications suggest – Redknapp takes over the manager’s chair in the near future, January will not see more of the same in a desperate attempt to rescue Rangers’ Premier League status.

And here’s the nub of the problem. For many years now, those in charge it QPR have only ever considered the short-term.

Most fans are terrified at the prospect of relegation – and understandably so. However, Newcastle and West Ham are both good examples of clubs that dropped out of the Premier League in recent years and returned in far better shape.

But, while the consequences of going down are likely to be painful, the consequences of going down with Redknapp in charge could well be devastating.

Despite the tag of miracle-worker that Redknapp – aided by his many friends in the media – likes to attach to himself, there is no guarantee that he will keep Rangers up.

He failed to save Southampton in 2005 and, more pertinently, failed to get them anywhere near challenging for promotion before jumping ship to rejoin Portsmouth.

Ah yes, Portsmouth. The club that are now in League One and almost went out of business during the summer after Redknapp’s years in charge had saddled them with a colossal wage bill.

The reality is that QPR could find themselves in the Championship at the start of next season and they need to think about who is best equipped to rebuild the club in those circumstances, should the worst happen.

My personal preference would be to move for a younger, up and coming manager – someone with a good track record who appears to get the best out of his players while recruiting wisely. Gus Poyet or Malky Mackay would both be high on my list.

And, before anyone dismisses those names due to a lack of top-flight experience, just consider that Gerry Francis and Ian Holloway – two of the club’s most successful managers in recent times – had only Bristol Rovers on their CVs before they were appointed.

Fernandes never bothered looking around for a replacement after he fired Neil Warnock. It would be nice to think he has learned from that mistake, rather than eagerly entrusting his credit card to Redknapp.

[jjqpr]

Whilst he makes some good/worrying points, the thing Mr Kosky fails to mention is Harry taking spurs from bottom to just missing out on europe finishing in 8th!! I'd be quite happy with 8th place right now wheeling and dealing or not! THEN we can start building for the future

[RoryTheRanger]

3 year deal from Monday for 'Arry apparently........

[jjqpr]

Nov 23, 2012 16:36:30 GMT RoryTheRanger said:

3 year deal from Monday for 'Arry apparently........

I guess thats the stability CPR wanted combined with a manager most of us wanted, everyones a winner.... unless it goes tits up
I must admit i was expecting something shroter term, assuming it's proved to be true And by shorter term I mean let someone come in on a short contract thats extended if they keep us up.

[RoryTheRanger]

Also Gary Linneker has confirmed that 'Arry has stepped down from MOTD on Saturday........

[haqpr1963]

Nov 23, 2012 16:42:42 GMT RoryTheRanger said:

Also Gary Linneker has confirmed that 'Arry has stepped down from MOTD on Saturday........

I wonder why he would step down from MOTD?

[RoryTheRanger]

Nov 23, 2012 16:56:04 GMT @haqpr1963 said:

Nov 23, 2012 16:42:42 GMT RoryTheRanger said:

Also Gary Linneker has confirmed that 'Arry has stepped down from MOTD on Saturday........

I wonder why he would step down from MOTD?

Considering MOTD is now filmed in Manchester and hopefully 'Arry will be in Manchester watching us play there is actually no reason to step down......

[qprmac]

Harrys dog arrived in Monaco at 13.00hrs G.M.T.today Friday 23rd November 2012.

[Macmoish]

Dave McIntyre
www.westlondonsport.com/features-comment/why-mark-hughes-was-never-likely-to-succeed-at-qpr

Why Mark Hughes was never likely to succeed at QPR


23/11/2012
by David McIntyr

Paul Parker was right. And he was right because, unlike those in control of the club, he understands QPR.

An ex-Rangers favourite and Manchester United colleague of Mark Hughes, Parker told West London Sport after the Welshman’s arrival that his former team-mate would need to change his style in order to succeed as R’s boss.

You could argue it was a polite way of suggesting Hughes wasn’t the right man for the job. And he wasn’t.

