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Most of the newspapers haven't yet given their pre-season assessment of how clubs will do, although the bookies have spoken - and are not rating QPR's prospects too highly. See: Recent bookie's assessment. Early Bookies' (beginning of June) look at QPR prosects for 2007-2008
A reminder of what was said a year ago about QPR's Prospects in 2006-2007:
The Times - Championship Preview
"QUEENS PARK RANGERS - There will be plenty of new faces on the pitch at Loftus Road this season, but unfortunately for Rangers supporters, most of Gary Waddock’s signings, who come from all corners of the globe, are untried both in this country and at this level. Expect to see a new face in the home dugout if they do not gel quickly into a winning side. Last season: 21st. This season: could go down"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2292825,00.html
BBC - The Championship form guide
QPR - "...BBC Sport verdict: New boss Gary Waddock had a difficult introduction to the job last season. But although results were bad, some performances showed promise. Waddock has the club in his blood and has pledged to play attractive football too. He has strengthened his squad over the summer but needs a good start to avoid a lengthy battle against the drop.
Key man: Nick Ward. Big things are expected from this Aussie youngster.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/5175924.stm
Soccernet's Championship preview 2006/7
Richard Jolly
"...QPR Last season: 21st Manager: Gary Waddock - A QPR favourite who offers the prospect of better football at Loftus Road, despite a mediocre end to the season.
In: Damion Stewart (Bradford, free), Adam Czerkas (Kolporter Korona, loan), Egutu Oliseh (La Louviere, free), Armel Tchakounte (Kitchee FC, free), Nick Ward (Perth Glory, free).
Out: Dean Sturridge (Kidderminster, free), Richard Langley (Luton, free).
A largely unprofitable March and April did not stop QPR promoting Gary Waddock to succeed Ian Holloway, whose style of football may be deemed more suitable for the lower divisions.
Despite an eclectic bunch of rather cheap signings, he will operate with basically the same squad. The benefit is that it still includes Danny Shittu, the giant centre back whose uncompromising displays have attracted attention. The downside is that an ageing forward line requires rejuvenation and, as Marc Nygaard (9) was the most successful, a prolific scorer.
Waddock also needs to ease a reliance on Gareth Ainsworth to create while proving an end-of-season slump was not a sign of things to come.
Key man: Danny Shittu - QPR's leader in defence. He could be rather overworked this season.
One to watch: Shabazz Baidoo - Lively young striker who was normally used as a substitute last year.
Must do better: Stefan Moore - Came from Aston Villa in search of first-team football, but did not really make the most of it.
Prediction: If Waddock can ally a greater emphasis on passing with the spirit and resilience that were trademarks of Holloway's team, mid-table. If not, they may be among the strugglers. Soccernet
Guardian August 4, 2006:
Key man Nick Ward The 21-year-old has caught the eye in his first pre-season at QPR. The attacking central midfielder was called into an Australia squad in February.
Prediction Oscurity Mid-table would be decent for a club who finished one place above the drop last season. A regimented, punishing pre-season is expected to reap rewards. Commentator's kit Last month Dunga became the first director to leave Loftus Road to take over as Brazil coach.
In Egutu Oliseh (La Louvière) free, Nick Ward (Perth Glory) free, Adam Czerkas (Odra Wodzislaw) season loan, Armel Tchakounte (Kitchee) free, Damion Stewart (Harbour View) free. Out Richard Langley (Luton) free, Dean Sturridge (Kidderminster) free, Ugo Ukah released, George Santos released. Guardian
Daily Telegraph
Manager: Gary Waddock (July 2006).
In: Damion Stewart (Harbour View, U), Egutu Oliseh (La Louviere), Adam Czerkas (Odra Wodzislaw), Armel Tchakounte (Carshalton), Nick Ward (Perth Glory, U).
Out: Marcus Bean (Blackpool), Richard Langley (Luton), Dean Sturridge (Kidderminster), Ugo Ukah (Nouresa Calcio).
Released: Marcin Kus, George Santos, Sammy Youssef.
Squad numbers: 1 Simon Royce, 2 Marcus Bignot, 3 Mauro Milanese, 4 Ian Evatt, 5 Danny Shittu, 6 Tom Doherty, 7 Matthew Rose, 8 Marc Bircham, 9 Nick Ward, 10 Kevin Gallen, 11 Gareth Ainsworth, 12 Jake Cole, 14 Martin Rowlands, 15 Dominic Shimmin, 16 Steve Lomas, 17 Lee Cook, 18 Stefan Moore, 19 Armel Tchakounte, 20 Scott Donnelly, 21 Paul Jones, 22 Shabazz Baidoo, 23 Stefan Bailey, 24 Patrick Kanyuka, 25 Damion Stewart, 26 Sean Thomas, 27 Egutu Oliseh, 28 Adam Czerkas, 29 Paul Furlong, 30 Mark Nygaard, 34 Matthew Hislop, 35 Jonathan Munday.
