 | Forum
Reply | How optimistic are you now?
at 20:36 28 Jun 2025
Last summer was positive but based mostly on a strong finish to the prior season. Players who had no track record in England were getting us excited because we wanted to be excited about the team under Marti. This year we all want the manager to succeed, but given the negative sentiment around the club at the end of the season I do not think the excitement around these transfers is just generic transfer hype. Mbengue, Poku, and the unexpected renewal of Dunne which feels like a new signing, alongside Kelman returning from loan feels like some real quality additions to the squad compared to expectations. The players all have extensive EFL experience, meaning we shouldn't suffer as extensive an adjustment period as we did last year. Furthermore, the signings from last summer have had a season to adjust. Varane looks like a quality member of the squad and a head and shoulders above where he was when he signed (as supported by the offers that have come in for him), Madsen looks like a professional football rather than a competition winner (even if he's not our best midfield option and Morrison became a valued squad member by the end of the season. Kieran Morgan was an unexpected first team regular having initially been signed for the development squad. Our development squad won a competition. Vale is an unknown quantity that has almost been forgotten because of his extended injury.
We have a new manager who wants to work with Nourry and the new structured club-first head coach setup with club coaches rather than a manager's team.
Financially the club does not appear to be on a cliff edge as it has been before.
Now, there are inevitably many issues with the team and the club. Do we have the pace and power in the side to really compete yet? Have we really changed enough to improve our dire injury record? Does Christian Nourry speak like a LinkedIn chatbot with a pretentious and opaque communication style?
But, if we compare now to last summer, ignoring the Marti hypetrain after that incredible finish to 23/24 and the relief and excitement after surviving (which I was wholeheartedly a part of), are we in a better position? I think we have a stronger squad, a more cohesive coaching and amanagement team that is aligned with the board, and incoming transfers with EFL experience. As a result, we should be optimistic. QPR are doing what we have wanted for a long time in building a squad and a system that is moving towards being financially sustainable, and not built around peaks and troughs of spaffing money up the wall on one season pushes like Austin and Johansen. Maybe it doesn't work. But if Stephan doesn't work and gets sacked in November after another poor start to the season, we have a squad. and a philosophy in appointments that makes me believe we won't try and appointment Sam Allardyce and get relegated, but instead will recover and survive. And if it does go well, maybe we can finally start looking up the table and building over a number of seasons. Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I genuinely think that we are moving in the right direction as a club. |
| Forum
Reply | Jesus leaves.
at 11:18 23 Jun 2025
The timing of the announcement suggests we did explore an extension but either couldn't agree terms or changed our minds. The question is what squad role would he have played next season. According to Google and my complete lack of knowledge of Julien Stephan he has played 4-4-2, 4-4-3, and 4-2-3-1. Assuming he doesn't play double defensive midfielders (which surely would be wasting our abundance of attackings 10s) and plays a system with two wingers and a 10 of some description. Where would Andersen rank in the pecking order in our squad. First choice is surely Chair, with the major caveat that he equally could be used on the left. After him, Dembele, Morgan, and potentially Vale. Personally, I feel that Andersen now lacks the energy to break forward from midfield in the Championship, and I would therefore rather play those other options ahead of him. Furthermore, at his age, he will likely only get worse. Andersen will never generate a fee in the manner that Varane is attracting offers. A year of Andersen is a year wasted in which the same minutes could have been given to developing a punt who may (or equally may not) potentially generate a future fee. |
| Forum
Reply | Jesus leaves.
at 11:04 23 Jun 2025
Think it's the right decision. A player whose offered some good moments for us but doesn't seem to have the quality to regularly feature going forward. |
| Forum
Reply | Cifuentes on gardening leave
at 13:13 30 Apr 2025
I think Marti would likely have wanted to leave regardless of the issues in his relationship with Nourry. He hasn't spent three years at any previous club, consistently moving up in the footballing world. QPR aren't going up in the footballing world - therefore, he will move. Maybe the relationship with Nourry accelerated his departure. It has certainly made it play out in public in a worse manner. Either way, Marti has done a good job for the club since he came in. He's kept us in the Championship in two seasons where it could have gone the other way if we'd had other previous managers in charge.
There are many things that we can blame Nourry for (recruitment, Ben Williams, lack of transparency), but I think regardless of any relationship breakdown, even if Marti and Nourry were playing happy families, he would have gone this summer. The club is not in the financial position to push up the league table, and that doesn't align with his career aims. |
| Forum
Reply | **BURNLEY MATCH THREAD**
at 12:52 26 Apr 2025
I don't think there's any world where we play this side and look like the better team sadly. |
| Forum
Reply | **BURNLEY MATCH THREAD**
at 12:48 26 Apr 2025
Burnley commentators suggests Marti will want to improve on the home record next season
MARTI STAYING CONFIRMED [Post edited 26 Apr 12:48]
|
| Forum
Reply | Plymouth Match Thread - Post Captain Pugwash !!
at 13:54 18 Jan 2025
I didn't think Kolli had what it takes to be an out and out striker and would end up being a winger, but recently he's demonstrated a finisher's instinct that is very exciting. |
| Forum
Reply | Plymouth Match Thread - Post Captain Pugwash !!
at 12:15 18 Jan 2025
Feels like a pretty full strength side midfield forwards. Hopefully this defence can settle - need a stronger showing from Edwards this time out. Hopefully Plymouth don't have momentum from their cup win last week. 2-1 Rangers. |
| | SteveCookFanAccount
|
Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 18 | | Comment Votes: | 0 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 18 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.