First things, first. Who called Harry Redknapp in the middle of the 2-0 defeat to West Ham?
The QPR boss passed his mobile to assistant Kevin Bond for an impromptu chat with someone.
I doubt it was Waitrose checking the order, or Oxfam wanting a contribution increase. I'll hazard a guess it was chairman Tony Fernandes in the directors boss wanting a better contribution from the players.
Fans have been pondering Harry’s future online over the last couple of days, but the manager won’t be taking a call anytime soon giving him plenty of time to collect his own groceries.
Rangers have learned the lesson of sacking managers because they struggling for a bit. But in one respect, Harry’s predicament mirrors his predecessors - does he have the right blend of players to survive the Premier League?
Leroy Fer and Steven Caulker have been reasonably solid. Jordon Mutch was unlucky to get an early injury, as was Joey Barton. Rob Green has made none of the bloopers of the past, and the surprise packages have been ‘half left back, half winger’ Armand Traore and Niko Kranjcar.
Sandro has been injured, lacking fitness, and lacking impact. And although it borders on heresy, Rio Ferdinand has yet to set pulses racing.
He is arguably responsible for three fewer points already. The Hull goal on opening day in the 1-0 defeat; the second Stoke goal in a 2-2 draw should have seen the ex-England man, now with an autobiography to tout, read the script better.
And the defence was seriously wanting for West Ham's first goal on Sunday.
‘When you concede from a corner …’ said Harry pointedly. He might have added it hardly made sense for Ferdinand to come short and leave Nedum Onuoha in the centre. Surely you want your tallest players to be where the ball's arc is highest?
The two Chile World Cup stars were originally described as being ‘top players and low maintenance’ when they arrived in August.
Mauricio Isla and Eduardo Vargas had a low profile on Sunday - they were both left out of the starting eleven. The ‘top players’ had become ‘a bit of a gamble’ at Harry's Friday press conference before West Ham, it might be added.
Losing Loic Remy was the hardest blow of all, and Charlie Austin cannot do it all by himself up front.
It’s plain to see Rangers need new recruits already, and whether it’s Jermain Defoe or others, January can’t come quickly enough.
