Supposed Pressures on QPR: The Bristol Perspective

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Bristol Evening Post MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS FOR QPR
In Football, money breeds expectation and with expectation comes pressure to perform - as Queens Park Rangers manager Luigi De Canio is finding to his cost.
The west London club may have flirted with relegation for much of the season, but the advent of millionaire owners Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshi Mittal has fundamentally altered perceptions around Loftus Road.
De Canio has splashed out millions of pounds on nine new signings during the January transfer window and he is now expected to work wonders overnight.
But having been charged with the task of making sure the disparate parts function as a whole, the Italian is finding out that money does not always buy success. Not immediately, at least.
QPR's directors were watching from the stands at Ninian Park on Tuesday and gave vent to their frustration as their expensively assembled team was brushed aside 3-1 by Cardiff City.
And Bristol City assistant manager Keith Millen, sent on a scouting mission ahead of tomorrow's Championship showdown at Loftus Road, experienced first hand the degree of pressure being brought to bear on De Canio and his players.
"I was sitting quite near their directors watching the game and you could tell they weren't happy," revealed Millen.
"That's inevitable when they've spent so much money. When you've made that kind of investment, you're going to want good results straight away.
"It puts extra pressure on the manager and the team, but that's the nature of the business. It will be interesting to see how they handle it if results are not good.
"To be honest, Cardiff were very good and could have won by a lot more than they did. It didn't go down at all well in the directors' box."
There is a feeling that City's visit to Loftus Road is timely. De Canio is still in the process of moulding a settled side and, at times on Tuesday night, Rangers resembled a bunch of strangers.
Injuries to defenders Fitz Hall and Matthew Connolly caused further disruption and Millen confirmed: "They were a little bit at sixes and sevens.
"There's no doubt they have very good individuals - but they are finding it difficult to gel as a team.
"They have some dangerous customers, but they're still getting to know one another's games. I'm sure they'll click eventually and do very well, I just hope it's not this weekend."
Conversely, City's players owe their startling success this season to a strong team ethic.
"Our strength is our togetherness, spirit and organisation," confirmed Millen. "Judging by what I saw the other night, I don't think QPR have that just yet."
Given the speed of change at Loftus Road, it was not surprising that the Rangers side which started at Ninian Park in midweek featured only three of those players who lined up against City at Ashton Gate on the opening day of the season.
Goalkeeper Lee Camp, defender Damion Stewart and winger Martin Rowlands have survived the transition and Millen added: "This is a very different team.
"There have been so many new signings, the side they put out on Saturday will bear very little resemblance to the one we faced back in August.
"Individually, the players they have now are better. They all have good skill and ability and, if they click, they will be a threat.
"The new players are still finding their feet and this could be a good time to play them. But then we might suffer a backlash after what happened to them at Ninian Park. I'll be very surprised if there isn't a response." Bristol Evening Post

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