Relegation: The Five Reasons

QUEENS Park Rangers had their relegation rubber-stamped this weekend – here’s our reasons as to why.

1. Signings

From the get go Mark Hughes and Queens Park Rangers were keen to cast off the shackles of a tough first year back in the top flight. The dismissive nature of the season at large and the summer rumour mill going into overdrive made for interesting if a tad alarming reading for supporters.

In came the Hughes-Joorabchin-inspired signings (take a deep breath), Park Ji Sung, Esteban Granero, Robert Green, Julio Cesar, Andrew Johnson, Ryan Nelsen, Stephane Mbia, Junior Hoilett, Samba Diakite, Fabio da Silva and Jose Bosingwa.

It did not take a rocket scientist to work out that this was a lot of signings. Let us look at the losses from the previous season that mattered – Taye Taiwo was a first choice left back and went back to AC Milan while Paddy Kenny inevitably rejoined Neil Warnock at Leeds United. Joey Barton was cast aside to Marseille after his final day indiscretions.

In terms of first-teamers, not a great deal had been lost – but strengthening was required. Defensively Rangers had shown themselves as incapable, particularly on the road – only veteran Ryan Nelsen and versatile defender Stephane Mbia could be construed as central defensive additions.

The school of thought seemed to be that Clint Hill would be phased out and Nedum Onuoha and Anton Ferdinand would eventually take the mantra of first choice central defenders. Jose Bosingwa and Fabio da Silva would free up Hill and Onuoha from potential full-back berths. Nelsen the veteran was seen more of a stop gap, a player to fill the void when required.

When matters started horrifically against Swansea City there was more than a few eyebrows raised across the nation, and while Park Ji Sung flagged and messrs Michu, Dyer and Sinclair had a field day – Mark Hughes had to fend off the problems that increased expectations would bring.

2. Delusions

Things were not picking up, and far from fixing the problem the solution seemed to be ‘keep going’ and ‘keep doing what we’re doing’ – there was clearly no problem with above as to what had passed regard to spending policies and the squad, management and board seemed to have caught themselves in an endless loop of self-assurance.

Seemingly a never-ending barrage of weekly quotes ensued, imploring supporters to ‘keep the faith’ and reiterating the ‘quality’ among the squad – and as the doubters grew, the importance of the situation seemed to be losing significance with Hughes and the hierarchy.

After a defeat against Stoke City, Mark Hughes stated that the team had ‘dominated’ proceedings at the Britannia Stadium, when in truth Stoke City took the initiative in what was an even game, that perhaps you could argue the Potters edged.

I am unsure to the day what Hughes saw on the field of play on that day, was he becoming blinded by his own errors, his self-assurance on over-drive? This particular moment was a line in the sand from my perspective that his delusional nature would only lend itself to trouble as the weeks grew on.

3. Persistence

Bad result after bad result refused to rock the ever-positive Tony Fernandes who previously brushed off suggestions of Hughes sacking. He was now physically laughing off the prospect of sacking the man with whom he had staked his vision of the future of the football club, from current to structural planning.

The poor start to the season sat against the back drop of some hefty expectations, fuelled by Hughes and Fernandes themselves. Julio Cesar’s vision of a future Champions League and Premier League championship was looking beyond laughable after this dismal early showing.

A loss at home to Fernandes’ boyhood club West Ham United, being held at home by ten-man Everton and now relegation-rivals Reading saw Hughes on the brink, and the Stoke City delusion rather set things up nastily for ‘El Sackico’ between Hughes and Southampton boss Nigel Adkins.

Southampton won, handsomely, and their boss was backed in fearsome fashion by a buoyant travelling support. The home support by comparison was baying for blood, indeed I had never heard so many calls for the manager’s head as I had at Loftus Road on that occasion. Dare I say the overwhelming pressure from elsewhere in the boardroom coupled with fan anger called time on Hughes managerial career.

4. Bench-Gate

Harry Redknapp appointed and some new found optimism after a couple of clean sheets, but just when there was a glint of light at the end of a dismal tunnel – Jose Bosingwa did something many of us would have previously thought unthinkable, in the current climate however – any indiscretion seemed perfectly possible.

The ex-Chelsea full back was having to win over supporters after his transfer from the dark side of West London and his distinct lack of effort was causing rumblings among the crowd. After an away draw with Wigan Athletic, Redknapp elected to pick Nedum Onuoha ahead of Bosingwa for a home fixture with Fulham.

The defender refused to sit on the bench, much to the amazement of the management and his team mates. He was now public enemy number one in a team of players that has been desperate in a season to forget.

His fine of two weeks wages – in excess of 100k – rather highlighted to those that required it the vast gulf in wage difference among the playing staff. The almost comical money being paid for a Premier League players that was merely a cog in a functional Chelsea team, and not a particularly effective one judging by my conversations with Chelsea supporters.

He was eventually weened back into the fold and while many still did not accept his reintroduction with open arms, there was the belief that Harry had done what he saw best for the situation – time would tell quite how telling this call would be.

5. The End

A brief rally came crashing around the ears of QPR when Andreas Weimann and Christian Benteke put a crucial six-pointer beyond Rangers and saw Aston Villa in prime position to get safe – in that moment, that horrific 45 minute period, the visitors to Villa Park saw themselves done and dusted.

From overly-confident arrogance and denial at the start of the season to self-pity and woe at the end of the season, culminating in a team that distinctly was not interested in the task in hand. A limp showing at Everton and at home to Stoke City rather epitomised the carefree attitude of the pathetic and self-important rabble of misfits that Hughes had assembled.

Supporters continue to pay money to support their team – purely from my perspective because the club is bigger than any player and times have been hard before. To see players such as Jose Bosingwa not only playing well within his minimum effort levels but to charge straight from the field without accepting responsibility is not only infuriating but very sad indeed.

Tony Fernandes will accept a level of responsibility despite doing what he has in good faith, but in allowing himself to be led down a path by a manager with an appalling taste in players and judge of character he signed the death warrant for the season at large.

Another in many overhauls is required in order to bring Rangers back, and if the club get it right first time around then they will have performed miracles. It will be a tough road ahead and many lessons learned for Fernandes and co – hopefully the supporters get an element of repayment for their faith.