QPR: Sky Bet Championship season preview 2016/17

All the transfer news, fan opinion, predictions and odds ahead of QPR's 2016/17 Sky Bet Championship campaign.

Last year's finish: 12th

Manager: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Title odds: 33/1 with Sky Bet

First five games: Leeds (H), Cardiff (A), Barnsley (A), Preston (H), Wigan (A)

Players In: Jake Bidwell (Brentford, Undisclosed), Ariel Borysiuk (Legia Warsaw, £1.5m), Jordan Cousins (Charlton Athletic, £1m), Joel Lynch (Huddersfield Town, £1.2m)

Players Out: Leroy Fer (Swansea City, £4.8m), Matt Philips (West Bromwich Albion, £5.5m), Clint Hill (Rangers, Free), Alejandro Faurlin (Released), Junior Hoilett (Released), Rob Green (Leeds, Free), Armand Traore (Free, Nottingham Forest)

Fan's view - Clive Whittingham, Loftforwords

Expectation: Having completely ignored FFP, spent in excess of £80m on transfers and wages and squeezed up by the skin of our teeth in 2013/14, QPR are adopting a much more measured and financially sensible approach under CEO Lee Hoos and DOF Les Ferdinand.

The team looks strong in defence, with two of the league's best goalkeepers (Alex Smithies and Matt Ingram) fighting for a spot behind a back four bolstered by the arrival of Jake Bidwell from Brentford and Joel Lynch from Huddersfield. Central midfield was a real problem for us last season - just two goals from there all year and a chronic lack of athleticism and drive. Jordan Cousins from Charlton looks to be ideal in that department, and a steal at little over £1m, but Ariel Borysiuk is an unknown quantity and already injured.

We're short of quality and goals in wide areas and upfront. Conor Washington hasn't had much of a chance since a January move from Peterborough and much could depend on him stepping up.

We need more from Massimo Luongo and Tjaronn Chery could star at this level now he's settled in. If both step up and Washington starts chipping in we might squeeze through but with the squad as it stands I expect a similar finishing position to last season.

Most important player: Tjaronn Chery 

Who will win the league: Newcastle United, 100 points and 100 goals.

Potential dark horse: Sheffield Wednesday to do well again, Wolves' takeover makes them an interesting prospect.

One Championship player you'd want to sign: A fit Britt Assombalonga from Nottingham Forest or Fernando Forestieri from Wednesday. Jonathan Kodija at Bristol City looked good against us last season.

Ollie's prediction: 11th

I'm not entirely sure about the QPR squad yet. Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink is the right man for the job but they haven't replaced Charlie Austin yet. It's OK to play in a certain style but you need to have a striker like Jimmy was to bang in the goals. 

Sky Bet odds

QPR ended last season slap-bang in mid-table and can be backed at 40/1 to improve markedly and run out winners of the Sky Bet Championship this term. Those looking to back the Hoops for promotion can get a double-figure price at 10s, while they're 7/2 to finish inside the top six and 15/2 to suffer relegation to League One. Hasselbaink's men are even money to end the season ahead of Reading and 5/4 to get the better of Wolves in a season-long match.