Five conclusions about QPR after win over Charlton written by Sue Denim Profile Pic written by Sue Denim 6 hours ago Our take on Harry Redknapp's promotion-challenging Championship side. 1: Charlie Austin is more than a fox in the box Austin may get most of his goals from in and around the six-yard box, but his brilliant winner against Charlton proved that he is a highly gifted all-round forward. Austin gave Ben Hamer no chance with his rocket into the corner as Rangers marched to another impressive Championship win. 2. Andy Johnson could still play a key role this season â if he stays Johnson has been limited mainly to substitute appearances this season, as was the case again against Charlton. However, the striker who so wanted to join CrystalPalace during the summer has shown enough quality to suggest he could form a strong partnership with Austin given the chance. Such an eventuality would, however, require a formation change from Harry Redknapp which the manager is unlikely to make. 3. QPR have the strength in depth to cope with injuries Rangers were missing the likes of Alejandro Faurlin, Nedum Onuoha and Bobby Zamora, but still chalked up another comfortable win against a decent Charlton team. QPR have the strength in depth to go all the way this season â and to think that Redknapp may add to that squad in January is a little frightening for the rest of the league. 4. Redknapp may struggle to keep Matt Phillips The wingerâs performances so far this season have improved game on game. Should he keep on progressing at this rate, having impressed again against Charlton on Saturday, surely he will attract attention from Premier League sides next summer. QPR have acquired a gem in Phillips, but will they be able to keep hold of him? 5. QPR have the best defence in the league The back four of Danny Simpson, Richard Dunne, Clint Hill and Benoit Assou-Ekotto is as assured a defence as you are ever likely to see. Having kept eight consecutive clean sheets earlier in the season, they were at it again on Saturday. Redknapp will be hoping desperately that he does not suffer any more injuries to his defenders, because at the moment they are carrying QPR towards promotion.
call me stupid but ain't SUE DENIM a PSEUDONYM !!!!!!!! Getting my coat on as i type .......................................................................................
Interesting third conclusion. What's the evidence for strength in depth in the defence and attack? We have the 4 defenders who have played competently against limited opposition and we have Charlie Austin. Convince me.
I agree that we do not possess 'depth' in these areas currently - however, I think it's worth considering the following... Playing 1 up front we have 5 strikers at the moment - 3 of whom are considered capable of finding the net on a regular basis - all are (at the present time, with fingers crossed) fit In defence Dunn Onohua Simpson BAE Hill Onyewu make it 5 and probably 6 that are competent, if not accomplished in defence plus at least 2 - Sendless-White and Magri who are EDS regulars and can be called upon to deputise in one position (assuming the other 3 spots are covered by experienced pros). We are acknowledged to not have played to our best abilities and yet are joint top on points (2nd on goal difference) - in any other league we could (wild assumption here) easily be 7th or worse, and yet we are not. If any 'evidence' of strength (if not depth) was really needed, it is surely it is the fact that we are where we are? Our squad isn't the biggest (contrary to what is commonly reported), and compared to the (apparent) depth of a squad like Burnley we are enormously disadvantaged in terms of the balance of the squad, despite the quality of the individual personnel we do have available. BUT we are where we are, and January is not far off. Given the situation, and the way in which we have managed our injury misfortunes to our advantage (i.e. maintained our position) I can see where the OP is coming from, even if I think it only applies to our midfield - and yet stand up who didn't moan about the number of midfielders we signed at the beginning of the season? I'm a generally 'glass half empty' kind of chap, but I continue to be amazed (genuinely) by our ability to grind out results without really playing particularly well, and when January comes I fully expect that we will bring onboard the overall strength in depth that the OP hints at. Further to that, I think that at the start of the season there will have been targets we approached that might have thought twice about joining us, expecting (as many on here did) that we would struggle to leave the malaise of last season behind and consequently fail to have any impact on the league at all. I really don't expect that will be the case now, and I can see players queuing to join the 'project', wanting to be part of something that is very, very positive. God help the rest of the league if we do click because we have the potential and the resources (providing fitness etc. etc.) to do some serious damage - that is of course, if we don't do a QPR…
