QPR's Season in Review - December 2006

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DECEMBER 2006

Not a great month for QPR with one win and 5 losses.
02-Dec-06 A Crystal Palace L 0-3 (0-2)
09-Dec-06 A Stoke City L 0-1 (0-1)
16-Dec-06 H Wolverhampton Wndrs L 0-1 (0-0)
23-Dec-06 H Barnsley W 1-0 (1-0) Rowlands 15
26-Dec-06 A Birmingham City L 1-2 (1-1) Cook 31
30-Dec-06 A Norwich City L 0-1 (0-0)

QPR finished December with 27 points from 26 games. At that point in 2005-2006: QPR had 32 points from 26 games, and 35 points after 27 games). In 2004-2005 at this time, QPR had 33 point from 26 games (34 after 27 games).

Table -December 30, 2006
17 Leicester 26 -6 32
18 Crystal Palace 26 -3 31
19 Luton 26 -10 30
20 QPR 26 -8 27
21 Barnsley 26 -16 26
22 Hull 26 -12 24
23 Leeds 26 -23 21
24 Southend 26 -25 18

ON THE FIELD
QPR and Chelsea agreed that Jimmy Smith would stay with QPR till the end of the season (with Michael Mancienne hopefully following.) QPR reportedly failed to sign a third Chelsea player, Lassana Diarra. Press reports said QPR would sign Israeli forward, Omer Golan. (Never happened!) Moore, Doherty and Munday returned from their loans.
More rumours about Lee Cook attracting Premiership interest with Chairman Paladini declaring not a penny less than 10 million. Ray Jones refusing to sign a new contract and press say Newcastle, Charlton, Liverpool among the interested clubs. Bircham talking about moving on, since has yet to be offered new contract.
Gary Waddock/Gianni Paladini's Summer Signing, Adam Czerkas was released. Two new players reported signing in January window: Defenders: Sampsa Timoska (happened) and Avery John (didn't happen). John Gregory talked about the club being in [relegation] trouble and of getting the sack if QPR went down
With little fanfare from the club, Kevin Gallen Made his 400th QPR Appearance.

OFF THE FIELD:
The Daily Express came out with a story re the state of QPR Finances - eliciting response from QPR. The Fan Magazine, AKUTRS came out without the expected/demanded/promised response from Chairman Paladini. [Paladini subsequently told a fan group he had decided not to do a response, after he had received the apology]
The month saw the arrest of 3 QPR Youth Players Over Death at Train Station & Serious Injury to Youth Player. (A few months later,it was decided that no charges would be made against the players.
Never reported by the club: The US "Generation Adidas" Team today defeated a QPR Reserve team 2-0. QPR's team had several players with first team experience. QPR's team was Cole, Watanabe, Hislop, Bailey, Ukah (Yelland), Milanese, Baidoo, Donnelly (O’Brien 15’), Furlong, Zerkas, Ward.
And a very minor query (that never got answered): What ever happened to suits that the Chairman said were being made/given to the players on their Italy trip.

QPR RESPONDED TO A Newspaper Story (The Daily Express) about QPR Finances
QPR Official Site:
Official Club statement by Antonio Caliendo and Gianni Paladini.
We owe it to QPR fans to respond to the allegations made in the Daily Express on Saturday in an article entitled "Are Rangers Going bust?"
The article was misleading in many respects and we can assure our many supporters that there is no possibility of QPR going bust whilst we remain on board.
We have seen too many attacks on QPR in the press that simply don't reflect the reality of today's situation. It seems there is always someone who wants to discredit our club.
Our goal remains the same as always: to take QPR to the highest position in English football. Despite injuries and recent results, we believe John Gregory will be able to take QPR back to the position it was in when he played for the Club.
We accept that talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. We will only ever prove our critics wrong by taking the Club forward, and we are 100 per-cent committed to continuing with that.
Finally, we would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of the staff and fans of QPR a very happy Christmas and a successful New Year.
Antonio Caliendo - Chairman of QPR Holdings
Gianni Paladini - Chairman of QPR FC QPR Official Site

Original Express Story - "Are Rangers Going Bust? -
Daily Express- Saturday, December 16 - By Tony Yorke
Are Rangers going bust?; -Even Club's Accountants Have Fears for Future
Accountants at debt-ridden Queens Park Rangers have warned the club that they may ha ve broken the law in their desperate attempt to avoid going bust.
The Daily Express has discovered the amazing confession in financial documents filed last month at Companies House - the government agency reporting directly to the Department of Trade and Industry.
Recording debts to the tune of GBP 19million, an annual income of just GBP 8.5m and losses that are running at GBP 4.32m, auditors Rothman Pantall & Co have chosen to paint a very bleak future picture of the struggling Championship club, who are run by colourful chairman Gianni Paladini.
They expose the current accounts of Queens Park Rangers Football & Athletic Co - the company who run the football side of the QPR business - as being worthless because there is no "evidence" to back up the club's claims.
And they say the club's financial statements - lodged with the DTI an incredible 16 months late - may have been prepared improperly. If true, this would be a clear breach of the Companies Act and regarded as a criminal offence.
"We have had problems and the accounts have been a mess, " Paladini said yesterday. "But the issues we have faced have not been of my making.
"They are the results of the actions of the club's former directors. I am simply the man who has been left to pick up the pieces - which has included raising 6m [pounds[ since September 2005 so we can pay our way.
"Without that money, we would have been forced to call in the administrators because our losses have simply been so great. But we have not been insolvent, I guarantee that." But Paladini's reassurances may not have the desired effect on officials from the Football League and the DTI.
They will be very concerned by the claim that evidence provided by the club's board - including current and past directors - cannot not be relied upon, particularly over the club's assertion that they are a "going concern" and have not traded while bust.
And their own accountants have delivered a damning indictment on the business credentials of the club's board.
"We planned our audit so as to obtain all of the information and explanations considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable reassurance that the financial statements are free of material mis-statement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error, " say the accountancy firm.
"But the evidence available to us to confirm appropriateness of preparing the financial statements on the going concern basis was limited. This is because the company have not prepared any profit or cash flow projections for the appropriate period subsequent to the balance sheet date." As a result, they say, they have been "unable to form a view" as to whether the club are a going concern. They also could not offer an opinion as to whether the statements gave a true and fair state of the company's affairs or if they had been properly prepared.
Senior sources within the game's top brass and the DTI suggest they may be forced to act. "We are monitoring the QPR situation very closely and have spoken to the club about the restructuring of their debts, " said a Football League spokesman. "If we find out that Rangers have broken the rules then we will act." It is difficult to assess just how bad Rangers' financial affairs are because the figures released by the club on November 15 relate to the period ending May 31 2004 and are hopelessly out of date.
However, a well-placed finance director at a Premiership club who has seen the Rangers accounts, said:
"There is a golden rule when it comes to football finances - you must avoid getting in over your heads at all costs.
"It goes to another level when your own accountant reports publicly that there is no evidence to back up important financial claims - and that the club may have breached the Companies Act.
"If that was to happen at my club, we would expect to be under formal investigation by the DTI and the League." Regardless of what might happen with the League and the DTI, Paladini has pledged to ensure things are done by the book in future.
"I have had professional people around me and relied on them to do things properly and on time, " he said. "That hasn't always happened. But you have my word that it will do now.
From now on our accounts will be sorted out on time." (Daily Express, December 16)

