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West London Sport/David McIndyre - Fernandes is right to meet fans, says Hughes
Manager Mark Hughes says Tony Fernandes should be commended for meeting fans ahead of QPR’s game against Everton.
Chairman Fernandes has made it known on Twitter that he will visit at least one local pub before the vital match at Loftus Road, which Rangers desperately need to win as they battle against relegation.
Hughes’ predecessor Neil Warnock hinted that he was uneasy about Fernandes’ interaction with supporters during his time in charge.
Hughes was appointed manager by Fernandes in January.
But the current boss insisted: “I have no issue with it whatsoever. Tony likes doing it.
“In his business he’s very people-orientated. That’s how he gets an understanding of the businesses he’s involved in.
“He wants to engage with people. He’s very good in that respect. I think it’s a refreshing change.
“Everybody knows that Tony’s got the best interests of the club at heart. He’s put a lot of finance in and is trying to make sure the club is healthy in the future and is able to grow.”
Fernandes has recently faced some criticism from fans on Twitter following a dismal run of results since Warnock was sacked by the Malaysian.
“I think people should engage with him and shake his hand because he’s trying to do his best for the club,” said Hughes.
“It’s important that fans have access to you. Sometimes when my thoughts are given [to the media] it can be taken out of context, so it can be better to hear things from the horse’s mouth.” West London Sport
QPR vs EVERTON
- PHOTOS
GUARDIAN
Bobby Zamora's header earns QPR a point against Everton
The QPR manager Mark Hughes will look into an obscene tweet apparently posted on Federico Macheda's Twitter account after the draw with Everton.
The on-loan Manchester United striker has been left out of the QPR side recently and was not included in the 18-man squad against Everton.
Macheda, who was charged by the FA last week for a previous comment made on the social network website, tweeted after the match: "Totally pissed off … this is not what i deserve! Fuck all!"
When told of the post, Hughes said: "What is he talking about? Perhaps he has broken a watch or dropped his phone. Who knows what he has done. You're assuming it is about the game and not being involved. Until I speak to him I can't really comment."
Asked what action would be taken if it is about selection, Hughes said: "Well, when I know it is I will come back and talk about it but I can't talk about it because that is the first I've heard about it." He added: "Why we are talking about a player who was not in the squad? I would rather talk about the guys who worked their bollocks off, to be honest, rather than somebody that wasn't even in the squad, don't you think?"
QPR were unable to eke out a winner against Everton as the struggling west London side, who are out of the bottom three only on goal difference, again failed to make the most of home advantage. QPR have won only two of their 14 Premier League home matches and teeter dangerously over the drop zone with a tough-looking batch of fixtures remaining.
They came into the match on a run of six defeats in their previous eight matches and almost got off to the worst possible start, with a Tim Cahill half-volley hitting the crossbar.
Everton were playing like a side unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions and that confidence was epitomised by Royston Drenthe, who broke the deadlock after 31 minutes with an exquisite 30-yard effort.
The lead lasted five minutes, with Bobby Zamora bundling home an Akos Buzsaky free-kick off the goalkeeper Tim Howard. Buzsaky inexplicably hit the post after an Adel Taarabt effort had done the same as half-time approached, and they could not force a second-half winner during what was a scrappy 45 minutes.
The Everton manager David Moyes brought on Leon Osman and Nikica Jelavic in a bid to change things. Both teams had their chances but QPR's Buzsaky went closest to a winner with a rasping drive. Guardian
TELEGRAPH/GERRY COX
A BBC documentary this weekend will show the mad, mad world of Queens Park Rangers under the ownership of Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, and judging by this hard-fought draw with Everton, things have not changed too much since Tony Fernandes took over.
The Malaysian businessman was pulling pints for QPR fans on a pre-match pub crawl, designed to canvass opinion on the club’s plight, engaged as they are in a real relegation scrap.
With only five points garnered this year, and almost as many red cards, the first two months under Mark Hughes has been far from ideal, and not helped by the Twitter rants of players such as Joey Barton and now Federico Macheda.
The Italian tweeted his unhappiness at failing to make the squad for the visit of Everton, although Hughes was quick to play down the incident.
Hughes was more encouraged that his men avoided another red card and another defeat, although they could have won if Akos Buzsaky had not missed an open goal which, as one wag pointed out, might have been scored by the squirrel that spent a good ten minutes in Everton’s half in the closing stages of the first period.
