-
Luton Official Site
- STEIN LEFT TO PICK UP THE PIECES
Mike Newell and Brian Stein on the training ground
Brian Stein has said that Manager Mike Newell has identified his transfer targets and is doing everything he can to bring them in
First Team Coach Brian Stein and his coaching staff are attempting to hold things together after a hectic week both on and off the pitch, which could get even busier with the possibility of more player movements in and out of the Club during the transfer window.
After the mini-exodus of players that included the sale of Rowan Vine to Birmingham City, Carlos Edwards to Sunderland and Peter Holmes moving on loan to Chesterfield all in little over a week, Stein has been left to put together a jigsaw puzzle ahead of Tuesday night's FA Cup replay against QPR and Saturday's crunch Championship match against Barnsley.
Stein said: "We know what we can get out of the players, and they'll give 100% for the Club and for themselves. Obviously we are worried about our best players going but the lads have got an unbelievable spirit.
"But if you lose you best players then you don't get the same quality. We can't afford to sell anyone else.
"We couldn't afford to sell Viney and Carlos, but in the end they've gone to progress at a higher level with bigger clubs than Luton."
Injuries and suspensions had further depleted his squad, and Stein has also had to contend with the abject despair in the camp after another late collapse at West Brom on Friday night.
"We've got to put it to bed and get the players out of the blues they are feeling.
"After playing so well it was disappointing for everybody - especially the players after what they gave that night. There is just no justice."
Leon Barnett is available again after serving a one match suspension, and Kevin Foley has overcome the heel injury that has kept him out of the last three games.
Marlon Beresford will play in place of on-loan goalkeeper Dean Kiely, who has not been given permission from Portsmouth to feature.
"Keith Keane came in the other day and also done very well. Kevin is back in the squad, along with Leon. So we've got another headache because Keith played extremely well - once he got to grips with Jason Koumas - and he done himself proud."
Have you signed up for Hatters World yet?
Stein moved to assure Hatters fans that everything possible is being done to bring in players who can improve the squad within the financial constraints Luton Town FC have to work with, and Manager Mike Newell is believed to be closing in on at least one target.
"Kevin and Leon trained today, so there are two more bodies, but we need another striker. It's of the utmost importance.
"We've told the Board who we want and what we want. The players we've got have done very well but we've got nothing underneath.
"We want to build a team for the future but we need a new stadium where we can attract decent attendances and compete with the bigger boys."
Stein also indicated that the void left in the side by the recent departures will hand some of the players who haven't been playing regular first team football the chance to shine.
"We got Bell last year. He hasn't played as much as he's wanted to, the same as Adam Boyd. They've had to be patient. Maybe it's time for Boydy now to take centre stage and start producing, like Bell has."
Despite the latest setbacks, Stein insisted that his team were as focused as ever about avenging QPR's controversial equaliser at Loftus Road and knocking them out of the FA Cup to set up a much-needed televised clash with Premiership side Blackburn Rovers.
"It's a fantastic draw. It's Newell's old club so he'll obviously be determined to beat QPR and go through."
Luton
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
HATTERS
Blackburn Rovers lie in wait for the victors of Tuesday night's FA Cup third round replay at Kenilworth Road.
The victors of the replay will lock horns with Mark Hughes' Premiership outfit in front of the BBC cameras on January 27th (12.30pm kick-off).
Shabazz Baidoo was the R's last gasp hero when the two sides met in a thrilling 2-2 draw on January 6th.
Entering the fray as a second half substitute, the teenager forced a replay after scoring with his hand in the closing stages of a rain-soaked clash at Loftus Road.
Dexter Blackstock soared to the top of the R's goalscoring charts with his seventh goal of the season just after the half hour.
Arriving onto Lee Cook's perfectly flighted corner, the former Southampton ace made no mistake from inside the six-yard box, heading home with aplomb.
However, in a fixture which has a habit of producing drama either side of the half-time whistle, goals a minute before and a minute after the break gave Luton the initiative.
Rowan Vine - who has now joined table-toppers Birmingham City - ensured it was all square at the break, when he struck from 15-yards on the stroke of half-time.
After notching two goals in as many minutes in the Championship fixture at Kenilworth Road in mid-November, Luton produced an almost carbon copy performance when Warren Feeney capitalised on hesitancy in the R's back four to make it 2-1 a minute into the second period.
