"He wouldn't take any nonsense" - Clint Hill named in QPR player return debate | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit believes QPR need more players like Clint Hill in order to improve upon their league position.

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 came into the season with loftier expectations after Marti Cifuentes turned things around last season, but the club find themselves embroiled in relegation trouble.

Following his arrival in late October of last year, and after a poor start to the season under Gareth Ainsworth when they looked one of the favourites for relegation, Cifuentes' side turned things around and the Rs have looked transformed under the Spaniard's tutelage, especially out of possession.

After some eye-catching signings and a shift to improving the team in possession, many expected QPR to be a club nowhere near relegation trouble this term. It has not transpired that way so far, though.

They were full of optimism and looked like a team on the up after a difficult campaign in 2023/24, but that has swiftly disappeared and been replaced by a much more negative mood in West London.

QPR and Cifuentes are missing characters like Clint Hill

We asked Football League World's resident QPR fan pundit Louis Moir to provide his thoughts on who would be the one player he would select from a previous era to come in and improve the QPR side now, and why.

He said: "I think if I were to choose a player to come back and play in this side, then it would have to be someone like Clint Hill at the back.

"Obviously, an absolute warrior, and at left-back as well sometimes. I think, if you look at the state we are in now, especially defensively with injuries and Sam Field playing there and full-backs changing every week, then a character like Clint Hill would sort people out.

"He wouldn't take any nonsense, and we're lacking that at the moment. There is not a lot of character and spirit when you're watching them trying to defend.

"It's like they can't play football, with some of them the errors and lack of effort. It seems like a lack of effort and motivation to get us out of this. We're bottom of the league!

"We have got to be a bit more hard to beat some weeks, and a player like Clint Hill would sort a lot of stuff out.

"I just wish we had a player like him now. There are quite a few players in that sort of bracket and mould. The sort of warriors and players who put their body on the line for this club over the years.

"But he definitely would be one I'd love. That sort of spirit and character, but he was also a very good defender as well.

"Let's not forget that, so I would be putting him back in this squad if I could."

Clint Hill's legacy at QPR

Hill's time at QPR from 2010 to 2016 solidified his status as a modern-day club legend. Known for his leadership, toughness, and committed style to defending, he was a popular figure at the club through two separate promotions to the Premier League. Arriving on a free from Crystal Palace, Hill quickly became a key figure in QPR's backline, helping the club win promotion in his first season.

A no-nonsense defender, Hill wasn’t the most technically gifted, but his defensive resilience, aerial ability, and never-say-die attitude made him invaluable. Hill was a fierce competitor in the heart of their defence who embodied the fans in many ways, with his passion and intensity never in question.

Off the pitch, his leadership was crucial, providing stability amid managerial changes. Hill famously stayed loyal after relegation, continuing to fight in the Championship. By the time he left in 2016, Hill had made over 200 appearances, leaving behind a legacy thanks to impressive displays which were always with his heart upon his sleeve.