TORONTO -- Harry Redknapp got a rude shock after taking over Queens Park Rangers in November 2012. Terence Davis Jersey . The team was in last place in the English Premier League, its roster filled with bloated contracts and egos. "The attitude stank. Attitude towards the game, attitude towards training," he wrote in his autobiography "Always Managing." "I cant remember a worse one -- and behaviour like that cannot be altered overnight." Redknapp, however, found one kindred spirit. "Within weeks I had worked out that my best player was Ryan Nelsen, a 35-year-old New Zealand international -- and he couldnt wait to get out," Redknapp wrote. "`Youve got no chance, he told me. Not a prayer. This is the worst dressing room Ive ever been in in my life. You havent got a hope with this lot. I dont know how you solve it." Today, Nelsen is in his second season as manager of Toronto FC. He recalls his season with QPR -- his finale as a player -- as a ringside seat on what happens when a dressing room goes wrong. "It was an amazing learning experience for me," he said in an interview this week. Redknapp, whose team was relegated at the end of the 2012-13 season, is on the verge of taking QPR back to the Premier League after one season in the Championship. QPR faces Derby Country on Saturday at Wembley in a promotion playoff worth up to 120 million pounds (C$220.5 million), mostly from broadcast rights, according to a 2013 report by the Sports Business Group at Deloitte. With reported debts of 177 million pounds (C$325 million), Queens Park Rangers could do with hitting the promotion jackpot despite the deep pockets of millionaire owner Tony Fernandes. Among the things Nelsen learned at QPR was the need to get recruitment right, to watch wages and that a good football team needs chemistry off the field as well as organization in it. "It was an environment that probably players were getting paid too much for potentially their mentality to win," he said of QPR. "Young guys probably on too much before they had earned it." There were also older players who might have lost their fire. And second-tier Championship players who had the character desire but perhaps not the talent needed. "Everybody tried their best to get the mixture right, but it just didnt jell," said Nelsen. "It was just wrong." The ill-fated QPR spending spree was funded by Fernandes, a British-Malaysian businessman whose net worth as of February was valued at US$650 million according to Forbes magazine. He took over in August 2011, almost a year before Nelsen came on board. The New Zealand international didnt expect to play much at QPR, thinking his job would be to help then-manager Mark Hughes and successor Redknapp off the pitch. He ended up playing 21 league matches, becoming captain and turning into a fan favourite before leaving in January 2103 to take over Toronto FC. Nelsen points no fingers today, saying the intentions of Hughes and Fernandes "were so right for the club to do really well." The rot had set in too much by the time Redknapp took over. "There had to be a clearout before you could get it back again," he said. There are more fashionable soccer teams in London but Loftus Road, QPRs home in Shepherds Bush, has seen its share of players with flair in Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles and Gerry Francis in the 1960s and 70s. A blue-collar club, QPR won the League Cup in 1966-67 and was runner-up in 1985-86. It was also runner-up in the FA Cup in 1981-82 and was runner-up in the First Division, precursor to the Premier League, in 1975-76. Celebrity QPR fans included musicians Phil Collins, Pete Doherty and composer Michael Nyman. A no-nonsense defender at the end of his playing career, Nelsens work ethic appealed to the QPR fans tired of rental players on big salaries. "I think they just liked that I worked hard and tried to win games," said Nelsen. "People respected that." Nelsen loved the QPR supporters right back. "But it wasnt right off the field," he said of the team. "And that weighed heavily on me because I was kind of brought in to help that out." QPR was relegated several months after Nelsens departure to Canada. According to the Daily Mail, the clubs wage bill was higher than that of Spanish champion and Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid. Toronto benefited from the subsequent clearout, with Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar coming to MLS on a loan agreement. Loic Remy (Newcastle) and Adel Taarabt (AC Milan) were also sent out on loan. Cesar, whose attitude has earned nothing but praise from Toronto coaches and players, says QPR wants him back in August. The team will have to reload if it returns to the Premier League. Redknapp, a master wheeler and dealer, brought in hardened veterans of the Championship to help climb back up the mountain. "He invested really wisely," said Nelsen. "He moved guys that probably had big value. And in saying that, their value has probably increased." Nelsen will be watching closely this weekend. "Ive got a lot of friends on that QPR team," he said. In addition to the big-time Charlies, he remembers of group of honest players desperate to succeed. "And QPR had them. They probably got outnumbered bit a little at the end but those guys, you wish them the best so badly. and for Harry as well, because at his age (now 67) he probably could have gone off and retired somewhere. But he knuckled down in the Championship and you wish them all the success. "All of his coaching staff were fantastic when I was there. And theyve helped me since Ive been here, to tell you the truth." Anthony Parker Jersey . The 40-year-old midfielder was put in charge on Tuesday when David Moyes reign ended after 10 months with the defending champions in seventh place in the English Premier League. Kevin Willis Jersey . