QPR use deadline day to strengthen Championship chances
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Sitting joint-top of the Championship after five games, QPR already look set to launch a strong tilt at the Championship title this year and make an instant return to the Premier League.
Harry Redknapp’s side are 11/4 to win the League, and could do so long before May comes around, and they are yet to unleash their latest signings on their second-tier rivals.
The Hoops raised more than a few eyebrows by signing Benoit Assou-Ekotto and the highly rated Tom Carroll on loan from Tottenham, before creating more headlines by snapping up Nico Kranjcar from Dynamo Kiev.
Assou-Ekotto and Kranjcar boast over 300 Premier League appearances between them, and their quality only adds to a squad featuring names like Richard Dunne, Jermaine Jenas and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
It isn’t just a squad brimming with talent either, it’s a large one too, one capable of taking on the hard slog of a 46-match campaign in one of the most difficult and competitive leagues in Europe.
Out of the League Cup with defeat to Swindon, the London side’s only concern from now until January’s FA Cup third round is the league, and though Blackpool top the league on goal difference, Rangers’s strength and depth should tell in due course.
QPR’s biggest challengers Watford are second favourites at 11/2, and got most of their dealings done in pre-season, with seven players from Udinese moving to Vicarage Road.
The Hornets spent most of the transfer window sweating on the future of Troy Deeney, with the 25-year-old courting attention from several Premier League clubs.
Gianfranco Zola can sleep easy now however, with Deeney remaining at the club, though five goals in five appearances so far suggests more attention will come his way in the January window.
Until then at least, the striker’s goals will keep Watford firmly in the mix.
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