OPPO VIEW: QPR

Sunderland's "regular" Championship season comes to an end on Saturday as the Black Cats host Queen's Park Rangers at the SoL. Of course, with fourth place already guaranteed we know we'll have at least two matches to play, whilst QPR are already safe from relegation. The only thing to play for is pride and momentum, but we spoke to QPR content creator Hoopsa to help explain the strange situation going on at Loftus Road...

Let's address the elephant in the room: Martí Cifuentes has been "placed on gardening leave" for this game, ahead of his potential move to West Brom! What do the QPR fans think of that?

It’s a real mess. It started last week with The S*n reporting that Cifuentes was considering quitting over differences between him and CEO/DOF Christian Nourry. By Sunday, it had developed into Sky News reporting that his reps had been in touch with West Brom over their managerial vacancy. That led to him being put on gardening leave on Tuesday, but as of Wednesday it was being reported he’s not even on West Brom’s shortlist. The club and Martí are now at a stalemate: do they sack him and have to pay compensation, or does he quit to free himself up for other vacancies?

As for how the fans feel, it’s been extremely divisive. Many blame Christian Nourry for a poor first summer transfer window, allowing Director of Performance Ben Williams to work this season remotely from Dubai (seriously), and at just 27, a “lack of experience” as either a CEO or DOF - all of which are believed to be reasons that may have driven Cifuentes away. Others feel that by Martí entertaining offers before the season is over, which isn’t the first time apparently, he’s been as snakey as our mutual friend Mick Beale was two years ago.

So, 15th in the league, what's been the story of your season?

Despite a fantastic revival under Cifuentes last season, we’ve been as streaky under him in this campaign as under any other manager.

Last summer saw nine new arrivals, the majority of which hadn’t played in England before, and the re-introduction of Martí’s ‘Cruyffian’ ideals, which basically meant us attempting to play from the back no matter how much we struggled. Throw in the worst season of injuries we’ve had for many a year, and we started the season with one win from 16 and rooted to the bottom of the table.

The fans kept Cifuentes in a job, he went more direct like last season and it paid off: we turned a real corner in mid-November, losing just one of our next 12 and surging up the table so much that at one stage we were just four points from a play-off place.

Inevitably though, we collapsed again - after beating Derby 4-0 in February, we’ve won two of our last 12, and until we beat Preston on Good Friday, had a real chance of being sucked into the relegation scrap again.

Michael Frey is your top scorer with eight, what kind of player is he?

He’s not always the nicest player on the eye, but he’s a workhorse, throws himself at defenders, very decent at holding up the ball and has a real eye for goal when in the right places. Unfortunately for us, 75% of his goals have come at home.

Other than Frey who should we keep an eye on?

I feel sad to be pointing out a loanee rather than one of our own, but Southampton CB Ronnie Edwards has been one of our best players since coming in on loan on the 1st January and in some games has looked too good for this level.

Former Sunderland loanee Jimmy Dunne seems to be popular at Loftus Road!

Dunne has been reinvented under Cifuentes from CB to attacking RB and it worked wonders, especially in the first half of the season. Eight goal contributions, one of the best headers of the ball (in either box) in the league - but unfortunately, he’s out of contract this summer and looking very likely to be finding a new club following interest from Sheffield United back in January.

With nothing to play for in this match, do you reckon QPR's lineup will be a rotated one?

Most of the starting 11 are out of contract and the manager is on gardening leave, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see us throw a few kids in.

Meanwhile, we'll be playing a strong squad to build a little bit of momentum before the play-offs. Which Sunderland player worries you the most?

Luke O’Nien knows how to get in players heads, and given how 'on the beach' we looked against Burnley last weekend, I could see him having some joy in that regard.

It's hard to believe that Jack Colback is still getting regular minutes. Obviously we hate him, but what do you think of him?

He’s 35 and missed a great number of games in both of his two seasons at QPR through injury, but he does give the team much needed bite and experience. I don’t see us giving him a new deal in the summer but we definitely need a player with a similar profile to succeed.

Given everything that's happening at QPR right now, what's your score prediction?

It's going to have to be a Sunderland win. 2-0, an Isidor brace to get him firing for the play-offs...

Finally, as someone with no skin in the play-offs who do you think will earn promotion? You don't have to say Sunderland if you don't believe it!

I can definitely see you in the final, but no matter how much they’ve bottled automatics, I can’t see past Sheffield United I’m afraid!