Balance key for QPR

Freeman joins Rs – qpr.co.uk

Since Ian Holloway began his second spell at Loftus Road in November, he has made 12 changes to the squad.

They have signed Matt Smith, who has a respectable goals per minute ratio at this level, Sean Goss, on the books at Manchester United for five years and Luke Freeman, a 14/15 League One star with Bristol City. To bring in those players whilst receiving change for £2 million is not bad business.

The most pressing issue is who plays where. The system that worked superbly in the 1-0 win at Reading was a 4-3-3. Grant Hall dropped onto the opposing striker out of possession while fellow midfielders Ryan Manning and Massimo Luongo pressed beyond the half-way line.

That system makes QPR look the most balanced, but it could also hinder central attacking players who don’t lead the line on their own. Freeman’s success at Ashton Gate came when he played as a number 10 in a 3-5-2 while Ravel Morrison, another possible signing, lacks the work rate to play anywhere else.

Even if Holloway finds a system to incorporate one of those players, that leads to other problems. Manning or Luongo will not be afforded as much game time, nor the licence to push forward from deep, which both can do effectively.

Then, there is Conor Washington, who the club spent at least £2.5 million on. The striker fared well with a partner at Peterborough, but lacks the physical qualities to play up top by himself. If Holloway was to start two strikers, it would then be fit in an attacking midfielder, or even loanee Kazenga Lua Lua, a forward-thinking winger.

QPR’s transfer business at least means they have some quality, but now they need the balance.