QPR assistant boss reveals clubâs priority for January transfer window - QPR - London 24 Jones says the club will look to buy another striker in the January transfer window QPR assistant boss reveals clubâs priority for January transfer window Ian Cooper, QPR correspondent Thursday, October 6, 2011 12:13 PM Mick Jones says Rs will renew their efforts to sign another striker in the new year QPR will renew their efforts to sign a âtop-qualityâ striker when the transfer window re-opens in January, assistant manager Mick Jones has confirmed. Rangers tried to sign both Peter Crouch from Tottenham and Craig Bellamy from Manchester City in the final hours of the summer transfer window, but were frustrated as Crouch moved to Stoke and Bellamy opted for a return to Liverpool. Despite having Jay Bothroyd, DJ Campbell and Heidar Helguson capable of playing at the head of their formation, Neil Warnock has claimed his side could struggle to score goals this season, and his number two Jones says that is a problem they are already looking at solving. âWeâre always looking for better players than weâve currently got, thatâs just the nature of football, and a top-quality striker will definitely be a priority, thereâs no doubt about thatâ Jones told London24. âItâs my job, as assistant manager, to find quality players for the January transfer window, and the search starts now.â QPRâs total of five Premier League goals so far this season is fewer than Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, who both currently sit in the relegation zone. Jones dismissed suggestions that the shortage is down to their 4-2-3-1 formation, which has seen Bothroyd ploughing a lone furrow up front supported by two wide men, and said there were no immediate thoughts of switching to a 4-4-2 system. He also revealed that Bothroyd is feeling the pressure after his indifferent start to the campaign, but backed the England man to find his scoring boots. âWeâve got the set-up that suits us and we have to get the players that suit that set-up,â added Jones. âItâs easy to hide behind the formation when things arenât going so well, the strategy is laid down to the lads and if they canât pull it off, you have to find another alternative. âJayâs anxious, heâs not scored a goal, heâs spoken to me, the manager and Keith Curle about it and we need to solve the problem. âBut as the old cliché goes, at least heâs getting in the positions to score goals, and when he gets one, heâll get two or three. âIâm not worried about him, heâs got a good attitude on the training pitch.â Follow Ian Cooper on Twitter @QPRTimes iReader
Unfortunately, Bothroyd seems to be "getting in the positions to score goals" less and less as he has failed to score this season - remember only one half, blocked chance against Fulham, though of course that is not solely down to him. But he doesn't seem to have that ability to guess where the ball will fall in the penalty box now, that top strikers have, that Johnson showed Sunday, and often therefore seems to arrive too late. DJ looks quicker, sharper in the box to me, and HH as well when he came on against Villa.
