“Disastrous move” – Claim made as midfielder leaves QPR | OneFootball

FLW’s QPR fan pundit has spoken about Taylor Richards’ departure from Loftus Road.

Queens Park Rangers have had an underwhelming start to the new Championship campaign.

The R’s currently sit 18th in the second-tier table heading into the first international break, picking up four points from their opening four games, which has included one victory, one draw and two defeats in the process.

Julien Stephan will be hoping to get a tune out of his playing squad the longer his reign goes on, as the first-team figures continue to get used to his methods and implementing his style of play.

It will take some time after the R’s recruited 10 new players to West London over the course of the summer transfer window, with the hope being that those connections can be built up quite significantly over this two-week break heading into their next encounter away at Wrexham.

In terms of departures, the Hoops waved goodbye to 11 senior players, which included central midfielder Taylor Richards.

The 24-year-old had a dismal spell with QPR, making just 25 appearances over three seasons in the second-tier, before leaving the club by mutual consent on deadline day.

With this news in mind, FLW’s QPR fan pundit has issued his thoughts about Richards’ exit from W12.

Speaking to Football League World, QPR fan pundit Louis Moir has reacted to Taylor Richards’ departure from the R’s, admitting it was a “disastrous move” due to his inability to break into the first-team picture regularly.

Moir said: “With Taylor Richards, it’s a shame it didn’t work out as he’s a local boy.

“He wouldn’t have been at Man City and Brighton’s academy if he didn’t have bags of ability, but you’ve got to say what a disastrous move it was coming to QPR.

“25 Championship appearances, all of them essentially off the bench, never broke into the first-team on a consistent basis, injured, had problems off the pitch, even when he went on loan to Cambridge he got injured and couldn’t play there.

"He came back this season, played a bit in pre-season, some people thinking ‘could he be like a new signing?’ but I always thought he wasn’t going to be involved, and he would be gotten rid of, that’s basically what has happened.

“I think he is one of those players who has ability but can’t seem to get his head down and focus on the football, and it’s a shame, as when we got him initially, he had a cracking season at Doncaster when he was there on loan in League One, he was a proper player, and I was excited by him, that flair, number 10 attacking midfielder, but it just wasn’t to be.

“It’s tough now for him as what club is going to want to take a punt on him? Maybe a lower league club, but it’s going to be hard for him to get his career back on track.

“He could end up playing at a real low level eventually, but it’s obviously down to him if he can stay fit and focus on his football, as there’s ability there, but I’ll be very surprised if he makes his career last at Championship level and even at a good League One level, I’d go as far as to say.

“It’s a shame, but a player like that, I don’t know what’s wrong, he has ability, but he just can’t do it on a consistent basis, and it’s shown now.

"He’s had multiple opportunities under different managers and no one has managed to get it out of him, so it’s a shame, but that’s the way it’s gone for him I’m afraid.”

It’ll be disappointing for both parties that Taylor Richards’ spell at QPR never worked out, particularly as he grew up in the area and supporters would have loved to roar on a local hero.

But a multitude of factors led to the attacking midfielder making so few appearances over multiple seasons, and it just seemed destined that he wasn't going to be a fan favourite.

Now, Richards will have to build his reputation back up by dropping down the pyramid, and will have to ensure he is fit and fully focused to do an effective job for whatever team he signs on the dotted line for next.

Like Louis alluded to, there’s so much talent in there, but he just needs to be in the right environment where he can thrive and showcase his qualities consistently.