“Successful QPR managers have tended to be charismatic, engaging characters – tub thumping, big personalities who acted as spiritual leaders as much as decision makers.”

Parker was merely saying what others who understand QPR as a club suspected – that Hughes is a capable manager, but simply wasn’t right for Rangers.

And Hughes is a capable manager, however much of a battering his reputation has taken.

Even Alan Mullery, perhaps the worst QPR manager of them all, had some success. He signed Gary Bannister and John Byrne after all.

Hughes’ 11-month tenure was not without similar achievements.

The signing of Djbril Cisse, who had previously been found wanting in the Premier League, was a bold call vindicated by the striker’s role in keeping Rangers up last season.

And while Neil Warnock talked a lot about developing Adel Taarabt as a player, Hughes quietly did so.

But it was that quiet nature, along with the folly of his employers – more on that another time – that did for Hughes rather than some supposed lack of tactical acumen.

Successful QPR managers have tended to be charismatic, engaging characters – tub thumping, big personalities who acted as spiritual leaders as much as decision makers.

Ian Holloway, Gerry Francis, Warnock and to some extent the likes of Jim Smith, Don Howe and even John Gregory during high points of their reign all fitted into that bracket.


Fernandes’ pal was a flop.

So does Harry Redknapp, who will do a ‘triffic’ job of lifting the club in the coming weeks, I’m very sure.

Others, like Hughes, had the knowledge but not the personality, and knowledge is worthless unless you’re able to make use of it.

No-one demonstrated that more than the late Ray Harford, who had one of the finest football brains of his generation.

His seemingly dour personality made him a sitting duck at a club that was beset by problems and needed someone like the hyperactive Holloway, who later restored some much needed zest to the place.

If management was about tactics and preparation, the likes of Harford, Paulo Sousa, Hughes and others would have left QPR with their reputations enhanced rather than dented.

Once managers come across as dour – and in Hughes’ case, perhaps just not very likeable – problems on the pitch are quickly put down to them being clueless and lacking motivational skills.

Once that perception sticks, the game’s essentially up.

Hughes made the mistake of believing his knowledge and experience would do the trick for him.

Some of his allies inside the club were scathing about Warnock’s methods.

What they failed to grasp was that Warnock, like other successful Rangers bosses, had his limitations but was first and foremost a manager. He managed. He managed players, fans and the media and did it well.

That’s what’s the job’s about. It’s not about theory, or “meticulous preparation” as Hughes continually called it. It’s about practice – the nuts and bolts of getting people behind you and instilling the right mentality.

Privately, Hughes would be sincere and complimentary about QPR fans, saying he really enjoyed their passion and the ‘feel’ of Loftus Road. He should have gone very public with that, but it wasn’t his nature to.

Some of his predecessors would have beaten that drum for all it was worth, got the fans on their side and created the kind of momentum that almost always transmits to players. It’s worth more than all Hughes’ dossiers and Pro-Zone stats.

He needed to get out and engage, kiss a few babies, make a disparaging comment about Fulham’s away support compared to Rangers’ – something, anything, to lift the gloom and build some momentum behind him.

He should, if nothing else, have gone on the club’s online show, London Call-In, last week, rather than continually leaving that kind of thing to Mark Bowen.

He should gone on there in front of the fans and stressed the need for his under-performing players to deliver for them, and urged them in turn to get behind the team and raise the roof for one big effort against Southampton, which  Hughes was convinced would be a turning point. That’s what leadership is all about.

Nigel Adkins is a leader and had Saints fans rooting for him.  Meanwhile, let’s be honest here, how many QPR fans were understandably thinking of what the up side to a defeat on Saturday might be?

I think that had a bearing on the outcome of the game. That’s not the fans’ fault. It’s Hughes’.

Adkins led his men – his club – into battle.

Hughes, with his chairman sticking to his ludicrous and typically poorly judged  ’cream always rises to the top’ message, failed to lead, and his overdue dressing-room tirade afterwards was too little, too late.

