QPR REPORT

-
Watford Official Site - MAHON'S LAST GOODBYE
FOLLOWING today's confirmation that Gavin Mahon will join Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers on loan, with a view to a permanent move, the midfielder has spoken to www.watfordfc.com about his time at Vicarage Road.
Mahon signed for the Golden Boys in March 2002 when Gianluca Vialli parted with £150,000 to sign him from Brentford. The tough tackling midfield man has since made over 200 appearances for the club.
Mahon has seen plenty of change during his time in Hertfordshire but first he looks back to when he initially signed for the Hornets.
In an emotional goodbye to the club he said: "I had been speaking to Ray Lewington and he said Watford needed a midfield player so Gianluca brought me in. I had been doing well at Brentford and Steve Coppell was good enough to let me go. It was great to have a high profile manager like Vialli come in for me and it was a dream move really."
Mahon made his debut against Crystal Palace but soon picked up a serious knee injury which saw him sidelined for a matter of months - after his return it was a while until he felt he gave a good account of himself for the Golden Boys.
"When I came back into the side I was playing out of position quite often, filling in at full back, and I don't think the supporters saw the real Gavin Mahon. I was getting a bit of stick but I managed to turn it around and show people what I could do."
Mahon was part of the Hornets side which reached the FA Cup semi final against Southampton at Villa Park and then he was rewarded for his hard work with the 'Player of the Season' award in 2003/04.
But there have been tough times too and he faced a difficult situation early on in his days at the club. With the club in dire straits financially the players were asked to take a wage deferral.
Mahon remembers: "I hadn't been at the club long and the Chairman called us all in to the gym for a meeting. At the time I just wanted the club to be safe, so we all decided to get through it and that saving the club was the priority. Then we went on from there and got to a couple of semi finals which made the club some money."
Things have changed drastically at Vicarage Road in the years since and for the ex-captain, who has enjoyed a promotion with the Golden Boys, expectations have risen dramatically.
"Things have changed considerably; the expectation now is so, so high. Financially the club is much better of. After those seasons of struggle it shows how far the club has come to surprise everyone and get promoted, play in the Premier League and reach another semi final last season.
"During those hard times, there were players coming and going all the time but thankfully I managed to stay."
Mahon has certainly turned out alongside a great deal of players and characters, so who would he pick out?
"It was clear from early on that Ashley Young had lots of ability, he didn't have any fear and you could tell he had a bit of class. Ashley's got two great feet and it's not surprising he's done so well. Jermaine Pennant was the same when he was on loan, you could tell straight away that he was a very good player.
"As for characters and people in the dressing room I would have to say Jordan Stewart. I had heard about Jordan before he came to Watford and I wasn't sure if I would get on with him but he is so bubbly, and you need characters like that in the dressing room. He always has a smile on his face and he is great to have around the place."
Boss Aidy Boothroyd has also had a huge impact on the Birmingham-born midfielder, but Mahon did initially fear he had failed to make the grade with the Yorkshireman.
"In one of Aidy's early games I got injured up at Stoke towards the end of the season. I was a bit worried that he would want to bring his own people in. But that summer we had a chat and he said he wanted me to stay and that I was his type of player.
"When we got back for pre-season we had a meeting and Aidy believed we would get promoted. Speaking to the other guys since then not everyone believed him at first, but slowly but surely during the season the belief started to come and then of course we eventually won promotion at Cardiff.
"I remember dreaming the night before about lifting the trophy and being up on the podium. We wouldn't have done it without Aidy so we lifted it together and it was a great day for everyone and the club."
Since then there has been further drama with a season in the Premier League and another FA Cup semi final appearance at Villa Park providing yet more memories for Mahon.
"The game with Manchester United was a great occasion again with the crowd, the flags and the scarfs, we started well but unfortunately got punished by an excellent team."
This season the Hornets came flying out of the blocks and were soon at the top of the pile, but now with the new year looming the promotion race is at tight as ever - and there will need to be another gigantic push from the Golden Boys.
With Mahon out of contract at the end of the season, Boothroyd had to make one of his toughest decisions to date and call time on his captain's tenure at the club.
Mahon added: "I had a chat with Aidy and he said he wouldn't be renewing my contract. I'm an experienced player and I've been involved in the game a long time so I have to move on. But I've kept on training and travelling with the lads and I've now got a fresh challenge.
"Watford have certainly got enough quality to get promoted. They need to get back to playing the Watford way at a high-tempo and express themselves on the field. We showed at Coventry and Norwich away that we can play football and I'm sure they'll go on to have a successful season.
"I went to the QPR game on Saturday and said my thanks and goodbyes to everyone - there are good players and people at the club.
"It was strange and even more so as Watford were playing my new team. Some of the lads I've played with for a long time now and the newer lads like Jobi [McAnuff] said they wanted to stay in contact with me, so I'm sure I'll be seeing them at some point."
With 2008 looming, it means new starts for Watford Football Club and Gavin Mahon. The club would like to thank Gavin for all his hard work during his time with the Hornets and wish him and his family all the best for the future. So it's goodbye to a great and loyal servant; one that true Watford people will never forget. Watford

-
Ealing Gazette/Robert Brennan - -Ainsworth and Rangers Dream of Revolution
GARETH Ainsworth says he wants to be around to enjoy what he expects to be a new phase of glory years at QPR.
New owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone saved the club and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal's investment has seen them dubbed the 'richest club in the world.'
Ainsworth believes it is only a matter of time before the club returns to its former glories and he hopes he can play his part.
"I am excited really and relieved that QPR are out of the dark years now," Ainsworth told the Gazette.
"I have been through it when we got promoted a Sheffield and then we went through administration, we have had guns down here and lost team mates.
"It has been a real soap opera over the last few years but there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
"It feels good to be part of this club, it will be nice to have come through the bad years and hopefully be here for the good years, this club is going higher and higher.
"As players, we can only do our best and let's see what happens. I think this club can go all the way.
"The people who took over are all winners, but we must not get carried away, money is not necessarily going to get you up straight away.You need to build foundations, but I think they know that."
To Ainsworth's caveat should be added the proviso that Mittal is willing to convert his hobby into a serious passion for the club. He is worth anything between £25-50 billion, according to whichever report you believe.
He is said to be the fifth richest man in the world.
But at the moment, it is sonin-law Amit Bhatia who has a role on the board as a director and the stake is 20 per cent.
It is not quite Roman Abramovich mark two just yet, but it can clearly become that if Mittal wants it to.
It is a triumph for chairman Gianni Paladini and his connections.
"He does get some stick now and again, but if it was not for him, I am not sure QPR would still be here," the winger said of Paladini's role in getting some big names on board.
"He managed to get some great investors, he has done everything in his power to keep this club afloat, I know he has his knockers, but I think he has been fantastic for QPR."
Having found himself out of the side at the start of Luigi De Canio's reign, Ainsworth has regained his place. But he knows competition for places in the upcoming months should get tougher with Rangers likely to splash the cash in January.
"You have to be ready for that," he said. "You have to be ready for competition and I think it is going to be good for the club.
"Being one of the more senior players at the club, you ask yourself what is going to happen in January? What is going to happen in the summer?
"All I can do is go out and give my all. I know that Gareth Answorth gives his best and the day that isn't good enough for the manager, then I will find out.
"At the moment I am loving the football, I am loving playing. I am still going, still strong as ever.
"This is a great club - a club very close to my heart. It's the longest stint I have ever had at any club "The fans are fantastic and to have seen this club die would have been a tragedy. I would have been gutted and I really mean that.
"If a new player is going to come in and do better than me and take my place, then fair play to him."
The Hoops celebrated their new-found wealth by climbing off the bottom of the Championship thanks to Akos Buzsaky's classy double against Colchester at the weekend.
Buzsaky played just off Dexter Blackstock with Rowan Vine switched to the left side of midfield. Buzsaky in that legendary number 10 jersey pulled off two sublime individual strikes adding to his double at Scunthorpe.
Buzsaky gave Rangers the lead when he curled home on 27 minutes with his left foot from the edge of the box.
He made it 2-0 after the break from a one-two with Dexter Blackstock.
Ainsworth was full of praise for his Hungarian team-mate.
"It was a very hard fought win, we had to win the physical battle before the football could take over.
"The class won through in the end and Akos Buzsaky was brilliant.
"I don't know if he is ever going to score a rubbish goal. He only ever seems to score world class goals every time." Ealing Gazette

-
[The sadly now-defunct Watford fan site, Blind Stupid and Desperate wrote three positive profiles of Gavin Mahon (in 2003; another in 2005 and a third in 2006).


QPR OFFICIAL SITE EXCLUSIVE: MAHON MOVES IN
Midfield general Gavin Mahon has joined Queens Park Rangers on an emergency loan deal from Watford, with a view to a permanent transfer.
The midfielder, who is in line to make his R's debut against Leicester City tomorrow (Tuesday), was an interested spectator in the Vicarage Road press box on Saturday afternoon, as his new charges beat his former employers 4-2.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk before his first training session this morning, Mahon expressed his delight at the move, commenting: "It's a very exciting time to be joining this Club.
"There were four or five other Championship sides that showed an interest, but once I'd spoken to the Chairman Gianni Paladini there was never any doubt in my mind that I'd be joining Rangers. "The ambition and drive of the board and the new investors really impressed me and I'm delighted to be here."
Mahon added: "It was a surreal experience on Saturday. When QPR went ahead early on I was happy, but at the same time it was a very difficult situation to be in, having spent so many years at Watford.
"I'm a QPR player now though and I couldn't be more delighted to be here."
After learning his trade with Hereford United and Brentford, Mahon moved to Watford near the end of the ill-fated Gianluca Vialli reign at Vicarage Road.
He played an integral role in the Hornets' upturn in fortunes and was rewarded by being named Player of the Season at the end of the 2003/04 campaign.
He successfully skippered the Club to promotion in May 2006 and made 36 appearances in their one season stay in the top-flight. QPR

WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE - MAHON A RANGERS A MOVE
GAVIN Mahon will join QPR on loan with a view to making his move permanent in the January transfer window.
The Watford captain departs Vicarage Road having dropped down the pecking order in recent weeks and joins the west Londoners in a bid to revive their languishing season, where they have spent the majority of the campaign in the bottom three.
Mahon was present at the Vic on Saturday to see his new club beat the Hornets 2-4, and after the game he said his farewells to the manager, staff and players.
Watford will receive £200,000 initially for the move as Mahon is still under contract until the end of the season, and there may be a further £50,000 due on further clauses.
The former club captain skippered Watford to victory in the 2006 play-off final after moving to the Hertfordshire club following spells with Hereford United and Brentford.
Mahon will forever be remembered for his willingness to take a pay cut and his part in urging his fellow team mates to do the same during Watford's more difficult times.
Everyone at Watford Football Club would like to wish Gavin and his family well for the future. Watford


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - Mahon Profiled
A solid and reliable midfielder, Gavin Mahon began his professional career at Hereford United, for whom he made 50-plus appearances.
Mahon earned a transfer to Brentford, for a fee of £50,000, in November 1998 and it was at Griffin Park that he firmly established himself in the professional game.
After making 150-plus starts for the Bees, the no-nonsense midfielder moved to Watford near the end of the ill-fated Gianluca Vialli reign at Vicarage Road.
Mahon played an integral role in the Hornets' upturn in fortunes and was rewarded by being named Player of the Season at the end of the 2003/04 campaign.
He successfully skippered the Club to promotion in May 2006 and made 36 appearances in their one season stay in the top-flight. QPR

See Also Mahon/Wikipedia

-
Seems that Baidoo will be returning home

Kent Online - Gillingham FC - Stimson all set to re-shape squad
by by Luke Cawdell
GILLINGHAM manager Mark Stimson plans to make big changes to his squad when the transfer window opens again this week.
Stimson has already targeted a number of players but knows he has to shift just as many out as he brings in, to balance the books.
“We need to bring three or four players into the club to help us enjoy the second half of the season and that’s what we’ll be trying to do,” he said.
“You want to try and trim the squad and have about 22 players and then with that 22 you would be carrying three or four young players.
“We are overloaded at the moment with players and I’m sure in the next few weeks some might leave and some might come in.”
Four players, Adam Miller, John Nutter, Dennis Oli and Stuart Thurgood will become permanent Gillingham players on Tuesday when their loan deals expire, while Shabazz Baidoo is expected to return to QPR, after failing to make an impression during his loan spell.
That will allow Stimson to enter the loan market once more and his top transfer target will be a central defender and a striker...
Moving players out could be Stimson’s biggest hurdle as he looks to free up some of his wage bill. Among those not featuring in Stimson’s current plans have been striker Dave Graham, midfielders Steve Lomas, Aaron Brown and Marvin Hamilton. Kelvin Jack will also be looking to end a miserable spell at the club when the transfer window opens.
As yet though the only offer Stimson has received has been for teenage star Luke Freeman.
“I’m sure in the next week to 10 days he’ll be making a decision and then the two clubs can get together and thrash out a deal,” said Stimson.
Leroy Griffiths, who netted Gills’ third goal on Saturday, is hopeful of winning a contract but Stimson has yet to make up his mind on the striker.
He said: “Leroy brings a lot to the place. He brings banter, a buzz and he’s a great character. When he scored that goal the smile on his face and his happiness is a pleasure to see. He hasn’t done himself any harm.” Kent Online

-
On December 31, 2007, QPR have 27 points from 25 games.

On December 31, 2006, QPR had 27 points from 26 games.

On December 31, 2005, QPR had 32 points from 26 games
(35 points after 27 games)

On December 31, 2004, QPR had 33 point from 26 games
(34 points after 27 games)


League Table Today December 31, 2007
West Brom 25 47
Watford 25 44
Bristol Cty 25 44
Stoke 25 42
Charlton 25 40
Plymouth 25 38
Crystal Pal 25 37
Hull 25 37
Ipswich 25 36
Wolves 25 36
Burnley 25 34
Cardiff 25 33
Barnsley 25 33
Southampton 25 33
Coventry 24 32
Sheff Utd 21 31
Blackpool 25 30
Leicester 25 27
QPR 25 27
Norwich 25 27
Scunthorpe 25 26
Sheff Wed 24 25
Preston 25 24
Colchester 25 22
BBC


League Table, One Year Ago -December 30, 2006
Birmingham 26 53
Preston 26 47
Derby 26 47
Southampton 26 44
West Brom 26 43
Colchester 26 43
Stoke 26 43
Cardiff 26 42
Sheff Wed 26 40
Wolves 26 39
Burnley 26 37
Sunderland 26 37
Plymouth 26 35
Coventry 26 34
Norwich 26 34
Ipswich 26 32
Leicester 26 32
Crystl Pal 26 31
Luton 26 30
QPR 26 27
Barnsley 26 26
Hull 26 24
Leeds 26 21
Southend 26 18


League Table, Two Years Ago - December 30, 2005
Reading 26 65
Sheff Utd 26 56??
Leeds 25 45
Watford 26 43
Crystl Pl 24 38
Wolves 26 38
Burnley 26 38
Luton 26 38
Stoke 26 37
Preston 25 35
Cardiff 26 35
Norwich 26 35
QPR 26 32
Southmptn 25 31
Hull 26 30
Coventry 26 29
Ipswich 26 29
Derby 26 28
Plymouth 24 27
Leicester 25 26
Brighton 26 25
Crewe 26 22
Sheff Wed 26 21
Millwall 26 19

- UPDATED: 2:00 PM

[NB: The Daily Mail also reports that Amoz Buzsaky has signed a 2 1/2 year deal]. Regarding the Luton goalie supposedly wanted by QPR: Luton Profile of Dean Brill and Wikipedia profile


SPORTING LIFE - MURPHY WANTS TO STAY
By Damian Spellman, PA Sport
Sunderland striker Daryl Murphy is happy to fight for his place on Wearside but admits his future is up in the air.
The 24-year-old Republic of Ireland international has been linked with a move away from the Stadium of Light during the January transfer window with Coca-Cola Championship strugglers QPR said to be hot on his trail.
Murphy contributed the nerve-settling third goal to his side's priceless 3-1 win over Bolton on Saturday after coming off the bench.
He later revealed he wants to stay at the club, but knows his situation could change over the next few weeks.
Asked if he is looking for a move away, Murphy said: "Not at all.
"I'm a Sunderland player and I have got a good few years on my contract here. But we will have to wait and see.
"Right now, I just want to enjoy the goal and a big win for the team."
Murphy was signed by former boss Mick McCarthy from Waterford for £125,000 in June 2005 and later handed a long-term contract which ties him to the club until 2011. He has started six Barclays Premier League games this season and appeared in as many more as a substitute.
However, he has been played as a wide midfielder at times and Saturday's injury-time strike was his first goal of the season....
Murphy said: "We have got to learn how to kill teams off.
"We were 2-0 up and cruising really, but conceded a bad goal and Bolton put us under a lot of pressure.
"We did not really do ourselves any favours in the second half.
It was always going to be a battle and there were spells in the second half when it was 100mph.
"It would have been nice if the third goal had come sooner, but I am pleased we got it and delighted I am playing a part.
"Obviously, I would like a run of games, but that is down to the manager." Sporting Life


Mirror - A cheap Brill for Rangers
THE JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW OPENS TONIGHT.. HERE'S MIRROR SPORT'S GUIDE TO WHO YOUR TEAM WANTS TO BUY
Big-SPENDING QPR are trying to sign keeper Dean Brill from cash-strapped Luton - and want to do a deal with their administrators this week.
Rangers are keen on highly-rated Brill (above), but want him on the cheap as the Kenilworth Road crisis club try to slash their debts.
Hungarian playmaker Akos Buzsaky, 25, has penned a £500,000 two-and-a-half-year deal to become QPR's first permanent signing of their mega-rich F1 regime, having been on loan from Plymouth.
With motor - racing moguls Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore now the top men at Loftus Road, and steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal adding extra financial muscle, many new faces are set to join in the next month.
Manchester United starlet Kieran Lee has joined on loan and buys in are expected to include Watford's Gavin Mahon and Fitz Hall from Wigan. Mirror

This is London/Mail
Aidy's warning to big-spending Rangers as they line up Connolly, Ephraim and Buzsaky
Queens Park Rangers have been warned that spending millions of pounds on new players during the transfer window will not guarantee them success.
The club will today agree their fifth deal in four days and sources suggest that number could double by the end of next month.
Midfielder Gavin Mahon is set for a £300,000 move from Watford as Rangers manager Luigi De Canio begins a spending spree backed by mega-rich investors the Mittal family, Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.
Rangers also have agreed to sign Arsenal centre half Matt Connolly for £1million, winger Hogan Ephraim from West Ham for £800,000 and Plymouth midfielder Akos Buzsaky for £500,000.
Manchester United right-back Kieran Lee has joined on a six-month loan deal while other targets include the Birmingham pair Martin Taylor and Rowan Vine, Wigan centre-back Fitz Hall and Argentina-based midfielder Sebastian Rusculleda.
But Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd, whose side were beaten 4-2 by Rangers on Saturday, insists money cannot guarantee success in the Championship.
He said: "I don't envy the money QPR have come into. But it can sometimes cause as many problems as it solves."
Charlton also want to add to their squad with Peterborough's Aaron McLean among their targets. This is London

Sky Sport/Peter O'Rourke - Hall Fitz bill for Rangers
Rangers hope to beat Black Cats to defender
Skysports.com understands Queens Park Rangers are in talks with Wigan defender Fitz Hall.
Big-spending Rangers are believed to have had a bid accepted by Wigan for the giant defender.
Rangers boss Luigi de Canio is eager to bolster his squad in the January transfer window and has made defensive reinforcements his top priority.
Hall has fallen down the pecking order at Wigan this season and has made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League this term.
Sunderland are also interested in the former Crystal Palace ace, but QPR are hoping to steal a march on their rivals by tying up a move in the next few days. Sky

-
UPDATED 11:30 AM

Alternatively,you have the Watford perspective!

Harrow Times/Simon Mail - DeMerit baffled by defeat
JAY DEMERIT described the team's performance at the start of the match on Saturday as "fantastic" despite Watford going on to lose 4-2 at home to QPR.
The Hornets were 3-0 down at half-time and goals from Damien Francis and Danny Shittu could not prevent another defeat at Vicarage Road. The reverse leaves Watford without a win at home for seven matches dating back to October 20.
But the Watford skipper said: "I felt for the first 20 minutes we were fantastic. I don't think they even got in our half. When they did they got a penalty and had the advantage. And unfortunately for us we found ourselves again in that situation where we are down.
At the moment we are finding it hard to come back from those. It's disappointing but there is obviously a long season left to play.
"It was funny. You look at that, we lost 4-2, but we totally dominated the game. They scored their four goals in their first five shots. We bombarded them and created all the chances but they scored the goals. But that's football sometimes.
"Sometimes balls don't bounce your way, and things like that happen. It was kind of an eerie feeling, it's not like we came in and had been played off the park. It was exactly the opposite..." Harrow Times


MIRROR/Ann Gripper - -Rangers grab a great win.. and a rollocking!
BOSS DE CANIO FAR FROM HAPPY Watford 2 QPR 4
Luigi De Canio gave his triumphant Rangers side a telling-off despite seeing them run out convincing winners against promotion contenders Watford.
Rangers may still be in a relegation fight but the investment from Formula One gurus Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, plus the involvement of billionaire steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, means Rangers have their sights set high.
A flood of new arrivals is expected when the January transfer window opens tomorrow, but De Canio gets results with his current squad. They have now collected 11 points from their last six games.
Rangers stunned Watford by taking a 12th-minute lead from the penalty spot, Martin Rowlands converting after Jordan Stewart felled Dexter Blackstock.
Damion Stewart's header made it two and Rowlands added a third on 40 minutes.
Damien Francis' closerange finish got Watford back in the game seven minutes after the break but substitute Akos Buszaky - on loan from Plymouth but set to officially join in a £500,000 deal in the window - soon replied.
Danny Shittu grabbed a second for Watford six minutes from time but it was scant consolation to a Vicarage Road crowd who have not seen their team win at home since October 20. Rangers have had more than their share of problems this season but now the future looks bright - and Buszaky revealed the demands De Canio is making on his squad.
He said: "The gaffer was a little bit upset afterwards because of the second half.
We lost the second half 2-1 and he doesn't want to concede goals like we did.
"He's a perfectionist. Never satisfied. After the 2-1 defeat at Plymouth he said: 'Well done boys, you did everything to win the game'. Today we won 4-2 against the No.1 team in the Championship and he was upset. We were all surprised. But we do need to learn from our mistakes.
"The players in the squad have the quality and if we keep learning, QPR won't be at the bottom for long.
"The owners have the financial power that makes us really optimistic. But we, the players, have to put the performances in on the pitch."
If any of the other teams at the top of the Championship had shown consistency, Watford would be in a lot more trouble than they are.
As it is, their away form has kept them in the automatic promotion spots, Yes, Rangers scored with almost every chance and had luck on their side in defence, but Watford never looked like a side bidding for a return to the Premier League.
Hornets boss Aidy Boothroyd said: "Obviously we need some additions and the money is there. But I don't think you need to throw the baby out with the bathwater - there's a lot of good things." Mirror


GUARDIAN/Sachin Nakrani De Canio's Rangers revival evokes Mourinho effect
The fans who filled the away end here on Saturday will grimace at the thought but it can no longer be ignored: Queens Park Rangers are the new Chelsea. Geography has linked the west London rivals for generations but now there are other distinctive similarities, notably wealthy ownership and an ambitious foreign manager.
Luigi De Canio has yet to refer to himself as the "Special One" but, judging by the players' assessment of the QPR manager, the Italian certainly has a Jose Mourinho-like quality about him. "He's a perfectionist and he's never satisfied. Today we won 4-2 against one of the top sides in the Championship and he was upset," Akos Buzsaky said. "The gaffer was unhappy that we had lost the second half 2-1."
It is too early to tell if De Canio can affect QPR in the way Mourinho did Chelsea but the signs are encouraging and, as Buzsaky suggests, the man brought in by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore in October to help revolutionise the club will certainly try to instil ambition and drive into his players.
Those qualities were on show at Watford where QPR secured the most impressive result of De Canio's 13 matches in charge. Against the second-placed side in the division the visitors' attacking ruthlessness brought them a deserved 3-0 lead at half-time. Damien Francis's goal early in the second half raised the possibility of a comeback but that was eventually snuffed out by Buzsaky's effort on 80 minutes.
It was the Hungarian's sixth goal since he signed on a two-month loan deal from Plymouth Argyle. That contract expires tomorrow but the 25-year-old has seen enough promise at QPR, especially after the steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal said he too was investing in the club, to commit his future to them. "I'm on loan until January 1 but then I'm staying here. I've signed a 2½-year contract," said Buzsaky, who signed for Porto in 2001 when Mourinho was the manager there.
QPR now sit 19th in the Championship, a long way from Watford who, after a seventh home league game without a win, are on the slide. The manager, Aidy Boothroyd, is trying to quell talk of a crisis but the captain, Jay DeMerit, admits the club's hopes of going straight back into the Premier League are fragile. "We are a little bit nervous at home - it feels as though there is more pressure," he said. "A team that is near the top of the table should be winning at home. Our jobs aren't safe; we have to play well in order to keep them."
Watford's next home match is on Saturday against Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup. QPR also play a Cup tie that day. Their opponents? Chelsea.
Man of the match Martin Rowlands (Queens Park Rangers) Guardian


INDEPENDENT/Paul Newman
Watford 2 Queen's Park Rangers 4: Boothroyd unfazed by 'schoolboy' homework
Aidy Boothroyd's team had just suffered a fifth defeat in their last seven home matches in the Championship, but the Watford manager refused to be downcast. "The fact that we're second to top and have this abysmal home form is a big blessing," he said after Saturday's reverse at Vicarage Road. "I just thank God for our away form."
Indeed, Boothroyd took this performance as evidence that his team have not developed a psychological problem about playing in front of their own fans. Watford attacked with verve throughout, only to be hit regularly on the break. Boothroyd's assessment that the three first-half goals conceded were down to "schoolboy errors" did not do justice to Queen's Park Rangers' slick passing and movement, but there was little to fault about Watford's attacking.
Boothroyd has money to spend in the transfer window but will resist any temptation to make sweeping changes. "As Arsène Wenger says, sometimes you can have £100m to spend and it doesn't make a difference," he said. "I have to be very measured in my thinking for January because we obviously do need some additions to the squad, but I don't think you should throw the baby out with the bathwater.
"I always believe that results follow performances and we need to keep playing like we did in the first half, which is back to what Watford are all about. We put them on the back foot but conceded three very stupid goals. That's disappointing. If we can eradicate that, we'll win a lot more than we lose at home," Boothroyd insisted.
With just two points from the last seven home matches, Watford's form is in stark contrast to Rangers'. Luigi De Canio's men would have been on a six-game unbeaten run had they not conceded an injury-time goal at Plymouth on Boxing Day and this result took them out of the relegation zone.
For long periods here Rangers were at full stretch, but De Canio's deployment of a three-man central defence was a masterstroke and when his team broke forward their fluid passing and running created frequent scoring opportunities. Martin Rowlands, who scored twice and made the other two, epitomised their enterprising play.
Two of the first-half goals were from set pieces – a penalty after Jordan Stewart had brought down Dexter Blackstock and a Damion Stewart near-post header from a corner – but Rowlands' second finished off a lovely move through the middle of the Watford defence. Damien Francis bundled home from close range to give Watford some hope early in the second half, but Akos Buzsaky restored Rangers' lead from another Rowlands pass and Dan Shittu's goal came too late to affect the outcome.
"I think the team is playing better and better," De Canio said afterwards. "Today we took our chances, which meant the losses of concentration we sometimes have didn't cost us."
Bob Malcolm, who is on loan to QPR until tomorrow, was selected despite having been suspended by his club, Derby County, after being charged last week by police with a drink-driving offence. "Derby have suspended Bob from when he returns," De Canio said. "We haven't condemned Bob. We asked him to explain himself and his explanation satisfied us."
Goals: Rowlands (pen, 13) 0-1; Stewart (29) 0-2; Rowlands (40) 0-3; Francis (52) 1-3; Buzsaky (80) 1-4; Shittu (84) 2-4....
Independent


TELEGRAPH/STEWART JACKSON - Aidy Boothroyd laments Watford's home form
Watford (0) 2 Queens Park Rangers (3) 4
Watford's hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League are in grave danger. With results in freefall at Vicarage Road, they look bereft of ideas going forward and are suffering a severe lack of confidence.
To be turned over with relative ease by a Queens Park Rangers side working their way up from the bottom of the table was their most damning defeat yet in a run of seven home games without a win.
Aidy Boothroyd's side need to turn a corner soon. And with top scorer Marlon King rumoured to be Premier League-bound once the transfer window opens, things might get worse before they get better. If another team joins West Brom in putting a run of form together, Watford could be left behind, as Boothroyd admitted.
"People are where they are in the league for a reason at this point," he said. "And one thing's for sure: to be second with our abysmal home form is a big plus. If we don't get our home form sorted then we won't be here for much longer."
Psychologically there is clearly a problem among the Watford players, however much the manager denies it. But more tellingly, Boothroyd's dogged refusal to stray from his beloved percentage football means that every team visiting Vicarage Road knows exactly what to expect. There are a number of talented attacking players but, crucially, there are no surprises.

"Coming in at half-time," Boothroyd said, "statistically that's as well as we've started for a very long time. We dominated for long periods in the first half and end up coming in 3-0 down." What does that tell you? Of course the home team dominates - they generally do. The headline statistic is the scoreline.

For all Watford's alleged "dominance", the closest they came to scoring in the first half was a Lee Williamson pot-shot that hit the post. When they did break their duck they had a fortuitous own-goal to thank. This was not exactly a lucky 4-2 win for QPR.

By contrast, Luigi de Canio's players oozed confidence, hunger and no little flair. But the Italian was, apparently, unhappy that Rangers 'lost' the second half. Akos Buzsaky, who rounded off the victory with his sixth goal of the season, said: "The gaffer was a little bit upset afterwards because we lost the second half 2-1. We had won 4-2 so the players were surprised. He's a perfectionist and he's never satisfied."

He must have come close to satisfaction with the first-half performance, however. Rangers took the lead through a Martin Rowlands penalty after Jordan Stewart had clumsily collided with Dexter Blackstock.
The lead was doubled when Damion Stewart lost his marker at a corner to head home and, just to prove Rangers could score a pretty goal, too, Rowlands rounded off an incisive move to give them an unassailable lead.
Watford clawed one back when Zesh Rehman fired a clearance straight into goalkeeper Lee Camp, but Dan Shittu's late strike was a mere consolation as QPR had four by then.
De Canio and Boothroyd both confirmed they would be strengthening their squads in the transfer window. For one manager, the shake-up is rather more urgent. Telegraph

DAILY MAIL/Phil Gradwell - FootballWatford boss Aidy won't plunge through transfer window Watford 2 QPR 4
Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd says he will not be rushed into wholesale changes after his side were booed off at Vicarage Road.
They have not won at home for seven games but Boothroyd insists he will stay calm in the transfer window.
"I've got to be be very measured in my thinking for January because we do need some additions to the squad but I don't intend throwing the baby out with the bath water," he said.
"I've always been supported by the board and we do need to make one or two changes, I know for definite that money is available."
QPR, who included on-loan defender Bob Malcolm even though he was suspended by parent club Derby after being charged with drink driving, lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with this win.
Watford endured a nightmare first half in which QPR took a 3-0 lead with two goals from Martin Rowlands - the first a penalty - and one from Damion Stewart.
They pulled one back just after half-time when Zesh Rehman's clearance cannoned in off Damien Francis. Akos Buzsaky scored a fourth for Rangers before Danny Shittu scored late on for Watford.
Boothroyd could be forgiven for casting an envious glance at his opposite number Luigi De Canio, who will have plenty of money at his disposal thanks to owners Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and Lakshmi Mittal.
According to Buzsaky, who has just signed a two-and-a-half-year deal, there is a belief at Loftus Road that Briatore, Ecclestone and Mittal can move the club forward and bring in new faces.
He said: "The owners have the financial power to make us really optimistic. But we are the players who have to put the performances in on the pitch.
"I don't know who's going to come in but of course we've heard a few players are coming here. We need a few players." Daily Mail

Also: Earlier compilation II of Reports and Comments of QPR's Win at Watford

- Compilation I of Reports and Comments of QPR's Win at Watford

-
Note: Article and Translation provided by a very kind poster from Sweden

Dagens Nyheter
Indisk mångmiljardär ska se till att Chelsea får konkurrens

Med den fetaste plånbok fotbollsvärlden skådat löste Roman Abramovitj 2003 Chelseas miljardskuld och köpte ihop ett lag som vann Premier League två år på raken. Men nu får ryssen konkurrens. Den indiske stålmagnaten Lakshmi Mittal, världens femte rikaste person, köpte dagarna före jul in sig lokalrivalen Queen's Park Rangers.

Lakshmi Mittal.

Rangers hemmaplan Loftus Road ligger bara en halvmil från Stamford Bridge.

Man kan se Mittals köp som en ren produktplacering. QPR har egentligen allt som krävs för att bygga ett framgångsrikt fotbollsföretag. Varumärket är fortfarande starkt, trots att laget sladdar i andradivisionen. Laget har kultstämpel. Geografin är perfekt, arenan Loftus Road ligger endast tre tunnelbanestationer från kändistäta Notting Hill Gate, där bland annat Madonna bor, och sex stationer utmed Central Line från Oxford Street.

Att ingen köpt upp den ekonomiskt anfrätta klubben tidigare framstår som en gåta med tanke på de dolda värden klubben har.

Det var först i höstas som något hände. Formel 1-profilerna Bernie Ecclestone och Flavio Briatore tog över klubben för cirka 200 miljoner. Runt 14 miljoner för aktierna och resten för att lösa klubbens skuldbörda. Dessutom lade Ecclestone och Briatore 65 miljoner kronor i klubbens kassa.

QPR:s publicitetsvärde ökade omedelbart i och med att Briatore såg till att förra flickvännen, modellen Naomi Campbell, började gå på matcherna.

Ecclestone å sin sida hade tidigare gjort affärer med Lakshmi Mittal. Han sålde för två år sedan sitt hus i Kensington till Mittal för osannolika 70 miljoner pund (drygt 900 miljoner kronor), vilket är världsrekord för ett hus.

Nu övertalade han sin vän att på nytt göra affär. Men det blev betydligt billigare den här gången.

57-årige Mittal ligger på femte plats på amerikanska affärsmagasinet Forbes lista över världens rikaste. Han uppskattade förmögenhet är cirka 250 miljarder kronor, vilket är nästan dubbelt så mycket som Roman Abramovitjs samlade tillgångar.

Enligt uppgift betalade han motsvarande 21 miljoner kronor för 20 procent av aktiekapitalet i QPR.

Utöver själva köpet ska Mittal också ha placerat en okänd summa på klubbens konto. Sannolikt för att underlätta för spelarinköp.

Målsättningen är klar: QPR, just nu på nittonde plats The Championship, ska snabbt tillbaka till Premier League.

Svärsonen Amit Bhatia tar plats i Rangers styrelse.

Han är väl medveten om att svärfar inte snålar när han väl bestämt sig för att satsa. När Amit gifte sig med sin Vanisha kostade bröllopet 385 miljoner kronor. Då ingick bland annat ett framträdande av Kylie Minouge.

Queen's PR förde fram till slutet av 60-talet förde en tynande tillvaro i skuggan av lokalkonkurrenterna Chelsea, Fulham och Brentford. Men triumfen i Ligacupen 1967, som division tre-lag, blev starten till något nytt. Efter en misslyckad debutsäsong i högsta serien 1968-69 var man tillbaka på allvar 1973-74. Tre år senare var QPR ligatvåa efter ett stjärnspäckat Liverpool.

1982 spelade man FA-cupfinal mot Tottenham, förlorade efter omspel. Och vid två tillfällen i början av 90-talet var QPR faktiskt bästa Londonlag i Premier League. 1992-93 slutade man femma.

Men klubben missköttes och när QPR åkte ur Premier League 1996 rasade ekonomin. Spiken i kistan var köpet av Vinnie Jones två år senare. Han kostade en miljon pund och försvann snabbt som en avlöning till Hollywood och en framgångsrik skådespelarkarriär.

Under en period administrerades klubben av en konkursförvaltare.

Italienaren Gianni Paladini dök några år senare upp som ny ägare. Hans år vid makten präglades av total oreda. Kulmen nåddes för två år sedan då han pistolhotades inne i styrelserummet av en av klubbdirektörerna och polis fick tillkallas.

Nu blåser förändringens vindar. Plågade hemmafans vädrar en ny storhetstid. På måndag öppnar transferfönstret.

Anders Lundqvist, anders.lundqvist@dn.se
Report

APPROXIMATE TRANSLATION

Headline: "Indian multibillionaire wants some competition for Chelsea"

Article:
"With the fattest wallet the world of football has seen Roman Abramovitj bought Chelsea and cleared their debts in 2003, he then bought a team that won the premiership two years in a row. But now the russian gets some competition. The indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, the world's fifth richest person, bought into local rivals Queen's Park Rangers the days before Christmas."

"Rangers stadium Loftus Road is only 5 kilometers from Stamford Bridge. You can see Mittals buy as a proper product placement. QPR really has everything to build a strong and successfull football business. The trademark is still strong, eventhough they are at the bottom of the second division. The club is cult/has a cult following. The geography is perfect, the stadium Loftus Road is only 3 underground stations from celebrity area Notting Hill Gate, where for example Madonna resides, and six underground stations along the Central Line from Oxford Street.

That no one has bought the economically almost bankrupt club earlier is a mystery, considering the hidden values in the club.

It was first earlier this autumn that something happened. Formula 1 profiles Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore took the club over for about 200 million swedish kronor. Around 14 million for the shares and the rest to get rid of the clubs debts. On top of that Ecclestone and Briatore put 65 million more into the club (ed. 1 british pound is about 13.7 swedish kronor).

The newsworthiness of the club went up at once with Briatore bringing his ex-girlfriend and super model Naomi Campbell to the matches.

Ecclestone, on his part, had earlier made business with Lakshmi Mittal. Two years ago he sold his house in Kensington to Mittal for unbelievable 70 million pounds (more than 900 million kronor), which is world record for a house.

Now he convinced his friend to do business again. This time it was much cheaper for Mittal.

57-year old Mittal is 5th on Forbes magazines list of the worlds richest. His fortune is about 250 billion kronor, which is almost twice as much as Roman Abramovitj has.

According to our sources he now payed 21 million kronor for 20% in QPR. On top of this he supposed to have invested an unknown sum into the club. Presumably to make it easier to buy some players.

