QPR and Southampton- Who's Coming In?

As we edge ever nearer to the inevitable first sacking of the season QPR and Southampton might want to take a look at these managerial candidates should the time come.

QPR

 Harry Redknapp- Redknapp would be the bookies favourite but whether he would want the job is another question. Redknapp seems to be biding his time for the right deal and given the work he did at Tottenham taking the QPR job would be a considerable step down the ladder. He deserves a shot at a mid table side minimum. Still, with QPR's squad he could have exactly that with a good run of results. Redknapp is the ideal candidate to sort out Taarabt's ego and get the team playing around Zamora. He would gel the foreign imports quickly and would look to play Granero in a similar role to Modric. Tony Fernandes would give him a kitty for January too, which will sway him if he knows their is potential to bring in his own targets.

 

Rafa Benitez- The Spaniard's name has been thrown about somewhat unexpectedly. While a few fans would kick up an initial fuss he is potentially the kind of manager QPR need. A cool calm head who can certainly use his contacts in Spain to find some defenders comfortable on the ball. Granero would benefit from his arrival as would the strike force. QPR are seriously misfiring and a change in approach and tactics from Benitez could bring the best out in temperamental players like Cisse. As far as a foreign appointment goes, Benitez has good knowledge of the Premier League.

 

 Stuart Pearce- Having overseen the Olympic side one has to wonder how long Pearce will stay in the England set up. He's never going to get the England job in his current position, he needs to go and prove himself at club level. Keeping QPR up would go some way to doing this. The no nonsense approach would get the team fired up and his energy could really ignite a side lacking in invention and belief. He has excellent knowledge of the England Under 21's  and could make some bold signings to help QPR surge up the table.  A certain Shaun Wright Phillips enjoyed his best football under Peace at Man City too.

 

Gus Poyet- Poyet had excelled at Brighton and some might say overachieved. Brighton have looked good so far this season but could fall short of the play-offs once more. Poyet might want to jump ship if he believes he can keep QPR up and help them progress. It would be a bold move and Brighton would certainly put up a fight for his services but is the sort of decision which could work. Poyet is young, hungry and passionate. He wont rest on his laurels and would play with an attacking style which has been absent from Loftus Road this season.

 

Southampton

 

 

Alan Curbishley- Curbishley has been out of the game for long enough and its about time he returned. Although not the most exciting choice he succeeded in keeping Charlton up on a limited budget and then secured their status as a top flight club. When he left Charlton their fortunes faded rapidly. Curbishley knows how to get results, he worked wonders at West Ham, and will be aware of the situation should he come in. Expect some serious reshuffling in January if he does. English players like Jack Cork and Adam Lallana would benefit from his experience as Scott Parker and Darren Bent did at The Valley.

 

Owen Coyle- An obvious choice considering he is at home twiddling his thumbs waiting for the right call. Forget that he was sacked by Bolton, Coyle is a very good manager. Injuries really hampered Bolton last season and Coyle worked with what he could on a small budget.  He has the kind of determination Southampton need and will use their quality youth set up to shake things up. Ricky Lambert is Keven Davies but better. Coyle, if chosen, should built the team around Lambert and make some intelligent signings come January.

 

Glen Hoddle- Hoddle did a solid job last time he was manager at St. Mary's. He looks pretty content on the Sky Sports punditry team but might be tempted by the right offer and the desire to improve his managerial image. A manager with a very particular style and philosophy, the appointment would either work magnificently or fall by the wayside. It would be a gamble to go for Hoddle but he is an idol to so many young British players. The respect the likes of Lallana and Ward-Prowse will have for Hoddle could see them raise their game significantly.

Gorden Strachen- One of the favourites for the Scotland job, Strachen could return to St Mary's if the national side look elsewhere. A cult figure in his time at Southampton, the Scot would immediately lift the place and has the charisma and determination to make survival possible. At Coventry Strachen repeatedly kept an average side in the top division. Like Curbishley at Charlton, when he left the Saints the team went into free fall. Strachen would be a shrewd appointment and has many contacts including Alex Ferguson who he could use to bring in some much needed signings at the back.