RESPONSE
[And then on a messageboard, the club's (unpaid)legal advisor [and soon-be-Board Member], Nico (Nicholas) De Marco posted this response to the Express story:]
"More rubbish I am afraid.
The only thing this story in the Daily "Dianni Inquiry was a cover up" Express proves is that a few sad people continue in their attempts to try and attack QPR.
I was warned of this story earlier this week. It is not a serious story at all, and the main claim that accountants warned the club 'that they may have broken the law in their desperate attempt to avoid going bust' is rubbish as the independent auditors (to which they mean) I am sure can testify.There was no 'amazing confession in financial documents', just the fact (as I understand it) that because very old accounts of the Club (financial year ending April 2004) were filed late the auditors could not sign the "going concern" part, as evidence of this would have to be deduced from current projections the Club was still working on and the Club did not want to wait for these to be done and thus risk filing the old accounts even later. Nor is there anything from the auditors accusing the club of preparing coounts "improperly" - at least I have seen nothing in the document (the audited accounts) which this freelance journalist sent and based this story on.
The article is about late, old accounts of the football club. Says nothing about the current financial state of the football club company and absolutly nothing about the accounts of the Holding Company which is the body which actually keeps the FC co, and the club afloat.
A complete non-story. I am afraid there will be a few who will revel in it as they do in any attack of this sort, but we have more to worry about with injuries for today's game than anything in this story. As usual with all these stories, anyone doubting will see time will tell. (QPR.org Messageboard

QPR Fan Magazine AKUTRs appeared without the expected (at the time)Reply from Chairman Paladini
In September 2006, the QPR Fan Magazine, A Kick Up The R's (AKUTRs)(Issue #198) published an article which made a number of assertions to which the Chairman of QPR, Gianni Paladini took exception and demanded an apology and an unedited-by-AKUTRs right of reply. (See below QPR Official Site )
In October, a statement on QPR official site declared there had been such an apology and that a reply from Paladini would be forthcoming in the December issue of AKUTRs. (see below - QPR OFficial Site).)
The December issue of AKUTRs (#200)was published - without any reply from Paladini.
In a piece/editorial in that AKUTRs (AKUTRs #200), entitled "Gianni Paladini v AKUTRs," editor Dave Thomas reports on the process in which the apology/retraction was demanded and discussions/"negotiations" between Thomas and Paladini (and solicitors) was conducted; and the fact that at AKUTRs publication deadline (November 20), no Paladini response had been forthcoming - or in fact any response/communication from Paladini and/or solicitor since the end of October.
So it's presumably a question of "stay tuned" and look to the next issue of AKUTRs to see if there is any update/response.
{On a positive note, Thomas reports that Paldini has permitted the AKUTRs ne book, "But First, An Apology - The Very Best Of A Kick Up The Rs" to be sold in the club shop]
An Apology" from AKUTRs - AKUTRs Statement
October 26, 2006 - QPR Official Site "An Apology"
The Editor and proprietor of the fanzine 'A Kick Up The R's' today agreed to publish the following retraction and apology to QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini:
In the September edition of the newsletter 'A Kick Up the R's', we published a series of articles by Cos Atiolis about Mr Paladini, the Chairman of Queen's Park Rangers football club.
In these articles we falsely suggested that Mr Paladini was involved in fraud, corruption, malpractice and dishonesty, and made a number of other serious false, misleading and defamatory statements about him.
We now fully accept that there is no truth whatsoever in these allegations and we are extremely sorry for the distress and embarrassment caused by the articles.
The newsletter containing the articles has been withdrawn from sale and we have offered Mr Paladini a full right of reply to the articles, which will appear in the next edition.
Paladini said: "I am delighted that the fanzine has withdrawn the untrue and unfair allegations it made against me, and that it was possible to resolve this without legal action.
"Although everyone has a right to free speech, and I welcome constructive criticism, I take my professional reputation very seriously and will not stand by whilst I am accused falsely.
"I find these allegations distressing, not just because they damage me, but also because of the distress they cause to my family and to QPR fans.
"I would never want to fall out with any of our fans. The way to move this club forward is to be united.
"Fortunately, AKUTRs has accepted there was no truth to the serious allegations it published and has retracted them. I will be exercising a full right to reply in the December edition, and I hope that is then the end of the matter."
QPR OFficial Site

