At the end of another extraordinary day at Loftus Road LFW looks at how Jim Magilton went from QPR’s hero to zero in a ridiculously short amount of time.

Downfall
The envy of the whole league a month ago, praised by league leaders Newcastle as the best side they have faced, 12 goals from three games in a week - the collapse of Jim Magilton’s reign at QPR has been spectacular both in its speed and the way it has come about. How has a man that few wanted in the first place gone from winning plaudits left, right and centre to the complete meltdown post Watford that has apparently sealed his fate? In my opinion, the key dates that led to the Monday meltdown were:

August 11 - Exeter 0 QPR 5:
A wonderful result, but the game was goalless at half time and after a summer where Magilton could not praise his players highly enough this was their first glimpse of his other side. The manager’s half time team talk left the dressing room walls at St James’ Park requiring a new coat of paint and it certainly had the desired affect with Rangers scoring five goals in the second half to progress. Magilton spent most of the pre-season talking up the quality of his players, and stating that the squad was much better than its eleventh placed finish of the previous year. Ironic really considering that after numerous loan and permanent signings and five months of football the manager has only succeeded in moving Rangers to tenth.
Exeter 0 QPR 5

”The gaffer really got stuck into us at the break on Tuesday. We knew we were not playing to the usual high tempo and he reiterated that in no uncertain terms. But to be fair to the lads we responded with a display full of quality and class in the second half. We will need to show that again at Plymouth for the whole 90 minutes on Saturday.” - Hogan Ephraim

I can't say I was overly happy with that performance, particularly the first half. I think it is fair to say that for 45 minutes we were certainly second best. I gave the players a few strong words of encouragement shall we say at half-time because I felt in the first half we played into Exeter’s strengths. We allowed them to show what a good side they are. Perhaps we felt we could just turn a switch on and do what we needed to do but there are no switches in football. You have to play at your best every single week, otherwise you will get punished. The response the players gave after half-time delighted me. They're a great bunch of lads because they took the rollicking and stood up like men. - Jim Magilton

August 25 – QPR 2 Accrington 1
Despite further progress in the League Cup the performance against Stanley was poor and on loan goalkeeper Tom Heaton won the LFW man of the match award for sparing our blushes with some key saves. Magilton was again furious with his players, this time choosing to name Akos Buzsaky publicly as somebody who was underperforming and threatening to “shake the living daylights” out of his squad. At the time this was viewed as potentially his ‘Phil Brown moment’ when he could have lost the dressing room altogether. QPR had not started well and rather than simply trotting out the usual platitudes to the media and keeping any personal criticism of players for behind closed doors he pointed the finger well and truly at individuals, particularly fans’ favourite Buzsaky. Although this appeared to have the desired affect with the team going on a splendid run after the Accrington match this Peter Reid approach to management could have weakened his standing with his players. Whether we like it or not managers are not really in charge any more, the big earning, long contract holding, agent wielding players are. If players stop playing for you you’ve had it, regardless of what you do, and having publicly embarrassed Buzsaky Magilton was always running the risk of losing the dressing room.
QPR 2 Accrington 1

They came out of the blocks quicker than we did, they showed an appetite for the game we have too many, one or two maybe, big time Charlies who think they are in a comfort zone. I am going to shake the living daylights out of them. Vine was better but 'Buz' gave the ball away cheaply. I wasn't happy about that. I know he's a crowd favourite, but we should pride ourselves on ball retention and there were times he gave it away under no pressure. To be honest, it was embarrassing. We were outplayed in the first half and you have to commend Accrington. They showed some of our lads what enthusiasm is all about. The quality of our play, our ball retention - everything about us - was sloppy in the first half and I expect much more. We had international footballers giving the ball away cheaply. – Jim Magilton
Magilton’s post Accrington rant in full

October 14 – Rowlands stretchered off in Ireland
The team’s recovery from a slow start to the campaign began when Martin Rowlands returned to the side. He immediately formed an impressive central midfield partnership with Ben Watson that took Cardiff apart in their own back yard. Rowlands has been a key figure for QPR for a long time not just for his ability as a footballer but also his leadership qualities in what seems to be a quiet side on the pitch. He is a terrific all round midfielder and the team always miss him badly when he is out. Magilton’s meltdown this week has come because the team is losing games and Rowlands’ absence has certainly not helped.

