Will Redknapp last a season in the Championship?
Harry Redknapp’s move to QPR midway through the Premier League season was supposed to inspire a Lazarus-esque rise from the ashes, and a climb towards safety for the Loftus Road outfit. For many reasons this did not transpire, but as QPR face up to life in the Championship is Redknapp likely to stay on?
For a manager as recently as a year ago touted as Fabio Capello’s successor as England coach, it is easy to forget that Southampton made the dreaded drop to the Championship in the 2004-05 season, after Redknapp had been tasked with preserving their top-flight status. The following season saw him stay on in an attempt to make an immediate return – he never seriously threatened this, and ended up resigning in December 2005, going back to bitter rivals Portsmouth.
Those who recall this particular year will remember a sullen-faced Redknapp, one who clearly regretted his decision to shuffle along the South Coast to a club with no real immediate prospects. The man loves the headlines, loves rescuing teams, and loves the hero worship, but if it goes wrong he struggles to summon up the enthusiasm.
QPR are in danger of seeing this side of Redknapp. For most of his tenure to date he has mixed criticism of his team, previous managers, and match officials. If the R’s do not hit the ground running there is a good chance the toys will come out of the pram, and ‘not like in the brochure’ comments will start to surface, and the Londoner will be history.
While Redknapp has seemingly been washing his hands of all relegation blame, he may find that those stains do not come out so easy. 21 points from 25 games is still borderline relegation form, but crucially the fans seem to have stayed with him. He will get the opportunity to reshape the side to his own satisfaction, which will probably start with a considerable clear-out. One big name who should watch his back is Abel Taarabt, having equalled the record for number of times substituted (19).
Either way, it is my prediction that the ultimate end to the exodus will be with Redknapp himself – the woes are not finished yet for QPR.
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