QPR 'Stars' Sign New Contracts

Why QPR can’t become a successful club

Take note of the absence of a question mark from this headline. This is a statement of fact as opposed to any inquisitive journey. But before we look at the lack of QPR ambition, to fully understand the extent of the damage we must first look at how successful clubs operate.

Where better to start than with the Premier League champions? Manchester City enjoyed their best season since the Rolling Stones were number 1, Mark Hughes was in nappies and anyone saying Mancini would have been greeted with, “bless you.” And in this fantastic season you’ll have fond memories of the hardworking midfield general Owen Hargreaves.

No? Don’t remember Owen Hargreaves?

He came on as sub when Man City were 4-1 up against Villa. No? Still nothing? Well, that’s sort of my point. Owen Hargreaves had a silently quiet season and it’s no surprise that you couldn’t recall his efforts. Again, it’s unsurprising that after managing just one league appearance in a City shirt that he would be released come the end of the season.

Moving swiftly onto the red half of Manchester and their injury-prone star. The quick-witted readers will see the Michael Owen reference coming a mile off. Michael Owen’s goal scoring record at Manchester United was phenomenal: 18 starts, 17 goals. Come the end of the 2011/2012 season and Michael Owen is released.

Michael Owen released from Manchester United

The reason for Michael Owen’s release was the injuries and resulting lack of fitness. Manchester United couldn’t rely on Michael Owen to crop up with the goods and his release was hardly a surprise. Last season United released Owen Hargreaves and Manchester City snapped him thinking they’d got a bargain. But just as Owen Hargreaves was released the season before, his lack of first team action cited a déjà-vu and Hargreaves became a free agent. Both these clubs recognised the necessity to live without legends in exchange for men who could play 90 minutes.

This brings us awkwardly to QPR. Queens Park Rangers had a less than successful first stint back in the Premier League. They departed company with manager Neil Warnock, put up with Joey Barton and relied on Stoke City to win on the final day of the season to guarantee survival. And so to build on their roaring success of 2011/2012 Queens Park Rangers offer new contracts to a selection of senior players, amongst them Clint Hill, Akos Buzsaky and Kieron Dyer.

Kieron Dyer signs new contract

But as we all know Kieron Dyer made just one league appearance this term. So why would he be offered a new contract? Because QPR are living in hope that Dyer shall regain fitness and recapture his form that earned him his England call-up. Is this going to happen? It’s difficult to say but certainly hard to see. Take a man who has played less games in 5 years than Oxlade-Chamberlain or Michael Owen and it’s big ask to see a turn-a-round now.

So as Manchester City release their 31 year old and Manchester United release their 32 year old, QPR hold onto their 33 year old in the hope (and nothing more than hope) that magic shall happen. Looking to the transfer window and the names City and United attract, it shall be interesting to see who shall be brought in by Mark Hughes.

Why QPR can’t become a successful club? Because to win football matches you need 11 fit players and not a Windows version of Football Manger 2006.