"We could have done more" - QPR regret voiced over "top class" attacking midfielder | OneFootball

We spoke to our resident QPR pundit to get his take on what player the Hoops sold way too early.

Queens Park Rangers have had a dreadful start to their 2024-25 campaign, with the Hoops currently sitting in 24th place.

Despite pre-season hopes of a strong campaign, Marti Cifuentes' men have failed to live up to their potential and have picked up just one win in 16 games.

Now in their tenth consecutive season in the division, it will be a disappointment to R's fans that they have never seriously challenged for promotion to the Premier League. Adding to the frustration, the team has seen several quality players come through during this time, but for various reasons, none have stayed long enough to make a lasting impact on the club.

With this in mind, we spoke to our resident Hoops pundit, Louis Moir, to get his take on what player was sold by the club way too early.

QPR miss Tjaronn Chery

Speaking to Moir, Tjaronn Chery was a name that came to mind. Now 36 years old, Chery played for the Hoops from 2015 to 2017, having been signed from FC Groningen in the Netherlands.

During that period, he managed a strong return of 14 goals and 10 assists, but he departed Loftus Road for a new adventure at Guizhou FC in China, following the mass exodus of players to the country around that time.

Speaking about his premature sale, Moir said:

"One that springs to mind is Tjaronn Chery. He wasn't at the club for very long, with rumours suggesting that he wanted to leave and earn more money—hence why he went to China.

"However, we could have done more to keep him by offering him a new deal, as I thought he was very good on his day.

"He was underappreciated by some QPR fans. In terms of technical ability for that attacking midfielder role, he was top-class. He scored some cracking goals and is probably the last player we've had who could take a good free-kick.

"It was a shame he was at the club during the Hasselbaink era, but I wish we could have had him for a year or two more. I enjoyed watching him when he was at QPR, and I thought he was a top player."

Tjaronn Chery continues to be a force at 36

Seven years after his departure from Loftus Road, Chery has continued to showcase his talent at various clubs across Europe.

Aside from a disappointing spell in China, he has enjoyed successful stints with Maccabi Haifa, Kayserispor, NEC Nijmegen, and he is currently playing for Royal Antwerp in Belgium.

So far this season, he has netted nine goals and produced four assists for Antwerp in just 16 games, who are sitting third in the Belgian Pro League.

This will serve as a stark reminder to QPR fans of what could have been, especially as no player has scored more than three goals for the club so far in the 2024-25 season.

The sale of Chery has to be viewed as a disappointment by the Hoops, as despite accumulating £4 million for him, he has gone on to show the importance of longevity in football.