DECEMBER

Paulo Sousa would lose only one game during this month, which would put him in the frame for Manager of The Month. Starting with a 1-0 win at home to Wolves, we saw Goal of The Season and a great win against high flying Wolves. An indication that we were not too far off the teams at the top.

Martin Rowlands scored a cracker to secure the victory and we were starting to see that Paulo Sousa was taking a good look at his players. It was quickly apparant that Danny Parejo was not going to figure in any formation, indeed his days were numbered and Ledesma was beginning to learn that he would not figure in the managers plans. Following Wolves, Rowlands turned hero to villian in missing a first half penalty after we had dominated Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough and were very unlucky to lose 1-0.


Early December, we needed extra striking power and the club managed to secure the loan of Heidar Helgusson who scored twice in the 3-2 win at home to Preston. A game which saw us play 4-4-2 at this time, confidence was very high. Over christmas, we had two winnable games away to Charlton and home to Watford. This was the first time we started to see, change of formations, going for one up front against Watford, with Blackstock only coming on for Cook at the start of the second half. In the space of two days, the team had at least 5 changes and it could be argued, that is why we only managed to draw the two games. No doubt, playing so many games in such a short space of time, was new experience for the manager, but in general it was a good month for the new manager.

JANUARY

A mixed month, where we played our bogey team of recent years Burnley in the FA CUP. After a drab 0-0, we went to Turf moor, playing well , but heartbreak in the final minute of extra time after an error by Damion Stewart, that led to our exit in the 3rd Round and not the first time, in our clubs recent history. In the league, we signed Helgusson after he impressed with his loan period and he came good in the away win at Blackpool, this came after we spoiled the party of new manager Nigel Clough at Derby. The Derby game saw another new signing Wayne Routledge score first goal for the r;s. This signing showed our signing muscle in the championship after beating Cardiff City for his signature. Two impressive away wins, it was all loooking good. In between the two games against Burnley we were fortuntate to get a late equaliser at home to Coventry. The month of January, saw us draw for the second time 0-0 against Reading and little of note happened in that game, but it was the start of a more defensive look to our team.

FEBRUARY Due to internationals and bad weather, we were restricted to only 4 games and a really bad month, where we did not win one game. It started pretty well with Alberti scoring 2 at Nottingham Forest and on the whole we should have won the game, but two weeks later we started to see the downturn in fortunes and strange selection choices for the home game against Ipswich. The game was a defining moment in the season. In front of the sky cameras and leading 1-0 after 4 minutes, the crowd turned on stand in captain Gavin Mahon who had a nightmare game and worse still we were totally outplayed in the seconnd half to lose 3-1. Following on from that, we went to cardiff City and performed admirably and drew the game 0-0. In the space of a week, we put in another inept performance against Barnsley. We saw changes to the team and revert back to playing 2 up front. One will never know if this formation was used in training that week, but we saw for the first and only time of the season matteo ALberti play centre midfield for a 30 minute period, the use of Ramone Rose, in the second half. After playing so well against cardiff, Gavin Mahon was dropped and replaced by Miller. It seemed that the manager was trying fo find his best formation, best team and trying to use the full squad of players.

B]MARCH[/B] This month would follow on from the poor performances of the previous month. After still being in the hunt for a play off place, we found ourselves at home to struggling Norwich City. It did see a continuation of 2 up front, but no use of any wingers, with routledge playing behind the front two. It was left to the wing backs Connolly and delaney to get down the wings. Its fair to say, yet another formation used. By the end of the game, we were playing with 4 up front and Fitz Hall playing as a makeshift centre forward. We played well at home to Sheffield United, a game that saw a fanastic save from the United keeper to prevent us getting the 3 points. The majority of fans were still optimistic by the time we played doncaster Rovers away, but some were getting annoyed at the lack of attacking tactics. It was obvious we were not going to get relegated, but we were simply not going all out for the wins. A point proved at Doncaster Rovers, which from a personal point of view was the time that I really started to think, the inexperience of the manager was our undoing. We got defeated comfortably at Doncaster and then another poor performance followed at Southampton, though the management team looked happy with the point. This saw a late debut in the game from Tarrabdt, who we had loaned from Spus until the end of the season. Two wins followed, though its fair to say the Swansea game was a dire affair and the Rangers faithful by this time, knew that a Play off place was a longshot, a point refelcted in the low crowd attendance. A much better performance followed at home to Bristol City, which saw a great free kick from Lopez.

APRIL

The first saturday would be the start of Paulo Sousa's last week in charge of coaching QPR. After another disappointing home display against Crystal Palace, the manager was later questioned about the loan of striker Dexter Blackstock to Nottingham Forest and was adamant he knew nothing about it. We will never the truth, but it is fair to say he was dropped completely from the previous week game at Bristol City . Added to this, a message appeared on the official messageboard then subsequently onto this web-site with direct quotes from the manager to another QPR fan, regarding personal information . Its fair to say, the manager was under increasing pressure with results and tactics and on Thursday 9th April, he left the club, with the release of confidential information used as the main reason on the official web-site. We do not know all the extent of the confidential information revealed, but it is believed more than one supporter was told, details that should have been kept within the club. A trip to Burnley followed and and yet again, a defeat. The following week we played Sheffield Wed, arguably our best perfromance of the season, after being 2-0 down, we saw the scoring return of Rowan Vine and a great header 3 minutes from time from Damien Stewart. The crowd were fully aware that a play off spot was totally unrealistic, but it did show a team unity that had been lacking for long periods throughout the season. A trip to Wolves followed and a game that should have been drawn, with Helgusson missing a sitter, but not for the first team, it was us fans seeing another set of supporters celebrate, with Wolves 1-0 victory confirming they would be playing Premiership football next season. A poor home game against Plymouth followed with both teams thinking of the summer holidays. This game was typical of many games this season. A dire 0-0 draw.

Last Game of The Season Despite a second goal of the season by Patrick Ageymang, it was not enough to avoid defeat against a jubilant Preston team. A club which sneaked a 6th place and a play off spot after looking dead and buried a few weeks ago. The final result of the season will be scant consolation for many Rangers fans, but it did mean a little payback to cardiff City after they got promoted by beating us in the Play Off Final of 2003. Hopefully lessons will be learn't by the Rangers hierachy, and we cannot make the same mistakes again next season. Roll on next season and lets hope we find a manager that will do great things for the club and a group of supporters that will latch onto any positivity that the club can provide.