Former QPR defender Danny Maddix believes Harry Redknapp has pulled off a masterstroke with the signings of Rio Ferdinand and Steven Caulker.

The defensive duo were on the books at Loftus Road as schoolboys and have returned to west London from Manchester United and Cardiff City respectively.

Maddix told the Times: “Rio is still a very good player. He is athletic and mobile – he has experience which will be important in the dressing room and I’m sure Harry will use him wisely.

“Caulker is a young lad and another quality signing.”

During his 13 years at QPR, Maddix formed a solid partnership with Alan McDonald at the heart of the Rs’ back four – and the former Jamaican international says their friendship off the pitch helped when they crossed the white line.

“When I was at QPR the camaraderie in the dressing room was brilliant,” he said. “We had some real characters – Macca was a funny guy and so was David Bardsley. You also had the likes of Les Ferdinand and Ray Wilkins – we all got on really well.

“On the pitch Alan was serious – he won a lot upstairs and would deal with the bigger strikers like Niall Quinn. I wasn’t bad upstairs myself and I was quite mobile.”

Redknapp is looking to use a 3-5-2 formation and Maddix says he didn’t have a problem adapting to the system during his playing career.

“I didn’t mind it at all. There is a little bit extra asked of you – you have to be quite mobile to make it work,” he said.

“It asks a lot of the wing backs who have to get up and down the pitch.

“I think Richard Dunne would be the one to play alongside Ferdinand and Caulker, although I do like Clint Hill. He isn’t pretty to watch but he never lets you down and he will be a squad player who will not cause any problems.

“I rate Nedum Onuoha but when he knows he has the beating of someone then he can lose his concentration. He seems to raise his game for the better opposition.

“It’s a good problem for the manager to have.”

Maddix is confident QPR will stand a far better chance of surviving in the top flight if Redknapp continues to buy players who are not just signing for money.

“I think of the three teams that went up, QPR have the best chance,” he said. “I think they need to sign some strikers though.

“I saw that Samuel Eto’o has been linked with a move to QPR. I saw a bit of him at Chelsea last season – he worked hard and scored a few goals but you’d have to make sure he wasn’t viewing QPR as a lesser team and just signing for the money.

“The last season in the Premier League was diabolical for players just there to pick up big wages.”

Maddix is currently working as a taxi driver in London but, after hearing the news that former team-mate Darren Peacock has taken on Trevor Sinclair as his assistant manager at Lancaster City, he admits he would like to get back into coaching.

“I did my level Level 3 UEFA Licence and I was coaching at Spurs, but when Micky Hazard left the club I was let go and became disillusioned with it,” he said.

“It was a shame because I was doing well with the Under-12 team but that’s how it works in football.

“QPR is close to my heart and it’s good to see how ambitious the club is now.

“I guess the best way to get back into coaching is through people knowing you and giving you a chance.”

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