PA PhotosQPR owner Tony Fernandes watches on as his team lose to Manchester United

It was no surprise that Manchester United came to Loftus Road, saw what they had in front of them, and duly conquered. And it was a match that nobody had chalked up as a must-win, or a hopeful point, in the epic task of saving QPR's Premier League status.

But it has left me with the feeling that it is time to face facts: more than likely we will be playing Championship football next season.

So, it is with a heavy heart that I turn towards our squad and wonder what it will look like come the beginning of August next year, when we line up for the first game of the season against Tranmere or MK Dons or - and it is very possible - Brentford.

In the post-apocalyptic world, we will have to bite our lip and say goodbye to a few friends old and new - mainly new.

Come August, there will be no Adel Taarabt. We have done well to hold on to him for so long, and despite struggling a little in his first season in the Premier League, he has shown that he is far too good to be playing at a lower level. The plus is that he will go for a hefty fee (there will be more than one suitor) and - even with compensation for Tottenham - he will attract a decent profit above the £1 million we paid for him.

Julio Cesar will be no more. He is an epic goalkeeper, and one of the best in the world. The Championship will be no place for him. Again, a tidy profit will follow. The fact that Rob Green is still with us means that we have a more than able replacement for the next level down.

I suspect Chris Samba will go. One of the top five central defenders in the world, apparently. He is talking long term, though, and may be persuaded to stay for one crack at coming straight back up. If he does, I suspect we will be odds-on for the title. Anton Ferdinand may come back from Turkey in better spirits (I am hoping that he has a Sir Les-like transformation) but we have seen the last of Joey Barton in a QPR shirt. Shame.

Esteban Granero is an interesting one. He is too good for the Championship, but he has not shown enough to be top of any other Premier League clubs’ wish-lists come June. Unless he returns to Spain, where there has been some interest, he will stay - he has said as much. And he will be most welcome.

Here's hoping Ale Faurlin comes back from Italy and resurrects his QPR career. It is fair to say that he is capable of forming an exceptional partnership with Granero in the middle. Add Shaun Derry and perhaps Samba Diakite and we have a formidable midfield.

I have no idea what to expect from Stephane Mbia. He is already a fans’ favourite - but there will be interest. My heart says he will stay, but my head says a bid too good to refuse may come in.

Loic Remy will probably go, but it could be a blessing in disguise as we will make a profit on him - even with his large price tag. But with Andy Johnson returning and Bobby Zamora likely fixed, plus DJ Campbell returning, we will boast one of the most experienced front lines in the second tier.

Junior Hoilett is a long-term project and will benefit from a year in the lower league. Yun Suk-Young is another who will grow next season. Say goodbye, though, to his compatriot Park Ji-Sung, who will generate a profit with a return to his home continent.

Andros Townsend will return to Tottenham - unless they are interested in a Taarabt-like deal - but Jermaine Jenas will be bloody useful.

Fabio goes back to United, Jose Bosingwa's inevitable exit will take pressure off the wage bill, while Jamie Mackie thinks far too highly of himself not to be snapped up by a lower-end Premier League team. Probably Stoke.

So, we should be in good shape and have a squad that is stripped down a little but more than capable of not only coming straight back up but then competing at the bottom end of the Premier League and allowing for a more organic transfer policy come June 2014 than the ones we have seen in previous windows.

Possible line-up for August 2013: Green; Onouha, Ferdinand, Max Ehmer (or Samba's replacement), Traore; Diakite, Derry (or Mbia), Granero, Faurlin; Johnson, Zamora. Subs: Hoilett, Wright-Phillips, Jenas, Suk-Young, Murphy (or new goalkeeper)

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