| QPR: the bigger picture now 11:06 - Jan 2 with 3525 views | loftus77 |
I’ve been doing some New Year thinking. Given what is going on at the club, and has been over the last, say, 10 years, it’s time for the whole enterprise (board, club, fanbase) to get its collective head up and start really horizon-scanning (sorry…) as to the medium and long-term future.
The narrow issue (will we stay up or be relegated to League One this season?) is now a given – it just insults anyone’s intelligence to think that this is even a live issue anymore. There’s no point endlessly slagging off players, managers, coaches or each other from now on in. As this excellent website (author(s) and contributors) has commentated , it’s time to address the deeper issues which surround not just Rangers but football in general - and our place in it.
I think we are going to have to carefully reposition ourselves through at least the next 5 years as a well-run developmental L1/L2 club. Now you could laugh at this and say, “that project is going just fine and ultra efficiently on its own.” But I think the key here is more about intent, organisation, and real control. Getting a grip on what the club is doing rather than drifting through seasons, rolling the dice, and hoping something will somehow just click and happen.
I hate to say it, but perhaps we do have to really commit and get on with the Brentford-style journey. It is the only way in 21st century football for clubs like us. It took the Bees years/decades but the key to their success (imho) was the amount of time they spent at L1 level building a foundation, as opposed to us flailing at it from the Championship level with the pull of the Premier League always there to distort/disrupt our plans (see the Mark Warburton era).
I don’t think now we have any room or choice but to do the same as our Hounslow friends over a considerable period. A said, L1/L2 is fine (it will help us develop) as long as we avoid a spiral into the National League– which should be v.unlikely if we are controlling events with a careful plan and committed ownership.
And the Brentford example is important because it brings in another massive factor for Rangers which, simply, is London. Or the West London footballing goldfish bowl to be specific. In many ways, its easier for clubs like Luton, Watford, Norwich or even Reading; they are all the single clubs of their town with a fixed fanbase and catchment area. In our small pond there are three Premier League clubs a bus stop (!) away. Until those clubs (or a good few of them in the Capital – Fulham, Palace, Brentford) fail there is no room for us, anymore than there is for Charlton or Leyton Orient. In the meantime, we can spend this time re-building to be in a position to challenge in the future when some of our rivals, inevitably, do fall back.
I won’t go on – but what I saw yesterday was a watershed for me. It is not being negative or ultra-defeatist to take honest and realistic stock. It really is time to plan and do the hard yards for the future of our great club. Ironically, once we commit to those yards, they probably won’t be as hard or unenjoyable as the torture we are going through at present.
Happy New Year anyway.
[Post edited 2 Jan 11:08]
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| QPR: the bigger picture now on 11:13 - Jan 2 with 3457 views | PlanetHonneywood |
Oh goody, another post stating the bloody obvious. Fella, EVERY Rangers fan I know has been saying the same thing since we sussed Fernandes was a wally (Jan. 2012) and it was all going to go nipples north! |  |
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| QPR: the bigger picture now on 11:22 - Jan 2 with 3386 views | loftus77 |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 11:13 - Jan 2 by PlanetHonneywood |
Oh goody, another post stating the bloody obvious. Fella, EVERY Rangers fan I know has been saying the same thing since we sussed Fernandes was a wally (Jan. 2012) and it was all going to go nipples north! |
Yep - fair point. Its so hard to create a new angle or narrative. I do think that relegation this year will probably 'help' us long term, even despite the obvious financial implications. | | | |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 11:23 - Jan 2 with 3383 views | wortonr |
Actually very sensible, and thoughtful. Thanks for that.
Thing is, we approach every game with hope surely, otherwise why bother? That’s what being a football fan is all about.
We are far from down this season. The transfer window is surely a hope. Let’s get to the end of the month and then plan for Div 1 if there’s no bounce. We may be able to do a Brentford quicker that way! | | | |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 11:31 - Jan 2 with 3332 views | TheChef |
Yes I think League One is inevitable. And football is cyclical - look at how Ipswich and Sunderland are now back on an upward curve.
But it took them several seasons in League One to put their house in order - and you look at the likes of Charlton and Portsmouth who are still trying to get out. Also Bolton who sank even further but seem to be improving again.
Barring a major miracle I think we'll be down there for a while  |  |
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| QPR: the bigger picture now on 11:36 - Jan 2 with 3295 views | Malintabuk |
Good piece and well reasoned, but for me it is something that at the present moment is beyond our reach. For every Brentford/ Brighton/ Fulham there is Derby/Bolton/ Portsmouth and we are firmly in the later
If it was just a case of dropping a division or even 2 to reboot and come back then these later clubs would be on their way
The much used term "root & branch", which I really hate by the way, has to be done with us.
The club for the last 8 to 10 years has basically disintegrated and reached where we are now. It as been so badly run that there is little chance of it ever changing, unless there is amajor change at the very top
Managers come and go and nothing changes, players come into the club and seem to go from decent to rancid in a few months. There seems to be no cohesion off the field coaching wise, I can't remember the last time we scored from a set piece, if we have this season.
