With confirmation of Alex Smithies pathetically priced switch out to Cardiff City this last week, plenty of Queens Park Rangers fans have taken solace in the fact that we don’t actually need to replace him as we can lean on Matt Ingram and Joe Lumley with both stoppers having their fans and backers about where they can go in their own development trajectory.
đź’¬ Matt Ingram insists his focus has not changed following the departure of Alex Smithies – but all the goalkeepers are trying to catch the gaffer's eye!
▶️ https://t.co/ejb0zUGGqe#RsInPortugal pic.twitter.com/AN8mkCMUc4
— QPR FC (@QPR) June 29, 2018
Seny Dieng is another option for manager Steve McClaren but there is far more sense in not putting the pressure on him just yet, and letting him continue his growth more naturally.
Ingram was wheeled out in front of the club press the other day and the Official Site have him acknowledging that it’s now down to the rest of the goalkeeping unit to step up and impress McClaren and prove that he can rely on them in the Championship season of 2018/19.
“For the likes of me, Joe and Seny, it’s a big opportunity now to impress the new manager. Has it changed my mindset? Not at all. It might just give me more of an opportunity because he’s not here. I was always pushing for that number one spot – Alex was just doing so well I couldn’t get in!”
🎥 @joelumley has wanted to be #QPR's No.1 since the age of 16 – and he is working as hard as he can to turn that dream into a reality.
▶️ https://t.co/gmtmHWiJll#RsInPortugal pic.twitter.com/3YDBWAra1e
— QPR FC (@QPR) June 30, 2018
Ingram admitted that there was obviously a pressure on all three stoppers at the club now, but football is about pressure and how you handle that is what matters.
The few short reactions below show how fans are split when it comes to who McClaren should put his faith in moving forward, but ultimately this is what pre-season is for and he should be selecting on merit so it’s all eyes to the first proper game.
You would think applicable game time and experience so far Ingram certainly has the advantage over Lumley, but as said, each has their own support.
Start lumley
— Alex (@Alex240514) June 29, 2018
Lumley will be number 1.
— Truth and Justice (@number8buser) June 29, 2018
Start Ingram he’s a class act
— Chris Owen (@chris_owen76) June 29, 2018
Definitely prefer Lumley.
— Linda O'Riordan (@daisydog77) June 29, 2018
#QPR Number 1 for next season?
— Joseph Jerimiah B. (@bradyboyqpr) June 30, 2018
we're very fortunate we have 2 good replacements for Smithies fighting it out for the shirt, because we'd have never been able to buy another decent keeper for the paltry 3mil we sold Smithies for
— mick (@qprmicky) June 30, 2018
