Chris King returns to LFW with words of warning to temper the swathes of optimism currently washing over the QPR supporters post deadline day.

For many years Queens Park Rangers had been a bit-part player in the great footballing saga, celebration of excess and orgy of poor planning that is transfer deadline day.

Back in 2007 Mikele Leigertwood was signed by the R’s for £900,000 on said day in perhaps one of the most underwhelming ‘big money’ signings made by the club in recent times. This year, it was the turn of a host of Premier League heavyweights to hurry down to W12 and sign up to join the Warnock-Bhatia-Fernandes revolution. To suggest that having already snapped up troubled intellectual Joey Barton, Rangers would be making moves for Shaun Wright-Phillips and Anton Ferdinand, even last year would’ve condemned one to isolation and ridicule on the grandest of scales. Yet this is the reality for Queens Park Rangers supporters, and I for one am excited by the prospect of at least a season in the Premier League with players of the calibre, experience and prestige of these pulling on the blue and white hoops.

Upon arriving in the Premier League, Rangers had more or less the same squad that secured promotion last year, and the likely first term was as follows: Kenny, Hill, Gabbidon, Hall, Orr, Derry, Faurlin, Smith, Taarabt, Campbell and Bothroyd. Just three new additions to the starting XI, and this was the team Warnock had been given to battle against relegation from one of the toughest leagues in world football. Not easy. The game against Bolton Wanderers showed just how inadequate this line-up was, with Orr made to look distinctly average, and Derry and Faurlin utterly bypassed in midfield. Campbell and Bothroyd were cut off in the second half, as QPR’s playing style regressed from slick passing and a high-tempo game to aimless long-ball football. This team was never going to be able to keep Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League, no matter its huge achievements last year; it was patently not good enough. A few weeks later and this is the side Warnock can call upon in the battle against the drop: Kenny, Traore, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Young, Barton, Faurlin, Wright-Phillips, Taarabt, Campbell and Bothroyd.

So a flawless transfer deadline day and a magnificent late surge in the window itself have seen QPR transformed in a matter of days from relegation certainties to potential giant-killers in the Stoke City mould? Not exactly.

It remains to be seen whether Warnock can make this thoroughly disparate side gel in time, because the pressure on his shoulders will now be enormous, in line with Rangers’ newly-inflated wage bill. Newcastle United at home on Monday September 12 is fast-becoming one of the most anticipated games in the history of the club, but fans expecting a walkover ought to at least try and temper their excitement and expectation. Like every project, the ‘new QPR’ needs time, and unfortunately in the ‘best league in the world’ you don’t get a lot of time. Long-term planning, moderation and a sensible attitude to expenditure and decision-making exist only at a handful of clubs, and Queens Park Rangers are probably not one of these. Plus, a dark truth that nobody wants to acknowledge but is very real nonetheless is that if Warnock fails to keep the R’s in the Premier League, surviving in the Championship with a wage bill as large as Rangers’ now presumably is will be almost impossible. It's a huge risk to take, and the potential rewards are equally as significant as the possible pitfalls of taking the route the board and the manager have decided to.

Furthermore, despite all the excitement and the wonderful prospect of a prolonged stay in the Premier League, I can’t escape the horrible feeling that we’ve turned into another one of these rich clubs who don’t invest in youth, don’t manage their finances and just spend, spend and spend their way out of successive crises. Fans of other clubs will see us as nothing more than another rich club who’ve flexed their financial muscles in an effort to achieve success. We cannot be proud of what we’re doing here, at least not in the same way Norwich City could if they were to stay up.

QPR may have bought sensibly and secured a number of genuinely good players to assist in the battle against the drop, but at what cost? This ‘dream team from 2006’ of Shaun-Wright Phillips, Joey Barton, Anton Ferdinand and Luke Young has seen us truly embrace the Premier League lifestyle of splashing cash around like it’s going out of fashion. Maybe I’m naïve, but I’ll always have a soft spot for the Ian Holloway side which was built on a shoestring but achieved some amazing things, including the best footballing night of my life when we beat Oldham Athletic 1-0 at Loftus Road. I can’t feel the same way about this team, but maybe in time I’ll learn to love them as well.

