'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Queen Park Rangers, the Champions of Championship. What do you expect from this team? They are rising, growing and of course, winning.
After years of uncertainty and heartache, during which the club nearly went completely out of existence, they are finally back in the top flight. The West London club last played top flight football back in 1996, when they were relegated after a 19th spot (33 points) finish. The years in between were tough, they faced administration in 2001 and were relegated to the 3rd division in the same year. Then came another controversy in 2006 when allegations were made of a gun crime in the board room. Again this year, when they were about to be declared a promoted team, a new controversy engulfed the club. There was a widespread speculation that there would be points deduction for the controversial signing of Alejandro Faurlin. But fortunately, the club escaped with just a fine and finally made it to the Premier League as the Champions of the Second Division.
LAST SEASON:
Last season was a season to remember for the QPR fans as they cruised to the top position on the table and won the Championship convincingly. QPR boasted the stingiest defence in the championship (conceded just 32 goals) and had the best goal difference of +39 amongst the clubs in the championship. Apart from a top class performance in the league, QPR reached the 3rd round of FA Cup but bowed out of the Carling Cup in the first round. Their game under Neil Warnock was a talk of the town as they refused to stop winning.
TRANSFER TALK:
Players In:
DJ Campbell (Blackpool) £2.5 million
Danny Gabbidon (undisclosed)
Jay Bothroyd (undisclosed)
Kieron Dyer (undisclosed).
Players Out:
Peter Ramage (Crystal Palace) loan
Angelo Balanta (MK Dons) loan
Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers) free.
Neil Warnock did not exactly break the bank to sign big names. Rather, he spent the money wisely and has signed some good players so far. In the form of West Ham duo Danny Gabiddon and Keiran Dyer, along with DJ Campbell from Blackpool, he has brought in men with Premier League experience. Whether Bothroyd could step up a notch remains to be seen.
PRE SEASON FORM:
QPR were quite a volcano in their pre-season matches where they lost just once in 5 matches to Italian side Cesena. Their best performance came against Tavistock in which QPR fired a whopping 13 goals.
Harrow Borough 0-1 QPR
Tavistock 0-13 QPR
Plymouth Argyle 0-1 QPR
Bodmin Town 0-7 QPR
Cesena 1-0 QPR
The QPR Talisman:
Adel Taarabt, who was linked with a move to France decided to stay back at the club. He was quite a revelation in the last season for QPR and one of the main reasons for QPR’s promotion. He fired 19 goals in the league to make sure QPR ended the season on top of the table. The talismanic midfielder was the star player for QPR and is again expected to pull off some fireworks in QPR’s campaign in the Premier League. It is difficult to emulate the same kind of form in the premier league but he is certainly capable of doing wonders in the midfield with his creativity, vision of passing and an eye for goal.
Adel Taarabt
QPR’s Formation and possible Line up:
Warnock prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation and used this formation for almost every match last year.
Available options for Defence, Midfield and Attack:
Goalkeepers: In Paddy Kenny, Warnock has a reliable stopper who was one of the best in the Championship last season. His understudy is Radek Cerny, who was once on Tottenham’s books.
Defence: Kaspars Gorkss looked Premier League class throughout QPR’s promotion campaign – and now he gets his chance for real. Others from last year such as Matthew Connolly and Fitz Hall should also thrive.
Midfield: The biggest coup of the summer was to convince Taarabt to stay, although it will be interesting whether his petulant side comes out when the team is struggling. Also keeping the unsung Faurlin was a massive boost to the side.
Attack: The distinctly Championship-class forward line-up of last season has been boosted by Bothroyd and Campbell. One more before the close of the window would be nice.
EXPECATIONS AND PREDICTIONS:
QPR is playing in Premier League after a long time and their campaign would not guarantee the same success like last year. But they are here to stay. With a fantastic squad, they can expect wins. QPR will survive in the Premier League because of an experienced manager and the hunger to stay. QPR will begin their Campaign at home against Bolton on 13th August, if it is not postponed due to the ongoing riots in London. They will face big teams in between in which they will have to give their best to collect the maximum points at their disposal.
Predictions: QPR will survive in the Premier League but where will they stand at the end of the season? It is really tough to predict, they can squeeze into the top 10 or might finish anywhere between 10 and 15. Only after first few gameweeks will we get a clearer picture of what is in store for them.
Check out our other Season Previews:
Arsenal: Will The Gunners Finally Fire?
Manchester United: All set for a Treble
Tottenham Hotspur: Champions League Football to Return to the Lane?
Valencia CF: Time to Return to Old Glory?
Manchester City: A Dynasty to be Feared?
Liverpool FC: Will They Walk Alone?
Chelsea: Special Expectations on the New ‘Special One’
Sunderland: Can the Black Cats catch the European Flight?
Edited By: Ambuj Gupta