Paladini's September 25, 2006 Statement on the QPR Offficial Site
Statement by Gianni Paladini on the recent edition of 'A Kick Up The Rs:'
The publication 'A Kick Up The Rs' has recently published a deeply misleading, inaccurate and scandalous article about myself and Queens Park Rangers FC.
A number of serious allegations have been made in that publication which are not true. The publication failed to contact myself or anyone else at the Club to verify their allegations.
Considering the seriousness of the allegations, I have been reluctantly forced to take legal action. The matter is now in the hands of my solicitors.
I expect a comprehensive retraction and apology from the publication for publishing these falsehoods. If they are not prepared to provide that, the matter will be dealt with by the courts.
I am sorry it must come to this, but in order for me to be able to defend myself from such blatant and hurtful untruths, I have no alternative than to take this action.
I shall make no further comment on this matter until either the apology and retraction has been received or legal proceedings are concluded.
QPR Official Site

USA Over QPR!
-The US "Generation Adidas" Team today defeated a QPR Reserve team 2-0. QPR's team had several players with first team experience. QPR's team was Cole, Watanabe, Hislop, Bailey, Ukah (Yelland), Milanese, Baidoo, Donnelly (O’Brien 15’), Furlong, Zerkas, Ward. (The match was never reported or mentioned on the QPR Official Site0

American Reports
Soccer 365 Rapids Peterson Helps MLS Generation adidas
Colorado Rapids forward Jacob Peterson scored the first goal for the Generation adidas team in their 2-0 victory over the Queens Park Rangers Reserves here today. Generation adidas is currently on a weeklong European training tour in the UK.
In the 17 th minute, Peterson took a cross from the Kansas City Wizards’ Will John, who was on the left, and beat goalie Jake Cole to give the Americans the lead.
Chivas USA’s Brad Guzan made a big save at the end of the first half to preserve the lead for Generation adidas. ...
AScore: Generation adidas 2, Queens Park Rangers Reserves 0
Scoring Summary: Ga- Jacob Peterson (Will John) 17 Ga- David Arvizu (Dax McCarty) 85
Generation adidas: Brad Guzan, Marvell Wynne (Quavas Kirk 40’), Drew Moor (Patrick Ianni 75’), Michael Parkhurst (Nikolas Besagno 75’), Blake Wagner (Hunter Freeman 75’), Nathan Sturgis (Tim Ward 75’), Willie Sims (Jamie Watson 75’), Sacha Kljestan (Dax McCarty 75’), Will John (David Arvizu 75’), Chad Barrett (Ryan Pore 75’), Jacob Peterson (Kei Kamara 75’)
Queens Park Rangers Reserves: Jake Cole, Taku Watanabe, Matt Hislop, Stefan Bailey, Ugo Ukah (Karl Yelland), Maoro Milanese, Shabazz Baidoo, Scott Donnelly (Matt O’Brien 15’), Paul Furlong, Adam Zerkas, Nick Ward
Report

Also:
New England Revolution: Generation adidas 2, Queens Park Rangers reserves 0 Michael Parkhurst and Willie Sims of the Revolution both started and played 65 minutes in the Generation adidas team's 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers' reserve team in London, England on Monday.
Jacob Peterson (Colorado Rapids) scored what held up as the game-winner in the 17th minute off a cross from the left wing and David Arvizu (NY Red Bulls) tallied off of a give-and-go play with Dax McCarty of FC Dallas .
Generation adidas goalkeeper Brad Guzan (CD Chivas USA) made an important save for the visitors at the end of the first half and midfielder Sasha Kljestan (CD Chivas USA) and substitute forward Kei Kamara (Columbus Crew) each saw a shot hit the post as the American's dominated QPR for most of the game.
QPR plays in the Coca-Cola League Championship, England's second professional division.
Major League Soccer's Generation adidas program players are in England through December 10 on a training trip and are coached by Columbus Crew head coach Sigi Schmid. On Tuesday they will take on the Crystal Palace reserve team during the day before heading to Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea face Levski Sofia in Group A action in the Champions League.
Following an afternoon training session on Wednesday, Schmid's team will see West Ham take on Wigan Athletic at Upton Park and Wednesday evening. Matches against the Watford reserves and Chelsea reserves (still to be confirmed) will follow on Thursday and Friday, before the trip ends with a jaunt to Liverpool. There the Generation adidas players will visit Anfield to see Liverpool Football Club take on Fulham.

Teamtalk- Gregory bemoans small Rs squad
QPR boss John Gregory admits the club have been relying on a small group of players since his arrival.
Gregory has dragged Rangers off the foot of the Championship and out of the relegation zone after taking charge in September, but the former Aston Villa manager knows his squad lacks depth.
Gregory said: "We have quite a long injury list, and a number of people who are not involved at the moment.
"There have been six or seven players who have carried the weight of the club on their shoulders, and have played almost every game.
"Lee Cook has been vital for us, while Kevin Gallen - who is really a forward - has helped out in central midfield, and Michael Mancienne - who is really a centre-back - has been playing at right-back.
"We don't have another right-back who is fit - or good enough. We are just having to get on with, but we will take a deep breath and get on with our work."

Kevin Gallen & Karl Ready Talk About QPR (Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times)-
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times
Gallen: we were never out of trouble
Kevin Gallen has dismissed the notion that QPR are back in a relegation battle - because he believes they were never out of it in the first place....
The club captain (pictured) admitted: "A couple of weeks ago, some people thought we were going to get in the play-offs. To be honest, I never thought that - and even if we won the next three in a row, I wouldn't say we were going to make the play-offs. "I don't think you go from being bottom of the league to being in the top six. We're in a relegation dogfight, there's no doubt about it and we have been most of the season - that's why the previous manager got sacked.
"Crystal Palace have spent a lot of money and they might have only just gone above us in the table, but they're the ones that should be talking about getting promotion.
"Maybe we had an opportunity in the summer, when we had a few bob and a lot of it was wasted on players that are not even going to play for this club."It is certainly worth noting that, even with several midfield players out injured at the moment, summer arrivals such as Egutu Oliseh and Armel Tchakounte are apparently nowhere near the first team.
Instead, Gallen was pressed into service as a central midfielder at Selhurst Park and may be asked to fill a similar role when Rangers travel to Stoke this Saturday.
Gallen, who reached the 400-game mark for QPR against Palace, added: "I've played in midfield before, so it's no problem and I'll gladly play anywhere for this club.
"Stoke are another team pushing for the play-offs - they've brought in a few players on loan from the Premiership and they'll be very tough. But we need to get something out of that game and find some consistency."

