Post by QPR Report on Mar 8, 2009 9:06:22 GMT
From November
Huw Tubervill/The Telegraph - Nov 21, 2008
Will Paulo Souza be given the time to make QPR 'project' work?
So another bright new dawn at Queens Park Rangers, with new manager Paulo Souza declaring: "It is an honour to be part of this project."
Owner Flavio Briatore also seems to think he has finally got the right man, after Luigi De Canio, Iain Dowie and stand-in manager Gareth Ainsworth's short-lived tenures. Briatore, who arrived at Loftus Road in August 2007, said: "Paulo has great experience after working with the Portuguese national team and he is part of the new generation of coach."
But before anyone starts looking too far ahead, they might like to reflect on some of the tidings that were expressed at similar junctures in the Briatore era.
Like when De Canio arrived, replacing Mick Harford, the interim boss who had filled the sacked John Gregory's shoes. "De Canio is fully aware of the high standards and objectives that the new management has set for the future of the club," said chairman Gianni Paladini. "He is ready and eager to take up the challenge."
De Canio was an impressive, charming and open figure. "I am very excited at this fantastic opportunity," he said. "It will be an honour." No one knows if he returned to Italy by choice in the summer, but I, for one, would like to have seen him continue his good work - they were playing attractive football and he would surely have taken them to the play-offs at least.
For whatever reason, he went back to Italy, and Iain Dowie was his surprise replacement. A kind of 'back-to-basics, no-thrills' choice. "I'm privileged to have been given the opportunity under the new ownership to return to the club where I served my managerial apprenticeship," said Dowie. "This is a very exciting long-term project."
Unfortunately it was not a long-term project for him. From the off there were stories of behind-the-scenes rows, and he lasted only 15 games.
Ainsworth was then given his chance, but despite hints from Briatore that he would like to have appointed him permanently, defeats to Ipswich and Burnley were apparently unpalatable, so they have opted for Souza, the former Portugal midfielder, on a two-and-half-year deal.
Sousa said: "It is an honour to be part of this project. I have great belief in my ideas and my coaching ability and I firmly believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management. I believe in playing positive, attacking football and am looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead."
There it is, mentioned again ... 'the project'. An exciting trip to the Premier League presumably, but without breaking the bank achieving it. And preferably playing attractive football, to put on a good show for the fans, and for Briatore and his entourage.
Souza's CV shows he has real pedigree. He won 51 international caps, and played for Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Inter Milan, Parma and Borussia Dortmund.
He was assistant coach of Portugal, working with Luis Felipe Scolari, now at Chelsea. They will not have far to go now if they want to meet for coffee - maybe there is a good cafe on Holland Park roundabout.
It seems Souza's English is better than De Canio's, which will help, but he needs time to learn about English football, and time is something that, if recent events are anything to go by, he will not be afforded a great deal of.
He will, however, have the services of striker Heidar Helguson, on loan from Bolton until January, and he will be in the squad for Saturday's trip to his former club Watford.
QPR were a striker down, as Rowan Vine has undergone more surgery on his fractured leg. QPR have missed his creativity this season.
blogs.telegraph.co.uk/huw_turbervill/blog/2008/11/21/will_paulo_souza_be_given_the_time_to_make_qpr_project_work