Daily Mirror - Ann Gripper
GREGORY IN DANGER OF BECOMING A FALL GUY
JOHN GREGORY knows QPR are fighting for their Championship lives - and rates their battle for survival as his toughest football challenge.
Saturday's loss to Southampton left Rangers just a point off a relegation place, and they have now taken only six points from their last 11 games.
The Loftus Road boss said: "This is the most difficult situation I have been in. I was in a similar situation at Wycombe - we were bottom of the league when I joined and we spent from October to May trying to survive with no mo"We managed to escape on the penultimate Saturday of the season. That was a real buzz.
"But this would be an even bigger achievement because at Wycombe the only problem was the lack of quality on the pitch and the league position.
"Everything else was exceptionally well-run, although the budget was very limited.
"Here there are lots of problems. The playing staff is too big, the financial overheads have had to be reduced. But the players have been incredible.
"We are very motivated and determined but we are also naive.
"This lot will always give you hope, but I would like to add a bit more experience. Hopefully we will get that before the end of January." ...... Mirror
TELEGRAPH - Few clues offered by Burley in Bale riddle By Sam Green
George Burley wears the look of a man who knows something everybody else would like to know. Is he bluffing? By the end of the January transfer window, we will all know.
The Southampton manager seems utterly unfazed by the feverish speculation surrounding his precociously talented left-back, Gareth Bale. Manchester United are said to lead the chase for the 17-year-old. Last January Southampton played at Queens Park Rangers in what turned out to be Theo Walcott's last game for the club before his move to Arsenal and Burley is determined that a similar tale will not unfold this year.
"At some point Gareth will go, but he will still be here, no matter what, until the end of the season," said Burley after this controversial victory, adding weight to the theory that a deal has been done with United allowing Bale to remain at Southampton until the end of the season.
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Burley then went further. "No matter which division we're playing in, it would be better for Gareth to be at Southampton this season and next season."
While Burley glowed, John Gregory glowered. The QPR manager saw his side fall behind to a contentious late goal. A minute later, Rangers found the net in almost identical fashion. The effort was disallowed by referee Trevor Kettle.
"The referee got it blatantly wrong," said Gregory. "We're fighting for our lives in this division and decisions like that knock the stuffing out of you."
Southampton scored when goalkeeper Simon Royce spilt Bale's corner when pressurised by Bradley Wright-Phillips and Grzegorz Rasiak bundled home.
Moments later Damion Stewart put Kelvin Davis under similar pressure and Dexter Blackstock thought he had capitalised. Even Burley agreed that both incidents looked like infringements.
An excellent injury-time strike from Wright-Phillips confirmed a win that keeps Southampton in the promotion frame. Telegraph
THE SUN - By PAUL JIGGINS
GEORGE BURLEY has told Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger they can forget about signing Gareth Bale — until the summer of 2008 at the earliest.
Both Manchester United and Arsenal are hot on the trail of the highly-rated Southampton full-back.
Brilliant Bale, 17, impressed their watching scouts again with another super show.
But Saints boss Burley said: “I’ve told Gareth and his parents he needs to be here this season and next. That would be ideal for his development.
“You can’t beat playing regular first-team football for the development of a kid.
“Of course, at the bigger clubs it’s harder to get into the team. But, for the development of the player in this league and with a good club, I think it’s great for the boy to find his feet.
“We have to nurture him along without getting too strong with him.
“I’ve had this situation for a number of years with Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble, Darren Bent, Darren Ambrose and Tom Huddlestone — it’s part and parcel of football.
“Gareth’s parents are smashing people and really down to earth. They enjoy coming to see him play on a regular basis and see his improvement.
“He was absolutely outstanding again for us here and it’s typical of the way he has progressed in the last month.
“The improvement is there to be seen. At the start of the season we left him out for a bit because he’s still maturing.
“But he’s worked hard on the training ground, he’s listened and learned and there aren’t many better — or more exciting — full-backs in the country.”
Beckham-like Bale’s set-pieces had Rangers jumping through hoops all afternoon.
His corner led to Grzegorz Rasiak stabbing in the opening goal nine minutes from time — despite QPR’s claims keeper Simon Royce had been fouled by Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Referee Trevor Kettle caused more controversy two minutes later when he ruled out Dexter Blackstock’s equaliser after Saints keeper Kelvin Davis dropped a long throw.
Then, in injury-time, Wright-Phillips raced on to David McGoldrick’s pass and put the ball past the advancing Royce.
While Southampton look good for the play-offs, QPR are just one point and one place above the drop zone.
Chelsea’s on-loan defender Michael Mancienne said: “It’s the same old story for us — we don’t seem to be getting any luck at the moment and our end product isn’t there.
“We’re playing well and defending well but we’re being punished for minor errors.
“The confidence is still there — somewhere — all we need is a win to get going again.” The Sun
