-
THE VIEW FROM ITV SPORT'S 'THE CHAMPIONSHIP'
ITV Sport's Andy Townsend takes a closer look at situation at QPR and Newcastle
Andy Townsend
It is fair to say that Newcastle have dominated the headlines over the last ten days and I for one believe they made the right appointment in King Kev. I've missed him - we all have.
Keegan is box office and his press conference was a lesson to some on how to engage with the media as a modern day football manager. If only his players were as good against Bolton. No sparkle, no magic, no entertainment and KK will have to literally perform miracles to get this team winning regularly never mind thrilling us each week. We shall see?
I had a chat with a London cabbie on my way from Marylebone to Waterloo recently and he had an interesting take on the situation at Newcastle. I was asked the usual questions about whether or not Keegan would be successful, should he take Shearer? etc etc and then the twist. "I bet you my team - Q.P.R. - will win something, one of the cups, before the Geordies!"
I laughed and he replied "You think I'm joking don't ya? Keegan may play some lovely football but they won't win anything this time round. They had their chance but didn't grab it but we are on the up and you watch us go. You heard it here first Andy!"
I thanked him for the lecture, paid him his £23 fare (and yes I did give him a tip) and went on my way. Later that evening that conversation got me thinking. With the Loftus Road outfit now owned by two billionaires and a multi-millionaire they are only going one way.
Those guys did not acquire such wealth and success by sitting around staring at the sky. They make things happen and quickly. Luigi Di Canio has now got the ship moving in the right direction - 19 points from their last 24 in the league looks pretty decent to me and they are currently eleven points from a play-off place. The cabbie has a point, if, and it is a big if, they can get out of this league quickly then they have big advantages over Kevin Keegan.
They would find it easier to attract the very biggest names to Loftus Road as London living suits top international players. Talk of a new stadium excites players. Being part of something new in itself is tempting and crucially, players know that the club can afford them. I bet Rangers have been contacted by more agents over the last three weeks than Manchester United. QPR will be successful, they will return to the Premier League.
It is not impossible to claw back an eleven point deficit; you only need to look at Crystal Palace who have had an amazing run to go from virtually bottom to serious challengers - seeing off the likes of Sheffield United, Watford, Wolves and Bristol City recently. The Championship is that sort of division. Nothing is impossible.
At the moment I'm not sure that QPR possess the squad to amass a huge collection of points from the run-in but should they add to the squad again before the deadline then you never know.
The fans in Geordieland believe the good times are set to return and this time success will be theirs. Mike Ashley's megabucks and a brand of football that will light up the North-East will see to that. I hope I'm there to witness it.
As for my Cabbie friend, I was concerned he was slightly bonkers and didn't know where he was going. Under closer inspection I now realise he wasn't joking and who knows, he could be right..." ITV The Championship
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
QPR Report Twitter Feed
Blog Archive
-
▼
2008
(1621)
-
▼
January
(182)
- Snippets...Briatore Q&A...Mancienne in England U-2...
- QPR's Brilliant England Winger, Dave Thomas - Prof...
- QPR Snippets: Bradford Extremely Unhappy..Injury U...
- Two Years Ago Today: QPR's Home Loss to Leicester ...
- QPR (Supposedly) Bid £1.5m for Preston's Simon Wha...
- Hull's Manager on Walton Loan...Says For Rest of S...
- No Ricketts to QPR
- QPR's "Discarding" of Home Grown Talent: Perspecti...
- Ricketts Signing Problems
- QPR Supposedly Make Increased Offer for Nottingham...
- QPR's League Position Compared to Year Ago....Ex-Q...
- QPR's Cardiff Defeat - Further Reports and Comments
- QPR's 3-1 Loss at Cardiff - Reports and Comments
- QPR Goalkeeper Liam O'Brien Trialing With Arsenal
- Teams for QPR vs Cardiff
- Teams for QPR vs Cardiff
- Simon Walton Joins Hull: QPR Say Till End of Febru...
- Ex-QPR John Hollins Appointed Manager of Weymouth
- The Changing Face of QPR
- Ricketts Reportedly Passes QPR Medical, Will be Si...
- Cardiff Preview "Moneybags Queens Park Rangers" Match
- And Yet Another QPR Departure: Dominic Shimmin
- Bradford and QPR Agree Fee for Jamaican Goalkeeper...
- Yet Another QPR Player Departs: Marc Nygaard
- "On This Day" Flashbacks...Arsenal Crush QPR...QPR...
