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Post by Macmoish on Apr 29, 2018 10:55:44 GMT
Tony Fernandes DID tweet yesterday "difficult decision" but didnt specify what was referring to link  |
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Post by Ashdown_Ranger on Apr 29, 2018 11:01:56 GMT
Ooooer.... Personally I think Ollie's done more than enough in exceptionally difficult times to earn another year at least. Unless TF's secretly lined up Wenger or course...  |
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Post by rickyqpr on Apr 29, 2018 11:04:32 GMT
I saw his tweets of yesterday.
He congratulated Sir Les and Chis Ramsey, but then said he had difficult decisions ahead.
I think TF really enjoys teasing the support after all the abuse he gets - but I wish he wouldn't.
It will just lead to the speculation about the manager position.
Do the business behind closed doors and then tell us.
Don't consult your PR guy or engage the fans in the process, just get on and be a leader. IMHO
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NO1QPRNZ
Dave Sexton
"Remember sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards"UuuRrrSsssss.
Posts: 1,806
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Post by NO1QPRNZ on Apr 29, 2018 22:45:19 GMT
Well with Ian Holloway in charge our Kids are getting a run, for Years we have been saying play the Kids and we have been lately 7 involved Vs Birmingham. Another Manager may not do the same? Stay with Ollie.
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Post by sharky on Apr 30, 2018 0:57:15 GMT
I wasn't in favour of Ollie's appointment in the first place but having seen us through to mid place seasons for two years with effectively no funds for new players and bringing through some promising youngsters I think it would be madness to ditch him now.
Maybe, for whatever reason, he's had enough and has told TF to find someone new?!
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Post by bowranger on Apr 30, 2018 9:27:48 GMT
I saw his tweets of yesterday. He congratulated Sir Les and Chis Ramsey, but then said he had difficult decisions ahead. I think TF really enjoys teasing the support after all the abuse he gets - but I wish he wouldn't. It will just lead to the speculation about the manager position. Do the business behind closed doors and then tell us. Don't consult your PR guy or engage the fans in the process, just get on and be a leader. IMHO Yeah I agree - though I'd say if his PR person was worth their salt, they would be telling him to congratulate the team, management and back room team and then shut up. The speculation over the manager's future ahead of the summer, before the season is even over, just comes across as teasing the support base and it's utterly pointless other than fuelling instability and generating negative attention. What benefit to us, as a football club, comes from him airing this stuff publicly? What obligation is he under to publicise this? In terms of PR, Fernandes has taken talk away from a decent home victory in which two youngsters scored, one on their debut (aka emblematic of the kind of club we are now trying to be!) and turned the focus onto managerial speculation (the kind of leaky drama club we are trying not to be). As has been said by me and plenty of others over the years, whether people love or loathe Fernandes, he should shut his Twitter account down and stop voicing vague crap like this. We've just come through a difficult consolidation season - don't air this kind of stuff publicly, makes us look incredibly unprofessional. |
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Post by rickyqpr on Apr 30, 2018 11:06:37 GMT
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Post by rickyqpr on Apr 30, 2018 11:22:39 GMT
Clive on LFW posted the following....
'Spoke to Fernandes very briefly this morning and he says he was referring to budgets, the senior players who are leaving, FFP etc, not the manager'.
I am very grateful to TF for saving our club from the previous owners. He has made huge mistakes and paid for them. But he should shut up and do his job.
He is a rich fool too often.
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Post by marshbowles10 on Apr 30, 2018 12:30:55 GMT
I've said this before and I'll continue saying it.
The combination of Holloway and Bircham is too similar.
I love them both for their enthusiasm and in Mark's case his blue and white hair but enthusiasm and commitment and puffing up for the badge will only get you so far.
We need a more tactically aware number 2 that compliments the skills of Holloway whilst offering Ian different solutions with formations/response to opposition tactics etc.
We need to think smarter in everything we do. Mark appears just a mirror image of Ian and therefore this is where I'd consider a review of management.
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Post by rickyqpr on Apr 30, 2018 15:37:55 GMT
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Post by rickyqpr on May 1, 2018 12:44:03 GMT
I listened to the podcast and if you have 75 minutes it is worth a listen (see link above). The Mark Hughes inferences are quite amusing.
TF initiated the podcast. He said that they could ask anything they wanted.
He could not say much about FFP or the new stadium but did say there will be updates soon.
The media has latched onto the Holloway story and you can read it either way.
1) He clearly says that they review the managers position at the end of the season, almost as a matter of course. He specifically highlights the performance of many at the club, but not IH. He says that CR made a difference when he stepped up to the 1st team coaching. He also says that as a fan he wanted 4-4-2 introduced but that he must not try to pick the team. He said that they had to be on the lookout for potential managers at all time so as not to get caught out as before.