KARL READY
"I'm a QPR fan, still a member of the LSA [Loyal Supporters' Association], and that was part of the problem with pulling on a different shirt," Ready admitted. "After leaving QPR my heart wasn't really in it.

Lee Cook Speaking About His Future in Light of Transfer Speculation-
Lee Cook - Icons.com - Transfer speculation motivates me to do well
The latest I have heard is that Spurs, Man City and Villa have all expressed an interest in me, but until that interest is turned into a firm offer there is no decision for anyone to make.
Of course it is flattering to hear that those massive Premiership clubs like what I'm doing and it does give a real boost to your confidence. Knowing clubs like that are interested just motivates me to play better.
But there haven't been any firm offers and even if there was, it would have to be accepted by the club before I would be moving anywhere. As it is I'm happy at QPR. I love the club and I get on really well with the other players who are a great bunch of lads.
It is flattering to hear that those massive Premiership clubs like what I'm doing and it does give a real boost to your confidence.
Like any player I am ambitious to play at the highest levels, but if nothing comes of the interest from other clubs I will happily carry on playing here and doing my best week after week to help QPR climb the table.
At the moment I'm just concentrating on getting fit again to play as soon as possible. My chest injury is a tough one though, because it gets aggravated every time I sneeze, cough, or even breathe. I was told it would take a week or two to clear up, but it's now been two weeks and it's getting quite frustrating.
I went for a run on Monday and breathing heavily was very painful, so I just don't know for sure when I'll be back. I'm aiming to make it for the Wolves' game at the weekend, but it's a slow process and I might need a bit more time.
We've lost four on the bounce now and that isn't good, but I feel we've been a bit unlucky. We shouldn't have lost at least two of those four and on Saturday the gaffer was left with a really hard selection problem because so many players were out. It meant he had to change formations and tactics which wasn't ideal. But we've got players coming back from injury and if we can get a win under our belts it will do wonders for our confidence – and it's all about confidence.
I really do hope I can make it back for Wolves on Saturday. ...Icons

BBC - Posh star Plummer quits football
Plummer joined Peterborough from Barnet in September 2004
Peterborough defender Chris Plummer has announced his retirement from football.
The 30-year-old had recently joined Conference club Rushden & Diamonds on loan, but his contract has been cancelled by mutual consent.
Plummer made 180 senior appearances in spells at QPR, Bristol Rovers, Barnet, Peterborough, Grays and Rushden.
"It feels right to move into something different, and I am looking to go into the financial services industry," he told Peterborough's website.
"A few years ago, I dropped from QPR to Barnet and it was a bit of an eye-opener with regards to salary. ...." BBC

Ray Jones: Mirror Quotes Paladini Saying Jones Won't Re-Sign
-Mirror - JONES GOING
QPR have admitted defeat in their battle to keep teenage sensation Ray Jones.
The 18-year-old striker, whose contract expires in the summer, has refused to sign a new deal.
Fulham have already had a bid for Jones rejected and Liverpool, Celtic and Wigan have been checking on him
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini said: "We've offered him about eight contracts, but every time we have heard from his agent that Ray won't be signing." Mirror

BBC Gossip today: "QPR have admitted defeat in their battle to keep striker Ray Jones, who has refused a new deal and who has been linked to Fulham, Liverpool and Wigan. (Various) "

[In November, Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times wrote:
Rangers fight Fulham for Jones
QPR have warned clubs chasing Ray Jones they will go to a tribunal if anyone attempts to poach the teenager on the cheap.
Jones, 18, has already attracted a cheeky £50,000 bid from Premiership neighbours Fulham after breaking into the Rangers first team and scoring five goals so far this season.
And Rs' chairman Gianni Paladini believes the young striker's agent has been trying to stump up interest from other clubs after encouraging him to reject several offers of a professional contract at Loftus Road.
"If Fulham think Ray Jones is worth £50,000, they obviously don't think very much of him," Paladini told the Times. "I think it's scandalous and I'm very annoyed with them.
"We offered him a very good contract, six or seven times we've made an offer and his agent doesn't want to know - he just said the boy wasn't signing.
"I'm very disappointed that, now he's played for England, suddenly his agent's offering him to other clubs. When I was an agent, I always said to young players 'go and play first, then worry about the money'.
"He's playing well, he's scoring goals and John Gregory wants to keep him here, but I can't force him to sign a contract if he doesn't want to.
"If there's nothing more we can do, we'll have to go to arbitration. That's what I told Fulham and I'll tell anyone else the same."
The uncertainty over Jones' future mirrors the situation that developed at the end of last season, when it took the club several months to agree a contract with another young striker, Shabazz Baidoo.
But Jones, who made his first-team debut in the penultimate game of that campaign against Watford, has since overtaken Baidoo in the pecking order and scored Rangers' goal in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat by Sunderland.
Kilburn Times

Mirror - GREGORY: I'LL KEEP WOLVES FROM DOOR By Aidan Magee
JOHN GREGORY has been told he will be fired if he fails to keep QPR in the Championship.
Rangers face Wolves - who they have not beaten at home since 1984 - at Loftus Road today on the back of four straight defeats.
Gregory was appointed in September and initially oversaw an upturn in the team's form. But chairman Gianni Paladini has warned his old friend that he will be shown the door if Rangers go down.
Gregory said: "If we are relegated then I'm out - end of. However, I've already identified the players who can get us across the finishing line. We've got a couple of irons in the fire and I'm confident we've got enough about us to survive." Mirror

Skysports -Mancienne happy at QPR - By Lewis Rutledge - Created on 15 Dec 2006
Michael Mancienne is eager to extend his stay at Queens Park Rangers. The highly-rated defender has impressed at Loftus Road since joining on loan from Chelsea in October, and has made eight appearances in the Championship so far.

