QPR tweak involving Ilias Chair can help Hoops man kick on under Julien Stephan - 'I can see the potential he's got' | OneFootball

Karamoko Dembele has not had the desired impact this season, but one Julien Stephan tweak could change that

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Karamoko Dembele has had a difficult start to life at QPR since his permanent switch from Stade Brestois in the summer.

He impressed in his initial loan spell with the west London outfit last term, but the attacker is yet to register a goal or an assist this season in 13 outings.

Given the club have invested money into the former England U18 international, and the performances he has shown, those around Loftus Road will have been expecting more.

We asked our QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, whether he’s concerned about the 22-year-old and whether Julien Stephan needs to make any tweaks to get the best out of the player.

Karamoko Dembele’s struggles this season at QPR

Speaking to Football League World, Louis said: “It's been really frustrating to watch Dembele so far this season.

“When he has got on the pitch, I was just expecting a lot more from him, thinking that he had pre-season to get fit.

“He had a good pre-season and I expected him to start most games and kick on, and bar that first game of the season at home to Preston, where he was quite good, he just hasn't done anything.

“I'm a fan of him. I want him to do well, and I can see the potential he's got, and the ability he does clearly have, but he's just not showing it at all, and then obviously that's cost him his place in the team.

“Coming on in certain games, he’s still not affecting it, so he's not even shown that he can warrant a place in the starting XI.”

Ilias Chair switch may hold the key to unlock Karamoko Dembele

There is clearly a player in Dembele, having registered 21 goal involvements on loan at Blackpool in 2023/24, and clocking seven in 23 appearances for QPR last term ahead of his permanent switch.

However, Rangers are yet to see it, but Louis believes a tactical switch could be the way to unlock the 22-year-old.

The QPR fan continued: “He started on the left for us, he can play on the right, he can play in the 10, and I do think his best position is at 10, in behind the striker.

“He came on at Sheffield United, and he played there and did okay in the 10, and I think that's where you're going to get the best out of him.

“So, yes, that might mean [Ilias] Chair not playing in the 10, but it's not like Chair's done anything exceptional since he's been back either, so I wouldn't mind him being on the left maybe, and they can switch midgame or whatever.

“But I do think maybe Dembele might need a stint in the team, in that 10 role, just to see if he can do more or affect games more in that in that position compared to being out on the right.

“I think it's certainly worth trying, at least, and say we had a front three behind [Richard] Kone or [Rumarn] Burrell of Chair on the left, Dembele in the 10 and [Kwame] Poku or whoever on the right and then, you know, you can switch it up.

“But I think we've got to try and get the best out of Dembele because that ability is clearly there, and if it is unlocked, then it would be massive for us, because he would create a lot more chances for us and probably chip in with a couple of goals as well.

“So, yeah, I'd like to see that. Otherwise, again, it's going to be disappointing because if he doesn't fit in or get a run in the team, he's just not going to show you what he can do at all.

“So hopefully we can see him getting more minutes in that number 10 position.”

Key stat shows something isn’t clicking in QPR’s attack

QPR had what looked like an incredible summer on paper in terms of attacking signings. Not only did they bring in Dembele on a permanent basis, but they also landed rising EFL stars Kone and Poku, plus striker Burrell, and winger Koki Saito.

Despite all that exciting talent, defender and captain Jimmy Dunne, who has started mostly from right-back this term, is the club’s top assist provider with two assists. And that isn’t a fluke, as the 28-year-old is also joint-top for the club in terms of big chances created, with three.

Granted, the likes of Poku have had limited chances due to injury, but that a right-back in Stephan’s back-four system is Rangers’ top creative outlet is clearly a problem. Arriving at Loftus Road has not drained these players of their talent, it may just be a case of the French boss shuffling his deck to try players out in different areas of the pitch.

Something clearly isn’t working with the current setup so, as Jimmy suggests, a stint in the 10 position for Dembele is worth trying out for a run of games. Having paid a fee for Dembele, the club will want to get the best out of him, and still just 22 years old, it is far too early to write him off as an attacking force.