The only constant in all this is the top tier of management. When we go down to L1 and it's looking increasingly likely, we will struggle there as well. Unless we have a fundamental restructuring of the club, but who will take us over?
I know we are a "London" club, and that alone should tempt someone, but who?
And even if we are taken over what can they do financially....with FFP as it stands
We had our chance with 2 promotions and this board basically Fcuked it up. And I don't have much confidence that the promise land of L1 is going to be any different | | | |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 11:37 - Jan 2 with 3283 views | BAWHoops |
You need to have things in place to absorb shocks that come in football. They can be negative shocks (going down to L1) or positive ones (selling a player for £20m).
But it all needs to filter through an ethos that runs through the club. What do we want to be? What's written above the door when you walk in.
'Win at all costs' is different to 'Sustainably thriving' and requires a different attitude.
Brentford are having an average season, there's a small chance they will go down. But their ethos and structure means they will survive and likely go back up within 2 years.
We simply do not have that. The training ground is certainly a piece of the puzzle, and Ferdinand's vision of a club that develops sellable assets was entirely correct IMO (the wrong people were put in place to implement it).
There's so much up for grabs at QPR, where are in the next 10 years? Still at a crumbling Loftus Road bouncing between Championship and Lg 1, scrapping from one window to the next? Or are we forward thinking, developing and selling players and moving slowly forward.
It can be done. But you need the balls to do it |  |
| http://blogandwhitehoops.wordpress.com/ |
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| QPR: the bigger picture now on 11:45 - Jan 2 with 3248 views | PlanetHonneywood |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 11:22 - Jan 2 by loftus77 |
Yep - fair point. Its so hard to create a new angle or narrative. I do think that relegation this year will probably 'help' us long term, even despite the obvious financial implications. |
True enough, its all valid.
But after 12 long effing years of hearing and reading the same-old-same-old on this, and I'm sure every other site, it's as exhausting as it is numbing my noodle to endure it.
I said earlier this season: it needs to die before it can get better. Nothing has changed, but supporting QPR has to evolve from being the negative experience its become. | |
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| QPR: the bigger picture now on 12:37 - Jan 2 with 3141 views | dannyblue |
Everyone wants to do a Brentford or a Brighton. The difficulty is actually doing it. You need someone very bright, and wealthy, and committed, and ruthless running the show. We simply don't have that, nor are we likely to appeal to that kind of person(apart from the London thing, which should always aid recruitment).
We are the biggest losers in english football over a decade.
And, sorry to really pss on everyone's chips, the training ground really isn't all that. I did the tour. It's still small time. Flooring tiles and exposed HVAC and fire doors, veneer and white paint. Like a new head office for a small company in a retail park near heathrow (which is exactly what it is). In 2 years it'll look like Dunder Mifflin. The way they've been bigging it up felt a bit embarrassing. What we had before must have been godawful.
Also small time - you know our Watford training kit? Know how that came about? The kit man chose it. And he was expecting something a bit more flourescent that the yellow they got. They expect to sell this stuff. It should be an income stream. We should have designers and marketing departments who know what sells. It shouldn't be chosen by the kitman. With all respect that's small time.
The next 50 years are going to be more like the first 80 years of this club's existence than the last 50. We can no longer swagger with the club with the cool strip and the maverick 10s and innovative football giving anyone a game and punching above their weight. We're now going to be more like Orient, Barnet, or old school Brentford trainspotters. Odd, a bit smelly, and people will try to avoid talking to us about the sport, or politely move the topic on as soon as they can.
*written from day 5 in my fluvid sickbed so may not be in the brightest mood, but can't see it any other way. |  | | |
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| QPR: the bigger picture now on 12:43 - Jan 2 with 3091 views | paulparker |
The OP talks sense
But nothing will change with this board, the big change was supposed to be in 2015 but nearly 10 years on we have regressed and have no further clue as to what we are doing
I’d wager we will be lucky to stay up in league one the way things are going |  |
| And Bowles is onside, Swinburne has come rushing out of his goal , what can Bowles do here , onto the left foot no, on to the right foot
That’s there that’s two, and that’s Bowles
Brian Moore
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| QPR: the bigger picture now on 12:50 - Jan 2 with 3056 views | GaryBannister86 |
I don't share your optimism that relegation to League One will lead to a QPR epiphany.
I don't want to be in the same league as Wrexham, one league above Bromley.
We need to stay up. It isn't impossible. We've got to win 2 of our next 3 home games and stay in with a chance. Get Chair, Willock fit. Take an almighty risk on some "men" maybe. Some expensive loan striker.
I hate those sort of loans normally, but on this occasion it is needed.
We can't throw the towel in just yet. Especially now we have a manager worthy of the name.
And we can clutch at straws - anyone due a points deduction?