Hughes isn’t a leader, he’s a thinker, and that type of manager generally doesn’t succeed at QPR. He was quite simply the wrong man.

Redknapp wouldn’t be my choice, but he is a leader and man-manager in the Warnock/Holloway/Francis mould and one I fully expect to give the club the kind of short-term shot in the arm that Francis did when he replaced Harford.

Another similarity between Harford and Hughes is that their spells showed the effect of having a dodgy centre-back cannot be underestimated.

You can have all the knowledge and tactics you like, but if you’ve got someone in the middle of your defence who’s as big a threat as any opposing striker, you’ve had it.

To keep QPR up, Harford brought in Neil Ruddock, who was outstanding in what had been a problem position for Rangers.

When unable to keep Ruddock, Harford went for a carbon copy, Gerry Taggart, who at the last minute opted to join Leicester, where he was a crucial player in their subsequent success.

A chance was then taken on Richard Ord, who was crocked, so Karl Ready ended up staying at the heart of Harford’s defence, with inevitable consequences for his manager.

Until the sight of Stephane Mbia leaving the pitch at Arsenal after being sent off, I always felt Hughes would survive – that he’d get enough points to keep Rangers up and keep his job, but not to justify the level of spending by the club.

It was at that moment, with Mbia facing a three-game ban for vital matches that would decide the manager’s fate, I belatedly started to feel Hughes was in serious trouble.

Hughes cannot cite a lack of financial support for his demise, given the amount he was allowed to spend and the number of players he brought in.

He was, however, disappointed and concerned by the club’s failure to sign a commanding centre-back – which he regarded as a top priority – despite many attempts, and that concern was fully justified.

They ended up getting Mbia, who needed time to find his feet in England, as his early displays showed.

He was getting there though and did well against Arsenal before his moment of madness. His replacement of Anton Ferdinand was absolutely pivotal to Hughes’ plans for turning things around.

I expect him to be an important defender for Rangers for the rest of the season and believe if Mbia had played against Reading and Southampton then, rightly or wrongly, Hughes would still be in a job.





 

[cpr]

Nov 23, 2012 16:56:04 GMT @haqpr1963 said:

Nov 23, 2012 16:42:42 GMT RoryTheRanger said:

Also Gary Linneker has confirmed that 'Arry has stepped down from MOTD on Saturday........

I wonder why he would step down from MOTD?

Funny that, as the board are staying over in Manchester to speak to him. His agent has been doing the talking thus far.

I'd be surprised if it's anyone else unless he says no. I don't want di Matteo. Mind you, not sure I want Redknapp.

[Macmoish]

Behind the Scenes at QPR

www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mark-hughes-sacked-by-qpr-but-what-1452350

[Macmoish]

“@tonyfernandes: Though we have a change the long term vision of the club remains and much good work has already been done and will continue.”

This is a club where the chairman and shareholders look at all things in a long term view. But also take the views of the fans who are the most important constituents of the club. To us fans come first.

[Hogan]

Nov 23, 2012 17:52:32 GMT Macmoish said:

“@tonyfernandes: Though we have a change the long term vision of the club remains and much good work has already been done and will continue.”

This is a club where the chairman and shareholders look at all things in a long term view. But also take the views of the fans who are the most important constituents of the club. To us fans come first.

Sorry Mr chairman that is total bollox! Just last week you were suggesting something about true or real fans blah blah, and talking about repeating yourself for the 'millionth time'. Its all very good to now use this as good PR and to deflect attention from your error in not doing what needed to be done much sooner, but we are not stupid. If fans are so important then you are not really showing it. Read my previous rant about your walkabouts in Shepherds Bush etc.

[0hwestlondon]

BLAH BLAH BLAH, can we just have a manager who can motivate, a club with a real transfer policy a top notch scouting network and a youth system that is invested in so we can finally produce some of our own wilfred zaha's.