2) The review comment was very low key, he was delighted with the introduction of youth players naming several of them, he was generally pleased with how the club had turned the corner. He made reference to how the management team was made up of ex-QPR players. Gary Penrice came out of it very well, but there was also the feeling that it is now a united management team. If IH is to be on his toes, why pick now to do the Podcast?
So you really can read it either way.
Much has been made of how upset IH has been following the loss of his mum and his friend (RW). He has a history of getting upset / depressed and leaving clubs.
My guess (based on no inside knowledge) would be that IH has indicated that he wants out. He takes serious abuse and although he loves the club, he may be thinking 'is it worth it?'. I think that the board would tell him to go away and think about it until after the final game, and then come and talk to us. TF may be trying to soften the blow of IH going, he certainly did nothing to suggest that IH was essential for the continued development of the plan.
At the end I was puzzled by why TF requested the podcast at this particular time, but he clearly loved doing it.
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Post by scarletpimple on May 1, 2018 12:57:42 GMT
A few rumours going around steve McLaren in the frame and that holloway will be gone after leeds, make of this what you will.
Has been discussing transfers for the summer with Les, in the background ??
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Post by Ashdown_Ranger on May 1, 2018 22:12:41 GMT
I've read an unsubstantiated comment (so, not even official 'rumour' status...) that Ollie apparently wants some time away from football following the death of his mother and, as Scarlet says, McClaren is ready to come in.
With the end-of-season break looming and time for some R&R, my gut feeling is that is worth a 2 or 3 out of 10 in terms of credibility - ie, regarding Ollie 'wanting' to leave.
But TF's recent comments would seem to leave the possibility of a new manager open...
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Post by Roller on May 2, 2018 6:18:37 GMT
A few rumours going around steve McLaren in the frame and that holloway will be gone after leeds, make of this what you will. I'm pretty sure this is all the work of an underemployed brain high on caffeine. |
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Post by scarletpimple on May 2, 2018 10:18:45 GMT
Well steeeeve was at LR about a month ago, talking with les, could have been simply comparing grocery lists, who knows.
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Post by terryb on May 2, 2018 14:40:29 GMT
A few rumours going around steve McLaren in the frame and that holloway will be gone after leeds, make of this what you will. I'm pretty sure this is all the work of an underemployed brain high on caffeine. On looking at this thread on LFW it would appear that Clive Whittingham thinks it has substance. That, of course, doesn't mean that he is correct! Although I've had doubts about Ollie, I think it would be unwarranted (and undeserved) to remove him from the job that he has suceeded in beyond my hopes. We have finished this season with more optimism than for many a year. IF, however, Ollie does feel that he needs a break (as he has before in his career), then I would prefer that his departure happened soon. Both for his sake & for the prerarations for next season. It may even be that the club is awaiting a decision from Ollie as to how he sees his future. Reading between the lines, I don't think there is anything new in this story for anyone but the supporters. |
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Post by Ashdown_Ranger on May 2, 2018 15:29:27 GMT
I largely agree Terry - although the thought that Ollie may want to leave is new on me.
I'd always suspected that, if he/we did particularly badly, he'd do the honourable thing and fall on his sword.
But to (apparently) want to leave having done pretty well (better than expected given the all the circumstances) is a surprise.
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Post by egranger on May 2, 2018 21:58:41 GMT
Our first full season with the same manager since when?
