Heading into the 2014/15 Premier League season following their promotion from the Championship, Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp was keen to ensure he had enough experience at the back for the campaign.
As a result, Redknapp moved for Steven Caulker — who had played for the likes of Tottenham, Cardiff City and Swansea City in the Premier League — and delighted supporters by doing so.
@QPRFC @Caulker4 Great young defender who will link up well with Onouha and Rio #StevenSigns #QPR
— James Finn (@JamesFinn99) July 22, 2014
@QPRFC @Caulker4 is an excellent signing! Young, with a good amount of Premier League experience, and scores the odd goal!! #StevenSigns
— Toine Hodgkiss (@ToineHodgkiss) July 22, 2014
@QPRFC @Caulker4 absolutely brilliant! Well done to all involved in getting this over the line 🙂 welcome Steven! You Rrsss! @tonyfernandes
— Hoops Down Under (@hoopsdownunder) July 22, 2014
@QPRFC @Caulker4 superb signing. This is more like it, no more Boswingas! #StevenSigns
— Bri PD (@BrianDqpr) July 23, 2014
https://twitter.com/marcusdestijl/status/491704315707670528
@QPRFC @Caulker4 Brilliant signing, very happy with it!!! Definitely heading in the right direction! #StevenSigns
— Evan Brøwn ® (@FFEvanlution) July 22, 2014
@QPRFC @Caulker4 Great signing for QPR will learn from Rio and help us survive this season
— Rob Shorter (@golfbobs) July 22, 2014
On top of Caulker, more high-profile players such as Rio Ferdinand and Eduardo Vargas were also brought in, showing Tony Fernandes’ intentions for the season.
However, for Caulker specifically, he was unable to make the sort of impact the Loftus Road faithful would have hoped for and, overall, turned out to be a disappointing signing for QPR in the end.
Caulker, of course, was not alone when it came to QPR’s failings that season from a defensive point of a view with the west London side, as a whole, having defended incredibly poor throughout the entire campaign.
But given the expectation that came with his transfer and what little contribution he made when the Rs returned to the Championship, bringing in Caulker can only be described by a poor bit of business done by the club.