As a final aside, amidst all the excitement of the Deadline Day, some may have missed the fact that Antonio German was released by the club this week. A product of our academy, I wonder if we’ll ever have one of these again. He’s now at Stockport County, and I wish him the best of luck in progressing up through the leagues. Who knows – perhaps we’ll be splashing out £10 million on him in 2015 to help us with our bid to shatter the glass ceiling of the Premier League top ten.

@chriskking

Photo: Action Images

Marshman added 19:35 - Sep 5 How many tens of millions of debt do you think Norwich city have? I can tell you it's a lot more than us. I for one will be hugely proud of our club if we stay up.
0

devonranger added 19:53 - Sep 5 thanks chris,ive just landed back on earth! but im now going back to the sun,felt you contradicted your self in the article,we now have a squad capable of staying up ,spent £8 m same as swansea,look at the teamsheets i know which one id have,FLYING HIGH!!!
0

newgolddream added 20:01 - Sep 5 Well I'm flattered Chris we have picked an identical starting XI for Monday's Newcastle game. Wouldn't totally rule out Derry, Smith or Hill either. Delighted with the transfer window and am confident we will stay up. Was disappointed with the recent Carling Cup exit and even the Leeds defeat at the end of last season Thirty eight years an R and hate to see us lose a game especially at Loftus Road. Roll on September 12th.

0

N12Hoop added 21:32 - Sep 5 Have we spent bundles more than Norwich and Swansea? No. Are our joint owners not bright enough to consider and plan for a possible relegation and the fact that we have a limited capacity? No. Has TF not spoken about investing in our youth set-up? Well yes he has. I've been following QPR for 30 years and there have been many ups and downs and you know what? I'm going to enjoy these times whilst they are here and not sit there claiming these guys haven't got a clue. I would suggest you try do the same.

0

johann28 added 21:50 - Sep 5 I'd agree with pretty much everything here - a welcome breath of realism. Barton and SWP are clearly scoops, Ferdinand with Gabbidon should work, alhough I'm less convinced (and hoping to be proved wrong) by Traore and Young. On balance, we should have just enough to stay up, which would be a huge achievement
0

Spiritof67 added 21:57 - Sep 5 Chris reading your words of warning, ok in short term we have splashed the cash, but I’m sure that the main aim of all R’s fans is for the club to achieve the best we can. After winning promotion last year; and with the new additions, we may not ever reach the Champions League, but It’s certainly looking much more positive on the playing front Unfortunately, for the last number of years we have not invested in an Academy, and as such, we are left in the position of recruiting players from outside of the club to create some sort of foundation to succeed. Tony Fernandes is quoted as saying he wants to re-introduce an Academy, but, if successful, is a longer term aim of the club. Will that unearth a “nugget of talent” it remains to be seen. But then again, what ever happened to Dean Parrett after his move to Spurs! A number of recent articles on LFW have mentioned the “Norwich Test” to gauge where the R’s are, in comparison to another promoted club. We don’t have to look much further than the “Sunderland test.” Ok they have a bigger stadium, bigger gate receipts and they are the only club in town. But, they have aslo, splashed the cash this summer, just to ensure that they try and stay in the Premier League. And what have they spent the money on? Wes Brown – 3 year deal Craig Gardner – 3 year deal Connor Wickham £8 million and a 4 year deal David Vaughan – 3 year deal John O’Shea – 4 year deal Ji Dong-Won – 3 year deal Seb Larsson – free Keiren Westwood – free So if opposing fans see us as nothing more than another rich club who have flexed their financial muscles, in an effort to achieve success, then I will wait until we can benchmark ourselves against the “Manchester City Test” mega rich owners, new stadium, multi-million pound sponsors. The reality is, every fan of Hartlepool, Bournemouth, Crewe Alexandra, etc would jump at the chance to see their club play in the Premiership. I’m looking forward to the ups and downs of the next few months of the season!

