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Julien Stephan
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2026 9:45 pm
by Tommy Cunningham
If there was ever any doubts about this manager’s ability to manage in the Championship,
then I would suggest take a long good hard look at his team selection for today’s game.
Our opponents Sheffield United are a big strong physical team, their manager Chris Wilder
is a very experienced football manager and has shown the ability to build strong solid teams
over the years with success.
They arrived in West London for their 3rd game in 6 days.
When I saw our lineup for today’s game, to say I was surprised would be a massive understatement.
To play Vale, Saito and Morgan in midfield against Sheffield United today, showed me how little this
man knows about the Championship.
These three players are no doubt talented individuals, but they were always gonna be bullied and
outmuscled against such physical opposition. Fortunately they were without Kalvin Phillips, after his
straight red card in the Sheffield derby last week.
Joe Walsh’s confidence took one hell of a battering at Southampton, today a good manager would
have taken him out of the firing line and named Hamer to start the game.
This team is getting worse week by week, I don’t believe he has the backing of the players.
Re: Julien Stephan
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2026 12:27 pm
by ESSEXURs
Was at the game yesterday and there were only a couple of positives.
The pitch looked better than it has for some time.
Dunne and Edwards were excellent again but you could feel their frustration as their
good work produced the need to defend again very quickly after clearing the ball.
Why have we not looked for a ball winning midfield general as the lightweight players
in front of our defence are incapable of holding on to balls and creating attacks and
are brushed aside easily.
The last few games has exposed how thin our squad is and most of the players like Bennie,
Walsh and Esquerdinha who have played should have been loaned out to gain experience.
Hard to see where the next win is coming from unless the injured players return.
Certainly Walsh needs resting and we will not see the best of Saito in a struggling side
spending much of the game defending.
We will have most of our strongest squad out injured soon especially as Kone is obviously
carrying an injury with his heavy strapping on one leg.
Re: Julien Stephan
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2026 7:37 pm
by Steve Russell
From West London Sport...
'Julien Stephan insisted his decisions were not the cause of QPR’s latest home defeat.
Head coach Stephan bemoaned his team’s apparent inability to do the “simple things” –
and the injury problems which have marred their season.
Sheffield United eased to a 2-0 victory at Loftus Road, where Rangers have now lost three
of their past four matches.
Stephan’s side, thumped 5-0 at Southampton in midweek, were again punished for some
woeful defending.
They were cut apart on their left side for the opening goal, scored by Callum O’Hare in the
ninth minute.
And Jonathan Varane giving the ball away led to Tyrese Campbell thumping in the Blades’
second.
With his team having been totally outplayed in a one-sided first half, Stephan made a double
substitution at half-time, sending on attackers Paul Smyth and Rayan Kolli and switching from
a 4-4-2 to 3-4-3 formation.
“We knew before the game that they were able to combine on their right side. The way they
scored the first goal was exactly what we could expect,” said Stephan.
“But if you don’t respect the principle of play and don’t close inside – simple things, it’s not a
question of back four or back five, it’s just a question of respect of the principle of play.
The second one, we must be able to keep the ball in this situation.
“I don’t think it’s a question of shape or organisation. We know the situation with the injuries
and all the players we have out. It has a huge, huge impact on the quality we can have on the
pitch.
“But if we are not able to compensate with more intensity and more aggression we have no
chance in the Championship. And in the two games the disappointment has come from that.”
Just a week after a 3-1 win at Hull seemed to leave Rangers in the thick of the battle for a
play-off spot, back-to-back defeats have changed the mood totally, and the season is petering
out.
Key midfielder Nicolas Madsen suffering a hamstring injury at Southampton was another major
blow.
Stephan said of his players: “They are very honest. We were able to have a good result against
Hull City, but the reality is that the lack of players means it is difficult to play in three days.
“We can see that physically and mentally we are not 100% and our performance dropped a lot.
There’s a big difference between the Hull game, and our quality and aggression, and the next one.”
He added: “But this is our realty and we need to improve very quickly, because the week after
next we have three games in a week as well, and we need to be better to get some points.”
In light of the injury to Madsen, and with Esquerdinha at left-back having struggled in the absence
of Rhys Norrington-Davies, who was ineligible to play as he is on loan from Sheffield United,
Stephan was asked about the club’s decision to allow Sam Field to join Norwich on loan.
