Harry Redknapp has admitted that keeping QPR in the Premier League will be his toughest job to date. The 65-year-old, who has been out of football since being sacked by Spurs in June, has taken over a side rooted to the foot of the table with just four points from 13 games and without a win all season.
Redknapp does has form, in a managerial sense, as he saved Portsmouth from relegation and took Tottenham Hotspur from the bottom of the table to the Champions League the following season but he couldn’t prevent Southampton from being relegated from the top flight in 2005 and Rangers are in a more perilous state on his arrival.
Redknapp has confirmed that a deal is being done to bring in long-time assistants Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond, however, and he’s already warned his players he will not tolerate a lack of effort having watched them concede three second-half goals at Manchester United at the weekend. “I need 11 people with ability to put effort in.” he told reporters, “If they don’t they’re not going to play and I’ll get 11 people who do. I’ve got no time for people who lose the ball and stand their with hands in the air.” Stan James believe that the damage may have already been done as far as Rangers’ Premier League future goes, however, and go 2/5 that the west London side finish the season in 17th place or lower.
Among Redknapp’s first problems will be to heal a rift with Adel Taarabt. He sold the Moroccan, arguably Rangers’ best player this season, while manager of Tottenham and it’s difficult to see him building a team around the enigmatic midfielder at Loftus Road though admits that wholesale spending in the transfer window is out of the question. He must find a way to replace summer signings Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson, both long-term injury victims, however or his new side are always going to struggle to score goals against the best defences in the country.
There are rumours that David Beckham could be a short-term answer to some of Rangers’ problems and bwin have QPR at 6/1 to be the former England captain’s next port of call, though Paddy Power have PSG at 11/4 to get his signature.
