The Promoted Clubs – QPR

Having cast an eye over Leicester and Burnley’s prospects, we now turn our attentions to the final promoted club, Queens Park Rangers. Relegated to the Championship in the previous campaign, Harry Redknapp’s side bounced back at the first attempt, courtesy of a tense play-off final win over Derby County:

The Statistics

CS = Clean sheets

Redknapp’s side finished fourth after 46 Championship matches, 22 points behind eventual winners Leicester. In front of their own fans, QPR were defensively superb in the first half of the season, conceding just twice in the first 10 at Loftus Road before picking up just two clean sheets in the remaining 13 home fixtures. The London outfit lost just twice there and scored more than a single goal in 12 of the 23 matches.

On the road, however, their form was far from impressive and raises cause for concern for next time round. Losing 10 of their 23 away games, they won just eight times, scoring more than a single goal on only six occasions and delivering seven shut-outs.

Pitted against Wigan in the semi-final play-offs, they won 2-1 at Loftus Road after a goalless draw at the DW before getting the better of Steve McLaren’s side at Wembley.

The Manager

With just four points on the board after 12 matches of the 2012/13 campaign, QPR turned to the vastly experienced Redknapp in their attempt to climb off the bottom of the table. By the end of the season, however, they were still rooted to the basement with a mere 25 points to their name – for all his years in the top-flight with the likes of Tottenham, West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton, the 67-year old’s side sat 14 points from safety, having mustered a mere four wins from 38 matches.

Tactically, Redknapp mainly preferred a 4-4-1-1 set up for QPR last season, with summer signing Charlie Austin proving the main source of goals despite weeks on the sidelines through injury, though as shown by the second-leg play-off win over Wigan, the R’s boss will switch to 4-4-2 when necessary.

The Promoted Squad

As always, ‘Arry was busy in the transfer market last season, with a number of players loaned in and of the club. The likes of Benoit Assou-Ekotto (31 appearances), Nikco Krancjar (32), Tom Carroll (26) and Ravel Morrison (17) all made significant contributions, whilst Will Keane and Kevin Doyle also featured in 10+ games before their respective loan deals came to an end. It means Redknapp has plenty of shopping to do over the summer in his quest to secure QPR’s survival and, with many players also returning from loan, the prospects of many of last term’s main men are somewhat clouded.

Rob Green (48 starts) – nailed-on under Redknapp, the former West Ham stopper was key to his side’s play-off win after turning in a defiant display against Derby – he’s expected to sign a new contract and should continue as the R’s number one.

Danny Simpson (36 apps, 2 assists) – snapped up from Newcastle on a free transfer last summer, the versatile defender was utilised as a right-back, with his game time only diminished due to a back injury.

Armand Traore (22 apps, 2 goals, 1 assist) – affected by a number of knocks and niggles, Traore was used as a utility player in defence and midfield by Redknapp, with Assou-Ekotto nailing down the left-back berth upon his loan arrival in September. Out of contract this summer, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be kept on.

Richard Dunne (44 apps, 1 goal) – the former Villa centre-half has been installed as a key member of the R’s back-four by Redknapp. A lack of mobility through the middle could be punished severely at the highest level, though, and despite his consistency of game time, Dunne’s place may well be under threat if his manager strengthens at the back.

Clint Hill (42 apps, 1 goal, 2 assists) – like Dunne, the 35-year-old was nailed-on last term, though whilst there’s no doubting Hill’s dedication to the cause, it remains to be seen whether his game time will be as regular next time around.

Nedum Onuoha (29 apps, 2 goals) – versatile enough to offer cover at either full-back position, the former City man may find it hard to nail down a starting berth once Redknapp’s shopping spree comes to an end.

Aaron Hughes – (11 apps) – signed from Fulham in January on a short-term contract until the end of the season, though his versatility and top-flight experience with the Cottagers could be worth retaining.

Shaun Wright-Phillips (11 apps, 1 assist) a peripheral figure under Redknapp, he played a part in all of the first eight matches but featured just three more times in the remaining 38. Another player out of contract, a move on looks inevitable.

Jermain Jenas (26 apps, 2 goals, 2 assists) – a regular in the opening few months of the season, he fell down the pecking order in the latter part and featured just twice in the final 11 fixtures. Another one who is out of contract this summer.

Karl Henry (29 apps, 1 goal) – snapped up from Wolves last summer, he may well have to get used to bench-warming duties next time around. A lack of attacking output keeps him off the Fantasy radar, regardless.

Joey Barton (37 apps, 3 goals, 3 assists) – returning to the club after a loan stint at Marseille in 2012/13, he played a crucial role in the centre of the park and has a share of set-pieces to boost his appeal. Will have plenty to prove next time round and his chances of regular game time are better than most of the squad.

Matt Phillips (21 apps, 3 goals, 2 assists) – brought in from Blackpool for £5m last summer, the midfielder was utilised on the right and in “the hole” before a fractured leg ended his season in early February. Phillips managed the full 90 minutes on just seven occasions, though, suggesting that even if he recovers in time for the start of 2014/15, many may choose to overlook him due to Redknapp’s tactical tinkering.