The goal is clear: QPR, now placed 19th in the Championship, are going to get back to the Premier league.

Son in law Amit Bhatia takes a seat on the Rangers board. He is well aware of his father in laws spending habits, when he has set his mind to something. When Amit married his Vanisha the cost was 385 million kronor and among other thing there was a performance by Kylie Minouge.

Queen's PR had an anonomys existence until the late 60-ies in the shadow of local competitors Chelsea, Fulham and Brentford. But the triumph in the League cup in 1967, as a 3rd division team, was the start of something new. After failing as debutants in the highest league 1968-69, they were back for real in 73-74. Three years later QPR were second only to Liverpool who had a team of stars.

1982 they played the FA-cup final agianst Tottenham, they lost after replay. And twice in the early 90-ies they were in fact the top London club. 1992-93 they finished 5th in the Premier league.

But the club was mismanaged and whe QPR were relegated in 1996 the economy broke down. The nail in the coffin was the buy of Vinnie Jones two years later. He cost one million pound and disappeared fast as a wage/pay (/payday?) to Hollywood for a successfull acting career.

During one point in time the club was in administration. The italian Gianni Paladini came on as a new owner a couple of years later. His years in power was chaos. Two years ago he was threatend by gunpoint by one of the club directors, police had to be called in.

Now the winds of change are blowing. Hard done by home fans are now waiting for a new era of success. On monday the transfer window opens.

Article by: Anders Lundqvist"

Thanks again to my Swedish contributor!

-
Rumours about QPR signing an Argentinean have been hinted at on the QPR messageboards over the past couple of weeks.

SPORTING LIFE - RUSCULLEDA SET FOR HOOPS SWITCH
QPR are on the verge of signing Argentinian midfielder Sebastian Rusculleda, according to the player's agent.
Rangers boss Luigi De Canio is planning a January spending spree with the cash promised from the recent investment of the billionaire Mittal family.
And agent Norberto Arismendi claims 22-year-old Rusculleda, who currently plays for Argentine club Tigre, is set to be among the first new faces through the entrance doors at Loftus Road.
"We will meet QPR officials and set a financial agreement," Arismendi told Clarin newspaper.
"We will also meet the Tigre officials soon to negotiate his departure. I don't think there will be any problems as they are good people and they gave Sebastian the opportunity to play and prove himself." Sporting Life

-
Next: It's Ian Holloway's Leicester at Loftus Road, New Years Day, with another QPR victory certainly not out of the question! (If QPR do win, it will be only the second time this season that they have won two consecutive games.) On Saturday, Leicester were leading at home to Charlton, only to concede another late goal - sounds familiar! Leicester ending up in a 1-1 draw.

Leicester are currently once place above QPR with the same number of points, but Leicester have the superior goal difference. Leicester's Away record is: 2 wins - 7 draws - 3 defeats. Scored 11; conceded 13. (QPR's home record is 3 wins - 4 draws - 5defeats. Scored 9. Conceded 14.) See also Leicester Results this season and Leicester's Squad
This is Local London/Simon Mail - Buszaky looks to Leicester
AKOS Buzsaky quickly turned his attention to the crucial match with Leicester after his goal helped QPR beat Watford 4-2.
The Hungarian came off the bench to hit Rangers' last goal in the win yesterday but claims the match on New Year's Day against the Foxes is more important.
He was surprisingly rested for the clash but still managed to hit his sixth goal of the season for the club in the victory.
Buzsaky said: "The manager told me I was being rested because the Leicester game is very important. I was just happy to see the team get the win.
"The problem we have had is against teams around us. So we have to win the Leicester match to prove we are better than our current league position." This is Local London

Ian Holloway - Leicester Official Site
Ian Holloway said he couldn't have asked for anymore from his players following the 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday.
The Foxes had gone into the game looking to record back-to-back home wins for the first time since August 2006.
And it had looked a distinct possibility when they took the lead in the 78th minute - Stephen Clemence heading home a Matty Fryatt cross.
But a last minute goal from former City defender Paddy McCarthy meant that it was honours even on the day - leaving Holloway to reflect on what might have been.
He said: "I think that was a brilliant performance against one of the so called big teams in this division. I thought that we were terrific in the second half.
"We were a little bit nervous in the first half. We have got a couple of young gentlemen out there who need a little bit more confidence, but in the end I couldn't have asked for anymore than they gave me.
"We were just one header and one punch from getting a fantastic double victory.
"There is a transition of play when you defend and when you attack. We got that slightly wrong at the end and that cost us.
"We have got to learn how to shut up shop and get what we deserve.
"We got rocked early on and we had to bring on two relatively inexperienced lads. That knocked us a little bit because it ruined our balance.
"People have to remember that I am asking players to play out of position because of the injuries and the suspensions that we have actually got.
"One or two things were said at half time and I thought that the response I got was terrific. We have actually taken the game to Charlton and in the end we were desperately unlucky not to have got all three points.
"We have been beaten by an overhead kick from a centre half that used to play here. How many times is he ever going to do that again? It's really frustrating and the tide has got to turn.
"If we could have got three points again today then that would have made a big difference to us, but I can't ask for anymore than what the players have given me over the last three games. They have worked their socks off." Leicester

-
SUNDAY TIMES/Richard Lewis - Woe for Watford Watford 2 QPR 4
He is 13 matches into his reign at Queens Park Rangers and Luigi De Canio is fast proving that Italians who do not speak English are capable of translating their ideas. QPR made it three wins from five games with a superb victory against a Watford team who look a shadow of the side that was set for Championship domination.
At the end of October, when De Canio took over as manager, the mission statement was straightforward: ensure survival. The team was bottom of the table and heading in only one direction. The prospect of outclassing leaders Watford was probably a distant hope, such had been the start that Aidy Boothroyd’s team made to the season.
Watford, relegated from the Premier League last season, were eight points clear at the top and primed for an instant return to the top flight. How times change. Watford were a jumble of confusion yesterday as QPR took them apart in the first half.
Having not won at home since October 20, and with leading scorer Marlon King relegated to the bench, strikers Darius Henderson and Nathan Ellington were making no impression. The fact that Watford have an outstanding away record of eight victories fails to mirror what is happening at Vicarage Road. Beforehand Boothroyd said Rangers would arrive here fancying their chances, and how right he was.
They played with ease as Watford toiled with the type of pressure that arises after six matches without winning at home. By half-time, make that seven, after an extraordinary 45 minutes where QPR showed just how revitalised they are.
QPR took the lead in the 13th minute after Jordan Stewart, the Watford left-back, brought down Dexter Blackstock in the area. Stewart did not even receive a yellow card for a foul that might have brought a red, but from the penalty, Martin Rowlands sent Richard Lee the wrong way.
Watford did little to show much intent and in the 29th minute QPR increased their lead. Rowlands fired in a corner from the left, which centre-half Damion Stewart met with a superb header to score.
QPR were hardly playing with the concerns of a team in trouble and they moved 3-0 in front in the 39th minute as Rowlands found space inside the left edge of the area to score with a low shot that gave Lee no chance.
At the break, Watford’s players left the pitch to boos and jeers from fans and Boothroyd responded by replacing centre-half Matt Jackson with Danny Shittu. Indeed, whatever Boothroyd had said at the break breathed fresh life into his side and within seven minutes they had scored. An outswinging corner from the right by Lee Williamson eventually made it over the line. Though Francis was credited with it, the ball seemed to have hit goalkeeper Lee Camp as his defender Damion Stewart tried to clear.
Watford were back, not that they were anywhere near showing signs of salvaging much from this match. Camp was forced to make a fine save to turn away shot from Francis but nine minutes from time Rangers moved further in front when Rowlands found Arkos Buzsaky, who took his time to score from inside the six-yard box.
Watford snatched a second as Shittu fired home from close range, yet Boothroyd was left once more wondering just what has gone wrong with his side.
Star man: Martin Rowlands (QPR)
Player ratings. Watford: Lee 5, Doyley 5 (O’Toole 79min), Demerit 4, Jackson 4 (Shittu ht, 5), Stewart 5, Smith 5, Williamson 5, Francis 5, McAnuff 5, Henderson 4, Ellington 5 (King 68min)
QPR: Camp 6, Barker 6, Rehman 6, Stewart 6, Malcolm 6, Bolder 7, Rowlands 8, Ainsworth 6 (Vine 64min), Balanta 7 (Buzsaky 73min), Nygaard 7 (Walton 90min), Blackstock 6
Scorers: Watford: Francis 52, Shittu 84
QPR: Rowlands 13 pen, 40, Stewart 29, Buzsaky 80
Referee: C Foy Attendance: 18,698 The Times


INDEPENDENT/Paul Newman - Watford 2 QPR 4: Rampaging Rowlands puts the skids under Watford
They say the table never lies, but the Championship chart was looking conspicuously economical with the truth last night. This match featured teams which began the day in second and 23rd places and it ended with the promotion contenders suffering an embarrassing defeat.
For Watford it was an all too familiar story. Since mid-October they have lost five and drawn two matches at Vicarage Road and early hopes that Aidy Boothroyd's team could make an immediate return to the Premier League are looking over-optimistic. Were it not for their away displays, this would surely be relegation form.
Rangers provide a mirror image. Their place among the strugglers is hardly a fair reflection of their form, a four-match unbeaten run having been ended on Boxing Day only by Plymouth's injury-time winner. The arrival of Luigi De Canio as first-team coach two months ago has transformed their fortunes. The Italian believes in adapting tactics and formations to the opposition and his game plan here worked a treat. Bob Malcolm, Damion Stewart and Zesh Rehman formed a three-man defence and with Gareth Ainsworth and Chris Barker as wing backs Rangers took full advantage of their superior numbers in midfield. Martin Rowlands in particular broke forward to devastating effect.
There was little wrong with Watford's play in the final third, where they regularly had the Rangers defence at full stretch, but elsewhere, in the face of such slick passing and movement, they looked cumbersome.
There had appeared little wrong, either, with Watford's confidence in the opening exchanges, but everything changed after 12 minutes when Jordan Stewart brought down Dexter Blackstock as the Rangers striker raced into the penalty area. Stewart was perhaps lucky to escape any punishment other than a penalty, which Rowlands converted.
After 28 minutes, Rangers scored again, Damion Stewart heading home Rowlands' corner at the near post. Rowlands was involved in most of Rangers' best work and the midfielder was rewarded with the best goal of the game six minutes before the break. Blackstock flicked on Adam Bolder's pass and Rowlands, breaking into the area, scored with a smart shot.
If replacing one defender, Matt Jackson, with another, Dan Shittu, smacked of rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, Boothroyd's faith in his forwards was rewarded within six minutes of the restart as Watford pulled a goal back, Damien Francis bundling the ball home after his header had caused confusion in the Rangers defence.
There could be no faulting Watford's spirit for the rest of the match, but Rangers defended well and the suspicion that they still had something up their sleeves was confirmed after 79 minutes. Watford had just taken off Lloyd Doyley and Akos Buzsaky took advantage of the space to drive home yet another telling pass by Rowlands. Shittu capitalised on a loose ball five minutes later to score but it was scant consolation.
De Canio was delighted with his team's display, while Boothroyd was happy with his team's attacking play. However the Watford manager was unhappy about the "schoolboy errors" that he felt had been his team's downfall and he will have to seek defensive reinforcements in the transfer window. Independent


The OBSERVER/Jason Tomas - Rowlands leads rout of Watford
Watford's habit of slipping up at home continued in particularly embarrassing fashion as they slumped to a 4-2 defeat against QPR. It increased their run of Vicarage Road games without a win to seven, and they have taken only two points from these fixtures.
It seems difficult to believe that Watford were nine points ahead at the top a couple of months ago. Now, following West Bromwich Albion's 5-0 demolition job on Scunthorpe, they trail the West Midlands club by three points.
The start of Watford's latest home downfall came after 13 minutes, when Jordan Stewart brought down Dexter Blackstock in the penalty area and Martin Rowlands converted the spot-kick. Damion Stewart then headed in a Rowlands corner and Rowlands scored his second goal just before half time. Damien Francis pulled one back, but Akos Buzsaky restored QPR's three-goal advantage. Watford's second goal came from Danny Shittu. QPR's win was the first time this season that they have scored more than twice and pushed them from 23rd to 19th in the table. Observer

SUNDAY MIRROR/John Gubba - HOOPS ROLL OVER HORNETS
Watford's Vicarage Road meltdown continued as the QPR revival rolled on to pile the pressure on Aidy Boothroyd's misfiring promotion chasers.
While Luigi De Canio has guided his basement battlers on a path to safety, there seems no end to the Hornets' misery in front of their home fans as their bid to return to the Premier League was dealt another blow.
Akos Buzsaky killed off Watford's hopes of a late fightback when he came off the bench to put the game out of reach. But it was man-of-the-match Martin Rowlands who was the real hero with two goals and a hand in both his side's other strikes.
It was Rowlands who set up Buzsaky to settle the contest with Rangers' fourth goal 10 minutes from time. Watford were already beaten when Danny Shittu smashed home a late consolation that reduced the embarrassment.
With just two points out of 18 in their previous six home matches, Watford clearly have issues playing at home - and the mayhem continued in a disastrous first half against Rangers.
Rowlands completed a perfect opening 45 minutes for the men from Loftus Road when he lashed home a peach of a goal to make it 3-0 at the break - his clinical finish wrapping up a slick move that carved Watford open with ease.
Full credit to Rangers for playing creative football, but the Hornets struggled to recover from conceding an early penalty that looked harsh.
Chris Foy immediately pointed to the spot when Jordan Stewart's shoulder challenge on Dexter Blackstock was deemed over-aggressive. And Rowlands put Rangers ahead when he coolly sent Richard Lee the wrong way.
Rowlands had a hand in just about everything the visitors created before the interval and his near-post corner served up the second goal for Damion Stewart to head home on 29 minutes.
Watford's woes continued with a series of misses at the end of the half, Lee Williamson hitting the post and Jobi McAnuff's vicious cross stabbed wide by Darius Henderson.
It was a different Watford that emerged after Boothroyd's half-time team talk, with Shittu replacing Matt Jackson at the back and the Hornets buzzing up front.
But Watford failed to maximise the pressure that saw them get off the mark with a 52ndminute header from Damien Francis after an attempted clearance by Zesh Rehman.
Marlon King missed a chance to reduce the arrears further when he came off the bench and blasted over before McAnuff had a shot well saved by Lee Camp.
HOW THEY RATED
WATFORD
Lee 6; Doyley 6 (O'Toole 5), De-Merit 6, Jackson 5 (Shittu 5), Stewart 6; Smith 6 Williamson 6, Francis 6, McAnuff 7; Henderson 6, Ellington 6 (King 5).
Manager Boothroyd 6
QPR
Camp 6; Malcolm 6, Stewart 7, Rehman 6, Barker 6; Ainsworth 6 (Vine 5), Bolder 7, ROWLANDS 8, Balanta 6 (Buzsaky 6); Blackstock 6, Nygaard 6 (Walton 5).
Manager De Canio 7
Referee C Foy 6
MAN OF THE MATCH MARTIN ROWLANDS Involved in everything Sunday Mirror

SUNDAY PEOPLE/Ann Gripper - No home comfort for Aidy - RANGERS PILE ON AGONY
Bob Malcolm will hope for a better defence than leaky Watford showed yesterday when he faces drink-drive charges in the new year.
The on-loan defender was suspended by Derby after being arrested on the M1 on Thursday but was included in the Rangers team which moved back out of the drop zone.
Without a home win since beating Hull on October 20, Aidy Boothroyd's problems at Vicarage Road are now far more than a blip.
Already three behind by half-time after what gaffer Boothroyd called "schoolboy" errors, Watford showed more fight after the break.
But the home side never looked like matching their Boxing Day comeback against Cardiff when they managed a late, late leveller.
Rangers boss Luigi De Canio had no doubts about sticking with Malcolm.
He said: "Derby have suspended Bob for when he returns to Derby.
"We haven't condemned Bob - we asked him to explain himself.
"We have never spoken about whether he will stay on when his loan is up - we will discuss that with the board after January 1."
De Canio, who is set to invest some of QPR's new riches in January, is delighted with the improvement he has seen in the current squad.
He said: "Today we managed to transform that extra chance we were given so those losses of attention we sometimes have didn't cost us as much as usual."
The Hornets conceded a penalty after 12 minuteswhich was converted by Martin Rowlands after Dexter Blackstock had fallen under pressure from Jordan Stewart.
And things got steadily worse as centre-half Damion Stewart glanced in a corner after 17 minutes to double the lead then Rowlands fired home from 12 yards to make it three.
Watford finally rattled Rangers at the back with Lee Williamson hitting a post before half-time.
The Hornets pulled back a goal after 52 minutes when Zesh Rehman cleared Damien Francis's header straight back to him for the midfielder to finish at the second attempt.
Substitute Marlon King went close and Rangers keeper Lee Camp saved a stinging McAnuff drive, but sub Akos Buszaky killed off Watford as he rounded Lee before firing in.
Danny Shittu pounced on a Darius Henderson knock down in the 84th minute to give the scoreline a bit more respectability but Watford had given themselves too much to do.
Despite the result, Boothroyd insisted he was pleased with his side's performance - bar the problems at the back.
He said: "There was no shouting or ranting and raving. I've never been in a position where we're 3-0 down and had to come back.
"Statistically, that's the best we've started for a long time.We dominated for long periods in the first half and came in 3-0 down because we made basic defensive errors.
"To concede two set-plays, one an error leading to a penalty and the other with somebody losing their marker, is schoolboy stuff.
"Before today I might have thought there was a psychological problem with playing at home but I don't think there is,
"The attitude, application and what we've worked on in training is all there. But it's defensive individual errors you can't legislate for."
Watford: Lee 6 - Doyley 5 (O'Toole, 80mins), DeMerit 5, Jackson 5 (Shittu, 45mins, 6), Stewart 5 - Smith 6, Williamson 6, *FRANCIS 7, McAnuff 7 - Henderson 5, Ellington 6 (King, 68mins, 6)
Qpr: Camp 7 - Malcolm 6, Stewart 7, Rehman 6, Barker 6 - Ainsworth 7 (Vine, 63mins, 6), Bolder 6, *ROWLANDS 7, Balanta 6 (Buzsaky, 73mins) - Nygaard 6 (Walton, 90mins), Blackstock 7. Ref: C Foy 6. People

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - ROWL WITH IT!
Adam Bolder heaped praise on team-mate Martin Rowlands following the midfielder's deadly double against Watford.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk at the final whistle, the R's skipper said: "Rowly was different class.
"He's performed to a consistently high level all season long and he was immense for us again today.
"It's the first time in a while that he's played in the middle of the park and he shone from the first whistle to the last."
With his tongue firmly in his cheek, Bolder added: "It obviously helps that I'm in there alongside him to do all his running, but he scored two and made two, so I've got no complaints."
Bolder also reserved special praise for the 2000-plus R's fans that made the short trip to Hertfordshire, commenting: "The fans were excellent.
"They sung their hearts out and we were just delighted to be able to celebrate with them at the final whistle.
"Derby victories mean an awful lot for the spectators, as well as the players, and we knew we had a job to do after our late defeat to Plymouth on Boxing Day." QPR

This is Local London/Kevin Affleck - Shittu makes his point
AIDY BOOTHROYD defended his decision to name Dan Shittu on the bench yesterday (Saturday).
Shittu helped Watford salvage a point against Cardiff on Boxing Day and many fans expected him to be recalled against his former club.
The mountainous defender, who has not always seen eye to eye with the manager, was eventually summoned into the action at half-time after Matt Jackson struggled to cope with two matches in three days. Jackson was beaten in the air for QPR's second goal and his ageing legs were exposed by the movement of the visiting forwards.
Shittu helped shore things up at the back and once again provided a focal point in attack, lashing home his fifth of the season to give the scoreline some respectability.
"I didn't pick him and that's my job to decide the right team to pick," countered Boothroyd. "I thought Matt Jackson's organisation might have helped. Danny has been out of sorts but then he came on and did very well."
Surprisingly, Boothroyd was not too downcast after a fifth defeat in seven home matches and does not appear to be alarmed as some fans by the manner of his side's performances.
"The attitude, application and what we have worked on in training is all there," he said. "But we expect defensive jobs to be done and they weren't." This is Local London

ALSO - EARLIER COMPILATION: "QPR's Watford Victory: Reports and Comments"

-
QPR took a 3-0 Half-time lead and ended up winning 4-2 at Watford. QPR moved out of the bottom three (and 11 points out of a playoff spot!)
BOTTOM EIGHT
Blackpool 25 30
Leicester 25 27
QPR 25 27
Norwich 25 27
Scunthorpe 25 26
Sheff Wed 23 25
Preston 25 24
Colchester 25 22
League Table

UPDATED - 9:30 PM
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS Sporting Life/PA Sport/Andy Sims - BOOTHROYD UNHAPPY WITH DEFENDING
Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd blamed his side's poor defending for prolonging their miserable home record against QPR.
Martin Rowlands - with a brace - Damion Stewart and Akos Buzsaky fired lowly Rangers to an amazing 4-2 win at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets, who were nine points clear at the top of the Championship a couple of months ago, are still without a home victory since October 20 and have slipped three points behind leaders West Brom.
But Boothroyd dismissed suggestions his side are suffering a bout of stage fright performing in front of their own fans.
"We dominated for long periods in the first half and yet ended up 3-0 down at half-time," he said.
"I was pleased with our attacking play but not some of the defending. It was schoolboy stuff."
The Hornets self-destructed in spectacular fashion from the moment Jordan Stewart upended Dexter Blackstock to concede a 13th-minute penalty which Rowlands converted.
Stewart headed his fourth goal of the season on the half hour, and Rowlands doubled his tally when he lashed the ball home from 10 yards to put Rangers three up five minutes before half-time.
Damien Francis struck from close range after the break as Boothroyd's men briefly threatened a second-half comeback.
But substitute Buzsaky stole in and rounded Richard Lee to hit a fourth for the visitors before Rangers old boy Danny Shittu's late goal completed the scoring.
"There was no ranting or raving at half-time, we just talked about what we had to do to try to get back into it," added Boothroyd.
"We got back into it and then left ourselves open.
"I don't think it's psychological. I might have done before today but the attitude and application is all there. But individual defensive errors you just can't legislate for."

[QPR's De Canio]
While Watford have won just three of their last 12 games, the future looks bright for Rangers after pocketing three more three points to climb out of the relegation zone ahead of their anticipated spree in the January sales.
But manager Luigi De Canio preferred to dwell on his current batch of players, rather than any potential raft of new signings.
"I think the team is playing better and better. Today we managed to take our chances which meant the losses of concentration we sometimes have didn't cost us," said the Italian.
"In the dressing room we only talk about our opponents, not what might happen tomorrow or in January.
"Everyone needs to do his duty, that is a sign of maturity and each one of these players has that."
De Canio sprung a surprise by sticking with on-loan defender Bob Malcolm, who was on Friday suspended by parent club Derby over a drink-drive charge.
Malcolm's spell with Rangers comes to an end on New Year's Day, when he will have to head back to Pride Park.
"Derby have suspended Bob from when he returns," added De Canio.
"We haven't condemned Bob. We asked him to explain himself and his explanation satisfied us."
Asked if he would attempt to extend the Scot's stint at Loftus Road, De Canio said: "We will discuss that after January 1." Sporting Life

QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Rangers ran riot at Vicarage Road, as goals from Martin Rowlands (2), Damion Stewart and Akos Buzsaky clinched a stunning 4-2 victory against Championship front-runners Watford.
The R's stormed into a three goal lead at the break.
Rowlands opened the scoring from the spot, before he turned provider to set up Stewart who headed home to make it two.
The outstanding Rowlands capped a cameo individual display with a third from Angelo Balanta's threaded through ball, and although a Lee Camp own goal temporarily allowed the Hornets back into the tie early in the second period, substitute Akos Buzsaky guaranteed the win eight minutes from time.
Remarkably, there was still time for R's old-boy Danny Shittu to notch a late second for the Hornets, but it was Rangers' day - and how!
R's First Team coach Luigi De Canio made wholesale changes for the trip to Vicarage Road.
Under-18 hot-shot Balanta came in for his full first team debut, while Dexter Blackstock, Marc Nygaard and Stewart all returned to the starting XI.
Rowan Vine, Buzsaky and Simon Walton all dropped to the bench, while Mikele Leigertwood was absent, at the start of his four match ban.
Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd left Marlon King out of the starting line-up, while former R's defender Shittu also had to make do with a place on the substitutes' bench.
In a frantic opening, it was Watford who spurned the first opportunity in the fourth minute.
Nathan Ellington rose unmarked at the back post to meet Jobi McAnuff's cross, but his header lacked power and direction, as it trickled past Lee Camp's left hand upright.
Despite the Hornets' fast start, it was Rangers who opened the scoring in the 13th minute, after referee Mr Foy awarded a penalty.
Balanta's fine through ball landed in front of Blackstock, who was sent crashing to ground by Jordan Stewart inside the box.
Rowlands stepped up from 12-yards and made no mistake, sending Richard Lee the wrong way, for his third goal of the campaign.
Watford should have been on level terms six minutes later though, only for Ellington to blast high and wide from eight yards out.
At the other end, Blackstock's scuffed volley was tipped wide by Lee, but there was nothing the home custodian could do to prevent the visitors from doubling their advantage from the resultant corner.
Rowlands' set-piece was flighted towards the edge of the six-yard box and Stewart rose unchallenged to glance his header in off the underside of the bar.
The home faithful were silenced, but the same could not be said for the supporters in the away end, who immediately broke into a vocal rendition of "2-0 to the Billionaires."
Lloyd Doyley was the recipient of one of the craziest bookings of the season as the half reached its conclusion.
The Hornets full-back appeared to hear a whistle as he retrieved possession inside his own half and inexplicably picked the ball up. Mr Foy had very little choice but to book the player, who was perhaps lucky to stay on the park, having thrown the ball away too.
Rangers finished the half with a flourish, as Rowlands bagged his second of the match to sensationally put the R's 3-0 up at the break.
The goal had class stamped all over it, as Adam Bolder, Nygaard and the tricky Balanta exchanged intricate passes deep inside the Watford half, before Rowlands took one touch to control the ball and then thrashed a fearsome left footed drive past the sprawling Lee.
Undeterred, the Hornets came within a lick of paint of pulling a goal back in the 43rd minute, when Lee Williamson smashed a 20-yard strike off the post, before Camp smothered the ball to safety.
Buoyed by the introduction of Shittu at the break, Watford pulled a goal back in rather bizarre circumstances in the 52nd minute.
The former R's defender rose tallest to meet McAnuff's corner and as Zesh Rehman attempted to hack the ball off the line, the unfortunate Camp saw the ball ricochet off his foot and into the back of the net.
Rowlands' performance went from strength to strength as the half progressed, with the combative midfielder leading by example alongside the ever-efficient Bolder.
De Canio made his first change of the afternoon soon after, as Vine replaced Gareth Ainsworth, whose first half head injury led to him wearing a Terry Butcher style bandage for his hour long stint.
Boothroyd responded by throwing on King, and the master poacher nearly made an immediate impact.
Darius Henderson's lay-off fell invitingly for the Watford number nine, who fired a rising shot inches over the angle of post and crossbar.
Camp was in the right place, at the right time, to deny King again in the 78th minute, before Buzsaky put the icing on the cake for the R's with a fourth goal three minutes later.
A neat passing move eventually saw the ball bounce to Rowlands, who played in the Magical Magyar.
Buzsaky's sublime close control saw him drag the ball past Lee, before he calmly slotted the ball home from an acute angle.
Shittu ensured a nervy finale when he volleyed the ball past the exposed Camp to make it 4-2, but it mattered little, as the R's clinched a handsome away victory, at the home of one of their nearest rivals.
Watford: Lee, Jackson (Shittu 46), Stewart, DeMerit, Francis, Henderson, McAnuff, Doyley (O'Toole 80), Williamson, Ellington (King 69), Smith.
Subs: Mariappa, Ainsworth.
Scorers: Camp (o.g) 52, Shittu 85
Bookings: Doyley 34, Smith 75
Red Cards:
QPR: Camp, Barker, Stewart, Bolder, Blackstock, Ainsworth (Vine 63), Rowlands, Malcolm, Rehman, Nygaard (Walton 92), Balanta (Buzsaky 74).
Subs: Cole, Moore.
Scorers: Rowlands 13 (pen) & 40, Stewart 29, Buzsaky 82
Bookings: Nygaard 44, Barker 60, Bolder 87
Red Cards:
Referee: Mr C Foy
Attendance: 18, 698
QPR

De Canio's Official Site Comments - SMILES BETTER!
Luigi De Canio praised the R's fighting spirit and determination following the 4-2 victory against high-flying Watford.
Goals from Martin Rowlands (2), Damion Stewart and Akos Buzsaky clinched a stunning win for the R's on their travels.
"I'm very proud of the players. There is still more to come from this group, but this is a significant victory," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"The result reflected the performance and that hasn't necessarily always been the case in recent weeks, when we've not had the rub of the green with some big decisions.
"We've been playing a lot better in recent weeks and this was a result we'd been threatening.
"The players are responding to what I am trying to install here and we're progressing."
De Canio also shed some light on potential new arrivals in the January transfer window, commenting: "We will be investing in new players in January.
"There are still certain areas of the side that need strengthening and we will do everything we can to bring players in that will improve the playing personnel." QPR


SPORTING LIFE/PA Sport - Andy Sims - Watford 2 QPR 4
Watford's woeful home form plumbed new depths as Martin Rowlands, Damion Stewart and Akos Buzsaky fired lowly QPR to an amazing win at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets, who were nine points clear at the top of the Championship a couple of months ago, are now without a home win since October 20.
And Adrian Boothroyd's men self-destructed again in spectacular fashion from the moment they conceded an early penalty which Rowlands converted.
Stewart headed home his fourth goal of the season on the half-hour, and Rowlands doubled his tally to put Rangers 3-0 up before half-time.
Damien Francis struck after the break as the Hornets briefly threatened a second-half comeback, but substitute Buzsaky hit a fourth for the visitors before Danny Shittu's late goal.
Watford have now won just three of their last 12 games and are in danger of slipping off the pace.
For Rangers, the future looks bright after gaining another three points ahead of their anticipated spree in the January sales.
Boothroyd opted to drop top-scorer Marlon King to the bench, while Rangers chief Luigi De Canio left out Buzsaky in favour of 17-year-old Angelo Balanta.
De Canio sprung a further surprise by sticking with on-loan defender Bob Malcolm, despite the Scot being suspended by parent club Derby over a drink-drive charge.
Watford gifted Rangers a 13th-minute lead. Nathan Ellington had come close to putting the hosts ahead with an early header, but they went behind when Balanta's fine cross-field pass sent Dexter Blackstock charging towards goal, only to be felled by Jordan Stewart in the area.
Referee Chris Foy had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Rowlands stepped up to blast the penalty past Hornets keeper Richard Lee.
The visitors struck again in the 29th minute after Blackstock's snap-shot had been palmed behind by Lee.
Stewart met Rowlands' corner with a firm header which flew past Lee and in off the underside of the crossbar.
With Watford's frustration mounting, Lloyd Doyley earned a bizarre booking when he appeared to deliberately handle the ball inside the centre-circle.
And the shellshocked hosts found themselves three down when Rowlands burst into the area and fired past the helpless Lee in the 40th minute.
Lee Williamson rattled the post as Watford staged something of a rally, but they trudged off to a chorus of boos at the interval.
The comeback looked set to begin in earnest, however, when Francis finished from close range after his initial header had been blocked on the line seven minutes into the second half.
Tommy Smith and Darius Henderson shot wide as Watford poured forward before Boothroyd threw on King.
The 10-goal striker was immediately in the thick of the action, firing narrowly over from the edge of the area.
But with Watford leaving gaps at the back, substitute Buzsaky stole in and rounded Lee before firing home an angled drive.
Rangers old boy Shittu poked in a late second for Watford but Boothroyd's jittery side were beaten. Sporting Life


WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE - AIDY CAN'T DEFEND DEFENDING
AIDY Boothroyd struggled to hide his frustration after the final whistle as his side extended their winless streak at home to seven games.
Three sucker punches in the first half from a struggling Queens Park Rangers side were enough to put the Hornets out of sight, despite a second half rally from the home team.
"Another home defeat is disappointing," said Aidy, "yet despite the result I think in many ways there were a lot of bright spots there. The stats from the first half alone say that QPR got into our half four times and scored three times.
"Massive domination for us in the first half saw us start as well as we have this season, but go on to find ourselves three nil down at half-time because we just can't defend, because we don't do the fundamentals well and we get caught out with a simple run in between the centre back and the left back; that in itself is disappointing.
Nathan Ellington
"Sometimes when you look to chase the game you can get caught out on a counter attack and that's exactly what happened and we ended up getting done, there you have it."
Boothroyd made one tactical change at half-time bringing on former Ranger Dan Shittu for Matt Jackson. The move yielded a goal from the domineering centre-back, but was the boss prepared to make more changes at the break?
"I was, yes, but I thought there was enough in there and that is was just the defensive frailties that cost us; some of our attacking play was very good in the first half and on a another day we would have scored, but we didn't.
"I think the two wide players did very well, and I couldn't say anybody had an absolute nightmare, but in the second half I had to make changes."
The Hornets remain second in the table but Boothroyd is not brushing anything under the carpet, despite the elevated position.
"We can't keep relying on everybody else, I've got some work to do, the players have got work to so and our home form has got to improve drastically." Watford

WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE
THREE first half goals from Rangers, the first from the penalty spot and all three against the run of play, gave the visitors an undeserved lead at the break.
Martin Rowlands' brace and Damion Stewart's header saw the Hornets shell-shocked and unable to recover.
Lee Camp's own goal did little to turn Watford's fortunes as a Jay DeMerit own goal at the other end with ten minutes to go killed the game off, despite Dan Shittu's consolation just minutes later. Killed off indeed in a game which Watford had strangely bossed from start to finish.
It was second top against second bottom and Aidy Boothroyd chose to make two changes to the side which shared the spoils with Cardiff City on Boxing Day.
Darius Henderson and Lee Williamson came into the starting line up at the expense of Marlon King and John Joe O'Toole.

It was Watford who had the first of the chances in front of goal. Jobi McAnuff swung the ball into the far post where Nathan Ellington was waiting, but sadly his weak effort missed the target and bobbled past the post.

Lee Williamson

There was a scare for the Hornets in the fifth minute when Ellington then went down holding his calf, but after the magic sponge had done its job, he was back in the thick of the action.

It seemed that most of the talking points were injuries as Richard Lee's low dive at the feet of Dexter Blackstock saw him grounded and with no keeper on the bench there was a tense few moments to see if he would recover.

Tommy Smith then attempted to carve out an effort with one of his stereotypical by-line runs, but the throng of QPR players occupying the box made it impossible for him to work his magic.

Rangers remained camped in their own half as one after the other, it seemed as though all of the Watford players had at least one attempt on goal.

Damien Francis' effort went straight down the middle, but wasn't placed well enough to trouble Camp.

Tommy Smith

With eleven minutes gone, the referee pointed to the spot when Dexter Blackstock was brought down in the box by Jordan Stewart. When Rowlands stepped up and sent Lee the wrong way, to say it was an injustice would be somewhat of an understatement.

Normal service was resumed from there on in as Watford returned to battering the QPR goal. Ellington blazed Williamson's ball over as he shot on the turn and then Gareth Ainsworth returned to action sporting a Terry Butcher head bandage.

Then followed a succession of shots from Watford men, Henderson, Smith, Ellington and then Francis all rained shots in on the QPR goal - how they were staying out one can only wonder.

With 29 minutes gone, Lee had his first open play work to do, palming away Blackstock's effort for a corner. From the ensuing set piece, Stewart rose to head home into the roof of the net.

Marlon King

This was a 2-0 massacre - a massacre from Watford however. They say football's a funny old game. Not so funny when you're on the receiving end.

Matt Jackson was the next to try his luck, but his header took a deflection and sailed wide for a corner. One after the other the Hornets lined up to attack Camp's goal and a combination of poor finishing and dogged defending kept the Golden Boys at bay.

With their third attack, Rangers went 3-0 up. Rowlands gathered his brace with a superb finish, shooting past Lee from just inside the box after neat build up play involving youngster Angelo Balanta and Adam Bolder.

Camp then has to go full stretch to deny Williamson from scoring from outside the area, batting his effort away for a corner.

Half time couldn't come quick enough for Watford as it looked as though they would need a serious talking to.

The major change made at the break was the introduction of Shittu for Matt Jackson. The arrival of the former Rangers man saw clapping from all corners of the ground.

With five minutes of the second half gone, Watford gave themselves a chance of getting back into the game. Doyley's cross had to be cut out by Stewart and from the resulting corner, Zesh Rehman's hashed clearance seemed to ricochet off of Camp and into the back of the net.

Darius Henderson

What had started out as a game with Watford playing their football steadily, hoping the goals would come, descended into desperate battling from both teams. Watford knew they were on the brink of nicking something if they kept it up and Rangers were even more dogged knowing that the game could slip away from them if they weren't careful.

The outcome of which saw both teams fighting scrappily out of frustration and desperation on Watford's part and fear on QPR's.

With 68 minutes gone, Boothroyd introduced King into the fold in the hopes that he would find the back of the net. He every nearly did as his first shot flew just over the bar.

Henderson was the next to go close as he somehow chested the ball into Camp's hands.

The Watford battering ram didn't let up and Camp's hands were stung again as McAnuff searched for his third goal in as many outings.

But when it's a bad day at the office, it really is. As substitute Akos Buzsaky searched for the goal, DeMerit tried desperately to deny him and in doing so, stuck the ball into the back of his own net as he tried to turn it away from goal.

Shittu struck back with seven minutes to go against his old club when he latched on to a knock down in the box and drilled home in dramatic fashion.

Blackstock had a great chance to grab a fifth but he dragged his effort well wide after showing a fresh pair of legs to the Watford defence.

A bad day indeed and as the clock ran down, Watford were left bitterly disappointed from this unfathomable game.

WATFORD (4-4-2): Lee; Doyley (O'Toole 79), DeMerit (c), Jackson (Shittu 46), Stewart; Smith, Williamson, Francis, McAnuff; Henderson, Ellington (King 68). Subs not used: Mariappa, Ainsworth.

QPR (4-4-2): Camp; Barker, Malcolm, Rehman, Stewart; Bolder (c), Rowlands, Ainsworth (Vine 63), Balanta (Buzsaky 74); Blackstock, Nygaard (Walton 90). Subs not used: Cole (gk), Moore.

