Neil Warnock was happy with the first performance from his team at Harrow on Friday night, but says he is disappointed by the funds made available for players this summer.
Warnock told the club’s official website: “That's the first pre-season match out of the way and it went the way that I wanted it to. We had no injuries. I thought Harrow played really well and it was just the work-out we needed. The game probably came a little too early for us as we've only had a couple of days with the balls out. But it was the only night that we could fit Harrow in. I didn't want to disappoint them, after taking Troy Hewitt. I thought the attitude of both teams was super. There were not a lot of goals, but it's early doors. We've got a few trialists on board now, and going down to Cornwall gives us a chance to look at them. It was just what we needed - a good work-out with no problems."
Away from the official party line, Warnock admitted in an interview with Talksport that he is disappointed by the transfer funds he has received from Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore this summer. Warnock said: “They’ve made it clear to me we’ve got to try and get value for money, don’t spend transfer fees. They’ve agreed to pay £1.25m for Campbell but I can’t see any other money changing hands, other than DJ Campbell, if I'm honest. I thought I’d have a few millions, if I’m honest. I was disappointed but it’s not the end of the world. It would have been nice to have money to spend but it’s just another one of those things in my managerial career where I have to show what I can do. I look at the players I've brought in, Bothroyd and Dyer, and if I can get three or four more players of that quality, I'll be more than happy. I’m not despondent. I’d love money, every manager wants money. But it's not all doom and gloom."
That £1.25m agreed for Campbell may not be enough to sign the striker though, with West Ham now said to be leading the chase. Pool chairman Karl Oysten said: “I think he will go elsewhere. He says he wants to play in the Premier League, and I hope he does because I think he is good enough. I hope he doesn’t end up in the Championship but I fear he might. That would be disappointing, but that’s the way it is. There are all sorts of rumours that factor into players’ decision to move – not just money. It is geographical reasons and family and so on.”
Warnock later told Sky Sports: “I think the clubs have agreed but I don't think we can agree with his advisors certain fees. I'm afraid that's life as a manager nowadays. It's very difficult to actually get things over the line. I leave that to other people but it's not happened. I think at the moment it's on ice. I'm looking around all over as well. We've got one or two irons in the fire.
"To get Jay in on a Bosman is really a good bit of business for us. He's a top striker. I didn't think we'd get him, I thought one of the bigger clubs would snap him up. I've pestered him over the past six weeks, him and his missus, and he's caved in. I do think it's right for him. I think he's got to be playing week in, week out rather than be in a squad. I don't see anything better than him in the Premier League and we're really, really pleased to have him."
Following the scratchy performance and win at Harrow a second string side took to the field at Conference South side Hampton and Richmond on Saturday. Reserves they may have been, but QPR’s side should have been plenty good enough to defeat the home side who have just come under the new management of Mark Harper after eight years under former West Ham man Alan Devonshire. Despite that, and a goal in the first half from Martin Rowlands, Rangers slipped to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat.
QPR: Putnins, Harriman, Ramage, Ehmer, Borrowdale, Balanta, Rowlands, Doughty, Cook, German, Clarke.
No involvement from Adel Taarabt in either game then, and he’s not travelling to Cornwall with the rest of the squad today either. Warnock told Talksport: “PSG are very interested but Flavio is dealing with all the transfers. He’s speaking to PSG and I’ve just left it to him. I’ve got enough of a job in my hands to bring players in. I’m working hard to bring players in to give Rangers fans a chance, because that’s all we want."
Shaun Derry told Talksport: "I was surprised he came back. I thought he'd be gone in the summer. Last year he was incredible for us, he was absolutely fantastic at times and at other times he was terrible and that sums him up in a few words. On his day he can be by far the best player on the pitch and on his day he can be a liability. I'm sure the fans would love him to play a part this year and us players as well. If he can get his head right, it'd be a great bonus for us."
Taarabt’s possible replacement in the QPR side, according to Warnock at least, is Kieron Dyer who has hit back at the criticism of his fitness record at West Ham where he managed just 16 starts in four seasons. Dyer told Talksport: “It’s frustrating when you're doing everything you’re told to do but you’re being misdiagnosed, so you’re doing all the rehab but you’re doing the wrong rehab. You come back and break down again and you go and see another specialist and they say, ‘why have you been doing that for?’. That happened a number of times where I lost months and months of the season and people were saying it’s down to me but I was only taking the advice I was given.