Stewart Has Fractured Jaw from training ground accident
From QPR TV World News (but not mentioned in text)Damion Stewart has fractured jaw from training accident (not explained how he got that). Nygaard out with ankle injury.

QPR Extend Jimmy Smith Loan from Chelsea for Rest of Season

League Table After QPR's 5th Successive Loss vs Wolves
Crystal Palace 23 26
Luton 23 26
QPR 23 24
Barnsley 23 23
Hull 23 20
Leeds 23 20
Southend 23 16

Very Strong Gregory Comments
We're in trouble - serious trouble.
"We enjoyed a period of brief respite when we jumped up to mid-table, but make no mistake; we're in big trouble now....'' (Official Site)

"...Today said a lot about us....strong>After they scored, we showed a lack of quality and our delivery was awful....Some of my players are out of contract at the end of the season...That means six more paydays and then they might be out of work. If that was me, I’d be frightened to death..." (Sunday Times)
OR!
"Some of the boys who played today have six more pay packets until the end of the season and could be out of work...That would frighten me to death. They should realise they are playing for their livelihood and we need to withhold judgement until the end of the season." (People)

Australia's Coach Graham Arnold on Nick Ward's Move to QPR
Arnold: QPR not the club for Ward
By Brett Klucznik - Tribal Football December 14, 2006
Graham Arnold has backed midfielder Nick Ward to play a key role in the Socceroos 2010 World Cup campaign but admits the former Perth Glory star is not best suited to the frantic nature of the English Championship.
Ward, the A-League's young player of the year last term, began the season as a regular in Queens Park Rangers' starting line-up, however, since John Gregory took over as coach in late September the 21-year old has made just further two appearances for the London club.
Arnold feels Ward is better suited to playing in a league where there is less emphasis on the physical side of the game.
"The Championship is a special league, it's one of the hardest physical leagues you can play in. The game goes at 100 miles per hour and no one puts their foot on the ball," explained Arnold. "Nicky always wants the ball to feet so he can start to play (but) the more he plays the better he'll become. I've no doubt he'd be more suited to the premiership or on the continent somewhere where everything is played through midfield."
The worry for Arnold is that another of Australia's hottest young prospects is being stifled by circumstances.
"Like any young player who goes overseas, the first year is always the hardest in adapting to the pace of the league and to the standard. But all the young guys need to be playing forty games a year to learn by their mistakes and to learn the game," said Arnold. "I think Nicky has a big part to play in the Olyroos and at the same time he's got a big part to play towards 2010. Nicky can play as a second striker or in midfield so he gives us a good option. He's someone who's monitored very closely."
Ward has set his sights on being part of the Socceroos side for February's friendly with Denmark in London. But he knows his chances are seriously diminished unless he can earn regular game time with Rangers.
"It's not a walk in the park and it's completely different to what I'm used to," he said. "But I'm up for the challenge. I just need to be playing more games. I'd love to play for Australia against Denmark but I need to be playing more" Tribal Football

Israeli Forward Omer Golan to QPR?-
In today's Scotsman, Ben Lyttleton writing about Rangers forthcoming game against Hapoel Tel Aviv, writes in passing "The recent defeat at home to Maccabi Petach-Tikva was put down to Shum not telling his defence how to deal with their striker, Omer Golan, a player set to join QPR in January and the match-winner over Hapoel. ......""
See - Ben Lyttleton - Trouble looms for hapless Shum
. Scotsman

In September Haaretz reported:
Gregory named QPR manager, swoops for Omer Golan
By Haaretz Correspondents and Agencies, By Shaul Adar and Moshe Boker
Shortly after being named coach of English Championship (second division) side Queens Park Rangers yesterday, John Gregory approached Maccabi Petah Tikva with an offer for striker Omer Golan.
If Petah Tikva does not stand in the Israel international's way, he will head to Loftus Road in a 1.5 million euro move during the January transfer window, a source close to Gregory said yesterday.
Former Aston Villa boss Gregory, 51, returns to management three-and-a-half years after leaving Derby County, and will be taking over a team that is lingering at the bottom of the Championship.
Israeli agent David Ben Abu was behind the deal, and it was Ben Abu who was dispatched to Israel yesterday to conduct talks with Petah Tikva and Golan. If Golan does sign for the English side, he can expect to earn some 600,000 euros a season.
Gregory met with Golan in Tel Aviv two months ago and told the striker he wanted to sign him when he returned to management. Yesterday, when Gregory, who was linked with the coaching position at Maccabi Netanya over the summer, was appointed by QPR, he made good on that promise.
A source close to Ben Abu said yesterday that Gregory had been tracking Golan for some time. "John has been monitoring the player discretely for a while now, and in his opinion, Golan is the best striker in Israel. QPR also believes that it will be able to sell Golan on for a much higher sum within a year or two."
Petah Tikva, however, is well aware of Golan's potential worth. Last season, it turned down a similar 1.5 million euro offer from another English side, Sheffield United, and is reported to be holding out for 3 million euros and a 30 percent cut of any future sale. Haaretz

