Championship expert tips QPR for a ‘very fun season’ under Julien Stephan, but there’s a worrying catch

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Queens Park Rangers are quietly becoming dark horses for a top-six finish in the Championship next season following the appointment of Julien Stephan.

After flirting with relegation from the Championship at times during the 2024/25 campaign, QPR avoided the drop to League One despite turmoil in the dugout.

QPR placed Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave after his failed West Brom move, and after the now-Leicester City boss’ exit was officially confirmed, Cifuentes sent an emotional QPR farewell social media message.

Julien Stephan was appointed by QPR to succeed the Spaniard, and now the former Rennes boss is tasked with ending QPR’s 10-year top flight absence within the 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Following a stellar start to the summer transfer window at Loftus Road, one second tier expert has made a positive prediction regarding the R’s for next season, and voiced one glaring future concern.

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Expert tips QPR for success in 2025/26 Championship under Julien Stephan

So far this summer, QPR’s transfer team have been active in the market to equip the newly appointed Frenchman, Stephan, with exciting recruits.

QPR signed Kwame Poku from Peterborough United, beating league rivals Swansea City to his signature, on the back of the Ghanaian winger’s outstanding 12-goal campaign in the third tier.

The R’s won the race after three clubs agreed deals for Poku, with the acquisition of the in-demand 23-year-old seen as a major coup for QPR.

Perhaps more importantly, Jimmy Dunne extended his QPR contract following interest from Sheffield United after the standout defender was poised to become a free agent.

Given QPR’s impressive summer dealings, Championship expert Ryan Dilks has backed the London outfit for a successful first season under Stephan.

He told the Second Tier podcast: “I think there’s enough evidence here, with Stephan, to be cautiously optimistic. For me, he’s definitely the most exciting unknown quantity in terms of managers this season.

“I’m not counting Will Still now, because he’s not completely unknown, but for those who don’t know, Stephan’s been managing in France for the past seven years.

“He was firstly at Rennes, ended up guiding them to a third-place finish, their highest ever league finish in the club’s history.

“He won their first trophy in 48 years, the Coupe de France, which is essentially the equivalent of the FA Cup, and they beat Arsenal in the Europa League. Then things dropped off.

“He was sacked and went to Strasbourg, where he finished sixth, their highest league finish in over 40 years, despite 14 teams spending more than them that season, which is some achievement.

“Then things dropped off and he was sacked. He went back to Rennes again, where he started well, but couldn’t replicate what he did the second time around.”

Despite the initial rave reviews for Stephan from Dilks, his history in football highlights a cause for concern for QPR supporters, looking beyond the 2025/26 Championship campaign.

• READ MORE: Julien Stephan must keep hold of ‘unbelievable talent’ at QPR despite West Brom interest

Expert admits Julien Stephan’s ‘common theme’ is a worry for QPR

Stephan arrived at Loftus Road with a commendable record and win rate during his stints as head coach of Rennes and Strasbourg.

Of 280 games in charge, Stephan has overseen 113 victories and 94 defeats, constituting a 40.4% managerial win rate, only 0.2% lower than his predecessor Cifuentes.

However, Dilks added that the concerning catch for QPR fans lies within Stephan’s record at previous clubs, following his first season at the helm.

Dilks continued: “The common theme here is he does very well initially and then things drop off.

“It may be exactly the same at QPR, but I think most fans would definitely take a successful first season and see where that takes them, because if that trend continues, this could be a very fun season ahead for QPR.”

We at EFL Analysis believe QPR are dark horses for a top-six finish next season following their summer dealings, including the acquisition of Stephan.

Now, the onus is on the Frenchman to prove Dilks’ appraisal right and his concerns wrong by masterminding a play-off push for the R’s in his maiden campaign in charge.