In the sixth of a series of pre-season reports, HarryFromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums. The three London teams of Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic and Millwall are under the spotlight in today’s notes.
"We will all recognise the real world when Bobby Zamora and Shaun Wright-Phillips roll out onto the pristine Loftus Road turf, whilst the quickest strike force in the division prepares to hurtle past the slowest midfield and central defence in the league, and a lengthy passing game comes to yet another halt in front of two banks of four...”
Reading through fans’ comments, it is clear that things are pretty chaotic at Loftus Road. The process of restructuring the Hoops squad has been proceeding at a mannered pace over the summer after the frenetic transfer activity of the previous two years, and there is still much to do.
Jay Bothroyd, Djibril Cisse, Tal Ben Haim, Radek Cerny and Rob Hulse have been released or have reached amicable parting arrangements. "We know Park Ji-Sung is PSV bound, also Jermaine Jenas is attracting interest from Stoke and Hull.”
Christopher Samba returned to Anzhi in Russia for a fee of £12 million and Jamie Mackie moved to Forest for £1.55 million. Defender Jose Boswinga has joined Turkish team Trabzonspor on a reported annual salary of just under £2 million. "Blimey, I would love to earn that much for being that crap.” "I knew he was sh**e but never knew he was that sh**e.”
"....and then we go and sign Karl Henry.” Notable arrivals include veteran Irish defender Richard Dunne from Villa, defender Danny Simpson from Newcastle and 30-year-old midfielder Karl Henry from Wolves, "our Scott Parker.”
"I think that we are looking at a very busy week in the transfer market.” With so many high-profile players uncertain about their futures or simply looking to get away, there is a definite feeling of disorganisation and instability about the club at this point in time. This may yet settle down once the season gets under way and people have moved on.
It is worth running through some of these well-known players to get supporters’ opinions. "Looks like Newcastle might be coming back in for Remy on loan. If it benefits us financially I think we should take it. Great player that he is, I can't imagine he'll be up for the Championship.”
"The Mysterious Disappearing Diakite.” "It is a real shame with Diakite, because there is such obvious talent there. He got sent off a few times, but his tackling was clumsy rather than bad, but his touch and ability to ghost past players and play it simple really did remind me of Vieira. Good luck to him.”
"Is Jenas injured?” "No, he's played every game in pre-season. It’s just that no-one's noticed him on the pitch.” "Floats like a butterfly, stings like a butterfly.”
"I like Joey, and think he'd do a great job for us next season. He was hung out to dry after the Man City incident.” "Barton and Henry. If it doesn't work out on the pitch they'll kill each other. I'd pay £100 a game to see those two in the middle.” "Add Shaun Derry into a three-man midfield and some teams might not even turn up at all.” "I can’t see him staying.”
"Stephan Mbia is 100% committed to staying here.” "He's a hard man to stay angry with - I'll give him that at least.” "I've never seen a man built like him be so weak on a football pitch.” "I like him. He’s a bit of a loon could do well in the rough and tumble of the Championship.”
"Taarabt has trained just twice with us since the start of pre-season.” This revelation by the manager has provoked a strong reaction. "What club would buy him, would you? If I was a manager of a football club I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole.”
"I just see a self-obsessed, sulky, overweight liability. He had a great season when we got promoted but it’s time to move on. I'm sick of the sight of him.” The fact that it was the manager who leaked this news provoked a wave of cynical comments, and this is a good moment to take stock of supporters’ views on Harry Redknapp.
"If Harry showed the slightest interest in improving any player tactically or technically, I'd be f***ing amazed. He'd be breaking the habit of a lifetime by looking to benefit someone other than himself.”
"Some of you talk as though you believe Harry's primary interest when he is appointed as manager of a football club is in getting the team to be successful.” "Our club isn't going anywhere while Harry remains involved, and I can't wait to see him gone.”
"The only thing I find beyond belief is how anyone doesn't yet realise that nothing matters to Harry Redknapp other than doing whatever benefits him. Transfers in, transfers out, team tactics and team selections, talking to the media, abdicating responsibility for everything except where he can take credit for anything that might be publicly construed as positive.
"It is always ALL about Harry. The biggest parasite ever to have walked into Loftus Road, more than any of the players, more than any owner, more even than Paladini. The sooner he is thrown out of the club the better.” "There are half-truths as always from him but always it’s never his fault and always somebody else’s.”
While the majority of comments about Redknapp are quite damning, the more supportive Hoops simply don’t know whether or not they can trust him. Some fans see the relationship as a marriage of convenience. "As for Redknapp himself, he does what's best for him and that’s fair enough.”
"At the moment it's in our best interests to cut a load of money off the wage bill and find value replacements, which is something Redknapp's good at. It's in his best interests to get us promoted at the first time of asking, or else his reputation will take a further dent. So at the moment I think he's a good match.”
Much as they dislike Redknapp, most Hoops wouldn’t want his new coach to replace him. "McClaren exhibits all the charisma of a wet dish cloth.” "I wouldn't be too keen on McClaren being number one. I’m happy for him to do some coaching, because for a while there I was thinking the meticulous preparation didn't include any.”
