In the first of what we hope will be a series of guest columns from regular readers Aaron Moys looks at the challenges facing Paulo Sousa and whether he deserves more time to get it right at QPR.

If you believe the rambling, and incoherent slurs surfacing from Loftus Road in the days past. It would seem Sousa Could follow Gregory, Di Canio and Dowie out of QPR.

The reason for this is simple; no manager likes to be told how to manage ‘his’ team. This is probably made worse by the fact the person preaching to him has no idea or back ground in working with a successful football team (or any other form of football team come to mention).

So what’s next? Does Sousa really have a chance, or are our owners getting sick and tired of his team juggling? There’s no doubt Sousa didn’t expect to make an instant impact but he was always expected to help build toward the club ‘three year plan’. So does he deserve the time? In my opinion the 4-5-1 at the moment is our best formation this being proved by the results since the switch away from it but 4-5-1 only works when you have the two most crucial ingredients needed in order to make this formation successful.

Firstly, a target man to sit up front and hold the ball up or even one who is capable of turning a defender and having a decent strike at goal. At the moment we seem to have no one willing enough, or in fact good enough to play in this role. Di Carmine is too light weight, Helguson unfortunately can’t seem to adapt to the role and Blackstock seems to have lost all his early season confidence and sharpness. Blackstock for me is his own worst enemy, he’s fully capable of becoming a good player but he doesn’t seem to want it enough, maybe he doesn’t agree with being left out although he is top scorer, but he certainly doesn’t seem to want to seize the chance whenever he does get a run out.

Secondly 4-5-1 will only work if there is at least one player playing in the central three that likes to get forward and have a shot on goal. Unfortunately for us this is another player we seem to be missing. I’m a firm believer that every dog has his day but unfortunately for us Legs, Mahon and Miller seem to be waiting desperately for that day. Perhaps Lopez can be the answer.

I believe this season should not be judged on the players we have signed or haven’t. I think we need to remember the key players we have lost to injuries. I think with Vine, Akos and Rowlands we would be looking down at a lot more teams. There is no doubt we miss Akos’ flair and Vine’s hard work. But I think ultimately its Rowlands who makes this team tick.

Sousa, let’s not forget inherited a team low in confidence, and struggling to pick up the pace under a manager who was not happy with being told how to do his job. He was brought here to build so does he deserve the time or is he a marked man? Only time will tell and realistically I think any fan who expected us to get anywhere after starting the season with Dowie as manager and Flavio apparently interfering with the team was extremely hopeful. This along with the injuries we picked up would make sure we would be no more then a mid table team. So what should we do next? Accept our fait and give the young guys a chance? Personally I’d like to see Rose, Balanta and Hogan get a decent run in the team and let us start building for next season.

I think we should all get behind the team for the rest of the season and let Sousa get on with his job until then.

Photo: Action Images

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