HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Loftus Road by delving into their forums.

“Whisper it quietly, but we just might have the beginnings of an honest, presentable football team”, “There’s light appearing at the end of the tunnel”, “It feels like it’s moving in the right direction but it’s a long old road ahead”, “Things are going in the right direction but we’re not there yet.”

We are a work in very steady progress.” With one win, one defeat and four stalemates in the league since losing at Portman Road on Boxing Day, QPR have been steady rather than spectacular as they have continued their rebuilding work under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

“Finally the club is waking up and turning the sinking ocean liner around. It will take time, patience, bravery and understanding but for the first time in years I’m fairly optimistic that the club is finally getting back on track”, “All this will need patience and time.”

While the Hoops have not seen action since playing out a scoreless draw at the City Ground last Tuesday week, a transfer window which has seen the high-profile, high-wage earners supplanted by young, hungry and ambitious replacements has given supporters a glimpse into the future.

“We are now in a period of transition albeit one that was clearly needed. The good work will come in the summer with another clear out and a good pre-season”, “We are not going up or down and getting beaten is unlikely to spell disaster. We can relax and see the rest of the season for what it is.”

Fans have accepted a stable mid-table finish this season with the promise of better to come. “We’re not getting promoted. I can’t see us getting relegated. Get behind the manager and the team to build for next season, isn’t it?”, “Work in progress but let’s give Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink a chance.”

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

“Don’t underestimate the task in front of Jimmy. He’ll get us back to some decent form but it will take some time. The best thing we can do is get behind him, the team and the club”, “We are starting to see the results of his high tempo passing and pressing ideas blossoming in the team.”

“JFH will get there, patience.” The former Burton boss has one victory and two defeats from 10 league games since arriving in early December. “He is doing what any good manager tries to do with a good side, get some structure in place, keep it tight and try to nick good results here and there.”

Many Hoops are desperate to avoid a return to the instability of previous seasons. “I am sick of the lack of commitment of this club and its fickle fans. We are going to do what is necessary to get this club right. If people want some excitement, learn to appreciate how difficult his task is going to be.”

“Jimmy looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights sitting on the bench.” Some fans have picked up signs of the new manager’s inexperience. “My only criticism of him is that he is painfully slow in his attempts to change the course of a game”, “A concern is his holding back too late on substitutions.”

A Different Transfer Window

“A transfer window of four high-profile departures and three low-key arrivals is one to cherish and praise”, “Generally it seems that when the club plays it low-key and we barely know who the player is or don’t even notice his arrival, that’s when we’re most successful in the transfer market.”

While much media attention focussed on Charlie Austin’s departure to Southampton, the January exits on loan of Sandro (to West Brom), Leroy Fer (to Swansea) and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (to Milton Keynes) have signalled a wider change of approach which has been recognised by fans.

“You can’t have players like Massimo Luongo, Conor Washington or Grant Hall putting in a shift and turning out for the team, playing well and earning £7k a week, looking across the room at players pulling in up to £40k trying half as much and barely contributing at all. It doesn’t work in any career.”

“These young players are the ones QPR should be signing, better ages and fitness records, lower transfer fees and wages, with everything to prove, careers ahead of them and potential sell-on value. They see QPR as a big move and they are keen to do well and prove themselves.”

Formation

“We are becoming hard to beat, conceding one deflected goal [in a 1-1 home draw with Wolves] in our last three games. It’s not pretty but it’s a start”, “Although we have drawn a lot of games under Jimmy we have been more solid and could have edged a few wins, but our self-belief was low.”

“We need to find a way to loosen the shackles at home”, “When we are attacking everyone warned us about being too open and conceding. We don’t do that any more. We don’t have a good enough team to comfortably play expansive attacking football and also keep it tight at the back.”

Many Rangers would see the starting XI (above) for Rangers’ draw at Forest as an improvement on the team which played at Portman Road. The defence has been strengthened with Alex Smithies in goal replacing the accident-prone Robert Green although neither full-back offers an attacking outlet.

“We are a mixed bag in midfield but we need the addition of someone like Henri Lansbury to add steel and dynamism”, “What we seem to be lacking more than anything is an energetic midfielder who can take the game by the scruff of the neck when we need to.”

