Redknapp still not convinced two up front is the way forward for QPR QPR manager Harry Redknapp 07/12/2013 By David McIntyre Harry Redknapp remains unconvinced that QPR are better off with two up front, despite the midweek crushing of Bournemouth. Redknapp, whose team face Blackburn at Loftus Road today, believes Rangersâ promotion bid hinges largely on the strength of their midfield and has been reluctant to accommodate a second striker. He did opt to start with Andy Johnson alongside top scorer Charlie Austin against Bournemouth in a 4-4-2 formation, but the 3-0 victory has not changed his opinion and a return to one up front is on the cards. Asked if Wednesdayâs match had led to a rethink, Redknapp said: âNot really. We havenât lost a game at home playing with one up front either. âYou can lose control of a game sometimes by playing with two up. It was a good result the other night, but certainly playing with one up front has been very successful for us this year. âIn that game it [two up front] worked for us, yes, but we won games before that so there was nothing wrong with the system before the other night.â The Rangers manager added: âThere are very few [successful] teams in the world now that play with two up front. Watch the World Cup and I doubt youâll see teams playing with two strikers. âWeâll look at each game and take it as it comes. Itâll be horses for courses. In some games weâll play with the three [in midfield] to thicken us up and at other times weâll stick two up front and play differently.â
Its not so much about having 2 strikers as much as having the right blend of strikers. I think Austin and Johnson are too similar.They need the ball to feet and want to run onto the ball or poach in and around the box.A lot of those balls in the air are just coming straight back. We need a target man to partner one of the two. I think we won one header yesterday. Ok,its a gamble but I think an Adebayor type would tear this league up. Anyway,we didnt lose but the top 5 are still too close.
