Having taken just one point from their previous five league games before the World Cup break, it’s fair to say QPR were in need of a mid-season reset.
With key players struggling with injuries and a frustrating lack of goals, some time off was just what the doctor would have ordered.
Finding themselves lying sixth in the table, only minor tweaks would have been necessary to Mick Beale’s QPR plans – that is until the 42-year-old decided to jump ship to become the new manager of Rangers instead.
Now it appears more like major surgery is required on a project just a few weeks earlier Beale had committed his long-term future to, rejecting the advances of Premier League side Wolves.
Yet it seemed the opportunity for a return to Glasgow where Beale had previously spent three seasons as Steven Gerrard’s assistant was too good an opportunity to refuse.
It feels like the club have experienced another false dawn with Beale’s departure, leaving the Hoops with uncertainty – not only on who will take over but what impact it will have on next month’s January transfer window.
It is imperative whoever does succeed is able to hit the ground running to continue the fine early season momentum, allay any fears amongst the squad and fans as well as consolidate the team’s position as an attractive proposition for potential transfer targets.
And QPR’s current lofty league position is certainly something that should appeal to any potential managerial candidates as it is not often there are opportunities to join a club in such rude on-field health.
Whoever does get the job though will immediately be faced with the challenge of finding more quality in the final third as, during their winless run, the Hoops only managed to find the back of the net once.
A healthy Chris Willock will hopefully prove helpful in this regard, but both the service and finishing need to improve across the entire team if they are going to make a success of this season.
In the loss to Huddersfield Town, QPR controlled possession for the majority of the second-half and, despite numerous balls into the box, the quality was not enough to really test the goalkeeper.
On top of their inability to score, conceding from set-pieces has become another issue with poor marking in the box and a lack of desire to win the second balls proving fatal at times.
Other than the defeat at Coventry, every other recent loss has included at least one goal from set-pieces – Birmingham grabbed one for their opener, West Brom found their winner from a free-kick while Huddersfield wanted the second balls more to punish them twice with their endeavour.
After the defeat to Huddersfield, Beale said: “If we don’t defend them, we don’t deserve anything from the game. If you’re not willing to attack the ball in the box and see the danger, you ain’t going to win football games.”
QPR B Team manager Paul Hall, as interim manager, will have not only brought a level of continuity to Loftus Road but an awareness of the side’s problems in recent weeks.
Expected to take charge against Burnley on Sunday, it is imperative QPR provide a good account of themselves to kick-start their Championship Play-Off push as opposed to being seen as the latest chapter in a downward spiral into mediocrity.
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Furthermore, Hall should still have Beale’s blueprint to help rectify the problem areas previously identified alongside a relatively fully-fit squad eager to impress any potential new manager watching.
Who that actually is remains to be seen but reports suggest former Blackpool boss Neil Critchley is the frontrunner for the job.
Regardless of who does eventually take over, QPR still very much have their destiny in their own hands to turn their pre-World Cup form around and get their promotion push back on track.