QPR’s 2-2 draw with Cardiff City may look positive on paper, but the performance behind closed doors was anything but encouraging.
Julien Stéphan’s side were second-best for large spells, and although goals from Karamoko Dembele and Jaylan Pearman salvaged a result, this friendly raised some familiar and uncomfortable truths.
Old Problems, Same Story
Cardiff are further ahead in their preparations and it showed. Their pressing game forced mistake after mistake from a Rangers back line that struggled to move the ball with any conviction. Sam Field, a player with plenty of attributes, was caught out twice: once for a Cardiff goal and again in build-up play that typified the sluggishness in midfield. This is not a new problem, and yet there appears to be no real solution on the horizon.
The system that Stéphan appears to be persisting with, short build-up, playing through the thirds, demands a level of technical ability and composure that simply isn’t consistent across this squad. Playing out from the back looks like an instruction without a viable out ball. When the high press came, QPR panicked, and without a striker to hold play up or offer a channel, possession turned over time and again.
The left side remains an alarming concern. Ken Paal’s summer exit has not been addressed, and while Faysal Bettache and Larkeche had their moments, they struggled defensively. Cardiff’s wide players, particularly Rubin Colwill, exploited that flank relentlessly. The second Cardiff goal, a well-placed curling strike, came after Rangers’ right side folded under pressure yet again.
Questions Up Front and Behind
Going into the new campaign, Rangers’ forward line is a major red flag. Sinclair Armstrong and Reggie Cannon remain injured, Kelman is potentially on his way out, and there’s no fit, first-choice number nine in the building. Daniel Bennie, more naturally a full-back, ended this game playing as a makeshift striker. That in itself is enough to set alarm bells ringing.
The absence of Ilias Chair and the return of Chris Willock, now a shadow of the player who lit up Loftus Road two seasons ago, means that the creative burden is also lopsided. Harvey Vale showed composure in spells and Dembele’s strike was a bright moment, but without a platform to play from, they often looked isolated or overrun.
At the back, Jake Clarke-Salter and Steve Cook are the most experienced options, but the latter looked rusty. Nardi, in goal, held onto the ball far too long and invited pressure, which exposed the defence again and again. Without the ball, QPR looked too easy to play through. Cardiff’s high press was effective, but it also highlighted just how frail this system is if one cog misfires. The entire machine buckled.
Conclusion
We can all accept that pre-season is about fitness and experimentation, but the truth is there’s very little evidence of a coherent plan bedding in here. Julien Stéphan is working under clear constraints, but those constraints were visible last season too. The striker situation is beyond urgent. The full-back positions, particularly on the left, remain undercooked. The midfield cannot function as a two if Sam Field continues to be the primary outlet under pressure. And if there’s a plan to play out from the back, then where is the support to do it?
The return to Loftus Road against Preston North End is not far away. For all the talk of development and ‘project’ building, this remains a results business. And while one pre-season draw does not define a campaign, QPR look a long way from being ready for competitive action. That, more than the scoreline, is the biggest worry.
