Date: 24th June 2016 at 12:00pm
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1. The Rs faithful need to get behind the team.

Something that QPR has been known for the past is its hardcore, loyal fan base. By and large, this is still true. I mean who would choose to support QPR out of choice?

In London, it’s a crowded market and QPR are one of many. Despite the relative size of the club, QPR fans are very vocal on social media, in particular Twitter.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

However, the QPR ‘Twittersphere’, is often not a pleasant place to be. Many people are quick to judge, criticise and slate players. This attitude of impatience has seeped into the stadium in recent seasons.

Perhaps; in this fast paced world we live in, patience is a dying art form, but I think the fans need to get behind the team a bit more and have a touch of realism. In a stadium like Loftus Road, it can make a real difference.

2. The Championship is getting tougher than ever.

In previous blogs, I’ve said staying in the second-tier of English football might not be a bad thing for QPR. With the relegations of Norwich City, Aston Villa and Newcastle United; the league is welcoming some big teams.

Who’d have thought that Rafa Benitez would be leading out the Magpies to such glamorous places as Rotherham, less than a year after barking out orders to Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale?

Photo: Kieran Clarke

Hasselbaink was appointed QPR manager back in December 2015 – Photo: Kieran Clarke / Offside.

Rafa’s decision to stay, is indicative of many things, but I think the Championship is becoming a tougher proposition to get out of and stay in. The league features many teams bigger in stature than QPR, including the Rs first opponents of the season, Leeds United.

As a fan, hopefully this means the football we will shows an upward turn in quality. What is certain though is that the job of manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, CEO Lee Hoos and Director of Football Les Ferdinand won’t get any easier in the short term.

3. Hasselbaink Needs To Reveal His True Style

Last season; QPR were the very epitome of mid-table. The club finished 12th out of 24 teams – winning 14, losing 14 and drawing 18 matches.

They scored 54 goals and conceded 54 goals. The 2015/2016 side love an even number, that’s for sure. As the season progressed under Hasselbaink, the team certainly appeared fitter, harder to beat and more organised with the team lining up most frequently in a 4-2-3-1 formation. However, they had a tendency to turn a win or a loss into a draw.

It’s difficult to know how many players from Hasselbaink’s regular eleven will be at his disposal come August. Cult hero in the making Sebastian Polter lacks finesse, but is the only forward available that functions in Hasselbaink’s preferred formation at Championship level.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Winger Hoilett is expected to leave Loftus Road ahead of the 2016/17 campaign – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

It’s unlikely that Matt Phillips and Junior Hoilett will be at the club by the end of the transfer window. Letting go off Clint Hill and Ale Faurlin indicates that the manager wants more dynamic players in the squad, an opinion that was voiced by Les Ferdinand as key reasons for letting both Hill and Faurlin go.

With this in mind, the lack of game time afforded to Conor Washington and Massimo Luongo towards the end of the season seems puzzling. As is always the case with QPR, a squad overhaul is needed, let’s hope for Jimmy’s sake he can get the players he wants and the fans can get a clearer idea of what he’s got in mind.

 
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