SKY SPORTS - QPR FAIL IN DIARRA LOAN BID
QPR FAIL IN DIARRA BID By Alex Dunn - 18 Dec 2006
QPR tried to sign Lassana Diarra on loan from Chelsea - but were knocked back because the midfielder wants to stay in the Premiership.
Rangers boss John Gregory already has Blues youngsters Jimmy Smith and Michael Mancienne on loan at Loftus Road, and made a move to add Diarra, 21.
But Gregory revealed: "We tried, but I don't think Diarra wants to play in the Championship. I think he will go on loan to another Premiership club [when the transfer window re-opens in January].
"I think Diarra feels he is better than that (playing in the Championship) - which he probably is. He is an outstanding young player."
Gregory has agreed to extend the loan deal of midfielder Smith until the end of the campaign and is confident of achieving the same with defender Mancienne, who has excelled in recent matches.
Gregory added: "The signs with Michael are good. I believe (Chelsea boss) Jose Mourinho is very positive about our having Jimmy and Michael - SKY SPORTS

SPORTING LIFE - Queens Park Rangers have failed in a bid to take Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra to Loftus Road.
The Championship side have already taken both Jimmy Smith and Michael Mancienne on-loan from the champions and had hoped to make Diarra their third temporary acquisition.
However, Rangers boss John Gregory is now willing to concede that the deal is dead in the water as Diarra is reticent to drop down a division, confident that he is ready for Premiership football.
"We tried, but I don't think Diarra wants to play in the Championship," said Gregory. "I think he will go on loan to another Premiership club [when the transfer window re-opens in January].
"I think Diarra feels he is better than that (playing in the Championship) - which he probably is. He is an outstanding young player."
Gregory has, though, secured the services of Smith until the end of the season and is confident that Mancienne will agree to a similar arrangement.
"The signs with Michael are good," added Gregory.
"I believe Jose Mourinho is very positive about our having Jimmy and Michael."
Sporting Life

Wycombe Official Site -TIME MAY NOT BE UP FOR TOMMY
Tommy Doherty is sent off for a second yellow card at MK Dons, Dec 06
Doherty: loan Ranger
Tommy Doherty didn't enjoy a final flourish in his loan spell from QPR but that hasn't dissuaded Paul Lambert from a possible approach for the player in the January transfer window.
Wanderers bid a premature farewell to the Northern Ireland International after three months at the club when he was dismissed for a second bookable offence at MK Dons.
With Sergio Torres still out and Stephen Gregory not yet figuring in Lambert's immediate plans Doherty's departure does limit options in the Blues midfield.
And after being impressed with the player since he returned to full fitness following almost half a year out of competitive football, the Blues boss isn't ruling out the chance that he may return along with fellow successful loanee Scott Golbourne, who is yet to make a breakthrough at Reading since returning to the Madejski Stadium.
"We have the possibility to see where we and Tommy are at," Lambert told wwfc.com.
"In the cold light of day he did brilliant for us and it's unfortunate that he has to go back." Wycombe

Terminated! QPR Forward Adam Czerkas Sent Home

QPR Official Site -POLE AXED
[After a few hours, The club changed their headline to "CZERKAS DEPARTS"]
Polish front-man Adam Czerkas has had his loan contract terminated with immediate effect.The 22 year-old - who penned a one year loan deal with the R's from Kolporter Korona SSA in mid July - made just three appearances in the Championship, as well as figuring in the Carling Cup tie against Port Vale. QPR

[What was said when he signed for QPR in July of 2006.]
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - SIGNS ON ONE YEAR LOAN - CZERKAS SIGNS
Gary Waddock's prolonged search for a striker is finally over - after Polish front-man Adam Czerkas today (Tuesday) put pen to paper on a one year loan deal with the R's.
The 22 year-old - who impressed Waddock during pre-season training and again in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday - signed on the dotted line at Loftus Road this evening.
Rangers have the option of signing the Kolporter Korona SSA striker on a permanent basis at the end of his loan spell....
[Garry Waddock:] "It's no secret that we've been on the look out for a striker for months, not just weeks, and our patience has finally been rewarded. "Obviously I'm delighted we've secured his services and if what we've seen in training and in the practice match is anything to go by, R's fans are in for a treat next season.
"He's got a great eye for goal, has terrific movement, is good with his back to goal and has the unique ability of being able to get in behind defenders.
"He'll complement our current crop of attackers and we've got extremely high hopes for him next season.'' The former Kolporter Korona SSA attacker - who measures in at 6'1'' and will wear the number 28 shirt - is in line to make his R's debut against Stevenage Borough on Wednesday. QPR

Dexter Blackstock - ICONS- Morale is still high
Four defeats in a row felt pretty bad, but I can tell you that five losses is a real sickener and we are determined to turn things around.
It's difficult because we can't seem to put our finger on exactly what is going wrong. After losing 1-0 to Wolves at the weekend everyone was a bit down and we talked about what went wrong.
There doesn't seem to be one thing you can point to and I believe we simply need to get a win under our belts and everything could change. Despite everything the morale is still high and we do believe in ourselves.
Five losses is a real sickener and we are determined to turn things around.
But we also know that we have to turn that belief into points and there's a big time for the club coming up with games against Barnsley, Birmingham, Norwich and Colchester in quick succession.
The Barnsley game is massive – a proper six-pointer. They know what they have to do and we know what we have to do, so something has to give. Barnsley didn't have a good start to the season, but they've put some decent results together recently so they will be dangerous.
We're at home, but unfortunately our home form hasn't been good over the last few weeks. That is something we really need to sort out. If we can start picking up points at Loftus Road it gives us something to build on.
The manager has said that we have slipped back again after a period when we raised our game when he first arrived. To some extent he's right. Everybody does try extra hard whenever a new manager comes in, but I don't feel we're not trying now.
There's definitely no lack of respect for the boss and we all still want to impress him, but for some reason our form has dropped and when you're losing you get into the habit. But this is the time to turn the corner and I believe we have the players to get us out of trouble. Beating Barnsley is the first hurdle. Icons

TEAMTALK - Bircham flattered by interest
QPR midfielder Marc Bircham is "flattered" by interest from Leeds and Nottingham Forest and admits his Rangers future looks uncertain
The 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to be offered a new deal, with Leeds, Forest and Plymouth - managed by former Rangers boss Ian Holloway - all believed to be keen on the Canada international.
Bircham said: "It is flattering to be linked with clubs as big as Leeds and Nottingham Forest.
"I have said all along that I did not want to leave Rangers and that I wanted to sign a new contract, but I can only say that so many times.
"If a club lets a player get into the final few months of a contract and does not offer a new one, it is likely he will be leaving." - TEAMTALK

