QPR made two ‘unbelievable’ signings as Wrexham victim to star’s ‘staggering’ pace

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Queens Park Rangers vs Wrexham on Saturday afternoon brought up plenty of questions about Phil Parkinson’s future while offering a belated riposte to the critics of QPR’s recruitment.

After EFL Analysis’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey reported that Wrexham are discussing the future of a manager who inspired their record-breaking charge from non-league to the Championship via three successive promotions, a humbling home defeat by the division’s recent crisis club will provide further introspection in North Wales.

Only three weeks ago, Julien Stephan was in Phil Parkinson’s shoes.

Stephan became the first since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to fail to win any of his first four games in charge of Queens Park Rangers. That the fourth of that miserable run was a 7-1 obliteration by Coventry City meant the odds slashed dramatically on the former Rennes coach becoming the first to face the axe in England’s second tier.

But after Richard Kone, Rumarn Burrell and Harvey Vale all produced arguably their best QPR displays at the Racecourse Ground in a statement 3-1 win, things are looking up at last for Stephan and co.

At least, that is how EFL experts Ali Maxwell and George Elek see it.

QPR duo Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell embarrassed Wrexham and Conor Coady

After Conor Coady gave QPR the lead with a first-half own goal and Richard Kone lashed in a second, the strike which secured QPR’s win rather summed up the difference in approach from both clubs in the recruitment department.

While Wrexham have flown through the divisions thanks to the contributions of many highly-experienced, high-profile acquisitions, QPR are making a habit of handing the brightest talent in League One their break at second-tier level.

Richard Kone has three QPR goals from three shots on target since joining from Wycombe Wanderers. Former Burton Albion attacker Rumarn Burrell then opened his Rangers account as he breezed past a defender eight years his senior before clipping home.

“What a goal [Kone] scored to put QPR 2-0 up,” Elek says on the Not the Top 20 podcast. [Max] Cleworth rushes out of position which is symptomatic of Wrexham’s defence at the moment. And Kone, it’s an unbelievable strike. He was very good throughout the game and played his part in the opening goal

“[It is debatable] whether or not recruiting ball-players like Conor Coady or Callum Doyle was the right way to go about improving [Wrexham] defensively. What I hadn’t really twigged was how slow their defensive line is.”

Rumarn Burrell made Conor Coady look even older

“There aren’t many strikers in the league quicker than Rumarn Burrell,” Maxwell agrees, less ‘Speedy Gonzales’ and more Rapid Rumarn. “The footrace between him and Conor Coady is kind of staggering. Given what must be a 10, 15 yard head-start on a 30 yard race, Burrell beats Connor Coady.

“Doyle should be the covering defender but he can’t get anywhere near him. Of course, Burrell is quick and his pace caused QPR problems all day, but this wasn’t the first time QPR’s pace caught Wrexham out.

“From a defensive perspective, you’ve got to be so concerned if you are a Wrexham fan.”

Elek wonders if Wrexham are finding it harder to defend in the second tier because, unlike in League One they often took a lead and then sat on it, Parkinson is asking the Championship’s oldest team [at an average age of 28] to push up and chase games after going behind.

Former Chelsea starlet Harvey Vale proves his worth under Julien Stephan

Maxwell is delighted to see Harvey Vale finally find his feet in the professional game, meanwhile. After injury wrecked his first few months at QPR, the former Chelsea prospect is proving his worth at last. He started on the right-hand side against Wrexham, having already played on the left and in the centre this season.

“One thing that seemed very notable was how much they targeted Wrexham’s left side,” Maxwell explains.

“This seemed brutally targeted towards exploiting or exposing James McClean, and he didn’t stand up to it. On the flipside, it’s because some of the players QPR had attacking him were in really good form.
Most notably, Harvey Vale looking really dangerous.

“For how many years have I been waiting to talk about Harvey Vale really positively? This was someone who, at Chelsea, was considered one of the best players, someone who from a very young age seemed to understand how to be effective and efficient as an attacking player. A senior football-ready player.

“And then his transition into senior football didn’t go well at all. He had that horror show year when he was sent on loan to Hull [in 2022/23], who didn’t need or play him. But QPR have been patient with him, and this is just one game, but he looked very, very dangerous.

“I believe he is one of those players who can play on the right, the left, wing-back, the number ten role. I would love to see him kick on.”

“[And good to see Burrell] score a classic Burrell goal. I didn’t think, moving up to the Championship, he would have many opportunities to do that. But that is an unbelievable threat to have.”