- QPR Snippets: Parrett in England U-17 Squad...Curt...
- "Rangers Find Star in the Park" - QPR's Angelo Bal...
- Snippets: QPR Reportedly Bid for Kris Commons...Ro...
- No QPR in Football League Awards Shortlists
- Looking at QPR (and Newcastle's) Chances of Succes...
- Ex-QPR's Richard Pacquette Profiled
- Ex-QPR Ugo Ukah Update: Demotion Penalty Imposed o...
- Released QPR Winger Kieron St. Aimie Joins Barnet
- "To Do a QPR:" A New Expression in the Offing?.......
- QPR's Former Defender Ian Gillard Profiled and Int...
- QPR Supposedly Want Aston VIlla Goalkeeper, Thomas...
- Departures and Non-Arrivals including Nardiello to...
- Ainsworth and Bignot Proving Their Character...Ste...
- Two Italy-Experienced Managers: QPR's De Canio and...
- Alleged QPR Transfer Target Happy For Now
- Snippets: Barker Injury Update...Paying to Play at...
- QPR vs Chelsea Land Battle?
- Flashback One Year: QPR Luton Cup Exit...China Fri...
- Di Vaio to QPR This Week?
- Spurs Goalie Radek Cerny Prepared to Join QPR
- Fitz Hall Happy to Have Joined QPR
- Snippet re Di Vaio...Injury Update...Kanyuka on Le...
- QPR's Rowan Vine Makes Championship "Team of The W...
- Agent Claims QPR Want to Sign Two Spurs Players......
- Released QPR Defender Pat Kanyuka Joins Swindon
- QPR's Hall on Manager De Canio: "He's definitely t...
- QPR Interest in Genoa's Marco Di Vaio?
- QPR's "First Tentative Steps Towards World Dominat...
- Where Are They Now? Eddie Kelly, Rachid Harkouk, D...
- De Canio Warmly Profiled...Barnsley Victory: Furth...
- QPR' Win Against Barnsley: 11 Points From Playoffs...
- Teams for Today's QPR vs Barnsley Game...QPR's Ame...
- Good Short Preview For the New QPR
- Sebastian Rusculleda Claims Collapsed QPR Transfer...
- John Spencer's Barnsley Hatrick....Barnsley on QPR...
- Marcus Bignot Speaks About QPR and Millwall....Dag...
- Barnsley Preview QPR
- QPR's Vastly Changed Playing Squad
- QPR Plot to Rule The World
- QPR Release Two "Home Growns"
- QPR Have Another Defender: Hull's Delaney Signing ...
- QPR's New De Facto CEO Ali Russell Profiled and Pr...
- From Hotly-Pursued to Not-Wanted: Shabbaz Baidoo ...
- Snippets: Watch Return?....Ex-QPRs: Richard Pacque...
- Delaney Signing Day? - QPR Supposedly Beating off ...
- "Bid to Play at Loftus Road"
- Briatore's QPR Spending Plans
- Snippets: Mick Harford Luton's Manager, Warren Nei...
- QPR Transfers Continue: Bidding for Hull's Delaney...
- Ainsworth on Briatore's Renault Factory Tour and D...
- QPR Officially Announce Appointment of Ali Russell...
- Remembering Mick Leach
- Guide to QPR Websites - Updated
- Bignot Officially Joins Millwall
- Another QPR Player Linking Up With Yeovil?
- QPR's Briatore:- De Canio Remaining in Charge at QPR
- Goalie Stefan Postma Allowed to Join QPR
- Next: QPR vs Barnsley
- Steve Slade Back in Action
- Gordon Jago: Profiled and Interviewed
- Snippets: Leeds' Jermaine Beckford - QPR Lost out
- Hearts' Ali Russell Officially at QPR
- Nick Ward Revived
- Bignot Leaves QPR...But Has Not Yet Signed for Ano...
- QPR Trying Again for Spurs' Wayne Routledge
- Bignot Reportedly Signing for Millwall
- Ex-QPR: Adam Miller Makes Team of the Week...Mille...
- QPR's Mahon: Promotion Comes From More Than Just M...
- De Canio Explains Process QPR Signs Players
- Ian Holloway's Final QPR Victory
- Additional Reports of QPR's Loss to Sheffield United
- Ex-QPR Update - John Spencer Turns Down Chicago He...
- QPR vs Sheffield United - Further Reports and Comm...
- QPR Manager De Canio on His Way Out?
- QPR Lose to Sheffield United - Reports and Comments
-
▼
January
(182)