Squawka Assesses Potential QPR Managers (or at least some of them)
www.squawka.com/news/assessing-the-potential-candidates-for-the-queens-park-rangers-job/514278#HijWCKa3PA5wVgbR.99Squawka Analysis
Assessing the potential candidates for the Queens Park Rangers job
By Jack Gordon-Brown
Posted on November 10, 2015
image:
www.squawka.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Jimmy-Floyd-Hasselbaink1.jpgJimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Tony Fernandes has done many things during his time at Queens Park Rangers, but this is perhaps the first time he’s come full circle.
After Chris Ramsey was abruptly sacked last week, Neil Warnock was back in the dugout for Saturday’s stalemate with Preston North-End – a man he dismissed in January 2012.
At that time, Rangers were 17th in the Premier League. They’re now 13th in the Championship. It wouldn’t be disingenuous to say that things haven’t really taken a turn for the better since Warnock’s all too predictable sacking.
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After a summer of preaching stability and an end to dreaming beyond their means, expectations have once again taken a turn for the ridiculous in recent weeks. Talks of rebuilding in the summer have been replaced by a sudden urge for promotion.
Speaking in October, as reported by the London Evening Standard, Director of Football Les Ferdinand said: “When this position was given to him (Ramsey), we were talking about keeping us in the league.
“But now the expectation is to go on and win it or be in the top six. The expectations have risen on Chris and he finds himself thrown into the deep end.”
Hardly words of encouragement. Ramsey was given a brief, and the brief changed in the blink of an eye. In short, he was shafted by the club and some of its fans, and QPR are back at square one.
image:
www.squawka.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Screen-Shot-2015-11-10-at-11.44.45-e1447155910981.pngQPR have scored 22 league goals this season.
Queens Park Rangers have scored 22 league goals this season.
Quite why the hierarchy think they have such a bona-fide Premier League squad remains a mystery. Out of the current crop, only Charlie Austin has proven himself in the top flight for the Hoops, and he’s been injured for much of this campaign. Others, including Rob Green, Sandro and Leroy Fer, live off an overblown reputation and a suitably aligned pay packet.
Fernandes, a man who preaches stability but in truth practices a trigger happy method, has let the veil slip once again. When he appointed Ramsey, he labelled him his “dream” manager. Never have words seemed so hollow.
However the circus must go on, and the club’s hierarchy are currently in Malaysia discussing a new head coach (as per West London Sport), should anyone want to inherit such a poisoned chalice.
Here are some of the names linked, and their relative merits…
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
image:
www.squawka.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Jimmy-Floyd-Hasselbaink.jpgBurton are currently second in League One under Hasselbaink
Burton Albion are currently second in League One under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Perhaps the most appealing of candidates, Hasselbaink has taken to management brilliantly with Burton Albion. Gary Rowett may have laid the foundations at the East Midlands club, but the Dutchman has taken them to a new level.
Rowett never actually got the Brewers promoted, instead losing twice in the play-offs. When he left for Birmingham last November, the club were fifth. Hasselbaink, his replacement, duly captured the league title, and Burton now sit second in League One after 16 games. Meteoric stuff.
His success though might be part of the problem. Why would a manager in with a shot of promotion to the Championship want to take over a Championship club making a mockery of themselves? It would be more a risk for him than it would be vice-versa.
His past at Chelsea may not sit well with some, but Hasselbaink’s status as one of the brightest young managers in the Football League means that he should be near the top of Rangers’ wanted list.
Nigel Pearson
image:
www.squawka.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Pearson.jpgPearson was sacked by Leicester in the summer.
Nigel Pearson was sacked by Leicester in the summer.
Now the bookies’ favourite for the job (as per Ladbrokes), the former Leicester City boss has been recommended to Fernandes by current interim boss Warnock (as per the Mirror).
A man with plenty of Championship experience, Pearson also has plenty of experience dealing with demanding owners at Leicester, and he’s won the league before, albeit not at his first attempt.
image:
www.squawka.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Screen-Shot-2015-11-10-at-11.55.04-e1447156533142.pngLeicester created 327 chances in the league last season.
Leicester created 327 chances in the league last season.
On purely footballing terms, he was harshly sacked by the Foxes when you consider they won seven out of their last nine games to stay in the Premier League last season.
However, he’s recently found himself involved in some bizarre incidents, including the Ostrich rant at a reporter, and the touchline grapple with Crystal Palace’s James McArthur (as per the Guardian). His son was also sacked by the club after a racist incident on a club tour (as per the Mirror).
Neil Warnock
image:
www.squawka.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Warnock.jpgWarnock is the current interim manager at Loftus Roafd.
Neil Warnock is the current interim manager at Loftus Road.
It can be hard to work out the exact motives of Neil Warnock; does he want the job or does he just want to be consulted on who to appoint?
The 66-year-old has experience, and an ongoing love affair with what he describes as the “toughest” league in Europe (as per Eurosport).
Warnock actually did well with QPR last time around, basing the team around Adel Taarabt and a watertight defence. Some would hope that he could squeeze a similar amount out of Rangers’ current attacking talents.
image:
www.squawka.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Screen-Shot-2015-11-10-at-12.03.06-e1447157130708.pngAustin scored 18 Premier League goals last season.
Charlie Austin scored 18 Premier League goals last season.
It’s what he’s done since QPR that’s the worry. Perpetually on the verge of retirement, he’s taken roles at both Leeds and Palace and failed. Football is a game that keeps evolving, but it’s hard to see Warnock evolving with it.
If he were to stay and somehow take QPR to the Premier League this season, would Fernandes stick with a man who he’s sacked at that level before, a man who has time-and-time again proven that he doesn’t have the necessary ability to manage in England’s top flight?
On Saturday, with Warnock in charge, QPR registered one shot on target against newly-promoted Preston. Karl Henry started at right-back.
Tim Sherwood
image:
www.squawka.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/4693404.jpgSherwood won one of his 10 Premier League games in charge of Aston Villa
Tim Sherwood won one of his 11 Premier League games in charge of Aston Villa this season.
Good news for Rangers fans; it seems that Tim Sherwood isn’t being considered by the club at the moment (as per West London Sport).
Appointing Sherwood would be a catastrophic decision. For all we can laugh about his win percentage at Tottenham, he did a reasonable job at White Hart Lane.
But at Villa, his first permanent role, he showcased his limitations with great panache, recording just one win in 11 Premier League games this season.
There was no discernible style of play at Villa Park under Sherwood, and that’s the major issue; what is his philosophy, beyond blood, sweat and tears football?
Other potential candidates
Shaun Derry
A club legend, but recently sacked by Notts County. Having worked with Warnock before as a player, he would more likely come in as assistant if he got the job.
Ian Holloway
Another club legend, but who’s had limited success in recent years. Has already backed Warnock (via Sky Sports), so seems unlikely.
Read more at
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) an American site so maybe understandable that the author is a little off with the faeries...
