QPR fans have their say
Monday, 14th Jul 2008 09:18

In our latest vox pop four QPR fans reflect on our transfer activity and new shirt and start to look ahead to the new campaign with some early predictions.

Once again thanks to our regular readers for volunteering, anybody who wants to get involved next time should e-mail loftforwords@yahoo.co.uk. This week we hear from regular columnist Ashleigh Rose, one of the LFW betting experts Barry Munnelly and message board posters DubaiR and Metallica on the main issues of the week.

How do you feel about our activity in the transfer market so far? Some fans seem to be getting increasingly worried and impatient - are you one of them?

Ash I have to be honest and say I was expecting more from us at this stage especially seeing how quickly we went about our business in January. But it’s become quite apparent that we are not going to be spending mega transfer fees on players, which I believe is a good move as clubs will try and hold us to ransom because of the wealth we now have. However I would really like us to show our intentions for next season by pushing the boat out and spending some real money on someone like Ben Watson or that elusive ’20 goal a season striker’ because I think that’s all we now need. Ramage and Cerny are good signings, Ledesma, Di Carmine and Alberti give the squad some good depth and could surprise the Championship next season. We also have Vine back in October which will feel like a new signing in its self. If were to add to that Watson, a striker (Evans?) and get the Gorkss embarrassment sorted I’d be a very happy Ranger.

Barry As it is still early July I am happy enough with the players we have signed so far. Ramage and Cerny are likely to be regular first teamers while Ledesma and Di Carmine look like they could be good prospects but we had a couple of them on loan in the past season who failed to live up to their billing. I never thought the board would go and fork out millions on one player, although I would like to see us sign at least one well known striker as that appears to be our weakest position at the minute. I have laughed at some of the names mentioned on the boards so far this summer, and some of the obvious rubbish being posted. The Gorkss saga is a bit embarrassing to say the least, how hard can it be to sort out a transfer for a player who has a release clause and wants to join the club? With centre halves already at the club like Hall, Connolly, Walton, Stewart and even Rehman I do wonder if it is even worth the bad press? Personally I would like to see Ben Watson come in and think our favourite Irish international (Clinton Morrison) on a free would be good business. As for the Lee Cook debacle, I would not pay £2.5million for him at this point after a season of being out injured. Finally, it is a pity we could not persuade Kevin Phillips to join up for a season or two, proven class at this level. But Ched Evans would be a nice alternative, a player who looks like he could rip this league apart over a whole season (I think I may have said the same thing to a Bristol City fan on the opening day of last season while walking to the match!!)

DubaiR As it stands right now we have improved our squad from last season but not the starting 11 in my opinion. The signing of Cerny will add competition to the keeper spot but let's not forget if it hadn't been for Rowlands, Camp would of been our Player of the Year. Ramage looks a steady signing at right back and that's his natural position unlike Manncienne but Ramage missed most of last season injured so it will be interesting to see how he performs, especially being his first time away from the North East. The Italian kiddies, no one knows, I am sure they have ability but a new country, new style etc maybe too much for them. I certainly think we need another winger, possibly a centre midfielder depending on how Walton shapes up and a striker. Am I getting impatient? A little....the side we have should be good enough to win first day but unless we add more I can't see us getting anything at Bramall Lane.

Metallica Patience is a virtue sadly I lack, however I'm not bothered in the slightest about our seemingly recent inactivity in the transfer market. I believe there are a few more players to come and if not, well compare our squad to this time last year....... I won’t speculate on new players, there are a few who are much better at it than I. FACT :-)

What do you make of the new home shirt? Will you be buying it?

Ash The early rumours of us having no hoops really got me running for the hills but now I’ve seen it, I’m really pleased with it. I’ve already come out the kit geek closet this week so I won’t go into too much detail but I do think it’s the best home shirt for a long time and I that’s down to having a new and probably better company make the shirt. Love the inclusion of silver on the neck and the sponsor really blends in well unlike the Car Giant logo last year. Don’t agree with it having blue shorts it’s far too much like Reading but that’s my only grumble at this stage, until I actually buy it and see how it fits. Just a shame it won’t be ready for the Barnsley game. Can’t wait to see the away and third kits now.

Barry Personally I like it, I would want to see what type of material it is made of before deciding to buy it or not - if it is the soulless material of the last Binatone shirt then I would leave it well alone. I think the Lotto emblem on the sleeves give it a real European feel and for some reason makes me think about Juventus jerseys. I wonder if Lotto will be as prompt on delivering the shirt as some other companies we have had of late?!

DubaiR I love the new shirt and think the Lotto and Gulf Air touch adds some class which, no disrespect, CarGiant and LeCoq just didn't have. I will be buying it when it finally comes out, I’m gutted it won't be out in the time for first day as I will be home for it. I am just awaiting for the shipping costs from the club but with recent pricing in mind it may cost the same as the shirt.

Metallica I really like it. My Binatone one looks like a tent and has a fag burn in it, so I shall be buying it although usually I buy the away tops - I don't know why. I like the sponsors’ logo and dare I say it *whispers almost inaudibly* the new badge.

With the season less than a month away it's getting towards prediction time - how do you think QPR will do this season?
Ash The Championship is such a hard league to predict, not many would of have said that Stoke and Hull would be promoted this time last year and its not going to be any easier this season. I think you have to aim firstly to improve on last seasons finish which we have to do but our form in the second half of the season suggests that even before the summer transfer window we have enough quality in the squad to push for a play-off place and now that we have added to the playing staff that’s something we can achieve. We all know that the owners have a ‘three year plan’ but I think they’d want promotion as soon as possible so I hope the pressure isn’t too much. Some bookies having us amongst the favourites is silly at this stage and they really must know something we don’t. Maybe with a little bit of luck and the signings we’ve spoke of we could look at the top two but I think realistically play offs come May. See you at Wembley.

