Yesterday, I spoke of the chances of keeping our star striker Macauley Bonne beyond January, and it provoked some arguments from football experts on both sides of the divide.
Bonne is not driven by money alone. The desire to play for his hometown club again would mean much more to him in my view. He is a local lad with something to prove and who clearly loves this football club, and is delighted to be back where it all began!
So then, what do the experts think? QPR manager Paul Warburton explained in September to West London Sport that he has not yet ruled out the option of a recall, and although he was pleased with the progress that Bonne was making, he had enough strikers fighting for a place in the team.
What can we read into that? I think Warburton is keeping all options open. If his three main strikers succumb to injury or suspension between now and January, then he could haul him back into the mix. Would Bonne want to go? He signed on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee just over a year ago, but I think he would only entertain the prospect of returning to his parent club if he could be guaranteed first-team football. That’s my take on it anyway.
Football League World asked their three football experts their views on the great debate, and it made for a fascinating read, and more or less in keeping with my thoughts on the subject.
Marcus Ally
Rangers have ample striking talent and do not need to recall Macauley Bonne from Ipswich Town in January. With Chris Willock and Ilias Chair key players who like to operate just off of a central frontman, the trio of Lyndon Dykes, Charlie Austin and Andre Gray provide enough depth for Mark Warburton’s squad to perform effectively.
It did not work out for Bonne last season, Rangers look a much better side this time around but a few goals in League One do not suggest the former Leyton Orient man will be able to force his way past the current three strikers at Warburton’s disposal.
Ben Wignall
Whilst it’s clear for everyone to see that Bonne is on a hot streak in League One, I think that QPR are doing just fine without him. It may be that Bonne has found his level of being prolific at League One but finding the Championship slightly too tough even though he did score 11 times for Charlton – either way he’s still clearly flourishing at Portman Road.
Toby Wilding
While this could be tempting for QPR given his form, it may not make sense to bring Bonne back if things continue as they are.
Right now, QPR are mounting a solid push for a Championship play-off place this season, with an attacking unit consisting of the likes of Lyndon Dykes, Andre Gray and Charlie Austin all making valuable contributions.
As a result, they do seem to be coping well without Bonne, meaning he could find it hard to force his way into Warburton’s starting lineup if he was to be recalled in January. By contrast, a season playing regular football with Ipswich, scoring goals as consistently as he is, could see him return to QPR next season brimming with confidence.”
Conversely, in an exclusive for the website, FLW the former QPR boss Ian Holloway warned Town fans not to build up any false hopes.
“Come January I would be planning that he won’t be there. I hate to be that bloke, but you loan a kid out, he keeps scoring like that, and your own players go ‘Why are you loaning him out?! The supporters will be wanting him back so, it’s a great experience for the boy to be going and playing in the Ipswich first-team, but I think he’ll be back.
I believe that if he stays with us until the end of the season, we would try to buy him from the London club. Every goal he scores adds more money to his worth, but we are talking about the third division of English football here, and thankfully under new management, Ipswich finally have some spending power!
If I was one of the Three Lions I would take the plunge and look to sign him up now – to come into effect ASAP in the New Year!
It’s complicated Richard because he has another two years left on his contract with QPR. I think the Three Lions could afford to fork out some dosh if Rangers showed interest but more importantly perhaps, is whether Macauley Bonne would want to go back? That could be the catalyst for change. No manager wants a player who is not enthused by the thought of returning to his parent club. This might be the ace up Paul Cook’s sleeve!
On another front, did you read my message about you joining me? You can send your blogs or articles to sir_francis_weston@yahoo.co.uk or frankyipswich1955@gmail.com and I will do the rest.