GettyImagesSamba cost QPR a club-record £12.5 million

Is it possible that Chris Samba is not here for the money, after all?

The last week or so have been very encouraging as far as personnel at Loftus Road is concerned. First there was that story in The Mirror that the trip to Dubai was just one long bender, which really didn't fit at all with the reports on the first team's return.

Harry Redknapp's annoyance at such media distortions - one can argue that The Mirror after all have an axe to grind as they perceive "moneybags" QPR to be all that is evil about modern football - was palpable after an industrious 2-1 win away at Southampton. His rebuttal of the story was comprehensive and unequivocal - and glossed over by the newspaper that covered the original story, which it sourced from "unnamed first-team players".

To be fair, the players did their talking on the pitch. Although Harry id suggest that he knew where the story came from - a disgruntled agent. I think we all know where it came from, and it is symptomatic of the kind of people that QPR have had the misfortune to be associated with in the not too distant past.

Then it was revealed that the club turned down a profit-making offer from a Russian club to take Chris Samba off our hands - promptly dismissed by owner Tony Fernandes. The player himself has been quick to say that he is glad we did not accept the offer: he is here for family reasons, not money (although I'm sure the money helps).

For his part, Fernandes' rejection of the deal, which would have netted him a tidy profit, is another example of how committed he is to the club. Here's hoping it goes a little further towards convincing fans that this is a long-term project and not a get-rich-quick scheme or, heaven forbid, a marketing ploy for AirAsia.

Are we beginning to see signs of a cohesive unit being created at the club? Saturday's result would suggest that there is evidence of such: they worked hard for each other and got their reward.

The next two weeks will tell whether this side have decided to stand up and be counted. I truly hope that they do.

Follow Sean Smith on Twitter @seanshorn

 

 

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