QPR claim made over Sam Field, Norwich City transfer decision - "It might sound harsh" | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit has doubts over whether Sam Field would have helped the club during their tough run of form

After a hopeful summer and glimmers of hope, Queens Park Rangers' chances of making the top six this season look slim, with the club enduring a tough run of form.

During the early stages of the campaign, under the leadership of former Stade Rennes and Strasbourg boss Julien Stephan, QPR looked like a good bet for a play-off finish this season.

The French boss arrived over the summer with a large degree of pedigree about him, taking the reins in West London after the departure of Marti Cifuentes to Leicester City.

Signings such as Richard Kone, Koki Saito, Rumarn Burrell, and Kwame Poku gave the R's hope that they would score enough goals to win enough points to finally claim one of the top six places.

However, that hasn't transpired, and Stephan's side have suffered a dip in form which has seen them consequently plummet down the second tier table, with questions being raised over their decision to allow a certain midfielder to leave in the January window on loan.

Sam Field has made big Norwich City impact - QPR told they can still deal without him

27-year-old midfielder Sam Field was allowed to join division rivals Norwich City in the January window on loan until the end of the season, after his game time was limited in the first half of the campaign at Loftus Road.

With the London club having struggled as of late, questions over whether it was the correct decision to loan the West Bromwich Albion academy graduate out have emerged.

Football League World's QPR fan pundit, Louis, has provided their thoughts on whether letting Field leave on loan to Norwich was the correct decision, and whether him staying at the club would have changed their current predicament.

Louis told FLW: "I don't think letting Sam Field go on loan is the biggest of our worries right now. I don't think it would have made a massive difference at all with him going.

"You know, we're in a position we're in due to injuries, we're not creating chances, we're not scoring goals. Yes, we're conceding a lot, but realistically, if he were playing, would he make that much of a difference? I don't think so.

"It might sound harsh, but I just don't think he's the sort of player you want in this situation, really, because he's not going to help you to create chances and, realistically, I don't think he would have helped much defensively, because you look at the goals we've conceded; it's been poor at the back.

"Yes, he's versatile and all that, but I think we've moved on from those days of struggling and having Sam Field in the side.

"I just think the whole season's falling apart due to different reasons, but Sam Field, for me, would not have made a difference. I think we saw at the start of the season that he was never going to feature a lot at all. Obviously, trying to move forward as a club and play better football, and he was going to be a bit-part player at best, and that's what he was before going out on loan.

"So yeah, personally, I just don't think he would have made a difference. Although he's seemingly doing well at Norwich. He is just that sort of player who plays for a side in the bottom half of the Championship and not much better than that.

"I don't think it was the worst decision to let him go. Would I have liked to see another midfielder come in? Probably, but would I have wanted another midfielder to come in last summer, even despite Field being at the club? Yeah, I mean, we'll see in the summer what happens.

"He'll obviously be gone in terms of leaving, permanently, I think, as well, but there's no way he would have made a difference to the current position we're in."

Julien Stephan may have some regret about allowing Sam Field to leave QPR on loan for Norwich

QPR's recent form has been truly abysmal, though it would be remiss to suggest that Field being in the side would have made such a seismic impact.

However, with Nicolas Madsen injured, who, alongside Jonathan Varane, is the best midfielder the club have got, it has left them short in the middle of the park.

Ronnie Edwards, a centre-back by trade, was forced to step into midfield against Birmingham City, with Isaac Hayden being benched over him.

Had Field been in the side, it would have brought a calming presence in the centre of midfield, as although he doesn't offer much going forward or in defence, his ability to get the best out of players surrounding him cannot be underestimated.

When asked about Field's loan with Norwich, Stephan said, "So no, it was just a decision. When we took this decision, we didn't know that Nico Madsen would have a strong injury like he had against Southampton.

"So, look, I don't want to speak about this situation in fact because I think it's more general. But yes, Sam, I'm happy for him and he's played well and two good things for him."