The drama was relentless and when Baidoo leapt off the bench to notch his second goal of the season, a replay at Kenilworth Road loomed large.
There was still time for both sides to clinch victory, but on the balance of play, a draw - and a replay - was probably a fair result......
Last league game:
West Bromwich Albion 3, Luton Town 2.
Coca Cola Championship.
January 12th 2007.
Luton Town: Kiely, Keane, Coyne, Perrett, Davis, Brkovic (Boyd 66), Bell, Robinson, Emanuel (Langley 66), Morgan, Feeney.
Subs Not Used: Beresford, O'Leary, Stevens.
...Superhoopsbet.co.uk match odds:
Luton 11/10
QPR 11/5
Draw 11/5
Key player: Ahmet BRKOVIC
A tidy and hardworking midfielder, Ahmet Brkovic was an inspiration in the Hatters' success in League One two years ago.
Ideally suited to a right midfield berth, Brkvoic is equally comfortable on the left, a position he filled on many occasions last season.
The Hand of Shab - Baidoo celebrates
with Pat Kanyuka
Head to head:
QPR wins: 32
Luton wins: 29
Draws: 25
Hatters gaffer Mike Newell
Latest News: Don't Panic
Luton boss Mike Newell has urged the club's fans not to panic after the sale of top-scorer Rowan Vine to Championship pace-setters Birmingham.
Vine moved to St Andrews last week in a deal worth £2.5million, while fellow striker Carlos Edwards also left Kenilworth Road, moving to Sunderland.
Although Newell admits the team will miss the pair,he has urged Hatters fans to be patient.
He told Luton Today: "I'm not suggesting we will do well without Carlos and Viney until the end of the season because they've been influential players and have done well for us
"Everyone asked where the goals were going to come from when Howie (Steve Howard) left. They came from Viney. Now we'll just have to find someone else to get them now that Viney's gone - it's not the end of the world I promise you."
(source: TEAMtalk) QPR
Also: Clive Whittingham/QPR Rivals - Luton Preview
Ron Norris & Simon Skinner/QPR Net - Luton Preview
Ironically, a year ago, QPR were preparing for their trip...to Luton QPRvs Luton
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
QPR Report Twitter Feed
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Blog Archive
-
▼
2007
(1727)
-
▼
January
(143)
- Half a Year Since Chairman Paladini's Perhaps Most...
- Paul Furlong Loan Bid Rejected ...Other Reported E...
- Ex-QPR Trialist, Wayne Henderson Joins Preston
- ONE Signing: Cullip In...Ward Out (on Loan)... Des...
- Eight Hours Left: No Announced QPR Transfers...A D...
- QPR's Dean Parrett to Spurs?
- Matt Rose on His Time at QPR, Injuries & Under Joh...
- Paladini Reaffirms No Cook Sale...re Transfers in....
- QPR Drop Into The Relegation Trio with a Loss at B...
- Barnsley Look at QPR...QPR Look at Barnsley
- Yet Another QPR Player "Terminated"
- Derby Confirm Bolder Transfer...Ian Evatt Critique...
- Rose's Agent Denies Player's Injury Problems...Bol...
- 25 Years Ago: Last Time a QPR Player Scored Four...
- Departing Players - The List (Thus Far)
- Bailey Suspended...Preston Postponed...How Ex-QPRs...
- Matt Rose Remembered
- Derby's Bolder Chooses to Sign for QPR
- Remembering our Last 4th Round FA Cup Game at Home...
- Ex-QPR's Son/Grandson/Nephew Debuts Against Ex-QPR...
- Rose Terminated by QPR...Parrett/Spurs Gossip...Ka...
- Ex-QPR Player Leads to Expulsion of AFC Wimbledon'...
- Ex-QPR Reserve Justin Cochrane Turns 25
- Nice Words About Ex-QPR Midfielder Paul Murray by ...
- 100 Days Since QPR "Parted Company With" Gary Waddock
- QPR's Suppoed Failed Effort to Sign Irish Defender...
- PLAUDITS FOR QPR (Its Programme & Community Initia...
- Bircham Gutted His QPR Career May have Ended...His...
- QPR's Financial Difficulties Reported
- Ex-QPR Chairman Bill Power's Message to Swindon Fans
- Rumours/Reports: West Ham Watch Cook...Spurs Watch...
- More Gallen on Holloway....Former QPR Summer Targe...
