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Dear readers,

I prepared the long post for you today. This is because it consists of many parts due to large amount of changes in my QPR story:

- Winter transfers

- Second tactics

- Last results in PL

- Champions league

- Q.P.R. players info

- Future matches to look over

Transfers

Players out

I had too many wingers in the team therefore I put on transfer two of them:

- Ivelin Popov

       Because he is 29 years old already. It was perhaps the last chance to get some good money for him.

- Alvaro Vadillo

       Unfounded hopes maker. Too high salary around $90K.

Alvaro went on loan with future fee. Ivelin Popov made his way to bigger Inter, QPR fans were disappointed with this transfer because the Bulgarian was among the favourites for them. But, in fact, newcomer James Rodriguez displaced Popov from the first eleven.

Talented goalie Bruno Santos left the team due to his desire to be a main keeper. Denys Garmash went on loan with future fee to my Champions League group opponent. By the way, I performed the transfer because of your advices, dear readers.

 

Players in

I have 3 newcomers in winter of the 6th season. Mitch Johnson is just a decent English goalkeeper of 17 years old. Nothing special. Other two guys demand comments, especially Daniel Bazan.

1. Daniel Bazan (SC, AMR) - $35M

Why would I splash so much cash for this young talent? He was the best player on my shortlist among realistic transfers. I decided to buy him while grand clubs were just starting to thinking about it.

He doesn't really fit into my Supersonic tactics. Daniel has excellent First Touch, Passing, Team Work, Determination, Stamina… But he does lack Pace and Acceleration. Therefore my main idea of this transfer was:

Building the second tactics with 2 strikers

One of the is Bazan as you understand. He will have very interesting role on a pitch. You can learn more about the new tactics in the next post section. Now I want you too look at Bazan's history and scout report.

 

2. Alex Teixeira (AML, AMR, MC) - $10M

Alex Teixeira was on my shortlist since the very first season. Shakhtar has many wonderful player, and Teixeira is one of them. His versatility and great attributes suitable for Supersonic tactics didn't allow me to hesitate when Shakhtar had offered him for just $10.25M.

As a result, Alex Teixeira joined his former team mate Douglas Costa in Q.P.R.

 

Wage budget is very nice after all transfers.

The same cannot be said about balance. Q.P.R. went into negative numbers due to $35M paid for Daniel Bazan.

 

New tactics. The second one

Why did I decided to create the second tactics? I wanted more attacking formation that could allow to crush any defence even if strikers have problems with the scoring. It won't be my main one in this season as you understood.

Actually the new tactics is the same as my main Supersonic one. There are several changes:

- As you see, attacking 4-4-2 formation.

- 2 central midfielders with defensive duties.

- Full backs have Automatic duty instead Attacking.

- The main change is about the 2nd striker where I am going to use QPR newcomer Daniel Bazan.

Team instructions remained nearly the same with only one slight change: new striker is considered as a Target Man. The only thing I am hesitating is a role for him. Perhaps you could advise:

Should I use Bazan as Target Man or Deep-Lying forward? Attacking or Support Duty?

 

Matches

The new tactics is not ready to be used in the most important matches due to low tactic familiarity level. But I decided to play against weaker teams. The red rectangle on the screen shot above indicates games where new 4-4-2 formation was used. I would say it's a very good start for the new unaccustomed formation.

If we analyse all the results, we can see Q.P.R. had too many losses of points. 3 draws and 3 losses in the Premier League influenced much and made me to forget all title ambitions in this season…

 

Premier League

As you see, Q.P.R. is in huge 21 points distance to leading Manchester United. No chance to get into Top-2 this time :(

I will try to compete for the 3rd and 4th positions using the new 4-4-2 tactics from time to time, against the most easy opponents.

Supersonic 4-4-2 tactics in Premier League

By the way, you should take a look at these three match stats played with the new tactics. I can reassure you that my common tactics is not giving so many shots on average. Though amount of Shots on Target is still low. But it can be normal because Q.P.R. plays football in very quick tempo.

Q.P.R. - Norwich 3:2	Wigan - Q.P.R 1:0
Q.P.R. - Stoke 3:1

 

The best match

If you haven't see the detailed report about this match, you should click on the link. It's worth reading and watching highlights!

Q.P.R. - Chelsea 4:3. Superb comeback against arch-rival!

 

Champions League

In spite of the heavy defeat to AC Milan when I was using several backup players, Q.P.R. has promoted into knockout rounds from the first position. Our next opponent is pretty convenient - Schalke! Let's take a look at their latest results in the tournaments.

Current Bundesliga standing

Champions League group

In short, I believe it's not a team that should stop Queens Park Rangers in the Champions League.

 

Q.P.R. players

James Rodriguez becomes more and more important figure for our club. The best debutant! He is the most efficient goal scorer among wingers. Though Theo Walcott could compete with him but he had got a long-term injury.