BOOKINGS: WATFORD; Doyley (unsporting behaviour, 34), Smith (75). QPR; Nygaard (foul, 44), Barker (dissent, 55), Bolder (85).

SENDINGS OFF: WATFORD; none. QPR; none.

GOALS: WATFORD; Camp OG, 52, Shittu 83. QPR; Rowlands 12, 38 Stewart 29, DeMerit OG 80.

REFEREE: C Foy

ATTENDANCE: 18,698 (2,279 QPR supporters) Watford

-
Stewart returns from suspension. Leigertwood starts a four match suspension. Malcom, after his alleged drunk driving arrest and suspension by Derby still plays.

Today's teams:

Watford Official Site - THE TEAMS: WATFORD v QPR
BOSS Aidy Boothroyd has recalled Darius Henderson for the visit of QPR and the big striker will start in attack alongside Nathan Ellington with Marlon King moving down to the bench.
Lee Williamson returns to the heart of midfield in place of young John-Joe O'Toole while Aidy Mariappa is on the bench in place of goalkeeper Mart Poom. Dan Shittu is also on the bench against his old side.
Meanwhile for the visitors playmaker Akos Buzsaky is on the bench alongside fellow loanee Rowan Vine.
WATFORD: Lee; Doyley, DeMerit (c), Jackson, Stewart; Smith, Williamson, Francis, McAnuff; Henderson, Ellington. Subs: Mariappa, Shittu, King, O'Toole, Ainsworth.
QPR: Camp; Barker, Malcolm, Rehman, Stewart; Bolder (c), Rowlands, Ainsworth; Balanta, Blackstock, Nygaard. Subs: Cole (gk), Moore, Walton, Buzsaky, Vine.

-
UPDATE: 1:30 PM

Norwich Evening News 24 - Chief Neil refuses to rise to the bait
"Canaries' chief executive Neil Doncaster has refused to be drawn into a war of words with Birmingham City's Karren Brady over Norwich's failed bid to keep Martin Taylor.
The defender looked set for a longer stay at Carrow Road after completing a successful month's loan and agreed personal terms with City for a permanent deal.
But the two clubs failed to compromise on a price - not helped by QPR gazumping Norwich with a higher bid - and the deal broke down.
Since then, Blues' managing director Brady hasn't been slow to offer her views on the situation, but with the January transfer window set to open in four days time, Norwich may still harbour hopes of striking a deal for Taylor over the coming weeks.
Either way, Doncaster refused to comment on Brady's latest views or whether the Canaries may make another move for Taylor.
“We won't comment on transfer speculation regarding individual players because to do so only hampers our ability to get the best deals for Norwich City football club,” said Doncaster.
“Anything we have got to announce will be done so when we have something to reveal.”
Brady had previously accused Norwich manager Glenn Roeder of not making any bid for Taylor, which Roeder subsequently denied.
Her latest outburst came in her regular column in the Sun, where she likened Glenn Roeder to “Violet Elizabeth threatening to William she will 'scream and scream 'til I'm sick'”.
Brady said the Canaries simply had to match QPR's offer of £1m to bring Taylor to Carrow Road, but Roeder won't up his valuation because he believes there is no chance Taylor will move to London.
The 28-year-old still has two and-a-half years to run on the new contract he signed at St Andrews last spring, but he has yet to make an appearance since returning to Birmingham and has been told he doesn't feature in Blues' boss Alex McLeish's future plans. Evening 24




Santos signs for non-League Alfreton Town.

This is Nottingham - TOWN SIGN SANTOS
Football: Alfreton Town have signed experienced Marseille-born defender Georges Santos (pictured right)
Santos, 37, turned professional with Toulon before joining Tranmere Rovers in 1998. He has also seen action with West Brom, Sheffield United, Grimsby Town, Ipswich, QPR, Oxford United (loan) and Brighton. Report

Alfreton Official Site
JOSH LAW EXTENDS LOAN TO END OF SEASON, AND SANTOS SIGNS
Alfreton Town manager Nicky Law has been handed a double boost ahead of this Saturday’s Blue Square Conference North trip to Boston United (3pm).
The Reds boss has secured the services of his son Josh whose three-month loan period from Chesterfield has been extended to the end of the season and he has also signed experienced Marseille-born defender Georges Santos, 37 (pictured left).
He made his international debut for the Cape Verde Islands in September 2002.
At 6’3’’, Santos, will add more height to the Reds back line, but he is also versatile enough to play central midfield and up front.
He turned professional with Toulon before moving to England and joining Tranmere Rovers in July 1998 and has also seen action with West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Grimsby Town (where he was player of the season in 2002/03), Ipswich Town, QPR, Oxford United (month’s loan) and Brighton and Hove Albion.
He was released by Brighton in May this year, joining Chesterfield in August on a short term contract. Alfreton

-
Ivor Powell, who played for QPR between 1938 and 1948 (with a big gap in the middle!) has been awarded the MBE.

The Guardian
"Also honoured in the New Year's list is Ivor Powell, the world's oldest active football coach, who will receive an MBE for services to sport. Now 91, Powell is a former Wales international who numbered Aston Villa, QPR and Blackpool among his clubs. The nonagenarian has worked as a football coach at the University of Bath for over 30 years and still lends a hand with coaching duties for Team Bath, the British Gas Business Football League Premier Division side.
"This is a real honour and a privilege," said Powell. "It was a big surprise when I got the letter. I've been in football for more than 70 years and I've thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I'm 91 and I've still got something left in me to give. I'll stay in the game as long as I'm enjoying it." The Guardian

See August 2007 Profile of Ivor Powell
Sunday Independent - Ivor Powell: He's 91 but Ivor still loves running the Bath
'The Professor' is football's oldest coach and will be in the dug-out when his university team kick off the new season. By Alan Hubbard
Ivor Powell has passed a fitness test and will be on the bench when his club, Team Bath, play a home friendly with a Cardiff City XI tomorrow night. He is still suffering a bit of a foot problem – nothing as glamorous as a Beckham-style metatarsal, just an old-fashioned bunion on his toe. Mind you, he is 91.

Dear old Ivor, you see, is a team coach, the oldest working model in the land – and something of an icon down at the University of Bath, where he is in his 35th year on the football coaching staff, and raring to go for thenew season.

The bunion is why he joined Thursday's training session in carpet slippers, joshing with the university lads, who call him "The Professor". Powell will be on the bus, and in the dug-out as usual, when Team Bath kick off in the British Gas Business Football League Premier Division at Banbury next Saturday. A far cry from the heady days when he won 14 caps as a terrier of a half-back for Wales, captained Aston Villa and coached under Don Revie at Leeds and with the Greek side PAOK.

But the little Welshman says he has never been happier, which is why he was relieved to get the all-clear when he went to hospital for a check-up last week. He came through with flying colours, and says: "I told them, 'I've done a hell of a lot in my life, and in football, but there's still a lot more I want to do.' I'll never give up my work. Never."

A Fergie-like fervour courses through his veins in tandem with his Celtic blood. The passion is evident as the eyes flash and the words tumble forth when herecalls not only memorable moments from the "good old days" but his commitment to the modern game.

He thumps a fist into his palm. "Aggression, determination, the will to win. These have always been my watchwords, and they still are. That's what I try toinstill into these youngsters. And they listen, they really do."

"The lads love him," says Team Bath's head coach, Andy Tilson, ex-Grimsby and QPR, who, at 42, is less than half the age of his venerable assistant. "He's one of the game's great characters, brimful of fire and enthusiasm. He's indispensable. Players like continuity, a familiar face, and they have so much respect for him. In Ivor you have the most experienced football brain in the land. The little snippets he passes on to them and to me and the other coaches are invaluable, because he's been there, done it, and got the international shirt, even if it was in a different era.

"The thing is, he's so open-minded, and even though the game has changed so muchhe's learned how to adapt andimpart the knowledge he has. He's so keen we have to hold him back a bit, because we don't want him overdoing things."

Clearly Powell is not just a talisman, or another old-timer with a few rheumy-eyed reminiscences of those good old days. Team Bath's manager, Ged Roddy, who is also the university's sports director, says: "The word 'legend' is overworked but Ivor is exactly that, an institution. I don't know what we'd do without him. When he walks in, he lights the place up."

He is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest working coach in football, and has also had an FAcoaching badge for 56 years. "There's no record of anyone having coached for a longer period atthis level," confirms the FA historian David Barber.

Powell was a member of the backroom team when Team Bath became the first university side in 122 years to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup five years ago, losing 4-2 at home to Mansfield. Last season they were BGB League runners-up, losing a play-off final for promotion to Blue Square South (a division down from the old Conference). Helping them to achieve promotion this season is Powell's goal.

"These boys play the game the way I like to see it played, hard but fair. When I'm in the dug-out I see little things, and they appreciate me telling them quietly. So does Andy. My way is not to shout or put my foot down, but to coax and encourage. I never curse. You can do it without effing and blinding. They understand what I am talking about, and when I demonstrate, whether it is passing or heading, they know I've done it – and I can still do it."

Spry and alert, he was still turning out for practice games when he was in his 80s. A diminutive midfielder built on the lines of Alan Ball, he was"aggressive but never dirty" in the days of half-backs andinside- forwards, when full-backs would have got a rollicking had they dared overlap. Strikers, sweepers and wingless wonders were still a twinkle in the eye of revolutionaries such as Ron Greenwood and Sir Alf Ramsey.

But Powell, when he became a coach, had to latch on to "total football". "I couldn't have players saying I knew nothing about the way the game is played today. Then we never knew anything about 4-2-2 or 4-4-3. Tactics were more adventurous, with more possession, more accurate passing, better use of the long ball.

"There wasn't all this man-to-man marking. You had spaces where you could receive the ball and run with it. We played for ourselves, but we also played for the team, and the spectators, too. What I really wish is that today's fans could see and enjoy the game as we used to play it. It would be an eye-opener."

A grammar schoolboy who was the seventh son of a seventh son in a family of 10, Powell started working life down the mines for 12 shillings and sixpence a week with his father and brothers, but after three years was spotted by a QPR scout when playing for South Wales League side Bargoed Thursday, aged 17. "I said to myself, 'I'm never going down that bloody mine again'. I never did."

He made his first-team debut for QPR in 1937, won a Division Three (South) championship medal with them, was transferred to Aston Villa for a then record fee for a half-back of £17,500 and played for, coached or managed Port Vale, Bradford City, Leeds, Carlisle, PAOK and Bath City before joining the University of Bath coaching set-up in 1972.

In his managerial heyday, Powell was responsible for some of football's legendary malaprop-isms. Asked the secret of his team's success at Carlisle, where he was a successor to Bill Shankly, he put it down to "the harmonium in the dressing room". He was also reputed to have once remarked that the dressing room was so hot "the compensation was running down the walls".

Powell is probably the only man around who played both with and against the late Sir Stanley Matthews, guesting for Blackpool during the war years, when he was an RAF physical training instructor. Matthews was best man at his wedding, and Ivor's eyes still fill with tears when he speaks both of his pal's death and that of his own wife of 63 years, Joan, who passed away four years ago. "But for football," he says, "I don't think I could have carried on."

As left-half for Aston Villa and Wales, Powell often had the dreaded task of marking the doyen of the dribble. "They say Stan couldn't have been theplayer he was in the modern game, but don't you believe it. What everyone forgets is his speed. We used to train with the great West Indian sprinterMcDonald Bailey, and Stan was as fast as him over 10 yards. No one was better at anticipating a tackle. He could see it coming and he'd be up and over them. I'd back him against any of today's defenders. He'd have skinned them alive."

Powell also marked other tricky forwards, including Don Revie, who made him trainer/ coach at Leeds, where he worked for four years with the likes of Billy Bremner, Norman Hunter and Jackie Charlton.

Among his proudest moments was being inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, along with other Wales sporting greats including Gareth Edwards, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Ian Rush, JPR Williams and John Charles.

"When I see today's antics on the field, the jersey-pulling, the kicking and all that, I'm really proud I was never sent off, or even cautioned. Yes, I tackled hard, but I made sure I was never late. There's a hardness, a ruthlessness about the game now that didn't exist then, and of course it's all down to money.

"Our wage was £8, with a £2 win bonus and £1 for a draw. And £6 in the summer. When I was transferred I got £750. But the cheque I received was for £412 and 10 shillings. They took £337 and 10 shillings for income tax. We never had agents or account-ants to take care of that sort of thing. My transfer fee was £17,500. Some Premiership players get more than that in a week. If I was getting the money these buggers are getting now they would never get the ball off me."

No big money at Bath, though, whose team is comprisedlargely of youngsters released by League clubs or their academies. Here they are given a fresh start in football alongside a foundation degree course in sports performance at the country's most prolific and progressive sports university.

A year ago last July, they gave Powell a 90th birthday party, and many of the Professor's graduates came back to help him celebrate. Nick Bath was a biology student there from 1972 to 1976. He recalled: "Ivor was passionate about the game then and he still has that same fire in his eyes. He believed in keeping it simple, and being coached by someone of his calibre made us feel good. We were pretty hopeless by comparison, but he never gave up on us."

The Powell philosophy is equally simple: "You've got to have a winning heart. That's everything. And as long as I get pleasure out of doing what I am now, and help others to get pleasure out of it, then I know I am doing justice to myself and my career. I could never give this up. As long as they want me, I'll be here."

Life and times

BORN: 5 July 1916, Gilfach Bargeod, South Wales.

Playing career: Signed by QPR at 17. Transferred to Aston Villa in 1948 for then record fee for a half-back of £17,500. Capped 14 times for Wales in 1930s, '40s and '50s.

Coach/Manager: Port Vale, Bradford City, Leeds, Carlisle, PAOK (Athens), Bath City. Now assistant coach and presidentat Team Bath.

Family: Seventh son of seventh son. Wife Joan died in 2003.

Other achievements: 'Guinness Book of Records' as oldest working football coach. Elected to Welsh Hall of Fame in 2004.

And another thing: Middle name given by his father, who fought in the First World War.

Further reading about Ivor Powell's achievements at teambath.com/?p=288 Sunday Independent QPR Report


See Wikipedia Profile of Ivor Powell

-
The Sun
"QPR have signed defender Matt Connolly, 20, (below) from Arsenal for £1million.
They also plan to wrap up the signing of Wigan centre-back Fitz Hall, 27.
And a six-month loan for Manchester United defender Kieran Lee, 19, has been agreed.
The signings follow investment by the Mittal family, Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore. The Sun

The Mirror - Birmingham are set for a £3million cash
THE BIG COUNTDOWN TRANSFER WINDOW OPENS ON TUESDAY
Birmingham are set for a £3million cash boost after agreeing to sell both Martin Taylor and Rowan Vine to QPR. The Championship club have agreed to buy Brum defender Taylor, 28, for £1m. Ex-Luton striker Vine, 25, on loan at Loftus Road, is to join for £2m + Mirror

See also: Vital Football/Wigan saying Hall to QPR

ARSENAL PROFILE OF CONNOLLY
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

See also
Wikipedia Profile of Matt Connolly, who's been out on loan at Colchester this season, and called up for the England U-21 squad.
- See also Teamtalk on Connolly's callup.- Arsenal blog profiling Connolly

-
Man United's Kieran Lee on loan till the end of the season.

QPR Official Site - UNITED STARLET SIGNS
Queens Park Rangers Football Club are delighted to announce the six month loan signing of highly-rated Manchester United youngster Kieran Lee.
The 19 year-old, who will officially join the R's on January 2nd 2008, is in line to make his QPR debut against Chelsea in the FA Cup third round at Stamford Bridge.
Lee, who made his full Premiership debut against Chelsea as a right-back in the penultimate fixture of the 2006/07 campaign, skippers United's second string and was named 2006/07 Denzel Haroun Reserve Player of the Season. QPR

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - IN PROFILE: KIERAN LEE
Nineteen year-old Manchester United starlet Kieran Lee first hit the headlines in October 2006, with a dramatic last-minute winner for United in their Carling Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra.
However, Lee's first experience of life with the United First Team came in a friendly match, as a second-half substitute in Roy Keane's testimonial match against Celtic in May 2006.
Lee, who also skippers United's second string and was named 2006/07 Denzel Haroun Reserve Player of the Season, made his full Premiership debut against Chelsea as a right-back in the penultimate fixture of the 2006/07 campaign.
Lee is capable of playing in midfield or at full-back. QPR

BBC- QPR swoop for Man Utd starlet Lee
QPR have agreed to sign Manchester United full-back Kieran Lee on loan for the rest of the season.
Lee will officially join Rangers on 2 January and will be eligible to make his debut for the club in their FA Cup third round match against Chelsea.
The 19-year-old made his first appearance for United's senior side near the end of last season.
Rangers are expected to add several more players to their squad when the transfer window opens in January. BBC

-
From the Football League's "League Leader"

Club-by-Club stats for shots taken on target; off target; and hit the woodwork. QPR would seem not to be shooting Enough

SHOOTING STATS
Categories On Target - Off Target - Hit W’work

ON OFF WOOD
Barnsley 126 124 4
Blackpool 152 145 9
Bristol City 136 121 2
Burnley 131 142 5
Cardiff 186 122 2
Charlton 164 148 10
Colchester 93 102 5
Coventry 156 127 2
Crystal Palace 136 112 0
Hull 146 131 5
Ipswich 180 136 11
Leicester 126 115 6
Norwich 117 129 6
Plymouth 133 118 2
Preston 113 141 5
QPR 103 99 9
Scunthorpe 131 127 7
Sheff Utd 125 117 4
Sheff Wed 105 129 6
Southampton 143 143 7
Stoke 122 110 5
Watford 109 139 4
West Brom 214 153 11
Wolverhampton 109 134 5

DISCIPLINARY RECORD QPR with 46 Yellow and 3 Red Cards is at the top (or bottom) in the Championship.[Haven't checked to see if this compilation includes QPR's Plymouth bookings]

TEAM DISCIPLINE
Y R
Barnsley 44 4
Blackpool 21 3
Bristol City 37 2
Burnley 40 4
Cardiff 26 1
Charlton 42 4
Colchester 35 4
Coventry 43 2
Crystal Palace 30 1
Hull 38 2
Ipswich 31 1
Leicester 31 3
Norwich 37 4
Plymouth 39 0
Preston 39 1
QPR 46 3
Scunthorpe 35 5
Sheff Utd 32 1
Sheff Wed 31 1
Southampton 22 1
Stoke 49 0
Watford 35 1
West Brom 24 1
Wolverhampton 25 0

Football League

-
[Derby County have announced that they are suspending Bob Malcolm. It's not immediately evident that Derby's action has any impact on QPR's ability to play Malcolm.]

UPDATED 10:00 PM
QPR OFFICIAL SITE BOB MALCOLM
For legal reasons, Queens Park Rangers FC will be making no comment on the matter of Bob Malcolm's arrest and subsequent charge by police in relation to a drink-drive incident which occurred yesterday.
However, Bob has issued the following statement regarding the incident:
"First and foremost, I want to apologise to all the supporters, and in particular the young fans. I recognise that footballers are role models and, as such, should set a positive example. On this occasion, I have failed to do that.
"I must say that I was very upset and frustrated with the poor performance of the referee in our match at Plymouth the evening before.
"I would also like to stress that at the time of the incident I was not driving my car. I had pulled over to the side of the road and was sleeping.
"Once again, I apologise for what has been a major error of judgement."
The Club will be making no further comment regarding this matter. QPR

Derby Official Site -MALCOLM CHARGED WITH DRINK DRIVING
Derby County Football Club have confirmed player Bob Malcolm, who is currently on loan at QPR until January 1, has been charged by police with a drink drive offence and bailed to appear before Chesterfield Magistrates Court on January 16.
The club will be suspending the player while an internal investigation is conducted into this matter.
The police charge relates to an alleged incident on the M1 motorway in Derbyshire on the morning of December 27.
For legal reasons, no further comment will be made on the matter by Derby County at this stage, pending the findings of the internal investigation and the outcome of the court hearing. Derby

Derby Evening Telegraph - RAMS STAR TO BE SUSPENDED OVER DRINK-DRIVING CHARGE
Derby County player Bob Malcolm is to be suspended by the club after being charged with drink-driving.
The 27-year-old midfielder was breathalysed by police between Junctions 28 and 29 of the M1 yesterday morning.
Malcolm is on loan at Queens Park Rangers but is due to return to the Rams on January 2.
He will appear before magistrates in Chesterfield in the new year.
A Derby County spokesman said: "Derby County Football Club have confirmed Bob Malcolm, who is currently on loan at QPR until January 1, has been charged by police with a drink-drive offence.
"The club will be suspending the player while an internal investigation is conducted into this matter." Derby Evening Telegraph

-
[For some QPR fans, it's somewhat of a mystery why Bignot has been sent out on loan - especially before the January transfers have started coming in.]

Marcus Bignot - Vital Football
Marcus Bignot admits he has no idea whether he will still be a Millwall player past January 5th, when his loan deal is due to expire.
The experienced defender has been a key part of the Kenny Jackett revolution, and has show the effort and desire that Lions fans expect from anyone wearing a Millwall shirt.
When asked whether he would consider extending his stay at The Den, the defender replied in a diplomatic fashion:
'I really don't know, that's one for Mystic Meg,' he told Lions World. 'I'm due to go back to QPR on January 5th, and that's all I know.'
'I love playing football and hopefully the Millwall fans have seen that. I enjoy playing for this club.'
'But I've got to be professional and I can't look any further, because things are out of my hands. Between now and then I will give everything for Millwall.'
.... Millwall Vital Football

-
[Not sure which "Mad" this was originally published on, presumably Norwich Mad]

Richard Lamb - Barnsley Mad - Norwich City
Brady challenges Roeder over defender
The managing director of Birmingham City and part time 'Loose Woman' Karen Brady has named the price Norwich must pay for Martin Taylor.
The defender, who impressed during a recent loan spell at Carrow Road and has expressed his desire to return to Norfolk after being frozen out at St Andrews, has been the subject of a bid from newly-enriched Queens Park Rangers.
Luigi Di Canio's resources have meant the West London club have matched the £1million valuation of the big centre back, with Glenn Roeder so far only going to the £750,000 mark.
Ever the shrinking violet, Brady used her column in the Sun newspaper to negotiate in a typically dignified way.
"Norwich manager Glenn Roeder has been going on and on about how we are preventing his club from buying our centre-back Martin Taylor," wrote the wife of Luton striker Paul Peschisolido.
"He is sounding like Violet Elizabeth threatening William she will 'scream and scream 'til I'm sick. Glenn is certain Martin wants to join the Canaries in a £750,000 transfer, while we are certain we want to sell him to QPR for £1m. The difference, Glenn, is £250,000. We are not a charity. Make it up and he could be yours."
While it might stick in the throat a little bit to bow to such a tactic, Taylor is a crucial addition. Barnsley Mad

-
Watford Observer/Kevin Affleck - Aidy: Doyley is not for sale
AIDY BOOTHROYD has issued a hands-off to QPR, tomorrow's visitors to Vicarage Road, after they were linked with a move for Lloyd Doyley.
The right-back, ever present this season, has been linked with a £500,000 switch to Loftus Road, but Boothroyd insists the player "is not going anywhere" and that the club owned by the fifth richest family in the world "haven't got enough money to buy him anyway".
Despite a recent dip in form, Boothroyd has been delighted with the strides Doyley has made this season and is likely to offer him a new contract.
"If there was a contract offer on the table and it was a good one then I'd sign it," said the 25-year-old Doyley. "I've been here since I was 11 and it's the only club I know. It's nice to be linked but I'm a Watford player and I've still got another year and a half to run on my contract."
One player likely to be making the short trip from Watford to west London is Gavin Mahon who should complete his move away from the club when the transfer window opens next week.
"That will all sort itself out," said the manager. "I've said he can leave, he's been a good servant and if he moves on then he goes with our best wishes." Watford Observer

-
Ok it's an eon ago, but whatever!

December 28th 1974: Recently-appointed, Dave Sexton-managed QPR against a recently-having-dismissed-Dave Sexton Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. QPR had the recently-signed Don Masson in midfield and John Beck in his best QPR season. Chelsea I believe were managed by Ron Stuart with Eddie McCreadie as Coach.
Score: Chelsea 0 QPR 3 - Two from Don Givens; one from Gerry Francis.

QPR's team
Parkes
Clement Webb Mclintock Gillard
Francis Beck Masson
Givens Bowles Thomas

Chelsea's Team (one name missing!)
Phillips
Locke Hay Droy Harris
Wilkins Hollins Kember Cooke
Hutchinson Garland
Sub: Houseman

[UPDATED II: Chelsea Team now complete. Many thanks to the poster who provided me with the name: Charlie Cooke (a truly great player, who would have graced the QPR team!]
[UPDATED: Chelsea Team now provided, except for one name. Many Thanks to the poster who provided this
NB: I don't have the Chelsea team, but if anyone has it, and wants to post it, please do. Chelsea had already sold Osgood and Hudson. But they had Bonnetti, Hollins, Hutchinson, Ron Harris, etc, etc.


And Fifteen Years ago.. before a crowd of under 15,000 at Loftus Road. QPR 4 Everton 2 (Sinton 3, Penrice)
Steyskal
Bardsley Peacock McDonald Wilson
Barker Wilkins Holloway Sinton
Ferdinand Penrice

-
UPDATED 11:45 am

One-off-the-top, Watford face one-off-the-bottom QPR at Watford. Watford's home record is 5 wins 3 draws 4 defeats 16-16 Goals for and against. (QPR's away record is 2 wins 5 draws 5 defeats 14-21 goals for and against Table See also: Watford results this season and Watford Players Profiles

UPDATE: WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE - FOCUS ON: QPR
DRAMA never seems to be far away from Queens Park Rangers as their own rollercoaster of a season has just peaked somewhere near the top of the Big Dipper following another cash-rich investor putting money into the west Londoners.
Back in September when the Hornets visited W12, news had surfaced that Renault boss Flavio Briatore and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone were taking over the R's.
Now the club recently announced a 20 per cent investment from Lakshmi Mittal, A CEO of the world's largest steel company and the fifth richest man in the world.
Things could well have been very different for QPR had they not struck gold - talk of administration was rife before the takeover but their new riches will be the perfect opportunity to clear debts and build the club up again.
However on the pitch, although there has been an improvement of late, Rangers still lie in the dreaded drop zone and have only just avoided the drop in the last two seasons.
The Superhoops are second bottom and will be licking their wounds after Plymouth came back from one down to beat the west Londoners in time added on.
Newspaper reports suggest big spending from the R's in January, but boss Luigi De Canio has warned against rumours of unlimited spending and he will have to spend wisely to add to what he already has.
De Canio took over the reins after John Gregory left the club following a disappointing start to the campaign - caretaker boss Mick Harford steadied the ship but did not join continue with the club following news of DeCanio's appointment.
The changes on the playing front have already started and a staggering amount of players have been through the doors of QPR in the last 18 months.
Ex-Hornet Danny Cullip, who tamed Marlon King and Darius Henderson in the 1-1 draw at Loftus Road, has been released along with Australian Nick Ward and John Curtis.
Loanees Scott Sinclair and Ben Sahar have returned to Chelsea but the club has been relying on their current crop of loan stars including Rowan Vine and Hungarian play maker Akos Buzsaky.
TEAM NEWS
The R's have been missing Chelsea loanee Michael Mancienne in recent weeks while midfielder Mikele Leigertwood sits out tomorrow's clash through suspension after being sent off at Home Park.
Damion Stewart looks set to return to the defence after missing the last game following a one-match ban. Simon Walton has been back involved recently after recovering from a broken leg which delayed him making his debut for the R's.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This Saturday's visitors lead the way in the head-to-head stakes. However in recent years the Golden Boys have come out on top and have only lost once in seven meetings.
LAST TIME THE TEAMS MET
It was only back in September and loan star Adam Johnson opened the scoring in west London, but the R's struck back through Stefan Moore's only goal of the season.
ONE TO WATCH:
Buzsaky has made a flying start to life in the capital and looks set to make the move permanent in January. The midfielder has already bagged five goals for Rangers, including two in the recent win over Colchester at Loftus Road. Watford

Watford Official Site - AIDY ON DERBY DATE
WATFORD Manager Aidy Boothroyd is hoping that his Golden Boys can take some goal-scoring momentum into this Saturday's local derby encounter with Queens Park Rangers, after Jobi McAnuff's last-gasp strike against Cardiff turned the emotion of near defeat into that of a winning feeling at Watford on Boxing Day.
The winger's stunning goal only salvaged a point against the Bluebirds, but it was the manner in which his side twice clawed their way back into the game that Boothroyd hopes will prove to be catalyst moment in the festive period.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's crunch Christmas game the Yorkshire-born Hornets' boss said: "A local derby gives us no better opportunity because we have to be winning at home for sure.
"The way that we finished the game against Cardiff just shows how much it meant to us to get that final-minute equalising goal.
"It was important that we didn't lose against Cardiff, and we didn't. To come back twice shows that we've got a lot of things going for us.
"In the first half against Cardiff it was abundantly clear there was a lot of work to be done, it was a very, very poor performance, but we've got to make sure that we keep getting better and better.
Aidy Boothroyd
"Queens Park Rangers will be a really tough test for us, with their new manager coming into this local derby wanting a win.
The last time the two sides met at the Vic was early on in the Hornets' last promotion campaign, and it proved a positive night for Boothroyd and Watford as goals from Ashley Young, Matthew Spring and Anthony McNamee secured a 3-1 win.
"I remember the last time we played Rangers at home and it was a terrific night, we managed to get a win, and we've got to make sure that we approach the game with our normal spirit but keep adding the improved bits in, the quality that we've been working on.
"It's within the side, we're scoring from open play, we're scoring from set plays and we've got players popping up with goals from all over the pitch, which is very, very important to share the load.
"We've kept clean sheets at times; we've got seven now, and we've seen some great away wins and some good home wins. What we've got to do is put them together now and that's going to take a bit of time."
Boothroyd believes his team, although in a state of change, will improve in time, and pointed to one or two factors that might be influencing the current malaise at home.
"Unfortunately, like everybody else we have to deal with injuries," said the Hornets' supremo.
"Damien Francis is coming back from his bad knee injury and is only just coming back to form. Jobi McAnuff, who's been terrific in the last two games, scoring two goals, is also coming back to form now after his little niggles.
"We have a new captain now in Jay DeMerit and Richard Lee is just making the position his own in goal, so there's a lot of subtle changes that are going on and when things settle down - and I am sure they will - we'll start putting all those clean sheets and all those goals from all those players together to make sure we get on a winning run again."
Rangers come to town on the back of their own last second Boxing Day drama, theirs being defeat at the hands of Plymouth Argyle at Home Park, meaning they arrive at the Vic as the proverbial 'wounded animal'.
"QPR will want to put right their last minute defeat at Plymouth and they'll fancy their chances coming to us," added Boothroyd.
Aidy Bootrhoyd
"They'll come to Vicarage Road thinking that they can make the crowd nervous and get in to us. But, we've already proved that we can win games, either by going out in front, or by coming from behind.
"We know we're a test for anybody, what we've got to do is start putting some festive smiles on people's faces for Saturday the 29th!"
The Hornets don't have any fresh injury worries ahead of the clash with the R's and the gaffer has plenty of attacking options with Darius Henderson making a claim for a starting spot following his appearance from the bench on Saturday.
The Loftus Road club will also be looking forward to a reported January spending spree, following the arrival of new investors in west London.
"The newspaper reports suggest that QPR are chomping at the bit to spend some of their new found wealth, but I'm not sure whether that makes it a better time to play them or not.
"Maybe it's the cynic in me, but we've heard this all before and whether it's true or not doesn't really concern me, whatever the club involved. We'll have to see what they do, and if they do, then good luck to them."
Finally, Boothroyd turned his thoughts towards his own club's purse strings, and the possibilities of new faces in the upcoming transfer window.
"I've spent the last few days just mulling over some DVDs that I've watched, just going over them again, just looking at the players that we're going to go for. I do think it is important to strengthen.
"I think it's a long race the Championship season. We're just over half-way and we've got our noses in front with West Brom, but it's important with the tightness of the league that we add some more depth and we certainly look to strengthen and freshen things up." Watford

QPR's PERSPECTIVE - QPR OFFICIAL SITE THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: HORNETS
After the long journey to Home Park on Boxing Day, Rangers' final away fixture of 2007 is just down the road at local rivals Watford on Saturday.
Still seething after the late, late defeat against Plymouth Argyle on Wednesday, the R's will be doubly determined to return to winning ways against a Hornets side currently suffering a blip in front of their own supporters.
Despite currently occupying second place in the Coca Cola Championship, Adrian Boothroyd's men have failed to register a win in front of their home supporters since October 20th.
That run stretches six matches and includes home defeats to Plymouth Argyle and Bristol City, amongst others.
Yet, while Rangers were left licking their wounds on Wednesday evening, Boothroyd's men played their festive get out of jail card against Cardiff City.
Jobi McAnuff's last-gasp strike rescued a point for the Hornets in a frantic finale, which saw Cardiff lead on two separate occasions.
Yet despite the late point, Boothroyd is still struggling to put his finger on why his charges are continually underachieving at Vicarage Road.
"I don't know what the problem is playing at home," he said, "but sometimes you can want something too much and it becomes harder and harder.
"We didn't play with a lot of brain. You need to play with muscle or guile and we didn't really have either."
Mikele Leigertwood will miss the trip to Vicarage Road, as he starts a three match suspension, but Damion Stewart is expected to return from a one game ban.
With the exception of Michael Mancienne, who has now resumed light training on his way back from a hamstring problem, R's First Team Coach Luigi De Canio has a fully-fit squad at his disposal. QPR

-
Frank McLintock, one of QPR's 1975/76 "Championship" heroes, celebrates his 68th Birthday today. Born December 28th 1939.

Released by Arsenal at age 33 (who preferred Jeff Blockley and later Terry Mancini!), the ex-Arsenal captain who led Arsenal to the 1971 "Double" and won the "Player of the Year," was signed by Gordon Jago after our promotion back to Division One. In four seasons in the First Division, McLintock played 120+ games, scoring 5 goals and formed an elderly, but brilliant, defensive central pairing alongside David Webb. He was a major reason why QPR stabilized in the First Division and why they (so very, very nearly) won the Championship. After retiring in the summer of 1977, McLintock became manager of Leicester and a coach at a couple of clubs, including briefly at QPR. And QPR, at least partly because they no longer had Mclintock, were relegated a couple of seasons later.

See - McLintock's Stats and Wikipedia - McLintock

See Also: Dave's QPR Site Profile of McLintock

Dave Webb Talking about McClintock QPR Official Site
"...It was probably the best team I ever played in. We were really ahead of the times with our passing football. Gordon Jago had a part to play in that. Then Dave Sexton took over, changed things slightly and gelled it all together.
"They were fun days and we had great flair players. Stan Bowles up front; Gerry Francis in the middle; and Dave Thomas wide. We constantly played the ball out from the back, which was very unusual in those days.
"My centre-back partner Frank McLintock was always better at that than me, so we tried to make sure he was the spare man. But the full-backs, Dave Clement and Ian Gillard, were also extremely comfortable on the ball so we could build our moves up from defence. .."
"In saying that, my main role was as a defender. Some people used to say that Frank McLintock and I were a bit too old. He was 37 and I was 30, so the pundits felt we were slow and we couldn't turn.
"But we used to out-cute opposing strikers. We used a lot of know-how between the two of us and I recall that Rangers only conceded 33 goals in the League in 1975/76.
"I used to have little laughs out on the pitch with Frank - a sort of a nod and a wink to each other, because we did things as a pair that were almost sixth sense and like a married couple!
"You might have left your partner in a position that people would think was vulnerable as a defender, but we both instinctively knew exactly how the other one wanted to play and what we wanted to do in matches. So we had total respect and trust in each other and it worked a treat." QPR

Don Givens on McLintock (QPRNet Interview)
"...We had someone in Frank McLintock who was a marvellous influence on the team, he’d come from Arsenal where things were done at a different level and he tried to introduce those things to QPR and help make it better for us. He didn’t always succeed on the club side of things but he did help the team. He was probably the most influential player I’ve ever lined up with." QPRNet

McLintock's autobiography, True Grit
"Synopsis - Frank McLintock was a leading players of his generation and is acclaimed as one of the Arsenal's greatest captains. After transferring from Leicester, in 1970 he led Arsenal to a famous victory in the Fairs Cup and followed this up with even greater glory a year later, winning an historic league and FA Cup double. He left Arsenal in 1973 after being controversially dropped, and enjoyed four successful years at QPR. He retired from playing in 1977, to make an ill-conceived and hasty move into management. Following this difficult period he entered the often shady world of agents, and faced perhaps his worst moment in the game, becoming involved in the infamous bungs scandal over Teddy Sherringham's transfer from Forest to Spurs. Frank continues to retain a high profile in the game, appearing weekly as a Sky pundit. His is a captivating football story spanning 45 years during which he achieved fabulous success and faced shattering lows, all told with enthusiasm, humour, honesty and intense passion."

See London Times Mini Profiles of QPR's 1975/1976 Players

McLintock Today - Available as a speaker

Video - Mclintock (and Rodney Marsh) speaking

-
Some stats for the season:
QPR's record in the second half of games is worse than in the first half. In five games this season, QPR have conceded a goal in the last five minutes.
QPR have the worst goal difference; and the joint worst goals for record.

QPR's RECORD in First HALF of Game vs Second Half

P W D L F A
First Half Record 24 6 13 5 10 13
Second Half Record 24 4 10 10 13 22

QPR's Stats this season

See Also Actim Stats and Player Rankings

LEAGUE TABLE
Scunthorpe 24 -7 26
Norwich 24 -10 26
Sheff Wed 23 -5 25
Preston 24 -6 24
QPR 24 -12 24
Colchester 24 -6 22
League Table

-
Ex-QPR Midfielder, Richard Langley turns 28 - Born December 27, 1979. ...
Gerry Francis gave Langley his QPR debut inOctober 1998, and helped save the club from relegation. Became a Jamaica International. Went to Cardiff for a couple of years. Returned to QPR for a year. Joined Luton, where he's currently injured. Possibly the potential he once displayed didn't quite develop.Stats

Snippet: The QPR Team that Played on the Day that Langley was Born QPR vs Leicester: December 27, 1979: (QPR Lost 0-2) . Woods Gillard Hazell Wicks Shanks Currie Mcreery Roeder Allen Goddard Hill Sub: Waddock.

