Yesterday in my "Battle for Europa League place" post I told about extremely interesting last fixtures in the Premier League. I played the fixtures and am going to write an emotional post today.

As you remember Queens Park Rangers was going at the 6th position with 5 points of gap to the 5th and 7th ones. Here are all matches apart from 2 last fixtures:

Sudden loss to West Ham and more logical defeat against The Red Devils were caused by our injury problems of attacking players. Take a look at the injury table after Manchester United match:

Especially I was missing for Wright-Phillips and Popov because Oscar got suspended after a red card in the West Ham game. So I had not good wingers against Man Utd and Stoke at all!!! As a result I was using young and weak Obita on a left flank and central midfielders Korey Smith and Scott Brown on a right flank…

Two decisive fixtures

It was a kind tricky situation before the 2 last fixtures described in the last post of my True Football Manager+ blog:

My team showed unconvincing performance against Aston Villa. So I can say it was somewhat lucky match because Q.P.R. didn't create enough amount of goal chances. From the other side Jay Rodriguez led out the team scoring goal on the 77th minute. I wasn't in time to set a Contain strategy and got a reciprocal goal in a moment:

 

But in fact, after the match against The Villans we still had good chances to take the 5th position because of the calendar:

Q.P.R.  - Arsenal

Man Utd  - Aston Villa

Loftus Road welcomed Arsenal…

Gervinho scored a goal on the 60th minute and, frankly speaking, my hands fell down. Moreover, Arsenal had a certain advantage in a ball control during the whole first hour of the game.

I went Attacking style after the conceded goal and my guys managed to score twice!!! Arsenal changed tactics to 4-2-4 after that. It was very risky move, and in the end Fabianski conceded two more goals!

It's history repeating because in the first season half I had very similar match against The Gunners: Quality of possession more important than quantity. We ceased on almost all our goal moments in contrast to Arsenal players!

The final score is 4:1. Here are 4 goals of The Rangers:

1. Excellent teamwork during free kicks ended with fierce shot by Faurlin.

2. Jay Rodriguez scored a penalty, mistake by Vermalen.

3. Jay Rodriguez makes a wonderful run across almost whole pitch making an efficient counter-attack.

4. Poor mistake by Fabianski who didn't cope with simple cross. Jay makes his first hat-trick for Q.P.R at rebound.!

Jay Rodriguez was a true magician in this final game!!!

But the most important is that whereas Q.P.R. was winning, Manchester United crushed Aston Villa giving me and my team a ticket into Europa League!

Yahooooooo! I am very excited now!!!!!

It's above my season expectations and story targets! As you remember I specified that Q.P.R. should qualify into Europe in the 3d season: http://www.truefootballmanager.com/2011/10/qpr-story-targets-and-principles.html

 

Final Premier League table

Surprisingly they gave Manager of the Season award to me. I understand it's because of too quick progress during the season. It's result of successful squad change policy determined by rigid philosophy and my amazing Supersonic tactics that produces beautiful quick football style on a pitch.

And also here is so pleasant season review containing Q.P.R., Rodriguez and Popov:

 

Q.P.R. players

I am not ready to analyse Q.P.R. players much due to overflow of emotions. I can only single out the best and most valuable of them by pitch areas.

Goalkeeper:

David Ospina

Defenders:

1. Younes Kaboul

2. Andreas Hinkel

3. Lucas Digne

Midfielders:

1. Marco Verratti

2. Alejandro Faurlin

3. Sulley Muntari

Attackers:

1. Jay Rodriguez

2. Ivelin Popov

3. Shaun Wright-Phillips

 

Fantastic Jay Rodriguez

Separately I should praise a person who actually brought us to Europe.  Jay Rodriguez scored 10 goals in 7 last matches! He also became one of the most efficient Premier League strikers in the season.

 

Look at his amazing efficiency:

Jay is the most accurate shot maker in the league:

 

 

Positions to strengthen before the next season

I don't see why I should change my squad much. This is why it would be good to make a point transfers buying better players for the most weak areas. First of all it's about a new central defender and winger.

Additionally, I can already tell you that I am going to sell Joey Barton and Shaun Wright-Phillips. They both are over 30 years age and have the largest wages in the squad - $105K.

Stay tuned to the blog updates!

Happy New Year, dear friends!

Vitaliy Mokosiy