When Mark Hughes arrived at QPR last January to take over from the popular Neil Warnock, he was expected to be the man to ease the team to safety and move the ambitious club forward into a recognizable Premier League force. After surviving on the final day at the Etihad (where the day is remembered for something quite different) Hughes was given significant backing over the off-season by the clubs owners and with that the opportunity to rubber-stamp his mark on the team, and justify Tony Fernandes’ decision at the turn of the year.
Things haven’t gone as planned.
Three months into the 2012/2013 season Rangers are rooted firmly to the bottom of the Premier League table and with a visit to Arsenal this Saturday it is feasible to suggest that defeat could signal the end for the Welshman. When Warnock was shown the exit door, I think generally most QPR fans were very disappointed to see him go - the man brought the club from third bottom to winners of the Championship within fourteen months – the least he deserved was a proper crack at the Premier League. However, I think the general consensus regarding Hughes was that he was a good manager with a good track record, and despite the discontent the club was in safe hands.
Things haven’t gone as planned.
Three months into the 2012/2013 season Rangers are rooted firmly to the bottom of the Premier League table and with a visit to Arsenal this Saturday it is feasible to suggest that defeat could signal the end for the Welshman. When Warnock was shown the exit door, I think generally most QPR fans were very disappointed to see him go - the man brought the club from third bottom to winners of the Championship within fourteen months – the least he deserved was a proper crack at the Premier League. However, I think the general consensus regarding Hughes was that he was a good manager with a good track record, and despite the discontent the club was in safe hands.
During the summer Hughes’ went about re-building the squad and seemingly playing safe as he targeted players with legitimate Premier League experience bringing in the likes of Andy Johnson, Ryan Nelsen, Jose Bosingwa, and Ji-Sung Park backed up with some younger additions like Junior Hoillett and Esteban Granero. Amazingly it took a 0-5 home defeat on the opening game of the season at home to Swansea for him to act to fix the oh so obvious center-back problem. It appeared Spurs’ Michael Dawson was a done deal, but it fell through for one reason or another – considering Rangers’ fragility at set pieces so far this season it makes this transfer collapse all the more frustrating. What was particularly baffling was why Hughes waited so long to address the center-back issue. He was buying players everywhere else in the team yet it seemed this position was simply not on his radar – how he didn’t recognize this problem is astounding, and something he may live to regret.
Up against an Arsenal team that attack from all angles this Saturday, QPR with the second weakest defense in the Premier League, will have to step up to the plate of they want to boost their manager’s job security. Though considering Hughes’ away record since taking charge – an embarrassing 2 points from a possible 39 - it’d take the biggest shock this season so far if his team manage to leave their London neighbors with a victory.
Harry Redknapp anyone?
Up against an Arsenal team that attack from all angles this Saturday, QPR with the second weakest defense in the Premier League, will have to step up to the plate of they want to boost their manager’s job security. Though considering Hughes’ away record since taking charge – an embarrassing 2 points from a possible 39 - it’d take the biggest shock this season so far if his team manage to leave their London neighbors with a victory.
Harry Redknapp anyone?
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