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I HAVE taken on some massive challenges in my life — but the one I’m about to get stuck into at QPR is certainly as big as any in the past.
When I went back to Portsmouth for the second time seven years ago, that was a hell of a job, because they were right down there and a lot of the big names had left.
But the Rangers job is most definitely on a par with that — I just hope it will have the same outcome as we managed at Pompey.
And although there are plenty of people who seem to be writing them off already, it’s one I am hugely confident of achieving.
I must admit a couple of days ago I didn’t think I’d be spending Saturday afternoon in the stands at Old Trafford.
Not unless they had come up with a very tempting hospitality package for me!
But no one was watching yesterday’s game with a keener eye than me. As much as anything to discover what I can about the players I’m about to manage, and the way they play. First and foremost, it’s just great to be back in football management after a few months kicking my heels and watching the clock come kick-off time.
Obviously, there are a few lads there who I know from working with them in the past, but I steered clear of the dressing room.
Yesterday was the first time I’d seen QPR play live this season and I needed to get up to speed with the team shape and how they play.
So yesterday I left Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki to it.
Having me knocking about the place wouldn’t have made a very, very tough game any easier for them, to be honest.
Funnily enough, yesterday’s 3-1 defeat at United was the first Premier League game I’ve seen in the flesh all season.
It was a conscious decision not to go, because I knew the minute I was pictured in the stands, the rumours would be flying that I was in for this, that, or the other job.
My Saturday afternoons have been spent in a Match of the Day studio, or going to watch my local team Bournemouth when they’re at home.
I have missed the direct involvement with football.
But it’s the first break I have had in ages and the chance to recharge the batteries has not done me any harm.
I’m coming back into the game chomping at the bit again, and desperate to get out there with the players once more.
If you’re going into a club which is rock bottom of the Premier League, with just four points from the first 13 games, it goes without saying it’s not going to be a piece of cake.
But as tough as I know it’ll be, I’m equally confident that I can pull it off — let’s be honest, that’s why I am taking it on.
That, plus the fact they seem to be really nice people at QPR.
I know that might seem a strange think to say, but working with good folk is really important — and they definitely fit the bill on that score.
I remember when I began my second spell at Pompey, we had already been written off.
But we managed to stay up, and three years later we were lifting the FA Cup. It would be fantastic to think we could do something similar here.
And don’t forget that while Tottenham are up there with the big boys again now, when I went to White Hart Lane they were right in it, too.
I’d love to make it a hat-trick by turning it around at QPR.
It’s not as though they don’t have the raw materials in place, either.
I know all about New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen, having taken him to Spurs in the first place.
He’s a colossus, a real leader, and I’m looking forward to working with him again.
Likewise, Adel Taarabt was at White Hart Lane under me, and I loaned him to QPR, before selling him to them a couple of years ago.
He has always been an amazing talent, but he seems to have grown up a lot since those days and is a better all-round player.
And while I might not know too much about the other lads, I can’t wait to get to work with them every day. It will be great to be out there on the training ground again.
I’ve had a lot of time to work on my golf over the last few months but, when the weather’s poor, the days don’t half drag!
I still remember the days when QPR were one of the top teams in the land.
They’ve had some great names pull on the shirt — men like Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis, David Webb.
Funnily enough, one of them, Dave Thomas — who is a good mate of mine — was on the phone telling me I had to take the job if I got the chance.
Rangers wanted to do things right by Mark Hughes first, and that’s only fair because he is a top manager and a top bloke.
Obviously, it was sad to see him go, but when they offered it to me, I just felt it was too good a chance to turn down.
I’m relishing the prospect of being a football manager once again — you could say the hard work starts here.
When I went back to Portsmouth for the second time seven years ago, that was a hell of a job, because they were right down there and a lot of the big names had left.
But the Rangers job is most definitely on a par with that — I just hope it will have the same outcome as we managed at Pompey.
And although there are plenty of people who seem to be writing them off already, it’s one I am hugely confident of achieving.
I must admit a couple of days ago I didn’t think I’d be spending Saturday afternoon in the stands at Old Trafford.
Not unless they had come up with a very tempting hospitality package for me!
But no one was watching yesterday’s game with a keener eye than me. As much as anything to discover what I can about the players I’m about to manage, and the way they play. First and foremost, it’s just great to be back in football management after a few months kicking my heels and watching the clock come kick-off time.
Obviously, there are a few lads there who I know from working with them in the past, but I steered clear of the dressing room.
Yesterday was the first time I’d seen QPR play live this season and I needed to get up to speed with the team shape and how they play.
So yesterday I left Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki to it.
Having me knocking about the place wouldn’t have made a very, very tough game any easier for them, to be honest.
Funnily enough, yesterday’s 3-1 defeat at United was the first Premier League game I’ve seen in the flesh all season.
It was a conscious decision not to go, because I knew the minute I was pictured in the stands, the rumours would be flying that I was in for this, that, or the other job.
My Saturday afternoons have been spent in a Match of the Day studio, or going to watch my local team Bournemouth when they’re at home.
I have missed the direct involvement with football.
But it’s the first break I have had in ages and the chance to recharge the batteries has not done me any harm.
I’m coming back into the game chomping at the bit again, and desperate to get out there with the players once more.
If you’re going into a club which is rock bottom of the Premier League, with just four points from the first 13 games, it goes without saying it’s not going to be a piece of cake.
But as tough as I know it’ll be, I’m equally confident that I can pull it off — let’s be honest, that’s why I am taking it on.
That, plus the fact they seem to be really nice people at QPR.
I know that might seem a strange think to say, but working with good folk is really important — and they definitely fit the bill on that score.
I remember when I began my second spell at Pompey, we had already been written off.
But we managed to stay up, and three years later we were lifting the FA Cup. It would be fantastic to think we could do something similar here.
And don’t forget that while Tottenham are up there with the big boys again now, when I went to White Hart Lane they were right in it, too.
I’d love to make it a hat-trick by turning it around at QPR.
It’s not as though they don’t have the raw materials in place, either.
I know all about New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen, having taken him to Spurs in the first place.
He’s a colossus, a real leader, and I’m looking forward to working with him again.
Likewise, Adel Taarabt was at White Hart Lane under me, and I loaned him to QPR, before selling him to them a couple of years ago.
He has always been an amazing talent, but he seems to have grown up a lot since those days and is a better all-round player.
And while I might not know too much about the other lads, I can’t wait to get to work with them every day. It will be great to be out there on the training ground again.
I’ve had a lot of time to work on my golf over the last few months but, when the weather’s poor, the days don’t half drag!
I still remember the days when QPR were one of the top teams in the land.
They’ve had some great names pull on the shirt — men like Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis, David Webb.
Funnily enough, one of them, Dave Thomas — who is a good mate of mine — was on the phone telling me I had to take the job if I got the chance.
Rangers wanted to do things right by Mark Hughes first, and that’s only fair because he is a top manager and a top bloke.
Obviously, it was sad to see him go, but when they offered it to me, I just felt it was too good a chance to turn down.
I’m relishing the prospect of being a football manager once again — you could say the hard work starts here.
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