QPR Squad Planning

After staying up, It is obvious we cant continue like this. Our squad needs a overhaul and we need to start working towards the identity on and off the pitch for this club.

I went to the squad planner and looked at next season what we could potentially have at the club and it looks very light for a 46 game season just 16 players. So we needed to promote within and make some smart recruitment.

Sales

First I want to look at the outs and the reason behind them. At first I looked at our most sellable assets and 26 year old Chair was the main one. He is soon to be 27 and both Bristol City and Celtic wanted him. City on a loan with mandatory fee of £6m. £3m summer of 2025, £1.5m summer 2026 and £1.5m summer of 2027. Celtic offered £4m now. I went with City’s offer. They’re covering his wages, Paying me £1.13m loan fee and we get guaranteed income the next 3 summers.

Next out was Dykes. He just doesn’t fir my plans is on £11k per week and I can bring in £82,440 loan fee plus possibly a £465k transfer fee.

Jimmy Dunne was next to leave, 1 year left on his deal. A high wage and £100k pocketed.

Over £30k a week is mental for Cook so he was quickly moved on.

£3.2m fee for Cannon brings in a much needed lump sum.

Frey like Dykes I have no room for him in my squad and style of play so he is quickly loaned out.

Transfers in

With no intake this season due to the start date I wanted to go into the window with a recruitment plan.

* Free Signings
* Recently released from higher division
* Small fees on talents from lower divisions
* Future Sellable assets 

First in we needed a new Goalkeeper. Following a successful loan at Wrexham in League 2, Okonkwo was released by Arsenal. We brought him in on a free.

Centre back was somewhere I was focusing on recruiting (More to come on why next post) But Ness was performing well at Charlton in League 1 so £96,000 was spent to bring him up to the Championship.

My big signing of the summer £275,000 was spent on 18 year old Nevett from Rochdale. Left footed Centre back with a good future ahead of him.

Manchester City Youngster Hamilton joins us on a Free. Can play anywhere in midfield a real addition to the squad.

We crossed the border to the other Queen’s Park to sign young Scottish winger McKinstry on a free.

Right wing was an important position for us to focus on as we had no options there so first Josh Martin joined for £155,000 from Portsmouth

Followed by Ashton Missin after his release by United.

Former Arsenal Youngster Benjamin was brought in on the final day of the window.

Our Squad now looks like this

As you can see we have the 23rd lowest wage bill in the division so we are up against it. Hopefully we can get something out of these young players and stay up this season.
In the next post I will talk about the tactical identity I want to implemnet at QPR this season.