Snippets: Arsenal's Connolly to QPR?...Les Ferdinand Celebrates

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BBC Gossip: "Arsenal defender Matt Connolly is set to join QPR on loan. (Daily Star) " BBC Gossip

[And The Sun writes: "QPR want to sign Arsenal defender Matt Connolly, 20, in January." The Sun Also The Mail "Arsenal, meanwhile, will farm out defender Matt Connolly to QPR on loan so he can gain valuable experience." Mail

[NB: Connolly is an England U-21 defender, previously on loan at Bournemouth and currently on a season loan at Colchester (which makes it unclear how this could occurr). Connolly QPR loan has been mentioned/rumoured on the QPR messageboards in the last few days.]
See: Matt Connolly/Wikipedia.

Arsenal Official Site Profile: Matthew Connolly
Defender Matthew has joined Championship side Colchester United on loan for the 2007/08 season.

Connolly, 19, broke into the first team last season, making his debut in the Carling Cup victory at West Bromwich Albion last October, playing the full 90 minutes. This was followed by a substitute appearance in the 6-3 victory at Anfield in the Carling Cup Fifth Round.
Matthew has been a regular in the Reserves for the past two seasons, featuring many times as Captain and made 11 starts for Neil Banfield’s team last term.
Matthew had a very eventful 2006/07 campaign. After playing in Dennis Bergkamp’s Testimonial match at Emirates Stadium in July, Matthew also trained with the full England squad as they prepared for their friendly match against Holland in November. He later spent a successful loan spell with League One side AFC Bournemouth, making seven appearances.

My Year
March
Matthew made three appearances for the Reserves this month. The 19-year-old centre back captained the side as Neil Banfield’s youngsters earned a 0-0 draw at Chelsea before going down 3-0 in successive games at Aston Villa and Charlton.
January
Matthew started the month on a high as he came on for the final three minutes of Arsenal’s 6-3 Carling Cup Quarter-Final victory at Liverpool. The 19-year-old centre back made no further appearances however after picking up an injury in training.
December
Matthew scored his first senior goal in December as he completed his first full month on loan at League One outfit Bournemouth. He started the month with 90 minutes in a 1-1 FA Cup draw at Bristol Rovers. The 19-year-old centre back was on the scoresheet in the next game as the Cherries recorded an impressive 2-0 scalp of Nottingham Forest. The Arsenal Reserves captain went on to appear in defeats to Port Vale and Bristol Rovers and draws at Gillingham and Bristol City.
November
Matthew joined Bournemouth on loan at the end of November and will spend six weeks with the south coast club. The Reserve captain was an unused substitute in the Carling Cup win over Everton but missed the second strings 1-0 defeat to Fulham as he was finalising his move to the Cherries. He made his debut for the League One side two days after joining and helped them keep a clean sheet in a goalless draw with Bradford City.
October
Matthew made his Arsenal debut as a youthful Gunners side cruised into the Carling Cup Fourth Round with a 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. The young Reserves captain also played a full 90 minutes for the second string in the 2-1 wins over West Ham United and Charlton. He then played 70 minutes in the 2-1 Reserve defeat to Chelsea and a full 90 minutes in the crushing 6-0 defeat at Reading.
September
Matthew was not involved in the first team in September but produced two solid displays for the Reserves in the drawn North London derby and the 2-0 win over Portsmouth..
Arsenal


Les Ferdinand Turns 41
QPR's England forward who scored 80 league goals for QPR in about 160 games. Was (and remains) QPR's record Sale - to Newcastle in June 1995 for Six million pounds)...Signed by Jim Smith from non-league Hayes in 1986. Given his real chance by Don Howe....Gerry Francis got the most benefit from him...and Ray Wilkins (and Chairman Thompson) sold him for six million...after which QPR were instantly relegated!

QPR Stats

Various Club Stats

See Dave's Queens Park Rangers FC Profile of Ferdinand - Ferdinand

Also: Wikipedia/Ferdinand