QPR Snippets...Briatore Update...Mancienne & Nardiello Both Withdraw from Internationals

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Slight snideness from the Mirror!Mirror - Flavio's poke a high risk Derek Mcgovern
He's Italian, he's a billionaire, he has a name that's pure style and he has super-models dropping their knickers at the mere mention of his name - so how come I don't despise Flavio Briatore?
The Formula One playboy, who bedded Naomi Campbell and Heidi Klum - please God, not at the same time - has just joined forces with GP dwarf Bernie Ecclestone to buy up QPR, hoping to turn the Shepherd's Bush club into a Premiership superpower.
It's a big risk, but the Italian fox-hunter does loves a gamble, and that's why you simply have to take your hat off to him. Briatore started a school bookmaking business when he was just eight years old - and reckoned he made a 30 per cent profit in his first year. "I was learned very quick," he said, though clearly not in English.
Briatore has an impeccable record where the Bush is concerned, but it's hard to see how he can turn Championship reliant robins Rangers into high performance models in the four years he has suggested.
Hills offer 2-1 that QPR are in the Premiership when the 2011/12 season begins. That's the good news for Flavio; the bad is that they are only 9-4 to go down this season, about the same odds as Naomi. Additional reporting by John Shaw Mirror

FA - Michaels ruled out for U21s
England Under-21 Coach Stuart Pearce will be without two of his 23-man squad for the two upcoming qualifers following the withdrawals of Michaels Mancienne and Johnson.
The Three Lions met up on Tuesday in the build-up to their two away matches in Montengro on Friday and Bulgaria next Tuesday. They are the opening two games of England's qualifying campaign for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Last week Pearce named his squad for the two matches, but today confirmed that QPR defender Mancienne, who is on loan from Chelsea, and Manchester City midfielder Johnson have been ruled out.
The pair both made their Under-21 debuts last month against Romania, but Pearce says he won't be calling anyone else in as replacement.
"We picked 23 players for the squad, adding two from the Romania squad," he said. "We feel as though we have enough to cope. If we cop a few more injuries we'll have a look at it." FA

Danny Nardiello reportedly withdraws from Welsh Squad with bad back.
Sporting Life

ALSO:
Championship Team of the Week includes Southampton's Nathan Dyer and Grzegorz Rasiac for their performance against QPR - Team of the Week


Danny Shittu called up again by Nigeria - Watford Official site:
"...Dan Shittu is representing Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations 2008 qualifier against Lesotho on Saturday..."- Watford

Ex-QPR Peter Crouch Supposedly Targetted by FIFA Refs
The Sun Cup refs told to pick on Crouch
By IAN McGARRY September 05, 2007
PETER CROUCH has been branded a cheat by FIFA.
And football’s world governing body instructed its referees to punish him for fouling.
The amazing revelation has come from England’s former top official Graham Poll.
Poll claimed that, before last summer’s World Cup finals in Germany, FIFA refereeing chiefs singled out England’s 6ft 7in striker and told officials to crack down on him.
Crouch is suspended for Saturday’s crunch Euro 2008 qualifier with Israel, having picked up two cautions in just five international matches this season.
The difference between that figure and his record for Liverpool is marked — he received only two yellow cards in 49 appearances last term — and Poll may have provided a reason why.
He said: “At the World Cup last year, we were shown videos of England games.
“The head of refereeing at FIFA said, ‘Look at this big fella Crouch. He’s a real pain and getting away with too much. We need to mark him as a player we need to look out for’.
“We watched England’s warm-up games and it was pointed out the way he used his arms. I tried to defend him, being English.”
But Poll’s words went unheeded as Crouch was booked against Paraguay and consistently cited for fouling during the tournament.
Poll’s revelation will stun the FA, who may now believe referees were instructed to penalise the England team before a ball was even kicked.*
The ex-Premier League ref from Tring admitted officials can be influenced by the guidelines given to them by their bosses.
Speaking on Radio Five Live, Poll added: “You have to ask yourself as a ref if you are looking out for him all the time or only when he has done something that draws your attention.
To prepare is fine but to pre-judge is not. And, low and behold, Crouch did get booked in Germany.
“He has been picking up cautions since and is out of Saturday’s match.
“Players need to be aware that referees individually, or as a referee’s team, can be tactical as well.”...
.” The Sun