Many would welcome an athletic combative midfielder as they feel that Karl Henry’s lack of pace, Luongo’s lack of stature or Alejandro Faurlin’s fragility would leave them vulnerable in a two-man midfield. Junior Hoilett and Matt Phillips are seen as high-calibre albeit inconsistent wide men.

The departure of Leroy Fer has been welcomed. His tempo and work-rate were seen as being unsuited to the new pressing game. While neither are the finished article many would like to see Tjaronn Chery’s creativity or Conor Washington’s pace used in the role behind Polter.

The loss of Charlie Austin up front has been mitigated by the blossoming of Sebastian Polter and the arrival of striker Conor Washington from Peterborough last month. While it is very much the work-in-progress described by fans, a new side is beginning to emerge from the ashes of recent seasons.

The team are developing an industrious style but fans have noted how this can often only be kept up sporadically. “We stopped pressing Wolves in the second half”, “We didn’t have the energy to press Wolves at the same rate. Space appeared between our players which allowed Wolves to play.”

Nottingham Forest 0 - 0 QPR

“I really enjoyed tonight’s match and as nil-alls go it was one of the better ones I have seen. There were 31 goal attempts and it only remained scoreless due to the woodwork and some excellent keeping denying both sides”, “The first half could have ended 3-3”, “Pretty much end to end stuff.”

There was widespread agreement among Hoops that their team played well in an entertaining game with most chances falling before the break. “One of our better performances this season, had we got that elusive first win at the City Ground the locals couldn’t have complained too much.”

“A stepping stone performance where we started well but we had a bad period in the middle of the first half when we could easily have fallen behind”, “The midfield struggled at times in the first half being overrun, getting dragged around or just not doing enough”, “We’ll do them next year.”

QPR 1 - 1 Wolves

“To state the bleeding obvious, this was a game of two halves and the final result was deserved for both sides”, “We went right off the boil in the second half”, “Well, isn’t that just so QPR?”, “Work in progress but at least there is progress”, “Forty-five minutes, is that all we can do?”

“Early goal!”, “That was fantastic work by Polter, winning the freekick and scoring with an absolutely superb header”, “That was good stuff in the first half, high pressing at first and if needs be falling back with a good shape to a 4-4-1-1 with the wingers supporting the central midfielders.”

The hosts made a perfect start when Polter headed home Matt Phillips’s freekick after two minutes. Fans were delighted with the team’s first-half showing. Things were reversed after the break with the visitors taking control after James Henry scored a deflected equaliser after 48 minutes.

“Putting someone on to stop Kevin McDonald bringing the ball out for Wolves like Bobby Moore circa 1970 might be an idea.” Luongo and Karl Henry struggled as Wolves’ midfield dominated after the break, while left-back Paul Konchesky was given a very difficult afternoon by Rajiv Van La Parra.

Rotherham 0 - 3 QPR

“Did we just win a game of football?”, “It’s very harsh on Rotherham but I will take it”, “Christ, we don’t have a negative goal difference”, “Maybe, just maybe we have turned a corner”, “It has been a long time since I have wanted to watch some highlights.”

Rangers were poor in the first 45 minutes but seized control of the game after the break, giving their manager a first victory with goals from Junior Hoilett on 52 minutes and Matt Phillips two minutes later. Sebastian Polter sealed a first victory since early December with a third goal in stoppage time.

The mood at half-time was sombre. “Away to Rotherham and they are taking us apart. They have hit the post twice. We have scraped three attempts and none on target”, “It comes to something when we are getting smashed up by Rotherham and grateful to be still in the game.”

“We have scored two goals in two minutes”, “Two up? The world has gone mad”, “Hopefully Jimmy will make timely substitutions before they pull one back”, “Sounds like we have started playing deep again. Jimmy is gesturing for us to get further up the pitch”, “It was a deserved hard-fought victory.”

Goalkeepers and Defenders

“Thanks Robert Green, but bye, bye”, “Alex Smithies has seen off Green. That has been made clear.” The 25-year-old ex-Huddersfield man “is quality, everything you want from a keeper. His distribution and concentration are far better and he does more talking in one game than Green did all season”.

“The goalkeeping situation seems to have been solved”, “There is a renewed confidence with the defence now that Smithies is behind them. He was able to rid a lot of pressure with some excellent clearances”, “Glad to see him fully in the box seat. Hopefully our defence will benefit long term.”