Oscar

Suddenly Oscar became a team leader. I found out the Brazilian is very efficient in Playmaker role at MC position. Great dribbling, many assists, joins to attacks scoring goals…

 

Worst players

Sami Khedira has been disappointing since the very season start. Assistant manager is telling the German has adaptation problems… I should wait.

19 years old Bernard Holt (DC) is still unstable, though I am beginning to trust him more often.

Jay Rodriguez… He makes me sad. Currently I don't understand how he could score so many goals in the previous seasons!

 

Upcoming matches

Q.P.R. has 3 tournaments to participate in further. You have read about my Premier League targets. Champions League minimally fine achievement for this season is quarterfinal. But, of course, I am dreaming to be in the Final. Chelsea proved in the real life anything may happen! Even if you are playing against Barcelona lacking 1 player (John Terry).

FA Cup. The tournament Q.P.R. won in the 3rd season. I have a strong feeling we should repeat the three-year-old triumph!

Excited to blog for you,

Vitaliy Mokosiy

Slightly Mad Studios have released the newest build of their WMD-powered Project CARS title

Simbin has announced their next licensing agreement as the Danish Aquila CR1 Sports GT will be featured in an upcoming title from the Swedish studio.

Team EnduRacers have unveiled their newest mod for rFactor and a second platform.

My Q.P.R. is in good form again. Though I am still experiencing problem with strikers. Neither Jay Rodriguez nor Carlos Fierro score goals permanently… Anyway 9 wins and 1 loss in 12 matches can be considered a nice result after the morale pit we had at the very beginning of the season.

 

Premier League

As you see, Queens Park Rangers is still too far away from the top. 11 points gap exists between my team and merely fantastic this season Manchester United. It means too many points were lost during the starting period. Though maybe my team will still be able to catch up the leaders.

OK, let's examine the last matches I had. They can divided into 3 different streaks actually.

 

Streak 1. Resurrection from the crisis

It was very important victory that returned us from crisis. 3 goals to AC Milan brought my players back to life. After that we did great in away match against Liverpool!

Detailed report about Milan match.

 

Streak 2. Domination of the Red Devils

Manchester United is a real title competitor this season. Their tactics is very tight and efficient. I wasn't able to understand how to deal against The Red Devils. It was a total loss due to their total domination at Old Trafford.

By the way, look at the ball possession by Man Utd. Resembles Barcelona in the real life, doesn't it?

Carlo Ancelotti it the one who manages Man United in my game. It's his favourite formation and tactical approach.

Before this match I had the loss to Olympique Marseille and sudden points loss in the draw against West Brom. As a result, I've been troubled with the following message from media.

 

Streak 3. Only wins.

6 wins with only 2 goals conceded returned my manager's reputation level to Secure. Fortunately, we managed to revenge OM in the Champions League in the very complicated away match.

The best victory of all during the reported period happened at the Stadium of Light.

 

Champions League

It's great to have a safe feeling before the last group fixture in the Champions League because QPR has guaranteed the first position. Very good because we are playing away against AC Milan, the match that may likely be lost.

 

Q.P.R. players

Oscar is really awesome as a new QPR playmaker. Just look at his amount of goal and assists, average rating… Amazing!

Additionally I want to single out excellent performance of my Dutch wonderkid centre back Samir Breinburg. He is my defensive rock and almost ideal DC at all.

Samir Breinburg

Interesting that another talented young central defender Bernard Holt has one of the worst ratings (6.63 only) in spite of his great attributes. I believe it's a matter of time. But for a while I trust Cahill more…

 

Another one remarkable thing is that Marco Veratti has been doing much better at DMC position in Deep-Lying playmaker role than as Playmaker MC. Average rating 7.31 and 5 assists in 17 games prove this fact.

 

Strikers' problem remains

Unfortunately, rare goal scoring from Jay Rodriguez and Carlos Fierro has been continuing since the very season start. It's very weird. Especially, I am disappointed with Jay whose percentage of shots on target is awesome (above 60%). Damn it, he shots ball right into goalie almost every time!!!

 

Board confidence and upcoming matches

After all nervous messages about pressure on me and insecurity of me as a head coach, I am tracking the board confidence. It's important because they disappointed with Premier League and League Cup results. Though Champions League promotion to the knockout round helps in this case.

 

Tough matches ahead. Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea… Winning all of them would mean return of Q.P.R. to title race. Sure, I understand probability of away win over Man City is very low. All my previous away matches against them ended with losses and minimally 3 goals conceded…

 

Two questions for you in the end:

1. Is my team able to return to title race?

2. Should I think over tactics change because of the low strikers efficiency?

 

Exited to blog for you,

Vitaliy Mokosiy