“I was delighted with what we produced, and though I think we should have won, we kept 11 men on the pitch and that gave us the platform to show what we can do.”
But it was Everton who started stronger, with Tim Cahill rattling Paddy Kenny’s crossbar on the turn in the fourth minute, before Royston Drenthe gave them the lead after half an hour. Adel Taarabt was caught in possession by Steven Pienaar who set up Drenthe to drill a low shot into the corner of Kenny’s net.
Buzsaky was QPR’s most impressive player, having a curling free kick well saved, and it was from his free kick that Bobby Zamora rose to head the equaliser in the 36th minute. The kick had been taken close to where Fernandes was sitting, in the cheap seats with the supporters, and he celebrated with abandon.
His fellow fans cursed their luck when Taarabt and then Buzsaky both hit the left and right posts of Tim Howard’s goal in quick succession shortly before half-time.
Although there was plenty of bluster in the second-half, there was little danger of a decisive goal and the sides had to settle for an unsatisfactory draw. “It wasn’t great but we got a point,” said David Moyes succinctly.
QPR are only a point above the relegation zone. “The rub of the green hasn’t been going for us, but I sensed today that is changing’” added Hughes. Telegraph
WEST LONDON SPORT - Hughes Perspective
3/03/2012
by Lyall Thomas
Mark Hughes remains confident QPR will stay up despite their failure to beat Everton at Loftus Road.
The 1-1 draw means Rangers have still managed only two home wins in the league this season – and their tough run-in suggests the result could prove costly.
But manager Hughes was pleased with their efforts and believes they have enough quality to stay in the top flight.
“We’ve got threats and quality in the team with [Djibril] Cisse to come back,” he said.
Hughes backed Taarabt.
“I have no doubt we will score goals and stay in the Premier League. We’ve definitely got enough going forward.
“I was encouraged and they really illustrated that they’ve been listening to my messages. I sensed there was real understanding of what it takes to win.
“We need more of that between now and the end of the season. We’ll take a point and it’s something we can build on.”
And Hughes reserved special praise for Adel Taarabt, who was at fault for Everton’s goal but otherwise produced another impressive performance.
“He’s held his hands up. Don’t forget he’s still young,” the Welshman said.
“Adel bounced back and he affected the game going the other way, and created something that resulted in an equaliser.
“He’s a talented guy and wants to make things happen. There’s a difference in Adel – he understands the responsibility he has now, and I will give him licence to create.”
Hughes added: “I thought Joey Barton was excellent. Shaun Derry was faultless, and so was Clint Hill. A lot of guys are stepping up to the plate.” West London Sport
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
HUGHES BUOYED BY 'EXCELLENT DISPLAY'
Posted on: Sat 03 Mar 2012
Mark Hughes believes his QPR side are on the up, after an 'excellent' performance in the 1-1 draw against Everton.
Bobby Zamora cancelled out Royston Drenthe's opener, before Rangers went onto totally orchestrate proceedings against David Moyes's side.
"I thought we were excellent," Hughes told www.qpr.co.uk.
"Obviously we went behind - against the run of play I would suggest - but I thought we responded brilliantly.
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"Everton didn't really create any problems for us.
"For long periods we were in the ascendancy and we probably deserved to get more than a point out of the game - that's the only disappointment today."
Hughes added: "In terms of application and affecting the game, I was delighted with what we did today.
"We really forced the initiative and I was really pleased with what we produced.
"We'll take a lot of confidence from today's performance."
Adel Taarabt's concession of possession led to Drenthe's 31st minute opener, but Hughes refused to blame the Moroccan midfielder.
"Adel held his hands up for the goal - he just overplayed in a silly area of the pitch," said Hughes.
"It was a great strike from Drenthe to blast it past Paddy Kenny.
"Adel will learn from that - I thought his response was excellent and he played his part in our equaliser, which is great credit to him."
Hughes concluded: "I think the fans would've been really pleased with what they saw today.
"When we apply ourselves like we did today, we are a good team to watch.
"I thought Clint Hill was outstanding.
"He's come back into the team in the last two matches and been excellent.
"Shaun Derry, Joey Barton and Bobby Zamora - there were plenty of positive performances." QPR
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