In the transfer market, Rangers have lost out on left-back Wayne Bridge to Reading and striker Gary Hooper to the Budgies. "Midway into the season, if we're struggling to keep up with the leaders or even struggling at the bottom, good ol' 'Arry will start mouthing off that if he could have got two 'triffic lads Bridge and Hooper this would all be fine.”
"I think most on here are just a bit annoyed with the way Harry has spoken about Hooper, ie ‘Doesn’t believe there will be any hitches,’ ‘Can get us 25 goals next year’ etc before he's signed.” "At 25 years of age, Hooper was far too young for us anyway. Our remit for signing players is to go for 30+ year-old injury prone journeymen.”
The owner Tony Fernandes is viewed with sympathy, although supporters are not blind to his errors of judgement. "TF is so insecure and eager to please he will immediately and publicly go along with whatever the fans are telling him.” The dysfunctional way in he and his manager are conducting their relationship is widely seen to be adding to the clubs problems.
"After the MK Dons FA Cup defeat, Redknapp said he'd ‘been told some of these lads were good players’ which was blatantly about Faurlin who has hardly played since. Now we have Fernandes publicly backing Faurlin when the manager clearly wants rid.” Some fans see the Argentine’s future as a combustible blue touch paper.
"You then have Redknapp in the paper saying he should just be allowed to get on with bringing his players in and Fernandes on Twitter saying he's keeping a tight check on transfers. They are both playing games in public. It's not healthy and it won't end well. They seem to be communicating with each other through the press and Twitter.”
Meanwhile, on the field, pre-season has been in progress, most recently with a 3-1 win at Southend on Saturday. The squad chosen for this game gives us a clearer indication of how Rangers will line up this season.
Playing a 4-4-2 system, the line-up was as follows: Rob Green; Danny Simpson, Nedum Onuoha, Clint Hill, Yun Suk-Young (Richard Dunne, 46); Shaun Wright-Phillips, Esteban Granero (Stephane Mbia, 46), Karl Henry (Frankie Sutherland, 67), Junior Hoilett; Bobby Zamora, Andy Johnson.
One area which generates debate is central midfield, where Karl Henry is partnered with Alejandro Faurlin, Esteban Granero, Stephan Mbia and Wolves current player Jamie O’Hara in selections.
As mentioned earlier this week, the Hoops are looking at Burnley striker Charlie Austin to strengthen their attack. "Well we might as well go in for Austin now.” "We're evens to get him, Forest are 4/1. If Phil Beard (Rangers chief executive) is doing the negotiations, Forest will have a forward line of Mackie and Austin.”
"There is no disputing that commercially Beard is superb at what he does - he's perfect for the new training ground and re-build of our stadium but sadly doesn't have a scooby when it comes to transfers.”
There was little worthwhile comment about ITFC and no prediction threads on any Rangers sites. Few Rangers fans are venturing an opinion on their own team’s end of season position, let alone that of any of their competitors.
"Got to keep believing - nobody trains all week to lose on a Saturday!” "I admire your optimism but it's bottom three for me this season, we are not good enough nowhere near it.” "I don't see us out of the bottom six all season to be honest. I hope we have enough to avoid the bottom three. Not confident at all.”
Things are quite glum, but a great deal calmer over at the Valley. The Addicks have made just two signings thus far, 34-year-old midfielder Mark Gower from Swansea and 28-year-old centre-back Richard Wood (released by Coventry).
The most notable departures are former ITFC striker Danny Haynes, who scored against us in Saturday’s friendly at his new club Notts County, 23-year-old midfielder Scott Wagstaff (to Bristol City), 25-year-old keeper John Sullivan (to Pompey) and striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, who left to join New York Red Bulls.
"I have to say although he has dodgy hamstrings, I think this is a big mistake.” "We need fit players who are available every week. Haynes can't do that sadly. We must replace his pace though.” "The hamstring problem is down to his running style.” "He can be a real threat on his day, but is too unreliable.” Addicks are sad to see Haynes depart, but can understand why.
"It's no secret we need to improve the striking area and I am hoping I will be allowed to do that." This comment from manager Chris Powell struck a chord with supporters. "So basically the owners at the moment are not allowing Powell to bring in anybody, whether it is a loan or permanent signing.”
"Get behind the team. Poisonous atmospheres do not achieve anything.” "You can waste your breath on the owners. They won't listen. It won't do any good. I understand the anger and people’s right to express it, but not inside the ground where we need to be behind the players 100%. They need to know that.”
Charlton have only two recognised strikers on their books, French player Yann Kermogant and the largely untried 23-year-old Jordan Cook. Supporters are pinning their hopes on three potential newcomers. Unattached strikers Ricardo Fuller (released by the club) and Simon Church (released by Reading) are training with the Addicks, and Jonathan Obika may return on loan from Spurs, after his successful spell last season.
Saturday’s 1-0 friendly defeat against Inverness did little to allay supporters concerns. "Start to worry guys. Today was awful. Yes I know it was a warm-up, but I expected some effort. One effort on target in 90 minutes and one just over from Kermit late on...there was no movement up front as Kermit struggled all alone.”
