Harry Redknapp has axed several senior members of his squad from this week’s pre-season trip to Austria following a weekend loss at League One side Peterborough.
Redknapp, who is not making the trip himself following his recent knee surgery, had appeared to be operating a blank slate this summer but several players have already turned their noses up at that opportunity.
Joey Barton failed to report for the first two days of pre-season training and was not taken to Devon last week or Austria this. His QPR career is now surely over. Redknapp did take Jose Bosingwa to the south west last week but his performance and attitude in the friendly at Exeter appears to be the final straw for him and he too has been left at home this week.
Anton Ferdinand played in both the 0-0 draw at St James’ Park, and the 1-0 set back at London Road against Peterborough on Saturday but Redknapp, who loaned the player out to Bursaspor in Turkey in January, has seen enough already and he has not travelled. Luke Young, beset by injury problems, is also staying behind despite featuring at Exeter while Julio Cesar and Samba Diakite are also at home this week. Hogan Ephraim is in London but he told his Twitter followers this was due to treatment on an injury.
Four youngsters from the EDS have been given their chance with the firsts – Michael Harriman, Max Ehmer, Frankie Sutherland and Mo Shariff have all travelled with the seniors for friendlies against Besiktas and Udinese. Stephane Mbia and Loic Remy were all also on the Easyjet flight on Tuesday despite being linked with moves elsewhere.
And Esteban Granero has also been singing the praises of the location for the trip, despite openly stating he wanted to leave the club at the end of last season and courting a move to Premier League side Swansea.
Granero told the official website: “We’re working hard to get into shape for the new campaign. We’ve got two good games to come this week and we’re looking forward to it. We are in good condition, but we need to get fitter and more organised in terms of our shape and tactics for the new season. We are working hard on our specific formations and movements and the jobs we have to do, but I believe we are in a good position to face the challenges that await us over the coming weeks.” Redknapp is likely to be on crutches for six weeks reducing his input into team affairs significantly. Training is being overseen by Steve McClaren in his absence.
Adel Taarabt is another predictable name on the missing in action list but Redknapp is adamant he will not be loaned out. The interest in the Moroccan and Cesar from Hull and Napoli respectively is currently only around temporary deals but Redknapp told The Sun both should either be sold or stay and play.
He said: “I can’t see the sense in loaning Cesar for a year. He’s got three years left on his contract, he’s just played for Brazil in the Confederations Cup and been absolutely fantastic. I think he’s a goalkeeper for any team in the world, he’s that good. To loan him out for a year and then have him back is absolutely pointless. What’s the point in loaning him for a year then getting him back on massive wages for another two years? If he wants to leave, we sell him. Napoli are not short of money, they’re just selling Cavani for £54million, so if they want him surely they’ve got to come and do a deal? We have to do a deal that suits the football club and not deals that suit agents and other people.
“There’s talk about Taarabt going to Hull on loan. What’s the good in that? If he wants to go, let somebody come and pay the money for him. If nobody wants to buy him, he stays here and he gets fit. He has to show he’s a good player and help to get QPR back in the Premier League. If he really wants to go that bad and someone wants him — pick up the phone, make an offer and we’ll do some business. No problem.”
For Bosingwa, Ferdinand and Young there was the further ignominy of being forced to turn out for the EDS squad in their second friendly of the summer at Stevenage on Tuesday night which finished 2-0 to the home side. That continued a worrying trend for QPR teams this summer, perhaps a hangover from the end of last season, of not being able to score goals. Last week’s 0-0 at Exeter was followed by a scrappy 1-0 defeat at League One Peterborough on Saturday.
QPR at Peterborough: Green, Simpson (Young), Traore (Suk-Young), Hill (Ferdinand), Park (Hoilett), Johnson (Mackie), Wright-Phillips (Derry), Onuoha, Jenas (Granero), Mbia (Faurlin), Zamora
Subs not used: Murphy
Goals: Peterborough - Sinclair (86)
Ale Faurlin, seemingly revitalised after falling out of favour and heading out on loan to Palermo last season, went as close as anybody to scoring and afterwards he told the club’s official site: “It’s always disappointing to lose matches - we want to win every game we compete in and pre-season is no different, but fitness is the most important thing. We know we can play better than we did today, but the result isn’t as important at the moment as it will be once the season starts. I was pleased to get another 45 minutes under my belt. Minutes are always important during pre-season, to keep the fitness levels improving to be ready for the start of the new campaign.”
Rangers could go a long way towards solving their goal scoring woes if they successfully complete the signing of Celtic forward Gary Hooper. The Scottish giants seem resigned to losing the former Scunthorpe striker who has scored 82 goals in 136 appearances for them since signing for £2.6m three seasons ago. Hull and Norwich had looked the favourites but have been priced out while QPR returned with a second bid, reportedly of more than £5m, yesterday.
