QPR’s Steven Caulker admits he snubbed Saturday’s rivals Crystal Palace even though the club he joined is closer to relegation.
Had the former Cardiff centre-back headed south of the river last summer, he might not be perilously close to heading south and out of the Premier League for the second season running.
Caulker admits Palace were keen on taking him, but the lure of a return to west London for the Feltham based 23-year-old as well as the chance to work with two of his idols, swayed the vote.
Rio Ferdinand had as much a hand in deciding Caulker’s choice as anyone else, and the player insists he did the right thing.
“There were talks with Palace, but I spoke to Rio before I came, and QPR was a club I watched growing up as a kid,” Caulker added. “The influence of Rio and Richard Dunne, two good centre halves, made me think I could learn from them.”
Rangers are back in the bottom three after back-to-back defeats to Spurs and Arsenal.
Naturally, Caulker thinks Hoops can still escape provided everyone shows the same determination he did in reclaiming his slot.
The defender was one of only two ever present Premier League players last term. He made an incredible 59 appearances in a row for three clubs in the top flight before getting dropped after the 2-1 defeat to Burnley in January.
As he points out, the fate that befell him at Spurs was never going to happen again - if he could help it.
“I had two poor games, one against Burnley away and Sheffield United at home,” he explained. “I worked hard and got back because I always want to play games. I left Tottenham because I was in and out of the team.”
For all that, Caulker faces the daunting prospect of being relegated twice inside 12 months.
This time last year, the Bluebirds were one place lower than Hoops and headed for the drop. Caulker reckons there is more savvy at Loftus Road than there ever was at the Cardiff City Stadium.
“It does feel different,” he said. “We’ve got more players here with more experience.
“We had a good squad at Cardiff who played with their heart but lacked experience.
"We’ve got a lot of players who’ve been in this position before and who can stand up and be counted.”