Stephan replied: “I am very happy for Sam. He is playing for Norwich and did some good games.
“I don’t think we can explain the last game we did with Sam’s situation. It was just a decision.
“We didn’t know Nico Madsen would have an injury and did not know that Ilias Chair would not
be able to come back at the moment. We did not know that Kader Dembele had an ACL injury,
“I’m happy for Sam. He’s playing well and it’s a good thing for him.”
The defeat left Rangers 15th in the Championship table, 10 points away from the play-off places.
“Tough game. Tough performance. We conceded a goal too quickly in the first half, didn’t start
with enough intensity or aggression,” said Stephan.
“Tried to fix some problems during half-time and I think it was better in the second half but we
didn’t create enough.”
Re: Julien Stephan
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2026 9:42 pm
by Tommy Cunningham
Is there any supporter out there that fully understands Julien Stephan’s comments, regarding
the game yesterday or his Sam Field comments about playing well for Norwich while on loan
from QPR. Also our target now is to get another 4 points to guarantee against relegation.
I watched his post match press conference and basically I thought he just waffled throughout,
I can’t remember a more uninspiring manager at QPR than this clown.
Telling journalists that QPR midfield player Sam Field on loan to Norwich was playing well and
he was delighted for him, a midfield player that should still be at QPR and playing regularly.
Midfield is an area of the team where we are particularly weak and really struggling, yet the
club send one of our best midfielders out on loan to a rival.
Another home defeat and another abysmal performance but there are positives, the pitch
has improved, Sam Field is playing well for Norwich and we need another 4 points from the
rest of the season.
Re: Julien Stephan
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2026 10:12 pm
by ESSEXURs
With players getting injured with monotonous regularity we will be lucky to get
one point not four.
The next “injury” will be Kone who seems to be stuck together with bandages etc.
We will really be in the proverbial then and the opposition might as well dispense
with a normal goalkeeper as we will be too busy keeping the score down.
Rush keepers will be the fashion against us.
Re: Julien Stephan
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2026 9:44 am
by Steve Russell
The Sam Field situation is certainly odd to say the least
Julien Stephan could have answered it differently but it wouldn't
have been his decision to loan him out to a rival.
As for Richard Kone, yes, worrying...
Re: Julien Stephan
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2026 12:16 pm
by Kerrins
My view on the current situation is that the QPR Executive have recruited this squad. We do
not have a manager but instead a head coach. There is some playing talent but you can well
argue that squad talents are not being used properly. On top of this several injuries.
Stephan will not have these players at the start of next season..... because Stephan will not
be here.
Re: Julien Stephan
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2026 5:27 pm
by ESSEXURs
I wonder who the last true manager was who had full control over players
and tactics.
There is a difference between a Head Coach who has players foisted on him
and a Head Coach who gives his requirements to management.
We obviously have the former as we are not addressing the areas of most need.
On the subject of players has the club made any comment about the man of
mystery Justin Obikwu?Supposed to have had a minor injury when training after
his arrival.
It would seem more likely that our obviously thorough pre signing medical may
have failed to notice he had a wooden leg such is the level of secrecy surrounding
him.
Re: Julien Stephan
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2026 7:02 pm
by Kerrins
Yes Essex. All fair comment that.
Despite any misfortune and injuries et al in my view the bottom line is we
should be doing better
Re: Julien Stephan
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2026 8:04 pm
by Tommy Cunningham
I think if the CEO at QPR is the individual responsible for the recruitment at
the club, then surely the hierarchy above him can see what absolute dross he
has recruited. This process is unacceptable in fact it is disgraceful.
Why would he sign players like Vale, Poku and Obikwu, whilst they are injured
and unable to play for a significant amount of time.
How is this guy allowed to get away with such a lack of professionalism, I am
really struggling to understand how this is allowed to happen as I think QPR supporters
are being mugged off.
Julien Stephan and his coaching staff may be on borrowed time, but the CEO is not
qualified in any way shape or form to be responsible for the recruitment of players
to QPR.
He has recruited enough dross in his time, that the board should really be looking
at how the club is operating.
Operating like a National League football club.