“Martin's been to see the specialist and the results of the scan unfortunately revealed that he's sustained another Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury. He's pencilled in for an operation on Monday. Martin's a fighter, I've no doubts he'll come back from this. He knows what it takes after going through it last season - his attitude was spot on then and I'm sure it will be the same when his rehabilitation begins in the coming months.” – Physio Paul Hunter

October 30 – QPR 1 Leicester 2
On an extraordinary run of victories that had seen the R’s score 18 goals in five matches Loftus Road was packed for the Friday night visit of Leicester live on Sky. Flavio Briatore was in attendance with guests and the usual fireworks and razzmatazz were on display prior to kick off. Sadly Leicester were in good form and had done their homework, they strangled QPR who were without Mahon or Rowlands in the middle of midfield and stopped our flair players getting into the game. As said when Paulo Sousa’s QPR were easily beaten by Ipswich last season it is a brave man that embarrasses Flavio Briatore in front of a television audience and invited guests. This result may have sewn the first seed of doubt.
QPR 1 Leicester 2

November 12 – The kiss of death
Having publicly lambasted Magilton and the board for appointing him all summer LFW editorial tact changed with an article praising the wonderful work done by the new manager. As usual it proved to be a kiss of death, Rangers haven’t won since.

Labelled a barrel scraping appointment in the summer by this very website, how has Jim Magilton won us all over and can it possibly continue long term?

November 15 – Mahon ruled out for four months
When Rowlands ruptured his knee ligaments again many, myself included, felt that our play off chances had been dealt an irreparable blow. Many, myself included, lamented the fact that this injury would pave the way for Gavin Mahon’s return to the first team but it was Mahon’s introduction that actually moved us on a step further. He was simply magnificent in the win up at Derby where he scored one of our four goals and was turning into a really key figure in Rowlands’ absense. To then lose him for four months on top of the Rowlands injury was terribly bad luck and the team has not been the same since. You cannot legislate for injuries, and every team will get them during a season, but to lose two specialist players from the holding midfield position who both play such a key leadership role in the team in such a short period of time was terribly unlucky for Magilton.

Of course it's a blow losing another very experienced player. We suffered a major setback earlier in the season by losing Martin but bounced back in style and I'm confident we've got the squad to bounce back again from this one. It represents someone with a chance to stake a claim for the shirt and like I've said all along this season, it's a squad game nowadays and everyone will have to stand up and be counted at some stage.” – Jim Magilton

November 21 – A week of loan signings culminates in defeat at Doncaster
QPR turned in their worst performance of the season at the Keepmoat Stadium and were easily beaten 2-0. That is not particularly unusual or worrying in itself, QPR have a very poor record in that part of the world, but a number of factors both known at the time and only becoming apparent now looking back with hindsight made this a concerning afternoon. Firstly during the previous week Tommy Williams and Steven Reid were both signed on loan along with Chelsea goalkeeper Rhys Taylor. This pushed Rangers over the limit of loans allowed in a matchday squad so Taylor could not be included anyway rendering his signing pointless. Reid was picked to start and crowded the midfield where Faurlin and Watson were smothered, at half time Magilton removed the excellent Faurlin instead of the other two. Williams also started at left back despite Gary Borrowdale being fit to return after the Sheff Wed game – this preference for loans that we didn’t really need over permanent signings who were playing perfectly well sent out a poor message in my opinion. Adel Taarabt was also dropped to the bench, despite being in good form, for turning up late and missing the team bus. Taarabt is one of a number of players said to have felt the full force of Magilton’s wrath in the dressing room and the post match debrief at the Keepmoat Stadium was again a lively affair – how lively we will probably never know but the team has not been the same since.
Doncaster 2 QPR 0

