Assessment of QPR Players and Managers - By Gazette's David McIntyre

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How the Rangers fared
Ealing Gazette's David McIntyre -May 31 2007

The Gazette's QPR correspondent David McIntyre gives his post-season lowdown on the QPR squad.

SIMON ROYCE: (5)
A good keeper who served Rangers well but paid the price for a couple of mistakes which cost him his place and effectively ended his time at the club.

PAUL JONES: (6)
Veteran keeper did a solid job but was always a short-term measure and by the middle of the season it was clear he was no longer good enough.

LEE CAMP: (8)

Loves playing for Rangers, where he is hugely popular having helped the club get up and now stay up during his two loan spells. His arrival was crucial.

MARCUS BIGNOT: (8)
Solid player and great pro who did an important job in both full-back positions. Started the season on the transfer list and ended it as captain.

MAURO MILANESE: (5)
Ageing Italian defender could have done a job at centre-back but is finished as a left-back. The legs have gone.

ZESH REHMAN: (4)
Anyone who saw Rehman play for Fulham could have predicted a season of struggle for Rangers when, with Dan Shittu about to be sold, a bid to sign Dean Leacock from Fulham to replace him stalled and the hapless Rehman was picked up instead. A truly abysmal signing.

MATTHEW ROSE: (5)
Could have done a job when Rangers were struggling defensively but was instead snubbed by John Gregory. But after 10 years dominated by injuries and mixed performances, it's hard to have much sympathy.

DAMION STEWART: (4)
Earned praise as the season wore on but remains a liability. Even when the obvious howlers were reduced, he was all over the place and responsible for far too many match-changing goals. Must be replaced if Rangers are to move forward.

MICHAEL MANCIENNE: (7)
Timing of tackles and natural ability on the ball show he has real talent. Catches the eye because of this, so avoided the blame for some elementary mistakes he kept making during his time on loan. Has a lot to work on if he is to make it with Chelsea - or any Premiership club.

SAMPSA TIMOSKA: (7)
Solid Finnish defender who deserves credit for getting by in an unfamiliar left-back role on his arrival in possibly the toughest league of all for a foreigner to adapt in. At right-back, he looks reliable and a good option.

PAT KANYUKA: (7)
Has all the attributes of a top centre-back but his progress after a couple of superb early-season displays was hampered by an untimely injury and John Gregory's fascination with Mancienne who, if he returns on loan, must not have his development put before Kanyuka's.

DANNY CULLIP: (8)
Lacks pace and is injury-prone but is hugely respected by Gregory and his team-mates, who credit him with helping turn Rangers' season around - and they are the best judges.

MARTIN ROWLANDS: (7)
A key player when available but the number of games he is missing through injury is now a real concern. But a midfielder who scores 10 goals in any season - let alone an injury-ravaged one at a struggling club.

GARETH AINSWORTH: (6)

Struggled to make an impact for much of the campaign but was excellent on and off the pitch as Rs battled in the final weeks of the season. Has been great for the club.

MARC BIRCHAM: (6)
Performed really well in between being frozen out and having his season effectively finished by injury. A sad end to the Rangers career of a colourful character and hugely underrated midfield spoiler who will be missed.

STEFAN BAILEY:(6)
Strong in the tackle and works hard, but needs to show more consistency and a touch more quality if he is to progress.

NICK WARD: (6)
One for the future despite his many flaws. Unfortunately arrived when the board needed a big signing to parade and was disgracefully heralded by them as a major arrival - unfair pressure on a talented young Aussie who was always going to find his first year tough.

STEVE LOMAS: (6)
Produced some solid performances at a key time but overall, didn't do enough for a player of his pedigree.

ADAM BOLDER: (7)
A good signing who, like Cullip, made a positive impact after signing because of his presence as well as performances. Will be a very important player next season.

JIMMY SMITH: (8)

Lost his way after a blistering start to his loan from Chelsea, but that was always likely given his age. Scored six goals - including a couple of scorchers and a vital winner at Coventry. Some of his performances weren't good but his overall contribution was excellent.

LEE COOK: (9)
Rangers' star player, whose game has moved up a couple of levels in the last year to the point where he is now too good for Championship. Moving his game up one more level would mean not just the Premiership but an England cap given the country's lack of left-sided talent.

KEVIN GALLEN: (6)
A class act as a forward linking the play but will never be judged as one because of all those youth-team goals and, more recently, his willingness to play in different roles. Ended up being judged as a struggling midfielder and discarded.

RAY JONES: (7)
Frozen out by Gregory having rested on his laurels after signing a lucrative new contract. Some of his performances have been woeful but balanced against that is the fact that he came from nowhere at the start of the season and showed real potential.

SHABAZZ BAIDOO: (5)
An exciting player to watch, with pace and potentially an ability to score goals. But just hasn't developed in the last year or so and needs to start delivering.

MARC NYGAARD: (5)
Good attitude but poor performances and constant injury problems make him very fortunate indeed to be offered a new contract when better players have been ditched. Great goal at Leicester though.

PAUL FURLONG: (7)
A fabulous servant of QPR who signed off on a typically dramatic note - a last-gasp winner against Luton that effectively ensured Rangers' survival. His appearances were limited, but he still had a big say in how the season turned out.

DEXTER BLACKSTOCK: (8)

When the crunch came, Blackstock delivered and showed he is the long-term replacement for Furlong that Rangers have desperately needed. Scored vital goals and is a good bet to shine next season. Is still only 21.

The Managers:

GARY WADDOCK: (5)

Will always be judged unfairly because of results and signings during a difficult time for the club. A good Rangers man who, having improved a decaying youth system, wanted to end the culture of short-termism and overspending that existed under Ian Holloway. Results were always likely to be poor as a result, but he brought on Lee Cook, Ray Jones, Pat Kanyuka and Dexter Blackstock, building a solid platform for John Gregory. Waddock was undermined by problems within the club but then made catastrophic error by isolating key senior players.

JOHN GREGORY: (6)
Much longer in the tooth than Waddock and well connected, so has been able to sign better players. He was also allowed to exceed Rangers' original budget to do so. A friend of chairman Gianni Paladini, he is much more suited to managing the club in its current state than Waddock. For now, Rangers are in better shape under him. Gregory might be on dodgy ground by trying to build feeder-style links to Chelsea.
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