QPR must reawaken sleeping goal machine to fight for Championship play-offs – opinion.
QPR needs more goals next season, but they may be able to find them internally rather than externally.
For the past three seasons, no QPR player has scored more than 10 Championship goals. Julien Stephan, the new manager, has made it a priority to add a prolific marksman before the 2025/26 season.
However, the R’s may not need to spend a single penny to find that source of goals and instead turn their attention inwards. Last summer, QPR spent a reported £1.7 million on bringing Zan Celar to Loftus Road from FC Lugano and are yet to see the player’s best.
Over the 2023/24 campaign, Celar plundered 21 goals in all competitions. While the Championship was always going to be a step up from the Swiss Super League, there is a goal machine there ready to be reawakened.
QPR must reawaken sleeping giant
It’s easy for QPR fans to dismiss the striker after a disastrous first season with the club. Celar was injured and did not play for the team after the beginning of December due to a hamstring injury.
The forward made such a minor impact that you’d be forgiven for forgetting he played at all, but the 26-year-old was given 19 Championship appearances in the first half of the season.
He scored twice in those games, both in a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City. Celar only showed promise once last season, but it suggests that the player could be a sleeping giant for QPR.
Celar started the game slowly, but after scoring, he felt like a new man. West London Sport gave Celar an 8/10 for his performance, writing:
“It seemed like the same old story after a quiet start for Celar, interrupted by heavy touches when he occasionally had the ball, but he sparked into life with a superb turn and half-volley to score his first QPR goal, and the lift that gave him confidence was evident when he coolly dinked in the second.” Wonderful stuff.”
Zan Celar is ‘real fighter’
Following the game, QPR goalkeeper Paul Nardi said, “I’m overjoyed for Zan. He is a real fighter. He had a difficult week after missing the penalty, but when he scored, it was clear how much confidence the team has in him.
We’re a close-knit group, which is why we’re thrilled for him.” QPR could search all over the continent for a player with Celar’s profile, but if Stephan can help the forward regain confidence, they already have a source of goals at home. So far in preseason, the signs are promising. Most importantly, Celar is fit and receiving minutes. He scored against Toulouse as well.
That goal came from a penalty, but the talisman had previously hit the post after connecting with a Kieran Morgan cross and came close to converting a Paul Smyth cross.
Not signing a new striker this summer would be a risk for QPR, but perhaps their top scorer next season is already in the squad.
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