Of this team: two are managers: Roeder is manager of Norwich and Waddock is manager of Aldershot. yesterday, victory for Garry Waddock's table-topping Aldershot who won 1-0 away. Report

Also victorious yesterday: Alan McDonald's Glentoran who beat Linfield 1-0 Report See also Glentoran

Adam Miller scored his first goal for Gillingham, with a last minute equalizer at Southend. Report

Matt Rose came on as a late substitute for Yeovil (who also had ex-QPRs Bircham and Cochrane on the bench) as they lost 0-1 at home to Swindon.

Tommy Doherty continued his recovery, by coming on as sub for Wycombe who won 3-1 at Brentford -Report

-
Leigterwood banned for THREE games after his post-match sending off.

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - THREE MATCH BAN
Mikele Leigertwood will serve a three match suspension, as a result of his sending off against Plymouth Argyle on Boxing Day.
Leigertwood was given his marching orders for foul and abusive language after the final whistle at Home Park.
The midfielder will miss Saturday's trip to local rivals Watford, as well as the R's New Years Day fixture against Leicester City and the trip to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup, third round. QPR


UPDATE: QPR's goal against Plymouth credited to Vine.
QPR Official Site: ROWAN'S GOAL
The Club can confirm that Rowan Vine has been credited with Rangers' goal against Plymouth Argyle on Boxing Day.
Today's national newspapers named Gareth Ainsworth as the R's goal-scorer against Plymouth Argyle, but Vine got the final touch to Martin Rowlands' cross for his fourth goal of the campaign at Home Park.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk this morning, skipper Adam Bolder said: "There's no way Gaz is going to take that off Viney.
"Rowan definitely got the final touch and therefore it's his goal.
"Unfortunately it was all to no avail, and that's desperately disappointing after the run we've been on." QPR

DAILY MAIL -The referee was totally to blame for our defeat at Plymouth, laments QPR boss De Canio
Luigi De Canio blamed referee Steve Bratt for Queens Park Rangers' last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Plymouth.
The QPR coach said: "His performance offended me and every sportsman. He was bad throughout the whole match.
When we lost at Stoke it was because of our own mistakes, but here the referee was mainly responsible for our defeat."
Sylvain Ebanks-Blake's double saw off Rangers after Gareth Ainsworth had struck early on. Mail

MIRROR/Ann Gripper - LUIGI IS LEFT FUMING AS BLAKE LIFTS PILGRIMS
A late, late winner from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake moved Plymouth into the play-off places, sent QPR back into the drop zone - and left Mikele Leigertwood seeing red after the final whistle.
Newly-rich Rangers will have money to spend when the January window opens and their aim has been to stay in touch until they can start shopping.
They came into the game on a four-match unbeaten run, and things seemed to be going according to plan when the Plymouth defence failed to clear Martin Rowlands' cutback and Gareth Ainsworth stabbed in to give the visitors a first-half lead.
Ebanks-Blake, recalled after two games on the bench, equalised from the penalty spot on 50 minutes after a shot from the dangerous Peter Halmosi hit Martin Rowlands' arm.
Two minutes later Ebanks-Blake was squaring up to Simon Walton, a confrontation which saw both players booked and fired up the ex-Manchester United man.
Ebanks-Blake was a constant irritant to the Rangers back line, holding the ball up well and battling for everything. That hard work paid off in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
With the clock ticking down, he latched onto Romain Larrieu's long clearance to earn a corner, and when Halmosi's inswinger was cleared onto the crossbar, Ebanks-Blake was there to fire the rebound high into the roof of the net.
There was barely time for the restart before referee Steve Bratt blew for full time - with Rangers boss Luigi De Canio rushing onto the pitch to haul his fuming players away from the official.
He was not quick enough to prevent Leigertwood earning a straight red, although he could well understand the midfielder's fury.
De Canio said: "I don't want to comment on anything to do with the ref because it could cost me my job.
"We will think about the January sales when the time comes. Everyone is playing for their future, every game."
Pilgrims boss Paul Sturrock said: "Sylvan got involved in a wee fracas which I think shook him up a bit. For the next 25 minutes he was the best player on the pitch.
"Perhaps I'll slap him about before a game and we'll get 90 minutes of it." Mirror

TELEGRAPH - QPR's riches cannot save them in Plymouth
Queens Park Rangers manager Luigi De Canio is determined to remain focused on upcoming matches despite having multi-billionaire investor Lakshmi Mittal's money to spend in January.
"We'll think about the January sales when January comes," he said. "Right now we have got difficult games coming up."
QPR were sunk by Plymouth's recalled top scorer, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who equalised Gareth Ainsworth's opener with a penalty and then struck during a goalmouth scramble in stoppage time."
Telegraph

PLYMOUTH OFFICIAL SITE RETURN OF THE SYLV
RECALLED top scorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake fired manager Paul Sturrock the perfect response after missing the last two games at Watford and Crystal Palace.
Ebanks-Blake bagged a vital brace to give Argyle a dramatic Boxing Day win over QPR after trailing to former Pilgrim Ákos Buzsáky's new team at half-time.
Sturrock is looking forward to helping the former Manchester United develop into a complete striker. Ebanks-Blake showed a bumper Home Park crowd his obvious potential with a coolly-taken penalty to equalize before slamming home the winner deep into
Sturrock said: "I feel there is a lot more I can get out of him as far as being a footballer is concerned. His response [to being left out] has been the proper one and the professional one.
"What I will say about Sylvan is that people point the finer at him at times as being a bit lazy and scoring goals is just the key to him.
"I think there is more to that lad than people give him credit for. I think he could be an all-round striker and they are very naughty. His linkage in the second half was excellent and took us up the pitch. He is obviously a goal-getter as well."
The manager also revealed an enterprising new approach to galvanizing Ebanks-Blake into producing more performances of this nature.
The former Manchester United had a fairly heated spat with Simon Walton immediately after bringing the scores level and subsequently took the match by storm - a reaction that may prompt Luggy into using slightly aggressive man-management in the future.
Sturrock said: "Sylvan got involved in a wee fracas that shook him up for a bit and for the next 25 minutes he was the best player on the pitch. Maybe I should slap him about before a game and we will get 90 minutes of that."
Sylv Tiff
Sylvan will rightly get the headlines but for every effective striker there is generally a top winger supplying the chances, and Petér Halmosi played that role today.
The Hungarian international winger terrorized Rangers full-back Bob Malcolm in the second period and ended up winning the penalty for handball against Martin Rowlands and supplying the corner for the last-ditch winner.
Sturrock said: "I felt Petér had been standing and crossing rather than getting at their full back. It could not tell if the right back was quick or slow, but in the second half I rattled his [Petér's] cage a bit or as much as he can understand, and told him I wanted to find out how quick this full back was.
"He had a go for the whole of the second half and he put us in a position to be attacking the ball in the box.
"These kind of penalties are happening more frequently in football where before it would have been waved away as accidental. It seems to me that referees are now giving these and it went for us today.
"In the end I thought time was going to run out but we looked very dangerous from every set piece we took today and I am very pleased we scored from a set piece we have been working on."
With the positives out of the way, Luggy was far from happy with another slow start from the Pilgrims, which is becoming a worryingly frequent habit.
He said: "I am disappointed with our starts - West Brom, Norwich, even Scunthorpe, obviously last Saturday and now today.
"We just don't seem to start with the right tempo. We were the home side today and we expected to put them on the back foot but we allowed them to slow the game down and we played at the pace they wanted to play at.
"That is too many games where we have come out slowly. I don't know about having a cunning plan [to deal with it] but I do have a plan.
"In the second half we played at the pace we wanted, which looked as if they were uncomfortable with and we got our rewards because of it.
"They scored with their only chance of the first half. We had two or three half chances and their goalie made a great save.
"I felt, because we did not play with the right tempo in the first half, that a draw was a fair result, but I thought we edged the second half. We did change things a bit for the second half with a few words and how we were looking to get around their box.
"They had a great chance where Romain has made a great save and we had some half chances where the ball spun around the box.
"Just before the winner the ball flashed across and three boys missed it. We worked very hard in the second half and we were always on the front foot.
"I have had games where we have dominated and lost one nothing. Today, Lady Luck has shone on us or she did not turn her bottom on us - let's put it that away."
Thoughts now turn to the visit of Stoke City and former boss Tony Pulis to Home Park on Saturday, and Luggy has again pledged to make changes.
He said: "I will freshen things up again dramatically on Saturday to give us fresh legs. At this time of the season it is not a team, it is a squad.
"One thing I can assure you of is, if we come out slowly on Saturday we are going to get our bottoms spanked." Plymouth


PLYMOUTH HERALD - STURROCK BLAST FUELS ARGYLE WIN

Plymouth Argyle came from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Home Park yesterday - following a half-time lecture from manager Paul Sturrock.

They had trailed 1-0 at the interval after a goal from midfielder Gareth Ainsworth in the 20th minute of the Championship clash.

But striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, recalled to the starting line-up after two matches on the substitutes' bench, equalised from the penalty spot in the 49th minute.

And he then grabbed the winning goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time to seal three more points in Argyle's quest for the play-offs.

Sturrock, though, was far from impressed with the Pilgrims' performance, and especially the way they had started the Boxing Day contest.

Argyle have made a habit of conceding the first goal in games lately, including the 2-1 defeats away to Norwich City and Crystal Palace.

Sturrock said: "We just don't seem to start games properly, with the right tempo. We were the home side today and we would expect to put them on the back foot.

"But we allowed them to slow the game down in the first half and we played it at whatever pace they wanted to play it.

"In the second half, we came out and played at the pace we wanted to, and they had to play it, which they looked uncomfortable with. I think we got our rewards because of it."

Sturrock admitted some strong words had been spoken during the half-time break, before Argyle staged their comeback.

The Pilgrims' boss said: "There are games I have played in the past where we have dominated and lost 1-0. Today, Lady Luck shone on us.

"I got the reaction I was looking for in the second half after an excitable 10 minutes.

"But I don't think I should be having to do that on a regular occurrence, and we did change a couple of change things style-wise. We did play a wee bit differently in the second half."

One of the players who was on the receiving end of some criticism from Sturrock at the break was midfielder Peter Halmosi.

However, Halmosi responded by playing a part in both of Argyle's goals. First, it was his goalbound shot that was handled by QPR midfielder Martin Rowlands and led to Ebanks-Blake's successful spot kick.

And it was from the Hungarian international's corner that Ebanks-Blake scored the all-important winning goal - his 11th of the season.

Sturrock said: "I felt Peter had been standing and crossing in the first half, instead of getting at the full-back.

"But I rattled his cage a wee bit - as much as he can understand - and told him I wanted to find out how quick the full-back was.

"He had a go the whole of the second half and put us in a position to be attacking the ball in the box."

Sturrock had some sympathy with QPR over the handball decision against Rowlands, which led to Ebanks-Blake putting the Pilgrims on level terms.

He said: "These types of penalties are happening more and more in football.

"Before they would have been waved away as accidental, but it seems to me a lot of referees are now giving them. It went for us today."

Ebanks-Blake's second goal came after centre-back Krisztian Timar headed against the crossbar from a corner taken by Halmosi.

Sturrock said: "I thought time was going to run out, but we looked very dangerous from every corner we took today and I'm pleased we scored off a set piece we had been working hard on."

Ebanks-Blake was recalled to the Pilgrims' side following the pre-Christmas defeat by Palace.

Sturrock switched from a 4-3-3 formation to 4-4-2 for the game against QPR and Ebanks-Blake led the attack with Barry Hayles, with Jermaine Easter making way for him.

Ebanks-Blake was one of 10 players booked by referee Steve Bratt, receiving a yellow card in the 53rd minute after a clash with QPR's Simon Walton.

Sturrock said: "Sylvan got involved in a fracas which, I think, shook him up a wee bit and for the next 25 minutes he was probably the best player on the pitch.

"I will slap him about before games now and, hopefully, we will get 90 minutes of that!

"People point the finger at him at times and say he's a wee bit lazy and scoring goals is all he's about, but I think there is more in that laddie than he's given credit for.

"I think he could be an all-round striker, and ones who can play and score are very naughty.

"His linkage in the second half was excellent and took us up the football pitch and then, obviously, he's a goal poacher as well." Plymouth Herald

PLYMOUTH HERALD - PILGRIMS ON THE UP AFTER LATE STRIKE SINKS RANGERS

Argyle are up to sixth spot in the Championship after their last-gasp win against Queens Park Rangers at Home Park yesterday.

Striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake fired home from close range in the fourth minute of stoppage time at the end of the Boxing Day clash to send the Green Army into raptures.

QPR had taken the lead in the 20th minute of a scrappy encounter with a goal from midfielder Gareth Ainsworth.

But Ebanks-Blake equalised for Argyle in the 49th minute when he converted a penalty after a shot from midfielder Peter Halmosi was handled by Rangers' Martin Rowlands.

Referee Steve Bratt obviously had a new pen and notepad for Christmas as he booked 10 players - three from Argyle and seven from QPR.

It looked as though both sides would have to settle for a point until Ebanks-Blake popped up with his 11th goal of the season, after defender Krisztian Timar had headed a corner from Halmosi against the crossbar.

Argyle were playing their first Boxing Day fixture at Home Park since 2004, when they beat QPR 2-1.

Pilgrims' boss Paul Sturrock had promised after the 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday there would be changes for the clash against Rangers - and there were three of them.

Paul Connolly took over at right-back from England under-18 international Dan Gosling.

Lilian Nalis returned to the centre of midfield, with Lee Hodges moving to left-back, where he replaced Gary Sawyer. And top scorer Ebanks-Blake was recalled to lead the attack with Barry Hayles in a 4-4-2 formation.

That meant Jermaine Easter, who had been on target for Argyle against Palace, was only included among the substitutes.

Gosling and Sawyer were also on the bench, as well as on-loan Manchester United winger Lee Martin.

Martin was added to the squad having been out of action since the 3-0 home win against Scunthorpe United on December 1 because of a torn hamstring.

QPR were without defender Damion Stewart because of a one-match ban.

He was sent-off in the 2-1 home defeat of Colchester United on Saturday and Simon Walton took over from him in the centre of defence.

One-time Argyle loan signing Dexter Blackstock was dropped as manager Luigi De Canio went with a 4-4-1-1 formation.

Rowan Vine was the lone striker for Rangers with former Argyle fans' favourite Akos Buzsaky, who scored both goals against Colchester, playing in the advanced midfield role.

Blackstock was on the bench for QPR as they went in search of only their third away Championship win of the season.

Argyle had beaten QPR 2-0 at Loftus Road on September 18 and there was a bumper attendance of 16,502 at Home Park as they tried to complete the double.

QPR left-back Chris Barker needlessly conceded a corner in only the second minute with a misplaced header.

Hungarian international Halmosi crossed to the near post and Nalis stabbed the ball wide, with his appeals for another corner waved away by Bratt.

Pilgrims' midfielder David Norris then shot across the face of goal following after a surging run into the penalty area.

Otherwise, it was a tame opening to the Championship encounter, with both sides battling for midfield supremacy.

Ebanks-Blake tried an audacious overhead kick but it was well wide of the target.

QPR were playing some neat, passing football and they took the lead in the 20th minute after a mistake from Connolly.

Connolly failed to cut out a pass from Buzsaky to Rowlands and the left-sided midfielder made the most of the error.

Rowlands raced to the by-line and crossed low into the six-yard area. The ball was missed by a couple of players before Ainsworth arrived at the far post and slotted home.

Norris had a header easily saved by goalkeeper Lee Camp as Argyle tried to respond to the setback.

Bratt then lectured Argyle midfielder Nadjim Abdou and QPR striker Rowan Vine after a tussle between the two players threatened to turn ugly.

Buzsaky was the first player to be booked by the referee after a challenge on Connolly in the 31st minute.

And Argyle almost equalised from the resulting free-kick as Nalis got a connection on Halmosi's curling cross but his first-time shot was saved by the feet of Camp.

QPR had the next chance as centre-back Zesh Rehman fired the ball high over the bar after a corner from Buzsaky.

Argyle could not get into any rhythm, with too many of their passes misplaced, and they lacked any penetration in the attacking third of the pitch.

Ebanks-Blake was off target with a wayward 20-yard shot as the Pilgrims continued to struggle to create any clear-cut chances.

There was a near miss, though, in the 42nd minute when Halmosi's corner spun up off the boot of Barker and went inches over the bar.

There were four minutes of stoppage time added on by Bratt at the end of the first half. But the only noteworthy incident was a late tackle on Norris by Rowlands, which earned the Rangers' midfielder a yellow card.

Sturrock had wanted his players to set a high tempo from the start of the game and force QPR onto the defensive. But they did neither in the first half and the Pilgrims' boss must have been hugely disappointed with his side's disjointed display.

However, Sturrock resisted the temptation to use any of his substitutes at the start of the second period.

And Argyle were level in the 49th minute when Ebanks-Blake scored from the penalty spot for the fourth time this season.

The former Manchester United striker drilled the ball low into the bottom right corner of the net.

Tempers started to fray as Ainsworth was booked for a lunge on Argyle centre-back Marcel Seip in the 51st minute.

Then Ebanks-Blake and QPR centre-back Simon Walton were both yellow-carded after squaring up to each other.

There was definitely more urgency about the home side and Halmosi, in particular, was posing a threat on the left-side with his strong running.

Centre-back Marcel Seip headed wide from a Halmosi free-kick as Argyle went in search of a second goal.

QPR sent on towering Danish striker Marc Nygaard as a 68th minute substitute for Rowlands, with Vine moving to the left side of midfield.

Midfielder Adam Bolder was the fifth QPR player to be booked after a foul on Ebanks-Blake two minutes later.

Argyle were still struggling to open up the Rangers' defence and Sturrock made a double substitution in the 73rd minute to try to change that.

Easter replaced Hayles in attack and Martin came on for Abdou.

There were still too many careless passes from Argyle and, although QPR were not really threatening themselves, they were defending with some comfort.

Nygaard was booked by Bratt for shoving over Easter before Blackstock was sent on for Buzsaky in the 78th minute.

Seip made a superb sliding tackle on Blackstock to concede a corner in the 80th minute, and the set piece almost resulted in QPR restoring their lead.

Ainsworth crossed deep to the far post and Blackstock's header was parried away by goalkeeper Romain Larrieu.

QPR were now playing 4-3-3 after the introduction of Nygaard and Blackstock and, for the first time, were starting to apply some pressure on the Pilgrims.

Easter squandered a chance for Argyle, though, when he failed to make proper contact with a cross from Halmosi.

The ball broke to Ebanks-Blake inside the six-yard area but he was immediately flagged offside as the home side's frustrating afternoon continued.

Argyle sent up loud penalty appeals for handball against Barker in the 85th minute after a cross from Martin, but Bratt let play continue.

Nalis became the eighth player to be booked, and the second for Argyle, after a clash with Nygaard two minutes later as the game became increasingly scrappy.

Bratt then showed a yellow card to Easter for dissent after awarding a free-kick to QPR.

When Hodges could not direct his header on target from an inswinging corner taken by Halmosi in the 90th minute it seemed as though the game would end up 1-1.

But, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Argyle snatched maximum points with another goal from Ebanks-Blake.

Halmosi's corner was headed against the bar by Timar and Ebanks-Blake pounced, giving QPR 'keeper Lee Camp no chance with a powerful shot.

It was all too much for QPR midfielder Mikele Leigertwood as, seconds later, he was booked for a foul.

Then, after Bratt had blown the final whistle, Leigertwood was shown a red card for foul and abusive language to compound a miserable end to the match for the west London club.

Argyle, though, could celebrate their 10th league win of the season, and their third in seven games since Sturrock's reappointment as manager. Plymouth Herald



Also: Earlier Reports & Comments: "At the Very, Very, Very End...QPR Lose to Plymouth - Reports and Managerial Comments"

-
QPR travelled to Plymouth...QPR took the lead through Ainsworth and that was the half-time score. Plymouth equalized near the start of the second half with a penalty...and then, at the end; the very end...Plymouth got that second goal. Plymouth 2 QPR 1. This is not exactly the first time this season that QPR have conceded that vital goal in the last few minutes of a game. QPR had seven bookings (Walton, Rowlands, Bolder, leighterwood, Buzsaky, Ainsworth, Nygaard, ...Then post-whistle, Leighterwood was sent off for a second yellow.

QPR OFFICIAL - POST-MATCH MANAGERIAL COMMENTS REF RAGE
Luigi De Canio was unable to hide his frustration after the final whistle at Plymouth.
A late goal gave the hosts all three points as the R's went down 2-1, and De Canio told www.qpr.co.uk: "We didn't take into consideration the standard of the referee when we prepared for this match.
"His performance offended me and every sportsman. He was bad throughout the whole match."
Trying to focus on the positives, De Canio was pleased with the effort and commitment of his players. He said: "From day one the lads have given me 100 per cent.
"They have been fantastic in that respect, but that only makes us even more disappointed about the whole thing.
"This is the most disappointed I have been as QPR's First Team Coach. When we lost at Stoke we lost because of our own mistakes, but today the referee was mainly responsible for our defeat.
"But we will lift ourselves for this weekend's match against Watford. We will go there to do the best we can and hopefully come away with a positive result." QPR

TWO MANAGERS COMMENTS - SPORTING LIFE
ARGYLE BOSS KEEN TO START BETTER
Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock is urging his high-flying Championship side to start matches at a better pace.
After seeing recalled top scorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake score two second-half goals to turn around a 1-0 half-time deficit and beat QPR, Sturrock admitted there are improvements to be made.
"One disappointing feature is obviously first-half starts," said the Scot.
"We did not start well again today and we did not start well against West Brom, Norwich, even Scunthorpe and, obviously, at Crystal Palace last Saturday.
"We just don't seem to start the game properly, at the right tempo, and we were the home side today and we would expect to put them on the back foot but we allowed them to slow the game down and we played at whatever pace they wanted to play at.
"In the second half we came out and played at a pace we wanted to play at, and not which they wanted and we got our rewards because of it."
Argyle fell behind to a 20th-minute goal steered home by Gareth Ainsworth, with Rowan Vine claiming the last touch after the home side failed to clear Martin Rowlands' cross from the left.
Rowlands' cross beat Argyle keeper Romain Larrieu at the near post and rolled across the face of goal before Ainsworth returned the ball with power from the right.
Argyle responded by taking the game to their visitors in the second half and Hungary winger Peter Halmosi won a 49th-minute penalty after his shot was handled by Rowlands in full view of referee Steve Bratt.
Ebanks-Blake powered home his 10th goal of the season from the spot and then took his tally to 11 with the Greens' last-gasp winner after they swept forward in stoppage time.
Halmosi's corner was headed on to the crossbar by compatriot Krisztian Timar and in the goalmouth scramble Ebanks-Blake was quickest to react as the ball dropped, smsshing the ball into the top of the net.
QPR boss Luigi De Canio was obviously disappointed at the close and pointed to a decision going against substitute Dexter Blackstock, and in favour of Timar as the game's significant turning point.
De Canio said: "When you lose a game right at the death it is always going to be disappointing.
"I thought we deserved at least a point. We controlled the game well in the first half and got a goal, it did not seem too difficult. We needed another goal and if we carried on doing what we were doing we might have got it.
"We will think about the January sales when January comes.
"We will look at it from the point of view of what the team needs. Right now we have got difficult games coming up for this squad of players to face and that's what we are focusing on." Sporting Life

UPDATED LEAGUE TABLE
Blackpool 24 27
Leicester 24 26
Scunthorpe 24 26
Norwich 24 26
Sheff Wed 23 25
Preston 24 24
QPR 24 24
Colchester 24 22
Updated League Table

SPORTING LIFE - Match Report

Sylvain Ebanks-Blake swept in the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Plymouth held off the challenge of QPR.

The 21-year-old striker's left-footed strike from close range converted Peter Halmosi's corner and sent Rangers back into the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone.

Plymouth dominated throughout but Gareth Ainsworth converted Martin Rowlands' clinical pass in from the left to give the visitors a half-time advantage at Home Park.

But the home side finally got the reward their first-half dominance deserved with a leveller three minutes into the second half when Ebanks-Blake converted from the penalty spot after referee Steve Bratt had penalised Rowlands for handball.

And the 21-year-old finally made Argyle's dominance tell with his 10th of the season to send Plymouth to seventh place in the table, while Rangers fell to 22nd.

Akos Buzsaky began the match against his parent club after his double lifted the west Londoners off the foot of the Coca-Cola Championship in last Saturday's 2-1 win over Colchester.

The 25-year-old Hungarian midfielder will join Rangers in a £500,000 deal next month; the transfer is anticipated to be the first of many after the investment of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.

Mittal's input combined with the wealth of Formula One moguls Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore means manager Luigi De Canio is expected to be given substantial funds.

Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock made three changes with midfielder Nalis returning to the starting line-up, but on-loan Manchester United youngster Lee Martin was only fit enough for a place on the bench following a hamstring injury. Ebanks-Blake and defender Paul Connolly also started.

French midfielder Nalis had the first opportunity with the game less than two minutes old but could not find the target from six yards after latching onto Halmosi's corner.

Midfielder Norris, who has been linked with a big-money move away from Devon, shot wide and Ebanks-Blake's acrobatic effort was later off target before Rangers took the lead.

Norris shot straight at Lee Camp before Nalis forced the visiting goalkeeper to parry the ball away as Argyle tried to find an equaliser.

Zesh Rehman shot over for Rangers before Ebanks-Blake again shot wide.

Krisztian Timar headed wide before Camp saved comfortably from Ebanks-Blake to keep Rangers on course for a third away win of the season.

The hosts levelled with the first attack of the second half when Rowlands was adjudged to have handled in the box and Ebanks-Blake converted coolly from the penalty spot.

Barry Hayles headed wide from Halmosi's cross before substitute Dexter Blackstock headed straight at Argyle goalkeeper Romain Larrieu from Ainsworth's corner.

Mikele Leigertwood shot over from 20 yards before Ebanks-Blake's late winner left De Canio to ponder making wholesale reinforcements at Loftus Road when the transfer window opens in seven days.

QPR midfielder Leigertwood was sent off after the final whistle for showing dissent.
Sporting Life

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - MATCH REPORT
The Rangers revival faltered at Plymouth on Boxing Day as Luigi De Canio's men fought hard but conceded a late, late goal to lose 2-1 at Plymouth.
The R's took the lead at Home Park on 19 minutes when Gareth Ainsworth slotted home at the far post following good work by Akos Buzsaky and Martin Rowlands.
But right at the start of the second half Argyle drew level with a Sylvan Ebanks-Blake spot-kick after Simon Walton was adjudged to have handled in the box.
And the R's had to swallow a bitter pill of defeat when Ebanks-Blake netted in the fourth minute of injury time following a Peter Halmosi corner.
The visitors were left devastated at the final whistle after fighting so hard but, in the end, having nothing to show for their efforts.
De Canio made two changes to the side that started against Colchester on Saturday, with Rowlands and Walton coming in at the expense of Dexter Blackstock and Damion Stewart.
Stewart was forced to sit this one out owing to the red card he picked up against the U's, allowing Walton the opportunity to make his first competitive start since his summer switch from Charlton.
Meanwhile Rowlands overcame illness to feature, with Blackstock dropping to the bench.
Plymouth made three changes in the wake of their defeat at Crystal Palace, with Paul Connolly, Lilian Nalis and Ebanks-Blake replacing Dan Gosling, Gary Sawyer and Jermaine Easter respectively.
The R's came into this match on the back of a good run of form but it was the hosts who had the first chance after four minutes.
Connolly won the ball from Rowlands and found David Norris just inside the Rangers half. The Argyle winger was allowed to race 30 yards before firing a low shot inches wide of Lee Camp's right-hand post.
On ten minutes, Argyle again went close to unlocking the R's defence. Peter Halmosi's ball from the left was excellently dummied by Ebanks-Blake for the on-rushing Barry Hayles, but Camp was able to snuff out the chance.
But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 19th minute with their first real chance of the game.
Buzsaky - playing against his parent Club - found Rowlands down the left with a fantastic half-volley pass, and the R's wide man got to the by-line before pulling it back across the face of goal.
The chance looked to have gone when no-one was able to get a touch, but Ainsworth popped up at the far post to slide the ball home, to the delight of the travelling R's supporters.
Plymouth had the chance to restore parity on 26 minutes when Halmosi's deep cross from the left found David Norris but his looping header was easily gathered by Camp.
The hosts were having the majority of possession but Rangers - governed by the inspirational Walton - looked comfortable with whatever Paul Sturrock's men could throw at them.
Argyle had a great chance to draw level on the half-hour mark, however, when Halmosi's delightful free-kick from just outside the Rangers box was met by the sliding Nalis, but Camp was equal to it, saving from six yards with his feet.
For all their possession, the hosts couldn't find a way through in the opening half and the sides went in at the break with Rangers leading 1-0.
Three minutes after the interval, Argyle were given the perfect opportunity to draw level when Walton was adjudged to have handled in the area. Halmosi cut in from the left before firing goalwards. His effort hit the R's defender on the arm from close range and, after a long think, referee Steve Bratt pointed to the spot.
Ebanks-Blake made no mistake from 12 yards, firing low to Camp's right to score his tenth goal of the season.
The game went through a scrappy spell following the equaliser with three yellow cards being brandished by the referee in a matter of minutes as the match threatened to boil over.
With a little over 20 minutes remaining, De Canio replaced Rowlands with Marc Nygaard, putting Vine wide left. And shortly after, Buzsaky's return to his 'current' Club came to an end when he made way for Blackstock as the R's looked to hit Argyle on the break as the hosts searched for a winner.
And Blackstock, who previously enjoyed a loan spell at Home Park, was soon into the thick of the action as he won a corner for the visitors.
From Ainsworth's delivery, it was Blackstock who rose highest to power a header goalwards from eight yards, only for Romain Larrieu to deny him with a decent save.
At the other end Lee Hodges went close with a deft header from a Halmosi corner, and as the game seemed to be drawing to a close, the hosts had one final chance.
Halmosi's delivery caused panic in the R's six-yard box and, after initially hitting the bar, Ebanks-Blake was on hand to smash home a late, late winner.
To add insult to injury, Adam Bolder was shown his second yellow card for dissent after the final whistle. EDIT: THIS WAS CHANGED TO LEIGERTWOOD SENT OFF, NOT Bolder"To add insult to injury, Mikele Leigertwood was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.
Plymouth Argyle: Larrieu, Connolly, Nalis, Timar, Norris, Ebanks-Blake, Hayles (Easter, 73), Halmosi, Hodges, Seip, Abdou (Martin, 73).
Subs: Fallon, Sawyer, Gosling.
Goals: Ebanks-Blake (49), (90)
Bookings: Ebanks-Blake (52), Nalis (86)
Red Cards: Bolder (90)
QPR: Camp, Barker, Bolder, Buzsaky (Blackstock, 78), Ainsworth, Rowlands (Nygaard, 67), Walton, Malcolm, Vine, Rehman, Leigertwood.Subs: Cole, Moore, Kanyuka.
Goals: Ainsworth (19) Bookings: Buzsaky (30), Rowlands (45), Ainsworth (51), Walton (52), Bolder (70), Nygaard (76), Leigertwood (90)
Attendance: 16,502 (QPR fans: 698) QPR Official Site

PLYMOUTH OFFICIAL SITE - REPORT
PÉTER Halmosi outshone compatriot Ákos Buzsáky on the latter's return to Home Park, helping Argyle come from behind to earn a Boxing Day victory that keeps the Pilgrims just where their manager wants them to be, on the coat-tails of the play-offs.

A late injury-time goal by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who had earlier netted the Pilgrims' leveller shortly after the interval , sent Argyle back into the top seven and a huge Christmas crowd home happy - but it was close.

The opening goals were the result of some perspicacious approach play by the two Hungarians.

Rangers took the lead when Buzsáky began the move that saw Gareth Ainsworth give the visitors the lead midway through the first half.

However, Argyle levelled soon after the interval when Halmosi's incisive running brought about the penalty from which Ebanks-Blake netted his tenth goal of the season.

Argyle manager Paul Sturrock had jettisoned the 4-4-3 starting line-up that had served him to mixed effect on the road at Watford and Crystal Palace.

Luggy recalled right-back Paul Connolly and central midfielder Lilian Nalis after losing them both to suspension a fortnight ago. Victory at Watford meant they were not brought back at the Palace, where a 2-1 defeat last week necessitated the changes.

Connolly was a straight swap with young Dan Gosling, while Nalis's recall allowed Lee Hodges to drop to left-back in place of Gary Sawyer.

A further change was made in the attack, where Jermaine Easter, the Pilgrims' goalscorer at Selhurst Park, was omitted in favour of Ebanks-Blake.

Fit-again Lee Martin and Rory Fallon were among those recalled to sit alongside Easter on the substitutes' bench.

Rangers Italian manager Luigi De Canio had made two changes to the 11 that started Saturday's 2-1 victory over Colchester at Loftus Road, one enforced, one from choice.

Defender Damion Stewart missed the trip to the Westcountry, having been dismissed at the weekend, while striker Dexter Blackstock, who had a successful loan spell at Home Park three seasons ago, was relegated to the substitutes' bench.

Simon Walton was called from the bench to fulfil defensive duties, while Martin Rowlands returned after illness to replace the sacrificed Blackstock as De Canio opted for a five-man midfield, with former Pilgrim Ákos Buzsáky playing in the hole behind lone loan striker Rowan Vine.

If home supporters had half an eye on Buzsáky, his ex-team mate David Norris quickly diverted their attention with a storming run from halfway that went on, and on, and on, until it ended with a low shot across goalkeeper Lee Camp that drifted just wide.

Buzsáky had enjoyed a generous welcome from Home Park's largest crowd of the season which was not as hot as the zeal with which Krisztián Timár nailed his compatriot on a couple of occasions.

Argyle looked lively, with quick, precise and ambitious passing, and some neat little moves that promised more than they ultimately delivered.

Without having looked remotely troubled for a second, Argyle then found themselves a goal down. Buzsáky's ball to Martin Rowlands on the left was hooked out more in hope than expectation but Connolly's slip allowed the Rangers' winger all the time in the world to make the byeline and measure his cross.

The ball went all the way across the face of the goal, barely a yard out, missing players right, left and centre, and Argyle appeared to be the recipients of a monumental let-off until Ainsworth applied a devastating finishing touch.

It took a while - and a yellow-card indiscretion from Buzáky - for the Pilgrims to regain the momentum. After the Rangers' man left his foot in on tackle on Paul Connolly, Nalis helped on Halmosi's free-kick, only for Camp to keep the ball out with his feet.

As the first half ticked away, Argyle raised the tempo and came close to equalising with successive corners.

First, Nalis got his head to Halmosi's right-wing inswinger, with Rangers' defender Chris Barker helping the ball out. Then, Timár rose to nod Norris's delivery from the opposite flank wide.

As they had done at Selhurst Park, Argyle emerged strong and purposeful, and Halmosi had already caused ripples down the QPR right when he won the penalty from which Argyle equalised.

Skipping in between Bolder and Ainsworth, Halmosi tried his luck from just inside the penalty area only for the ball to strike Rowlands. It seemed a clear case of handball, but referee Steve Bratt took an age to give the decision, going right against the old cliché of pointing to the spot without hesitation.

Ebanks-Blake dispatched the opportunity with his customary finish from 12 yards, low and to the goalkeeper's right.

A feisty few minutes followed in which the Argyle goalscorer was booked after a running battle with Walton that went on as play continued around them.

The Green machine was not exactly firing on all cylinders, but still looked capable of getting there when it went through the gears, and Marcel Seip was close to applying a decisive final headed touch to a Halmosi corner played to the far post.

Luggy sent on Lee Martin and Jermaine Easter with 20 minutes remaining, an offensive move and one which offered more width, before Buzsáky gave way to Blackstock for the visitors.

It was QPR who finished the game stronger and looking the team more likely to sneak away with the three points, not least of all when Blackstock headed a corner straight at the previously underemployed Romain Larrieu.

When Argyle did ping the ball out wide, they threatened. Halmosi found Easter in the centre of goal without a marker but the Welshman's header did not match the cross.

Argyle should have been awarded a second penalty when Barker miskicked a clearance. Bratt decided the ball struck chest, which suggests they teach anatomy rather differently in the West Midlands.

Another Halmosi corner, just before the 90 minutes elapsed, went all the way across the goal without receiving more than a feather touch from Hodges' head.

Then chance for victory appeared to have gone, until Ebanks-Blake popped up to slam the ball home from close range following another dangerous Halmosi corner.

The understandable frustration was too much for QPR midfielder Mikele Leigertwood, who earned himself a belated red card for berating a haggard looking referee after the final whistle.

Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Romain Larrieu; 2 Paul Connolly, 5 Krisztián Timár, 19 Marcel Seip, 17 Lee Hodges; 7 David Norris, 26 Jimmy Abdou (29 Lee Martin 73), 4 Lillian Nalis, 16 Péter Halmosi; 9 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, 10 Barry Hayles (capt, 36 Jermaine Easter 73). Substitutes (not used): 14 Rory Fallon, 18 Gary Sawyer, 22 Dan Gosling.

Booked: Ebanks-Blake 53, Nalis 86, Easter 88.

