Recap: Holloway on transfers, Taylor, Campbell, Freeman, Henry, Washington and more

QPR face Burton at Loftus Road later today. Ian Holloway has spoken about a number of issues in the days leading up to the game. Here’s a recap of some of what the Rangers manager has had to say.

Holloway on transfers

“If I get the three players I’m after, I’m going to be buzzing. So watch this space.

“And I might have to watch it, because we’re not exactly a cheetah out of the blocks at the minute to go and get who we want.

“We are a bit of a sloth. But we might get there. I think the tortoise won that race with the hare. So let’s see.”

On Bristol Rovers striker Matty Taylor

“He’s a very good player who belongs to Bristol Rovers and I shouldn’t talk about anybody else’s players.

“There are a lot of players who step up a level and can score. But it’s about the balance I need – the pace and power to move the ball from back to front sometimes if Idrissa Sylla’s injured.

“Have I got anyone who can do that? I’m not so sure I have, and Matty Taylor isn’t really that sort of player.”

On online rumours Fraizer Campbell could join from Crystal Palace

“Absolutely no chance. Not in a million years will Palace let him go.

“And would he come to us? Absolutely not. Could we afford his wages? Totally not. So what a joke of a shout that is.”

On Bristol City’s Luke Freeman

“I think that’s gone. We had a chance to do something and they didn’t want our offer.

“They’ve let it out at the wrong amount, I know what I offered. A Bristol City fan shouted at me in his car when I was down in Bristol. But get your facts right.

“The fact is if you’re letting your players run out of contract and you’ve only got six months to go then that’s your fault, not anybody else’s.

“They’ve said all sorts of things and their manager has made statements about it.

“If you’ve turned down an offer from someone, why do you have to go out and talk about it? It don’t make sense.”

On Conor Washington and Ben Gladwin

“He (Washington) is a huge part of my plans – I just want people to be patient.

“Gladwin’s gone back to Swindon and scored a goal because the Swindon crowd like him.

“I don’t feel he (Gladwin) can ever score for us when they keep on chanting at him like they did when I gave him a chance.”
Is it rocket science? Are Bolton that far away from us? How can he play for Swindon and score a goal? Work it out yourselves.

“If you had a teacher who screamed at you ‘you’re crap, you’re rubbish, you’re crap, you’re rubbish’ could you actually achieve anything? I don’t think so.

“That’s all I heard and I thought it was unfair and I’ve got to loan him back.

“I was getting pelters. It’s really annoying. I don’t mind that you pay your money and you like certain people and don’t like certain people, but just shout to the ones you do like.

“That wouldn’t half make my job easier instead of picking him up from the floor. I had to pick him up by his braces a couple of times.

“Is he that bad? I don’t think so. Has he got a chance here? I don’t know if people are taking to him like that.”

On Karl Henry

“I’ve had to be harsh and say ‘Sorry, I wouldn’t have kept you last summer’.

“Just because my idea is different to Jimmy’s doesn’t make it right or wrong. He (Henry) is dealing with it in the proper way.

“I personally wouldn’t have let Doughty go out on loan and if Karl Henry was here and he had a year (left on his contract) I would have kept both of them.

“But I wouldn’t have re-signed Karl. I would not have signed on someone who’s 34-stroke-35 and not given him another opportunity to play. Karl knows this.

“But Jimmy decided to do that. What can I say? Is Jimmy right or wrong? It’s not even relevant. The fact is I want to play a different way than Jimmy did.”

“Karl’s having a think about the rest of his life. Does he need to do this now? He’s had a very, very good career.

“I don’t know what he wants yet. Does he want another year? If I was as fit as him and as good as him I would definitely want to keep playing, but does he? I don’t know.

“He’s a fantastic man and if he stays here I will involve him as I have been involving him.

“I haven’t had to do anything horrible and throw him with the kids or anything like that, because he’s a fantastic pro.

“If there’s anyone out there who wants a fantastic pro who can play in midfield for this year and next year, it’s definitely Karl, so do it.

“He would get a massive thumbs-up from me to anybody who wants a senior pro to help their group.”