Football League World
·9 mai 2025
"Bang average" - QPR warned against Tom Cleverley appointment after Watford sacking

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·9 mai 2025
FLW's QPR fan pundit has given his verdict on the possibility of Tom Cleverley taking charge of the Hoops this summer.
This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
QPR will be searching for a new manager this summer after Martí Cifuentes was put on gardening leave at the end of April.
The Hoops will be hoping to find a replacement soon so they can begin work on their upcoming summer transfer window plans, after Cifuentes' future was effectively sealed when it was announced he'd been removed from his managerial duties ahead of the final game of the season.
Tom Cleverley is someone that could attract interest from the likes of club CEO Christian Nourry, who will be heavily involved in the recruitment process.
The 35-year-old is currently available after being sacked by Watford earlier this month after leading the Hornets to a 14th-placed finish in the Championship table.
When asked about the prospect of Cleverley joining the club, FLW’s QPR fan pundit Louis Moir outlined his lack of interest in the move.
He believes it would be an underwhelming appointment, suggesting his inexperience is an issue, and that his time at Watford was not too impressive.
“With Tom Cleverley, I’d be very underwhelmed,” Moir told Football League World.
“I don’t think it would go down well with the fans, obviously he had his first proper job at Watford.
“It could be debated whether he did a good job with Watford with the constraints that they’ve got and their past of sacking managers so quickly and easily.
“He managed to last a whole season, but I wouldn’t be looking at him. I just think he’s way too inexperienced.
“I think with a QPR manager, they’ve always got to have some sort of personality, and nothing against Tom Cleverley, but whenever I’ve heard him speak or whatever in interviews, I don’t think he would fit QPR, really.
“I think he’s done a bit of a bang average job at Watford.”
Moir highlighted the two games between Watford and QPR this season as a sign of how he wouldn’t be a good fit, suggesting the London outfit should’ve taken six points from the two fixtures instead of just four.
“I think obviously we got four points off them last season, and it should’ve been six,” he added.
“We outplayed them away from home and drew the game, and obviously battered them at home.
“That was with us having injuries. Watford didn’t really look a great side from what I’ve seen, and I think that was reflected in the table.
“They were bang average, and for me, I would be surprised if it would be someone Christian Nourry would be looking at, and I just think we could do a lot better, personally.
“I think we’ve got to aim higher, be a bit more ambitious and Tom Cleverley, for me, wouldn’t be ticking those boxes.”
QPR finished 15th in the Championship table, earning 56 points from 46 games.
Cleverley did well to survive a whole season at Watford given how rare of an achievement that’s become over the last decade or so.
But the end of his time at Vicarage Road was disappointing, even if there were signs of good management over the course of the whole season.
It would be surprising if QPR looked to hire Cleverley, but it could be a solid appointment if they did.
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