Looks like Leicester are well on their way to snapping up Frazier Campbell and Ulloa. Plus Nugent, Vardy, and Taylor Fletcher all have new deals. Currently our only confirmed striker is Austin, am I right in saying? Keane, Doyle, Maiga, Johnson, Hitchcock all gone (Remy likely going). We can't factor Zamora into the equation at all, anything he provides is a bonus. Relying on him in any shape or form, even if it's only as "3rd choice striker" is an error. 20 mins of every 90 is only 22.22% of the game, so we might as well consider Zamora 22.22% of a striker.
So what happens with a couple of injuries? Our only two signed forwards have injury problems. As posted above,Leicester are on their way to having 5 and may only play one up front.
Leicester play 442 much more often than we do, and one up front for them might mean players playing out of position to get a game - which could well generate friction if things aren't going well. That's not to say they don't play one up front, they did.... but last season 442 was great for them so it's perhaps unlikely Pearson will alter his masterplan too significantly since it was so successful last time out
Fair points! Harry's already said we'll be trying 3 at the back though, which would mean two up front. What's the minimum number of fit strikers required to facilitate that formation for a season? Arguably 4, so that 2 injuries wouldn't wreck things completely. Currently we only have 1 fully fit striker, in Austin. Which makes Flyers 3/4 estimation not seem so far off the mark Edit: Leicester also still have some fringe strikers on their books like Andy King and Chris Wood. The closest we've got to that is Michael Petrasso
Burnley have Ings,Vokes, Sordell, and Barnes- so even their strike force is a lot better than ours currently. That's just assessing the sides who came up with us, who'll both probably be relegation contenders. I've no idea how the likes of palace/wba/hull/villa are looking, but I'm guessing we'll be competing with those lot too.
We have a first and third forward target man. Its clear we are after the Icelandic bloke as second choice. That leaves at least two fast/poacher types to get in, possibly 3 to match up with 3 target men. Unless of course they think we will play two target men every game. Having just 4 forwards will mean our bench is short with just one injury/suspension.
I see what you're saying, but I don't think we're a big enough club to pay for that kind of belt & braces job . An injury or suspension would leave us with just 1 on the bench, but really that's tough. If we end up having to revert to 1 up front at some point, then so be it. They've given Petrasso another contract too, so must hopefully think he's decent enough for the odd position on our bench. Also as someone else said, Hoillet/Phillips could fill in as a 2nd striker for a few games if we were ever majorly injury-hit. 2-3 strikers would do for me
I know which means they have 5 or 6 players for one spot. Gk and CF are the two positions you can't scrimp on. A 25 man squad allows for 2 players in each position plus 3 Gks. I'd expect 5-6 CBS too.
Barry Byrne ‏@ByrneBarry · 4h Sigthorsson reported to be on the way to London to tie up deal with QPR. Understand that some personal details remain to be finalised. This guy's usually pretty reliable, he says he's seen the above in Dutch tweets. Re. Burnley, I didn't realise they've signed Lucas Jutkiewicz too. The guy scored a brace in their 8-0 win in Australia today, along with Sordell & Ashley Bares. That makes 5 solid strikers when including Ings + Vokes
Agree totally. In my experience, @byrnebarry and @oldbighead are the most reliably informed QPR contributors on Twitter.
Both Burnley and Leicester seem to be going for it - strengthening their squads without breaking the bank. So it is possible then. Yet all the noises coming out of LR are that we are waiting for players or 'boys' with the quality and right attitude and if we can't get them there's always a few older 'good boys' out there willing to sign up to the dream for one last hurrah. But then, let's not panic. As others have said, there's still 10, 9, 8, 7 now 6 weeks to go. So what if they're not with us now, there's always the second half of the season for them to get to know their new team mates. You know things are desperate when the Offy has to post two days of non-stop articles about Rio because, frankly, there is nothing else to report apart from of course Tony deciding not to tweet any more then starting again barely a couple of weeks later.
I'd definitely agree re Barry. The difference is, he never claims to be ITK- he just scans foreign press/tweets, then usually provides a source. @oldbighead on the other hand likes to talk-up his inside info credentials, and has been repeatedly wrong in the past. Fair points Yorkshire. A good poster on WATRB seems to think Caulker will sign tomorrow, which would fit in with all the murmurings on Friday that it was "very close" (Dave Mac included). That'd be a fantastic signing, and renew some much needed transfer-positivity again.
Hoilett and Phillips can both play up front. If we're going to play 3-5-2 that may be the only way they'll get in the team.