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. https://www.cheapraptors.com/ . And like the near entirety of last season, Jonathan Bernier and Torontos goaltending tandem is up to the task.DETROIT - When Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell outlined all the problems the Miami Dolphins may pose this weekend, he could have just as easily been describing his own team.They have an outstanding pass rush, Caldwell said. Theyre beefy up front, linebackers that can run — and obviously a skilled and athletic secondary as well.The Lions and Dolphins have both exceeded expectations this season, and theyve done it in a similar fashion. Detroit has the top-ranked defence in the NFL, while Miamis is No. 1 in the AFC.Both teams are in position to make a run at the playoffs — but they each face a decent amount of skepticism heading into Sundays matchup at Ford Field.Its a pretty even match in terms of the type of teams facing each other, Dolphins defensive co-ordinator Kevin Coyle said. Were both strong on defence, both have explosive-play ability on offence. I think its going to be a heck of a matchup.The Lions (6-2) should look a bit more threatening on offence this weekend, with Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush both expected back from injuries.Its been an impressive start for Caldwell in his first season as Detroits coach. The Lions have dealt with kicking problems and an inconsistent offence, but still find themselves leading the NFC North at the midway point of the season.Detroit started 6-3 last year but ended up 7-9, so the Lions still have a lot to prove. Sundays game is the start of a difficult three-game stretch that also includes road games against Arizona and New England.Miami (5-3) is tied with Buffalo for second in the AFC East, but the Dolphins are coming off a 37-0 rout against San Diego, their most lopsided victory since 1995. Theyve scored at least 24 points in five consecutive games, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill is completing 63 per cent of his passes on the season.Miami has mixed rollouts, read options and short passes to take advantage of Tannehills strengths. Tannehill has run for a gain of at least 20 yards in each of the past four games, so hell test Ndamukong Suh and Detroits defensive front with his mobility.Hes a guy that we definitely have to respect no matter what, Suh said. Obviously, he can pass the ball, he can run the ball and theyve been doing a great job of gettiing him out with their zone-read and things of that nature. DeMar DeRozan Jersey. Here are a few more things to watch Sunday when the Lions host the Dolphins:MEGATRONS RETURN: Johnson hasnt played since Oct. 5 because of an ankle injury, but hes expected to return this weekend. Receiver Golden Tate has been terrific in Johnsons absence, but now the Lions face Miamis excellent secondary.Brent Grimes and Cortland Finnegan, the Dolphins two 5-foot-10 cornerbacks, will have their hands full against Tate and the 6-foot-5 Johnson. Miami safety Louis Delmas used to play for the Lions and had his share of battles with Johnson.Throughout practice — but I pretty much lost every one. Hes a heck of a player, Delmas said. Hes one of the more talented players Ive ever faced. Were talented too. Weve just got to go out there and play our game and hopefully the best man wins.FIRST THINGS FIRST: The Dolphins owe some of their success to their remarkable efficiency on first down. They have gained at least 4 yards on 57 per cent of their first-down plays, the best mark in the NFL. Miami is also No. 1 in the league in this category on the opposite side of the ball — Dolphins opponents have gained at least 4 yards on only 41 per cent of their first-down plays.FAMILIAR FACE: Bush has been banged up lately, but like Johnson, he has been able to practice this week. Bush played two seasons with the Dolphins, rushing for a career-high 1,086 yards in 2011, before he signed with the Lions prior to the 2013 season.TOUGH MATCHUP: Mike Pouncey, the anchor of Miamis offensive line, moved from centre to guard this year and has played well, but the interior linemen will have to deal with Suh this weekend.We have to go out and play our best against him. Hes going to be the best defender we play against all year, Pouncey said.COMEBACKS: The Lions are coming off an open date, but before that they managed a pair of one-point victories over Atlanta and New Orleans. Against the Saints, they trailed by 13 late in the fourth quarter before scoring two touchdowns. Against the Falcons, Detroit was down 21-0 at halftime, but rallied to win on a last-second field goal.___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '