Queens Park Rangers are under a lot of scrutiny at this moment in time despite the club sitting just five points off the Sky Bet Championship play-off positions.

When Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was first appointed last season, the Dutchman created a positive vibe around Loftus Road again after a lacklustre start to the 2015/16 campaign.

However his signings during the summer have failed to impress many QPR supporters, especially in defence, because they have conceded an astonishing 21 goals in 15 games; not good enough for any team if they want to be challenging for promotion to the Premier League, which Queens Park Rangers obviously are aiming for.

Their standout players for me this season are Dutch attacking midfielder Tjaronn Chery and German striker Sebastian Polter.

However there are a number of squad members who perhaps are under-appreciated in the blue and white hooped shirts and don't receive the praise that they actually deserve.

Steven Caulker

Steven Caulker is only 24 but it feels like he's been in the game for longer than that.

The defender has had spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Cardiff City, Southampton and Liverpool during his early career so far and also loan periods at the likes of Yeovil Town, Swansea City and Bristol City.

The former England international, who has one cap to his name, has been at Queens Park Rangers since the summer of 2014 after signing for an undisclosed fee from Cardiff City, who had just suffered relegation to the Championship.

Caulker still has a long footballing career ahead but is currently being under-appreciated at Loftus Road.

The centre back offers plenty of experience, which he picked up in the Premier League, and looks to be applying that to his game for the benefit of QPR.

However, the fans don't seem to be seeing that and, in my opinion, he deserves more praise than he is receiving at the moment.

Conor Washington

The Northern Ireland international has struggled to fit into Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's team since his arrival in January from League One side Peterborough United for a fee thought to have been around the £2.5m mark.

Washington has one goal to his tally despite making 25 appearances for QPR but it's clear he is living the dream of a professional footballer and definitely isn't getting the respect from fans which he deserves.

The 24 year-old may not be scoring every week, quite clearly, but his work ethic is second to none and that can't be denied by any of the management team at Loftus Road.

Perhaps if the supporters appreciated the striker more then he may hit the net on a more regular basis.

 

QPR fans - what do you think? Have you been harsh on Caulker and Washington? Let us know in the comments below...