0

toemasher added 22:30 - Sep 5 "We cannot be proud of what we’re doing here, at least not in the same way Norwich City could if they were to stay up". We are QPR not dull Norwich , proud is not the word after last season. I see mine and other kids in W12 excited about wearing hoops again and I love it. NW should have left with the support Tango and Cash gave him. Now last minute NW AB and TF have pulled off an amazing feat of negotiation to give us another high season for QPR, dont worry about being proud... as N12 Hoop says enjoy it

0

jo_qpr63 added 22:35 - Sep 5 It's only been 3-4 weeks since the takeover and so far the new owners have delivered, ticket prices come down, premier league players bought. There is no evidence to say they wont rebuild the academy or get new training facilitys next but the priority has to be staying up first whatever the cost. They can afford it anyway, they're are a bunch of millionares and billionares ,thats got to be better then having Deliah Smith!

0

jo_qpr63 added 22:44 - Sep 5 Toemasher. Great point about the kids. My lad is chuffed to bits that his team are premier league and i've started seeing loads now wearing the hoops round my way. A whole new generation of QPR supporters, thats got to be worth the money being spent.
0

RangerKIK added 23:28 - Sep 5 'We cannot be proud of what we’re doing here, at least not in the same way Norwich City could if they were to stay up.' What the frick'in......... Some people are never happy. If we stay up I can not tell you how proud I would feel. Chris you have a very romantic and idealistic (not to say slightly masachistic) view of football. Since the Premier League started football has been all about money. The more you have the better your team gets. Buying success?! Yes that what football is all about. There is no alternative. We are richer than Norwich and Norwich are richer than Swindon and Swindon are richer than............ That is what living in a market economy is all about. Truth is If I knew what a vulgar sport football was going to become when my dad first took me with me blue and white bobble hat on, I would probably have said could we go rock climbing instead. But it's too late now. For all my life QPR have been 'the have not's' and now we are 'the have's' and it feels great!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chris cheer up and ride this wave all the wave into the shore. These are bloody exciting times! Crikes!!!!!!!!

0

QPR4Me added 00:26 - Sep 6 One small point. We do not have an "Academy". That was destroyed by the fools such as Ellis and Wright as they burned the club in Hell. QPR will not have "Academy" status until next season at least! Give Fernandes a chance to start building before you start moaning!!
0

Nov77 added 01:24 - Sep 6 "but I’ll always have a soft spot for the Ian Holloway side which was built on a shoestring but achieved some amazing things" Losing to Vauxhall motors was pretty 'amazing' alright.
0

DylanP added 03:14 - Sep 6 When I look at the transfers from last week I notice that there are teams spending 20 million 25 million and 35 million on individual players. While I agree that the wage bill will be a huge burden if we ever get relegated, but the actual spending on transfer fees was remarkably reasonable. Warnock chose to pick up players that others didn't want, believing instead that he could make something out of their "flawed genus". You are spot on that it is a huge risk for Warnock and a huge responsibility for him too. I see what he did with Adel and Derry and Gorks and so on, and think he has done it before, he can do it again. Time will tell though

0

pomanjou added 08:49 - Sep 6 Life is a series of risks and a walk on a tightrope but take time off to enjoy life whilst you can rather than sounding optimistically jaundiced.
0

