Another month, another manager. Even by the standards of the vortex that is QPR these days, three managers in just over half a season is going some.
It’s been a bewildering season. The rate of turnover has left us bemused. We’ve had to experience the complete palette of supporters’ emotions and it’s not even Easter yet.
First up there was the arrival of Mick Beale. Unknown, untried and untested he began to convince. He seemed to have a plan. There was even a discernible pattern to the team’s play – something that had evaded many of his predecessors.
Uncertainty turned into hope, then hope turned into belief as we started winning games and began to rapidly climb the table. For one heady week we were top.
But our early success also brought a range of suitors from other clubs anxious to lure Mr. Beale away. A first approach from Wolves was rebuffed but a second approach from Glasgow Rangers was not. Beale left for Scotland.
Following him into the manager’s chair was Neil Critchley who on paper at least, seemed to be almost an ideal replacement. He fitted the required pattern of a good coach with a reputation for developing young players. A quiet-spoken and thoughtful Lancastrian he turned out to be a very different character. In his short spell at QPR, he failed to rouse the fans or the players. A series of insipid defeats led to a long winless run and a catastrophic tumble down the table and to Critchley being fired.
Fan favourite
Faced now with a looming relegation battle the club have done what they have often done in crises of the past and put a former fan’s favourite into the manager’s office. Hence the arrival of former cult hero and rock band frontman Gareth Ainsworth, who we have lured down the M40 from a moderately successful long spell managing Wycombe Wanderers.
He has promised to get the stadium rocking and certainly Loftus Road needs a real lift at the moment. The sullen silence of the crowd of recent weeks has been dispiriting.
Judging from the websites at least, Ainworth’s appointment seems to be popular. But it raises two big questions. First off, when the club in the summer went for Beale instead of Ainsworth what were the doubts in the club’s mind about Ainsworth’s suitability? Have those doubts been answered?
The second question is about the style of play that Ainsworth’s team will adopt. Wycombe under Ainsworth often seemed to adopt a muscular long ball game with a big centre forward. Such a style would be inimical to the measured style of football QPR have been trying to play in recent seasons.
In interviews since he got the job, Ainsworth has attempted to reassure those troubled by such a prospect by saying that he always aims to be very flexible in how he gets his teams to play. We shall see.
One thing is for sure, Ainsworth’s tenure has got to work – at least for a decent while. We cannot afford – financially or emotionally – to keep discarding managers at the current rate.
Phil Harding is a journalist and writer. He lives in Hammersmith, is a season ticket holder at QPR and has supported the team since the early 70s.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Want to read more news stories like this? Subscribe to our weekly e-news bulletin.
