Can Redknapp perform a miracle and save QPR from relegation?
Published:Harry Redknapp watched from the stands at Old Trafford as his new QPR side let a second half lead slip against Manchester United to lose 3-1.
The West London club have just four points from 13 matches, although Redknapp can be backed to turn the Hoops season around and save them from the drop at 6/5.
However, with QPR still to win in the league and with six points separating them from Aston Villa in 17th, they remain odds-on at 4/7 for a return to the Championship.
Redknapp’s appointment has seen a host of star names linked with January moves to Loftus Road, with none bigger than the departing Los Angeles midfielder David Beckham.
The 65-year-old will do well to persuade Becks to reject other lucrative offers from around the world, but he did nearly sign the former Three Lions captain on loan at Tottenham two seasons ago.
QPR owner Tony Fernandes is also keen on bringing Beckham to the club, whilst moving his family to London is likely to hold its own appeal.
Redknapp has also been credited with a return to his old club Spurs with transfers mooted for defender Michael Dawson, midfielder Scott Parker and striker Jermain Defoe.
Defoe is unlikely to want to leave White Hart Lane, but ‘Arry is also looking at ex-Tottenham forward Peter Crouch – now on loan at Stoke – if his first-choice striking target turns him down.
Redknapp sounds optimistic about the short-term future at QPR, telling reporters after taking the reigns at the club: “I can’t wait to get to work and get the results necessary to kick-start our season.”
Ladbrokes are offering odds on a number of markets for Redknapp at QPR, with 10/1 offered on the new boss winning a trophy for the Hoops.
He is now priced at 6/1 to become the next England manager, after seeing Roy Hodgson take the job before Euro 2012 after Fabio Capello resigned.
You can back Redknapp to copy his Spurs transformation and take QPR into the Champions League during his tenure at 20/1, while his new team are much shorter at 2/1 to beat his old club at home in their January match-up next year.
Betting on who will last longer in their jobs between Harry Redknapp and Andre Villas-Boas looks too tight to call, with a price of 5/6 offered for either manager to outlast the other.
But for now the Poplar-born coach will be focused on improving QPR’s terrible form this term, and securing their first three points of the season.
The next chance he has to do so is away at Sunderland, with the away side outsiders at 5/2 for victory.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
