Terry Pierce - Warnock fits the bill for QPR

Published: 24 Aug 2010 - 09:30:46

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Cast your mind back six months. QPR had just replaced Mick Harford with then Cyrstal Palace boss Neil Warnock.

The Rs were languishing dangerously close to the bottom three of the Championship when Warnock agreed to move from South-East London to the West. And in doing so, the charismatic Yorkshireman became the ninth manager at Loftus Road in two years.

Following the influx of money a couple of years back, and the barrow-loads of over-paid, under-performing players that followed the pounds, Rangers had more managers in 24 months than most clubs have in two decades. But now, all of a sudden, everything looks rosy at Loftus Road.

People are talking about the football, not the finances, the ticket prices or anything else. Mr Warnock is a bit like the managerial version of Robbie Savage or Paul Dickov. Fans of 91 clubs may dislike the man, but when he's leading your side you can't help but love his honesty, his tantrums and his passion. And he was just the type of manager both the fans and the owners needed at Loftus Road.

Whether the owners suddenly realised they needed to trust a manager and keep their beaks out or whether Warnock rocked up and demanded the respect his predecessors didn't command will never be known. But his ballsy attitude and pedigree would have won over the fans immediately and some shrewd transfer dealings and a great start to the season would have the seen the money men quickly appreciate their new man in charge.

And the result of the budding relationship, the new-found trust and some smart management: they currently sit proudly at the summit of the rather embryonic Championship table, and boast the only 100% record in the division.

They're still playing with the foreign flair and creativity that the mega-rich owners and their guests crave to go along side their prawn sandwiches and bubbly, but for every Adel Taarabt there is now a Shaun Derry and Warnock has managed to combine the flair with fight, the craft with charisma and the skill with spirit.

Warnock cherishes his memories of winning promotion to the top flight with his beloved Sheffield United but if he can keep his current side in such scintillating form he may be at the start of his biggest achievement yet.

Bluebirds in red, but still bag Bell?

In other news, if you again cast your minds back to early summer, Cardiff City were on the brink of financial ruin again.

This week the Bluebirds unveiled Craig Bellamy as a City player, and as the news came through on Sky Sports News' bright yellow news bar, I couldn't help but notice the news tab that also centred on the Welsh side, stating they still owe Motherwell £175,000 for a transfer last summer.

Doesn't quite seem right does it?

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