Harry Redknapp said the QPR fans made it impossible for him to leave Jose Bosingwa on the field against Newcastle on Sunday, but sheltered the full back from blame for the defeat in the face of fierce criticism.
Bosingwa, along with midfielder Stephane Mbia, were both being barracked by the home crowd prior to the two mistakes from the Portuguese full back that led to both Newcastle goals. The abuse escalated thereafter with the Loft End singing “you’re not wanted here” and “Redknapp, take him off” until even a couple of Newcastle players had to come across and console the Rangers player.
Bosingwa has endured a dreadful first season with QPR, littered with poor performances lacking in effort as well as disciplinary issues. He was fined two weeks wages for refusing to sit on the bench for the home match with Fulham in December and Harry Redknapp subsequently revealed that amounted to the best part of £120,000. Bosingwa was subsequently caught on camera laughing as he left the dugout at the end of a 0-0 draw at Reading that sealed both club’s relegation. Redknapp was more understanding with the former Chelsea man at the weekend though, despite removing him from the fray at half time.
Redknapp told West London Sport: “You can’t play when there’s that sort of negativity around the place, it wasn’t going to help, so I decided to change it. He cost us a couple of goals and I decided to bring on Shaun Derry, who’ll always give you an honest performance, and Fabio. I’m not blaming him entirely. I just felt there was not a good feeling and, trying to get back into the game, we needed the crowd behind us and they were obviously unhappy with him.”
The manager went on to reiterate the need for sweeping changes to the playing staff this summer.
He said: “The team we had out there today would not finish in the top half of the Championship. Something has got to be done. That’s a fact. They’ve not got the quality. We’re short of good players who can really play at the top level. You might say they have the quality as they’ve played at other clubs, but it doesn’t work that way.”
That was a point echoed by centre half Clint Hill as he claimed the club’s Player of the Year award for the second season running. Hill was critical of his own recent performances and said he was embarrassed, but proud, to pick up the prize.
Hill told the club’s official website: “I’ve made a few mistakes over the last couple of months, individual mistakes that I’ve been disappointed with but, on a personal level, to play 50 league games in the Premier League for someone of my age and ability is brilliant. In a few years I’ll look back and be very, very proud but at the minute it’s still a sore point really. I’ve never stopped giving everything but if we’re blunt and honest, it’s been a terrible season. I don’t think there are many players that can say they’ve had good seasons.”
Spurs loanee Andros Townsend is one who can hold his head high after his contribution in the second half of the season. He was named Player of the Year by the Junior R’s and followed that up with a richly deserved call up to the England Under 21 squad for the forthcoming European Championship finals in Israel. England face Italy, Norway and Israel in the group stages.
Michael Harriman won the Young Player of the Year award in recognition of his fine form out on loan at Wycombe and Loic Remy won the Goal of the Season for his screamer against Wigan. Malcolm Oakley was rewarded for his stoic support of the club for the last 50 years with a much deserved Supporter of the Year trophy.
And so to the inevitable speculation about the ins and outs. Heading through the exit door will almost certainly be Esteban Granero who has rowed back from his February assertion that he would stay with Rangers and play in the Championship if the club went down by now stating his desire to leave and stay in the Premier League.
He told Spanish paper AS: "For me the most important thing is football. I've never given priority to economic issues or other things. Now I do not plan to play in the second tier because I think it is not the place for me. And I mean that in the most humble way, but it's how I feel. In the summer we will see what happens. The Premier experience has been very good and I would love to play here more."
Southampton have been linked, along with Real Betis.
Redknapp has also said that Hogan Ephraim – currently out on loan at Toronto – is surplus to requirements and needs to move on but does see a future for Ale Faurlin who is out on loan with Palermo in Italy currently. Redknapp said: “Faurlin is a decent player. He’s coming back. He’s a good footballer, I like him and he’s a good lad.”
Tal Ben Haim is almost certain to leave having been allowed to join Ephraim and Ryan Nelsen on loan at Toronto until the end of his short team deal in June.
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar is also unlikely to stick around but Brazilian side Flamengo have denied making a move for him.
Vice-president Wallim Vasconcellos was quoted in London24 saying : “Julio Cesar is a great goalkeeper and could play for any team, but he is not one of our concerns right now.”
And could youth coach Marc Bircham also be on his way? He’s currently been backed into the favourite’s position for the vacant manager’s post at his old club Millwall where another former R Kenny Jackett recently resigned after six years in charge.
