"This may sound a bit harsh" - Demand sent to QPR's Steve Cook after recent exploits | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit believes there is still room for improvement from the Hoops skipper.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Despite the best efforts of QPR and their captain Steve Cook, the Hoops have seen their hopes of a play-off push disintegrate, as Marti Cifuentes' side have endured a dismal run of Championship form over the last few weeks.

The R's began 2025 in strong form, winning four of their five league games in January.

As such, there was a growing sense of belief around Loftus Road that Cifuentes' team could be that seemingly perennial dark horse side to emerge from the relative void of mid-table nothingness, and make a late and unforeseen charge for the play-offs.

However, having won just one of their last seven league outings, the Hoops are now 12 points adrift of sixth-placed West Brom with just eight games to play, as the second tier pauses for the March international break.

We asked our QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir: 'Is there a player you think we need to see improvement from at QPR right now? If so, who and why?'

Moir said: "This may sound a bit harsh considering he's our club captain, and since he's joined the club he's been absolutely brilliant for us, and there's no doubting his quality on and off the pitch.

"But, I just feel that since coming back from injury, Steve Cook just hasn't looked as solid as he did prior to the injury. I just think, watching games, he hasn't seemed totally on it with the flow of the game, and a few silly errors, positioning-wise, and things that have led to conceding goals.

"Like away at Portsmouth for example. I just think, maybe it's just him still getting to grips with things, getting back to full fitness. There's no way he's past it at this level, because he is still a top centre-back in the Championship.

"That experience is absolutely crucial. But, I just feel that he just needs to get back to being that solid defender that we saw week-in, week-out for us. If he wants to hopefully be at the club next season and potentially getting another contract, then we want him to continue that form that he showed prior to the injury."

"You need that experience no matter how old players get. If you want to succeed as a club, you need that experience. I'm talking about the club captain here, and there's no denying his qualities, but I just think he's been a bit off the boil so to speak.

"Hopefully he can get back to full fitness, and start looking like that tough, solid centre-half that we saw prior to the injury that he suffered."

Steve Cook has surely still done enough to warrant QPR contract extension

At 33, Cook is certainly entering the twilight years of his long and successful career.

Having risen from non-league football loan spells with the likes of Eastbourne Borough, Havant & Waterlooville, Eastleigh and Mansfield Town respectively, the combative central defender rose from League One all the way to the Premier League with Bournemouth.

Becoming a QPR player in the summer of 2023 after leaving top flight side Nottingham Forest, Cook has established himself as a key member of the starting XI at Loftus Road, and was always a natural fit for the Hoops' captain's armband.

Having suffered a foot injury over the festive period, Cook has reprised his starting role since early February, and despite some sub-par showings here and there, he has still put in some big shifts in a blue and white shirt in recent weeks.

He's also hit a purple patch in front of goal too, with goals in back-to-back games against Middlesbrough and Leeds United, with his headed finish against Daniel Farke's league-leading Whites side earning QPR an impressive point at home.

Therefore, with his contract set to expire in the summer, the veteran defender has surely done enough and banked enough credit to ensure these aren't his final weeks as a QPR player.