"It’s very frustrating when you’re doing all you can to get fit but you’re being told the wrong information. Two seasons ago I was out with a hamstring injury for almost the whole season. I kept coming back but kept pulling my hamstring. I went to see a specialist who said, 'you've got a big piece of scar tissue in your leg, it's too big, break it down and you'll never have a hamstring problem again. I broke that down and what happened? I never had a hamstring problem again."
Elsewhere it seems that striker Troy Hewitt and young midfielder Michael Doughty could be spending the first half of this season out on loan. Neil Warnock told the Fulham Chronicle: “I don't want to loan them for the season. I might consider six months because they've both got things to offer. Reserves is no good. There's so much interest from League One teams so we'll have a look at that. Troy's done well. He's got an eye for goal but has still got a lot to learn on build-up play. He's so used to playing the way he does. I'm sure over the next 12 months he'll move on because he's such a hardworking lad with the right attitude.”
Speculation continues to surround the future of goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who wasn’t part of the QPR team for either of the weekend friendlies. Reports from the club say the reigning Player of the Year was ill but it comes in the week when Sky Sports reported that Kenny had turned down the offer of a new contract. That in itself shouldn’t be alarming, as he has two years to run on his present deal, but other clubs are said to be circling. West Brom have been mentioned as they seek a replacement for Scott Carson and now the South Wales Echo reports that Swansea are chasing his signature after Dorus De Vries left the Liberty Stadium for Wolves.
Elsewhere, almost certainly with no basis whatsoever in fact, The People reports that QPR are about to lash out £6m on Peter Crouch. Yes, apparently they really do think you’re that stupid.
Jonathan Parr, the Norwegian full back linked with QPR and Swansea last week, is close to signing for Crystal Palace according to the Eagles’ owners on Twitter.
And Real Madrid’s promising young midfielder Sergio Canales, who had been linked with a loan move to Rangers and Aston Villa, says he would prefer to stay in Spain. He told ESPN: “I would prefer to stay in Spain. I want to get as many minutes as possible and if it isn't at Real Madrid it will be with another club."
- Gael Clichy, the man who said 12 months ago that the only reason anybody would join Man City is for money, believes Roberto Mancini’s men are realistic title contenders after moving to Eastlands. Clichy said: “It was the right time for me to move on, and City is the right opportunity. The team is progressing year on year, and with the quality of the squad I'm sure that we will have success." His former boss at Arsenal Arsene Wenger has reacted angrily to Mancini’s claims that City are close to agreeing a deal for samir Nasri. Wenger said: “We do not make any comments on players who are under contract in other clubs. These comments are not allowed and Roberto Mancini should be informed."
- West Ham fans may be worried to hear that Carlton Cole says he is as committed to the club as he always has been. Cole, not a popular figure among the East London club’s fans for his below par performances and lack of commitment, turned down a move to Stoke last week because he wouldn’t have been earning the same as City’s top earners. Cole said: "I am as committed to West Ham as always. Unless I am told something different, I am a West Ham player and will be doing my all for the team."
- Brazilian club Corinthians have offered £39 for Man City’s Carlos Tevez. A £35m offer was rejected last week as City hold out for £50m but Tevez is keen to return to South America to be near his family. Tevez's representative Kia Joorabchian said: "I do know there has been an increased offer, but the bid only went in on Friday and it's very early stages.”
- Belgian champions Genk have accepted an offer from Chelsea for their 19-year-old goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The keeper, who stands at 6ft 6ins tall, would be Andre Villas-Boas's first signing since taking over at Stamford Bridge. Genk director Dirk Degraen said: "We received an enormous offer that gave us no choice but to let him leave. I have mixed feelings about this transfer - we wanted Thibaut to stay a bit longer."
- Further departures from Aston Villa could be afoot. Stewart Downing has completed his £20m move to Liverpool and Rangers have agreed a fee for defender Carlos Cuellar who moved from Ibrox to Villa Park in 2008. New Rangers manager Ally McCoist said: "There's a fee been agreed with Aston Villa in terms of Carlos Cuellar. We're very, very hopeful we can finalise a deal with Carlos himself and get that one over the line."
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