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When Olly's name came into the frame a few days ago, some people were asking whether it was pure expediency on the part of the club, given the new budgetary restrictions in place. Whilst names like Rowett, Sherwood and Clement were being discussed as genuine contenders, perhaps they were never even in the frame. With CEO Lee Hoos overseeing things with a tight rein, the names of those actually interviewed - Karl Robinson and Dougie Freedman - represented a more realistic standard.
But even so, Olly seemed like a wild card. A random choice. Perhaps it was even a cynical ploy in a desperate attempt to win back the fans, people asked. Harking back to bygone glory days when the club was united as a tribe and Loftus Road was our cave.
But if you combine those two factors - financial expediency and someone who could really lift the fans and steer this club out of the doldrums - then really only one name fits the bill: Ian Holloway.
It's a risk. All of us who watched QPR during Olly's first tenure know that. But then any appointment is a risk. But if Olly can galvanise this club and this group of players to raise their game, then something magical can happen - the sum can become greater than the parts. Perhaps returning to our cave mentality is what we need. We have been swanning it after our recent forays into the premiership, but at the same time, we've lost our soul. It was tribalism and bonding along with hard-nosed pragmatism and no shortage of skill that got us promoted under Neil Warnock. Today we really only have the former two factors available. This squad has nothing like the class or steel of that 2010/11 squad. So we will have to rely on Olly's magic. And if, IF, that starts to bring a return, not just in improved performances but also a buzzing crowd, then maybe the board will be persuaded to dip into their pockets in January, and certainly at the end of the season; and then Olly might have a chance of performing yet another apparent minor miracle, and lead a small club back to the top flight. In which case, his appointment will be seen as a masterstroke. It could happen. Or it could all end in tears. But the rollercoaster ride is about to begin again. Hold on to your hats.
But even so, Olly seemed like a wild card. A random choice. Perhaps it was even a cynical ploy in a desperate attempt to win back the fans, people asked. Harking back to bygone glory days when the club was united as a tribe and Loftus Road was our cave.
But if you combine those two factors - financial expediency and someone who could really lift the fans and steer this club out of the doldrums - then really only one name fits the bill: Ian Holloway.
It's a risk. All of us who watched QPR during Olly's first tenure know that. But then any appointment is a risk. But if Olly can galvanise this club and this group of players to raise their game, then something magical can happen - the sum can become greater than the parts. Perhaps returning to our cave mentality is what we need. We have been swanning it after our recent forays into the premiership, but at the same time, we've lost our soul. It was tribalism and bonding along with hard-nosed pragmatism and no shortage of skill that got us promoted under Neil Warnock. Today we really only have the former two factors available. This squad has nothing like the class or steel of that 2010/11 squad. So we will have to rely on Olly's magic. And if, IF, that starts to bring a return, not just in improved performances but also a buzzing crowd, then maybe the board will be persuaded to dip into their pockets in January, and certainly at the end of the season; and then Olly might have a chance of performing yet another apparent minor miracle, and lead a small club back to the top flight. In which case, his appointment will be seen as a masterstroke. It could happen. Or it could all end in tears. But the rollercoaster ride is about to begin again. Hold on to your hats.
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