Website: www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk Odds: C: 100-1, P: 40-1, R: 2-1. Telegraph
Predicted Championship - Final League Table
Championship
1. West Brom2. Southampton3. Crystal Palace4. Birmingham City5. Coventry City6. Sunderland7. Derby County8. Leeds United9. Wolves10. Burnley11. Norwich City12. Preston 13. Leicester City14. Cardiff City15. Stoke City16. Hull17. Ipswich Town18. Sheffield Wednesday19. Plymouth Argyle20. Southend United21. Luton Town22. Barnsley23. QPR24. Colchester United - Soccernet
SPORTING LIFE FANZINE
PA Sport
"...If last season's late form is anything to go by, QPR are already relegated. Defeat in six of their final seven games suggests new boss Gary Waddock has his work cut out, just like predecessor Ian Holloway - sent on gardening leave by Rangers in February - and now Plymouth manager.... Sporting Life
Coral - Championship Betting PLymouth
14th last season, Plymouth Argyle are under new management following Tony Pulis’s return to Stoke City.... Coral’s match bet market, Plymouth are 5/6 to finish ahead of Ian Holloway’s old club QPR.
Coral
And Les Ferdinand was saying...
BBC - Ferdinand's Concerns - Ferdinand troubled by QPR unease
By Chris Charles
QPR legend Les Ferdinand is hoping the club can put their problems off the pitch behind them as they get ready for the new season.
The striker, who scored 90 goals in 170 appearances for Rangers, is concerned stories of boardroom upheaval and mounting debts will take their toll.
Ferdinand told BBC Sport: "I'm upset with all the off-the-field antics at QPR that have overshadowed the club.
"I wish they could resolve this stuff and concentrate on the football."
Ferdinand, dubbed 'Sir Les' by the QPR fans during his eight-year spell at Loftus Road, admitted things were not looking great but had every confidence manager Gary Waddock and his assistant Alan McDonald would turn things around.
"My old team-mates Gary and Alan know all about Queens Park Rangers and I hope they can do the business," he said.
"They've got blue and white flowing through their blood so hopefully they can bring them back to where they need to be."
The bookmakers are not convinced, making QPR one of the the favourites to be relegated from the Championship after they failed to win any of their final 11 games last season.
A summer of discontent has seen the club's reputation dragged through the gutter, with a court clearing seven men of forcing then-director Gianni Paladini to resign at gunpoint during the home clash with Sheffield United last season.
Since then, Carlos Dunga has quit as a director after being asked to coach Brazil and Paladini, currently chairman of the west London side, has hinted that Rangers' main investor, Antonio Caliendo, could be ready to pull the plug.
Ferdinand, 39, remains upbeat about the future of the club where he made his name, saying: "I wish they'd stop talking about all the issues off the pitch and get back to talking about the great football Rangers traditionally play.
"If Gary and Alan are allowed to do their jobs, I really hope they can get QPR back into the Premiership as soon as possible." BBC
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2007
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August
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- Ex-QPRs Signing for New Clubs: Santos and Cochrane
- Ian Holloway on Martin Allen Sacking...Ray Jones D...
- QPR Reportedy Sign Mikele Leigertwood for around £...
- "After a Final Round of Talks"...Briatore & Eccles...
- After Many Months QPR's Tony Roberts Finally No Lo...
- Additional Report but Not Yet an Announcement
- Ex-QPR Paul Furlong Still Enjoying His Football
- Further Board Departures
- QPR International Call Ups
- QPR Signings & Attempted Signings: Sheff Ut's Mike...
- Bircham, Curtis and Paul Parker on Ray Jones (Birc...
- Looking to Saturday
- Eccelstone and Briatore - Profiles
- Ecclestone and Briatore's QPR Purchase
- Bernie Ecclestone on Investing in QPR
- QPR Takeover - Ecclestone and Briatore in Joint Co...
- Ray Jones Remembered by Joe Gallen, Gary Waddock, ...
- Ray Jones Update: Minute of Applause...FIFA's Sepp...
- Dexter Blackstock on Being in the U-21 Squad and Q...
- Nostalgia: 40 Years Ago Victory and Topped Divisio...
- Local Account of the Crash and All the Victims
- Bernie Ecclestone Reportedly Confirms Has Discusse...
- Former QPR Youth Coach Joe Gallen Remembers and Ta...
