Wayne Routlidge in QPR

Young and super-talented Aston Villa winger, Wayne Routlidge, instead of Cardiff City has (un)expectedly ended up with QPR as one of the first big transfers in January window in Coca Cola Championship. Although last six weeks of loan from Aston Villa had been most successful in Cardiff and, although Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale was seriously interested in signing this 23-year-old player and offered a hefty sum of money for his services, this youngster and his home club have still opted for QPR.

It is not easy to guess why. Queens Park Rangers have recently become one of the wealthiest clubs worldwide, with their illustrious owners who are coincidently among the richest people alive and Formula 1 magnates, Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone. It is quite obvious that their offer could not be measured with the one coming from Whales. Also London club’s ambitions are a lot bigger and Routlidge will be more closely observed wearing the Blue-White shirt than it would have been the case at Ninian Park in Cardiff.

His recent excellent performances have warmly recommended him for this transfer. Since in Aston Villa he has been behind James Milner and Ashley Young, loan to Cardiff has proved to be the right move for Routlidge. He was lethal on the flank in the absence of Blue Birds’ injured key players at that position Joe Ledley and Peter Whittingham, but he continued in the same manner even when after they had recovered. Another blow for Cardiff was the return of their first striker, Michael Chopra to Sunderland from loan, so the Welshmen will now have a lot of problems preserving their excellent squad together and keeping the hold on the fourth seat.

Another reason why Wayne opted for QPR is because he was brought up in London where he was the member of Tottenham’s first youth and then senior squad before he was transferred to Villa. Hefty offer combined with other factors will still continue to be the main reason why a lot of footballers will be snapped away by the only ones of all the Coca Cola outfits that are with enough money to buy anyone they like – Queens Park Rangers.

Same as Chelsea in the Premiership when Roman Abramovich had come and just like Manchester City are threatening to become now, that is exactly what Queens Park Rangers are in the Championship…

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