[Macmoish]

Clive Whittingham/LFW "Farewell" to Hughes

QPR left to count the cost of Hughes’ false ambition

www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=18716&title=qpr_left_to_count_the_cost_of_hughes%E2%80%99_false_ambition

[Macmoish]

KEVIN GALLEN "Harry Redknapp can to restore team spirit at Queens Park Rangers

Queens Park Rangers star Kevin Gallen has told talkSPORT that Harry Redknapp is the man to breathe life back into an inert squad at Loftus Road.

The Rs currently sit bottom of the Premier League without a win to their name and are now managerless following the sacking of Mark Hughes.
And with several players brought into the club by the Welshman failing to perform, Gallen reckons Redknapp is the right coach to help them survive what looks likely to be taxing relegation battle.

He told Drive Time: “When you bring in so many new players and you pretty much bomb out the players that got you there [promoted]. It can create a bit of a divide in the changing room.
“Commitment and passion and wanting to play for each other, togetherness and team spirit was massively lacking on Saturday [against Southampton].
“You have to have some sort of togetherness and team spirit especially when you’re in a position like QPR at the moment, bottom of the league. You need everyone pulling in the right direction. I’m sure Harry will get that and demand that and also get the team attacking.
“Everyone was talking, this time last year, about Harry Redknapp being the England manager. So he’s got a lot of pedigree. He did a really wonderful job at Tottenham, he plays attractive football and that’s what the QPR fans want.
“This season they’ve been starved of entertainment and QPR has been a club over the years that like attractive, free-flowing football.”

Click to Listen www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/121123/exclusive-–-kevin-gallen-harry-redknapp-can-restore-team-spirit-queens-p-1860?

[Macmoish]

TELEGRAPH

Harry Redknapp set to sign £7.5m deal as Queens Park Rangers manager after sacking of Mark Hughes

Harry Redknapp will return to football at Queens Park Rangers after agreeing to replace Mark Hughes in a deal worth around £7.5m until the end of the 2014-15 season.


By Jeremy Wilson10:30PM GMT 23 Nov 201214 Comments

Hughes was sacked by QPR chief executive Phil Beard shortly before training on Friday morning and, having declined to continue for one final match against Manchester United on Saturday, had the remaining 23 months of his contract terminated.

Redknapp confirmed that he was in formal talks with QPR on Friday and, having reached a verbal agreement, the details on his 2½-year contract were being finalised on Friday night.
Barring any hitch, Redknapp will be at Old Trafford to watch QPR play United. He will then be unveiled to the media on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
After spells at West Ham United, Portsmouth, Southampton and Tottenham, Redknapp will join his fifth Premier League club. Kevin Bond, his usual assistant, is expected to join his backroom staff, as is goalkeeping coach David Coles.

QPR are yet to win any of their 12 league games, and are bottom of the table with just four points.

Tony Fernandes, the QPR chairman, had regularly said, via Twitter, that Hughes would be given time as manager. There was, however, a split among shareholders over the best way ­forward after last Saturday’s dismal 3-1 home defeat to Southampton.
The performance, more than the result, and also the way that significant sections of Loftus Road turned on Hughes, convinced other influential shareholders that a change was urgently needed to preserve the club’s Premier League status.

Fernandes had wanted Hughes to be given today’s match to provoke a reaction from his players but, with some of the squad also unconvinced that he was the right man to take the club forward, the chairman accepted the need for change yesterday.
Although very much the frontman at QPR, Fernandes owns his 66 per cent stake with two business partners, Kamarudin Meranun and Ruben Gnanalingam. The remaining third of the club is controlled by the Mittal family. The shareholders have already all put significant loans into QPR and, with the club believed to have accumulated even more 'soft’ debt – low or no-interest loans – over the past year, it is likely to have been crucial to keep major investors on board.
It is understood that the club did take soundings this week from senior players both on Hughes and also the prospect of Redknapp coming in as his replacement.