- Kevin Gallen Looks Forward & Looks Back. Claims QP...
- Kevin Gallen Looks Forward & Looks Back. Claims QP...
- Bircham Out for the Season - Injured
- Ex-QPR Forward, Tony Thorpe Returns to League Foot...
- QPR Director & Major Investor Dunga's QPR Departur...
- A Look Back at QPR's Transfer Signings Over Past 1...
- Further Match Reports of QPR's Cup Exit at Luton
- QPR Go Out of The FA Cup - Managerial Comments & R...
- QPR Announce NOT Playing China. Says Press Report...
- How Ian Holloway Reportedly Tried to Sign Barry Ha...
- Ex-QPR Loanee Leon Knight Joins Ex-QPR Martin Alle...
- Holloway's Post Match Comments on Gallen & Being G...
- Six Months Ago: Italy: Team Bonding Friendlies and...
- Two-Ex QPR's in Football League's "Team[s] of the ...
- Ex-QPR's Clive Allen's Son & Ex-QPR's Les Allen's ...
- QPR's Relegation Form: Over Last 46 GamesPoints To...
- John Gregory on QPR's Relegation Fight & Their Pro...
- Alan McDonald Possible For Newry Town Manager
- Further Reports on QPR's Defeat at Home to Southam...
- QPR's FA Cup Run - A Quarter of a Century Ago
- Year Ago: QPR Lost at Luton...Playoffs Talk...Bean...
- QPR Lose to Southampton 0-2 at Loftus Road
- QPR Vs Witney United - Rescheduled for April
- Southampton Perspective of QPR Game
- Paladini on Transfers
- QPR's Agents Payments: Up more than 40% From Year...
- QPR's Greatest-Ever Comeback? Ten Years ago Today....
- Holloway's Lavish Praise for Kevin Gallen
- Bircham and Bignot Speak About QPR
- "Where Are They Now"- Ex-QPR Directors Chris Wrigh...
- Club Seeking to Locate Some of the 1967 Heroes: Ke...
- Simon Royce's Admiration for Luton's Mike Newell
- Previously Highly-Touted Scott Donnelly Released b...
- QPR's Agents Fees Payments - July 1, 2006 - Decemb...
- QPR's Steve Lomas Turns 33
- QPR Reject Bids for Cook, Blackstock & Rowlands - ...
- Coca-Cola's "Buy A Player" Promotion: Ways for Clu...
- Postponed: QPR's Friendly Versus Witney United
- Paladini - QPR Are Not a "Feeder Club" for Chelsea
- Forty Years Ago: QPR Advance Towards Wembley Winni...
- Six Months Ago: QPR Sign Czerkas & Oliseh (both su...
- Luton Prepare for QPR
- QPR1st Report on Meeting with Chairman Paladini
- Mick Leach Would have been 60 Today
- Holloway Loanee/Waddock Returnee, Leon Clarke Sign...
- Chairman Paladini Reverses Himself: No AKUTRs Resp...
- Gianni Paladini's First Five Hundred Days in Charg...
- Ex-QPR Goalie Jan Stejskal Turns 45
- Hull's Victory over QPR: Reports & John Gregory Co...
- Marking One Year Since Ian Holloway's Last Victory...
- Holloway on Gallen "He's helped me in the past and...
- Hull Come from Behind To Win with Two Late Goals
- Gallen Hopes to Stay at Plymouth...Plymouth Jumped...
- "Where Are They Now?" Some Our Ex-Watford Players
- Three Months since Fan Forum (Where Paladini said ...
- Remembering (and Thanking) Kevin Gallen
- Hull Versus QPR - Previews
- Mancienne at QPR Rest of the Season - QPR & Chelse...
- Gallen - Holloway Came Close to Signing Gallen in ...
- "Deja Vu All Over Again" - QPR Defender Ugo Ukah L...
- Decade Ago, Yesterday: "THE" John Spencer Hattrick...
- QPR Explains Its Transfer Policy Announcement Policy
- A Very Different QPR Since The Club's Last Visit t...
- Half a Year Ago: Squad Numbers Announced
- Evening Standard Snippet re QPR - Chelsea Relation...
- Gallen on Leaving QPR and Joining Plymouth
- QPR Captain Kevin Gallen Joins Ian Holloway's Plym...
- Still No "Reply" From QPR Chairman Paladini to AKUTRs
-
▼
January
(143)