Skysports - JONES TO SIGN NEW QPR DEAL -By Mike McGrath, PA Sport
QPR striker Ray Jones admits it is a "buzz" to be linked with a move to the Premiership but remains confident his contract dispute at Loftus Road will be resolved next month.
The 18-year-old's current deal with the Championship club expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a move to Fulham and Charlton when the transfer window opens next month.
But Jones, speaking at the launch of the Wickes Young Apprentice award, said: "I think by January we'll have that sorted out and I'll just concentrate on my football.
"It's flattering to get linked with clubs in the Premiership, it's a big buzz, but I'm at QPR and do what I'm doing at the moment for QPR, whatever happens in the future will happen."
Jones has scored five goals this season and has made an impression with his frame causing defenders problems, despite QPR struggling at the wrong end of the Championship.
"I've got a few goals this season and want to get a few more," Jones added.
Veteran QPR striker Kevin Gallen, who was also at the launch of the Wickes Young Apprentice award, believes it is important for the club to secure Jones' signature.
"Ray's a good player and we need to keep our good players at the club and not give them away, so it's important he signs," said Gallen.
"First and foremost we need to get out of trouble then we can bring more young players through." Skysports

Paladini on Lee Cook " The £10 million I was quoted as wanting for him is genuine - I won't be accepting a penny less"-
-"...Chairman Gianni Paladini reiterates his pledge to keep hold of sought-after winger Lee Cook. "I'll say it again - it's going to take a huge offer to prize Cooky away from this football club. The £10 million I was quoted as wanting for him is genuine - I won't be accepting a penny less.'' QPR Official Site -

Saturday, December 23, 2006 QPR Win!- QPR defeated Barnsley 1-0 with a first goal from Martin Rowlands. Even after today QPR remain two places out of the bottom three, but with a four point gap between QPR and Barnsley.

Bottom Six:
Luton 24-29
QPR 24-27
Barnsley 24-23
Hull 24-21
Leeds 24-21
Southend 24-16
TABLE[Note; at almost this time last season, we had 32 points from 24 games (and then lost the next two games.]

John Gregory's Comments - Official Site - CHRISTMAS CHEER
John Gregory was pleased as punch after the 1-0 victory against Barnsley at Loftus Road.
Martin Rowlands bagged the only goal of the game as Rangers returned to winning ways with a deserved victory over the Tykes.
"We kept a clean sheet and I'm delighted with that,'' Gregory told www.qpr.co.uk.
"It was awful having to suffer that for the best part of 70 minutes, but we got the three points so I'm delighted.
"I would happily settle for a result like that and three points every week.
"Barnsley played well, but we ground out the victory.''
Gregory bemoaned the part played by referee Mr Booth, adding: "The referee seemed to give a lot of things against us. I was very surprised with his overall performance - he was poor.''
The R's gaffer revealed he expects to make changes to the side for the trip to Birmingham City on Boxing Day.
"We've got five games in 14 days, which is ridiculous and we're going to need every man Jack.
"The boys that didn't start today will get their chance over the holiday programme.''
Gregory also indicated that Michael Mancienne's loan deal could be extended until the end of the season, commenting: "We're pretty confident that will be the case.
"I had a long meeting with Frank Arnesen and Neil Bath on Friday, where we discussed a number of things, and it looks like we'll get him until the end of the season which is great.'' QPR

One-Time Managerial Target Ramon Diaz Appointed Manager of San Lorenzo-
San Lorenzo name Diaz as new coach
BUENOS AIRES, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Former Argentina international Ramon Diaz was named as coach of San Lorenzo on Sunday.

The table after Win
Cryt Pal 25 30
Luton 25 29
QPR 25 27
Barnsley 25 26
Hull 25 21
Leeds 25 21
Southend 25 17

QPR's Incoming Finish Defender Sampsa Timoska & Gregory on Players in & out and Praise for Paladini-
Timoska to make Rangers bow Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - 27 December 2006
FINNISH centre-back Sampsa Timoska is poised to make his QPR debut in their FA Cup tie against Luton after signing an 18-month contract at Loftus Road.
Timoska, who has joined Rangers from MyPa 47, will be John Gregory's first signing of the January transfer window, but is unable to feature against Colchester on Monday due to Football League regulations.
His arrival is the first of many changes planned by the QPR boss over the coming weeks, with several squad players likely to follow Adam Czerkas through the exit door.
The Polish striker, who made just four first-team appearances for the Rs after joining them last summer, left last week by mutual consent and Gregory told the Times: "We're in discussions with a few others about offering them the chance to leave as well.
"Adam just wasn't my kind of player, he was never going to feature in my first team and that's not his fault, but there wasn't any point in him being here.
"I'm not going to bring in people that are no better than the ones we've already got in their particular position. We've got well over 30 players in the squad, so it's not stock I want, it's quality.
"Sami will be a valuable member of the squad and for him to play in London is a dream move. He's versatile and he will go straight into the side."
Timoska, 27 - who can play at centre-back or full-back - spent a trial period with Colchester earlier this season, but has been training at QPR for some time now.
He is a former under-21 international for Finland and featured for MyPa in this season's Champions League qualifiers, where they were knocked out by FC Copenhagen.
And Gregory has also lined up two more players on free transfers, but reducing the size of his congested squad remains a priority, with Ian Evatt and Tommy Doherty first in line to depart.
Evatt has been on loan to League One side Blackpool since the start of the season, while Doherty recently returned from a three-month spell with Wycombe Wanderers.
"Ian Evatt's loan period expires next Wednesday [January 3] and we've been in discussions with Blackpool about a permanent deal," Gregory confirmed. "He's enjoying himself up there, his family have settled in and the team are doing well, so he's a happy boy at the moment and I think it'll be better for Ian and for QPR if we can sort out a deal.
"Wycombe haven't made up their minds about Tommy Doherty at the moment, but he seems to be fairly happy about the idea of going back there.
"The chairman's been fantastic - he's allowed me to get on with it, but I have to look at the financial side of things as well and there won't be any transfer fees spent by us unless someone comes along and offers us huge money for Lee Cook or Ray Jones.
"Gianni Paladini's supported the two previous managers that have been under him far more than a lot of chairmen would have done and I don't think he ever turned them down with a request for a new signing or another member of staff in some capacity.
"He works his nuts off for this club, he's given me tremendous support since the day I got here and I hope we can get to 50 points and give him Championship football again next season (Kilburn Times)

