Was I the only person who looked at the QPR line-up last weekend and thought Harry Redknapp gave Richard Dunne a sympathy place in his team?

It’s as if he had forgotten about the Irishman when Rio Ferdinand signed up for the London side this summer.

To be honest it’s easily done. I had totally forgotten about Dunne, until it was announce in July that he’d quit the Irish national team. Something I thought he had done back in 2012 after the Euros. I am sure Martin O’Neill wont be losing any sleep over the Dunne’s decision.

Now I don’t mean to be disrespectful of Richard Dunne. He’s had a fine career in the EPL and for his national team, where he won 80 caps.

He has been a solid and dependable defender representing Everton, Man City, Aston Villa and QPR since his debut in 1997.

But the centre-back is now approaching his thirty-fifth birthday and to put it politely he is becoming ever so cumbersome and slow.

Yet Harry Redknapp has decided to pick him in a back three and on the left-handside of that unit.

Against Hull City, you could see Dunne was extremely uncomfortable in his new role.

See the only way a back three works with slow veterans is by playing them in the middle or on their preferred side.

But that is where Harry has a problem. In the centre spot he has new boy Rio Ferdinand. Rio is almost a year older than Dunne and his experience at Man  United along with his relationship with boss Redknapp gives him the nod for the central role. Whilst on the right, QPR have big summer signing Steven Caulker. He cost £8m and to keep him happy, Harry will play him on the right where Caulker is happier.

In my opinion, you can’t have three at the back and have two of those three being over thirty-four. I just think an experienced defender in that system works better if he has players with legs in and around him covering up on any issues like mistakes or lack of pace.

I also go with the phrase ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. I honestly think a player like Nedum Onuoha would adapt easier on his wrong-side especially with Ferdinand there to talk him through it. I also believe he’d be better at coming forward with the ball at his feet.

But to be honest if I were Harry Redknapp, I’d play with a back four. Caulker would learn from playing alongside Rio Ferdinand week in week out. They also have plenty of full-backs, yet not a left-sided central defender. You can’t just force your personnel into any old system.

I also wonder what QPR’s many wingers think of the 3-5-2 formation. It will mean plenty of bench time for some and it also hampers their creative side.

It’ll be interesting to see if Harry spends again on yet another centre-back, keeps with Dunne or decides to go for four at the back.

Back in the top flight the wrong system and tactics can cost you vital points and leave you adrift. But Harry and his squad will hope their experience can tell and keep them up this term.

PS. I feel really sorry for QPR’s other centre-back, club captain Clint Hill. Another star in his mid-thirties who’ll be lucky to break into the first eleven this season!

Posted on August 20th, 2014 by scott
Filed under: Article