A blog of two halves

Can QPR end their FA Cup curse?

Forty-eight defeats in the third round of the FA Cup is a record QPR would like to sweep under the rug.

4 January 2018
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Ian Holloway coaches his merry men. PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES

Forty-eight defeats in the third round of the FA Cup is a record QPR would like to sweep under the rug.

And a wager on the R's getting through to the fourth round of the FA Cup this Saturday is ill-advisable if you want to maintain your newfound positivity in the new year.

(My newfound positivity expired about 60 seconds after midnight on New Year's Eve when I realised I had to work the next day. But that's another story...)

Likewise, the Hoops players will not like coming into work this week knowing the club have the joint worst record – alongside Plymouth Argyle – in the third round of the cup competition with a whopping 48 defeats.

But Ian Holloway and his merry men will attempt to end this FA Cup nightmare against MK Dons this weekend.

The Rangers boss will have a smaller squad to choose from than usual as QPR have been hard at work lightening their squad's wage bill in the early stages of the January transfer window.

Winger Yeni Ngbakoto has been sold to French Ligue 1 club Guingamp for an undisclosed fee. The 25-year-old failed to make a real impression during his time at Loftus Road and played just five games this season.

However, the DR Congo international did leave the R's fans with one loving memory. Watch this.

Other departees include Steven Caulker who left the club by mutual consent. The central defender played his last game for the Hoops back in September and the 25-year-old is still yet to fulfil the extraordinary talent and skill he displayed in the early stages of his career. Caulker's struggles with alcohol addiction, gambling and depression clearly left him little chance of showing his best side and I hope 2018 be a better and brighter year for Caulker.

Finally, QPR midfielder Sean Goss has gone on loan to Rangers; calling the move a no-brainer. Goss moved this time last year from Manchester United to W12 in search of first-team football which never came. The talented youngster could earn some much-needed game time and come back to Loftus Road a little older and wiser.

Nevertheless, there seems no time like the present that's better for the Hoops to come to life in the latter stages of the FA Cup.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

Nick Skoric

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