John Gregory On Ray Jones's Future-
Kilburn Times re Ray Jones
QPR manager John Gregory has warned that unsettled striker Ray Jones will only be allowed to leave Loftus Road next month for a 'substantial' fee.
Rangers have already rejected a cheeky £50,000 offer from neighbours Fulham for the teenager, who has turned down several offers of a professional contract.
Jones' current deal runs out next summer and he would then be free to join another club, although Rangers would be entitled to compensation as he is only 18.
Gregory said: "I don't know whether Ray will go during January, but someone would have to offer us a substantial amount of money.
"We value him very highly but, if we lose him, we lose him. If he leaves in the summer, it will go to arbitration and when that happens it's normally the selling club that loses out.
"We've offered Ray an improved contract three times, but his agent's playing hardball with us, which I'm not happy about. He's turned it down every time and I'm just going to have to put up with the situation at the moment."
Jones emerged from the Rangers youth team towards the end of last season and made his first senior start in August against Southend, since when he has become a key player in Gregory's squad. Kilburn Times

Sporting Life: QPR boss John Gregory is ready to sign two new players as soon as the transfer window re-opens.
The players - believed to be defensive duo Avery John, who played for Trinidad & Tobago at last summer's World Cup, and Sampsa Timoska, of Finnish club MyPa - could make their Rangers debuts in the FA Cup third-round tie against Luton on January 6.
Gregory said: "We have a couple of people in mind who are ready to come straight in, and they will be registered on January 2.
"I think they will enhance the squad. There is no point bringing someone in if he is not better than what we have, because we have 35 professionals." Sporting Life

Sampsa Timoska on Joining QPR-Finnish defender checks in at QPR -By EuropeanFootballNews.co.uk - December 29 2006
Finnish defender Sampsa Timoska has finalised his move to QPR, as reported by EuropeanFootballNews.co.uk earlier. The former MyPa defender has trained with the team for the most of December and will now be officially unveiled as their newest addition.
The 27-year-old Finnish international has been touted in the press to join the Loftus Road side for some time, as exclusively revealed by EuropeanFootballNews.co.uk on mid November. The transfer was completed in early December, but only now made official for the press.
"We talked with the gaffer (John Gregory) that I'd be fully fit and ready to play at the beginning of January, but a regular place in the starting eleven would perhaps not be realistic straight from the beginning", Timoska told MyPa's official web page.
"The gaffer planned to play me in central position, but he's also asked me if I can play a wide role in the defence".
Timoska has been one of the best defenders in the Finnish Veikkausliiga over the past years, and a tranfers to a more high-profile league was only a matter of time.

The Players' New Clothes?QPR confront some rather serious problems on and off the field. Among these: Four losses in a row; near the bottom of the Championship Table; declining attendances; a very large squad of players, and a ten million pound Loan from the "mysterious" ABC Group, at 10% annual interest; along with additional millions in other loans.
Over the past year-and-a-half, this blog has sought to "report"/document in a variety of areas of interest concerning QPR-related matters, current and past. One of the things this blog has sought to do is to take note of what has been said by the people involved with this great club; and then to look back with the benefit of some perspective and compare what was said with what transpired. And when there is some confusion or some questions, to seek clarification just by posting (or reposting this material).
An admittedly even more peripheral issue was just a extremely simple query which was posed on the messageboards (and scoffed at by a fair number of messageboard posters although not by all) - but was never actually answered by anyone in know in the affirmative. In the Summer, the Chairman spoke about the new suits the players would be getting. My query: Did the players get their promised/fitted suits and if so, are they worn to pre-match games? And what's the situation re suits for new players who subsequently joned the club? (And if per chance, they haven't yet received them, when will they be arriving?)
". ..When we go to Italy in the pre-season all the players will have tailor made suits, with the club badge on so the players will really look the part for next season. That's another deal we've done. " May, 2006 Rivals Interview with Chairman Paladini
Paladini's post-Italy tour statement "ROLL ON THE NEW SEASON" "...Having just returned from the R's pre-season tour of Italy, QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini "Despite the players staying in one of the town's grandest hotels, and having been fitted with brand new QPR tailor-made suits for every player, ...."
QPR
Official Site - QPR's pre-season trip has begun....."Today a home sick Scott Donnelly told qpr.co.uk...A local tailor then came to measure the players for matching suits and then it was off to Sorrento.... QPR
LSA Reported on their July meeting with Paladini "We were told that the trip to Italy was sponsored by the Mayor of Sorrento and this will include hand made suits for the players and staff." LSA

QPR's 2006-2007 SEASON IN REVIEW

2006-2007 Season in Review - November 2006

2006-2007 Season in Review - October 2006

2006-2007 Season in Review - September 2007

2006-07 Season in Review - August 2007

2006-2007 Season in Review: #4 - Close Season Ends; Shittu Leaves; Paladini Speaks

2006-2007 Season in Review #3 - July 2006: Italy, Dunga, MK Dons, Ward, Shittu, Holloway, Suits

2006-2007 Season in Review #2 - June 2006: The Pre-Season

2006-2007 Season in Review #1 - May 2006