After dramatically avoiding relegation on the last day of the 2011-12 season, QPR manager, Mark Hughes, declared the team would never be in the same situation again while he was in charge.
However, they are rooted to the bottom of the table and have not won in their nine Premier League games. Sunday’s home fixture against Reading must result in a victory if Hughes is guaranteed to keep his job.
QPR’s players and fans approached the new season with confidence and optimism following an influx of new signings, including Champions League winners, Ji-Sung Park, Julio Cèsar and Jose Bosingwa.
This anticipation and expectation was crushed as early as the first game, when Swansea thrashed the home team 5-0. Since the opening day humiliation, The Hoops have lost five and drawn three, meaning this is their worst top-flight start for 42 years.
With the likes of Junior Hoilett, Djibril Cissè and Adel Taarabt in attacking positions it is extraordinary QPR have only scored seven league goals. Their midfield has the talented duo of Esteban Granero and Alejandro Faurlin so scoring goals should not be a problem for Hughes’ side.
They have also had troubles defensively, conceding two goals per game on average. Out of their eight defenders used in the league, only Clint Hill and Anton Ferdinand have been at the club longer than a year.
Despite having numerous competent footballers at Loftus Road, the majority of the team is new and players have to adapt to the Premier League and playing alongside new faces.
Their struggles stem from the fact they signed 11 players in the summer and offloaded 12, meaning they essentially have a completely new squad. This restructuring of the team has been happening since they were promoted in 2010.
Just five of QPR’s 25-man squad for the 2012-13 league campaign were part of Neil Warnock’s Championship winning side. Their current crop of players do not lack ability, but understanding due to the huge number of changes to the playing staff.
Liverpool signed several players in the summer of 2011, but failed to gel as a team which resulted in the sacking of Kenny Dalglish. Josè Enrique, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Craig Bellamy all joined the Reds and started regularly. Dalglish’s team endured a disappointing season, finishing eighth as a result of several of Liverpool’s starting line-up being new signings.
It is best to improve your squad gradually by recruiting a few new players each season. Newcastle have done this and finished fifth last season in just their second year back in the top-flight. QPR were promoted the season after The Magpies and their contrasting approach in the transfer market has proved problematic.
Tony Fernandes, The Rs’ owner, publically backed Hughes on Monday via twitter. “’I honestly believe we have one of the best managers in the Premier League. And we are in for the long term. Whatever happens,” he tweeted.
Although this may boost the Welshman’s morale, his position will become untenable if QPR do not win in their next few games.
Hughes would have aimed for a top-half finish this season, but now must just be hoping to keep his job. QPR’s awful start is mainly because of their huge amount of activity in the transfer market and they might be making another change soon, but managerial.
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