I love IH and know it will end in tears sometime but hopefully not yet when he has done so well and with a promising bunch of youngsters coming into the picture - we were brilliant against Birmingham
Looks like we have found another great keeper
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Post by bowranger on May 3, 2018 10:07:01 GMT
A few rumours going around steve McLaren in the frame and that holloway will be gone after leeds, make of this what you will. I'm pretty sure this is all the work of an underemployed brain high on caffeine. Haha that sounds like a pretty accurate description of me, though I don't go around starting QPR rumours! Pretty much what Terry said, for me. Obviously it's all speculation, but if he was being pushed I'd say that would be very unfair. If you compare our club's performance under Holloway with his remit for the season, he's frankly nailed it. He was supposed to integrate youth into the first team (which has unarguably been very successful), not have us relegated (yup), cut the wage bill down (definitely) and show signs of improvement on last season (yup). So if he's being assessed on that, I'd say he's earned the right to continue on. He's still got time on his contract and he's achieved exactly what he was told to and arguably exceeded many of our expectations. Personally, I've not always had faith that we'd achieve the things we did this season under Holloway though I was for keeping him on and still am. But again, as Terry said, if we are going to make a change, whether I or anyone agrees or not, now is the time to be doing it rather than mid-season. I also think it is good to know the club are apparently constantly assessing the managerial market - not because I want change but because we're actually researching and being methodical and being prepared for different eventualities. No idea if that McClaren story has legs. If it does, I suppose the DoF setup and a young squad and low budget potentially make sense for him based on his time at other clubs. If Holloway goes on his own volition then more power to him, but I think it would be very unfair on him if he's pushed out as he's done all that was asked of him really. |
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Post by Roller on May 3, 2018 17:47:49 GMT
Our first full season with the same manager since when? I love IH and know it will end in tears sometime but hopefully not yet when he has done so well and with a promising bunch of youngsters coming into the picture - we were brilliant against Birmingham Looks like we have found another great keeper The last time a manager lasted the whole season was Redknapp when we won promotion, the time before was Warnock when we won promotion. The time before was in Holloway's previous tenure. |
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Post by Roller on May 3, 2018 18:04:01 GMT
I'm pretty sure this is all the work of an underemployed brain high on caffeine. Haha that sounds like a pretty accurate description of me, though I don't go around starting QPR rumours! Pretty much what Terry said, for me. Obviously it's all speculation, but if he was being pushed I'd say that would be very unfair. If you compare our club's performance under Holloway with his remit for the season, he's frankly nailed it. He was supposed to integrate youth into the first team (which has unarguably been very successful), not have us relegated (yup), cut the wage bill down (definitely) and show signs of improvement on last season (yup). So if he's being assessed on that, I'd say he's earned the right to continue on. He's still got time on his contract and he's achieved exactly what he was told to and arguably exceeded many of our expectations. Personally, I've not always had faith that we'd achieve the things we did this season under Holloway though I was for keeping him on and still am. But again, as Terry said, if we are going to make a change, whether I or anyone agrees or not, now is the time to be doing it rather than mid-season. I also think it is good to know the club are apparently constantly assessing the managerial market - not because I want change but because we're actually researching and being methodical and being prepared for different eventualities. No idea if that McClaren story has legs. If it does, I suppose the DoF setup and a young squad and low budget potentially make sense for him based on his time at other clubs. If Holloway goes on his own volition then more power to him, but I think it would be very unfair on him if he's pushed out as he's done all that was asked of him really. In my opinion Ollie has delivered in trumps on what we believe he was asked to do: significantly reducing the wage bill, purging the remaining “wrong sorts” from the club, beginning to integrate some of our youth players into the first team while improving on last season’s league position. It is important to remember that there is still some way to go as the season after next we lose our parachute payment. Ollie has shown that he is our go-to crisis manager, I can see no reason to not letting him see out his contract unless he wants to leave. I doubt that we've managed to cut back our wages to the point that, after allowing for natural wastage (i.e. the contracts of players we don't want to afford running out at the end of the coming season), we will actually already be within the budget Hoos has set for that season. I'd have thought it would be best to let Ollie see that through. That said, if they are really unsure of Ollie, better now than November, I just think he has deserves better. |
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Post by scarletpimple on May 3, 2018 18:28:58 GMT
For a lot of people on here who are giving credit to holloway for changing the team formation back to what most fans wanted, which was 4 at the back,this is after he had stated that once he plays a system he wants he will stick with it no matter what, that was 5 at the back.
Also he has been given credit for bringing through the youngsters into the first team, when for the first half of the season he only played manning from the under 23s.
Now i might be wrong, but did not these changes he has been praised for happen around the time Ramsey was asked to help out with coaching seems a bit more than a coincidence to me, and that Ramsey has had a big input for the system change and bringing in these youngsters.
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Post by Roller on May 3, 2018 19:41:05 GMT
For a lot of people on here who are giving credit to holloway for changing the team formation back to what most fans wanted, which was 4 at the back,this is after he had stated that once he plays a system he wants he will stick with it no matter what, that was 5 at the back. Also he has been given credit for bringing through the youngsters into the first team, when for the first half of the season he only played manning from the under 23s. Now i might be wrong, but did not these changes he has been praised for happen around the time Ramsey was asked to help out with coaching seems a bit more than a coincidence to me, and that Ramsey has had a big input for the system change and bringing in these youngsters. Ramsey returned to first team duties in February; Smyth, Furlong and Oteh all played for the first team in January and of course Manning started last season. It is also worth considering that just because a youth player is ready for first team football in March, it doesn't mean that they were in October. However, I do know from first hand experience that Ramsey favours the 4-3-3 formation which we've been playing of late, although I'm not completely sure if system and formation necessarily mean the same thing. There is no doubt that we've adopted all sorts of different formations throughout this season, but generally look best when we are playing a high press system regardless. As ever, we can all fit events to whatever point we are leaning towards. |
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Post by scarletpimple on May 3, 2018 20:51:37 GMT
Well there is also the fact, the board did not like the 5 at the back holloway was playing, so he was under some pressure to change.
