Queens Park Rangers: Premier League season review 2014/15

We reflect on QPR's 2014/15 Premier League season, with the help of stats and pundit views...

QPR

Finishing position: 20th

Total points: 30

FA Cup: Eliminated in third round by Sheffield United

Capital One Cup: Eliminated in second round by Burton Albion

Season review

It was a supposed to be a season of lessons learned after QPR suffered a dismal relegation in 2013, but once again the club have failed at English football’s top table.

Harry Redknapp left the club at the start of February, citing health issues, and was replaced by former Tottenham coach Chris Ramsey, who improved their dire away form but only registered one win at home in his tenure, which ultimately cost them dear. 

Their big money signings flattered to deceive, with the players that starred for them in the Championship providing the shining light on a very uninspiring season. 

Charlie Austin has proved he can cut it as a Premier League striker, netting 17 goals. Without his sharp shooting in front of goal, QPR would probably have been dead and buried in March. Matt Phillips came good towards the end of the campaign and flourished under Ramsey and only Lionel Messi set up more goals than Phillips in the top five European leagues since the turn of the year. 

With a change of philosophy promised going forward by chairman Tony Fernandes, it’s now up to director of football Les Ferdinand and Ramsey, who has been confirmed as head coach, to try and steady the ship in the Championship, although a potential huge fine from the from the Football League for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations will make life even trickier for the west Londoners, who were hammered 5-1 by Leicester City on the final day of the season.

Paul Merson’s star player: Rob Green/Charlie Austin

“Their player of the season? Tough. I’d have it as a Rob Green/Charlie Austin draw – them two have been miles ahead of anyone else in that squad. If anyone else got a vote I’d be shocked

Quotes of the season

“If I can’t give 100 per cent, I feel it’s better for someone else to take over the reins" - Harry Redknapp

“We’ve made a number of mistakes in the transfer market over the last few years and it’s something we want to change. We don’t want to be a buying club - we want to nurture young talent" - Tony Fernandes

“On the whole, the dressing room has turned up and given everything. One or two bad eggs have spoiled it. If it had been done my way, they would have been out of the building straight away" - Joey Barton

Stats of the season

- QPR became the first team to lose their first 11 away games of a top-flight season since Liverpool in 1953/54

- QPR lost 14 games by a single goal this season, including nine games by a 2-1 deficit

- Charlie Austin was the first QPR player to score a hat-trick (v West Brom) in the Premier League since Bradley Allen in 1993

Paul Merson’s view:

"It’s been a really poor season for QPR and they just haven’t been able to pick up enough points away from home, or at Loftus Road for that matter! It truth, it’s been very disappointing and Chris Ramsey has a tough job on his hands if he’s still there next season."