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I've spent more than 10 years arguing that the sudden cash injection into Chelsea, Man City and (less spectacularly), many other clubs, has had a negative effect on football. I think this position is almost unchallengeable if you care about the health of the sport in this country.
Now something similar has happened at Rangers, and I can't change my view. To do so would be massive hypocrisy.
I have always hated the argument from Chelsea and City fans that "If it happened at your club, you'd be happy. It's just jealousy." I always replied that it wasn't a matter of self interest, and I wouldn't change my view. I'm pleased that I haven't.
Don't misunderstand me. I am very glad indeed that we had the original investment in QPR to stabilise a club that was on the brink. I was, and remain, hugely grateful to to Tony Fernandes for showing faith in QPR, and for helping to replace the negative Briatore.
But some of the decisions have been lamentable, and reflect badly on QPR. I can't stand the policy of acquiring aging marquee signings, and even most of the younger guys arriving full of promise have been disappointing. I am of course, still extremely hopeful that these will come good.
So it's not investment itself that I'm against. But talking to football fans over many years (I've been watching QPR since the 60s) the one thing that most of us agree on is what we really want to see is a solid youth development policy. We all love to see young English players come through the ranks. I realise that this takes time, and we need to keep the club in the Premier League, so a short term spending policy is needed. But it all looks a bit like a watered down version of the early versions of Chelsea and Man City. Buy a load of names on high salaries and then find that these gifted individuals seem unable to play with the other fading celebs. Worse, they don't seem to care that much about QPR.
I desperately hope that we can keep the ship afloat, but i would like to hear more about the future, and about the vision for the club. I know we are improving the training facilities and are looking at a new stadium. Great. But I would like to see a bit more caution in our current buying policy, and look for dependability, consistency, loyalty and a team mentality, rather than the sort of guys who've been flooding in over the past 12 months. I'd love to see more Faurlin-type buys, and I really rate Hoilett.
But even with Amit B on board and his wealthy father in law, I fear that we are more of a Portsmouth or a Middlesboro than a Manchester City or Chelsea. If the current policy does not succeed, I fear for the likelihood of Mittal stying on board, and even Tony Fernandes is far too astute a businessman to carry on throwing good money after bad.
In the meantime, whatever happens, our good reputation is trashed and we become widely despised and ridiculed.
I don't like it. I don't like the risks attached to trying to buy success in the short term. Would much prefer a slow, incremental evolution.
Comments?
Now something similar has happened at Rangers, and I can't change my view. To do so would be massive hypocrisy.
I have always hated the argument from Chelsea and City fans that "If it happened at your club, you'd be happy. It's just jealousy." I always replied that it wasn't a matter of self interest, and I wouldn't change my view. I'm pleased that I haven't.
Don't misunderstand me. I am very glad indeed that we had the original investment in QPR to stabilise a club that was on the brink. I was, and remain, hugely grateful to to Tony Fernandes for showing faith in QPR, and for helping to replace the negative Briatore.
But some of the decisions have been lamentable, and reflect badly on QPR. I can't stand the policy of acquiring aging marquee signings, and even most of the younger guys arriving full of promise have been disappointing. I am of course, still extremely hopeful that these will come good.
So it's not investment itself that I'm against. But talking to football fans over many years (I've been watching QPR since the 60s) the one thing that most of us agree on is what we really want to see is a solid youth development policy. We all love to see young English players come through the ranks. I realise that this takes time, and we need to keep the club in the Premier League, so a short term spending policy is needed. But it all looks a bit like a watered down version of the early versions of Chelsea and Man City. Buy a load of names on high salaries and then find that these gifted individuals seem unable to play with the other fading celebs. Worse, they don't seem to care that much about QPR.
I desperately hope that we can keep the ship afloat, but i would like to hear more about the future, and about the vision for the club. I know we are improving the training facilities and are looking at a new stadium. Great. But I would like to see a bit more caution in our current buying policy, and look for dependability, consistency, loyalty and a team mentality, rather than the sort of guys who've been flooding in over the past 12 months. I'd love to see more Faurlin-type buys, and I really rate Hoilett.
But even with Amit B on board and his wealthy father in law, I fear that we are more of a Portsmouth or a Middlesboro than a Manchester City or Chelsea. If the current policy does not succeed, I fear for the likelihood of Mittal stying on board, and even Tony Fernandes is far too astute a businessman to carry on throwing good money after bad.
In the meantime, whatever happens, our good reputation is trashed and we become widely despised and ridiculed.
I don't like it. I don't like the risks attached to trying to buy success in the short term. Would much prefer a slow, incremental evolution.
Comments?
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