http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23863455-neil-warn So no dour footie from a Warnock team???? If Neil Warnock's players have holidayed half as vigorously as their manager, Queens Park Rangers will be fit to storm the Championship this season. Warnock chose to forego the pleasures of lying on a Barbados beach contemplating his navel and the shape of his comparatively new team for the kind of adventure the Famous Five would have adored. He said: “We went up to a log cabin in Scotland, where (my wife) Sharon's grandparents live, and did everything. We quad biked over fantastic terrain, went horseriding, fishing, cycled out for half a day, then half a day back. Just a fantastic old-fashioned holiday. “We skinny-dipped in this deepest, fresh water pool among the rocks that you've ever seen. All the family jumped in, one after the other. I couldn't see the players jumping in like that!” All of which has left Warnock in the rudest of health to attack the Championship playing the kind of football that he swears the punters will love. “I want to enjoy myself this season,” said the 61-year-old. “No going away and trying to nick a result. We're going for the win, every time, home and away. Death or glory stuff if you like. “The fans have been brought up on good play. That's what I want.” Not that he's been stopped from getting in the kind of warriors who will certainly pass the ball about. That means characters like Shaun Derry to stiffen the midfield and Clint Hill for his defensive steel and ability at set-pieces first fashioned at Stoke before Warnock took him to Crystal Palace along with Derry. Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League gives Warnock hope that QPR can follow suit. He said: “Just look what they achieved last season by playing good football. Yet when they came to Selhurst Park around March time we did them 4-1 and poor old Ian Holloway looked like he was going to commit suicide. “They say we're favourites because of our backers, but we haven't spent a lot.” Despite shareholders including billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, the arrivals have included Bosman deals for the former Palace pair and Sheffield Wednesday striker Leon Clarke while some money has been spent on Plymouth striker Jamie Mackie and Sheffield United keeper Paddy Kenny. The purse strings are about to be loosened, though, as they are on the verge of completing a £1million deal for Tottenham midfielder Adel Taarabt, who was on loan at Loftus Road last season. Amd with Warnock still keen on a couple of strikers don't be surprised if QPR keep up their interest in Reading's former Palace and Watford winger Jobi McAnuff, even if they may disagree with the £1.5m price-tag. QPR began pre-season with a couple of overwhelming wins over non-League opponents down in the west country before going to Italy and easily beating a couple of their lower tier clubs. Having been held 1-1 by Plymouth last week, QPR are now focused on their Championship campaign which starts at home to Barnsley on Saturday and is followed by a trip to Warnock's first love, Sheffield United. Strongly fancied Middlesbrough are early visitors to Loftus Road so it should be apparent quite early if QPR are ready to go for promotion. If they achieve it, maybe as a reward Warnock will take his players back up to that Scottish rock pool for some skinny dipping. The mind boggles. | |