Pleased for him - he's done an excellent job there, transforming a team heading for relegation to one that won the division with ease the following year. No wonder he's saying it's his greatest achievement, because quite simply it is. I've spoken to plenty of Rs fans the past season and haven't heard a word against him - contrast with United fans at any point of his time here, including at the peaks in 2003 and 2006. I'm yet to hear any that think he should be removed, as Briatore hinted at a few months back. A nice touch by the club to send him out first for the trophy presentation.
He's improved since he left us. Had we stayed up, we might have seen some of this the following season in the Premiership. He's still got a great eye for a player - Ambrose on a free for Palace, Mackie for £150k at QPR etc. But the real change has come with his midfield a QPR. He's still keen to play with width, he's still got a solid defence, but he's now accepted the need for the odd luxury player, like Taarabt. The Warnock of 5 years ago might have terminated the loan of Taarabt and sent him back to Spurs when he came to the club. Not only did he not do that, he got him playing well, made him his captain, and created a system for the team built around him. That would frankly have been unheard of in his time with us. There are signings he would have made for us given the chance, like Tommy Smith or Wayne Routledge, but there'd always been a visible reluctance to go after the more unpredictable types like Taarabt.
He's also thankfully lost a lot of the 'everyone's against me' mentality with officials. In an interview the other week (or his column in the Indy) he admitted he was wrong to have had that attitude with us in the Premiership - it was natural that the bigger teams get more decisions because they are naturally going to have far more of the play in the game. Again, something it's taken him quite a while to realise.
He'll need to substantially add to the squad this summer, but it sounds like they will invest. New strikers, Routledge in permanently, and a couple of defenders. Probably someone to replace Derry. Funny to think back at the angry reaction on here and elsewhere when Blackwell was said to be lining up a move for him when Derry was still at Leeds.
Btw, best season ever for Paddy Kenny too? Championship team of the year, Players' Player of the Year, and Supporters Player of the Year (Taarabt 2nd in both apparently).