Gary O’Neil (32 apps, 1 goal) arriving from West Ham on a free transfer, O’Neil produced just a single strike and fell out of the picture towards the end of the season, with just seven appearances in the final 20 league matches.

Yossi Benayoun (16 appearances, 3 goals, 1 assist) joined as a free agent in December last year and, whilst his experience was called upon over the last few months in the league, he was overlooked for the play-offs. Now out of contract, he is believed to be in talks to return to Israel with Maccabi Haifa.

David Hoilett (38 apps, 4 goals, 5 assists) the former Blackburn man turned in a solid, if somewhat unspectacular, season on the flank. Utilised on the left at the start of the campaign, Hoilett was occasionally shifted over to the right following Phillips’ injury and whilst his versatility strengthens his consistency of game time, his previous years in the top-flight have rarely reaped reward.

Andrew Johnson (17 apps, 2 goals, 2 assists) struggled with an ankle injury over the last few months and is out of contract this summer. Would be no more than an impact sub if Redknapp decides to keep him around.

Charlie Austin (31 apps, 17 goals, 3 assists) signed from promotion rivals Burnley last summer, he missed a number of games after undergoing shoulder surgery yet still finished as the R’s top scorer. Providing he can steer clear of the treatment room, Austin looks one of the most appealing options as a cheap third forward for the season ahead.

Bobby Zamora (21 apps, 5 goals) the match-winner against Derby was mainly utilised as a substitute by Redknapp last term. The 90 minute-appearance at Wembley was only his third over the previous league campaign – another out of contract player, he looks likely to play the role of impact sub at best.

Potential Targets

As mentioned, it’s going to be busy at Loftus Road this summer. In total, eight players are out of contract, whilst a further six – Julio Cesar, Loic Remy, Adel Taarabt, Park Ji-Sung, Samba Diakite and Esteban Granero – are back from loan spells and will surely be deemed surplus to requirement. Remy, in particular, looks a certainty to leave as the R’s raise cash to splash elsewhere and Taarabt is hoping to clinch a permanent move to AC Milan after notching four times in 16 appearances for the San Siro side last term.

Discussing his transfer plans over the last few days, the R’s boss revealed he’s more likely to concentrate on British-based players for the season ahead and admitted he needs a number of new faces:

“We’ve seen players before who have come in and not done well when people have bought them out of a World Cup. QPR have been down that road before and come unstuck, bringing in an awful lot of players from abroad and who took a lot of money and weren’t really into the club and understanding what’s wanted. I think it’s important now that I look in this country as much as possible to improve the squad….We’ve got a good chance to do that. We’ve got lots of players out of contract so there is room to bring some players in and that is what we’re looking to do. There’s the nucleus of a team but I’d be a liar if I sat here and said it’s ok. We need to strengthen the squad quite a bit.”

As shown by his acquisition of Assou-Ekotto, Benayoun and Krancjar, Redknapp has targeted former players in his attempt to bring the right sort of characters to the club as he continues a lengthy restructuring process. Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole have been quickly linked to their former West Ham boss after all three were released by their clubs over the past couple of weeks – indeed, Redknapp has been quick to suggest a loan deal for nephew Lampard since his departure from Chelsea:

“If he goes to New York, and their season does not start until March, you never know… if he’s got six months to fill, maybe he fancies a game at QPR. He is easily good enough to do another year at Chelsea, but I don’t think Frank would be happy if he wasn’t playing regularly because he is not used to that.”

Certainly, Ferdinand’s presence in the heart of defence would be a real step in the right direction and, according to reports, Redknapp also has his eyes on another of his former defenders, Tottenham’s Michael Dawson – a potential double-act that would surely make us reassess their defensive prospects. Swansea’s Ashley Williams has also been linked with a move to Loftus Road – the centre-half is now in the final year of his contract and could be picked up for under £5m.

As of yet, there have been no reports of moves in the troublesome left-back area, though elsewhere at full-back, Glen Johnson – another former player of Redknapp’s – has been linked. With Liverpool on the lookout for a new left-back, there are suggestions that Brendan Rodgers could utilise Jon Flanagan on his natural right side at the back, with Johnson – who has just a year left on his contract – potentially dropping down the pecking order.

Redknapp could also return for a couple of last season’s loan stars. Ravel Morrison would add a much-needed goal threat from midfield – he notched six times from 17 appearances and would surely be back on our Fantasy radars if he’s handed the role in “the hole” behind a lone striker. Kevin Doyle’s loan stint has persuaded Redknapp to eye up a permanent deal. The Republic of Ireland forward has only 12 months left on his contract at Wolves but the R’s boss conceded that, in spite of his interest, he won’t be held to ransom.

While the club acknowledge the need to rebuild, both the manager and owner, Tony Fernandes, are determined to avoid a repeat of the 2012/13 season, when virtually all of Mark Hughes’ big-money signings failed to live up to their price tags. Only yesterday Redknapp once again discussed the need to “get the balance right” when it comes to new acquisitions, though with just less than three months until the window closes, we can expect numerous more names to be bandied about from now until the start of September, with ‘Arry no doubt centre stage from the driver’s seat on deadline day once again.