Queens Park Rangers (4-5-1): 1 Lee Camp; 25 Bob Malcolm, 19 Simon Walton, 28 Zesh Rehman, 3 Chris Barker; 11 Gareth Ainsworth, 2 Mikele Leigertwood, 7 Adam Bolder (capt), 10 Ákos Buzsáky (9 Dexter Blackstock 76), 14 Martin Rowlands (30 Marc Nygaard 68); 26 Rowan Vine. Substitutes (not used): 12 Jake Cole (gk), 18 Stefan Moore, 24 Pat Kanyuka. Plymouth


MINUTE BY MINUTE - SPORTING LIFE
90
The referee blows for full time.
90
Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
90
Plymouth freekick taken by Lilian Nalis
90
Mikele Leigertwood (QPR) booked for unsporting behaviour
90
Foul on Jermaine Easter (Plymouth) by Mikele Leigertwood (QPR), free kick awarded
90
Goal scored by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth)
90
Shot by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth) : on target
90
Plymouth corner from the Right taken by Peter Halmosi
90
Plymouth freekick taken by Romain Larrieu
90
Foul on Krisztian Timar (Plymouth) by Dexter Blackstock (QPR), free kick awarded
90
QPR freekick taken by Chris Barker
90
Foul on Rowan Vine (QPR) by Lee Martin (Plymouth), free kick awarded
90
Plymouth freekick taken by Paul Connolly
90
Plymouth corner from the Right taken by Marcel Seip
90
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
89
Jermaine Easter (Plymouth) booked for dissent
89
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
89
Foul on Chris Barker (QPR) by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth), free kick awarded
89
Plymouth freekick taken by Romain Larrieu
88
Foul on Lilian Nalis (Plymouth) by Rowan Vine (QPR), free kick awarded
88
QPR freekick taken by Simon Walton
87
Lilian Nalis (Plymouth) booked for unsporting behaviour
87
Foul on Marc Nygaard (QPR) by Lilian Nalis (Plymouth), free kick awarded
87
Plymouth freekick taken by Lee Hodges
87
Foul on Lee Hodges (Plymouth) by Gareth Ainsworth (QPR), free kick awarded
86
Shot by Mikele Leigertwood (QPR) : it goes over
86
QPR throw-in taken by Rowan Vine
85
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
84
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
83
Plymouth freekick taken by Paul Connolly
83
Foul on David Norris (Plymouth) by Dexter Blackstock (QPR), free kick awarded
82
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
80
QPR corner from the Left taken by Adam Bolder: the defence clears
80
QPR are in control of the match. Key player: Marcel Seip
80
Caught by Romain Larrieu (Plymouth)
80
Header by Dexter Blackstock (QPR) : the 'keeper has it covered
79
QPR corner from the Right taken by Gareth Ainsworth
78
Plymouth freekick taken by Romain Larrieu
78
Foul on Lee Hodges (Plymouth) by Gareth Ainsworth (QPR), free kick awarded
78
QPR freekick taken by Robert Malcolm
78
Foul on Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) by Peter Halmosi (Plymouth), free kick awarded
78
QPR tactical substitution: Akos Buzsaky replaced by Dexter Blackstock
77
Plymouth freekick taken by Romain Larrieu
77
Marc Nygaard (QPR) booked for unsporting behaviour
77
Foul on Jermaine Easter (Plymouth) by Marc Nygaard (QPR), free kick awarded
76
QPR corner from the Left taken by Akos Buzsaky: the defence clears
76
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
76
Foul on Chris Barker (QPR) by Krisztian Timar (Plymouth), free kick awarded
75
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
74
Plymouth tactical substitution: Nadjim Abdou replaced by Lee Martin
73
Plymouth tactical substitution: Barry Hayles replaced by Jermaine Easter
72
Plymouth freekick taken by Romain Larrieu
71
QPR freekick taken by Simon Walton
71
Foul on Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) by Lilian Nalis (Plymouth), free kick awarded
70
Plymouth are in control of the match. Key player: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
70
Plymouth freekick taken by Lilian Nalis
70
Adam Bolder (QPR) booked for unsporting behaviour
70
Foul on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth) by Adam Bolder (QPR), free kick awarded
69
QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
68
QPR tactical substitution: Martin Rowlands replaced by Marc Nygaard
66
Header by Barry Hayles (Plymouth) : it goes wide
65
Plymouth freekick taken by Peter Halmosi
65
Foul on Barry Hayles (Plymouth) by Chris Barker (QPR), free kick awarded
65
Plymouth throw-in taken by David Norris
62
Plymouth throw-in taken by Peter Halmosi
61
QPR freekick taken by Akos Buzsaky
61
Foul on Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) by Peter Halmosi (Plymouth), free kick awarded
60
Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Peter Halmosi
60
Plymouth freekick taken by Romain Larrieu
59
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
58
Foul on Robert Malcolm (QPR) by Lilian Nalis (Plymouth), free kick awarded
58
Plymouth corner from the Left taken by David Norris: the ref spots an infringement
57
Plymouth throw-in taken by Lee Hodges
55
Shot by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth) : it goes over
54
QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
53
Simon Walton (QPR) booked for dissent
53
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth) booked for dissent
51
Plymouth freekick taken by Romain Larrieu
51
Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) booked for unsporting behaviour
51
Foul on Marcel Seip (Plymouth) by Gareth Ainsworth (QPR), free kick awarded
51
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
51
Foul on Zeshan Rehman (QPR) by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth), free kick awarded
50
Plymouth are in control of the match. Key player: Peter Halmosi
50
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
50
Penalty scored by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth)
50
Penalty taken by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth); power left low: scored
49
Handball by Martin Rowlands (QPR )
48
Plymouth throw-in taken by Lee Hodges
48
QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
47
Plymouth freekick taken by Romain Larrieu
47
Foul on Lee Hodges (Plymouth) by Gareth Ainsworth (QPR), free kick awarded
47
QPR freekick taken by Simon Walton
46
Foul on Akos Buzsaky (QPR) by Krisztian Timar (Plymouth), free kick awarded
45
The second half kicks off.
45
The referee blows for half time.
45
QPR freekick taken by Robert Malcolm
45
Foul on Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) by Lee Hodges (Plymouth), free kick awarded
45
QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
45
Plymouth freekick taken by Paul Connolly
45
Martin Rowlands (QPR) booked for unsporting behaviour
45
Foul on David Norris (Plymouth) by Martin Rowlands (QPR), free kick awarded
45
QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
44
Caught by Lee Camp (QPR)
44
Header by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth) : the 'keeper has it covered
43
Plymouth corner from the Right taken by Peter Halmosi: the defence clears
42
Header by Krisztian Timar (Plymouth) : it goes wide
42
Plymouth corner from the Left taken by David Norris
41
Plymouth corner from the Right taken by Peter Halmosi
41
QPR freekick taken by Simon Walton
41
Foul on Rowan Vine (QPR) by Lilian Nalis (Plymouth), free kick awarded
40
Plymouth are in control of the match. Key player: Simon Walton
40
Shot by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth) : it goes wide
38
QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
37
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
37
QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
37
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
36
Foul on Simon Walton (QPR) by David Norris (Plymouth), free kick awarded
36
Plymouth freekick taken by Romain Larrieu
36
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
35
QPR freekick taken by Simon Walton
35
Foul on Chris Barker (QPR) by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth), free kick awarded
35
Shot by Zeshan Rehman (QPR) : it goes over
34
QPR corner from the Right taken by Akos Buzsaky
34
QPR freekick taken by Robert Malcolm
34
Foul on Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) by Barry Hayles (Plymouth), free kick awarded
33
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
33
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
32
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
32
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
32
Handball by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth )
31
Saved by Lee Camp (QPR)
31
Shot by Lilian Nalis (Plymouth) : the 'keeper has it covered
31
Plymouth freekick taken by Peter Halmosi
31
Akos Buzsaky (QPR) booked for unsporting behaviour
31
Foul on Paul Connolly (Plymouth) by Akos Buzsaky (QPR), free kick awarded
30
Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Barry Hayles
30
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
30
QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
30
Plymouth freekick taken by Lilian Nalis
30
Foul on Lilian Nalis (Plymouth) by Rowan Vine (QPR), free kick awarded
29
QPR freekick taken by Martin Rowlands
28
Foul on Rowan Vine (QPR) by Nadjim Abdou (Plymouth), free kick awarded
28
QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
27
Plymouth freekick taken by Peter Halmosi
27
Foul on Barry Hayles (Plymouth) by Adam Bolder (QPR), free kick awarded
27
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
26
QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
26
Caught by Lee Camp (QPR)
26
Header by David Norris (Plymouth) : the 'keeper has it covered
25
Plymouth freekick taken by Marcel Seip
25
Foul on Marcel Seip (Plymouth) by Akos Buzsaky (QPR), free kick awarded
24
Plymouth throw-in taken by Lee Hodges
24
Plymouth throw-in taken by Lee Hodges
22
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
22
Foul on Robert Malcolm (QPR) by Barry Hayles (Plymouth), free kick awarded
21
QPR freekick taken by Martin Rowlands
21
Foul on Akos Buzsaky (QPR) by Krisztian Timar (Plymouth), free kick awarded
20
Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Gareth Ainsworth
20
Goal scored by Gareth Ainsworth (QPR)
20
Shot by Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) : on target
19
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
16
Shot by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth) : it goes wide
14
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
14
Foul on Robert Malcolm (QPR) by Barry Hayles (Plymouth), free kick awarded
12
QPR freekick taken by Akos Buzsaky
12
Foul on Akos Buzsaky (QPR) by Krisztian Timar (Plymouth), free kick awarded
11
Plymouth throw-in taken by Paul Connolly
10
Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Lilian Nalis
9
QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
9
Plymouth freekick taken by Marcel Seip
8
Foul on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth) by Mikele Leigertwood (QPR), free kick awarded
8
QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
7
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
7
Plymouth freekick taken by Marcel Seip
6
Foul on David Norris (Plymouth) by Gareth Ainsworth (QPR), free kick awarded
5
QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
5
QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
4
Shot by David Norris (Plymouth) : it goes wide
3
QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
3
Shot by Lilian Nalis (Plymouth) : it goes wide
2
Plymouth corner from the Right taken by Peter Halmosi
2
QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
2
Foul on Simon Walton (QPR) by Nadjim Abdou (Plymouth), free kick awarded
1
QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
1
Plymouth throw-in taken by Lee Hodges
0
The match has kicked off

-
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Don't go crazy in January sales
HEARING that one of the world's richest men has decided to invest in your club is never going to be viewed as bad news.
In fact, most QPR fans will have been pinching themselves after realising that several years of poverty and flirting with administration are apparently now consigned to history.
Having two mega-rich owners in Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone seemed incredible enough - but their fortunes are dwarfed by that of steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal.
Kensington-based Mittal, who has bought a 20 per cent stake in Rangers, is said to be worth £25bn, and will be represented on the board by his son-in-law, financier Amit Bhatia.
Their arrival has given rise to frenzied talk of Rs boss Luigi de Canio being handed the biggest kitty in the club's history by far when the transfer window opens next week.
"Obviously I won't have unlimited resources," de Canio admitted. "Everyone has a budget to stick to and when the time comes we will sit down and discuss the budget.
"I can foresee a bright future. We will work hard to get things right and do it in the right manner and we will do it by trying to utilise all our finances."
In those circumstances, it's easy for supporters to be totally carried away and assume that all QPR's on-field problems will be resolved by lavish spending on players next month - 10, maybe, or 12?
But one look at the kind of players and prices being touted in the tabloids at the moment should fill Rangers fans with concern.
Why, they might ask, are the club keen to sign a left-back and a right-sided midfielder from Sheffield Wednesday? Are Tommy Spurr and Jermaine Johnson any better than the players filling those positions at the moment?
Should Adam Bolder or Mikele Leigertwood make way for Watford defensive midfielder Gavin Mahon? Is Sunderland forward Daryl Murphy really worth £2m on the strength of half a decent season?
There is NO POINT in buying players just for the sake of it. QPR have already agreed deals to sign Rowan Vine and Akos Buzsaky on a permanent basis, but otherwise de Canio's shopping list should comprise four players.
A centre-back, a right-back, a left-sided midfielder and another forward to compete with the likes of Vine, Dexter Blackstock and Marc Nygaard should be sufficient to lift the team towards the top half of the table.
The high turnover of players under a succession of managers in the last few years is one of the reasons Rangers have struggled in the Championship. De Canio has spoken of the need for continuity, now his transfer policy needs to reflect a common-sense approach.
These are exciting times for QPR. Let's just remember that the worst thing a starving man can do is gorge immediately on an enormous meal. Kilburn Times


Gareth Ainsworth/Kilburn Times25 December 2007
EXCITING times lie ahead for QPR, without a doubt - but nobody should assume that money earns automatic promotion.
This league is notorious as one of the hardest in Europe to get out of. It's difficult to just buy your way out of it unless you make sure strong foundations are in place.
The investment that's just come in has given us the foundations - now we need to build a structure on top of them and that means not just developing the first-team squad, but the youth section as well.
If you look at Arsenal and Manchester United, bringing young talent through is key to their success and that's what needs to happen here.
Kevin Gallen was one of the last to come through the ranks at QPR and he went on to become a legend. Jake Cole and Angelo Balanta are the only two who are really involved at the moment.
Of course we need a few new players as well and, in one sense, nobody will be totally confident of keeping his place when the transfer window opens.
The way I look at it is that I don't care who comes in, I'll continue to give my all and it's up to the manager who he wants to pick. But it's a brave manager who drops a player in form.
At the moment, we are in decent form and I think the best team won when we beat Colchester last weekend.
Akos Buzsaky's definitely got his shooting boots on at the moment - he scores many a goal in training - but credit too to the nine or 10 lads who were behind him towards the end of the game.
I don't think there can be any complaints about the red card. Damo went in hard, he caught a leg and, by the letter of the law, he had to go.
But the referee also got it right on the penalty decision at the end. If Bob Malcolm caught Kevin Lisbie, it was outside the penalty area and Kevin did himself no favours by diving into the box.
Obviously we need to keep picking up points and we've got two difficult games over the New Year.
Watford were flying not so long ago, but they've shown that they can be vulnerable at home in recent weeks.
As for Leicester, all the talk will be about Ollie, and he'll be desperate to get his new team firing at Loftus Road.
There's no time to rest or sit back - let's hope we begin 2008 as we mean to carry on. Kilburn Times


Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Nardiello's new goals for the new year
HE'S hardly played, he hasn't scored and his team are scratching around at the bottom of the league instead of building a play-off challenge.
But QPR striker Danny Nardiello has no regrets about turning his back on both Barnsley and hometown club Coventry to move to Loftus Road last summer.
Hamstring and calf injuries have restricted 25-year-old Nardiello to just four starts for Rangers - and only two substitute appearances in the last two months.
Asked if, with hindsight, he should have signed a new deal with Barnsley or headed for the Ricoh Arena instead, Nardiello replied emphatically: "Not at all. This club's going places.
"I'm happy with everything at QPR. Although we're bottom of the league, we've got some good players and I think the owners are going to bring in a lot more in January.
"All that needs to change now is the football, which is the most important thing. If we string a few results together, we can push ourselves right up the table."
Nardiello, who has yet to register a senior goal for the Rs, rediscovered his shooting boots last week as he bagged both goals in the reserve team's 2-0 victory at Wycombe.
Not that the lack of goals has been confined to Nardiello this season - the whole team have found it something of a problem.
In fact, midfielder Akos Buzsaky - who only signed for Rangers in November - is the club's top scorer on five, followed by Rowan Vine and centre-back Damion Stewart on just three each.
"Even though I've been injured, I've still been watching the games and we've created a lot of chances to put the ball in the back of the net," said Nardiello. "It just hasn't seemed to go our way so far.
"I've had a bit of a nightmare with injuries - I haven't really had a chance to prove myself as yet, but it was good to get some football under my belt and score some goals.
"I'm fit now and I know if I get a chance, I can do the same as I did in the reserve game. I'm going to work hard and try to get in the team and prove myself.
"In a sense, the new year is a clean slate and I'm always confident in what I do. All I need is the opportunity to go out and do it and obviously if I don't do it, then fair enough."
And the Wales international's optimistic outlook on the future was further strengthened by last week's announcement that billionaire Lakshmi Mittal had bought a 20 per cent stake in QPR.
"We were already a rich club before he joined, with Flavio [Briatore] and Bernie [Ecclestone], but now it looks as though we're one of the richest clubs in the world," observed Nardiello.
"Obviously it's a good move for QPR, a very positive one for the fans and hopefully it'll turn out to be a successful one. Kilburn Times

-
Below: Results of QPR's Boxing Day Games Over The Past Forty Years, including two against Plymouth, both times, away!
In 1967, QPR won 1-0 at Plymouth, Mike Keen, Penalty, with Mick McGovern making his QPR debut. (Four days later, QPR completed their double, by defeating Plymouth 4-1 at Loftus Road. Rodney Marsh, 2 and Mike Keen 2.) QPR's 1967 team at Plymouth: Springett, Clement Hazell Keetch Harris, Morgan, Keen, Sanderson, Morgan, McGovern, Marsh.
Three years ago, Boxing Day 2004: Plymouth defeated QPR 2-1 in Plymouth. QPR's team: QPR Day, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Padula (Edghill 70), Miller (Best 45), Rowlands, Gallen, Cook (Ainsworth 73), Bircham, Furlong. Subs Not Used: Bean, McLeod.

BOXING DAY RESULTS

1966 QPR 3 Brighton 0

1967 Plymouth 0 QPR 1 (Keen Pen)

1968 QPR 0 WBA 4 (Part of our Division One Humiliation Season!0

1969 Millwall 2 QPR 0

1972 QPR 3 Orient 1 (Leach, Givens, Thomas)

1973 Spurs 0 QPR 0

1974 QPR 4 Leicester 2 (Beck, Thomas, Givens, Westwood)

1975 QPR 2 Norwich

1977 QPR 0 Derby 0

1978 QPR 2 Spurs 2 (Bowles, Shanks)

1980 QPR 3 West Ham 0 (Silkman, Curie, Stainrod)

1981 QPR 0 Chelsea 2

1984 QPR 2 Chelsea 2 Bannister. MCdonald

1987 QPR 1 Chelsea 1 (Kerslake)

1988 Aston Villa 2 QPR 1 (T. Francis)

1989 QPR 1 Coventry 1 Falco

1990 QPR 1 Liverpool 1 (Falco)

1981 QPR 0 Liverpool 0

1994 Crystal Palce 0 QPR 0

1995 Arsenal QPR 0

1996 QPR 3 Norwich 2 (Peacock, Dichio, Mcdermott)

1997 Portsmouth 3 QPR 1 (Sheron)

1998 QPR 2 Norwich 0 (Murray Peacock)

1999 Norwich 2 QPR 1

2000 QPR 2 Norwich 3

2001 QPR 0 Brighton 0

2002 QPR 2 Wycombe 1 (Rose, Gallen)

2003 Notts County 3 QPR 3

2004 Plymouth 2 QPR 1

2005 Brighton 1 QPR 0

2006 Birmingham 2 QPR 1


BOXING DAY 1967: Plymouth 0 QPR 1
On Boxing Day, 1967, QPR won at Plymouth 1-0 through a Mike Keen penalty. (Four days later, QPR completed their double, by defeating Plymouth 4-1 at Loftus Road. Rodney Marsh, 2 and Mike Keen 2.) QPR's team at Plymouth: Springett, Clement Hazell Keetch Harris, Morgan, Keen, Sanderson, Morgan, McGovern, Marsh. (

BOXING DAY 2004 - Sporting Life PLYMOUTH 2 QPR 1
A 49th-minute Micky Evans header gave Plymouth Argyle a 2-1 win and condemned Queen's Park Rangers to their fourth consecutive Coca-Cola Championship defeat.
Evans' third goal of the season sealed the win after Paul Wotton had given the Pilgrims the lead before Paul Furlong pulled a goal back for Rangers, who almost claimed a late point.
The home side took the lead in the 13th minute when recent signing Bjarni Gudjonsson, making his first start for Bobby Williamson's side, played the ball to Wotton from the right and the defender smacked a powerful long-range shot that found the top corner of keeper Chris Day's net.
But Plymouth's joy was cut short four minutes later when they were reduced to 10 men as defender Graham Coughlan was sent off for violent conduct after a poor challenge on Paul Furlong.
However, Ian Holloway's side could not make the extra man count and the game became littered with fouls.
QPR's Marc Bircham was next in the book after the half-hour mark for a foul on David Friio before Georges Santos had his name taken for clattering Evans.
Santos received his marching orders six minutes before half-time after receiving a second yellow for a tackle on Friio as Plymouth deservedly went in at the break 1-0 up.
Holloway replaced Adam Miller with on-loan Southampton striker Leon Best for the second half in an effort to give Rangers more attacking impetus.
But, unfortunately for the visitors, it was Plymouth who doubled their lead as Evans nodded in Paul Connolly's cross from the left on 49 minutes for the striker's third goal of the season.
Rangers got back into the game four minutes later through Furlong when Kevin Gallen's free-kick found the veteran striker, who drilled a low shot past Romain Larrieu.
Plymouth spurned a glorious chance to give themselves some breathing space on the hour mark.
Peter Gilbert's inviting cross was met by Marino Keith but the striker, who had been recalled to the Pilgrims' starting line-up, volleyed wide from close in.
QPR were competing better in the second period and Gallen brought a rare save out of Larrieu with a long-range effort before the French keeper kept out a Furlong header.
Holloway threw on Richard Edghill and Gareth Ainsworth in an attempt to salvage a point and Larrieu had to be alert to keep out a Bircham strike as QPR pressed for an equaliser.
Larrieu again came to Plymouth's rescue deep into injury time, parrying Martin Rowlands' shot from inside the area as the Pilgrims held on to claim a first league win in three games.
Teams
Plymouth Larrieu, Connolly, Doumbe, Coughlan, Gilbert, Capaldi, Friio, Wotton, Gudjonsson, Keith, Evans (Crawford 72). Subs Not Used: Hodges, Lasley, Adams, Norris. Sent Off: Coughlan (17). Booked: Wotton, Friio. Goals: Wotton 13, Evans 49.
QPR Day, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Padula (Edghill 70), Miller (Best 45), Rowlands, Gallen, Cook (Ainsworth 73), Bircham, Furlong. Subs Not Used: Bean, McLeod. Sporting Life

One Year Ago, Boxing Day 2006 Birmingham 2 QPR 1
[Only two players from last season's 11 (at most) will be playing today=

SPORTING LIFE: BIRMINGHAM 2 QPR 1
Birmingham celebrated their 100th anniversary at St Andrews in style as goals from Matthew Upson and Cameron Jerome secured a fifth straight Coca-Cola Championship win and extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points.

QPR winger Lee Cook briefly threatened to spoil the party by cancelling out Upson's 22nd-minute header to silence a near-full house but the Blues had the last laugh as second-half substitute Jerome fired the winner three minutes after replacing DJ Campbell.
Second-placed Preston lost at West Brom and Derby, third, went down at home against Wolves as Birmingham, held to a goalless draw by Middlesbrough in their first match at St Andrews on Boxing Day back in 1906, made it just one defeat in their last 13 league matches.
Birmingham, unchanged from the side that started at Southend on Saturday, went close to taking a second-minute lead when Nicklas Bendtner headed Gary McSheffrey's cross over the crossbar.
QPR responded through Dexter Blackstock, who shot wide from Cook's cross.
Home goalkeeper Maik Taylor held Jimmy Smith's 25-yard shot, while Bendtner saw his effort from the edge of the penalty area blocked by Rangers goalkeeper Simon Royce.
McSheffrey, a £4million summer signing from Coventry, was involved in most of Birmingham's better work and from his free-kick on the left the Blues took a 22nd-minute lead.
Damion Stewart was penalised for his challenge on Campbell and Upson rose highest to head McSheffrey's pin-point cross beyond Royce.
McSheffrey's diving header from Mathew Sadler's cross flashed wide before the visitors put a dampener on their hosts' celebrations in the 31st minute.
Furlong set up Cook on the left side of the area and the winger sent his shot arrowing into the top corner.
Royce turned away Campbell's goalbound 20-yarder at full stretch and held Bendtner's header as City looked to regain their advantage before the break.
Bendtner went close again with a header from another McSheffrey corner shortly after the restart, while Blackstock also headed over and fired wide from 25 yards.
City manager Steve Bruce sent on Jerome for Campbell just before the hour and the striker despatched McSheffrey's pass into the bottom corner from 12 yards three minutes later.
Radhi Jaidi and Upson both went close to extending Birmingham's lead with headers from a free-kick and corner while McSheffrey had two 30-yard strikes that whistled over the crossbar.
QPR used all three of their substitutes - Rowlands, Jones and Stefan Bailey - midway through the second half
but apart from long-range shots from Rehman and Cook, the latter's blocked by Stephen Clemence, the visitors failed to create clear-cut chances.
Teams
Birmingham Maik Taylor, Kelly, Jaidi, Upson (Larsson 89),Sadler, Johnson, Nafti, Clemence, McSheffrey, Bendtner,Campbell (Jerome 59), Jerome (Muamba 90).
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Danns.
Booked: Bendtner.
Goals: Upson 22, Jerome 62.

QPR Royce, Bignot, Mancienne, Rehman, Stewart,Milanese (Rowlands 75), Bircham (Bailey 59), Smith, Cook,Furlong, Blackstock (Ray Jones 81).
Subs Not Used: Cole, Ward.
Booked: Milanese. Sporting Life

FIVE YEARS AGO, BOXING DAY 2002, QPR 2 Wycombe 1
QPR's squad: Chris Day, Clarke Carlisle, Terrell Forbes, Matthew Rose, Richard Langley, Steve Palmer, Brett Angell, Marc Bircham, Lee Cook, Nicky Culkin, Paul Furlong, Kevin Gallen, Daniel Shittu, Andy Thomson

Boxing Day, 1999 Norwich 2 QPR 1
Norwich: A. Marshall, Sutch, Fleming, Jackson, Fuglestad, Anselin, de Blasiis, Russell, Llewellyn, Roberts, Diop.
Subs Not Used: Green, Mackay, Coote, L. Marshall, Kenton.
Sent Off: Llewellyn (90).
Booked: Llewellyn, Fuglestad, Russell.
Goals: Breacker 25 og, Llewellyn 87.

QPR: Miklosko, Breacker, Baraclough, Ward, Darlington, Plummer, Wardley, Langley, Murray (Gallen 89), Steiner, Kiwomya.
Subs Not Used: Bankole, Kulcsar, McGovern, Bruce
Sent Off: Langley (89).
Booked: Langley.
Goals: Wardley 40.
Sporting Life

And A decade ago, Portmouth 3 QPR 1
Victory for bottom of the table Portsmouth!
Portsmouth: Knight, Pethick, Thomson, McLoughlin, Waterman, Awford, Hall (Igoe 89), Foster, Aloisi (Durnin 84), Svensson, Turner.
Subs Not Used: Perrett.
Goals: Pethick 35, McLoughlin 62 pen, Hall 80.

QPR: Roberts, Yates, Brazier, Quashie, Ready, Maddix, Spencer (Gallen 74), Peacock, Murray, Sheron, Sinclair. Subs Not Used: Barker, Perry.
Goals: Sheron 31. Sporting Life


Sporting Life

-
The funeral for Jim Langley was held last Friday, with a number of former players in attendance. Below is an obituary from last Friday with warm memories from his son, Peter.

Ealing Gazette - December 21, 2007
The QPR swansong that gave Langley unexpected finale.
Jim Langley only joined QPR for a quiet end to his playing career after a fruitful time with Fulham and England - but ended up with the most cherished memory of them all, writes Chris Longhurst.
Langley, who passed away last week aged 78, ended up a Wembley winner in the Rs' famous 1967 League Cup final team and helped the team to promotion from the old third division.
His son Peter Langley, 53, told the Gazette: "He left to join QPR really to have a rest because he felt his career was coming to an end!
"He wanted to take it easy and thought being at a team in the third division would be just the kind of relaxing experience he was looking for.
"Instead he found himself there when they were right on the upswing and that is unquestionably where he experienced his greatest joy as a player, winning the double and getting to play club football at Wembley."
Langley, whose funeral takes place today (Friday) at Breaks-pear crematorium left some happy memories behind at both clubs - who both praised the defender this week.
And Peter says his dad - whose hobby was collecting cigarette cards - was very fond of his time with both clubs.
"Dad loved his time at Fulham," he said. "That was where he really got to experience the fame of being a professional football player. It led to all sorts of socialising and my brother and sister and myself used to have no choice but to be dragged down to Craven Cot tage every weekend to watch him in action.
"We would sit in the cottage where the club's lounge bar and snooker table were and after the game there would always be a crowd of people in there having a drink and a laugh.
"Us kids were older by the time of the '67 final so we no longer got forced to go and watch him, but we still went anyway. My sister's hero was Rodney Marsh and watching Dad in the same team as him was amazing.
"He found the football did take its toll on him but he never complained and was very highly thought of by the manager Alec Stock.
"When dad was playing for Hillingdon Borough in 1969, they beat Luton Town in the second round of the FA Cup.
"Luton were being managed by Stock and he told dad before the game that if Hillingdon won he would eat his famous Trilby hat.
"After the game, Dad saved it from being eaten by claiming it for himself and he always kept it as a memento."
Langley joined Fulham from Brighton for £12,000 in 1957 and was with them when his second call up to the England team came in 1958 which saw him head to Wembley for the first time. On that occasion England won 2-1 against Portugal with both goals scored by Bobby Charlton.
After eight years with Fulham Jim joined QPR and was in the 1966-67 team which clinched both the third division title and the League Cup.
In March this year the club marked the 40th anniversary of that triumph and Peter went along to represent his father who was too ill to attend.
"Dad meant a lot to the club for what he helped them achieve and it was wonderful to be there and hear everyone pay tribute to him," Peter said. Ealing Gazette

Also Earlier obituaries for Jim Langley

-
Scott Donnelly Turns 20: Born December 25, 1987

Donnelly made 13 league appearances (3 full, + 10 as sub). Made his debut as a 16 year old in October 2004, against Preston. Released last year, Donnelly joined Wealdstone. He's currently at Garry Waddock's Aldershot, but he's injured.
Career Stats See also: Wikipedia/Donnelly


What Donnelly Said in February 2007, re his QPR Departure

Scott sets his sights on league comeback - Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times
SCOTT Donnelly is determined to prove John Gregory wrong for booting him out of QPR - despite dropping down five divisions to kick-start his career.
Donnelly, one of eight Rangers players to be axed by Gregory last month, has been tur ning out for Southern League strugglers Wealdstone in recent weeks.
But the midfield playmaker - once rated as the best prospect to emerge from the yo uth set-up at Loftus Road for several years - is confident of returning to the Football League sooner rather than later.
Referring to his exit from QPR, the 19-year-old told the Times: "I saw it coming, to be honest. I'd been training with the youth team and you pick up signs that you're not really wanted.
"No disrespect to John Gregory or Richard Hill, they'd decided on their squad and unfortunately I wasn't in it.
"It's a kick in the teeth, but I've got to be strong enough to get back in there and make them regret releasing me. Hopefully it won't be long and I'll be back, maybe playing against QPR, who knows?
"When D-Day came, I didn't want to go - not only leaving some of the lads and that, also QPR was a good club to be at. But hopefully I've taken a step back to take two steps forward and I want to achieve that soon."
Donnelly was just 16 when he made his first-team debut for Rangers at Preston and had become a regular on the substitutes' bench by the end of Ian Holloway's reign at the club.
The youngster also featured significantly under Gary Waddock - his old youth team boss - but was given just one appearance by Gregory, against Derby last October.
Offloaded in January, Donnelly had a brief trial at Leyton Orient before John O'Brien, formerly QPR's head of recruitment, recommended him to Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett.
"I got a phone call from Gordon about a month ago and he asked me if I wanted to come down, play a couple of games and keep myself ticking over until I found something else," said Donnelly.
"I hadn't played for quite a few weeks, so I jumped at the chance and I'm enjoying myself again. It's just around the corner, so it's easy to get to and I'm trying to get back into the swing of playing football regularly."
So far, the midfielder has played five matches in a Stones shirt and, while the hurly-burly of Southern League football often passes him by, there is little doubt that his ability on the ball exceeds any other at this level.
Wealdstone have won four of those five games and Bartlett has made it clear he intends to get as much as he can out of the youngster, describing him as 'a good player with a lovely attitude'.
Donnelly added: "I can't wait to get back into the Football League - this is a stepping stone and the manager knows what I'm here for. He's very understanding of that.
"I'm more motivated now than in the last few weeks I spent at QPR and when something does come along, I'll be fit, ready and raring to go. Kilburn Times

January 2007 - QPR OFFICIAL SITE - DONNELLY DEPARTS
QPR midfielder Scott Donnelly has had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
The 19 year-old - who made just three starts for the R's in all competitions, as well as featuring a further 11 times from the bench - has left the Club with immediate effect.
Another product of the clubs Centre of Excellence, Donnelly signed a professional contract with the Superhoops in December 2005, just days before his 18th birthday.
Donnelly - who has previously represented England at Under-17 level - made nine appearances in total during the 2005/06 campaign.
However, he has failed to make an impact under the guidance of gaffer John Gregory and has today parted company with the Club. QPR

ONE YEAR AGO: QPR's Scott Donnelly's Christmas Birthday-
QPR's Scott Donnelly Turns 19: Born December, 25 1987
Ian Holloway gave him his debut, with Donnelly coming on as sub against Preston in October 2004 at aged 16. Gary Waddock then gave him his full debut against Crystal Palace in February 2006. Donnelly came on as sub in QPR's opening game of this season, away to Burnely. Donnelly
[According to a number of posters on the various QPR messageboards, Scott Donnelly is one of a number of QPR players being released. If those reports are accurate, then one can only wish him much success in his future football career.]

QPR's Official Site Profile -Another product of the clubs Centre of Excellence, teenager Scott Donnelly signed a professional contract with the Superhoops in December 2005, just days before his 18th birthday.Donnelly, who has previously represented England at under 17 level, made nine appearances in total during the 2005/06 campaign, including a strong display at Ewood Park - the home of Blackburn Rovers - in the FA Cup third round.
A talented playmaker, Donnelly is a set-piece specialist, with the unique ability to unlock the meanest of defences with an inch-perfect through ball.

Playing Career thus far - Soccerbase

Daves's Queens Park Rangers Site Profile of Donnelly - Donnelly

Skysports article on Donnelly signing a professional contract in 2006 - Skysports

Donnelly was on the Italy tour with QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - JULY 2006 DAY ONE -SCOTT DONNELLY
QPR's pre-season trip has begun and each day we'll be catching up with the latest happenings with our players' diary entries.
Today a home sick Scott Donnelly told qpr.co.uk how his first day had been as Gary Waddock walked past three times, unable to get his door key to open his room.
Despite the fact that Monday was pencilled in as a rest day for the players - an hour long meeting this morning, followed by a pre-match meal left little time for any play.
A local tailor then came to measure the players for matching suits and then it was off to Sorrento.
Here's how Scott Donnelly has found the first day of his first trip abroad.
"I didn't mind the flight, it was a nice steady journey all the way - there were a couple of the lads who don't enjoy it as much but thankfully they got here in one piece!
The hotel is unbelievable and the food is lovely. The people are really friendly as well, they just can't understand us!
The pool looks nice, but it's been all work so far and none of us have had a chance to go in it yet.
We had a meeting this morning to go over what we'd be doing throughout the week and what our schedule will be.
We went through everything to do with pre-season so far. We were given the opportunity to go through things that we didn't like, but hardly anyone had any complaints.
It's been spot on throughout and there wasn't very much negative feedback at all. In fact, the only complaints were that some of the lads wanted to do MORE training.
Then we went through tonight's game against Sorrento and talked about how we're going to approach it.
I'm rooming with Jake Cole, I get on really well with him and he's in the same boat as me.
It was a massive thing for me that I got picked to come here and really was made up, this is my first trip away with QPR and it's great to be here and it's a great experience.
I've never been to Italy before, but I'd definitely come back with my family or my girlfriend. I'd like to be able to order my food and drink on my own though without having to ask Mauro or Marc!
I'm looking forward to the game tonight; I've never played a foreign team before so this will be a bit of a change for me." QPR
QPR Report

-
One of the things that evoke nostalgia for "the good old days" (in hazy memory, if not always at the time) was the old home and away games against the same team, over Christmas or Easter - sometimes even on consecutive days. Not quite clear why this ended: whether it was too punishing on the players, but end it did (as did the three games in four or five days over Easter).

The last time this occurred, was forty years ago in QPR's 1967/68 Promotion season. QPR's opponents: Plymouth Argyle, away on Boxing Day! (And four days later, Plymouth at Loftus Road.)
On Boxing Day, 1967, QPR won at Plymouth 1-0 through a Mike Keen penalty. Four days later, QPR completed their double, by defeating Plymouth 4-1 at Loftus Road. Rodney Marsh, 2 and Mike Keen 2. Springett, Clement Hazell Keetch Harris, Morgan, Keen, Sanderson, Morgan, McGovern, Marsh. (Mick McGovern making his QPR debut) (In the 'return game', Wilks replaced McGovern.

In 1966/67 played Brighton (H) 3-0 and next day away (2-2). In 1964/65: QPR were at Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day, and then a couple of days later, home to Bristol Rovers.
In 1963/64, over Easter, QPR played Wrexham at home; Reading the next day and then Wrexham a couple of days later. And so one.

