QPR boss Harry Redknapp admits August could make or break the club’s Championship campaign.
Just 24 hours ahead of the season’s opener at home to Sheffield Wednesday, Harry is juggling a first three points while trying to ship out six players and replace them with a minimum four by the end of the transfer window.
The manager freely admits the team that beat Southend in the last pre-season friendly a week ago is far from the finished article as they bid to reclaim Premier League status.
“It’s not going to be easy,” he said. “There will be a fair few of the team that played Southend – but four or five new players could make the difference.
“I need a striker, and maybe two if Loic Remy goes because I don’t know what’s happening with him.”
For all that, the bookies make Rangers 6-1 favourites for the title – a price that made the manager smile.
“You want me to name the next two that might challenge with us?” he said. “For me, there’s a few more than that.
“Reading, Wigan, Bolton, Leicester and Nottingham Forest will be good this year. Bournemouth will be a good little team, and I could see them getting good results.”
Redknapp agrees the pressure is on no matter what the odds with the Championship play-offs the very least he expects of himself and the squad – whatever its final composition.
“It’s got to be the minimum target,” he said. “Anything else will be a disappointment.”
