Comparison of QPR squads 2011 and 2014

I read a comment in a previous thread that our quad at the moment would be the flimsiest Premier League squad of all time. The squad below is our 2011-2012 one, and this is after we "strengthened" it with players such as Barton, Young, SWP, Rio's lesser half etc.

Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry, Hall, Gabbidon, Taarabt, K Dyer, Campbell, Bothroyd, Faurlin, Mackie, Traore, Buzsaky, Perone, Connolly, Barton, L Young, Smith, Helguson, Cerny, B Murphy, Wright-Phillips, A Ferdinand, Puncheon.

Interesting to compare and contrast and see where we are at the moment. I believe that our squad as it stands is stronger and this is without a number of new additions that we will inevitably have, hopefully before too long. That season we incredibly managed to stay up. This gives me some confidence that the season will not be as full of doom and gloom as some are predicting.

 

I agree. I actually think our present squad, along with Caulker and another forward, attacking midfielder and a right back/wing back will hold its own.

 

I agree as well.

I feel certain posters have expectations far too high as to the calibre of players required to survive.

Considering shortage of funds, it will be camaraderie and work ethic that will keep us up, not a few superstar signings.

I feel we still need (assuming Caulker signs) 2 forwards, 2 midfielders, and a right WB.

 

FFS!! I agree again!!

Stop it now!

 

Depends on the shape we play and whether Redknapp rates any of the youngsters enough to play them, but fundamentally.........I agree too!!!!

 

I agree too.

'Keepers

Green fine in goal. Not top half class, but continuity is important, and when confident, he is adequate for a club trying to establish in the PL.

Defence

Yun, Simpson, Ferdinand, Caulker (if poss) and Onuoha all good enough to be first choice defenders. Dunne, Hill, Traore offering back up. Ideally one more defender (aside from Caulker) to be added.

Centre Mid

Granero (I think he will come good), Barton, Faurlin form strong CM options. I wouldn't mind seeing O'Neil signed as competition/backup - he really was played out of position last season and I thought he impressed in the centre. The West Ham kid on trial might also provide backup.

Wingers

On the wings, I think Phillips will do very well, with Hoilett adequate. Traore another option. Another winger is a necessity if you ask me as with those three being quite pacey, they will pick up injuries. We need four decent wingers.

Attack

Austin is obviously our best bet. Zamora fine as a third choice striker (assuming we are playing one up top). We do need to replace Remy, and a fourth striker wouldn't exactly hurt - especially if we have funds from selling Remy and Taarbat.

Additions needed

Based on that very quick analysis, I would say we need two more defenders (Caulker and wing back), potentially another CM, one more winger, and one (or two) more strikers.

That would make a total of six new signings, which would hopefully ensure that we keep the team spirit from the playoffs going, and don't rock the boat too much, but have the necessary quality to survive!

 

I hope we are as good as Harold got us with the ball ... Worried when we haven't got it

 

Fantasy football on paper
These players should be in by now IMO

With the ball agree could be solid
But we looked very poor without it

 

Wingers may not be so important if we are to play 3-5-2 though. The wing backs are the wingers in that formation.

 

Little to disagree with there, Raver. The CM vacancy you refer to needs to be a creative midfielder. If Granero comes good then that's fine, but he'll need cover. One would hope Messrs Phillips and Hoilett will provide service from the wings, but we still need the chap in the middle, pulling the strings, controlling the tempo, creating the opportunities from almost nothing with an incisive through ball etc.

 

As both Uber and Col point out - it does depend on the formation. I guess if we really do play 3-5-2, scrap my comment about the winger, get another wing back, and Phillips can be the extra man in the midfield to compete with Granero.

I personally also wouldn't write off Henry as an option at DCM. I know that is highly unpopular, but you look at how many points we got when he played compared to when he didn't...his job isn't pretty, and doesn't cover him in glory, but I don't think that means there is no part for him to play next year.

 

How many points did we get when Henry played vs when he didn't? Not being funny, I really don't have a clue.

 

Players like Henry can be vital. All teams need their water carriers.

 

Agree, but do you need him with Rio playing sweeper in a back 3, surely he'd just get in the way? Mind you, if we had Gary Medel or Nigel de Jong I'd play them.

 

Possibly not so much with a back 3 you're right.

Have to say a back 3 of Ned, Rio and Caulker sounds a bit tasty to me.

 

Henry played in 27 games, W16 D6 L5, 54 pts, GF 40 - GA 28 GD +12 (avg 2.00 pts/g)
vs. didn't play in 19 games, W7 D5 L7, 26 pts, GF 20 - GA 16 GD +4 (avg 1.37 pts/g)

That doesn't tell the whole truth though, he often came on in late game to secure a win/draw (which he did very well)
He was brought in 7 times in the last 0 to 13 mins, W6 D1 L0.

 

That's actually very impressive. I'm sure that there are other factors at play, but a specialist DCM obviously made a difference.

 

It was so clear last season that we needed someone like him or O'Neill in the role as neither Barton nor Carroll could do it. I don't like the idea of Barton bossing the centre. He's a good player but should be pushed forward a bit, with someone steady behind him.

 

People like O'Neil, Henry, Zamora, Traore and Collison (if signed) are vital to the squad strength. We should not follow the Citeh mould of having superstars on the bench (Mark Hughes tried that, it did not work)
We need players like the five mentioned to be in the squad, be hungry and good enough to play role, when required....coming on to close down a match , to score a goal, to change the formation.
We do not want players coming in on inflated wages and then disturbing the peace, because they are not playing. We cannot buy players for the "squad", they have to be already in place.

I am fairly happy with our squad players...they are definitely good enough for a midtable Prem team....


But that doesn't mean I do not think we need a couple more first-team starters to give us that little edge...if Caulker signs, we still need another forward and a creative midfielder (but I am still hoping this will be Graneros moment to shine)

 

Centre of the park has the potential risk of crumbling down to bare bones with Faurlin and Granero both coming back from serious injuries and neither comes with a guarantee that there won't be a recurrence. This new system,for us, being talked about means plenty of cover but we can't be playing with anything less than 11 men on the park. We need a new CM - and someone with experience and a playmaker. We all know it will be a sound investment in the end.