The change will be costly. Redknapp is understood to have agreed a £3 million salary and significant bonus if he leads QPR to safety. Hughes is negotiating his compensation, although it is understood that he may just continue to be paid a salary until either he finds another job or the expiry of his QPR contract, also worth around £3 million a year, in 2014.

The change is also likely to affect the club’s backroom staff, with many key appointments, notably technical director Mike Rigg, having been made in consultation with Hughes. Redknapp is also certain to want to make changes to a squad that, while containing plenty of proven Premier League experience, has been dysfunctional this season. Hughes recruited 13 players since becoming QPR manager in January and questions have been raised among fans about the influence on the club’s transfer policy of his agent, Kia Joorabchian.

Hughes’s departure was confirmed shortly after 11am yesterday. “Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today terminated the contract of manager Mark Hughes with immediate effect,” said a statement. “This decision has been taken after careful consideration by the board of directors.

“Mark has shown integrity and professionalism throughout his time here, but ultimately the circumstances we find ourselves in have left the board of directors with very little choice but to make a change.”

Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki, the QPR assistant manager and first-team coach, will take charge against United.

Redknapp has been out of football for five months after missing out on the England manager job and then being controversially sacked by Spurs after leading them to Premier League finishes of fourth twice and fifth once during three full seasons at the club.

The 65 year-old has been advising Bournemouth and was also in talks this week about succeeding Oleg Blokhin as Ukraine manager.

Although Redknapp has masterminded notable relegation escapes at West Ham and Portsmouth, he was unable to prevent Southampton from going down in 2005.

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/9700050/Harry-Redknapp-set-to-sign-7.5m-deal-as-Queens-Park-Rangers-manager-after-sacking-of-Mark-Hughes.html

[bowranger]

Nov 23, 2012 18:28:54 GMT Hogan said:

Nov 23, 2012 17:52:32 GMT Macmoish said:

“@tonyfernandes: Though we have a change the long term vision of the club remains and much good work has already been done and will continue.”

This is a club where the chairman and shareholders look at all things in a long term view. But also take the views of the fans who are the most important constituents of the club. To us fans come first.

Sorry Mr chairman that is total bollox! Just last week you were suggesting something about true or real fans blah blah, and talking about repeating yourself for the 'millionth time'. Its all very good to now use this as good PR and to deflect attention from your error in not doing what needed to be done much sooner, but we are not stupid. If fans are so important then you are not really showing it. Read my previous rant about your walkabouts in Shepherds Bush etc.

Also notable that he may well keep an open twitter account and an approachable persona - but he still has not agreed to structured and regular dialogue with the QPR supporters trust or other supporters' groups. If the views of the fans are apparently so important, why will the club still not commit to even a meeting, let alone a forum? I know that coincides with the policy of his businesses (i.e. have a friendly twitter but crush union activity). If he isn't (yet) committed to actual dialogue with supporters then so be it, but he shouldn't have the gall to behave like our views our particularly important.

I believe Fernandes has his heart in the right place but I was really hoping that the bond between supporter representation and the club would be rebuilt after all the damage caused by the Briatore era. Shame it still hasn't. I know the trust has requested this, but to no avail so far. I did actually ask Fernandes on Twitter about it twice already, but have never been given a response.

[bowranger]

In line with the thread topic...

www.thefootballramble.com/show/episode/we-mention-that-sex-tape-again

^ Latest Football Ramble podcast has a good 5 or so minute segment on QPR in this week's addition. It's grim, but kind of heartening to hear non-QPR fans get so angry over the way the players have performed of late. They go through the Southampton game dispairing at the lack of basic commitment from many members of the squad and questions the motivation, the tactics and so on.

One point raised in the discussion is that one of the guys has counted 8 (yes, EIGHT) opportunities where we could have cleared the ball prior to the first Southampton goal but failed to do so.

[tom007]

www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...bottom-1453494

explains why they didnt want to play i guess.