Redknapp backed Bircham for the job in his pre-Newcastle press conference saying: “It would be a great opportunity for someone like Marc. He’s a great lad and I think given the opportunity somewhere like that he could do very well. He works hard with the young players here, he knows the game, and I think given the opportunity there he’ll take it. You don’t get the experience unless you’re given the chance. If someone gives him the chance we’ll find out whether he’s capable or not.”
There’s been much less from Tony Fernandes this week after a barrage of interviews from him prior to Newcastle. He has however told the Fulham Chronicle that an immediate return to the top flight is less important than building solid foundations for the club.
He said: “We’ve always been chasing our tails trying to stay up. But if it has to be two years to get it right with the right players – then we’ll do it. If we spend to get out quickly, we can come back quickly. So it’s a case of let’s try and get the right players and right culture. Other things have a good foundation here – we haven’t got that on the playing side.”
And he admitted to London24 that he should have relinquished his Formula One commitments sooner to focus more on QPR. He said: “I think a mistake was I didn’t spend enough time as I should have. That’s why I thought maybe it’s best to step down. I think we’ve solved it by lots of video conferencing and phone etc. No doubt about it, you need to spend time here. I’ve spent one week consistently here and that’s made the difference.”
We hear less from Fernandes’ fellow shareholder Ruben Emir Gnanalingam but he has told the official website this week: “We have learnt a lot over the last two years. It has been a very, very steep learning experience. I always say that people are a company’s greatest asset. And that is definitely the case in football, more so than any other business in the world. And I don’t just mean the players, I mean the management, the fans, all of our people here. Going forward, we know there are some things we should not do from experience, and of course we have also learnt what we should do. We will try to apply that.
“The club we inherited unfortunately did not have very good foundations in terms of the facilities. The training complex is nowhere near Premier League standard, or even Championship standard. If you want to go far you have to have good foundations, and we don’t have that now. That’s what we need to build going forward. Warren Farm will be the first step in that direction. We will have a training ground which will at least be able to compare with some of the Championship clubs and maybe even compare to some Premier League clubs. If we want to challenge in the big league we should have at least that.”
Potentially a rare positive night at Loftus Road could be in the offing on Wednesday. QPR’s Under 18s face Huddersfield in the Professional Development League 2 play off final having beaten Leeds away in the semi final with a last minute goal from Peter Skapetis.
Coach Steve Gallen says Huddersfield, who beat Charlton in their semi final, will be tough opponents but hopes his side can complete a fine season by achieving a promotion. He told the official website: “It’s a brilliant achievement to get here and hopefully we can go to the next step and finish it off. We’ve had a good look at Huddersfield. Their attitude has been fantastic from what I’ve seen of them. They’re a very strong team, powerful and hard-working; they must be to get this far and to come of out of a very tough league.
Kick off is 7pm and admission is free. Only the South Africa Road stand will be open and I’d advise getting there early because you just know it’s going to be a one turnstile open sort of occasion.
Anton Ferdinand has told The Sun that he had wanted to stay at QPR to help the team fight relegation but is now eyeing up a permanent move to Turkish side Bursaspor.
He said: “I’ve been playing professional football for ten years and had never been relegated. I know what it’s all about and I felt I had the right experience to give QPR. I didn’t want to go anywhere, I wanted to stay and fight, but the manager made it clear I wasn’t in his plans and when they accepted the offer from Bursaspor I had to take it.
“I’ve been watching out for QPR’s results every week. I’m still contracted to them for another season. Bursaspor have an option to buy me but if it’s decided I’m needed to help QPR get back up then that’s what I’ll do.They still remember my second cousin Les Ferdinand playing for Besiktas in the late 1980s. They loved him because of the way he embraced their culture.”
- Manchester City have sacked manager Roberto Mancini following their shock 1-0 defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup final at the weekend. Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini is the favourite to take over.
- And of course unless you've been in outer space you'll know that since our last diary Man Utd boss Alex Ferguson has announced his retirement and Everton manager David Moyes has agreed a deal to replace him, although there is some suggestion today that Carlo Ancelotti was the first choice and refused. Michael Laudrup, Malky Mackay and Duncan Ferguson are the early front runners for the hot seat at Goodison Park.
- Wigan couldn’t follow up their cup final success with another unlikely escape from relegation and were confirmed in the third and final drop spot tonight with a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal. That leaves only the final two Champions League places to be sorted on a drab final day of the Premier League season – Spurs at home to Sunderland need to better the Gunners’ result at Newcastle to slip into the top four right at the death.
- Norwich, now safe in the Premier League for another season after a 4-0 weekend win against West Brom, have signed left back Javier Garrido for an undisclosed fee following his season-long loan from Lazio.
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