Post by Macmoish on Jun 22, 2023 11:07:52 GMT
www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/ainsworth-excited-to-start-season-against-watford-220623/
QPR Official Site 22nd June 2023
Ainsworth excited to start against Watford
Andy Watkins @andywa7kins
GARETH Ainsworth gave his immediate reaction after QPR’s fixtures for the 2023/24 season were revealed on Thursday morning.
Rangers will kick-off the new campaign on home soil against Watford ahead of a trip to Cardiff City seven days later.
Newly-promoted Ipswich Town also visit W12 in August before we finish the opening month at recently-relegated Southampton.
Ainsworth admitted his eyes were instantly drawn to the first game when they dropped, telling http://www.qpr.co.uk: “You always look at the first game of the season; that’s the one you build up to and that’s the target during pre-season for how we want to get out of the traps.
“Ironically my first win last season came against Watford so hopefully it's a nice omen.
“Then you probably look at the teams who got relegated from the Premier League. Southampton comes pretty quick with a trip down there at the end of August.
“I tend to then look at Christmas, see how congested that is and see who we’ve got. We’ve got Millwall away on Boxing Day and then play them three weeks later at Loftus Road, so there’s two big games right there.
“Leeds for our last home game is also another big game before going to Coventry on the final day of the season.
“You try and pick out difficult months and potentially tough periods but, if I’m being honest, they’re all going to be tough. But I’m not one to go through them and make any predictions, we’ll just take them as they come.
“It’s a really good Championship this season with some top teams in there. I’m sure it’ll be very entertaining, there’s no doubt it’s going to be a really tough league but I’m looking forward to it.”
After taking the reins in February in difficult circumstances, Ainsworth succeeded in preserving the R’s Championship status.
Now he wants to start afresh and properly put his stamp on proceedings.
“The job last season was to keep the team up; that was the only remit and we got the job done,” he said.
“Now’s about getting the plans down and our values. There’s going to be no hiding place.
“I want to make my imprint on the squad player and signing-wise. It’ll definitely be my way this season and hopefully we can get what we want in the transfer market.”
Before the real business begins in August, Ainsworth and co have five fixtures over the summer to help them get into shape including a ten-day trip to Austria.
Unlike previous seasons, there’ll be no pre-season outing at home due to the current pitch renovations taking place at Loftus Road.
Ainsworth, who was at the official opening of QPR's new training ground at Heston on Wednesday, added: “There comes a time where pitches need renovating so we have to deal with not having a pre-season game at home, but it just means the players will be champing at the bit for the first home game against Watford.
“We’ve got a a new training ground, we’ll have a new pitch at Loftus Road and hopefully there’ll be a new energy around the club and we can get off to a good start.”
QPR Official Site 22nd June 2023
Ainsworth excited to start against Watford
Andy Watkins @andywa7kins
GARETH Ainsworth gave his immediate reaction after QPR’s fixtures for the 2023/24 season were revealed on Thursday morning.
Rangers will kick-off the new campaign on home soil against Watford ahead of a trip to Cardiff City seven days later.
Newly-promoted Ipswich Town also visit W12 in August before we finish the opening month at recently-relegated Southampton.
Ainsworth admitted his eyes were instantly drawn to the first game when they dropped, telling http://www.qpr.co.uk: “You always look at the first game of the season; that’s the one you build up to and that’s the target during pre-season for how we want to get out of the traps.
“Ironically my first win last season came against Watford so hopefully it's a nice omen.
“Then you probably look at the teams who got relegated from the Premier League. Southampton comes pretty quick with a trip down there at the end of August.
“I tend to then look at Christmas, see how congested that is and see who we’ve got. We’ve got Millwall away on Boxing Day and then play them three weeks later at Loftus Road, so there’s two big games right there.
“Leeds for our last home game is also another big game before going to Coventry on the final day of the season.
“You try and pick out difficult months and potentially tough periods but, if I’m being honest, they’re all going to be tough. But I’m not one to go through them and make any predictions, we’ll just take them as they come.
“It’s a really good Championship this season with some top teams in there. I’m sure it’ll be very entertaining, there’s no doubt it’s going to be a really tough league but I’m looking forward to it.”
After taking the reins in February in difficult circumstances, Ainsworth succeeded in preserving the R’s Championship status.
Now he wants to start afresh and properly put his stamp on proceedings.
“The job last season was to keep the team up; that was the only remit and we got the job done,” he said.
“Now’s about getting the plans down and our values. There’s going to be no hiding place.
“I want to make my imprint on the squad player and signing-wise. It’ll definitely be my way this season and hopefully we can get what we want in the transfer market.”
Before the real business begins in August, Ainsworth and co have five fixtures over the summer to help them get into shape including a ten-day trip to Austria.
Unlike previous seasons, there’ll be no pre-season outing at home due to the current pitch renovations taking place at Loftus Road.
Ainsworth, who was at the official opening of QPR's new training ground at Heston on Wednesday, added: “There comes a time where pitches need renovating so we have to deal with not having a pre-season game at home, but it just means the players will be champing at the bit for the first home game against Watford.
“We’ve got a a new training ground, we’ll have a new pitch at Loftus Road and hopefully there’ll be a new energy around the club and we can get off to a good start.”