In the aftermath of QPR’s defeat at Newcastle yesterday, Hoops manager Harry Redknapp berated the club’s previous transfer policy under Mark Hughes. Redknapp was clearly frustrated at suffering the first defeat of his tenure, asserting “there are a lot of players at this club who earn far too much money”.
Redknapp is hardly in a position to condemn other managers’ lack of financial constraint. His comment could readily be applied to his former club Portsmouth, and while at Tottenham he managed a bloated squad full of well paid bench warmers. There are some managers, such as Arsene Wenger, who carefully consider the club’s financial health before purchasing players. Many other bosses blindly accept their chairman’s blank cheque book. Redknapp’s tendency to fall into the latter camp means he is no position to criticise past profligacy.
Last season if Neil Warnock had been replaced by the 65-year-old rather than by Mark Hughes, the club may now have a better squad. However, it is unlikely the club’s board would have invested any less money.
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