Team Focus: Ramsey Unable to Remove QPR from Perilous Relegation Position
QPR took a real punt when they gave Chris Ramsey the managerial reins on a permanent basis. A coach who did well on Tim Sherwood's backroom staff at Tottenham, highly regarded by players and fellow staff alike, it was hoped that he could transfer his training ground skills to the helm of the club, and after it became clear that Harry Redknapp did not have what it takes to save them from the drop, a change of some regard was indeed necessary.
Redknapp departed Loftus Road with the team 19th in the table, with only 5 wins from 23 matches, the worst defensive record (42 goals conceded) and not a single point gained from 11 matches on the road. Now, with 4 games remaining of the 2014/15 season, the Rs have a vastly improved away record (7 points taken from their last 5 matches), but they remain 19th with the worst defence in the Premier League.
Facing trips to Liverpool and Manchester City next, they could be relegated by the time they next play on home soil - against Newcastle in a fortnight's time. So was it really worth their while making a change in the first place?
The official reason for Redknapp's departure was issues with his health - specifically his knees - but given that his resignation came just after the end of the January transfer window, in which QPR signed only Mauro Zarate on loan, rumours were rife that there was in fact more to it. Chairman Tony Fernandes has pumped plenty of funds into player investment over the three and a half seasons that he has spent in West London, and it seemed this winter as if he had finally decided that enough was enough. When Redknapp left, Fernandes opted against a big name to replace him, instead choosing the cheaper option in giving Ramsey a promotion.
Redknapp is rather known for something of a disregard for tactics, having once infamously instructed Roman Pavlyuchenko to "just f****** run around a bit" for Tottenham, while Sherwood has favoured different types of football at different clubs, so it was always going to be interesting to see how Ramsey would choose to change things at Loftus Road.
As it turns out, long balls per game have increased from 76.5 under Redknapp to 84.4, as Ramsey attempts to get the team higher up the pitch more quickly and away from the goal which has seen the most concessions this season. A reversion to 4-4-2 with wingers and two big centre-forwards has precipitated a rise in crosses from 19.3 per game to 21.3, and goals per game have resultantly gone up to 1.27 from 1.04. Bobby Zamora has been key in this attacking resurgence, as has the transformed Matty Phillips, who has 2 goals and 7 assists since Ramsey took charge.
Ramsey has also shored up the defence slightly, but the 1.54 goals conceded per game, down from 1.83, has still not been enough to keep them out of the relegation zone. Whilst they have not been thrashed in the same way that they were earlier in the season under Redknapp - all but one of their 7 defeats under Ramsey have been by a single goal - they are in fact losing more frequently under their current boss. Impressive (and unexpected) away wins at Sunderland and West Brom as well as a 3-3 draw at Aston Villa gave a rather false impression of the Rs survival bid: they remain 19th in the table coming up to three months after Ramsey came to the helm. Any changes there have been have been far too slight and far too inconsequential for QPR.
The three promoted clubs have taken vastly differing approaches to surviving a first season in the Premier League and it currently looks like Leicester's mix of youth and experience will be the only successful one. QPR have undoubtedly overspent on far too many players with too little quality and perhaps too big an ego to keep them in the top flight, and there will surely be an exodus if, or indeed when their relegation is confirmed.
Ramsey has attempted to stamp his mark on the Rs since coming to the club, and most would recognise that there have indeed been some changes. Inconsistency has, however, persisted far too readily, with QPR one of only two clubs (along with Sunderland) yet to record back-to-back league wins all season, while only they and West Ham have failed to register successive clean sheets at any point. They have only kept 6 clean sheets all season. Regardless of managerial changes, this is not the kind of form that is worthy of survival. There are vast financial consequences that come with dropping out of the top flight and QPR, who have spent so heavily in recent years, will need a miracle if they are to avoid what could turn out to be a terribly difficult summer.
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