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After a summer of discontent from many QPR fans, you sense the fans now cannot wait to get things started in the Premiership.
The team has finally come together and you would expect at least two additions by the end of the month. The big worry for many fans is the lack of quality back-up to the current starting 11.
We start the season with no new sponsor, which I believe is dependent on whether the new takeover happens or not. Talks are on-going and despite paper rumours that Tony Fernandes does not have the financial muscle to take full control, that could on reflection be wide off the mark.
Take the recent story in June that Air Asia are in the process of buying 200 of the A320neo jets in a deal worth around £11 billion, it would indicate if the current owners wanted to sell, they may not get a better opportunity to do so in the next 2-3 weeks. In a nutshell if things remain the same, expect a F1 related sponsor and if our future lies with Tony Fernandes than I would expect Air Asia.
Pre-season has shown that you cannot really take these friendly games seriously. The main aim is to avoid injuries and get the teams fitness levels up to the standard of playing Premiership football. Apart from niggling injuries to Danny Webber and Dan S.hittu, we have a clean bill of health. The same cannot be the said for Bolton Wanderers, who seem to have players several breaking down with injuries. The latest one being Tyrone mears who within days of being signed broke his leg in training. On writing this article they currently have no Number 9 after missing out on Daniel Sturridge and are still in the market of a centre forward. They have also signed a couple of players we know all about having faced them in the championship. Both Chris Eagles and Darren Prattley are very good championship players, yet you wonder if the step up to this level might catch them out. The one big signing Bolton have managed to tie up was that of reo-Coker who does have a wealth of premiership experience and with other experienced players like Cahill and Davies it will be a true test for the Superhoops.
Our pre-Season has been fairly encouraging only to hit the buffers against Luton Town. Quite rightly, I would imagine the manager would shirk it off and focus his attentions this week on beating Bolton. My observations from the second half are that we have very little strength on depth. In the premiership you need players on the bench you can see turning the game and I'm not sure we have them. The starting 11 who played the first half against Luton Town will be in my opinion (barring injuries) the first names on the teamsheet for the game against Bolton Wanderers. The only question mark would be Clint Hill who has not played all of pre-season and not surprisingly Warnock kept him on for about 75 minutes in order to get his match fitness up. It would not surprise me to hear of a behind closed doors match this week, just for some players to peak.
It will be interesting to see how the new players gel and the early signs are positive regarding Bothroyd and Campbell. Admittedly they have only played 45 minutes together but they combined pretty well in Friday nights friendly and I think this partnership will definitely score goals. The one player that pleasantly surprised me was Kieron Dyer, I suspect he well turn out to be an excellent acquisition. He never gave the ball away and his effectiveness to play midfield and right back will give the gaffer plenty of options. I suspect he will start as right back against Bolton Wanderers, which Owen Coyle tactically might exploit with diagonal longballs played up in the air to Kevin Davies. I am undecided on Gabbidon who has premiership experience though time will tell if he and Fitz Hall are able to prevent proven strikers getting loads of goal scoring opportunites.
I think at home we will play with an advanced front 4 which will switch several times during the game. We will play the similar way from the back, that means when kenny has the ball in his hands, expect the long boot up the pitch to meet the knock-ons of jay Bothroyd and when any of the defenders get the ball, they will be told to get rid of it!!
The upcoming season will be interesting full of ups and downs. In all fairness we could not have asked for a better first home game, with Bolton Wanderers offering a true test. It will be a great atmosphere On saturday and many fans for that 90 minutes will get totally behind the team, regardless of what is going on in the boardroom.
First Game ..Tough Test..
Prediction 1-1
The team has finally come together and you would expect at least two additions by the end of the month. The big worry for many fans is the lack of quality back-up to the current starting 11.
We start the season with no new sponsor, which I believe is dependent on whether the new takeover happens or not. Talks are on-going and despite paper rumours that Tony Fernandes does not have the financial muscle to take full control, that could on reflection be wide off the mark.
Take the recent story in June that Air Asia are in the process of buying 200 of the A320neo jets in a deal worth around £11 billion, it would indicate if the current owners wanted to sell, they may not get a better opportunity to do so in the next 2-3 weeks. In a nutshell if things remain the same, expect a F1 related sponsor and if our future lies with Tony Fernandes than I would expect Air Asia.
Pre-season has shown that you cannot really take these friendly games seriously. The main aim is to avoid injuries and get the teams fitness levels up to the standard of playing Premiership football. Apart from niggling injuries to Danny Webber and Dan S.hittu, we have a clean bill of health. The same cannot be the said for Bolton Wanderers, who seem to have players several breaking down with injuries. The latest one being Tyrone mears who within days of being signed broke his leg in training. On writing this article they currently have no Number 9 after missing out on Daniel Sturridge and are still in the market of a centre forward. They have also signed a couple of players we know all about having faced them in the championship. Both Chris Eagles and Darren Prattley are very good championship players, yet you wonder if the step up to this level might catch them out. The one big signing Bolton have managed to tie up was that of reo-Coker who does have a wealth of premiership experience and with other experienced players like Cahill and Davies it will be a true test for the Superhoops.
Our pre-Season has been fairly encouraging only to hit the buffers against Luton Town. Quite rightly, I would imagine the manager would shirk it off and focus his attentions this week on beating Bolton. My observations from the second half are that we have very little strength on depth. In the premiership you need players on the bench you can see turning the game and I'm not sure we have them. The starting 11 who played the first half against Luton Town will be in my opinion (barring injuries) the first names on the teamsheet for the game against Bolton Wanderers. The only question mark would be Clint Hill who has not played all of pre-season and not surprisingly Warnock kept him on for about 75 minutes in order to get his match fitness up. It would not surprise me to hear of a behind closed doors match this week, just for some players to peak.
It will be interesting to see how the new players gel and the early signs are positive regarding Bothroyd and Campbell. Admittedly they have only played 45 minutes together but they combined pretty well in Friday nights friendly and I think this partnership will definitely score goals. The one player that pleasantly surprised me was Kieron Dyer, I suspect he well turn out to be an excellent acquisition. He never gave the ball away and his effectiveness to play midfield and right back will give the gaffer plenty of options. I suspect he will start as right back against Bolton Wanderers, which Owen Coyle tactically might exploit with diagonal longballs played up in the air to Kevin Davies. I am undecided on Gabbidon who has premiership experience though time will tell if he and Fitz Hall are able to prevent proven strikers getting loads of goal scoring opportunites.
I think at home we will play with an advanced front 4 which will switch several times during the game. We will play the similar way from the back, that means when kenny has the ball in his hands, expect the long boot up the pitch to meet the knock-ons of jay Bothroyd and when any of the defenders get the ball, they will be told to get rid of it!!
The upcoming season will be interesting full of ups and downs. In all fairness we could not have asked for a better first home game, with Bolton Wanderers offering a true test. It will be a great atmosphere On saturday and many fans for that 90 minutes will get totally behind the team, regardless of what is going on in the boardroom.
First Game ..Tough Test..
Prediction 1-1