4th June 2009
What can we expect from Jim Magilton?
By thegodfather

Yesterday afternoon, after weeks of speculation, Jim Magilton was announced as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers. The reaction of the supporters on the message boards has been mixed. For some, the appointment came as bad news. After all, Magilton certainly isn’t the ‘big name’ that many were expecting to replace Paulo Sousa. Others were slightly more positive about the new boss, looking back to his reasonably successful 2007/08 campaign with Ipswich Town. Either way, it is important that both the board and the fans get behind the new manager as he embarks on what will be a very difficult job. So, what can we expect from Magilton?

Jim Magilton

As a player, Magilton enjoyed an illustrious career, lasting over 17 years. In 1999 the former Northern Ireland international signed for Ipswich Town, where he made 262 appearances in a 7-year spell, becoming a favourite with the fans. At the end of a disappointing 2005/06 season, manager, Joe Royle, left the Tractor Boys. Surprisingly, Magilton was announced as the new boss of Town despite having no managerial experience and still being registered as a player.

In the 2006/07 season, Magilton guided Ipswich to 14th place in the Championship – not bad, given that there had been relegation worries at Portman Road prior to the start of the campaign. However, it was the 2007/08 season that really gained Magilton a reputation. A fantastic home record established Ipswich as play-off contenders, but they narrowly missed out on a place in the top-six by a single point.

During the summer of 2008, Magilton spent a lot of money on new signings, such as Ivan Campo from Bolton Wanderers. Expectations were very high amongst the supporters. However, unfortunately for the manager, the team was too inconsistent and sank into mid-table mediocrity. Magilton was sacked on the 22nd April 2009.

The positives

Magilton has spent three years managing in the Championship and is likely to know what is required to achieve success in this division. Last season, Iain Dowie and the board made the crucial mistake of bringing in inexperienced young players from abroad who simply could not adapt to the physical style of football. Magilton should be able to use the experience he has picked up over the last three years to spend money on players who are proven at this level. Of course, this depends on the board giving him a substantial amount to invest in the squad.

Another potential positive is that Magilton likes his teams to play entertaining football. He got Ipswich playing some very attractive and effective passing movements – particularly in the 2007/08 season. This will surely suit Queens Park Rangers’ skilful players, such as Rowan Vine and Akos Buzsaky. However, once again, it is important that he is given funds to spend in the transfer market so that he can sign players who will fit into his favoured style of play.

Moreover, it is important to remember how impressive Ipswich looked when they beat Queens Park Rangers 1-3 at Loftus Road last season in front of the Sky cameras. Here is an extract from my match report of that game:

“Alan Quinn won the ball in his own half and picked out the substitute, Jon Walters, on the left flank with a sublime lob. With most of the Rs defenders nowhere to be seen, he raced past Kaspars Gorkss and stylishly put the ball past Lee Camp into the bottom corner, much to the delight of the travelling faithful. In contrast to QPR’s substitutions, Magilton’s bore fruit very quickly.”

Jim Magilton got his tactical decisions spot on that day. Over the last few years, I think that Queens Park Rangers have lacked a manager with the ability to influence a game with his substitutions. Let us hope that Magilton possesses this tactical awareness.

The negatives

Whilst Magilton did manage to establish Ipswich Town as play-off contenders during the 2007/08 season, his overall record is not particularly impressive. Despite spending a lot of money on new signings prior to the 2008/09 campaign, inconsistency led to the Tractor Boys finishing in mid-table. This was simply not good enough for the supporters or the club’s board and he was sacked. With the relationship between the QPR supporters and the board of directors strained to say the very least, Magilton will have to fare better than he did in his final year with Ipswich if he is gain the support of the Chairman and the fans.

Will Magilton be able to inspire the players? As I mentioned before, he is not the ‘big name’ a lot of people wanted to replace Paulo Sousa. Will players be attracted to come to play for Magilton’s Queens Park Rangers? Many Rangers fans are not so sure. A lot of our supporters simply do not see the logic in appointing the former Ipswich boss. The QPR board will be expecting at least a top-six finish next season yet they have appointed a man who, in his previous job, failed to do exactly that.

Conclusion - the role of the board

Magilton was the board’s choice – it is their responsibility to make the appointment work. He will need to be given time to make his mark on the team and to get the players to adapt to his style of play. The Chairman simply cannot continue to sack the managers every few months. Substantial funds should be made available to Magilton so that he can invest in the squad. He will also need to be given full control of first-team affairs – there must be no interference in the team selection from the boardroom.

If these things do not happen, then I’m afraid it will be impossible for Magilton to succeed as the manager of Queens Park Rangers and once again, a new man will have to be found. It was interesting to see that Magilton was announced as the ‘new manager’ rather than the ‘new first-team coach’. Does this indicate that the board is going to give Magilton more control? We shall have to wait and see.