With QPR players dropping like flies Ash takes his usual look at the key runners and riders in what is sure to be a very difficult assignment for the R's against Preston on Saturday.
Central Midfield:
Easily the most disappointing thing to come out of our Swansea trip was not the defeat itself but the loss of our now first choice midfield for Saturday’s game against Preston. Red cards for both Martin Rowlands and Ben Watson means the pair will sit out the weekend’s fixture and a new midfield pairing will be called upon to stop on the divisions most difficult teams. Obviously we now stand to lose Rowlands for a lot longer than his suspension, thanks to yet another injury picked up whilst on international duty with Ireland, so who ever does slot in on Saturday will not just be filling for a couple of games but looking to cement the place for what looks likely to be for rest of the season.
So Jim Magilton has some big decisions to make ahead kick-off with a number of options open to him on who fills Rowly’s and Watson’s shoes. The most obvious candidate is Alejandro Faurlin who deputised comfortably for Watson against Chelsea and has improved in every game we’ve seen him in. However the young Argentinean is still learning his trade both in this league and country and will need an experienced head alongside him, just in case he finds some difficulties against a well organised Preston team. And by judging by the timely interview on QPR player this week it would suggest that we could see a first-team return for Gavin Mahon as the preferred partner to Faurlin. Mahon is not everyone’s cup of tea, especially after the awful Ipswich display last season, but he could just be what’s needed in a game like this to break up play and allow the likes of Buzsaky, Routledge and Vine to build up attacks off him.
Madge does have other options, he could bring Buzsaky back into a more favoured central role and bring in Tarrabt who scored once again for Morocco last week, wide left. Or we could have seen the return of Leigertwood back into the centre but he’s also now been ruled out with a virus. Magilton has already praised the adaptability of Mikele, but may not want to break-up a back four that Swansea apart is started to look settled again. As long as we don't see the re-emergence of the Mahon/Legs pairing I’d be happy with any of the above as it will definitely have given the coaching team some food for though. Having settled on/stumbled across the best XI, it will be now interesting to see what our alternative is this berth for both this weekend and beyond with our most influential player is out on the sidelines.
Alejandro Faurlin is 20/1 for the first goal on Saturday with William Hill
Strength in depth:
Rowlands is not the only one who will be sitting in the stands this Saturday. Watson, as I already said, is also out suspended and the R’s are without a further seven first teamers for Preston’s visit. Lee Cook who’s already a long term absentee is out along with Leigertwood with a virus, Pellicori with a knee problem, Balanta groin, Ephraim ankle and the unfortunate Connolly who has glandular fever. Whilst Fitz Hall and Ainsworth have only just recovered from injuries and lack match fitness. Which would suggest that we can expect to see first team returns for Peter Ramage at right-back and as discussed Mahon and Faurlin in the centre. It’s the bench that will be interesting, with seven subs already stretching clubs to limits this season (Preston themselves only had five last time out against West Brom) the Rangers bench will pushed by the squads limits. Patrick Agyemang fresh from his goal for the reserves in mid-week will no doubt benefit with a spot amongst the seven along with Heaton and Taarabt but the rest maybe made up of the unfit Hall and Ainsworth or youngsters we are yet to see this campaign. This weekend against one the leagues trickiest will definitely test Rangers strength in depth and one the players stepping in take the chance and we pass with flying colours.
Preston are best priced 13/5 to win with Boyle Sports
Akos Buzsaky:
Whisper is quietly but slowly we are see easily our most gifted player come back to the form we all love to see. Despite the fact that he’s been played out wide, something we have all complained about in the past, Buzz seems to becoming the player we all love to sing about (over and over again). Two classic Buzsaky goals at Loftus Road last time out was followed by the winner for Hungary in their mid-week win over Denmark, just shows that the ‘White Pele’ is finally almost over his injury hell. Now we are without Rowlands for the season, Buzsaky’s contribution to the team will be more important than ever. Another stand-out performance and goal on Saturday would be another great way to continue the re-emergence of the league’s most talented attacking midfielder.
Buzsaky is best priced 9/2 with Paddy Power to score at any time against Preston.
Bouncing back: True the defeat to Swansea a fortnight ago could have all been different had Routledge put away one of the earlier chances or we hadn't gone down to ten men, but it was a defeat all the same and one Rangers now need to bounce back from. Saturday presents arguably the hardest home encounter so far this season, when Alan Irvine’s team arrive at HQ, but would be ideal for the R’s to get back to winning ways. Three points against a side, who like ourselves are seen as an outside bet for the play-offs would be a timely way for us to get back on the winning track and push back up the league towards the top six.
QPR are best priced 5/4 to win with Coral
Jim Magilton:
Even with all the injuries and suspensions it’s important Magilton changes as little as possible. Sticking to the same system and what we have been doing right in the past few weeks is vital, after all consistency is the key.
A 1-1 draw, something Rangers have done five times already this season, is best priced 11/2 with various outlets