QPR v Charlton Preview

Posted on | November 24, 2008 | No Comments

This fixture features two teams in turmoil at the moment; with new QPR boss Paulo Sousa enduring a horrific start to his tenure with a 3-0 defeat on Saturday, while Charlton don’t even have a manager after sacking Alan Pardew just a few days ago. QPR were installed as favorites for automatic promotion at the start of the season while Charlton were also tipped to do well, so the positions of both comes as a real surprise right now.

Some supporters were amazed at Iain Dowie’s dismissal a month or so ago and the same ones were probably equally as bewildered with the appointment of Paulo Sousa. With the former Juventus midfielder having absolutely no managerial experience, it was always going to be a risk and he perhaps got a taste of the difficulty on Saturday. Rangers put in an absolutely abysmal performance to lose 3-0 against Watford, which is really a result that shouldn’t be happening considering their ambitious aims this season. They now sit 12th in the table and while only three points separate them from the play off positions, it looks as though there is a lot of work needed at Loftus Road and it remains to be seen whether Sousa is the man to oversee this.

Following a dismal 5-2 home defeat to Charlton, the Addicks board wasted no time in relieving Alan Pardew of his duties. Supporters had grown increasingly frustrated with Pardew and following numerous protests throughout the season, the final straw came after home embarrassment to the Blades. Any potential manager must be very wary about this job though, with the Addicks sat in the relegation zone and extremely low on confidence. They’ve been forced to sell key players over the last eighteen months and that means that this is another club which needs serious work, and probably investment, if they are to live up to their own expectations. Having not won in eight games and being rooted in the bottom three, pressure is mounting and they’ve got to be careful not to get into a relegation scrap this early in the season.

As for team news, QPR have a few problems coming into this one with defenders Fitz Hall and Matt Connolly both out. Elsewhere, Paulo Sousa may have to reshuffle in other areas with midfielders Martin Rowlands and Lee Croft doubtful and both facing late fitness tests. As for the visitors, they signed Keith Gillespie on loan this week and despite not playing for a while for parent club Sheffield United, he could go straight into the starting eleven. Therry Racon and Jonathon Fortune both have chances of playing but Chinese international Zheng Zhi is definitely out.

These are two sides in poor situations at the moment and because of that, we’ll predict a draw – 0-0.

Related posts:

1. Barnsley v Charlton Preview
2. Birmingham v Charlton Preview
3. Charlton v Southampton Preview
4. Southampton v Charlton Preview
5. Charlton v Norwich Preview

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