November 28 – QPR 2 Coventry 2
Rangers threw away two points against Coventry. Despite dominating the match, lousy defending from two set pieces allowed City to steal a draw. After the match Magilton stated he would not tolerate defending like it and again chose to publicly name players he blamed for the goals – Matt Connolly and Radek Cerny. Many fans pointed to the return of Fitz Hall to the defence as more of a reason for the frailties. Hall is one of Rangers’ top earners but has never performed well since joining the R’s and regularly suffers from muscle strains and pulls. Magilton is known to be a fan of Hall for his ball playing abilities but his insistence that he must play despite poor defensive performances and his inclusion necessitating the splitting of Gorkss and Stewart as a partnership was starting to wear thin. Gorkss and Stewart were the top two in last season’s player of the year voting after a run of 21 clean sheets during the season. The message boards were alive with complaint about Magilton’s technique of both pointing the finger and dropping the likes of Gorkss, Connolly and Buzsaky while his perceived favourites such as Hall escape mention. A post appeared on the LFW message board from a fan who says he has spoken to Gorkss and the player expressed disappointment that so many changes are being made to the team – saying centre halves in particular need to play regularly together to build a partnership.

“I’m extremely disappointed. We didn’t defend at set-pieces and I’m angry about that. Matt Connolly has to take his share of the blame for the first goal. If you’re marking someone then you need to take responsibility. For the second goal, the keeper should have done better. I’m angry because performance-wise, we were very good with the ball. We were confident, extremely bright and passed it well. But you also have to take responsibility and defend for your lives. That didn’t happen. We fell asleep at set-pieces. – Jim Magilton

December 5 – Total collapse against Middlesbrough
Changes were made to the defence once again, but Hall retained his place. Rangers started well but conceded another goal from a set piece to Dave Kitson and collapsed to a terrible defeat, their biggest losing margin at Loftus Road for six years. Magilton was philosophical afterwards but chairman Flavio Briatore left the director’s box well before the end after Boro’s fourth goal.
QPR 1 Boro 5

It’s worth I think comparing at this point a few of Magilton’s team selections to this point to illustrate how far he departed from a formula that was clearly working to accommodate his favourites and loan signings.

v Newcastle Cerny 9, Leigertwood 7, Stewart 8, Gorkss 7, Borrowdale 7, Routledge 7, Rowlands 8, Watson 9, Buzaky 7, Vine 6 (Faurlin 87, -), Simpson 8 (Taarabt 73, 7)

v PNE: Cerny 8, Ramage 8, Stewart 8, Gorkss 8, Borrowdale 8,Routledge 9 (Ainsworth 87, -), Buzsaky 9 (Agyemang 76, 8), Mahon 8, Faurlin 8, Taarabt 9, Simpson 8 (Vine 77, 6)

v Reading Cerny 8, Ramage 8, Stewart 9, Gorkss 9, Borrowdale 8, Buzsaky 9 (Mahon 66, 8), Watson 6, Faurlin 8, Taarabt 9 (Agyemang 75, 8), Routledge 8, Simpson 8 (Vine 53, 7)

v Doncaster Cerny 7, Leigertwood 6, Connolly 6, Gorkss 5, Williams 5, Routledge 6, Reid 5, Watson 5, Faurlin 7 (Taarabt 46, 6) Buzsaky 5 (Agyemang 63, 5), Simpson 6 (Pellicori 63, 4)

v Boro Cerny 4, Leigertwood 3, Hall 3, Gorkss 4, Borrowdale 6, Taarabt 5, Watson 3, Faurlin 6, Routledge 5 (Pellicori 80, -), Simpson 6 (Agyemang 52, 6), Buzsaky 4 (Vine 52, 5)

December 7 – The Monday meltdown
If Magilton’s team selections had become more baffling over the previous few games, his starting eleven for the Watford game was mind bending. He made seven changes in either personnel or positions and switched back to a 442 formation and direct, long ball style of football. Watford picked Rangers off easily and won 3-1 and during the second half Magilton started using his substitutions to reintroduce those payers he had left out. Again with QPR’s poor record on TV and against Watford that wasn’t necessarily a surprise but it was worrying to see Patrick Agyemang refuse to acknowledge his own goal when he gave QPR the lead in the first half. After the match in the dressing room what ensued has been described as a “right old barney” by a senior player in the Ealing Gazette. Akos Buzsaky left the dressing room soon after the final whistle and was forced to wait by the side of the pitch still in his kit for almost an hour in front of the stunned members of the press. Buzsaky had only been on the pitch for 15 minutes having been dropped for the game and could hardly be blamed for the defeat. The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday morning that Magilton had lost his temper with Buzsaky and attempted to head butt him before starting on striker Patrick Agyemang after he tried to intervene.
Watford 3 QPR 1