Smithies has been praised for his “fine saves, command of his area and distribution”, “His calls are nice and loud, his handling is fine and he made three great saves in the space of a minute against Wolves”, “Once he has the ball, those in front need to look up as he is keen to get things going.”

“Right-back is a problem and I’m not sure James Perch is the answer.” The 30-year-old ex-Wigan player “still hasn’t won me around. For a guy with several years of Championship and Premier League experience I expect more”, “He really should offer more than he currently does.”

“Perch can be flat-footed and his inability to clear the ball accurately or far causes problems”, “He has dodgy moments, once ducking out of a ball in our area”, “Didn’t realise Henry was covering for him against Wolves and dropped back, leaving us exposed in the middle. I am unconvinced by him.”

“Paul Konchesky? Don’t get me started”, “Van La Parra had plenty of joy against a beleaguered Paul Konchesky”, “We need more pace at left-back. He’s starting to look like a busted flush.” The 34-year-old Leicester loan player “had a torrid afternoon although he never shirked his responsibilities”.

“Konchesky is increasingly uncomfortable against wingers with any pace”, “He hasn’t been helped by Hoilett ahead of him but he wasn’t even close to touching Van La Parra in the second half”, “He had his hands full with Rotherham’s Grant Ward, who not for the first time gave him the run-around.”

“I like Nedum Onuoha paired with Grant Hall as it allows Hall to bring the ball out which is one of his strengths.” The 29-year-old ex-Manchester City man “is a stronger player compared to Gabriele Angella but his distribution of the ball is not exactly his best attribute”, “He still worries me.”

“You always get 100 percent effort from Onuoha, but it’s just too hurried for my liking. He is poor with his positioning and dreadful with the ball at his feet, taking any amount of time”, “That tackle against Rotherham when their bloke had a tap-in was superb”, “He is in form at the moment.”

Grant Hall

“Grant was a model of consistency at Nottingham, making light of slippery playing conditions with expert positioning, aerial strength and calmness under pressure”, “He rarely makes a mistake or loses a header”, “Let’s face it, none of us expected Hall to be our best player this season.”

The summer signing from Spurs “looks a fantastic prospect. What I like about him is that he knows when to clear his lines and when to play the ball out”, “Reads play superbly, intercepting passes and marauding forward deep behind enemy lines with the ball at his feet. He grows with every game.”

“Hall is amazingly assured for someone relatively young, making Onuoha look like his understudy.” The 24-year-old “is a natural stopper and better on the ball that you first think”, “He just never seems to make a mistake, does he?” “He can switch off or ball-watch on occasions”, “A real find.”

Central Midfielders

“I’m struggling to remember Daniel Tozser ever having a decent game this season to be honest.” The 30-year-old Watford loanee “is just too slow”, “Where is the dominating midfield general we have been waiting for since Shaun Derry was deemed surplus?” “Tozser is slow and a poor player.”

“Our main tackler in midfield”, “Karl Henry was woefully behind the pace of the Wolves game”, “He gave Luongo little protection to do anything creative, but we were overrun when he went off”, “He has perfected the art of slowing things down. I honestly cannot see what he brings to the team.”

“The undroppable one”, the 33-year-old ex-Wolves midfielder “gets so many games because he is the one midfielder who can help us defend well”, “The reality of Henry does not stand comparison with the concept of a tireless holding player. His speed of thought, reaction and tenacity are not quite there.”

“Alejandro Faurlin needs to be protected in the number of games he plays now. He is not the player he was sadly due to injuries”, “We need him playing to control the midfield.” The 29-year-old ex-Rosario Central man “is more than just a ball player. Despite his injuries he will not shirk a tackle”.

“Faurlin had a poor game at Forest and that was a concern to me in midfield”, “He is tidy, composed keeping it tight and ticking over”, “He can play that through ball better than anyone to release Polter or the wingers”, “We need another playmaker to partner Luongo when Ale doesn’t play.”

Massimo Luongo

“Luongo is finally given the chance to show he can be our ‘other’ Faurlin in midfield”, “He was at the heart of everything suddenly at Rotherham, playing incisive through balls the team misses when Faurlin is absent”, “I really hoped he would make central midfield his, and he did not disappoint.”

The 23-year-old ex-Swindon player and former Blues loan signing “looks a bit of a talent, although a bit lightweight at the moment”, “He’s perfect for the high tempo pressing game”, “I would like to see him carry the ball forward more and play one-twos. He creates when he does this.”

