SECRET SCOUT: QPR’s Ilias Chair is a clever No 10… but he must avoid becoming downhearted when things don’t go his way
- Ilias Chair is the hub of Queens Park Rangers’ team, operating as their No 10
- He is tricky and is always looking forward when he is in possession of the ball
- The issue for him is that he can become disillusioned and downbeat too easily
Our scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. He’ll bring you his verdict in Sportsmail.
WHAT HAS HE GOT?
I saw this pint-sized midfielder obscured by his giant colleagues while on loan at Stevenage in 2019 and noticed his talent among the hurly-burly.
Now back at QPR, the 5ft 2in playmaker has slotted into the No 10 role.
Playing behind a main striker, he cleverly found space in between his holding midfielders and the frontman.
It was clear that the two static players behind him were not adept enough at providing the passes he needed to create clear goalscoring chances.
He does have clever touches and a good right foot, though. He was alive to receive a pass and should have been found more often.
In possession, he turned his opponent well before making both simple and clever passes.
I like the way he always looks forward when receiving the ball — unfortunately his striker could not reciprocate his good service.
Operating in the No 10 role, Ilias Chair is the hub of the Queens Park Rangers team right now
Twice he tried running behind the back four himself — but on the first occasion the pass was over-hit and on the second he could not escape a last-minute challenge.
He was the hub of the team as QPR made the running but his colleagues could not muster any significant opportunities from his probing passing and tricky movement.
WHAT DOES HE NEED?
I noticed him shaking his head when he was denied an obvious pass but he must not get downhearted.
When he was busy he was twisting and turning with a subtle touch and was moving the ball quicker than his predecessor Eberechi Eze, who moved to Crystal Palace in the summer.
But he faded badly in the second half. Did he become disillusioned when the game turned against QPR? I hope not.
Although very small, he was generally brave in holding the ball up against bigger players.
He needs to become goal-conscious, but I saw enough progress in his all-round game to think he will make his mark this season.
He can be too easily downbeat and he needs to cut that out or else become disillusioned
