Premier League: Tony Fernandes hits back at criticism of QPR's poor form in fresh Twitter outburst
Monday 6 October 2014 15:27, UK
QPR owner Tony Fernandes insists he will take the blame for the club’s dismal start to the season and intends to stand by current manager Harry Redknapp.
Fernandes had described the R’s as ‘not good enough’ on Twitter after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by West Ham kept the Londoners at the bottom of the Premier League.
But he appears to have hit back at negative replies on social media, branding them 'armchair fans', and vowed to turn around the team’s fortunes.
There have been five managers at QPR in the past four years, with Neil Warnock and Mark Hughes both making way before Redknapp’s arrival in November 2012.
One win in the opening six league games has put the former Tottenham boss under pressure, but Fernandes ruled out another change in the dugout.
He tweeted: "Is sacking the answer. When we let Mark Hughes go, we still went down. Is it tactics, is it players, is it coaching, is it fitness?"
Referring to his own role at the club, he added: "That's it. There should be no more excuses from anyone, especially me. Buck stops with me. I'm up for the battle.
"I'm not stupid or a quitter. All I can assure fans is as always we will be transparent and leave no stone unturned to stay up and build."
Sky Sports pundits Graeme Souness and Gary Neville gave a scathing assessment of QPR's performance, with the latter describing the players' attitude as 'diabolical', but Fernandes toned down his criticism following his earlier outburst.
"I don't think the players didn't try yesterday," he wrote.
"Look at the stats. The goal was never a goal, took the wind out of us. The second goal was against the run of play. No excuses. We still should have done better."
QPR climbed back to the top tier via the Championship play-offs, leaving them a shorter spell to recruit new players.
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Strike options were shortened by the departure of Loic Remy to Chelsea, while a deadline day move for Liverpool’s Fabio Borini failed to materialise.
But Fernandes launched a passionate defence of the club’s transfer policy.
"We have always been on the back foot with players," he tweeted. "We had so many loans last year as we cleared out.
"I love the Remy comments. Remy was staying, he was in my house for dinner to sign the extension. Then Chelsea called. What back up pls?
"Yeah I can pull out a striker in 24 hours. We tried hard with Borini. So pls tell me me what you would have done? Damned easy to be armchair critics."
Redknapp questioned the fitness of his players after the latest setback at Upton Park, with Sandro unable to complete the full 90 minutes, while Adel Taraabt only managed a substitute appearance.
But the Moroccan has spoken out in defence of his manager, admitting that players should take some responsibility for their lowly position,
"It is easy to blame the manager when you lose but the players have to step up," said Taarabt, who has been struggling with an ankle injury.
"The manager can change tactics, tell us what he wants, but when we go on the pitch it is the players who perform."
A summer move to AC Milan failed to materialise for the 25-year-old midfielder, but he remains committed to QPR.
"I was in the middle of a transfer and it did not happen for whatever reason," Taarabt said.
"It was difficult for me because I thought I was moving. In the end it did not happen, so I am now and have to work hard to get back in the team and help QPR win games."