“Massimo is useful given time on the ball but try watching him when he doesn’t have it”, “He uses the ball intelligently and finds team-mates but it’s not enough. He isn’t fully involved. He doesn’t win enough of the ball, isn’t hard enough in the tackle and he doesn’t bother the opposition enough.”

Wide Midfielders

“Jamie Mackie is gaining more reputation through not having played in a while.” Many would like to see more of the 30-year-old ex-Forest man, who “would have given us physical parity against Wolves by tying down our left flank”, “I was surprised he didn’t come on. That game was crying out for him.”

“Mackie has a heart as big as a house and he will be bursting for some game time”, “He is a balls and all, absolute commitment player”, “We have hardly seen him this season”, “He has returned off the back of a rather nasty [hamstring] injury so they may not want to rush him back to the team.”

Junior Hoilett

“Although Hoilett is much improved this season, he has lately got back into bad habits with his final ball.” The 25-year-old ex-Blackburn wide man “has recovered some form since JFH’s arrival”, “He can sling in a cross but doesn’t look fit or interested”, “Doesn’t do anywhere near enough.”

“Junior is turning in confident performances. Can we afford to keep him?”, “He won’t get a contract extension on the same wages here”, “At Rotherham he spent the first half rolling around on the floor, then suddenly had toughness, endurance and upper body strength, bustling past defenders.”

Matt Phillips

“Phillips is a lightweight who won’t go 100 per cent into a tackle or header”, “Not since Scott Sinclair was here on loan has anyone jumped quite so high out of tackles or offered so little help to his full-back”, “He lazily concedes possession in his own half, but there’s definitely a good player in there.”

“Phillips blows hot and cold and he might not always track back, but he puts a lot of dangerous balls into the box”, “He has a slow footballing brain, often he doesn’t start running until the chance has gone.”

“Never mind getting injured, his kit doesn’t need washing.” The 24-year-old ex-Blackpool winger “is a bit of a bottle merchant and needs to be on the right flank and nowhere else, but he has a great shot, a brilliant cross and that vital ingredient our cake has been missing for years, namely pace.”

Strikers

“Is it only me who thinks that after a very promising early season, Tjaronn Chery’s overall game hasn’t really moved on?” The 27-year-old ex-Groningen playmaker or striker “is good in possession but needs to improve his game when the opposition has the ball”, “Our best technical player”.

“Chery’s ability to fluff chances in front of goal is worrying”, “I wish he would learn to finish and it’s not the first time. He seems to tense up in front of goal”, “What I like about him is his ability to find good positions”, “We need to get him into the team more regularly because he is talented.”

Conor Washington

“I love the look of Conor”, “Keen and dangerous”, “Lightning fast and hungry”, “We have a little gem here. Conor’s pace is startling. He gave one Forest defender a 30-yard start and the defender just managed to clear the ball into touch”, “He was a real handful and a nuisance when he came on.”

“Ah, here he is. Go for it, my son.” The 23-year-old new signing from Peterborough has made two appearances from the bench in the last two games and has made an immediate impact. “He isn’t tall but looks quick and well-built”, “Works hard, has a bit of pace, a lot of spikiness and obvious drive.”

“Boy is Conor quick, and he has signs of being able to turn players well”, “He has looked bright and lively and gave us a glimpse of what the future may hold. He’s quick, strong, aggressive, willing to run and close players down”, “He’s just our sort of player with plenty to prove and pace to burn.”

Sebastian Polter (The BFG)

“We have to find a way of getting Washington and the BFG to gel”, “Rarely in the modern game will you see a player so willing to do other people’s runs”, “Polter fills in for wingers countless times and wins crucial defensive headers at corners”, “He is definitely going to become a club legend.”

“The BFG is impressive.” The 24-year-old German “is an odd player. I’m not sure I have seen a player like him. One minute he’s trying to control a ball and it bounces off his shin and runs away from him. The next he’s bringing a long ball out of the air with one touch as if it’s the easiest skill in the world.”

“There is nothing elegant about Polter but he’s ramming people’s opinions of him down their throat. He is a brute”, “He can’t use the ball with his feet but put it on his bonce and he’ll score a few. He’s a grafter, a team player. I love his work-rate. He’s starting to look more of a threat with every game.”