The Ulsterman, who was appointed at Loftus Road in June, is said to have torn into his players, starting with Damion Stewart and then turning on Buzsaky, who has been a target for Magilton's criticism more than once this season. When Magilton asked the Hungarian if he thought he was being bullied, Buzsaky responded with a shrug of the shoulders and said 'whatever'. But Magilton reacted furiously to that, and allegedly butted the 27-year-old midfielder. He did not draw blood but it was serious enough, Sportsmail understands, for burly striker Patrick Agyemang to feel compelled to intervene and separate the two men. Witnesses say Agyemang then squared up to his manager and condemned him for what was an unprovoked act of violence. Magilton is then said to have asked him if he wanted the same treatment, and it was only when Agyemang said he would like to see him try that the Ulsterman backed off. – Daily Mail Exclusive

“The news filtered through the room that Akos had been locked out of the changing room - still in his kit and boots no doubt hugely embarrassed and undoubtedly freezing. Once again Rangers - with the world watching were made to look a shambles. More than 20 people gazed at a fuming Akos with a wry smile - and I could only stop and think to myself what a laughing stock our club must have looked. The fact that this was 30-40 minutes after the final whistle had blown made it all the more worrying. Magilton looks as though he is on the verge of losing the dressing room - the embarrassment that Akos suffered last night (himself a proud man) will not sit well with probably one of the most gifted players we have at the club.” - Lewis Jones, Morning Star and LoftforWords reporter at Vicarage Road

” Tonight I just didn't think at 1-0 that we had the real desire to go on and capitalise - and that's upsetting. We just need to restore confidence. It does come and go, but you must retain self belief. At the minute we've just got one or two who are shying away - you need characters and you need leaders.” – Jim Magilton

December 9 – End of the road
The club announced at noon today that Magilton would be suspended from his post pending investigation. John Gorman told Sky Sports that the allegations about an assault on Buzsaky were untrue and he would be leaving, along with reserve team boss Keith Ryan, until Magilton was reinstated. The club denied reports Akos Buzsaky had requested a transfer and put Marc Bircham and Steve Gallen in temporary charge of the team as the only qualified coaches remaining at the club.
Wednesday, as it happened

It is not true at all. I am entirely focused on our next fixture against West Bromwich Albion on Monday night. We are in a strong position just three points outside the play-off's and as professional footballers our sole aim is to focus on the upcoming matches." - Akos Buzsaky on club's official website.

While passions can run high in football, especially after a poor performance, I categorically deny any allegation of wrong-doing following Monday’s fixture. I understand that the club has initiated an internal investigation, with which I will cooperate fully. This is an unfortunate situation and I look forward to resuming my responsibilities shortly.” - Jim Magilton statement via League Managers' Association.



A sad and terrible waste
The most frustrating thing about the whole thing for me is that it has only happened because we have started losing. Whether he headbutted Akos Buzsaky or not none of it would have happened if we had won 2-0 at Watford on Monday night. This has only occurred because the team has fallen apart and that has only happened because Magilton could not leave well alone.

He had the perfect QPR side – one that was winning games, playing entertaining football and keeping all of our flair players in the team. The fans were happy, the players were happy, the board was happy. I’ve said several times that I felt he happened upon that winning formula by accident but however he got there a winning formula it certainly was and had he just sat back and left the bloody team alone he would have been fine. In fact he would have been better than fine, he’d have been a modern day Rangers legend.

Why was Peter Ramage dropped? Why did Fitz Hall have to play whenever fit? Why did Williams and Reid walk straight into the team at Doncaster? What in the name of God was that team selection about at Watford? Statistics clearly show over the past 18 months that our defence is water tight when Ramage is at right back, Gorkss and Stewart are the centre backs, and they are left well alone. Statistics also show we play poorly, concede goals, and lose whenever Fitz Hall is picked. The way Magilton quickly departed from the most entertaining QPR line up in more than a decade was almost as surprising and speedy as the way he found it in the first place.

