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Season Preview – Scott Jones

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Scott Jones from We are the Rangers Boys shares his views with Vital QPR about the forthcoming Championship season.

How do you rate Rangers performance last season?

Disappointing, to say the very least. I honestly thought we should have been top 6 contenders and our early form demonstrated that we had the potential to be there or there abouts. There’s a host of reasons why we finished as low as we did – injuries to key players, managers tinkering, owners tinkering even! but, I think it all boils down to one thing – consistency.

Something a few players lacked and something the board obviously lacked with our firing of two managers. Albeit I suppose you could say that the board were consistent by booting the gaffer as soon as he cheesed them off.

What was your stand out moment?

It has to be the Birmingham game. I can’t remember being so cold at a night game in my entire life, it was absolutely bloody freezing. I’m not sure where it came from but, the atmosphere at Loftus Road was electric that night, absolutely electric.

Was it the poor refereeing, was it everyone being so damned cold we collectively subconsciously decided to stay alive we’d sing and clap our hearts out? Who knows? As Amit Bhatia said since then, at times the atmosphere created by us fans simply made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up…It was almost on a par with the Oldham game. Lets hope we can create that buzz at Loftus Road this season.

How do you feel about the appointment of Jim Magilton?

I won’t lie – he certainly wasn’t my first choice, indeed he wasn’t even my second, third or fourth choice. I would have been ecstatic if De Canio had returned or we’d snapped someone up like Stuart Pearce.; but, I’m pleased as punch now.

It looks like he wants to play the style of football that we all crave, one, two touch fast flowing attacking football, on the deck. I do think however that Gorman is as key as Madge is. From talking to them and a fair few other people it seems as if Magilton is the man motivator and that Gorman is the tactical brains of the pairing.

As long as they’re both left alone to get on with their jobs I think we may have snapped up a wonder team with these two.

Do you feel Rangers have strengthened adequately?

Yes, pretty much. Adel is a fantastic coup for us and, from reports, Faurlín is a player with the skill of Ledesma/Parejo BUT will track back and do the graft that was missing from those two (especially Parejo).

I’d still like us to pick up some competition for the defence, someone young like Martin Cranie – although it seems Ramone Rose is being groomed for the right-back role.

Finally, we may need another player up top, I suppose it all depends on how Piccalilli (or whatever his name is) gets on. Injuries are the key for us, if we can keep everyone fit for the campaign I think we have a great squad, much improved on last season.

Who will be the key player(s) for the R`s this season?

Yes he’s young and no we shouldn’t heap too much on him but, I reckon Balanta is a man to watch. Noises from the training ground and from the pre-season tour is that he is on absolute fire and looks more than ready to step up to the first team as a regular. He’s earnt his stripes and now I hope Magilton gives him a run so we can see if he really can do the business.

Then, rather than a player it’s a complete unit – the defence. I think that our new signings and players returning from injury will sort out the business end of the pitch, we just need the defence to repeat their immense display from last season to round it all off.

Where do you expect the R`s to finish this season?

Play-offs -without a doubt.

Championship – Who will be?

Champions: I’ve a funny feeling that Ipswich will win it.

Overachievers: Forest. They had a torrid time last year and although I don’t expect them to be challenging for the play-offs I certainly think they’ll finish better than they did last season.

Underachievers: Newcastle. They’ve the shortest odds for promotion and are the hot favourites to win the league. I reckon they could end up not even making the play-ofs.

Young Player to Watch: Angelo Balanta

Top Goalscorer: Hmm, really not sure. Maybe Rob Hulse.

You can visit Scott at We are the Rangers Boys by Clicking Here >>>

Many thanks to Scott for taking the time to contribute

Other Previews

Mike – QPR Report

Clive Whittingham – Loft For Words




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