Queens Park Rangers certainly cast their net far and wide in pursuit of a new manager.
They considered the big name appointment (Sol Campbell), the fans’ favourite (John Eustace), the bright young thing (Liam Manning) and the old-school, EFL veteran (Gareth Ainsworth).
In the end, however, it seems QPR are set put their faith, and their promotion hopes, in a man who has never before taken sole charge of a senior football team.
But Michael Beale’s CV speaks for itself.
Like a certain Steve Cooper, Beale cut his coaching teeth in Liverpool’s academy before playing a major role as Rangers knocked Celtic off their perch, helping lay the groundwork for the club’s barnstorming run to the Europa League final. Last November, Beale followed long-time partner-in-crime Steven Gerrard to Aston Villa.
And his relationship with the Villa boss could come in very handy indeed as Beale, who should be appointed as QPR’s new manager within the next few days, looks to build the foundations for a potentially play-off chasing squad while clearing away the rubble left over from Mark Warburton’s crumbling kingdom.
Can new manager Michael Beale take Queens Park Rangers to the next level?
Aston Villa, FA Youth Cup champions in 2021, have some of Britain’s most exciting young talent in in their ranks. A handful of players who would relish the prospect of honing their skillset under the highly-rated Beale at Loftus Road.
Take Cameron Archer, for instance. An instinctive, natural-born finisher, Archer scored seven times on loan at Preston North End from January to June. And Archer would be better off playing week-in, week-out at Loftus Road rather than twiddling his thumbs behind Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings at Villa Park.
Aaron Ramsey and Louie Barry would surely jump at the opportunity to prove their worth at a higher level too, after impressive stints at Cheltenham Town and Swindon.
The same goes for 18-year-old Ben Chrisene, a one-time Bayern Munich and Chelsea target viewed by some as a gleaming cubic zirconia amongst a gem-filled treasure trove of Aston Villa starlets.
The versatile, technically-gifted Chrisene would give QPR options at left-back and further forward on the wing, presuming Beale opts to mirror the 4-3-3 system he helped instil at Rangers and Aston Villa.
And a couple of low-cost, high-reward loan signings would help save up funds for more permanent additions elsewhere. And additions are required. Quite a few of them, too.
Queens Park Rangers incomings and outgoings
Lee Wallace, QPR’s first-choice left-wing back for much of Warburton’s final campaign in West London, was released in May. As were Charlie Austin, Dom Ball and a trio of goalkeepers, David Marshall, Kieren Westwood and Dillon Phillips.
Albert Adomah, Yoann Barbet, Moses Odubajo, Charlie Owens and Olamide Shodipo are out of contract too, while loanees Sam McCallum, Jeff Hendrick, Andre Grey and Dion Sanderson have already departed.
But, in Rob Dickie, Chris Willock and the mercurial Ilias Chair, QPR have three players who could walk into the starting XI of most other Championship clubs, and some in the Premier League too.
Sam Field and Stefan Johansen have the foundations of a fine midfield partnership, while excellent shot-stopper Seny Dieng has put his recent injury issues behind him.
A couple of key additions may be all that’s required to turn QPR from a good team into a potentially great one at second-tier level.
Van Ewijk and Kehinde
Milan van Ewijk has been linked, via Voetbal International. One of the most exciting, attack-minded right-backs in the Eredivisie, Van Ewijk would be an upgrade on the ageing Adomah.
Director of football Les Ferdinand scouted Randers’ former Manchester United attacker Tosin Kehinde against Leicester City in the UEFA Conference League, and the skilful Nigerian would help ease the creative burden on Willock and Chair’s shoulders.
“I know English and German clubs are keeping an eye on him,” explains Soren Pedersen, Randers’ sporting director.
“I hope (he will leave) because I think that both he and we deserve it. He has developed really well. It is on the cards that he will move on in the summer.”
Both Van Ewijk and Kehinde may be viewed as risky additions, given their lack of experience in the EFL, but the same cannot be said of Ross Stewart, Scott Twine, Cameron Brannagan and Will Keane.
All four players shone in League One last term. In fact, Twine, Stewart and Keane all broke the 20-goal barrier.
Brannagan and Keane, talismanic presences at Oxford United and Wigan Athletic respectively, may cost a bargain £1 million each (The Sun). Twine would not come quite so cheap, however. And, at Sunderland, there is optimism that Stewart will stay after firing the Black Cats to promotion.
Genius
But, whoever arrives at QPR this summer, 41-year-old Beale could be the club’s most inspired addition of all.
“He’s impressed me in a big way,” former Rangers ace Jermain Defoe tells the Beautiful Game podcast.
“When I sat down and spoke to Stevie before I signed, he said; ‘You might know Mick Beale, he is proper’. The way I see it is, in terms of tactics and stuff like that, he is up there.
“I’ve worked with some top managers and top coaches and he is up there… His attention to detail and how he puts his points across for people to understand.
“When Alfredo (Morelos) got suspended, Mick came to me and said; ‘JD, I’m going to tweak the system so it’s better for you’.
“He said; ‘I’m going to bring in two number tens in the middle so they’re close to you, so it’s easier for you’.
“We’ve not looked back. It’s unbelievable, the fact he had that idea, and he did that, it’s genius man.”
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