RBLOCKPAT added 10:33 - Sep 6 Chris I am so glad you are not sitting next to me on Monday night mate, I couldn't put up with ' I told you, we're doomed ' in my shell like if the Toon score the first goal. I have just come out of a six month depression due to the Gruesome Twosome who tried so hard to destroy our club after proclaiming that ' We saved you!' Now that they have run off with the cash we now seem to have two genuine owners who really do want to restore pride and good times back to the club. Chris you go back to Ian Holloways team, I go as far back as Alec Stocks teams and I feel sorry for the younger Rangers fans who never experienced those wonderful days. We then had a magnificent chairman in Jim Gregory who would always put his hand in his pocket for the right players. I think that Bahtia and Fernandes are of the same ilk and I am really excited about the future. There is no room for pessimism here' right now, we have a very positive manager and there aren't many more experienced than Neil Warnock, hes not going to throw money around for the sake of it and I am really pleased with his signings. I personally dont think that Faurlin will play Monday night I think he needs to slightly change the way he plays if he is going to master the Premiership, I think it will be Derry and Barton. I would have liked to have seen a striker bought in the window and I think Neil tried, but there is always January if we are slightly lacking in goals although haven't yet seen what Bothroyd and Campbell can do and of course Wright Phillips has always had the potential to score more goals and I personally think he will here. So you see Chris its not all gloom and doom, just chill out and enjoy our progress this season, Tango and Cash forced me to take happy pills so I am now going to forget the negativity and cheer the boys on. I have been through it all in life and so have the wonderful Queens Park Rangers and we are both still here and long may we be!

0

eastside_r added 12:47 - Sep 6 I cannot believe how much I am looking forward to the Newcastle game. I should know better at my age. I am trying to remind myself that this is a club (note, not team) that has scored one goal in 4 games this season.
0

R_Madrid added 14:57 - Sep 6 Chris, seems you ruffled a few feathers with your negativity, but I for one symphathize with the sentiments here... Some of the wages we must be paying and are tied to for 3-4 years (they have kept it quiet!) will cripple us if we don't stay up, or at least cripple TF - and will he stay around? My gut reaction is he will, but you never can be sure with hard nosed businessmen... I remember when Tango and Cash took over and the unbridle sense of optimism then! Fans are constantly on about "big transfer fees" and splashing the cash but it is way more complicated than that ever since the Bosman ruling... Clubs no longer own players, but lease them... the club is stuck between a hard place and a rock. If they dont give a long contract and the player excels, they lose him for nothing (or next-to-nother) to another club willing to pay bigger wages. If they give a long contract and they turn out to be naff... well I don't need to state the consequences of THAT to QPR fans do I, we still got about 6 on our books like that at the moment (not too bad if the player can be loaned and another club pays their wages, but what of Rowlands, Cook, Agemang, etc!) I see here the management have tried to be as canny as they can in the length of contract, but we have still picked up here some dead wood this transfer window IMO, especially as a result of the two tiered approach, before TF moved the goal posts! Yes, the management are making all the right moves and saying all the right things at the moment, but what if results don't go well, (I can see that happening) how will the pressure effects us all then. If we dont have 35 points by before the last 10 games, we will be in the shit, what a bastard that run-in is! Lets just hope the team DO gel and we hit the ground running...

0

JB007007 added 07:48 - Sep 7 Thanks Chris, a good read. Whilst I take on board your comments and concerns, I dont think we had a lot of choice after the takeover. NW had less than two weeks to turn a Championship team into a Premier League team. He's done this on some good players too and I dont think we have speant much more than the other two promoted clubs. Whether the takeover happened or not, we clearly had to spend some money to improve the quality and get Premier League experience and all in all we have done this without going bananas. I thought we would have to spend at least £20 million to stand a chance. Time will tell, but I think NW and co have done well.

0

benbu added 09:36 - Sep 7 'We cannot be proud of what we’re doing here, at least not in the same way Norwich City could if they were to stay up.... what are you on about? This is a totally stupid thing to say along with.... 'the best footballing night of my life when we beat Oldham Athletic 1-0 at Loftus Road'. Surely the fact you mention this as being the best is why we all want to be in the premier league and not playing sides like Oldham anymore and needed to spend some cash so we can remember some great victories in the premier league. Yes it was a great night but this shouldnt be the best. If QPR have spent £10m in this transfer window to keep us up then its fantastic. A realistic budget you need to have any chance of survival not £250k for Djc. This was by far the best transfer window in QPR's history.

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Norwich City Polls