The Club:
Well, right from the off, QPR are not ready to rest on their laurels and rely on the same squad that got them to the Premier League. After worries of a major points deduction last year, and backroom bickering, and rumours of manager Neil Warnock leaving, QPR have pushed on with preparations for life in the Premier League by adding some experience to their squad. We fully expect QPR to be entertaining, both on the pitch and in Warnock’s antics on the touchline and in press conferences. There will be something going on at QPR without much doubt for most of the season, but will their football be the main talking point. They won so many plaudits in the way they dominated the Championships, playing some superb football to win automatic promotion. Will there be more of the same style and finesse in their Premier League season?
Players/Manager:
Well, for starters they have Neil Warnock in charge, and where Neil Warnock goes, there seems to be dramas. It is a surprise that he is actually still at QPR, as it looked as if they were ready to part ways after disagreements between manager and board over transfer policies and other matters. However, Warnock is still there and ready to take the Premier League by storm again. The biggest splash that QPR have made in the off season, has been the signing of DJ Campbell from Blackpool. This is a return home for striker Campbell, who spent his early playing days at the club. It is also the club Campbell supported as a kid, and apparently he refused offers from other Premier League clubs just to cement his affinity with the club by returning there. DJ Campbell went well for Blackpool last year in the Premier League and the 29 year old will bring some much needed experience to the side up front, as Queens Park Rangers look to hold their own in the big league. QPR have been quite active in the transfer market so far, with Jay Bothroyd, Kieron Dyer and Danny Gabbidon all moving to the West London club. There could be more to come for Warnock, who is really looking to add strength to his squad, with winger Jason Puncheon looking a likely target from Southampton. With the new additions to the strengths which they showed last year in a remarkable Championship season, QPR look pretty ready actually for life in the Premier League. There is going to be a lot of work needing doing, but Warnock himself has had a taste of managerial life in the Premier League before and his abruptness and tactical nous should serve QPR well. Whether or not the turmoil which often going on behind the scenes at QPR will be their undoing remains to be seen. But on the playing front, QPR are making some smart signings.
Last Season: 1st in Championship
Won the Championship with great aplomb. They never fell outside an automatic promotion place until a couple of weeks to go, but had more than enough in the tank to win the league. Their success was built around an incredible defence, which leaked just 33 league goals during the season. That is the big strength that they need to carry over to the Premier League, and if that part of their game stands up to the test, then they will probably do ok. If they get the defence right, then the rest should fall back into place well enough. They have a stronger squad than last season too.
2011/12 QPR Premier League Betting Projection:
Warnock has made some smart deals in brining in new players, a balance of experience to mesh with his youthful endeavour at the club, to try and take the club forward. The key here for QPR will be replicating their incredible defence from last season. Warnock needs that in tact, the tactics which they used in the Championship will translate well to the Premier League and they should be in a good position to book themselves safety. That is easier said than done of course for newly promoted teams, but QPR look in decent shape, arguably the strongest of the three newly promoted clubs. There is good experience coming into the club, which will bolster the depth of their squad when injuries come along. They will have to battle for survival, but we hope to see some of the style with which they played last season. They stroked the ball around, and played at speed, looking a very accomplished side. Many are expecting QPR struggles in trying to survive the rigours of the Premier League, but there are signs that they are going to competitive in the bottom half of the table. We’re not suggesting they are going to push for a place in Europe or anything, but there is just enough promise which could see them safe at the end of the day. It would be a worthy achievement, but as always with QPR, you wonder about the fragility of the connection between board, manager and players. They cannot afford any distractions here. Not too bad of a start with fixtures, a chance to get some early points on the board.
Finishing Position: Bottom Half of Table Safety
Premier League Relegation Odds:
7/4 at Bwin
First Three Fixtures
August 13th” QPR v Bolton
August 20th: Everton v QPR
August 27th: Wigan v QPR