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Post by bowranger on May 4, 2018 8:45:42 GMT
Well there is also the fact, the board did not like the 5 at the back holloway was playing, so he was under some pressure to change. Think that's a bit of a reach. Fernandes stated on that podcast that he, as a fan, would rather we were playing a back four but also that he acknowledges team selection and formation changes are nothing to do with him. Just his opinion. I wouldn't really term that as "the board" putting a manager under pressure, sure plenty of chairpeople have got an opinion on formations - the difference is our co-chairman is more willing to talk publicly about it (for better or worse!) Worth noting that our switch to a back four, which I agree was totally the right to do as we look a lot more comfortable, didn't actually coincide with a massive swing in results overall. We've looked a lot better for it but have still been almost as inconsistent regardless of the system. We beat the top two with five at the back, we got eaten alive by Hull with four at the back - it's not some night and day thing. My guess on that would be that five at the back was his way of playing his preferred formation that kept our preferred midfield three on the pitch together. The switch to a back four also coincided with more options being available as young players made the step up and proved they could be relied upon. Bright (who I'd like to have seen a bit earlier maybe), Smyth, Eze etc. means a different selection process than in the first half of the season. On those young players, think it's hard to say whether they could have been integrated earlier. Some, like Eze, still had half a season's worth of loan time left - these aren't insignificant amounts of time for monitoring players and them getting regular first team football. You've got to be so careful with how and when you chuck young players into the first team. If that's also somewhat down to Ramsey then more power to him, he certainly deserves more praise than he gets for all the great work he does at the club. Again, I'm only guessing, but I'd say it's more likely that Ramsey's influence would be more down to identifying which of those young players were ready to make the step up and therefore that informing a switch to a back four, rather than him actively pushing Ollie to change a formation. But again, just guesswork. My core point on that is just that it's so easy to come to different outcomes with the same set of facts. You can see Ollie as tactically astute for utilising the resources available to him and changing the formation for the better as the season developed, therefore integrating young players into the team, which is something we all wanted. Or you can credit that solely to Ramsay and argue that Ollie actually made the change far too late and that's him being tactically poor. I err more on the former, but it's easy to argue both as none of us really know the ins and outs of what happens in the back room behind closed doors and who influenced what decision. Fundamentally for me, those changes happened under his watch and things are better than last season and therefore he should get the credit for that. |
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Post by Roller on May 4, 2018 18:31:59 GMT
I think we started the season playing very nicely with 3 at the back and we picked up more points than many expected. We saw the best from our midfield triumvirate early on and it was only when first Perch and the Ned got injured that we started to really struggle. To my mind, our form improved when Ned returned to the side, not when we changed formation. I do agree that the 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 we now play suits the kids better.
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Post by egranger on May 5, 2018 12:28:55 GMT
It’s not about formation but the players available
Let’s give IH a lot of credit for introducing these great young players that so enthused the supporters in the second half of the season
Goals seemed to come from everywhere in the last few home games
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Post by bowranger on May 5, 2018 13:09:30 GMT
It’s not about formation but the players available Let’s give IH a lot of credit for introducing these great young players that so enthused the supporters in the second half of the season Goals seemed to come from everywhere in the last few home games I think a system that maximises what we've got is important but I agree, fundamentally it's down to the players we've got. Which I guess is why I feel quite positive about this season and the squad moving forward, despite it looking quite underwhelming in terms of the league table. No money, huge structural changes, big task in cutting the wage bill, introducing players who have never played at this level before - all tough tasks and ones I think we've broadly done well with all things considered. As you say, goals are popping up from different areas of the pitch and that's massively different from last season where a lack of goals in midfield was pinpointed as a problem. It's kind of why I don't so heartily buy into the McClaren positives in terms of player development, as if that's something we totally lack. He's got it on his CV, sure, but there's examples of this already occurring under Ollie. Even ignoring all the youth players, Luongo was a decent player who seemed to disappear after his trips away with Australia and didn't seem to have goals in his games for us. Now he's returning quicker and scoring semi-regularly. Ditto Freeman - an absolute bit-part player at Bristol who's now a big part of our side. We are taking players, improving them and adding elements to their game that they previously didn't showcase. That's development. |
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Post by gladstoneparkranger on May 6, 2018 7:38:18 GMT
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Post by Macmoish on May 6, 2018 9:32:33 GMT
Ainsworth would be popular with QPR Fans (at least until/unless we started not to do well)
And Fernandes likes to be popular with QPR Fans.
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