Season Preview - Dave Barton

Dave Barton of queensparkrangersfc.com discusses his views about the impending Championship campaign with Vital QPR.

How do you rate Rangers performance last season?

It ended up being disappointing but our league position was pretty much as expected. I think most of the problems came from the ticket price rises which meant people had to either move or stop going and the atmosphere from day one was poisoned to say the least. Managers didn`t get any time, mistakes by players was jumped on and even when we won Loftus Road rarely felt like a happy place all season. Overall though we really missed Buzsaky and Vine all season and with them fully fit I think even with the managerial changes we`d have gone close to the playoffs.

What was your stand out moment?

The Birmingham home game was a great night and had everything. The Sheffield Wednesday game though stands out as it gave me a bit of hope that we can play good football and score goals, something I hadn`t seen much sign of before that afternoon.

How do you feel about the appointment of Jim Magilton?

Underwhelmed to be honest. I thought it was a joke when he was linked but when you run the club as a circus you are hardly going to get top managers interested, I like what I`ve heard from him so far and his teams do try and play good football which will be good to see. I hope he is given time to do the job and he could do a good job but I do fear for him though as the fans at QPR are not the most patient and neither is the owner.

Do you feel Rangers have strengthened adequately?

Not really. The squad looks weaker on paper to me with Lopez, Delaney, Camp and Blackstock gone. I think we still need a left back and someone who can score goals. I`d have signed DJ Campbell but that looks like it is off now. It all feels very much the same as last summer really with us signing an unknown Italian striker, an Argentinean midfielder and a wonder kid but this time from Spurs rather than Madrid. I hope it works out better this time but the squad continues to look very unbalanced to me.

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

So many players are key for us. Buzsaky needs to get fit and back to his best, where he is played will be key for us. Rowlands needs to have a good season as when he plays well so do Rangers. Gorkss will be massive at the back for us and if Taarabt can add goals to his game I don`t think there will be many better players at this level than him.

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

I would expect us to be around 8th pushing for the playoffs, I have a feeling we might crack it this season and finish 6th but that`s probably just pre season optimism talking.

Championship - Who will be…

Champions: West Brom with Sheffield United pushing them close.

Overachievers: Forest should go from relegation fodder to having a good shout for the playoffs after the players Billy Davis has brought in

Underachievers: I don`t see what Newcastle have done to be named favourites by the bookies and all the pundits. They have no manager and the same squad that were woeful last season, I can`t see them making the playoffs.

Young Player to Watch: Joe Oastler looks a good prospect, hopefully he`ll break through this season.

Top Goalscorer: if he plays regularly then Angelo Balanta, if not Helguson should score double figures this season.

Dave`s website, queensparkrangersfc.com can be located by Clicking Here >>>

Many thanks to Dave for taking the time to contribute

Other Previews

Mike - QPR Report

Clive Whittingham - Loft For Words

Scott Jones - We are the Rangers Boys

Bill Power - Former Chairman

Longegunmen - QPR Fanz

Ben Kosky - Kilburn Times




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