Barry Based on our run in at the end of last season under a manager who was getting the boys to play some lovely stuff at home and becoming more rigid away from home I was hoping for a top six finish. If rumours are right and the manager was not getting his point across to the players due to language problems then Dowie may be able to make some improvements on that. I was not overjoyed with the appointment of Dowie but am slowly coming around to the idea. One of the problems with Rangers is that we are usually slow starters to the season, while Dowie usually gets his teams off to a flyer. If we get a good start I think we could do really, really well - confidence will be boosted, crowds will be up and optimism will be high. If we have a poor start we will be mid table again, moaning will be rife and the managers’ position will be under threat. Ultimately I am optimistic this pre-season (I always am), I think we could challenge for the top few spots and would think a play off place is well within reach. I don’t think there are going to be any sides who run away with the league, I do believe the gap between top and bottom will be as close as it was this season.

DubaiR I am forever optimistic and buy into the hype only to be let down year after year, however saying that this season could be different. A manager who has a decent track record, owners who don't like to fail and a full season of Vine, Buzz, Connolly, Hall could see us in the top ten. People are very quick to say we haven't signed enough quality but in January we signed plenty of it and if Connolly develops the way he should, Hall gets fit and stays fit we will be hard to break down. Add to that the attacking of Buz, Vine, Rowlands and Balenta and we could push for play offs as things stand. If we could only add one more player it would have to be a proven scorer someone who will make the difference in tight games, I can't help feeling Coventry have one up on us with Eastwood.

Metallica I feel realistically a top ten finish is on the cards, if we have a good run though and remain relatively injury-free who knows? We have the ability to sneak in the play-offs. It should be a season to remember though whatever happens.

Who are your three for promotion and three for the drop from the Championship and why?

Ash Although the teams who come down don’t seem to storm the league as much as they used to I can’t really see past Birmingham at the moment to top the league. They’ve kept almost all their squad together from last year and added this leagues top scorer Kevin Phillips to attack that already includes James McFadden, Cameron Jerome and Gary McSheffery. None of which set the Premier League alight but are very comfortable in this division. Below them I fancy Sheffield United and if not us then possibly Wolves or Ipswich, Nottingham Forest could also be a surprise package. Derby won’t be a threat, how Paul Jewell is still in that job I don’t know and he seemed to have signed a very average bunch of players. Heading the other way I think Doncaster will struggle to stay in this division and I see Blackpool going with especially after losing their better players. And a second season syndrome could hit Bristol City if they don’t start well. At both ends though I see it be a very tight division once again.

Barry Promotion - Birmingham, very strongly built side and with the signing of Kevin Phillips they have the most proven striker in this league. Having a look at their squad list they have some real talent. Wolves - with Ebanks-Blake they have a striker who has a knack of scoring important goals even though he has an arse matching that of Sammy Koejoe, Kightly is a talented player while Mick McCarthy is no mug. They seem to have a really large squad and have signed Sam Vokes who is a very promising forward. QPR - why not? Having had a look through the league it is an absolute lottery. It is a long time since we have started a season with players of undoubted quality in all positions - Cerny and Camp for keeper, backline of Ramage, Hall, Connolly and Delaney. A midfield to choose from Buzz, Rowly, Legs, Ledesma, Walton, Mahon and Ephraim. Up front we look weakest with only Balanta, Dave, Dexter, Vine and Di Carmine to choose from, none of whom fill you full of hope of getting 20+ goals next season. But with the quality in defence and midfield I think we may be a bit stingy in giving goals away while making more than enough chances to take other sides apart.

Relegation – Southampton, the next of the bigger clubs to slip away from a place they 'should' be. They are in the mire financially and struggled last season. An unknown boss comes in and they could easily freefall away to making more visits to Leeds. They were truly shocking when we visited them last season. Blackpool - with the loss of Hoolahan and probably Gorkss they have lost two of their best players, rumours about Grayson moving on would firmly nail them to the bottom echelons of this division. Doncaster - there is usually one side that comes up and struggles, I think it could be Donny. Other sides like Barnsley, Pablo’s Forest and Coventry could all struggle heavily this season as well.

DubaiR So tough to predict, it's an old saying but so very true. You have the relegated teams which on paper should walk this league but rarely do. Reading haven't signed anyone or lost anyone as it stands but how hungry is Coppell? There is normally a shock team and I will stick my neck out and say Coventry. Coleman is a decent manager and they have a decent side up there, if Eastwood settles he is surely good for that 20 goals a season we crave so much. The other two spots will go to Birmingham and QPR through the play offs beating Forest at Wembley. To go down I have to tip Southampton, club is crippled with debt, unknown manager, having to sell players left right and centre and little coming in. I also fancy Doncaster to go straight back down, I don't know too much about them but having watched their play off games last season think they will struggle. The third side could be anyone of Wednesday, Blackpool, Barnsley and even Bristol City but I am going to go with City, second season syndrome and they have lost Carle to Palace who was superb for them last season.

Metallica I hate doing these forecasts because I'm always wrong. Ok here goes.... Promotion: Birmingham, they have money and a decent side already, Wolves, I have a feeling in my water this may be their year, Derby, again I have a feeling in my water and I think they may surprise a few people. Down: Southampton, I like them but as has been pointed out they seem to be doing a Rangers. Buggered if I can decide the next two.... erm Donny, because they’re new and small like a sprog. One more erm........Sheffield Wednesday, simply because I couldn't think of anyone else.