Queens Park Rangers Club Focus - Warnock splashes the cash on Wright-Phillips, Ferdinand and more
Money was seemingly no object for Queens Park Rangers on deadline day of the transfer window, employing the services of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Anton Ferdinand to reinforce the north Londoners’ hopes of Premier League survival this season. The R’s had already successfully secured Joey Barton from Newcastle United before they added Aston Villa’s Luke Young and Armand Traore of Arsenal to make for a robust defensive support, something they evidently need having conceded six goals in their first three games.
The loan signing of Southampton’s Jason Puncheon capped off manager Neil Warnock’s spending spree late on Wednesday evening, although complications meant the deal could not be finalised until September 1, after the window had closed. He will remain with QPR until January 2 2012 after spending portions of last season on loan at Blackpool and Millwall. Albeit brief, Puncheon scored three goals in 11 appearances for the Seasiders, giving Warnock enough reason to belief he can be just as clinical for the Hoops. He told the QPR website: “It just made sense to give him an opportunity to come in until January and show us what he can do. Jason is a good acquisition because he brings pace and plenty of desire.”
Wright-Phillips was arguably their most high profile signing on deadline day, boasting a successful playing career with Chelsea and Manchester City and 36 caps for England. The transfer was completed in good time on August 31, joining for an undisclosed fee that keeps him at W12 for four-years. The signing will reunite Wright-Phillips with former City teammate Barton, who penned a deal at Loftus Road last week. Indeed, Warnock admits he had the pair earmarked at the beginning of the summer as players that could add much needed experience and Premier League sharpness to his squad: “Right from day one, him [Wright-Phillips] and Barton were at the top of our list and we've managed to get both of them, so I couldn't be more pleased.” Wright-Phillips has seen little first team football since the beginning of Roberto Mancini’s tenure but is now looking forward to his new venture: “I'm delighted - I can't wait to kick-start my QPR career.”
Warnock’s acquisition of Ferdinand also concluded a long-term admiration for the 26-year-old, who has joined the R’s from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee. The defender, who is the second cousin of QPR legend Les Ferdinand, made the journey down to London on Wednesday to discuss formalities and admitted he was won over by the club’s long-term ambitions, rather than their immediate task of surviving in the Premier League: “I came down from London on Wednesday and spoke to the gaffer, and was impressed with his thoughts on where the club is going to go.”
QPR are without a match this weekend because of European Championships 2012 qualifiers. They host Newcastle on Monday 12 September in what will not only be Barton’s first outing in the blue and white hoops, but also his first encounter against his former club.
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