Another frustration is that he has obviously failed to learn from the mistakes he made at Ipswich – and making the same mistakes twice is unforgiveable. At Portman Road he was said to have lost the dressing room, stories of vociferous rows with Dan Harding, Marcus Stewart and others were widespread, and the fans pointed to favouritism in his team selections. Substitute Buzsaky and Agyemang for Harding and Stewart and all the criticisms remain valid. Publicly naming and shaming failing players was never a sensible thing to do and Magilton did it several times. He may well have blown his chance of ever working as a manager again with this incident when just a few short weeks ago it looked as though he could become an option for bigger more well equipped clubs to consider. It’s a spectacular self destruction and he only has himself to blame.

It’s very annoying that just when our board seems to have calmed down and kept faith with a manager he lets them down. No doubt the finger will be pointed at Briatore through all of this by some but either because he has had other things on his mind or through conscious decision he seems to have left Magilton alone by and large this season and yet now has to attract another manager to a club with a reputation for turning them over at a frightening rate.

I am furious about this whole thing personally because having spent all summer saying this was a terrible appointment and predicting a pre-Christmas departure Magilton had actually won me over with his style of football and results. Whether he headbutted Akos Buzsaky or not it is clear his position is untenable, just a month after we were the envy of the whole division. He has lost the dressing room by breaking the three golden rules – he changed a winning team, he brought criticism of individual players out of the dressing room and he failed to learn from his previous mistakes.

Whether we like it or not the days of Peter Reid management are gone. In modern day football the player holds all the power. You cannot motivate millionaires by shouting, and screaming at them. An occasional kick up the arse is necessary and a good thing, and we saw what affect a rare one of those can have when Magilton lambasted his side at half time at Exeter. But when you’re doing it every week players simply stop listening and stop playing for you and then you’re in trouble. The quote from the ‘senior player’ in the Ealing Gazette today said it all for me: “It was a right barney in there. This sort of thing happens from time to time at a club – but this is the second time in three matches – with the first at Doncaster a couple of weeks back. After a bit, it loses its effect."

In theory the players are paid to play and should be able to take criticism, however harsh. But modern football isn’t like that. Whatever the rights and wrongs of it are the game has changed, the players hold all the power and once they’re not with you you’ve had it.

Magilton messed with a winning team and cost us the Doncaster match, and then instead of accepting responsibility he returned to the dressing room and blamed his players. He’d lost them from that moment onwards. Yes he’s been unlucky to lose Mahon and Rowlands to injury but there is more than enough talent in that squad to be in the top four at least regardless and Magilton made a mess of it despite knowing what system and team selection worked. Whether the stories about Monday night’s incidents are true or not he’s been a bloody idiot and blown a wonderful chance to take our club into the Premiership and rebuild his own reputation in the process. He was doing unbelievably well, if only he could have just left it all alone.

Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, which simply looks like an exercise in ensuring we tick all legal boxes, I’m sure he’ll never work for QPR again and I doubt any other club will take a chance with him for a very long time indeed.

It is absolutely heartbreaking because he was doing so well, he had us playing better than we had for decades. But he has nobody to blame but himself, he had it made for him here and he blew it.

Where next?
Well while Magilton is merely suspended rather than sacked I’m not sure we can legally replace him permanently. Marc Bircham and Steve Gallen are in temporary charge and if indeed Magilton’s attitude towards his players was the problem that has affected the team recently it’s not inconceivable, with the talent we have in the squad, that the pair of them could get some decent results. I’d say that they are unlikely to be trusted with it even medium term though and it’s likely that a Luigi De Canio style appointment will be made on a short term deal to steady the ship and try and get us back on track.

Long term the top options for a replacement would appear to be Steve Coppell and Alan Curbishley who are both free and available. However with Coppell’s history of avoiding stress and working with chairmen who leave him well alone and Curbishley’s departure from West Ham that was laced with comments about boardroom interference and followed by a lengthy legal battle it would take some persuading for either to take the job.

The most likely option, unless we go foreign again, would seem to be Darren Ferguson who was repeatedly linked with the post while at Peterborough and is now out of work following his recent sacking at London Road.

Finally – a massive thankyou to David Elderfield, Justin Brown and Stuart Freeman who all took time out of their days today to put together some fantastic art work for us. Great work lads.

Photo: Action Images

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