-
Relegation strugglers QPR travel to promotion-challenging Plymouth on Boxing day. What until a month ago would have been another "Ian Holloway Seeks Revenge" game, is now a match between two of Holloway's former clubs: Both of whom desperately want three points! QPR's on-loan midfielder (and QPR's top scorer), Akos Buzsaky's returns to play at Plymouth. But QPR's Star Defender, Damion Stewart is suspended.
Plymouth's tactics in the words of their manager, Paul Sturrock: "[W]e have got to be in their faces, we have got to be aggressive - we're the home team - we have got to be offensive, get plenty of crosses in the box, and make sure they have got to defend." Plymouth

Plymouth home record is 4 wins - 5 draws - 2 defeats. (Scored 15; conceded 9). QPR's Away record is 2 Wins- 5 draws - 4 defeats (Scored 13; conceded 19) League Table
Plymouth Details: Plymouth Squad...Plymouth Results

PLYMOUTH HERALD - AKOS RELISHING ARGYLE RETURN
Akos Buzsaky has admitted it will be a 'special moment' when he plays for Queens Park Rangers against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Boxing Day (3pm).
The talented Hungarian international midfielder moved to QPR on loan from the Pilgrims at the end of October.
And Rangers will formally complete the £500,000 signing of Buzsaky when the transfer window re-opens in January.
But the 25-year-old still retains a strong affection for Argyle, where he made a total of 105 appearances and scored nine goals.
He told Herald Sport: "The game on Boxing Day is going to be a special moment for me.
"I still have great feelings for Plymouth and sometimes I talk about Plymouth like I'm still there."
Buzsaky had played 10 games for QPR and scored five goals, including two games Colchester on Saturday.
Rangers's win over Colchester saw them move off the bottom of the Championship and out of the relegation zone.
And after the recent takeover of the west London club by Formula One tycoons Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, they are likely to spend heavily during the transfer window.
Argyle are expecting one of their best attendances of the season for the visit of QPR on Boxing Day, and the return of Buzsaky.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Buzsaky. "Everybody knows how much I loved Plymouth. I really enjoyed my time there.
"It's going to be strange to play against a team I have been part of for almost three years. I have never been in this situation before in my career."
Buzsaky has remained in contact with Argyle's Hungarian duo Peter Halmosi and Krisztian Timar since leaving Home Park.
He said: "I always speak to them. They are good players and I'm not surprised they are doing well for the team.
"Everybody knows how good Peter is. On his day he is unstoppable. And Krisztian is a very strong defender.
"I think Plymouth are glad they signed both of them."
Halmosi and Timar have played important parts in the Pilgrims' fine form this season.
Buzsaky said: "I'm really glad they are doing well. They beat Sheffield United and Watford away from home and those are great results.
"Not too many clubs are going to be able to do that.
"I hope they continue their great form and that they will be up there at the end of the season."
Buzsaky had been in talks with Argyle about a new contract before his abrupt departure to QPR.
He was not included in the Pilgrims' squad for the 2-0 defeat at Preston North End on October 27 and moved to Rangers a couple of days later.
Buzsaky hopes the Green Army understand his reasons for leaving.
He said: "I think the fans liked me. I always tried to give my best for the team, even if sometimes I had a bad day.
"I hope the supporters appreciate that and they don't think too badly about me. "I had this opportunity (to move to QPR) and in football you have to make decisions.
"After three years at a club sometimes you need a new challenge and that's what I thought. But it was good business for the club."
Less than a month after Buzsaky's move to QPR, Argyle manager Ian Holloway resigned and took over at Championship rivals Leicester City.
Buzsaky said: "If he thought Leicester offered more chances for him to achieve his dreams that's fair enough.
"But he was always talking in the Press, and talking to the players, about taking Plymouth into the Premier League.
"He kept saying it, and then one day he just left.
"It was a little bit surprising to me, but that's football. Sometimes you don't know what goes on behind the scenes."
Holloway was replaced in the Home Park hot-seat by Paul Sturrock, who is in his second stint as the Pilgrims' boss.
Buzsaky said: "He was really successful at Plymouth before and he knows a few of the players from then.
"I'm sure he's going to be successful again because the players always have the passion and they give everything for Plymouth."
As far as QPR are concerned, Buzsaky believes there are exciting times ahead, despite their current lowly league position.
He said: "I have played most of the games and scored some goals, so it's going well for me at the moment.
"I'm sure there are going to be some big signings in January.
"The aim is to get into the Premier League as soon as possible.
"It probably isn't going to happen this season but we want to be pushing for promotion next year, so it's very exciting." This is Plymouth

PLYMOUTH OFFICIAL SITE - LUGGY GETS FRESH
ARGYLE manager Paul Sturrock is sticking to his pledge to freshen up his starting line-up for the Boxing Day visit of Queens Park Rangers.
Luggy promised personnel changes in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, when a poor first-half display cost the Pilgrims the chance of a second successive away win.
He will also consider jettisoning the 4-3-3 formation which he has used in our previous three games.
"I think we've got to freshen up," said Luggy, after training on Christmas Eve.
"We've got to get back to how we normally play at home.
"It's vitally important we get us on the front foot, and QPR on the back foot, very early. The tempo is going to have to be high.
"That is why I am freshening things up."
Having fielded a starting line-up on Saturday unchanged from the previous week's win over Watford, Luggy will now go into the second of four games inside ten days with all options on the table.
Midfielder Lilian Nalis and right-back Paul Connolly, who were suspended for the trip to Watford, are bound to be in his thoughts, while he also has on-loan Manchester United winger Lee Martin available after injury.
"I would say there will be one or two changes from the team that played the other day," said Luggy, "just to give us that running edge, that sharpness, which sometimes, with games coming thick and fast, you miss out on.
"I don't want to be caught out as far as that's concerned, so it's vitally important we put some fresh legs in there."
The game sees the return to Home Park of Ákos Buzsáky, who scored both goals in Rangers' 2-1 win over Colchester on Saturday, when the newly cash-rich Londoners moved out of the Championship relegation zone.
Luggy, though, is less concerned with how the Hungarian international midfielder plays then with his own tactics.
"QPR are coming off a good win and have done well over the last couple of weeks," said Luggy. "I think they have been quite pleased with their performances.
"But, as I say, we have got to be in their faces, we have got to be aggressive - we're the home team - we have got to be offensive, get plenty of crosses in the box, and make sure they have got to defend." Plymouth Official Site


Plymouth Herald/Chris Errington - LUGGY VOWS TO MAKE CHANGES
Manager Paul Sturrock has promised there will be team changes for Plymouth Argyle's clash with Queens Park Rangers at Home Park on Boxing Day (3pm).
It follows the Pilgrims' 2-1 defeat away to Crystal Palace in the Championship on Saturday.
Sturrock opted for the same starting line-up at Selhurst Park that had beaten table-topping Watford 1-0 at Vicarage Road in the previous game.
That meant defender Paul Connolly and midfielder Lilian Nalis, both back from one-match bans, missed out.
Connolly was a non-playing substitute as England under-18 international Dan Gosling continued at right-back while Nalis did not even make the bench.
But Sturrock has vowed to shake up the side for the visit of QPR.
Rangers were bottom of the table before their 2-1 home win against Colchester United on Saturday, which saw them move up to 21st position.
Their on-loan Argyle midfielder Akos Buzsaky scored both of their goals, taking his tally for QPR to five in 10 games.
Buzsaky will play for Rangers on Boxing Day because his loan deal will become a permanent £500,000 move when the transfer window reopens on January 1.
Sturrock, meanwhile, should have on-loan Manchester United winger Lee Martin available on Boxing Day.
The 20-year-old has recovered from a torn hamstring and will almost certainly be included in the Pilgrims' squad against QPR.
Whether it would be too soon for him to be named by Sturrock in the starting line-up remains to be seen.
Argyle found themselves trailing Palace 2-0 at half-time, after goals from on-loan Stoke City defender Clint Hill and striker James Scowcroft.
Striker Jermaine Easter replied with a fine diving header in the 49th minute but the Pilgrims could not force an equaliser.
It leaves them in eighth position in the Championship, two points outside of the play-offs, going into back-to-back home games this week.
The visit of QPR will be followed by a clash against Tony Pulis's fourth-placed Stoke on Saturday (December 29).
Sturrock was very critical of Argyle's attitude and workrate in the first half at Selhurst Park, and has demanded much better from them against QPR.
Asked whether there were any injuries after the defeat by Palace, he replied: "Just pride."
Sturrock continued: "There are no easy games in this league. QPR are fighting for their lives and they will definitely come with the same attitude, workrate and desire that Crystal Palace showed on Saturday.
"We can't afford to think that we can go and play them and it's just going to happen for us.
"I'm hopeful I can freshen the team up. That will enable me to put a presence on some of the players who, maybe, have felt they are certain starters every week."
Easter's goal against Palace was his second for Argyle since his loan move from Wycombe Wanderers at the end of October.
After making a series of substitute appearances, the Wales international striker has started the last two matches for the Pilgrims and will hope to retain his place aginst QPR.
He said: "QPR are a team on the up, but they are coming to our place and it's somewhere people should be scared to come to.
"It gives us a chance to put right what happened on Saturday. If we can pick up maximum points from these next two home games we will be in a nice position."
Argyle defender Marcel Seip will be on duty against QPR despite suffering a facial injury against Palace.
Seip was off the pitch receiving treatment for a cut above an eye, which eventually needed stitches, when Hill gave Palace the lead.
He said: "I was going for the ball and I headed against the back of the head of someone.
"It wasn't an elbow or anything. It was just unlucky. I knew there was a cut because it was bleeding straight away.
"I was only off for two or three minutes and they scored a goal."
Seip continued: "We have got two home games coming up and if we want to keep near the play-off positions then we have to win now.
"We know what we have to do to keep there." Plymouth Herald

-
QPR Official Site - HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Tue 25 Dec 2007
Dear Supporter,
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a fun-filled New Year.
Your support over the last 12 months has been exceptional and each and every one of you has played a part in both the 2006/07 and 2007/08 Coca Cola Championship campaigns.
Your fanatical support in these difficult times is much appreciated, and rest assured, we will be doing everything within our powers to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window, as we attempt to pull ourselves clear of the relegation zone in the Championship.
The new investors are determined to bring the glory days back to W12 and with your continued support; we firmly believe we can achieve our goals.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
QPR Board of Directors
QPR

-
Skysports - Emerging British XI

Goalkeeper Joe Hart
Stuart Pearce signed the fledgling Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper for £1.5 million at the end of the 2005/06 season in undoubtedly his best piece of business at Manchester City. Sven Goran Eriksson's failure to bring in a keeper over the summer has allowed the 20-year-old to go on to establish himself as one of City's top prospects. He usurped Kasper Schmeichel in between the sticks earlier on this season and with greater first team experience should begin to interest incoming England boss Fabio Capello over the next few years.

Full-back Danny Simpson
Wes Brown's expiring contract and Gary Neville's recent injury record could combine to see Sir Alex Ferguson relying more and more on the Salford-born full-back. He has proved adept playing alongside Manchester United's stars and the young guns at Old Trafford at varying stages this season after helping take Sunderland to promotion last season. And few other youngsters will be getting the workout Simpson gets against Cristiano Ronaldo in training so watch this space.

Full-back Chris Gunter
Cardiff City's stopper picked up the Championship's Apprentice of the Year award in March and he has gone on to make his international debut since. The Welshman broke Graham Moore's 48-year record as the Bluebirds' youngest ever senior international at the end of last season and he has landed a move to join Tottenham Hotspur in January as a result.

Centre-back Krystian Pearce
The 17-year-old Birmingham City defender helped lead England's youngsters to the UEFA European Under 17 Championship final in May. Since then he has gone on to play for England's Under 19 side and is currently on loan at Notts County. He scored his first senior goal in the Football League against Shrewsbury Town in December and Birmingham are sure to benefit from the valuable experience he is getting.

Centre-back Michael Mancienne
Former Queens Park Rangers boss John Gregory has described the defender as "one of England and Chelsea's brightest young talents". Mancienne was a rock at the back on loan at Loftus Road last season and he has stayed on for the current campaign with opportunities at Chelsea limited. But Avram Grant is still monitoring the youngster's progress closely as Roman Abramovich's purse strings appear to have tightened.

Midfield Adam Johnson
Middlesbrough's left winger has been a huge success on loan at Championship promotion hopefuls Watford this season, scoring five times in his first 12 appearances for the club. There are high hopes for the youngster at the Riverside though and with Stewart Downing's future uncertain his big breakthrough could be just around the corner.

Midfield Danny Guthrie
The Liverpool midfielder has thrived on loan at the Reebok Stadium despite Bolton Wanders' poor start to the season. Man of the Match in the shock victory over Manchester United in November, Guthrie has a bright future although he might best be suited away from Anfield.

Midfield Michael Johnson
Johnson made his Manchester City debut last season and finished the campaign as a regular starter. Despite the change of management at Eastlands and the millions that have been spent, Johnson has gone on to prove his quality in the middle of midfield, earning comparisons with City legend Colin Bell in the process.

Midfield James Henry
The Reading winger has scored three goals in seven appearances on loan at Bournemouth as he builds up his first team experience. Having spent time at Nottingham Forest last season he is expected to return to the Madejski toughened up and ready for the rigors of the Premier League.

Striker Sean Scannell
Scannell scored a last minute winner on his home debut for Crystal Palace as Neil Warnock has given youth a chance at Selhurst Park this season. Palace had been looking to bring a front man in during the January transfer window, but if Scannell continues develop he could save his manager the job.

Striker Ched Evans
The Manchester City starlet enhanced a growing reputation with a hat-trick for Wales' Under 21s against France in November and he has joined Norwich City on loan since. He has picked up where he left off with City's reserves with two goals in five games at Carrow Road. And big things are expected from the youngster at the City of Manchester Stadium. Skysports

-
QPR Official Site - STEWART SUSPENSION
Damion Stewart will miss the R's Boxing Day trip to Plymouth Argyle, after he picked up a late red card in the 2-1 victory against Colchester United on Saturday. The big Jamaican defender received two yellow cards in the basement battle against the U's and will now serve a one match suspension. QPR


QPR Official Site - "R'S SPREAD FESTIVE CHEER
Members of both the QPR First Team and the Centre of Excellence squads spread some festive cheer last week.
Skipper Adam Bolder and his team-mates made the short journey to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington to hand out some presents to the youngsters, while a quartet of the Club's youth team visited the Jack Tizard School in Shepherds Bush.
Bolder told www.qpr.co.uk: "It's nice to be able to give something back to these youngsters, who - for one reason or another - won't be at home this Christmas.
"We put a few smiles on their faces and it was a really humbling day."
Click Here!


The Sun: QPR will kick off their megabucks January shopping spree with a £1.5million swoop for Sunderland striker Daryl Murphy.
The super-rich Super Hoops have also agreed a £500,000 deal for West Ham’s Hogan Ephraim and a bargain move for Watford man Gavin Mahon. The Sun

The Shields Gazette - Sunderland striker on the move?
QPR-bound? ... Daryl Murphy.
DARYL Murphy could be on his way out of the Stadium of Light, according to this morning papaers.
Murphy, who has featured in the starting line-up Sunderland's last two games is a target for QPR, reports the Sun.
The 23-year-old is a striker but has featured on the left side of midfield for teh Black Cats this season.
Keane is likely to command a minimum £2m transfer fee before he will consider selling Murphy. Shields Gazette

-
Telegraph/Stewart Jackson -QPR faithful fear a sting in the fairytale
The nine-year-old boy's face was screwed up in quiet concentration. It was the sort of question that deserved serious attention from any young supporter: if you could buy any player for your club, with money no object, who would it be? Oh to be a Queens Park Rangers fan right now.
A nudge in the back from his brother and out spilled the answer: "Some good, young English players. Hungry players." Pardon? The football genie is here - you can have anyone in the world. The next youngster had similarly restricted ambitions: "It would be great if we could buy Lee Cook back off Fulham."
It was akin to a child being given carte blanche for Christmas and asking for a hoop and stick. When a younger boy finally did let fantasy get the better of him - "Kaka!" - he quickly followed up with the name of Michael Mancienne, his favourite current QPR player, who is on loan from Chelsea. Such is the stunted optimism that has been passed down to the younger generations at Queens Park Rangers, the richest club in the world. Even the children refuse to believe in football heaven. Understandable perhaps when you think that before Saturday's 2-1 win over Colchester, they were in the bottom three of the Championship.
After the arrival of motor racing moguls Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, last week brought the announcement that the world's fifth-richest man, Lakshmi Mittal, had bought a 20 per cent stake in the club. Mittal is worth £26 billion, more than twice as much as Roman Abramovich, so the FA Cup third-round tie at Chelsea ought to produce some amusing chants.
QPR v Chelsea used to be a run-of-the-mill London derby, the sort of game that barely registered outside the capital. But since dropping out of the Premier League in 1996, Rangers have been to League One and back, administration and back, tragically lost striker Ray Jones in a car accident and had a chairman allegedly held up at gunpoint in the boardroom. "A proper soap opera," as midfielder Gareth Ainsworth put it.
At least they climbed out of the bottom three on Saturday, which is a start, and reinforcements will arrive on the pitch once the transfer window opens on Jan 1. Today Colchester, tomorrow the world.
There is a genuine 'we'll believe it when we see it' mentality pervading the pubs of Shepherd's Bush. "We've had a few false dawns here," said one fan. "Nothing ever goes smoothly." Running parallel to that is the fear that having billionaire backers could turn Rangers into 'the new Chelsea' - perceived to be buying success, and losing their soul in the process.
John Reid, the secretary of the QPR Loyal Supporters' Association, said: "If season ticket prices go up to £1,500 it will disenfranchise people, and that will kill the soul of any club. If you look at Chelsea now, there are people going there who really don't know the history of the club. I don't want that to happen to QPR.
"If new money comes into the club and the good times return, we don't want the fans who have supported QPR through the bad years being unable to go."
Being in west London, of course, gives the new owners an affluent clientele right on their doorstep. A QPR side winning games in the Premier League would attract people who can afford to pay £60 a game. But where would that leave the kid wearing last season's shirt who just wants Lee Cook back on the left wing? For QPR's sake, let's hope he's in the Ellerslie Road stand with his dad and not watching at home on TV. Telegraph


MIRROR/Dave Lewis - RANGERS TAKE CASH COURSE IN SURVIVAL
Life will never be the same for Rangers now that Loftus Road is Loadsa-Dough Road.
And no-one is happier to see an end to the era of penny-pinching and in-fighting than midfielder Gareth Ainsworth.
"We've had everything at this club over the past couple of years from guns to gardening leave and, of course, losing a young teammate," said Ainsworth as Rangers moved off the bottom. "It's been a soap opera but now it seems there might be some light at the end of the tunnel." Ainsworth was referring to ex-coach Ian Holloway being suspended by chairman Gianni Paladini before his departure; a court case in which Paladini claimed he was threatened at gun-point by a shareholder; and the car crash death in August of teenage star Ray Jones.
But the bailout by Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, followed by multi-billionaire Lakshmi Mittal taking a 20 per cent stake in the Hoops, has completed the transition from pennies to heaven.
"It's great to be part of the club again," added Ainsworth. "This place is going higher and higher.
We can go all the way to the very top. We're all wondering what is going to happen in January and who's going to come in.
"There might be a few worried players in the dressing room. I'm not concerned personally, though. If someone is better than you, they should take your place."
First priority for manager Luigi Di Canio must be to strengthen a defence more prone to slapstick than Mr Bean.
Rangers were coasting after strikes from Akos Buzsaky in the 27th and 52nd minutes, the first of which was a sumptuous curling drive from the edge of the area.
But panic spread after Mark Yeates pulled one back after 62 minutes and the 80th-minute dismissal of Damion Stewart, following an ugly lunge at Yeates, didn't help but they held on.
Colchester deserved a draw and would have had it had Teddy Sheringham not hit the post from a yard out. Mirror


The Sun - ROCKIN’ Ranger Gareth Ainsworth has a new heavy-metal hero — Lakshmi Mittal.
And QPR’s guitar-playing winger cannot wait to climb the charts with the new billionaire backer who made his fortune in the Indian steel industry.
Hot Mittal — the world’s fifth richest man with an estimated fortune of £20billion — snapped up a 20 per cent stake in the unfashionable west London outfit last week.
And with wealthy F1 pals Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore already in pole position in the boardroom, QPR are the planet’s richest club just months after flirting with administration again.
Ainsworth, who fronts his own rock band off the pitch, said: “I’m so excited and relieved the club are out of the dark years now.
“I was here when we won promotion from League One in 2004 and then went into administration the following year. Over the years we’ve had everything at this club from guns to gardening leave and, of course, losing a young team-mate in Ray Jones.
“It’s been a real soap opera but it seems there’s some light at the end of the tunnel. It looks as though it’s going to be fantastic and it feels great to be part of this club again.
“I’ve come through the bad times at the club and now, hopefully, it will be nice to have a few good years at QPR. This place is going higher and higher — we can go all the way to the very top. The people who took over this club are winners and I’m sure they want the same for QPR. We’re all behind them. “I don’t know much about the new man other than he’s the fifth richest man in the world — and I’m a good few quid behind him!”
Akos Buzsaky opened the scoring with a curling 27th minute strike and made it 2-0 with a neat finish after the break. But the hosts were made to sweat after Mark Yeates pulled one back — and Hoops had Damion Stewart sent off eight minutes from time.
QPR survived a late penalty scare when ref Dean Whitestone waved play on after Us striker Kevin Lisbie went down. The decision incensed Colchester boss Geraint Williams who ran on to the pitch at the end.
Williams, whose side replaced Rangers at the foot of the Championship, said: “I just wanted to have a chat with the referee but you get ushered away like a naughty schoolboy.
“If I said what I really thought of him I would get fined and my family would be a lot poorer for Christmas.”
SUN STAR MAN - AKOS BUZSAKY (QPR). A class act with two top strikes. The Sun

-
BRIAN BEDFORD TURNS 74

Stan Bowles rightly receives much attention as the QPR hero born on Christmas Eve. But there is another great QPR hero also born on that day: Brian Bedford. Bedford Turns 74 today: Born December 24, 1933.
In 250+ league games for QPR, between 1959 and 1965 (all in the old Third Division) with Alec Stock as manager, Bedford scored 160+ goals. Joined QPR from Bournemouth in 1959. Went to Scunthorpe in September 1965 (Six months before Rodney Marsh arrived at Loftus Road)
1959-60 25 goals
1960-61 33 goals
1961-62 34 goals
1962-63 23 goals
1963-64 23 goals
1964-65 23 goals
1965-66 1 goal

See Also
See Dave's QPR Site - Brian Bedford

QPR Net Interview with Brian Bedford - QPR Net/Bedford

See Wikipedia - Bedford

-
Stan Bowles, turns 59: Born December 24, 1948...

Stan Bowles in Photos

It's almost thirty years since Stan Bowles played his last professional game for QPR, and still the memories linger on. The man who, in the eye of fans, superceeded Rodney Marsh as THE greatest at QPR!
Say QPR and #10 and the shirt belongs to either Marsh or Bowles....
For anyone old enough to remember the early 1970s: The despair at QPR/The End of the World: When Rodney left QPR in March 1972....And then six months later, the signing of Bowles joining (an already rampant) QPR under Gordon Jago...
Bowles made his QPR debut versus Nottingham Forest - September 16, 1972 after QPR paid a record transfer fee of 110,000 pounds.....Made the first; scored the second
Gordon Jago signed Forward/Midfielder Stan Bowles for QPR in September 1972 paying Carlisle 110,000 pounds (a then-record for QPR). Bowles played 250+ games scoring 70 league goals. Tommy Docherty sold him to Nottingham Forest in December 1979 for 250,000 pounds.
Bowles helped QPR to promotion in his first season and of course was an integral part of the 1975/76 "Championship" Side.
The only question for QPR fans is who was QPR's greatest-ever: Stan Bowles or Rodney Marsh...
Recent fan surveys give that title to Bowles. In a recent PFA Poll of fans, fans of each club were asked to vote for the best player in their club's history. For QPR fans, the vote went to Stan Bowles. (For Brentford fans, the vote went to...Stan Bowles!)

September 1972: Bowles Joins QPR
Bowles made his debut at home to (pre-Brian Clough's) Nottingham Forest, September 16, 1972, two or three days after signing from Carlisle for a club-record 110,000 pounds. Bowles, wearing from that very first game, HIS #10 shirt. Within an hour, he had made the first goal for Don Givens...and scored the second...as Gordon Jago's QPR won 3-0 (Andy McCulloch getting the third). And QPR, of course, went on to promotion.
QPR's team that day.
Parkes
Clement Evans Hazell Watson
Venables Francis Busby
Givens Bowles Mcculloch
Sub: Salvage

From Bowles' autobiography "Stan The Man"
"I was 23 years old when I joined Queens Park Rangers in September 1972, for a then club record fee of 112,000 pounds...
"Rodney had made the No. 10 shirt his own, and, since he moved, no one wanted to tough the thing....The shirt thing didn't seem a big deal to me. I hadn't really heard of Rodney Marsh. So I just shrugged and said: "If no one wants it, I'll wear it."...
"...[A]s luck would have it, I scored one and made another for Don Givens in my first game - against Nottingham Forest on September 16th, 1972. We won 3-0, and the fans seemed to take to my style of play; which, to them, was a bit like Rodney's"(Stan The Man, page 33)

Seven Years later, Bowles finally left QPR - ironically for Nottingham Forest (by then managed by Brian Clough).

See Also:

Bowles

Bowles Record II

Bowles England Profile

See: Dave's Queens Park Rangers - Bowles
See Bowles QPR Cult Hero BBC-Bowles

Bowles Book Reviewed - WSC - Bowles

Bowles -Wikipedia

Profiled as an ex-Crewe Player - Bowles

RIAN VINER INTERVIEWS - Stan Bowles: 'Clough, Brooking, Eriksson
Brian Viner, The Independent, October 13, 2005

Recent Profile: News and Star - 25 October 2007 - Bowle-r hat: Stan Bowles’s England cap is going under the hammer
THE first England cap won by one of Carlisle United’s most colourful and talented players is expected to fetch up to £6,000 when it is auctioned next week.
The light green velvet cap was awarded to Stan Bowles when he made his debut for England against Portugal in Lisbon on April 3, 1974, not long after leaving Brunton Park. It will be auctioned at Bonhams in Chester next Wednesday.
The signing of Stan Bowles, from Crewe for £14,000 in October 1971, was one of the best bits of business in Carlisle United’s history.
For less than a year later,in September 1972, Carlisle sold him to Queens Park Rangers for £112,000.
Carlisle needed someone who could score goals after selling prolific striker Bob Hatton – 38 goals in 93 league appearances – to Birmingham for £90,000. So manager Ian Macfarlane swiftly moved for Bowles, who made his debut for Carlisle, alongside John Gorman,Stan Ternent and Chris Balderstone, in the 2-1 win against Oxford United at Brunton Park on October 30, 1971.
He went on to become Carlisle’s joint top scorer that season.
At QPR, Bowles scored 71 goals in 255 league appearances and became a legend. In 2004, QPR fans affectionately voted him the club’s greatest ever player.
It was at Manchester City that Bowles started gambling and it was an addiction that nearly wrecked his promising football career before it really started.
Bowles admitted: “I’ve never tried to stop the gambling.It’s part of me and has been pretty much all of my adult life.I was an apprentice at City earning £7 a week,but I’d run the bets across the town for a Manchester gang, from pub to pub, when it was illegal to do that. I was earning more doing that than I was from football.That’s how I got myself into trouble at City, because I wasn’t turning up for training.”
One of the final straws was when he failed to turn up at Manchester airport to join City team-mates as they set off for a friendly against Ajax in Holland. He claimed later that he had over-slept.
Years later he admitted : “I had everything going for me and tossed it out of the window.”
He became a friend of George Best, who starred for City’s arch rivals, Manchester United. Bowles said : “I used to enjoy a drink with George Best.
“He was telling me one day about the statue of him they had put in Belfast. I told him there was one of me outside Ladbrokes.”
During his career Bowles frequently clashed with authority and fell out with several managers, including Malcolm Allison, Brian Clough and Tommy Docherty.
Stan Bowles won five England caps, but his fans think he should have won more.
Next year he will celebrate his 60th birthday. News and Star

Also: SEE

SPORTING MEMORABILIA AUCTION
QPR Official Site - Thu 11 Oct 2007
Football Heroes are organising the auction of a very rare item indeed - one of just five of Stan Bowles' England caps.
Stan being Stan, the whereabouts of three of the caps are unknown, so this is probably one of only two caps that will ever be available.
Football Heroes have entered Stan's debut cap against Portugal in 1974 into Bonham's next Sporting Memorabilia Auction on his behalf.
The auction will be held at New House, 150 Christleton Road, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 5TD on Wednesday 31st October at 11am.
All proceeds from the sale will be split between Stan and his family and it is estimated this rare International cap will sell for at least £5,000 - and ideally Stan would love the cap to go to a QPR fan, which he still sees as his Club.
Catalogues can be ordered from Bonhams on 01244 313 936 or alternatively the sale items can be viewed at www.bonhams.com.
You can bid on the auction in a number of ways:
-The lots can be viewed on Sunday 28th October (10 - 1) Monday 29th October and Tuesday 30th October (10 - 4) and of course you are more than welcome to attend the auction to bid in person.
-You can register to bid by phoning 01244 313 936 and asking for the bids office. You can then either leave absentee bids or register for telephone bids on the day of the sale.
-You can email steveforey@football-heroes.com with a 'sealed / confidential' bid.
*For further details, please contact Steve Forey on 020 8930 4114. Stane Bowles Cap

Sale 15165 - Bonhams - Sporting Memorabilia, 31 Oct 2007
Lot No: 428
Stan Bowles first England Cap
Awarded to Stanley Bowles for his debut game for England v Portugal in 1974. Light green velvet 6 panel cap with silver braid and tassle, English Football Association badge to front with 'Portugal' underneath. 1973/74 to peak.

Estimate: £5,000 - 6,000
Footnote:
Stanley Bowles (born 1948) began his career at Manchester City, although his fiery temper resulted in him being released after a series of off-field incidents. After a brief and unsuccessful stay at Bury, he was signed by Crewe Alexandra, then in the Fourth Division where his skill caught the eye of a number of bigger clubs. In October 1971 he was signed by Carlisle United, at the time a Second Division club, scoring 13 goals in 36 appearances for the Cumbrians. After a managerial change at the club, he joined Queens Park Rangers (QPR) for £112,000 in September 1972. He replaced in the team another QPR folk-hero, Rodney Marsh, who had been transferred to Manchester City six months before (ironically to Bowles' first club). He took over Marsh's number 10 shirt which other players had been reluctant to wear in fear of being compared to Marsh but Bowles had no qualms about taking the shirt as he said that coming from the North, he had never heard of Marsh! With his flair and undoubted natural ability it was inevitable that international recognition would soon come. He made his international debut against Portugal in April 1974 in Sir Alf Ramsey's last match in charge. Overall he only won five caps for England.

Place Bid or Track Lot
Auctioners

-
Damien Stewart: QPR's Best Consistent Performer:
The Football League's "League Leader" (prior to yesterday's game) had one QPR player in its top 30 Player Rankings for the Championship: At #29, its Damien Stewart League Leader (QPR's top ranked players are Stewart (#29), Chris Barker (#59) and Lee Camp (#108).


COMPARING QPR TODAY AND YESTERDAY

After 23 games, QPR currently have 24 points.

A year ago after 23 games, QPR had...24 points!

[In December 2005, after 24 games, QPR had 32 points

December 2006 League Table after 24 games (in 24th game, QPR beat Barnsley 1-0)
Luton 24-29
QPR 24-27
Barnsley 24-23
Hull 24-21
Leeds 24-21
Southend 24-16

Sunday Mirror - "The Write Stuff" With Rob Bowden (RB) re QPR and Chelsea
{As a lifelong QPR fan Christmas has come early with the news that Lakshmi Mittel, the world's fifth richest man, has joined Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore's bid to revive the club. After years of living in Chelsea's shadow the future looks bright with manager Luigi De Canio set for a January transfer window spending spree. Watch out Roman, we're coming to get you. - Ian Williams, Shepherds Bush
[Sunday's Mirror's ROB BOWDEN RESPONSE] RB says: That noise you can hear is all the Chelsea fans in the office laughing hysterically! Come on, Lakshmi, splash some of those billions as soon as the transfer window opens and wipe the smug smiles off their faces by dumping Chelsea out of the FA Cup. Hey, if Millwall can get to the final anything can happen! Sunday Mirror

Today's People - Surely incorrect, given the other reports saying Coco would not be coming to QPR and citing his comments re QPR and Briatore.

Sunday People - HOTLINE - COCO HOT FOR QPR
EXCLUSIVE Transfer window countdown 9 days to go
Italian legend Francesco Coco will come out of retirement to sign for Queens Park Rangers.
The former AC Milan defender quit football in September but has agreed to become the first big-name signing of QPR's new regime.
The free transfer to the struggling Championship club - the new London money kings - will show the intentions of new owners Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and Lakshmi Mittal as they try to get QPR into the Premier League.
Coco, 30, will help to attract top players to the club, which has become the richest in the world after billionaire Mittal's investment. People

-
SUNDAY TIMES/John Aizlewood - Rich Rangers cash in
QPR 2 Colchester 1:

Christmas came early to Loftus Road last week. Back in August, Queens Park Rangers were two weeks away from administration as they struggled to pay a £1.3m tax bill, a fraction of their £21m debt.

The bill was paid and after myriad boardroom shenanigans, Formula One refugees Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore took over, but manager John Gregory was soon fired in favour of Luigi De Canio, an erstwhile Napoli boss with a Capello-esque level of English. Yesterday, Rangers’ entertaining, if fortuitous, victory levered them off the bottom of the Championship for Christmas.

More surprisingly, Rangers also kicked off as rich as Croesus, or, at least Real Madrid after Lakshmi Mittal, who, with a net worth of £26 billion is Britain’s richest (and the world’s fifth richest) man bought a 20% stake and installed his son-in-law, Amit Bhatia, on the board alongside Ecclestone (worth £2.6 billion) and Briatore (a trifling £60m). “Our ultimate ambition,” noted Bhatia, “is the Premiership.”

Afterwards De Canio was ambivalent. “I didn’t know about the new investment until I read about it,” he explained. “I don’t discuss matters of this nature with the owners, but I have no problem with the pressures it may bring.”

“It ended up being quite a difficult encounter,” added De Canio. “I’m pleased, though. We’ve been working hard and it’s paying off.

“I do believe the team has it in them to play the entire 90 minutes the way they played in the first half.”

Perhaps those least pleased with the week’s events are the current crop of players, who must look forward to January with the same relish that turkeys approach December 25.

Indeed, staying in the Championship is far from assured. Against a spirited Colchester United, their replacements at the bottom of the table, Rangers had their moments, chiefly when flying winger Rowan Vine hurtled past permanently bamboozled full-back Bela Balogh.

After 26 minutes, just as the home players were squabbling in the manner of those whose livelihoods are threatened the world over, Rangers slid ahead, courtesy of the cultured Akos Buzsaky, the one outfield player aside from Vine who can look to the future with confidence.

The hungry Hungarian collected an innocent-looking throw-in 20 yards out, pirouetted like Carlos Acosta and curled a delightful opener past Dean Gerken. “One-nil to the billionaires,” chanted the home support, already accustomed to their new status.

Buzsaky won it in the 51st minute when he tucked home with insouciant aplomb after neat work from Vine and Dexter Blackstock.

After that, the traffic was one way as the prospect of their first victory since the first week of November sent Rangers into panic mode. Already guilty of a glaring miss, Sheringham hit the bar when Lee Camp dropped Mark Yeates’s cross at the 41-year-old’s aged feet. Then, Camp saved brilliantly after Luke Guttridge had powered his way through a terrified defence. Just after the hour, they pulled one back when Zesh Rehman’s stumble allowed Yeates to nip in and fire past Camp.

Colchester manager Geraint Williams was left to rue a late penalty decision which went against his team after Kevin Lisbie appeared to be felled in the penalty area, only to be booked for diving.

“It looked like a penalty to me but that’s referees’ decisions, you have them every week,” he said. “But I’ve never yet seen a striker look to dive when he’s got round the back and is clean through on goal, but the referee obviously thought he did.

“In the first half we didn’t look anything like ourselves,” Williams added. “We looked a better side in the second half but we’d already given ourselves too much to do.”

Damion Stewart getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence hardly helped steady QPR’S frayed nerves, but the new billionaires held on and, with heart-warming serendipity, once Christmas has passed they can look forward to an FA Cup visit at their pauper neighbours, Chelsea.

Star man: Rowan Vine (QPR)

Player ratings. QPR: Camp 6, Barker 6, Stewart 5, Rehman 5, Malcolm 6, Vine 8, Leigertwood 7 (Walton 75min), Bolder 5, Buzsaky 8, Ainsworth 6, Blackstock 5 (Nygaard 75min)

Colchester: Gerken 7, Granville 6, Virgo 6, Baldwin 5 (Guy 87min), Balogh 4, Jackson 7, Izzet 6 (Guttridge 36min, 6), Sheringham 6 (Lisbie 71min), Yeates 7, Platt 6, McLeod 6
Scorers: QPR: Buzsaky 26, 51
Colchester: Yeates 62 Sunday Times

THE OBSERVER -Jason Toma - Rangers revel in their new riches

In a week in which QPR found themselves being dubbed the richest club in world football, it was fitting that their on-loan Hungarian international Akos Buzsaky should play a starring role in the 2-1 win over Colchester that lifted them off the bottom of the Championship and also out of the relegation zone. The ingenious Buzsaky, who will become the first of their expected big-money signings when he joins permanently from Plymouth for £500,000 in January, again emphasised his class by scoring twice.
One wonders how much better he will be when Lakshmi Mittal's investment in the club, combined with that of their owners Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, brings a transformation of the team in other departments. His opening goal yesterday came when he collected Bob Malcolm's throw-in, turned on the edge of the Colchester penalty area and beat the keeper with a superb left-foot curling shot. The goal prompted chants of '1-0 to the billionaires' from the home faithful, and it was a similar story when Buzsaky made it 2-0 after a delightful one-two with Dexter Blackstock. That brought his recent goal total to five in 10 matches. However, QPR were forced to live on their nerves at the finish after Mark Yeates had reduced the arrears and QPR's Damion Stewart sent off. The Observer

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH - Akos Buzsaky gives QPR crucial lift
By Andrew Warshaw

Fabio Capello isn't the only Italian manager with limited grasp of English charged with restoring the fortunes of an under-achieving side. Luigi de Canio may not be in the national spotlight like his compatriot, but for supporters of Queens Park Rangers, his task is no less important.

Football fans' forumadvertisement
Before replacing John Gregory at Loftus Road on a two-year contract, De Canio had kept unheralded Siena in Serie A for two seasons, after working at Udinese, Reggina and Genoa. His latest challenge is to prevent Rangers - once one of the country's most fashionable clubs - from falling into the third tier of English football.

Yesterday his new charges carved out a crucial win in a classic six-pointer, moving out of the bottom three for only the second time in almost four months thanks to a goal in each half from Hungarian midfielder Akos Buzsaky, a flair player befitting the No 10 shirt worn in the past by the likes of Rangers legends Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh.

"Two-nil to the billionaires," the fans sang in reference to not only Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore bankrolling Rangers, but also news that the family of one of the world's richest men, the Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, had bought a 20 per cent stake in the club. Several new signings are expected in the transfer window to push Rangers higher up the league.

"This is a huge professional development for me," De Canio said through the use of an interpreter, just as Capello does. "As far as my English goes, I can get my message across to players far better than I can to journalists. My job, and that of Capello, are very different, but I am very happy here. I think something very big can come out of this whole experience."

