Friday 14 August 2015 11:42, UK
After signing for his beloved QPR for a second time, Jamie Mackie is eyeing the big time, in a more stable environment. Pete Hall caught up with him to discuss what’s changed at Loftus Road.
They say never go back, it will never be as good as it was, and as Jack Reacher found out in the Lee Child novels, returning to familiar surroundings is often fraught with complications.
However, when Jamie Mackie got the chance to return to the place he fell in love with five years ago, there was not a moment’s hesitation.
“I love it at QPR, everyone knows that. When I had the opportunity to come back I jumped at the chance,” Mackie tells Sky Sports.
“I played my best football in my career at this football club, it is a perfect fit for me. You walk in and see some familiar faces, the same people in the background, it’s great to be back.
"It doesn’t even feel like I’ve signed for a new club, it was like I was always there.”
Turmoil
Since Mackie joined from from Plymouth in 2010, the Rs have gone from ecstasy to agony and back again, with promotion then relegation, another promotion, an assembling of a talented squad, only to see the west Londoners head straight back from whence it came.
Matters behind the scenes were just as turbulent. Not many clubs have owners with pockets as deep, and readily accessible, as QPR supremo Tony Fernandes, but his excessive backing of the team under Harry Redknapp saw the Rs run into financial problems, with a wage bill greater than the likes of Borussia Dortmund.
“There were a few things that went wrong. There were a lot of new signings, and that volume of players coming just did not work for us," Mackie said. “We got off to a bad start and it is hard to recover from that, especially with so many new players in the squad.
“It was an accumulation of many things that led to us being relegated. So much went on.”
Moving on
After relegation from the Premier League in 2013, Mackie sought pastures new, moving to promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest, but the Scotland international could not inspire his new side to reach the promised land.
A new regime at the City Ground meant that Mackie spent last season on-loan at Reading, who finished in a disappointing 19th, but the 29-year-old relished his time at both clubs.
“A new manager came in at Forest who had different ideas, and I was not part of that,” Mackie added. “I have been one of those players all my career that has played games, and going out to Reading allowed me to be part of that.
“It was a good experience to go on a good cup run, I met some good people at both clubs, and learned plenty.”
Fresh start
Chris Ramsey has been tasked with stabilising a club in turmoil. Many of the star names have left the club, with the likes of Charlie Austin and Leroy Fer also expected to depart in the transfer window.
Balancing the books is essential after Financial Fair Play regulations threatened to make matters even worse, but now there is a more congealed feel to the club, and they are finally starting to look like there may be a less traumatic future ahead.
Ramsey’s history is working with developing players in his academy role at Tottenham, bringing the likes of Harry Kane to the fore, and Mackie believes the rookie boss knows that there is a different philosophy within the club, and his coaching traits can guide the club through.
“There has been a massive turnaround of players. That has been the case since I was first here, but hopefully times have changed, and there will be a little bit more stability in the club," Mackie said.
“For a team to do well you need that continuity. There is a different ethos around the place and there are one or two younger players coming through, and hopefully they will stick around, rather than changing 11 or 12 players per season.
“This is the first time I have worked with him [Chris Ramsey], and immediately I can see a difference between him and other managers I’ve worked with.
“He is very hands-on on the training ground, and likes to get his message across directly, which is different for me, as other managers step back.
“Chris Ramsey wants to develop players, but he’ll have to get the results at the same time!
“We are playing in an extremely competitive league, and the aim for everyone is to get to the Premier League, as so many teams are capable of getting there.
We need to make sure the club is stable going forward, and not throw all our eggs into one basket and be in a bad position as a football club.
“As a footballer, you want to play in the Premier League – it is the best league to play in. As a club, we have to make sure we get it right, though. We need to make sure the club is stable going forward, and not throw all our eggs into one basket and be in a bad position as a football club.
“I strived all my career to play in the Premier League, and I want to do it again with the club I love, QPR.”
Cardiff opportunity
Their return to life in the Championship didn’t get off to the best of starts after defeat in the London derby clash at Charlton last weekend, and with Cardiff to come on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 5 HD, after a Capital One Cup excursion against Yeovil in midweek, the Rs are remembering that life in the second tier is unrelenting.
“Cardiff are no different to the other teams in the league," Mackie added. "We have a really good team coming to Loftus Road, who want to win, and bring a great travelling support – the atmosphere will be really good.
“It is important in front of our home fans to get off to a winning start, but it will not be easy.”
Returning to a club hoping to replicate fond memories is not easy, either. But should Ramsey defy the naysayers and guide the club to a promotion bid, Mackie could well get his wish and return to the top flight with the beloved Rs, with a long-awaited long term vision in place too.
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