"Why oh why does Powell go back to negative tactics? This is nothing to do with money this is down to bad management.” Chris Powell is criticised for not shifting poor performing players from the squad, and for being tactically risk-averse on the pitch.
"This is last season's problem. He should have managed players out of the club in the summer to prevent this happening again. Let's be honest here, not all our problems are down to a lack of players coming in, what about some of those that are still here?”
Most proposed formations have been 4-1-4-1,or 4-5-1, with this line out most popular: Ben Hamer; Chris Solly, Richard Wood, Michael Morrison, Rhoys Wiggins; Dorian Dervite; Danny Green, Mark Gower, Johnnie Jackson (captain), Danny Hollands; Yann Kermorgant.
Academy product, 19-year-old Jordan Cousins has impressed in the pre-season, and is viewed by some fans as a replacement holding midfielder for Dervite. Callum Harriott on the left is also seen as an alternative to Hollands. Bradley Pritchard is many fans choice as holding midfielder, and fans have been vexed to see him play in a wide right-midfield role.
"It’s going to be a backs-to-the-wall campaign. Keep things tight. We have a decent back four. Nick something where we can and survive.” "I don't think we have mate, two good full-backs and four iffy centre-halves with no pace.”
Much discussion is about whether they can survive this campaign because teams Blackpool, Yeovil, Doncaster, Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday are worse than them. "I’m really starting to fear for us now. We are starting to get left behind. Even Blackpool who are probably skinter than we are have signed two strikers today.”
There was little comment about ITFC or our season ahead on any forum.
"The club and new manager have actually looked at the team and finally agreed we needed a new midfield and a new strike force. I'm not getting excited, but I am looking forward to seeing a vibrant new manager with the bit between his teeth and a massive hurdle to jump, putting together a new side that at the moment on paper is looking like a championship side.”
With Kenny Jackett having left to take over at Wolves, the Lions have brought Steve Lomas in from St Johnstone to take over at the helm. Their record goalscorer Neil Harris has joined the coaching staff and it is worth noting that Mick Harford turned down the assistant manager’s role at Newcastle to stay at the New Den.
Millwall have been active in the summer transfer market. Arrivals include keeper Stephen Bywater from the Wendies, 28-year-old midfielder Richard Chaplow from Southampton, 29-year-old midfielder Nicky Bailey and striker Scott McDonald from Middlesbrough, and not forgetting our own Lee Martin, whose contract here finished at the end of last season.
Danny Shittu and Jermaine Easter signed contract extensions, and striker Steve Morison has also returned on loan from Leeds, after an unhappy time both there and with the Budgies. The one important player to leave the Lions in this window is midfielder Chris Taylor, who departed for Blackburn.
Former Reading left-back Nicky Shorey is also in talks, but some think that a deal may fall through. "Shorey is at a stumbling block with wages, the reason being that he'll be used as back-up and this isn't worth a load of wages. As Lomas is impressed with Scott Malone and he'll be given a proper go at left-back this year.”
"Lomas the West Ham **** is at it again! Top marks!” Although their new manager played for their unloved rivals, they admire the way he has been getting stuck into the transfer market. "Kenny Jackett was too cautious and risk-averse, especially when it came to buying forwards. He did brilliantly here, no question, but at times he was a bit too careful.”
"Lee came in earlier but got a knock on his knee against Crawley and has had to miss two weeks of training.” "I'm not sure there is much quality at left-midfield but that said Martin may well turn out to be a good player.” The jury is still out on their new left winger, but Lions have taken soundings from a number of Lee Martin’s previous clubs.
"He was deemed to be pants wherever he's been. Very quick but s***.” "Some Charlton mates were saying that he tries hard and runs around a lot but really has no end product and is not good enough for the Championship.”
The mood at the New Den is positive despite a 3-0 pre-season defeat to the Brentford Nylons (every London team seems to be given a nickname). The preferred line-up running at the moment is, David Forde; Scott Malone, Danny Shittu (or Shane Lowry), Mark Beevers, Alan Dunne; Lee Martin, Nicky Bailey, Liam Trotter, James Henry; Scott McDonald, Jermaine Easter (or Steve Morison).
"All right the signings are not Premiership quality but they're a lot better than what we had. I can't see the negatives. Oh, on top of that we'll hopefully see a team that wants to cross the halfway line!”
"Some are running away with the churlish notion that we are suddenly world beaters destined for at the very least, a play-off place. Well, wake up and smell the coffee as you can never say that about any team and don’t forget that this is Millwall, pinch yourself!”
A good number of Lions kindly put us in the play-offs in one of their prediction threads. To use a Eurovision analogy, it was suddenly like getting ‘dix points’ from the Millwall jury after a stack of ‘un point’ scores. I wondered if it was out of their greater awareness of Mick and hence his work here. It was nice to see.
The best QPR forum by far is the articulate and informative Loft For Words. Charlton’s busiest message board is the polite Covered End Chat, and Millwall’s best publicly accessible forum is Millwall Online.
In the final part of this series, I shall turn my attention tomorrow to the southern counties teams, Watford, Brighton, AFC Bournemouth and Yeovil Town. Saturday’s opponents Reading will be looked at in depth in separate notes on Friday.