As for Colchester, who took the place of Rangers at the foot of the table, dropping out of this division would be just as unthinkable, given their £14.2 million investment in a new stadium. Not even Teddy Sheringham could save them yesterday, with the old maestro, now 41, fluffing two excellent chances. His team were unlucky not to salvage a point late on, though, when they battered Rangers after Mark Yeates had cut the deficit and Damion Stewart, the home side's defender, was sent off....
Sunday Telegraph

Sunday Mirror/Graham Otway - Football: Buzsaky is one in a billion
Fighting spirit is one commodity that steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal's billions will not be able to buy once he hands over the cash for QPR to spend in the transfer window.
Yet, judging by 10-man Rangers' gutsy display in beating fellow strugglers Colchester, they do not need it.
On-loan Hungarian Akos Buzsaky, who will join permanently from Plymouth for £500,000 next month, provided a sign of things to come with two fine goals. scored either side of half-time, to lift Rangers out of the bottom three for the first time since September 1.
However, the last 10 minutes demanded a frantic effort after the ludicrous sending off of Damion Stewart for a tackle on Mark Yeates, when he clearly took the ball first.
Colchester, who had pulled a goal back through Yeates after a flick-on from Sheringham, went forward looking for an equaliser, but Rangers held out to the delight of manager Luigi De Canio.
He said: "We have been working hard on defence in the last couple of weeks and it's paying off."
Buzsaky's goals were both superbly taken; the first a fierce left-foot shot, the second a slick finish after stylish play from Rowan Vine and Dexter Blackstock.
Colchester, though, paid dearly for Sheringham's out-of-sorts day. The former England striker missed four chances, including one from a yard out when he hit the post.
Manager Geraint Williams said: "Conceding a second goal shortly after the interval left us with a mountain to climb."
HOW THEY RATED
QPR Camp 7, Malcolm 5, Rehman 7, Stewart 6, Barker 6, Ainsworth 6, BUZSAKY 9, Leigertwood 6 (Wilson 5), Bolder 6, Pine 6, Blackstock 6 (Nygaard 5).
Manager De Canio 7
COLCHESTER Gerken 7, Balogh 4, Baldwin 6 (Guy 5), Virgo 6, Granville 5, Yeates 7, Jackson 6, Izzet 5 (Guttridge 5), McLeod 5, Platt 4, Sheringham 4 (Lisbie 5).
Manager Williams 5
Referee D Whitestone 4
MAN OF THE MATCH AKOS BUZSAKY
Scored two goals of the highest quality. Sunday Mirror

Also: Earlier Reports - "QPR Scrape A Victory: Reports and Comments"

-
The Telegraph - Culcutta, India - Amit Roy
Tycoon, mind your language - With stakes in football club, time for Mittal to learn the right noises

London, Dec. 22: Lakshmi Mittal ought to be “over the moon” now that he has picked up a 20 per cent stake in a well-known English football club for a bargain price — and his rivals correspondingly “gutted”.

With this new investment, the Mittal family — his son-in-law Amit Bhatia will represent him on the board of Queens Park Rangers (QPR) — will have to learn the language of English football, especially the game’s distinctive slang.

Even after a defeat, he will have to defend his players by insisting the lads gave “110 per cent”. Even when the opposition has won through being the better team, his view will always have to be: “We woz robbed.”

Should QPR be behind at half time, the line is: “At the end of the day, it’s a game of two halves and our injury list is extensive.”

And if QPR is beaten by a side considered weaker on paper, the correct response is: “Each game as it comes, there are no easy games in qualifying any more.”

While it is difficult enough for Indians not brought up in England to get used to English colloquialisms (for example, “not bad” means good), it is even more challenging for foreigners to master footballing language.

Mittal arrived in London in 1995 from Indonesia. After more than a decade in London, he will have appreciated that it is no longer cricket but football that has long been the national sport of Britain.

He cannot be expected to be a master of statistics, nor of who won the Cup in which year, nor enter the debate about whether George Best was the most talented footballer the UK has witnessed. However, it would be wise for him to learn about the summer of 1966 when England beat Germany to win the World Cup.

“The lads done good,” he would be advised to murmur after his third or fourth pint at QPR’s local pub when recalling the glories of the past.

If a QPR player is brought down in a fair tackle near the opposition goal, the automatic lament should be: “It was a clear penalty.”

When the “boys” lose, which may prove to be a frequent occurrence with QPR — currently languishing at the bottom of the Championship (the highest football division after the Premier League) — he must confess to being “sick as a parrot”.

Footballing language owes much to the television commentators, who are handsomely paid national figures. The satirical magazine Private Eye kept a tally of the more quotable observations of the former presenter, David Coleman, and listed them as “Colemanballs”.

Typical was Coleman’s comment: “Nottingham have now lost six matches in a row without winning.”

Many of the commentators are former players turned managers or coaches. “I felt a lump in my throat as the ball went in,” Terry Venables remarked on one occasion. On another, he urged: “If you can’t stand the heat in the dressing room, get out of the kitchen.”

Ron Atkinson, another manager, once said: “The Spaniards have been reduced to aiming aimless balls into the box.”

And he also said: “If Glenn Hoddle (a coach) said one word to his team at half time, it was concentration and focus.”

The philosophy that Mittal has pursued in expanding his steel empire — “buy cheap and then build up your acquisition” — appears to have been applied in the case of QPR.

Formula One duo Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone bought QPR for £14 million last month. Of this, £1 million was for the club’s shares and £13 million to clear QPR’s debts, with a further £5 million promised as investment in new players.

By this reckoning, Mittal should have paid £2.8 million for a 20 per cent stake. But according to the Daily Mail, “QPR chose not to make public the amount Mittal has paid for his shareholding but it is believed to have cost him around £1.6 million”.

If the Indian steel tycoon can bring some Indian Mittalisms into English football, he may yet be embraced by the nation. Meanwhile, he must learn to socialise with WAGS — the “wives and girlfriends” of footballers. The Telegraph (of India)

-
QPR went 1-0 through Buzsaky before half time. In the second half, QPR went 2-0 up, again through Buzsaky. Colchester made it 2-1 through Yeates (apparently from a Rehman error) Stewart then got a red card. QPR held on to win 2-1 and now have 24 points from 23 games (12 points out of 6th place!)

Norwich 23 25
Sheff Wed 22 24
Preston 23 24
QPR 23 24
Scunthorpe 23 23
Leicester 22 22
Colchester 23 21
Table

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - DE CANIO'S COMMENTS ENJOY IT
Luigi De Canio was in joyous mood after seeing his side stretch their unbeaten run to four matches in the Championship with a vital victory against Colchester United.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, De Canio said: "We have to enjoy tonight - it's three vitally important points.

"We played fantastic football up until their goal, but then we sat back and gave them too much space.

"Credit to the players though, they fought for everything late on and it's nice to continue our unbeaten run and, of course, be off the bottom of the table."

De Canio reserved special praise for two-goal hero Akos Buzsaky, commenting: "He is very important to us.

"He scored two fantastic goals against Scunthorpe and again today, but there is still more to come from him and his team-mates." QPR

SPORTING LIFE - MANAGERIAL COMMENTS R'S BOSS COUNTS POINTS, NOT CASH

QPR manager Luigi De Canio insists the pressure of managing the club suddenly dubbed 'the richest in the world' sits comfortably on his shoulders after a 2-1 win over Colchester lifted them off the foot of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Rangers are expected to embark on a January transfer spree the like of which the Championship has never seen following billionaire Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal's investment in the club alongside Formula One moguls Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.

Akos Buzsaky struck twice as Rangers sunk Colchester, who now replace them at the foot of the table, despite Mark Yeates' consolation and Damion Stewart's late dismissal.

And rather than working on an expensive new year wish-list, De Canio is happy concentrating on guiding Rangers further away from trouble.

"The money is not mine," he quipped. "I am just happy this club is becoming an important, solid club, and I'm pleased for the fans who can see a bright future.

"We will work hard to get things right, and we will utilise our finances in the best possible way.

"No club has unlimited funds, everyone has a budget. But when the time is right we will discuss the budget and what to do with it.

"I have no problem with the pressure. When you affiliate yourself to a club you take on a project. I am very happy to be in this country, at this club and with this group of players.

"My job is to see the immediate issue and objective, and that is that QPR are off the bottom."

On-loan midfield star Buzsaky will become De Canio's first big-money signing when he joins for £500,000 from Plymouth in January, and he is already paying the fee back with five goals in 10 games.

Both strikes against Colchester oozed class, turning on the edge of the area and firing a left-footed curler past Dean Gerken after 27 minutes, and doubling Rangers' lead after the break with a cool finish following a one-two with Dexter Blackstock.

Yeates pulled one back when he latched onto Teddy Sheringham's flick-on and dinked the ball over Lee Camp, and Rangers survived a late onslaught after Stewart's dismissal for two bookings inside nine minutes.

"It ended up being quite a difficult encounter," added De Canio. "I'm pleased, though. We've been working hard and it's paying off.

"I do believe the team has it in them to play the entire 90 minutes the way they played in the first half."

Colchester manager Geraint Williams was left to rue a late penalty decision which went against his team after Kevin Lisbie appeared to be felled in the penalty area, only to be booked for diving.

"It looked like a penalty to me but that's referees' decisions, you have them every week," he said.

"But I've never yet seen a striker look to dive when he's got round the back and is clean through on goal, but the referee obviously thought he did.

"We made a terrible start. In the first half we didn't look anything like ourselves. We looked a better side in the second half but we'd already given ourselves too much to do." Sporting Life


QPR OFFICIAL SITE

Akos Buzsaky enhanced his ever-growing reputation with two sublime individual goals, as ten-man Rangers sealed a crucial home victory against fellow strugglers Colchester United.

The Hungarian international capped a cameo individual display with a goal in each half, to lift the R's off the foot of the Championship table.

Mark Yeates ensured a nervy finale when he pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute, but - despite Damion Stewart seeing red for two bookable offences late on - Rangers held on for three priceless points.

In the R's final home fixture of 2007, Rowan Vine and Adam Bolder returned to the starting XI after one match bans, but there was no place in the 16 for Martin Rowlands, who was ruled out due to illness.

Colchester included veteran front-man Teddy Sheringham in attack, meaning former R's loanee Kevin Lisbie had to settle for a place amongst the substitutes.

Rangers were in the ascendancy from the first whistle.

Mikele Leigertwood and Akos Buzsaky combined to set up Vine, but Dean Gerken stood up well, saving with a strong right hand as the Birmingham loanee thrashed a fearsome second minute drive on target.

At the other end, Lee Camp was down well to save at his near post, after Johnnie Jackson let fly with a speculative 25-yard free-kick.

But it was the R's who were the better side, as Vine's cross shot flew inches wide and Blackstock headed a yard wide of Gerken's left hand post.

The goal the performance arguably deserved arrived in the 27th minute, courtesy of yet another Buzsaky wonder-goal.

Bob Malcolm's throw-in from the right flank found the Magical Magyar, who turned on a sixpence, got a yard on his marker and then unleashed an arrowing left footed drive in the roof of the net.

It was a goal fit to grace any stadium in the world, let alone the country - and immediately had the R's faithful breaking into a vocal rendition of the latest chant to grace the Loftus Road terraces, '1-0 to the Billionaires!'

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first period, with Buzsaky sending in an inviting 47th minute free-kick, which three advancing Rangers players just failed to connect with.

Undeterred, the R's were two goals to the good moments later, thanks to a fantastically worked team goal.

Chris Barker blocked Sheringham's attempted cross on the edge of the Rangers box and the ball fell at the feet of Vine, who - assisted by the over-lapping Barker - raced 40-yards towards goal.

He in turn fed a neat pass into Blackstock, who showed fantastic awareness to lay a first time ball to Buzsaky, who drew Gerken towards him before calmly slotting the ball beyond the goalkeeper's despairing dive.

Camp very nearly gifted Colchester an unlikely reprieve in the 54th minute, as he fumbled Kevin McLeod's cross into the path of Sheringham.

The evergreen striker seemed destined to bring the U's back in the game, only to fire against the foot of the post from little more than two yards.

Camp atoned for his earlier faux pas a minute later though, diving full stretch to his left to tip Luke Guttridge's 12-yard drive to safety.

But there was nothing the R's number one could do to prevent Yeates from halving the deficit in the 61st minute.

Zesh Rehman's ill-fated slip allowed the diminutive midfielder to race clean through on goal and he made no mistake, clipping a neat finish over the advancing Rangers stopper from ten yards.

Sheringham was perhaps a tad fortunate to receive just a prolonged ticking off from referee Mr Whitestone when he kicked out at Malcolm 20 minutes from time, while Stewart could count himself very unlucky when he was booked a minute later for a far lesser crime.

And it got worse for the big Jamaican defender in the 82nd minute, as he was shown a second yellow card and a resultant red, for a heavy challenge on Yeates.

But despite a flurry of late set-pieces from the visitors, Rangers - led heroically by substitute Simon Walton - defended with their lives to grind out a valuable victory.

QPR: Camp, Barker, Stewart, Bolder, Blackstock (Nygaard 75), Buzsaky, Ainsworth, Malcolm, Vine, Rehman, Leigertwood (Walton 83).
Subs: Cole, Moore, Balanta.
Scorers: Buzsaky 27 & 52
Bookings: Leigertwood 67, Stewart 73
Red Cards: Stewart 82
Colchester United: Gerken, Granville, Jackson, Sheringham (Lisbie 71), Platt, Izzet (Guttridge 36), Yeates, Baldwin (Guy 88), McLeod, Virgo, Balogh.
Subs: Cousins, Duguid.
Scorers: Yeates 62
Bookings: Balogh 10, Baldwin 48, Lisbie 87, Virgo 93
QPR

COLCHESTER OFFICIAL SITE
A second half fight back was not quite enough for the U's as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Loftus Road.
An Akos Buzsaky double had given the home team what looked like a comfortable lead, but the U's rallied in some style to pin the home team back for the final half an hour of the game.

The U's created chance after chance and got one back through a Mark Yeates dink over Lee Camp, but could not find a second despite constant pressure as the R's collected a massive three points in the quest to move clear of the relegation zone.

And with Preston grabbing a late winner in their game, Colchester ended the match at the bottom of the Championship table.

The U's made just one change to the starting eleven for the game against the R's, with the unavailable Matt Connolly making way for Bela Balogh.

Both Karl Duguid and Kevin Lisbie were deemed fit for duty, but both had to make do with a place on the bench as Geraint Williams stuck with the Clive Platt and Teddy Sheringham forward line.

The first task for the U's would be to quell the home crowd, who were truly in the festive spirit after the news of the additional investment in the club earlier in the week.

They nearly found themselves one up early on as Vine was slid in on goal and his fierce shot was turned away from danger by a fine save from Gerken.

The home team started well on top as they forced a series of corners that needed strong defending from the U's to see it away from danger.

However, the visitors were the next to go close after Yeates won a free kick on the right. Jackson stepped up and curled in a low shot that needed a good save by Camp to turn it around the post for a corner.

It was a good response by the U's to the home team's flying chance and another piece of intricate play almost saw Platt get in, but a good interception by Rehman proved crucial.

Vine was the man causing the U's problems and his intricate play down the wing was giving Balogh troubles, with the Hungarian going into the book on ten minutes for hauling down the R's man.

The former Colchester loanee was then able to break down the left on 12 minutes, as the home team got away as the U's lost the ball, and his cross-cum-shot fizzed across the face of goal, just beyond the reach of Blackstock and Buzsaky.

The U's then had a chance of their own on 15 minutes, albeit from distance. Platt and Sheringham combined to set up the onrushing Izzet, but his shot - whilst well hit - was comfortable for Camp to collect.

The home team had clearly targeted Malcolm as a way to get in behind the R's defence, with a number of angled balls in behind the fall back to turn the Loftus Road side outfit around.

It was a ball that was crossed from in front of the right back that next caused problems though, as McLeod sent over a low centre. Sheringham stepped over it expecting Platt to be further advanced, but the ball went between the two of them and away from danger.

The home side did manage to take the lead with 25 minutes gone. It was a piece of magic from Buzsaky as he spun on the edge of the box and curled a superb shot beyond the despairing dive of Gerken into the upper reaches of the far corner.

The R's were lifted by that goal, and it went from bad to worse for the U's as they lost Izzet to injury with 34 minutes gone, as he collided in mid-air with Ainsworth and fell heavily to the floor.

After a prolonged period, he was eventually taken away by Tony Flynn, where it appeared he may have sustained some serious damage to his wrist or hand.

He was replaced by Luke Guttridge, who had had to wait patiently for his chance this season but would now have around an hour to show what he had to offer.

The break in play had broken the rhythm of the game up a little bit, but the U's were next to go close as some good play from Sheringham put the ball into McLeod's path and, rather than trying to take on Malcolm, he drove in a shot that fizzed over the crossbar.

Virgo got caught by Vine just before the break and, living up to his reputation as the villain of the U's piece, got a talking to from the referee but no yellow card.

The half finished with the visitors one adrift, but where Vine had escaped the booking at the end of the first half, Baldwin had his name taken by the referee after a foul on the R's player.

The two teams traded free kicks at the start of the first half, but the U's spurned a good position when they were presented with a set piece by the byline.

The U's then had their best chance so far five minutes after the restart, as a ball from the left was missed by Rehman and it caught Guttridge by surprise.

As it popped off his shin, it came to Sheringham and his shot on the turn went well past the upright.

That miss proved crucial as the home team doubled their advantage. Some good play saw the ball threaded past to Buzsaky and he put the ball past the onrushing Gerken into the back of the net.

In fairness to the U's, they responded strongly and could have been level had they converted the chances that followed not long afterwards.

First Sheringham flicked a header from a corner just wide, then inexplicably missed from two yards out as Camp dropped a floated cross. It fell to the U's striker and instinctively he poked out a foot which put the ball onto the post from close range.

Sheringham then turned provider on 58 minutes, as he lay the ball back to Guttridge who, with a quick twist and turn with the ball at his feet, forced a superb save out of Camp.

The U's pressure eventually told though as they pulled one back just after the hour mark. Yeates escaped the attentions of the Rangers back line and lifted the ball over Camp to make it 2-1.

The visitors were right on the front foot now and a jubilant Loftus Road was temporarily quietened as they saw their side's nerves return as the U's pushed them back.

The home team were now sitting very deep and the U's made a second change with twenty minutes to go to try and impose themselves further on the match.

The U's again had an effort on target on 73 minutes as a ball was only half cleared by the R's defence and Granville drove in a shot which perhaps was always going over, but was never too far away.

They continued to press, forcing three quick corners to increase the nerves at Loftus Road, with the R's defence right on top of their keeper as the visitors looked for a path to goal.

Yeates had a shout for a penalty but the referee waved it away and then the U's winger was right in the thick of the action not long afterwards as he and Stewart went in competitively for a ball in the midfield.

Stewart had been adjudged by the referee to have gone in over the ball and was given a second yellow and red as the U's faced ten men for the final minutes.

Another ball was thumped into the box and Lisbie had a shot blocked on the turn and, as Rangers sat in, he headed wide when well placed.

The dying stages of the game were to be attack v defence as the U's pushed forward. Rangers sat two banks of four in front of their keeper as soon as they lost the ball.

The U's introduced Jamie Guy for the final stages of the match, but it was his fellow substitute Lisbie who was in the thick of the action next.

He was sent towards goal by a flick on from Platt, but when he went down in the box, the referee decided that he had dived when the decision could easily have gone the other way.

The U's pressure was relentless and Lisbie headed in an effort well saved by Camp, before Granville had a shot deflected wide for a corner and Jackson also had an effort cleared from danger.

As much as the home side had rocked and creaked as the U's tried to find a way back into the game, they held on for a massive three points. Colchester

SPORTING LIFE Minute-by-Minute
90 The referee blows for full time.
90 QPR just have the edge. Key player: Mark Yeates
90 Adam Virgo (Colchester) booked for unsporting behaviour
90 QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
90 QPR corner from the Right taken by Akos Buzsaky
90 QPR corner from the Right taken by Akos Buzsaky
90 QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
90 Foul on Lee Camp (QPR) by Danny Granville (Colchester), free kick awarded
90 Colchester corner from the Right taken by Johnnie Jackson: the ref spots an infringement
90 Colchester throw-in taken by Johnnie Jackson
90 Colchester corner from the Right taken by Johnnie Jackson: the defence clears
90 Kevin Lisbie (Colchester) booked for unsporting behaviour
89 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
89 Colchester throw-in taken by Danny Granville
88 Colchester tactical substitution: Pat Baldwin replaced by Jamie Guy
88 Colchester freekick taken by Luke Guttridge
87 Foul on Luke Guttridge (Colchester) by Adam Bolder (QPR), free kick awarded
87 QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
85 Colchester corner from the Left taken by Johnnie Jackson: the defence clears
83 QPR tactical substitution: Mikele Leigertwood replaced by Simon Walton
82 Damion Stewart (QPR) sent off for second bookable offence
81 Colchester freekick taken by Johnnie Jackson
81 Foul on Mark Yeates (Colchester) by Damion Stewart (QPR), free kick awarded
80 QPR just have the edge. Key player: Mark Yeates
79 Colchester corner from the Right taken by Johnnie Jackson: the defence clears
79 Colchester corner from the Right taken by Johnnie Jackson: the defence clears
79 Colchester corner from the Right taken by Johnnie Jackson: the defence clears
78 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
76 Colchester throw-in taken by Bela Balogh
75 QPR tactical substitution: Dexter Blackstock replaced by Marc Nygaard
74 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
74 Shot by Danny Granville (Colchester) : it goes over
73 Damion Stewart (QPR) booked for unsporting behaviour
73 Colchester freekick taken by Adam Virgo
72 Foul on Kevin Lisbie (Colchester) by Damion Stewart (QPR), free kick awarded
72 QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
71 Colchester tactical substitution: Teddy Sheringham replaced by Kevin Lisbie
70 QPR just have the edge. Key player: Mark Yeates
70 QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
68 Colchester throw-in taken by Bela Balogh
68 Colchester freekick taken by Adam Virgo
68 Foul on Danny Granville (Colchester) by Akos Buzsaky (QPR), free kick awarded
67 Caught by Lee Camp (QPR)
67 Mikele Leigertwood (QPR) booked for unsporting behaviour
67 Colchester freekick taken by Johnnie Jackson
67 Foul on Johnnie Jackson (Colchester) by Mikele Leigertwood (QPR), free kick awarded
66 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
65 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
65 QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
65 Foul on Damion Stewart (QPR) by Teddy Sheringham (Colchester), free kick awarded
64 Saved by Lee Camp (QPR)
64 Shot by Clive Platt (Colchester) : the 'keeper has it covered
62 Goal scored by Mark Yeates (Colchester)
62 Shot by Mark Yeates (Colchester) : on target
62 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
60 QPR just have the edge. Key player: Rowan Vine
58 Colchester freekick taken by Dean Gerken
58 QPR throw-in taken by Gareth Ainsworth
57 Header by Johnnie Jackson (Colchester) : it goes over
57 Colchester corner from the Right taken by Johnnie Jackson
57 Turned round the post by Lee Camp (QPR)
57 Shot by Luke Guttridge (Colchester) : the 'keeper has it covered
56 Shot by Teddy Sheringham (Colchester) : it goes over
55 Colchester corner from the Right taken by Mark Yeates
55 QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
54 Handball by Johnnie Jackson (Colchester )
53 Colchester corner from the Right taken by Johnnie Jackson
52 Goal scored by Akos Buzsaky (QPR)
52 Shot by Akos Buzsaky (QPR) : on target
50 Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Akos Buzsaky
50 Shot by Teddy Sheringham (Colchester) : it goes wide
49 Colchester freekick taken by Mark Yeates
49 Foul on Luke Guttridge (Colchester) by Zeshan Rehman (QPR), free kick awarded
48 Pat Baldwin (Colchester) booked for unsporting behaviour
47 QPR freekick taken by Akos Buzsaky
47 Foul on Akos Buzsaky (QPR) by Pat Baldwin (Colchester), free kick awarded
47 QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
46 Foul on Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) by Kevin McLeod (Colchester), free kick awarded
45 The second half kicks off.
45 The referee blows for half time.
45 Colchester freekick taken by Dean Gerken
45 Foul on Pat Baldwin (Colchester) by Dexter Blackstock (QPR), free kick awarded
45 Colchester freekick taken by Danny Granville
45 Foul on Adam Virgo (Colchester) by Adam Bolder (QPR), free kick awarded
45 Colchester freekick taken by Bela Balogh
45 Foul on Clive Platt (Colchester) by Rowan Vine (QPR), free kick awarded
44 Colchester freekick taken by Bela Balogh
44 Foul on Bela Balogh (Colchester) by Mikele Leigertwood (QPR), free kick awarded
43 Shot by Kevin McLeod (Colchester) : it goes over
43 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
42 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
42 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
42 Colchester throw-in taken by Bela Balogh
41 Colchester throw-in taken by Bela Balogh
41 Colchester freekick taken by Dean Gerken
40 Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Rowan Vine
40 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
39 Shot by Kevin McLeod (Colchester) : it goes wide
37 QPR corner from the Right taken by Akos Buzsaky
36 QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
36 Colchester substitution: Kemal Izzet injured, replaced by Luke Guttridge
35 Colchester throw-in taken by Danny Granville
33 Colchester freekick taken by Adam Virgo
33 Foul on Kemal Izzet (Colchester) by Gareth Ainsworth (QPR), free kick awarded
33 Shot by Mark Yeates (Colchester) : it goes wide
33 Caught by Lee Camp (QPR)
32 Colchester freekick taken by Mark Yeates
32 Foul on Mark Yeates (Colchester) by Zeshan Rehman (QPR), free kick awarded
30 Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Akos Buzsaky
30 QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
27 Turned round the post by Lee Camp (QPR)
27 Goal scored by Akos Buzsaky (QPR)
27 Shot by Akos Buzsaky (QPR) : on target
27 QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
26 QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
26 Foul on Robert Malcolm (QPR) by Clive Platt (Colchester), free kick awarded
25 Colchester freekick taken by Dean Gerken
25 Foul on Dean Gerken (Colchester) by Damion Stewart (QPR), free kick awarded
25 QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
23 Shot by Teddy Sheringham (Colchester) : it goes wide
21 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
21 QPR freekick taken by Robert Malcolm
21 Foul on Akos Buzsaky (QPR) by Danny Granville (Colchester), free kick awarded
20 Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Johnnie Jackson
20 Colchester freekick taken by Dean Gerken
19 Colchester throw-in taken by Adam Virgo
18 QPR throw-in taken by Rowan Vine
17 Colchester throw-in taken by Danny Granville
17 QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
16 Caught by Lee Camp (QPR)
16 Shot by Kemal Izzet (Colchester) : the 'keeper has it covered
15 QPR freekick taken by Lee Camp
15 Foul on Damion Stewart (QPR) by Clive Platt (Colchester), free kick awarded
14 QPR throw-in taken by Robert Malcolm
13 Header by Dexter Blackstock (QPR) : it goes wide
12 Colchester throw-in taken by Danny Granville
11 Caught by Dean Gerken (Colchester)
10 Neither team can gain control of the match. Key player: Rowan Vine
10 Bela Balogh (Colchester) booked for unsporting behaviour
10 QPR freekick taken by Akos Buzsaky
10 Foul on Rowan Vine (QPR) by Bela Balogh (Colchester), free kick awarded
9 QPR freekick taken by Zeshan Rehman
9 Foul on Mikele Leigertwood (QPR) by Johnnie Jackson (Colchester), free kick awarded
8 Colchester corner from the Left taken by Mark Yeates: the defence clears
7 Colchester corner from the Right taken by Johnnie Jackson: the defence clears
7 Turned round the post by Lee Camp (QPR)
7 Shot by Johnnie Jackson (Colchester) : the 'keeper has it covered
6 Colchester freekick taken by Johnnie Jackson
6 Foul on Mark Yeates (Colchester) by Adam Bolder (QPR), free kick awarded
6 Colchester freekick taken by Kemal Izzet
5 Foul on Clive Platt (Colchester) by Robert Malcolm (QPR), free kick awarded
5 Colchester throw-in taken by Danny Granville
5 QPR corner from the Right taken by Akos Buzsaky: the defence clears
4 Shot by Akos Buzsaky (QPR) : it's blocked
4 Colchester throw-in taken by Bela Balogh
4 QPR corner from the Right taken by Akos Buzsaky: the defence clears
3 QPR corner from the Left taken by Akos Buzsaky
3 Tipped over by Dean Gerken (Colchester)
3 Shot by Rowan Vine (QPR) : the 'keeper has it covered
3 QPR throw-in taken by Chris Barker
2 Colchester throw-in taken by Bela Balogh
2 Colchester throw-in taken by Bela Balogh
1 Colchester throw-in taken by Bela Balogh
1 QPR freekick taken by Akos Buzsaky
1 Foul on Gareth Ainsworth (QPR) by Kevin McLeod (Colchester), free kick awarded
0 The match has kicked off

TEAMS
QPR: Camp, Barker, Stewart, Bolder, Blackstock, Buzsaky, Ainsworth, Malcolm, Vine, Rehman, Leigertwood. Subs: Cole, Moore, Walton, Nygaard, Balanta.

Colchester United: Gerken, Granville, Jackson, Sheringham, Platt, Izzet, Yeates, Baldwin, McLeod, Virgo, Balogh. Subs: Cousins, Duguid, Guy, Guttridge, Lisbie.

-
An interesting test of the lure of the new QPR. Also makes one wonder how Sky Sports got to hear about this.

Sky Sports/Graeme Bailey - Eight eye R's starlet
Premier League sides battle for R's youngster

Up to eight Premier League clubs are looking to lure Queens Park Rangers starlet Liam O'Brien away from Loftus Road, skysports.com understands.
The 16-year-old goalkeeper is already playing for the club's Under 18s and has made his debut for the reserves, and is rated by many as one of the brightest talents for his age in the country.
Scouts have been alerted to O'Brien - who is still on schoolboy terms at the club having rejected the chance to sign scholarship forms.
The likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Manchester United and Newcastle are believed to be amongst those showing an interest in O'Brien.
QPR know they face a real battle to keep O'Brien and realise if he did leave he could do so at the end of the season with only minimal compensation due to the Championship club. Skysports

See Also: Recent QPR U-18s Match report

-
RANGERS EYE TRIO FOR £2.5M
Qpr - the new rich kids in the Championship - will make a £2.5million triple signing next month.
Lakshmi Mittal - the world's fifthrichest man - bought a 20 per cent stake in Rangers.
They will snap up Watford midfielder Gavin Mahon, West Ham striker Hogan Ephraim and forward from Sunderland Darryl Murphy. Rowan Vine's loan from Birmingham will also be made permanent. Mirror

This is Yorkshire - 'Wanted man' tag spurs on young Owls defender
TOMMY SPURR insists that he is no rush to leave Sheffield Wednesday despite a shock bid for his services from Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers.
The Leeds-born defender is happy at Hillsborough and desperate to help manager Brian Laws steer the Owls away from the relegation zone.
But Spurr could have fallen off his sofa during the week when news of a decision to reject an undisclosed offer from Rangers flashed across his television screen.
After just 12 months in the first team spotlight, the 20-year-old was officially a 'wanted man'.
It would now be a major surprise if Rangers, who are also chasing Owls winger Jermaine Johnson, do not return with an improved offer before the New Year transfer window.
Spurr said: "I only found out about this the same way as everyone else did, by watching Sky Sports News! It came as a surprise but at least its nice to know that I am doing something right somewhere along the line.
"However, I am happy playing for Sheffield Wednesday and I am happy to keep on playing as long as I can," he stressed. "I am still learning and developing as a player and, hopefully, I will get even better."
Having started his career as a centre-back, Spurr is now regarded as the Owls's first choice left-back with Laws a firm admirer of his honest, hard-working performances. Defensively, the Owls have been solid of late, keeping four clean sheets in the last six with Spurr playing his part alongside Frank Simek, Michael Johnson and Richard Hinds.
But Simek will be out for the next two months after suffering an ankle injury last weekend and today, against Watford, Johnson will make the final appearance of his three-month loan deal from Derby County.
Whether that affects the solidity of the back line remains to be seen but Spurr is still optimistic the club can soon start to climb the table.
"We have had a couple of defeats in the last couple of weeks but, hopefully, we can pick things up at Hillsborough and start the Christmas period off with a win," he said.
"There are a lot of games coming up in a short space
of time and a couple of wins could quickly shoot us up the table."
Although Watford have topped the table for the majority of the season, they have recently slipped into second spot after taking only two points from the last 21 available.
The Owls visit Burnley on Boxing Day before heading to Hull City a week tomorrow and hosting Preston North End on New Year's Day.
"We are just looking to move slowly up the league and find some consistency and put a few wins together," added Spurr.
"We have a game in hand and the mood is good in the camp. We just want to finish as high up the table as we can."
Manager Laws spoke yesterday of the Owls determination to not sell players 'on the cheap'. Although the club is currently in a state of limbo following the resignation of chairman Dave Allen, talks with prospective new investors are advancing.
Laws feels some clubs want to take advantage of the Owls's situation and dismissed Rangers' offer for Spurr and Johnson as 'peanuts.'... Yorkshire Post

Daily Mirror - first and last we put the questions to Rowan Vine
Q What's the first team you ever played for?
A team called Loddon Sports in Basingstoke.

Q Last time you had a really good laugh?
I've got two little boys and they make me laugh every single day.

Q The last promising young player you saw?
The boy at Barcelona, Bojan Krkic, he looks unbelievable on TV. At QPR they have Michael Mancienne and Scott Sinclair, who have both been on loan from Chelsea, they are really good players.

Q First position that you played in?
I was a striker. I'd sometimes play on the wing but I've pretty much always been up front.

Q The first holiday you ever went on?
I went to Corfu when I was 15, that was the first one on my own.

Q First female celebrity that you fancied?
Probably Kylie Minogue.

Q First time you got sent off?
It was when I was at Brentford. It was for two yellow cards against Mansfield. A fight kicked off in the last minute and I got sent off. It wasn't deserved though, I didn't do anything! Never a booking!

Q Last great film you have seen?
'300'. It was great, really action packed. I didn't think it would be any good and I didn't see it at the cinema but I enjoyed it on DVD.

Q The first car you ever bought?
A Peugeot 106 when I was 19.

Q Your targets for the rest of the season?
To get QPR as far up the league as I can while I'm here, I can't really see past that at the moment. Mirror

-
There's a Football League Survey. QPR Fans rank 22nd among clubs in current responses(Perhaps they have more important things to do?)

CRYSTAL PALACE OFFICIAL SITE - Palace Fans Rush To Complete Survey
Crystal Palace fans are currently in 4th position in the League table of completed responses in the 2008 Football League Supporters Survey and any fans that have not yet submitted their views are being urged to do so now to move us up the table and ensure the views of The Eagles fans are heard.
Across the League 23,000 fans have so far taken the opportunity to have their say and help shape the future of the professional game by completing the survey - don't miss the chance to have YOUR say and give yourself a chance to win one of five pairs of tickets for the 2008 Play-Off Finals at Wembley Stadium in the process.
The Football League Supporters Survey 2008 ask fans their views on a range of important football issues, from the use of goal-line technology and quotas for home-grown players to refereeing standards and kick-off times.
Supporters are also being asked their views on the club they support. This includes issues surrounding the matchday experience such as ticket prices, food & drink and stewarding, as well as wider issues such as whether fans feel valued by their club and the importance they place on Community and Youth Development programmes.
Each club will receive a summary of the views expressed by their supporters, with none of the information supplied being personally attributable to participants.
The results of The Football League Supporters' Survey will be published in the New Year.
To take part in the survey CLICK HERE or visit The Football League's official website - www.football-league.co.uk Current Response Ranking (Scroll down - QPR's Response 22nd)

Crystal Palace


FOOTBALL LEAGUE LAUNCHES MAJOR NEW FAN CONSULATION
The Football League is giving fans throughout the country the opportunity to help shape the future of professional football with the launch of a major new supporter consultation.
The Football League Supporters Survey 2008 lets fans have their say on a range of important football issues, from the use of goal-line technology and quotas for home-grown players to refereeing standards and kick-off times.
Supporters will also be asked their views on the club they support. This will include issues surrounding the matchday experience such as ticket prices, food & drink and stewarding, as well as wider issues such as whether fans feel valued by their club and the importance they place on Community and Youth Development programmes.
In launching The Football League Supporters Survey 2008 Lord Mawhinney, Chairman of The Football League, said: "The views of football supporters are very important to The League and its clubs. This survey is an opportunity for fans to help guide us, as we move forward.
"The last survey we conducted, on this scale, was completed by more than 43,000 supporters. It provided an important barometer of supporter opinion and made a positive contribution to The League's decision making process.
"In particular, supporters' views were influential as we developed our new Agents' regulations, which prohibited the previously common practice which allowed agents to represent a player and a club in the same transfer deal. They were also a factor in the decision to introduce a smoke-free policy at all League matches from the beginning of this season.
"I very much hope that supporters will to take this opportunity to make a difference, once again."
In total, more than 500,000 outbound e-mails will be sent to registered supporters, asking them to contribute their views. Additionally, all other supporters will be able to participate on-line, via The Football League website: www.football-league.co.uk . By completing the survey, which is being run in conjunction with sports research specialists SportsWise, supporters will also give themselves the opportunity to win tickets for this season's Coca-Cola Football League Play-Off Finals at the new Wembley Stadium, with five pairs of tickets up for grabs.
The results of The Football League Supporters' Survey will be published in the New Year.
Links The Football League Supporters Survey 2008 Football League

-
Kevin Gallen got MK Dons equalizer last night against Brentford (after having also scored last Saturday): Last night
MK Dons Official Site:"...68mins - GOAL! MK DONS 1 BRENTFORD 1 - KEVIN GALLEN
Relief sweeps through stadiummk as the Dons finally haul themselves level. Johnson tees up Wright to cross from the right low to the near post, Andrews holds off Osborne in front of the near post before rolling right, pulling the ball back and Gallen is there with a tap-in from eight yards." MK Dons

Speaking before the game...

