Agree. I understood the analysis as that we have stabilized and strengthened the team for a serious title push this season. Should we be unsuccessful then we will re-engineer our team for the next iteration with the high value sales for large profits of our key talents such as: Dickie, Dieng, Chair, possibly even Willock, etc I guess that this was agreed with these players. Stay with us for this season as it should be fun. If we do not make it to the Premiership ourselves, then we will not step in your way to develop. Should we have to cash in some of our prized assets, then I do not see this as the end of the world, or even negative, as it is part of our new business model of “buy low & sell high”. Also, it would enable us to buy even better talent to develop. This is the model that has successfully worked at teams such as Burnley, Brentford and Bournemouth, etc.
We have all/most of us seen the bust/boom/bust cycle of our club. There is little doubt that if we don’t achieve promotion this year that one or two players will want to move on while their ‘stock is high’ and we would hopefully have learnt to develop players to step in. It’s always fraught with risk buying, developing and succeeding with young players (see the heap of released players from every level in football to show that) but by doing so we make ourselves attractive to youth players and can hopefully make the right choices. Fortunately we do seem to have a good coaching set-up now that continues to try, develop and make the hard choices to get the right players that can move up into the first team. I don’t see us holding players back in the position we are in and we will continue to reinvest and rebuild under the current board and management team. It won’t be a $hit or bust season, but it will be an important test for every level of the club to see how we cope through the season. Hopefully success will prevail but as in life there are no guarantees even if you have a whole country bankrolling your club. Nothing will replace shear hard work, dedication and attitude and we do seem to have some good measures of all these at the moment. So let’s hope for success this season. If not … we will continue forward in the same way hopefully until we do get well earned success.
True. Take a look at how many times Brentford were “close to promotion”, but missed or messed up. En-route they sold many players, but still they improved. Currently they are even not doing too badly in the Premiership.
What is all this talk about this year being **** or bust? Thirteen months ago if you had been told that at this time we would have lost Eze and BOS but we would be lying third in the league, unbeaten and on a cup run you would have been shaking your head in disbelief. At our level it is all about balancing the books and annually allowing players to leave for the right money whilst having replacements coming through. You have to have a manager in place that can be trusted to make this cycle work and we have. Our future is very bright, much better than it has been for a long time but in terms of budget we are still poor by this leagues standard. Happily though we are better managed than most.
Exactly. This is more or less what I said in my earlier post. I don't understand what the gloom is all about. This is what it looks like when we're being run better as a club.
I disagree. His recent tweets have been very measured and both he and the family were clearly delighted for him to have signed a decent contract with a club he has a lot of time for towards the end of his career. The problem is probably going to be in motivating himself to get to the standard to which he is still capable rather than dissatisfaction about competition.
Looks like we might be getting another young CF on our books, we look to be signing Martell Taylor-Crossdale. Ex Chelsea, released by Fulham and scored in the u23 match at the start of the week.
Hmm. I know he may say positive things like that. But we know what Charlie is like. He's very competitive. I'm not saying he'll be unprofessional. He just won't like it up him. And he is the kind of character that rises to those types of occasions. So all is good in my books.
6 free-agents still available to QPR if they wanted to further bolster their squad Queens Park Rangers will be looking forward to the season resuming after the international break with them starting the Sky Bet Championship campaign in really fine form. The Hoops certainly look as though they’re going to be in the conversation at the sharp end of the table this year and that is exactly what Mark Warburton will have been planning all through the summer window. Indeed, some fine signings have been made and they can be happy with their squad and the way it looks – but what if they want to add further in the weeks ahead? In case they do, we’ve taken a look at six free agents currently looking for a new club… Andre Wisdom please log in to view this image Wisdom is a very experienced defender at this level and if QPR wanted some extra defensive depth he might be worth a look. He knows how to play in a back four or back three and has experience as a full-back as well as a centre-half, making him a versatile option. QPR have got a decent set of defenders already, of course, but if they were struck by injuries or something like that perhaps Wisdom would be worth consideration. Florian Jozefzoon please log in to view this image Jozefzoon has played at some good clubs at Championship level and knows the division well. He’s able to beat a man and carry the ball up the pitch and might be worth a thought if Warburton wants an extra midfielder at some point in the near future. You’d want assurances over his form as he has tailed off a little bit in the recent past but he has shown quality before at second-tier level. Neil Taylor please log in to view this image Taylor was a player that QPR considered in the summer and so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that there is still some interest there. The R’s eventually brought in Sam McCallum to challenge Lee Wallace down the left but, again, if one of them picks up an injury then QPR might be thinking about extra cover – though Yoann Barbet can do a job on the left if needed. Taylor has quality and still plenty to offer. Dan Crowley please log in to view this image Crowley is a talented footballer but he needs to be moving to a club that is going to be getting the best from him and is set up to help him progress and realise the potential he has. Mark Warburton is a manager who has been brilliant at developing footballers and helping them on so, potentially, Crowley might be a good fit there. You have to think, though, that he might struggle to get game-time given the options QPR have in his position. Jordon Ibe please log in to view this image Ibe is only 25 which is pretty incredible as it feels as though he has been around for a long time now. He’s still got so much to give and isn’t even at his peak yet, he just needs to find the right place to show what he can do. Could Warburton feel as though he could offer the winger a lifeline? The only stumbling block might be that the R’s boss likes to use wing-backs and the former Bournemouth player might not necessarily fit into that. Kadeem Harris please log in to view this image Harris is another good player that does well out wide and, similarly to Ibe, still has lots to give. Harris knows the Championship well having played for the likes of Cardiff City and, most recently, Sheffield Wednesday. Certainly, you could see him doing a job for the right club, it just remains to be seen if QPR think he is for them. Source: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/6...ey-wanted-to-further-bolster-their-squad/amp/
Taylor and Ibe out of that group, but it would depend on maintaining the balance of the squad and wages of course.
The only position we could strengthen in now, in my opinion, is defensive midfield. Luke Amos, although coming back, may yet have more injuries. Also, is he really that great a player? I've seen him play well and I've seen him play poorly. He is yet to prove himself, in my opinion. Dominic Ball has been good recently but hasn't been consistent over the last season. Who knows when Field will be back and when he does, he is still injury prone anyway, like Amos. So, it would be nice to have a good player in that position who seldom has injuries. I actually like the look of Batteche. However, he never seems to get a decent run of games. Aside from that, you could argue that we need another LB or LWB to replace an ageing and somewhat injury prone Wallace. However, I'm not really worried about that position at the moment. For us, Wallace has been able to play a lot of hours and the injury recently hasn't been a long term one. Another position which could be a concern in the second half of this season or next season is attacking midfield, depending on our success with holding on to Chair and Willock. Thomas isn't what we need. And therefore, I'd be up for selling Thomas and taking on a better, up and coming player in that position, who might step up if and when players leave. I haven't been convinced by Dozzell yet. I hope I'm wrong, but he looks a bit overwhelmed by Championship life.
out of that six on Taylor. Ibe is a talented player with a touch of the Ravel Morrion's about him. Bournemouth paid £15 mill and he didn't perform t all in the 4 years there, nor at Liverpool or even Direby. If he cannot cannot into that side with the issues they have then we should leave well alone.
