OUR PATCH SEPTEMBER 2016
SEASON PREVIEW 2016-17
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is buoyant as the new season gets underway... and he has good reason to be, writes Geoff Cowart
Optimism is high as the Hoops set about improving on last season’ s mid-table finish. Kicking off the season with three successive wins did bode well, even if it defies the 10-1 promotion odds from the bookies. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has always said that takes some of the pressure off the newcomers, anyway.
There were five key arrivals in the summer, including Charlton midfielder Jordan Cousins, a 22-year-old who cost £ 1m, and former Bees captain Jake Bidwell. Also in the squad are 25-yearold Polish international midfielder Ariel Borysiuk(£ 1.5m from Legia Warsaw), Joel Lynch(£ 1.2m from Huddersfield Town), seen as a long-term replacement for Clint Hill, and young French firecracker Yeni Ngbakoto.
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The expected clear-out included Hill, Leroy Fer, Alejandro Faurlin, Armand Traore, Rob Green, Junior Hoilett and Matt Philips – all long-serving seniors.
It sums up the scale of the realignment needed as this transition squad begins to cement its title tilt.
Cousins is delighted to be playing under the guidance of Jimmy-Floyd, but knows it won’ t be a cushy ride.
“ It’ s hard; it ' s a different regime, but it’ s been good,” he said.“ I feel fit and I feel sharp. He’ s very demanding, and I think that ' s what I need at this stage of my career; someone who can get more out of me.” And as the Rs manager approaches the first anniversary of his appointment at Loftus Road, his sights are firmly fixed on the play-off places.
I would have liked to have scored more goals
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The arrival of forward / winger Yeni Ngbakoto, 24, from Metz on a three-year contract has increased the Hoops’ striking options.
Only a few months separate Ngbakoto and Seb Polter, age-wise, and it will be intriguing to see if Hasselbaink is tempted to experiment playing the pair of them together up front.
What Ngbakoto lacks in height( he’ s 5ft 8in) he makes up for in nippiness. Little surprise that the player was once tracked by both Spurs and Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Polter finished last season strongly after adjusting to life in England having played all his football in Germany.“ It was difficult adapting to a new culture and city as well as a new club and team-mates,” he admitted.“ I would like to have scored more goals, but it takes time to get used to a new league.”
His injury-time goal
Seb Polter is against former Hoops hoping to help keeper Rob Green in Rs get fired up their opening day 3-0 victory over Leeds really impressed fans. It was Polter’ s determination to chase an apparently lost cause that directly led to the goal, which it gave an insight into the German’ s grit and determination. All eyes now turn to the big local derbies. The Hoops travel to Craven Cottage to play Fulham on October 1. While the always tasty Loftus Road clash with Brentford was nabbed by Sky Sports and shifted to October 8.
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