Rangers’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“The Tractor Boys are now promotion candidates after the win over Reading last night. They will have a bit more confidence coming into our game”, “This is a game we need to win. It's got a 1-1 draw written all over it”, “They beat Reading last night but it was a dismal game from what I heard.”

“Ipswich are consistently greater than the sum of their parts.” With 58 per cent of Rangers predicting a home win and 17 per cent a Town victory, they are cautiously optimistic about the outcome on Saturday. A 2-1 home win is the most popular forecast score followed by a 1-1 stalemate.

“Ipswich should be a tough game, perhaps not the time for too much experimentation”, “My heart says a win but the head says a draw”, “No Leroy Fer means we will have extra legs in midfield.” With the transfer window closed, most discussion has revolved around the shape of their team.

“Ipswich will certainly be a difficult one to win but a winning streak has to start somewhere! More importantly, after the extended break we will get the first look at the preferred line-up that JFH favours”, “I’m sorry but it will take time for the new team to gel, 0-2 I’m afraid.”

Websites

The busiest QPR message board is TWTD’s sister site, the well-informed and knowledgeable Loft For Words.

If you have not discovered them, Clive Whittingham’s articles on this site are outstanding and his latest piece reflecting on QPR’s most recent transfer window is a terrific read.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

Bluebell added 11:43 - Feb 5 Thanks for that Harry. Informative as always. For some reason I don't worry at all about QPR and I have a feeling that we will keep up our away form. Birmingham aside, when we were down to 10 men for over 45 minutes, we have played some great footall away from home. I have a feeling Mick won't change the team but hopefully Pitman will get more than 10 minutes. Who knows, given longer he could score more! I am going for a 1.2 win. Unfortunately it will be the first away game I have missed for several months and I will be chewing my nails waiting to hear the result.

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rickw added 12:22 - Feb 5 Yeah Pitman deserves a start, after reading this I think it could be a good game again for Sears and Fraser wide, Mick just tell them to run at QPR's old full backs all game!!
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Premierbluez added 15:00 - Feb 5 A great read as always Harry. Didn't know we had a sister site for QPR?
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essextractorboy93 added 15:33 - Feb 5 Always informative Harry! Genuinely think with Hasselbaink they've got someone who knows what he is doing. They've just got to patient with him and give him time to stabilise the club and start building something for the long term, a bit like we have with McCarthy. Having said that, they still have some real quality players, Washington sounds lively and Polter has scored a few this season. No easy games in this league! Will be a close one!

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Kikapu added 16:49 - Feb 5 QPR quote. “Ipswich are consistently greater than the sum of their parts.” Says everything about the way the team is run and the commitment of players in the team. I'm proud of them. Don't know about you?
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HarryfromBath added 18:54 - Feb 5 Bluebell, this does have the feel of a winnable game. While QPR are finding a new identity they will probably be a tougher proposition next season, much as Birmingham have made their step forward over the summer. Rick, the full-backs are worth looking at, especially if they are not getting sufficient cover from the wingers. Fraser one-on-one with Perch will be a worry for them. essextractorboy, Hasselbaink does look like a man who has put together a plan much as Mick did in his first year with us. This season is all about clearing out the ghosts of the Redknapp era and forging a new identity - their fans have spotted and bought into this. They would probably love to play Washington and Polter together but their midfield isn't strong enough. If Washington doesn't start out wide, I can see him coming on for Hoilett and sooner if they are losing. I reckon that their threat will probably come from out wide. Kikapu, spot on. I know that some Blues are unhappy with our style of play but we are definitely greater than the sum of our parts. Most QPR fans would be horrified at the instability a cash splurge would create after the last few seasons. The transfer window comments really hit home for me and echoed what Mick has been saying. Cheers PremierBluez and hope you are looking forward to the Western Clan reunion at Ashton Gate next week! Loft for Words is managed by FansNetwork who provide the same technical support for them as they do for us. Their site has a certain familiar feel! It would be great to pick up three points at Loftus Road, especially with Birmingham and the Owls playing each other. Here's hoping...

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ericclacton added 20:15 - Feb 5 A tad on the drag Harry, been busy. I think this could be a hard one, ok they are rebuilding but their results lately haven't been that bad, Iwould take a draw now. Good read mate.
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