QPR’s squad overhaul following the arrival of new owner Tony Fernandes continued on transfer deadline day with the acquisition of Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City. The winger joins up at Loftus Road on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
The Statistics
Having suffered frustration at Chelsea, the return to Man City from Chelsea in 2009 failed to hand Wright-Phillips the opportunity for regular starts that he craved.
The early signs had been encouraging – 27 starts in his first season back brought returns of 5 goals and 5 assists with 16 Fantasy Premier League bonus points. Predictably, however, his starts were cut the following season as City begun bolstering their squad with their newfound millions under Roberto Mancini – the arrival of Adam Johnson, in particular, hindered his progress. Wright-Phillips started 19 matches in 2009/10 but still managed to chip in with 4 goals and 8 assists with 10 bonus thrown in.
Last season, Wright-Phillips found himself limited to Europa Cup and FA Cup appearances and failed to make an impression. There’s no doubt that he desperately needs a run of assured starts and an injury free spell if he is ever to return to the kind of form which brought double figure goal returns in his first spell with City in the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
The Prospects
Wright-Phillips looks a good fit for Rangers. Warnock favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation in the Championship last season and the former City winger would seem well suited to a role in that system on the right flank or in a similar position in a 4-4-2. Joey Barton’s role on the arrival of Wright-Phillips is interesting – presumably he could line up in central midfield rather than find himself deployed on the right. Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faulin are well established in the holding midfield roles but presumably, Barton could take up one of these central positions with Adel Taarabt surely set for the free role behind a lone striker.
Clearly both Barton and Wright-Phillips offer Warnock several options and tactical flexibility. The knock-on effects are that the likes of Tommy Smith and Akos Buzacky now look likely to find themselves restricted to cameo roles as the new broom sweeps through Loftus Road.
In Fantasy terms, Wright-Phillips, along with Barton, will certainly come back onto the radar but Adel Taarabt is surely likely to remain the key target within the Rangers midfield. The price difference between the three midfielders is minimal with Barton currently the cheapest in the pack – Wright-Phillips is available at 6.4 in the Fantasy Premier League game following a recent price drop. Taarabt, at 6.5, still looks the most likely given his set-piece involvement and impressive goal record. Having struck the woodwork twice at Wigan, the signs indicate that returns are imminent.
Taarabt’s influence on Rangers’ attacking play may well be reduced as a result of the new arrivals but arguably the potential for stronger results, form and confidence will only help Taarabt meet the pre-season expectations of those who invested in the Moroccan. Wright-Phillips has a point to prove but whether he can outshine and outperform Taarabt in the new QPR lineup is certainly up for debate.
