Hoddle Joins QPR

[The Doctor]

Jordan Mutch isn't a creative player? Matt Phillips will also be nearing fitness at some point who missed a good chunk of last season and is a handy enough player in a forward role.

 

They aren't in dire straights up top and still have Remy and Taarabt on their books at the minute, too - as said I'm not a Redknapp enthusiast or anything of the sort but let's not criticise him for the sake of it because it's the "in" thing.

 

I wouldn't say so, no.

 

They are in dire straights up top though - Austin got a third of their goals last season despite missing a third of the season. With Morrison departing, he's the only member of their squad who got over 5 goals. I'm not criticising him because it's the in thing, I'm criticising him because he's completely ignored the biggest priority.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

You wouldn't say Jordan Mutch is a creative player?! Come on now, that's ludicrous. He was directly involved in just shy of 40% of Cardiff's league goals last season, he's the complete epitome of what you'd want a "creative" sort to be.

 

I wasn't implying that they could get through the season with what they have, but they could manage until the window closes. They're constantly being linked with strikers, which if anything would indicate that Redknapp is well aware he needs to bring in a new forward before September 1st. Until then, I think they'll manage to get by with Remy / Austin / Zamora, it's only a fortnight or so.

[FrankieWorthoYaggedMyWife]

Hoddle is so out of touch its untrue, hes a clown! You only had to look at his bizarre "selection" of an England XI in the world cup to see that. Top player and a decent manager about 100 years ago! Times move on - finished

[FrankieWorthoYaggedMyWife]

Time Is A (Faith)Healer #1
In news as surprising as Harry Redknapp bringing in ex-England manager Steve McClaren as a coach at QPR, Harry Redknapp has brought in ex-England manager Glenn Hoddle as a coach at QPR. And John Cross in the Daily Mirror is very pleased indeed.

'Glenn Hoddle will begin his football resurrection at Queens Park Rangers,' Cross begins. Well, he'll try to. There is little guarantee that such a 'resurrection' will actually occur, an interesting word to use given Hoddle's past comments on Christianity and past lives.

'It is a giant step towards a return to management for Hoddle, rated by many as the outstanding coach of his generation... He then had spells at Southampton, Spurs and Wolves, leaving Molineux in 2008.'

Hoddle may well be the 'outstanding coach of his generation', but there must be a reason that he has been without a coaching job for eight years (he left Wolves in 2006 not 2008, as Cross' article states). 

'There was a public demand during the World Cup for Hoddle to be given a job in football as England have such a shortage of top-quality coaches,' Cross concludes. 

Was there really a 'public demand'? Or was it simply a case of a few journalists claiming that Hoddle was a 'top man' whilst the former England manager used his television appearances as an extended job interview, following a season in which he had touted himself for both the Tottenham and Swansea jobs?

Although no blame can be attributed to Cross individually, it was the tagline on his column on the Daily Mirror website that raised Mediawatch's eyes most: 'Former Three Lions boss out of the game for six years after controversial remarks about the disabled could soon be back in the big time, writes John Cross'

Hoddle made those comments in 1999, 15 years ago. He has not been 'out of the game for six [actually eight] years' simply because of those comments, but also because a less than spectacular record (and by that we mean rotten at Spurs and Wolves) since leaving England and a reputation for dividing opinion amongst players.

The wool has truly been pulled over eyes, it seems.

[Leicesterpool]

I think the appointment of Hoddle is part of a long term plan, I won't be surprised if he replaces Arry come of end of the season when i think Redknapp is due to retire.