- Reported Briatore Philosophy re Running QPR
- Colchester Remember Nearly Signing Ray Jones As Y...
- Colchester Remember Nearly Signing Ray Jones As Y...
- QPR Remember and Honour Ray Jones - Retire His #31...
- PFA Tribute to QPR's Ray Jones
- Ex-QPR: Dichio Happy in North America...Cochrane ...
- QPR Birhdays: Ray Jones (RIP)...Jamie Cureton....D...
- Nardiello Again in the Welsh Squad
- Tributes and Kind Words Pour In...No Date Yet for ...
- QPR's Briatore Takeover - One Supposedly Involved
- Ray Jones RIP- Additional Tributes, Reports, Memories
- Expressions of Condolences
- QPR Player Ray Jones Killed in Car Crash
- Briatore and QPR - Further Details on Takeover Sta...
- The Potential QPR Takeover - Who's Possibly Involved
- Burnley Preview QPR...QPR Preview Burnley...
- QPR's Tommy Doherty Still Wanted by Wycombe
- Briatore Confirms QPR Interest...But Denies QPR Deal
- Briatore Earlier Today - No QPR Deal Completed
- Briatore to Make Statement on QPR
- Statement by QPR Holdings re "Possible Offer"
- QPR Flashback: One Year Mackrell in...Two Years Po...
- QPR Snippets
- Gareth Ainsworth on Takeover, Cardiff Loss and Loo...
- re Briatore QPR Buy and Avoiding Administration
- Mancienne Makes His England U-21 Debut...Blackstoc...
- Birthdays for QPR's Lee Camp and Marcus Bignot
- Takeover Update - Complete Within 24 Hours
- Teams of the Week: Three Ex-QPR Playes (and Two Ca...
- Ex-QPR Update: Iorfa Unhappy...Ian Watson Bowling....
- QPR's (Chelsea's) Mancienne Talks About Takeover, ...
- QPR One of Clubs to Receive FA Warning Letter Over...
- QPR Takeover Update
- The QPR Takeover: Further Details
- Snippets: Ian Holloway Still Pursuing Scott Sinclair
- QPR Board Changes Now in The Media
- QPR Holdings Board of Directors Resigns as Prepara...
- Next Up: QPR at Burnley
- QPR Apologize for QPR World Service
- Additional Gregory Comment - "what really disappoi...
- Ex-QPR Birthdays...Carlisle Praised...Johnson Free...
- QPR vs Cardiff - Additional Reports...Mancienne Co...
- Various Clubs (Not QPR) Apologize for/Explain Prob...
- How Ex-QPRs Did on Saturday
- Flavio's Briatore QPR Takeover Reportedly Will Bel...
- QPR's Loss to Cardiff - Harsh Match Reports and Co...
- QPR 0-2 Cardiff Reports and Comments
- QPR's Championship Prospects This Season - A Detai...
- An "Intro/Guide" to QPR's Prospective New Owner Fl...
- Briatore Deal Reportedly Expected to be Without An...
- QPR Takeover...Future Ground Move Possible
- QPR Snippets: Hogan Ephraim on QPR and Colchester
- QPR vs Cardiff: No Fowler or Hasselbaink
- Flashback - QPR Games On This Day..Opening Game Ag...
- QPR Chairman Says QPR Saved! Briatore to Take Over
- QPR Directors Change? Nothing Announced ...But one...
- Analysis of the Paladini/Caliendo "Dispute" and Br...
- Ex-QPR Clarke Carlisle Joins Burnley From Watford
- Even AP... "[QPR] Queens Park Rangers may be force...
- "Another week of chaos at QPR..."
- Ex-QPR Danny Shittu Called up by Nigeria...Current...
- Jake Cole Gets Extended Contract...Ainsworth on Br...
- Blackstock and Mancienne in England U-21 Squad
- QPR Chairman Warns of Administration in Two Weeks
- Ex-QPR Danny Dichio...Hero of MLS Toronto FC
- Hogan Ephraim Hoping For Extended QPR Loan (and Ch...
- Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times Briefly re Paladini/Calien...
- QPR Manager John Gregory Defends Team Selection Vs...
- Former QPR Chairman Bill Power Speaks Out and Pose...
- QPR1st Statement on "No Sale" Club Statement
- Flashback 20 Years: Bulstrode's QPR Started with W...
- Nick Ward Returns to the Australia Squad
- QPR's Orient Defeat - Additional Reports
- Orient Knock QPR Out of the Carling Cup
- The "QPR Not For Sale" Statement Picked up By the ...
- QPR Holdings Chairman, Antonio Caliendo "The Club ...
- Crystal Palace Still Wants QPR's (West Ham's!) Hog...
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