I'm not giving up until we really do have no chance. |  | | |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 12:55 - Jan 2 with 2990 views | BrianMcCarthy |
It's the 2nd of Jaunary and we're planning how many years we should stay in League 1? |  |
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| QPR: the bigger picture now on 13:02 - Jan 2 with 2918 views | joe90 |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 12:37 - Jan 2 by dannyblue |
Everyone wants to do a Brentford or a Brighton. The difficulty is actually doing it. You need someone very bright, and wealthy, and committed, and ruthless running the show. We simply don't have that, nor are we likely to appeal to that kind of person(apart from the London thing, which should always aid recruitment).
We are the biggest losers in english football over a decade.
And, sorry to really pss on everyone's chips, the training ground really isn't all that. I did the tour. It's still small time. Flooring tiles and exposed HVAC and fire doors, veneer and white paint. Like a new head office for a small company in a retail park near heathrow (which is exactly what it is). In 2 years it'll look like Dunder Mifflin. The way they've been bigging it up felt a bit embarrassing. What we had before must have been godawful.
Also small time - you know our Watford training kit? Know how that came about? The kit man chose it. And he was expecting something a bit more flourescent that the yellow they got. They expect to sell this stuff. It should be an income stream. We should have designers and marketing departments who know what sells. It shouldn't be chosen by the kitman. With all respect that's small time.
The next 50 years are going to be more like the first 80 years of this club's existence than the last 50. We can no longer swagger with the club with the cool strip and the maverick 10s and innovative football giving anyone a game and punching above their weight. We're now going to be more like Orient, Barnet, or old school Brentford trainspotters. Odd, a bit smelly, and people will try to avoid talking to us about the sport, or politely move the topic on as soon as they can.
*written from day 5 in my fluvid sickbed so may not be in the brightest mood, but can't see it any other way. |
All good points, particularly about the marketing side. It's really not that difficult to scan the internet and see what's out there...even Walthamstow FC have managed to team up with a design agency:
https://www.acidfc.com/projects/walthamstow-fc
QPR has a lot of potential and an exciting history to draw on with so many quirky details. At the very least we should be able to market ourselves and sell some quality merch! |  | | |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 13:05 - Jan 2 with 2889 views | switchingcode |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 12:55 - Jan 2 by BrianMcCarthy |
It's the 2nd of Jaunary and we're planning how many years we should stay in League 1? |
And every chance of playing Brentford in the championship next season. | | | |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 13:08 - Jan 2 with 2865 views | dannyblue |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 13:02 - Jan 2 by joe90 |
All good points, particularly about the marketing side. It's really not that difficult to scan the internet and see what's out there...even Walthamstow FC have managed to team up with a design agency:
https://www.acidfc.com/projects/walthamstow-fc
QPR has a lot of potential and an exciting history to draw on with so many quirky details. At the very least we should be able to market ourselves and sell some quality merch! |
That is a good for Walthamstow. Can see it selling to the locals. Tbf to rangers the mash up shirt promotion was quite good. | | | |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 14:03 - Jan 2 with 2750 views | TommyQPR |
Relegation is just as likely to be a complete disaster for the club as the hope it may provide some kind of revival.
There is no guarantee that going down will wake up the owners or anybody else at the club. It could just lead to more financial trouble, chaos on/off the pitch and a ruinous atmosphere between the supporters and the squad/ownership to become even more entrenched.
We need new owners who are willing to restructure the way the club is run.
As in everything, easier said than done. | | | |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 14:18 - Jan 2 with 2693 views | R_from_afar |
Maybe I'm losing it but I don't think the club needs to die or new owners for us to get back on track.
A new director of football who is passionate about Rangers and who has a modicum of ability could sort us out, given some time. They need to be tough and persistent, though, and be given the authority to fully control things. No more of this "You have total control until board member X decides he needs to scratch an itch and we overrule you".
This is all typed in hope, perhaps it's a pipe dream. |  |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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| QPR: the bigger picture now on 14:30 - Jan 2 with 2630 views | GaryBannister86 |
| QPR: the bigger picture now on 14:18 - Jan 2 by R_from_afar |
Maybe I'm losing it but I don't think the club needs to die or new owners for us to get back on track.
A new director of football who is passionate about Rangers and who has a modicum of ability could sort us out, given some time. They need to be tough and persistent, though, and be given the authority to fully control things. No more of this "You have total control until board member X decides he needs to scratch an itch and we overrule you".
This is all typed in hope, perhaps it's a pipe dream. |
It's not a pipe dream. If the club / owners / Hoos can pull their finger out, get us a proper DofF and let Marti add to this squad in the way he wants, we have a chance of staying up and personally I would be excited to see what he can do given a full pre season and some permanent signings of his own.
A few weeks ago people were working out if we could get into the Top 6. A few weeks ago Sheff Wed were dead and buried.
Now apparently all hope is lost. No it isn't. It also isn't "3 from 4". There is too long to go. What position were we in last Jan 2nd? And we very nearly went down. Someone else can do that. | | | |
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