The 25-year-old did not travel with Celtic for their European qualifier against Cliftonville in Belfast tonight and manager Neil Lennon told the BBC: “He has not featured much in pre-season and the games start in earnest for us on Wednesday night. So he'd have a bit of catching up to do and I don't know where his mind is at the minute. Has he played his last game for Celtic? Never say never but it's looking more and more that way."
West London Sport reports meanwhile that the R’s may also be willing to offer 30-year-old midfielder Karl Henry a route out of Wolves. The combative central midfield player has three years left on his contract at Molineux but Wolves are keen to sell and reduce their wage bill after successive relegations.
Finally QPR’s home match with Brighton in the Championship, originally slated for Tuesday September 17 has been moved back to Wednesday 18 at 7.45pm after the Seagulls had their game against Reading that weekend moved to Sunday for live television coverage.
Rowan Vine’s Scottish adventure is destined to last another year after he signed for SPL side Hibernian on a free transfer. Vine scored seven goals in 28 league starts for third placed St Johnstone last season, including two against Hibs in Edinburgh, but was not retained at the end of his one year deal.
Vine, who will make his debut in Europa League qualifying against Malmo on Thursday, told the Hibs official site: “As soon as the opportunity came up, I wanted to take it because it's clear to me this is a club heading in the right direction and I want to be part of it. I enjoyed playing in Scotland last season and when my time at St Johnstone came to an end I was keen to stay in the league. So when the chance came to sign for a club like Hibs with its fanbase, stadium and set-up then I was really keen to get the deal done."
Walsall have picked up released QPR striker Troy Hewitt on a free transfer. The former Harrow Borough striker never threatened a breakthrough during a two year spell at Loftus Road and spent time out on loan with Dagenham and Bury but will now get a chance with a permanent deal in League One at the Bescott Stadium.
Manager Dean Smith told the Walsall Advertiser: “I first spotted Troy when he played against us for Bury last season. I’ve spoken to a few people about him and had some very good feedback. He’s a lad who has come through the non-league system to earn his chance in the professional game. He’s been with us since the start of pre-season and has displayed a tremendous attitude and work ethic. He wants to do well and play at the highest level possible. “I feel that he will lead the line well and score goals; his hold-up and link-up play is very good and he has plenty of pace, so he has some key strengths that I am sure will serve us well.”
Les Ferdinand may be about to make his first step into the world of management with League One side Swindon. The Robins sacked former Villa coach Kevin MacDonald earlier this week after just six months in the job and a failed play off campaign. The bookies make Ferdinand a heavy favourite according to the Gazette and Herald which says Tm Sherwood, currently overseeing the coaching at Spurs where Ferdinand has worked since Harry Redknapp’s time with the club, has recommended his colleague to the club’s director of football Lee Power.
Ferdinand’s former team mate at Loftus Road Steve Yates also has a new job – as kit manager at another of his former clubs Bristol Rovers. Yates replaces Roger Harding who passed away recently.
Manager John Ward told The Bristol Post: “It will be good to have another Bristol Rovers guy around the place. I worked with him when he was a player here and nobody would ever question his loyalty or his affection for the football club. He's a bit of a novice and slightly out of his normal environment, but there are people around willing to help out on that front. I know he's a willing worker and will do everything to make sure he gets the job done."
Yates signed for QPR from Rovers for £650,000 in 1993 following his former boss Gerry Francis and made 163 appearances for the R’s before joining Tranmere in August 1999.
- Bolton have added Leicester striker Jermaine Beckford to their attack for an undisclosed fee. Beckford scored 15 goals for the Foxes in 2011/12 but fell out of favour last season and finished up scoring nine goals in 22 appearances on loan at Huddersfield last season. Veteran striker Kevin Davies has left to sign for Preston while Welsh full back Sam Ricketts is also dropping down a division to play for Wolves.
- Brighton have dismissed an appeal by former manager Gus Poyet against his sacking by the club. Speculation is rife on the reasons for the Uruguayan’s suspension in May and sacking in June but Brighton had already moved on and appointed Spaniard Oscar Garcia as their new boss before this week’s hearing. Young MK Dons defender Adam Chicksen has moved to the south cost with the fee to be decided by a tribunal.
- Millwall have signed former Preston and West Brom midfielder Richard Chaplow on a free transfer from Southampton. Chaplow spent four games at The Den on loan last season.
- Nottingham Forest have signed 24-year-old centre half Jack Hobbs on a season long loan from newly promoted Hull City. Hobbs, once of Liverpool and Leicester will make the move permanent when his contract at the KC Stadium expires next June. Leicester meanwhile have rejected two Forest approaches to re-sign another centre back Wes Morgan who left the City Ground a year ago.
- Doncaster have completed the signing of 27-year-old Scunthorpe midfielder Mark Duffy for an undisclosed fee and also expect to sign Oldham defender Jean-Yves M'Voto this week.
- Sheffield Wednesday have signed winger Jeremy Helan for an undisclosed fee from Manchester City. The 21-year-old Frenchman held talks with Wolves but has chosen to return to Hillsborough, where he played 28 times on loan last season.
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