MK DONS Official Site GALLEN READY FOR CHRISTMAS KICK-OFF
Striker Kevin Gallen is hoping the Dons can turn Scrooge this Christmas and show little generosity over the festive period.
Friday night's visit of Brentford to stadiummk will be the first of four games in 10 days for Paul Ince's league leaders as the annual fixture congestion kicks into gear.
A Boxing Day trip to Notts County and an away day at Darlington follow with Mansfield coming to Milton Keynes on New Year's Day.
And Gallen believes that while the prospect of so many matches can be a daunting one, if the Dons prepare correctly, a full points haul is not beyond them.
He said: "A lot of things can change for a team if you have a good Christmas.
"In an ideal world you're looking for maximum points. It's a big ask but we've proved already this season we're capable of a run like that.
"You don't really do a lot in training at this time of year, it's all about what you do on the pitch so you have to get the right preparation and pick up as many points as possible."
Gallen fired the opening goal the Dons' vital win at Peterborough last week to send Ince's men into the Christmas period on a three game winning run.
And the former QPR striker says he's enjoying being back in the side after injury brought an unwanted interruption to his first season in MK.
He said: "I haven't been playing much lately and haven't scored a goal in a little while so it was nice to see that one hit the back of the net on Saturday.
"The season was going alright for me, I was in the team and then I picked up an injury.
"It's been difficult to get back into the side because the lads who have been playing have done really well but you have to give them a chance. When the lads are winning games you're not likely to change much.
"But I've found myself back in the side, I've started the last two games and managed to score last Saturday so hopefully I can keep playing.
"If I can stay in the side and the lads keep winning then great."
The Dons will face a rejuvenated Bees side, after caretaker manager Andy Scott helped them end a seven-game losing streak with a win at Wrexham last Saturday.
And Gallen feels they'll be tough opposition if they play like most visiting teams at stadiummk.
He said: "Teams have been coming here, trying to defend and trying to nick a point. They pack the defence, pack the midfield and try to hit us on the break.
"We've got to be patient. Against Accrington Stanley we scored quite early and were able to dominate the whole game so we'll be looking to do something similar on Friday.
"But it's not going to be easy for us, I think they'll come with a game plan and we will have to break them down." MK Dons

THIRTY YEARS AGO, This week, Ernie Howe Joined QPR from Fulham for 50,000 pounds and made his QPR Debut(December 17) away to Liverpool, losing 1-0.
[Unfortunately of course, that means, thirty years ago, QPR sold Dave Needham to eventual First Champions Nottingham Forest.
Howe played just over 100 League games
before joining Portsmouth in August 1982. (Howe was unlucky not to play in the FA Cup Final). See Wikipedia/Ernie Howe Howe was manager of Bassingstoke for 13 years until 2006. In 2005, he won coach of the Year - Award to Howe

-
Norwich Official Site - ROEDER DRAWS UP WISH-LIST
CITY boss Glenn Roeder has started to draw up his transfer wish-list for January, and confirmed he had money to spend on permanent signings and loan deals.
But manager said any deal to bring Birmingham defender Martin Taylor back to Carrow Road looked to be "completely stone dead", with Roeder unwilling to increase what he described as an "extremely good offer" for his services.
The next transfer window opens for a month on January 1, and is widely considered in the game to be the toughest time to do any business.
Roeder said he would still be looking to add new faces to the City squad, but was well aware of the challenges ahead of him from past experiences.
"We are starting to put a list together of either players we would like on loan or would try and bring in on a permanent deal," he said. "I know from last year at Newcastle that the January window is a very difficult window to do. The fact was at Newcastle I didn't have any money to spend at all. But there was a chance of taking a couple of loan players. I got one in the end, a lad from Standard Liege, a central defender. But it was difficult to buy or loan players in the January window for obvious reasons.
...So what of Taylor? The 28-year-old left Carrow Road last week after an extremely successful month-long loan spell from St Andrews. Any attempts to extend the deal into January were shot down in flames by the Premiership side, with City also hitting a stumbling block when attempting to reach an agreementl to secure Taylor on a permanent deal.
Roeder was asked whether there had been any movement on that front, and his answer was a straightforward one.
"No. And I don't think there will be either. That might be completely stone dead or that might rear its head again at the end of the window."
QPR are known to be interested in buying Taylor, but the player himself does not appear keen on a switch to the London club. Last week, Birmingham chief executive Karren Brady claimed the Canaries had not even made an offer for Taylor, with QPR the only team said to have made a bid. But Roeder said the two clubs had tried to negotiate a deal, and said he would not be forced into paying over the odds when asked if he would increase his bid.
"I don't want to," he said. "We've offered more than enough. And the money has to be spread round. It's all about valuations and I know that our valuation and offer was an extremely good offer. It just so happens that QPR offered a bit more and it was a worthless offer because he wont go there."
QPR

-
Mirror - Football - Ecclestone and Briatore exclusive
Exclusive by Oliver Holt Chief Sports Writer 21/12/2007
Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore are sitting in a backstreet pub in Knightsbridge, west London.
They're talking teams. Not Renault or McLaren, but QPR.
They're talking team players. Not Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso, but Rowan Vine and Michael Mancienne.
They're talking venues. Not Monaco or Monza, but Loftus Road and Deepdale.
As usual, Briatore bubbles with enthusiasm. But he stops gabbling, just for a second. Ecclestone is speaking and, generally, when Bernie speaks, you stop.
"One hundred per cent, we were going to buy Chelsea," Ecclestone says. "Seriously. One million per cent we'd have bought it. No argument. It was ready to be done. Then Roman came along."
There was a putative bid for Roma, too, but the deal was too complicated. Then there was Arsenal. That came to nothing.
So why Queens Park Rangers? Flavio looks round the pub and answers in the infectious spiel that makes him the marketing genius he is. But Ecclestone stops him again. "Tell him the truth, Flavio," Bernie says.
Flavio gives him a thanks-for-nothing look, then tells the story of how two of the most charismatic and powerful men in sport came to buy a west London institution.
"Ok," Briatore says. "I've a friend who wanted to open a restaurant with me in London. We'd been talking about opportunities, discussing opening a high-end pizzeria or maybe a churrascaria.
"Anyway, a couple of weeks went by and this guy phoned me out of the blue and said there was an opportunity to buy QPR. I was still thinking food. QPR? I thought maybe it was a barbecue restaurant."
But Briatore, boss of Formula One team Renault, quickly found out what he needed to know about QPR and in September, he and F1 billionaire Ecclestone paid £1m for the Championship club and agreed to clear £13m of its debts.
They saved it from going out of existence and are now planning for the Premier League. "I don't want to buy players for QPR just because they've a big name," Ecclestone says. "We don't need to massage our egos like that. Our egos are big enough to look after themselves."
Some fans are sceptical. They think Ecclestone and Briatore might be in it for the real estate.
But why would a bloke worth £2.4bn be bothered about a bit more loose change?
Truth is, things are looking brighter for QPR than they have for a long time. With the investors they have, they're the envy of every club in Englan Industrialist Lakshmi Mittal, the world's fifth richest man, joined Ecclestone and Briatore as a major shareholder yesterday.
Qpr are bottom of the table but with Ecclestone around, won't be for long. "Abramovich, watch out," Ecclestone said with a wicked grin.
A few weeks ago, the 77-year-old watched QPR play Sheffield Wednesday. It was a cold afternoon and Briatore's friends sat in the Loftus Road directors' box with cashmere blankets spread on their knees.
When QPR missed a chance, Ecclestone looked around disdainfully at pained expressions on people's faces.
"Nothing happened," he says. "We're not playing the pools. We're only looking for a result."
In the second half, he made the occasional dart back to the directors' room to check on the racing from Lingfield Park.
But he and Briatore have caught the football bug, like Abramovich, like Mittal, just like a lot of awfully rich men.
"Most guys with a few quid, whether they've thieved it or whether they've earned it, are competitive people," Ecclestone says. "It's the needy and the greedy. Most of all, it's about trying to prove they're right."
Ecclestone said he was upset when he saw the state of the facilities at Loftus Road. Things are going to change fast.
Boss Luigi di Canio has been given money to bring in a host of players in January to help push the club clear of trouble.
Old sponsors will go. New ones will come. Briatore has plans for top London restaurant Cipriani to do the VIP catering, and to hire a leading DJ for the pre-match entertainment.
They want to get fans to the game earlier, get them more involved in the club. Revenue, it is fair to say, will increase. Briatore and Ecclestone, after all, have always been rather good at that side of things.
"Look," Ecclestone said, "football's something that goes on when Formula One's in its off season. Getting QPR back on top would be like buying Spyker and building that up.
"There's no point buying Ferrari. The only way is down. At QPR, we're in Formula Renault at the moment. Next, we want to move up to GP2 and then GP1.
"If we hadn't bought the club, there wouldn't have been any singing or anybody complaining about anything because there wouldn't have been any club to sing about.
"Now Flavio is doing his best to make sure the club succeeds so the fans should be very happy. We'd both like to do things that haven't been done in football before. Everyone seems to follow the same format. Maybe what we do will be wrong but there's only one way to find out.
"Everyone's copied what I did years ago in Formula One."
What if things only improve slowly and the crowd starts to sing rude songs about him and Briatore? "We'll sing along with them," Ecclestone says.
"But they'll have to have good voices if we're going to listen to them," added Briatore.
The grand plan goes like this. Stay up this season, consolidate next season, promotion to the Premier League the season after.
"We need to work on the stadium, the sponsors, the team, everything," said Briatore.
"This isn't a case of throwing money at something. Bernie invests in an efficient way and when I won championships in Formula One with Benetton, I won with lower budgets than a lot of the other teams."
In January, QPR visit Chelsea in the FA Cup. Ecclestone, a Chelsea fan and a mate of the owner, is relishing it.
"I go to Chelsea with Roman now and again," he says, "so we might have to go easy on them, put out a weakened team and give them a bit of a chance."
New Stars Of The R's
Flavio Briatore
Age: 57. Women: Engaged to model Elisabetta Gregoraci. Business: Managing director of Renault Formula One team. Worth: Is thought to have £70million fortune.
Bernie Ecclestone
Age: 77. Women: Married to former model Slavica, has two young daughters, Tamara and Petra. Business: Supremo of F1 Racing. Worth: Estimated at £2.2bn.
Lakshmi Mittal (left)
Age: 57. Women: Married to Usha and has two children. Business: CEO of Arcelor Mittal, world's largest steel company. Worth: World's fifth richest man worth £50bn.
Mirror

-
After 24 hours of billionaire-talk madness, QPR fans now have to go back to facing a very important game against fellow relegation rivals, Colchester United. Hopefully all the QPR players will be focusing on this crucial game and not letting themselves be distracted by all the media "QPR's Richest Club" nonsense.


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: U'S

The phrase 'six-pointer' is often overused in footballing parlance, but Saturday's showdown between the R's and Colchester United at Loftus Road certainly requires such a billing.

Only goal difference currently separates the sides lying in 24th and 23rd respectively in the Championship table and with at least half a dozen or so other Club's also embroiled in the scrap for survival, victory for either side this afternoon would provide a huge fillip ahead of the all-important festive fixtures.
Second season syndrome appears to be hitting last season's surprise package pretty hard at present.
After excelling in their maiden campaign in the second tier of English football, Geraint 'George' Williams' side are the latest Club to fall victim of the now-common phrase that is used to describe a downturn in fortunes for a Football Club two seasons after its promotion
The U's currently occupy 23rd place in the Championship table, with just two victories to their name from their last 12 outings.
A heavy 4-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Cardiff City a fortnight ago saw them drop into the bottom three for the first time this season and Williams, for one, is aware of the need to pick up results, before it's too late.
"I'm quite low but I am after every defeat," he said.
"Every Manager takes it very personally but I'm sure the players do as well. We have to make sure that it doesn't happen again.
"We're making too many errors - not as individuals but as a team.
"We set out in the second half to carry it through and we've said in the dressing room afterwards - are we all singing from the same hymn sheet?
"There's a lot of hard work to be done."
Coincidentally, United's poor form followed hot on the heels of their 4-2 victory against QPR in early October.
A Mikele Leigertwood own goal and strikes from Kemal Izzet, Mark Yeates and Clive Platt put Rangers to the sword at Layer Road and although a fine win against West Bromwich Albion followed a fortnight later, the negatives have far outweighed the positives since then. QPR

COLCHESTER UNITED - They Played For Both
Supporter Graeson Laitt continues his series looking at players who have represented both the U's and their upcoming opposition.
Since the U's became a Football League club in 1950, there have been nineteen players who have represented both QPR and the U's including four who may well be involved on Saturday.
We start, as always, in the U's formative years as a fledgling Football League side in 1956 with Eddie Smith.
Signed by Benny Fenton, the inside forward only stayed for a season at Layer Road scoring thirteen goals in three times as many appearances before he finished his career back in London with a season at Loftus Road.
Peter Carey joined the U's from QPR in November 1960 after making fifteen appearances for The Hoops.
A centre-half, he played ten times for the U's before being released at the end of the summer where upon he joined Aldershot.
Team-mate of Carey that season was fullback Alan Eagles. Like Carey he only played a few games for the U's before joining QPR during the summer of 1961, and then a few months later to Aldershot.
Another central defender who played for both sides is Keith Rutter.
The Yorkshire man spent eight seasons at Loftus Road, racking up over three hundred Football League appearances.
United paid £4,000 for his services in February 1963 and his 63 games for the U's meant that he'd played in over four hundred league games throughout his career - but had scored just one goal!
Arthur Langley is a member of a fairly unique club at Layer Road as you'll struggle to find his name in the record books!
He was born Arthur Longbottom but changed his name by deed poll to Langley and, alongside Julian Hazel / Dart remains one of only two U's players to have changed their names!
Langley played over two hundred games for QPR and, via Port Vale, Millwall, and Oxford United arrived at the club in October 1964. The forward scored twelve goals in 33 games for the club.
Defender Colin Moughton had a less successful spell with the club. He arrived at Layer Road in July 1968 from QPR for a two month trial but failed to impress manager Dick Graham and was not kept on.
Bypassing the 70s completely, our next player is goalkeeper Graham Benstead who started his career at Loftus Road without making the first team.
He came on loan to the U's in August 1987 from Norwich City and stayed for three months.
Northern Ireland International Ian Stewart was another who started his career at Loftus Road in 1980.
He was a late addition to the U's team that secured the Non-League double and scored some vital goals during his short spell at the club.
Gus Caesar had a loan spell with The Hoops in 1990 when he was still with Arsenal.
He was one of George Burley's first signings from Airdrie when he took over as manager in 1994, spending two seasons with the U's, scoring three goals.
Another loan spell saw Wayne Brown play two games for Rangers in March 2001. Brown went on to return to Layer Road in 2004 and was a crucial part of the squad that won promotion to The Championship.
Bradley Allen spent seven seasons at Loftus Road scoring 27 goals in that time.
The U's secured his services on loan from Charlton in 1998 but injury, something that blighted the former England U21s International's career, curtailed his Layer Road experience.
Barry Conlon had a terrific rapport with the U's fans during his long loan spell with the U's in 2000 culminating in the Bald Barry Conlon Day at Wycombe Wanderers.
The much-travelled frontman is now at Bradford City alongside another former U's striker Ndumbu-Nsungu.
Two players now who are perhaps not on everyone's Christmas card list this year.
Like the U's, QPR rescued the career of Jamie Cureton after the striker's ill-fated move to South Korea side Busan Icons.
Played out of position at Loftus Road he only scored six goals in 43 games.
His spells at Layer Road were much more successful culminating with winning the Championship's Golden Boot award last season.
Tony Thorpe was a member of the promotion winning squad and, I felt, was unlucky not to have scored for the club particularly against Brentford when he had two chances cleared off the line!
Towards the end of his career when he moved to North Essex, this intelligent forward with an eye for goal spent two seasons in West London with The R's.
January looks set to see the U's and QPR go head to head for the services of West Ham's Hogan Ephraim.
The England Youth International was a hit during his time at Layer Road, and the U's recently proposed a transfer for the youngster reputedly worth £500k.
Earlier this season, he scored against the U's for QPR in their 4-2 defeat but unlike certain other people, he respectfully declined to celebrate his goal and for that, received a warm round of applause from the U's faithful.
He would clearly be an addition to the U's squad for the remainder of the fight to stay in The Championship.
Also appearing for QPR in that fixture was Chris Barker and Rowan Vine, both previous season-long loanees at Layer Road.
Left back Barker came in to the U's side last season and steadied the ship with consistent and reliable performances - though he did see red twice during the campaign.
I understand that he hasn't yet won over the Hoops faithful but I am sure that he will come good eventually.
Rowan Vine's Layer Road highlight was an FA Cup hat-trick that put out Coventry City in a replay - though the TV interview on Match Of The Day was memorable for all the wrong reasons too!
After leaving Layer Road he moved to Luton and then Steve Bruce signed him for Birmingham.
The U's also have two players who will be expecting to play on Saturday who also spent time with QPR.
Kevin Lisbie had a loan spell with the London club in 2000 comprising of just two games while Kevin McLeod has had three spells with QPR. The first two were as loan spells from Everton before the later spell was made permanent for a fee of £250,000.
He spent two seasons at Loftus Road before moving to Swansea and then on to the U's in September 2006. Colchester

Also: League Table and Colchester's Results and Colchester's Team

-
The Mail - BIRMINGHAM City are ready to sell striker Rowan Vine to Queens Park Rangers in a £2m deal.
Vine, 25, has been on loan at Rangers for two months — scoring three goals.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, said: 'I will talk to Vine's agent.' The player joined Birmingham in January from Luton for £2.5m. The Mail

SkySports
"...Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is prepared to release Neil Danns - with Nottingham Forest interested in the midfielder....Now McLeish has told Danns he will allow him to leave after delivering the same message last week to central defender Martin Taylor...
McLeish believes the time is still right for Taylor to leave even though Johan Djourou's return to Arsenal next month after a loan spell will leave City short of numbers in that department.
He said: "Djourou is going back but it's still the same situation with Martin. We feel it's better for the big fellow to move on. It's the right time.
"We need to make some changes and do things differently. I think QPR are still in the hunt for Martin but you will have to ask his agent on that one and find out where things are at..." Skysports

And Humour From The Guardian?
The Fiver Christmas Awards 2007 - Barry Glendenning and Scott Murray
Thursday December 20, 2007
".....THE BRUCE LEE AWARD FOR BEST BRAWL
The players and coaches of China Under-23s and QPR, whose training-ground "friendly" was abandoned when players staged an impromptu re-enactment of the Kill Bill scene where Uma Thurman took on the Crazy 88, but with QPR assistant manager Richard Hill playing the role of The Bride. The kumate ended with the police being called, Xian Chanba defender Zheng Tao being carted away in an ambulance, unconscious, with a broken jaw, and seven Chinese players being sent home in disgrace. Whether this was because of the fight, or because QPR were winning 2-1 at the time the Great Brawl kicked off remains unclear. The Guardian

In Swindon Takeover
"...Fitton's consortium will take control of football matters at the club from today with former QPR director Nick Watkins expected to be unveiled as chief executive designate..." Swindon Advertiser

A decade ago today: December 21, 1997: George Kulscar, Ray Harford's First Signing, made his QPR debut and Harford won his first game as QPR manager (one of only four wins in his year at QPR). QPR beat Blackburn 1-0 (Peacock penalty) before a crowd of just under 9,000 with Kulscar going off injured.
Roberts - Brevitt Ready Maddix Yates
Sinclair Kulscar Peacock Quashie
Spencer Sheron
Sub: Gallen & Murray

Gillingham's squad for tomorrow's game vs Brighton
Gills from: Simon Royce, Derek Stillie, Sean Clohessy, Adam Bygrave, Simon King, Craig Armstrong, John Nutter, Marvin Hamilton, Mark Bentley, Stuart Thurgood, Andrew Crofts, Dennis Oli, Craig Stone, Leroy Griffiths, Barry Cogan, Aaron Brown, Nicky Southall, Steve Lomas, Chris Dickson, Adam Miller, Shabazz Baidoo, Luke Freeman, Gary Mulligan, David Graham, Delroy Facey, Andy Pugh. Gillingham

Leroy Griffiths/Gillingham Official Site
Leroy: "I just want to win."
Gillingham striker Leroy Griffiths is hoping to show the Gills faithful what he is capable of over the festive period.
The striker has been at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium for just over a month and is thoroughly enjoying his time: "I first heard about the move on the Sunday night and it was a big shock to me. I am glad that it has happened. I am here on a month-to-month basis so Mark Stimson can see what I still have to offer. If he is happy then we could sort something out long-term and I can get something out of it.

"The main difference is that in League One, people know a lot more about the game. In the Conference, you touch the ball and somebody is onto you, smash and you're being hurried. In League One, you have a couple more seconds to look up and pick your pass. It is more controlled. The build-up to the game, the warm-up and everything is professional. In the non-league, you warm-up by kicking the ball around and doing a couple of runs. At Gillingham, we have a proper warm-up and stretching, we eat proper food and everything is right. There is a right time for this and a right time for that so everything is balanced out. Everything is the best so you can perform at the best of your ability."

Griffiths has already played in different positions for the Gills and admits he'll play anywhere as he is more concerned about the team winning: "I am a hard worker, a grafter and I do not like losing or drawing; I am a winner. People will see with my play that if you have got the ball, I am going to be chasing you until my legs give in. I could have both legs broken but I would try to keep running until I was taken off. That is me, I am a worker and I just want to win. If we can do well, then it is all good. If we're doing badly, I'll be going at people as I want us to win.

"I'm not an out and out striker although I have played that position for Mark Stimson before. I'm more versatile and I am more of a link player. I can do the striker role but I can also do the holding and defending role. A lot of strikers don't like defending but I don't mind running back because I want to win so much. If a person has run past my player, my job is to cover him and help him out. Not a lot of strikers do that. As you see, a lot of strikers just stay up there, get the goals and take the limelight. For me, I'd rather do my bit to help the team get the three points because that will move us up the table."

Griffiths arrived at the Gills with six other players and has settled in well with his new team-mates: "When you go into the club, you sometimes don't get a reaction from players. They might look concerned because they've been there a while and then they see a lot of new faces come in and they start thinking where does he play; does he play in my position? You won't know that until the manager says this is my new striker or new defender. In some aspects, you see peoples faces change but everyone is a big man and we get on with it. If you do well in training and do your job, then it is up to the manager to decide on your selection. If you don't do well, you could be dropped. He still might have faith in you but you have still got to do your job."

The Gills enter a busy festive period with Friday night's game at Brighton & Hove Albion and Griffiths explains that the fans can play their part as the 12th man: "I know we haven't been as good as we should have been of late but get behind us as when the fans do that, they act as that 12th man. If you've got 12 versus 11, you are more likely to win the game. When you are a man down, the other team should win. Get behind us, get behind Mark Stimson as he is doing a good job and is trying to liven things up. People have seen the pace that we can play at and how much grafting we can do. We are not here to just pick up our money and wear this shirt. We want to do well and get the club up to where it should be. We shouldn't be in 17th, we should be further up the table and although we haven't won for a couple of games, lets get this win in the next game and roll up the table."
Gillingham

-
Not to be overlooked in all the hoopla of QPR's seeming new-found riches, the funeral of Jim Langley is being held today. All the tributes from all the clubs go beyond all his playing abilities to cite the niceness and the character of this man. A true tribute

This is Local London - Fan pays tribute to footballer - By Tristan Kirk
A HILLINGDON Borough FC fan has paid tribute to a footballer and manager who "always came when the bugle called".
Jim Langley, 78, died on Sunday, December 9, after an illustrious playing career for Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Brentford, Leeds United, Brighton, Hayes, and Borough.
Jim had four spells at his local team, playing 138 games as a player and managing them on three occasions.
Mike Hunter, who has supported Borough for 46 years, said: "We called Jim Langley back in times of need, and he always helped the club out."
Jim won three England caps, and played up against Sir Stanley Matthews in the Stoke player's last ever game.
He became the oldest player to appear in a competitive Wembley final, losing 3-2 with Borough in the 1971 FA Trophy final, and as manager he won the Middlesex Charity Cup Winners in 1978.
Mr Hunter, 74, remembers admiring Jim's sportsmanship and trademark tackle.
He said: "These days it might be frowned on, but Jim's sliding tackle was legendary.
But I never once knew him hurt anybody, he had a marvellous temperament."
Jim continued to support his local side, close to his home in Pear Tree Avenue, Yiewsley, long after he retired from management, and worked as a steward for the club.
Mr Hunter said: "He was a smashing bloke. He was the kind of guy who when his team lost 6-0, he would leave the field with his arm round the player who had given him a good thrashing."
Mark Lazarus, who played with Jim at QPR when they won the League Cup in 1967, was devastated to hear of his death.
He said: "Jim was the best. Nothing was too much trouble for him, he would help anyone out and he would do it with a smile on his face."
Jim died of a heart attack last Sunday at his home, aged 78.
His funeral is being held tomorrow, at Breakspear Crematorium, in Breakspear Road, Ruislip at 2.15pm.
It will be followed by a wake at Borough's ground in Breakspear Road, and Jim's family have said anyone is welcome to attend. This is Local London

See Also: December 13 - "Death Announced of Former QPR 1967 Hero, Jim Langley"

-
The TIMES -The Insider - December 21Kevin Eason - QPR outdo the neighbours
Chelsea are no longer the richest club in West London. In fact, the rest of the Barclays Premier League combined would struggle to match the wealth that swung behind Queens Park Rangers yesterday. Lakshmi Mittal, Britain’s richest man, took a 20 per cent stake in the Coca-Cola Championship strugglers to line up with Bernie Ecclestone, his old friend, who bought the club this year with Flavio Briatore.
The combined wealth of Mittal and Ecclestone is a staggering £21.4 billion, according to the Sunday Times Rich List – more than double the fortune Roman Abramovich can call on to fund Chelsea. And even a trip to the ramshackle directors’ box at Loftus Road last weekend did not put off Mittal, the Indian steel magnate.
Nobody is entirely sure how much influence Mittal will exert for his 20 per cent but the signs are not good; he has appointed Amit Bhatia, his son-in-law, to take his place on the board, while Ecclestone, too, has his hands full running Formula One. Briatore is not exactly short of things to do either, running the Renault Formula One team plus his aptly-named Billionaire clothing and nightclub empire. There may be loadsamoney, but who is in charge? The Times


Mirror - Lo£tus Road - Why are some of the world's richest men buying into QPR? By Neil Mcleman 21/12/2007
Britain's richest man yesterday bought a 20 per cent stake in Queens Park Rangers, the worstside in the Championship.
Lakshmi Mittal, the Indian-born steel magnate who is worth £25bn, has invested an undisclosed sum in the club taken over last month by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore. Mittal was ranked the fifth-richest man in the world this year ahead of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in 16th place.
Qpr plan to use the 57-year-old's money to get into the top flight and challenge their west London neighbours. The two clubs meet in the FA Cup third round next month and Mittal, who has lived in London since 1995, will be represented on the Loftus Road board by his son-in-law, Amit Bhatia.
"As a family, we love sport and particularly enjoy English football," said Bhatia.
"Alongside Bernie and Flavio, we hope we can improve the club's performance, with the ultimate ambition of a place in the Premier League."
In 2004, Mittal bought a house in Kensington from Ecclestone for £70million - still the record price paid for a private residence in the UK.
New Italian manager Luigi De Canio has already been promised a large budget to invest during the January transfer window.
Qpr fan chief Paul Finney said: "Santa must be wearing blue and white hoops at the moment." Mirror


The INDEPENDENT -QPR welcomes the billionaire effect as Mittal strikes a deal By Danny Fortson, Business Correspondent
Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy a championship-winning football team, a truism lavishly proven by Roman Abram-ovich at Chelsea.
The board of Queen's Park Rangers was yesterday hoping that the arrival of a new billionaire owner in the form of Lakshmi Mittal, head of the world's largest steel company and the richest man in the UK, would herald a similar change of fortunes for the long-suffering club.
The West London club revealed yesterday that the steel baron paid an undisclosed sum for a 20 per cent stake, becoming the latest fabulously wealthy businessman to add an English football club to his trophy case. QPR, currently bottom of the Championship, welcomed the arrival of Mr Mittal, who has an estimated net worth of £20bn. "This investment ...is a great step towards the development of the club and supports the ambition of the shareholders to reach the Premier League in the near future."
Mr Mittal joins the club's other high-profile owners, Bernie Ecclestone, head of Formula One, and Flavio Briatore, the Renault team manager, who took over the club in September. Mr Mittal will be represented on the board by his son-in-law Amit Bhatia.
QPR declined to comment on spending plans beyond a statement saying: "The new capital being invested in QPR will help fund the programme that is needed to help us to achieve this target."
If recent history is a guide, QPR, which last played in the Premier League in 1996, is probably on the cusp of a liberally bankrolled make-over. It needs it. The club descended into farce last year when details emerged of a boardroom confrontation in which former director Gianni Baldini said he was held at gunpoint to force him to resign and sell his shares.
Mr Mittal's dip into the football world is the latest in a string of such deals. Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand, bought Manchester City last summer and immediately splashed out tens of millions of pounds to hire former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson and a raft of pricey foreign players.
The Independent

The Guardian - Matt Scott/The Digger -
"...Mittal feathers the nest
A delegation of Queens Park Rangers fans' groups was received by the club's new board last week but there was no indication then that the billionaires' nest at Loftus Road would soon be joined by another. Rumours began to circulate that Lakshmi Mittal, left, had an interest when he was pictured sitting next to Bernie Ecclestone during the Wolverhampton Wanderers game on Saturday. Mittal's arrival was confirmed yesterday when he took a 20% stake and his son-in-law, Amit Bhatia, took a place on the board. But there is still no convincing word on what has drawn a crowd of Croesuses to the Championship's bottom team." The Guardian

Also: Earlier Compilations -

- "QPR Are the Richest Club in the World...."

- "Mittal's Involvement Hits The Newsstands"

- "QPR Announcement: The Mittal Family is Investing in QPR and Joining QPR's Board"

-
The Sun - QPR are richest club in the world - By PAUL JIGGINS
CHELSEA fans will be choking on their cappuccinos today when they discover they are no longer the country’s richest club.
In fact, they are not even the wealthiest in West London any more.
That honour now goes to unfashionable neighbours Queens Park Rangers after Lakshmi Mittal — the fifth most minted man on the planet — bought a 20 per cent stakeholding.
And with the Rangers board already boasting F1 tycoons Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, it means the Championship’s bottom club have a fortune of more than £22BILLION — even bigger than Real Madrid.
Indian steel magnate Mittal topped last year’s Sunday Times Rich List with a near £20bn fortune — almost double that of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
F1 supremo Ecclestone is worth £2.5bn, while Renault chief Briatore has a cool £60m.
Chequebook
The three wealthy directors have pledged to splash the cash to turn Rangers into the game’s next big force.
And boss Luigi de Canio will be given an open chequebook to strengthen his squad during next month’s transfer window.
Mittal will be represented on the board by son-in-law Amit Bhatia.
He said: “The family is excited about becoming involved with QPR. As a family, we love sport and particularly enjoy English football.
“Alongside Bernie and Flavio, we hope we can improve the club’s performance, with the ultimate ambition of a Premier League place.”
Rangers were on the brink of going back into administration before Ecclestone and Briatore bought the club for £14m in September.
Paul Finney, of the Independent R’s supporters group, said: “Santa must be wearing blue and white hoops.
“It’s been a crazy season and now it looks set to be even more surreal.” The Sun

The Telegraph - Lakshmi Mittal pushes QPR up the rich list
By Kevin Garside

Roman's is no longer the pre-eminent pocket in west London. In one cursory flourish of his platinum card, the world's fifth richest man, who is worth £26 billion, has restructured the pecking order in Kensington and Chelsea. Ronaldinho is practically a Queens Park Rangers player. You never know, David Beckham might be supplying the crosses. He'd look good in hoops.

Fantasy is part of the infrastructure at Queen's Park Rangers. Ordinarily it extends no further than the absent fans, the thousands who proclaim allegiance, who convince themselves that they are supporters but so rarely trouble the turnstiles. Now Lakshmi Mittal is on board, to the tune of a 20 per cent holding, the missing Rangers hordes will be knocking down the doors before you can say Jose Mourinho for manager.

Money men: Lakshmi Mittal has joined forces with Bernie Ecclestone at Loftus Road
In 1974, a record 35,353 turned up to watch Don Revie's Leeds. The capacity now, albeit all-seated, is a more modest 19,100, a figure unlikely to be challenged by the visit of Colchester tomorrow. Make the most of the modest fare; the club is not planning to wither much longer in the nether regions of the game.

Just two months ago the catalyst among the Loftus Road magnates, Formula One's Bernie Ecclestone, sat in the Fuji paddock eulogising Rangers. Earlier that day Mount Fuji emerged from behind the clouds that had cloaked its wondrous peak. One wondered whether Bernie had the right Rangers, whether his state had not been altered by the mind-bending properties associated with Japan's magical mountain.

He spoke of a commitment to revisit the days of Thomas and Francis, of Marsh and Bowles, of a desire to parade Rangers in Europe, to dip the old place in stardust and give Loftus Road a facelift. The unveiling yesterday of Mittal as a partner in this preternatural project added weight to the fancy.

"Mittal is a mate of mine as you know," Ecclestone said. "I told him he should come on board; he took my advice. We want this to work. This is a great old club - they haven't always been where they are today. They were challenging Liverpool for the league title back in the Seventies. That is where we want to see them again, in the top flight.

advertisement"What surprises me is the number of people who are supporters that you never dreamt would be. I speak to people and they tell me they have been supporting QPR all their lives. We'll tidy the whole place up now and see what we can come up with. There will be investment in the club to make it the best it can be. There is a proper board in place and they will decide what the spend will be."

Having spent £30 million sending his daughter down the aisle, Mittal is unlikely to be counting the pennies. When asked if Mittal's involvement was a statement of intent, Ecclestone, hardly thrifty himself, replied: "Absolutely."

Seventeen years ago, a former sheet metal worker from Blackburn sold his company to British Steel for £360 million. Twelve months later, fans of Blackburn Rovers thought they must have died and gone to football heaven. Jack Walker was the new chairman and splashing millions on new stands and Alan Shearer. The result, in 1995, was a first championship since 1914.

Under Kenny Dalglish, Blackburn bloodied the noses of the football aristocracy. Under Mourinho, propelled by Roman's rubles, Chelsea added a second and third title 40 years after claiming their first. The mind boggles at the potential inherent in the bank balances of Messrs Mittal, Ecclestone and [Flavio] Briatore.

January offers the first opportunity to measure intent. This improbable triumvirate could blow the transfer window off its Roman-plated hinges. The teams immediately above QPR in the Championship table are all a whiter shade of pale this morning.

Briatore is the man pulling the strings. This is the same former ski instructor who made niche Italian knitwear sell like hot cakes. He then made Benetton winners in grand prix racing, introducing a chap called Michael Schumacher to the global stage. Ten years later he repeated the feat at Renault, making Fernando Alonso a double world champion.

Blackburn were decaying in the old Second Division when Walker blew into Ewood Park. Within a year they were founder members of the Premiership. Dizzying progress is the minimum requirement at QPR. This quaint, harmless club is about to be fast-tracked into the big league. If manager Luigi de Canio cannot fashion it, Briatore will find another who can. And don't be surprised were he to speak Portuguese.

www.telegraph.co.uk/garside

Loftus Road magnates
Lakshmi Mittal
Born: Sadulpur, India.
Age: 57.

Reputed to be the fifth-richest man in the world, Mittal owns 44 per cent of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel company. He began his career by working in his family's steel business, but in 1994 he branched out to take over the company's international operations, eventually becoming president of the board of directors.
Worth £26 billion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bernie Ecclestone
Born: Bungay, Suffolk. Age: 77

Ecclestone, the 'ringmaster' for F1 motor racing, he made his mark by buying the Brabham team in 1972. Became chief executive of the F1 Constructors Association in 1978 and pioneered the sale of TV rights for the sport. Was at the centre of a controversy in 1997 when he gave the Labour Party a £1m donation.
Worth £2.25 billion


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flavio Briatore
Born: Cuneo, Italy. Age: 57.

Managing director of the Renault F1 team. Made his fortune after going into business with clothing company founder Luciano Benetton. Became managing director of the Benetton F1 team and then took on a similar role when it became Benetton-Renault, and then simply Renault.
Worth £50 Million

Telegraph


QPR welcomes the billionaire effect as Mittal strikes a deal
By Danny Fortson, Business Correspondent
Published: 21 December 2007
Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy a championship-winning football team, a truism lavishly proven by Roman Abram-ovich at Chelsea.

The board of Queen's Park Rangers was yesterday hoping that the arrival of a new billionaire owner in the form of Lakshmi Mittal, head of the world's largest steel company and the richest man in the UK, would herald a similar change of fortunes for the long-suffering club.

The West London club revealed yesterday that the steel baron paid an undisclosed sum for a 20 per cent stake, becoming the latest fabulously wealthy businessman to add an English football club to his trophy case. QPR, currently bottom of the Championship, welcomed the arrival of Mr Mittal, who has an estimated net worth of £20bn. "This investment ...is a great step towards the development of the club and supports the ambition of the shareholders to reach the Premier League in the near future."

Mr Mittal joins the club's other high-profile owners, Bernie Ecclestone, head of Formula One, and Flavio Briatore, the Renault team manager, who took over the club in September. Mr Mittal will be represented on the board by his son-in-law Amit Bhatia.

QPR declined to comment on spending plans beyond a statement saying: "The new capital being invested in QPR will help fund the programme that is needed to help us to achieve this target."

If recent history is a guide, QPR, which last played in the Premier League in 1996, is probably on the cusp of a liberally bankrolled make-over. It needs it. The club descended into farce last year when details emerged of a boardroom confrontation in which former director Gianni Baldini said he was held at gunpoint to force him to resign and sell his shares.

Mr Mittal's dip into the football world is the latest in a string of such deals. Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand, bought Manchester City last summer and immediately splashed out tens of millions of pounds to hire former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson and a raft of pricey foreign players. Report

-
[There are countless profiles of Lakshmi Mattal. Just links to a handful:Forbes Billionaire Rankings and Wikipedia Mittal Profile ] President and CEO of Mittal And The Time 100 - Mittal Also BBC Profile In the summer was linked to a Birmingham Buy


AP - Britain's richest man invests in Queens Park Rangers soccer club
LONDON (AP) -The family of the richest man in Britain, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, has bought a 20 percent stake in League Championship soccer club Queens Park Rangers.
The club, which was taken over by Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone and Renault team boss Flavio Briatore in November, did not disclose the sum paid for the stake.
Mittal will be represented on the club's board by his son-in-law Amit Bhatia.
"This investment in QPR by the Mittal family is a great stepping stone towards the future development of the club and supports the ambition of the current shareholders to reach the Premier League in the near future,'' the club said in a statement. "The new capital being invested in QPR will help fund the program that is needed to help us achieve this target.''
Italian coach Luigi De Canio was appointed in October but the club is currently last in the 24-club league, which is one tier below the Premier League. Despite that, Bhatia said the family was excited about the club's prospects.
"As a family, we love sport and particularly enjoy English football, and alongside Bernie and Flavio, we hope that we can improve the club's performance, with the ultimate ambition of a place in the Premier League,'' Bhatia said.
Mittal was ranked the fifth-richest man in the world this year by Forbes magazine, which estimated his worth at US$32 billion (?22.3 billion) in August.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was ranked 16th on the Forbes List. Chelsea is located just 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) from Queens Park Rangers in West London.
In 2004, Mittal bought a residence from Ecclestone in Kensington, London, for 70 million pounds. CNN/Sports Illustrated

MAIL - Billionaire Mittal buys £1.6m stake in Rangers
Lakshmi Mittal, an Indian steel magnate worth a reported £26billion, has joined Formula One supremos Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore as an investor in the Championship club.
QPR chose not to make public the amount Mittal has paid for his shareholding but it is believed to have cost him around £1.6million. Mittal will be represented on the club's board by his son-in-law, Amit Bhatia.
A club spokesman said: "This investment is a great stepping stone towards the future development of the club."
Mittal, 57, is a friend of Ecclestone after buying his £70million house in Kensington.
Bhatia added: "Our ultimate ambition is a place in the Premier League." Mail

Sporting Life/PA Sport - Andy Sims QPR BOOSTED BY MITTAL CASH INJECTION
QPR have received a major cash injection after the family of the world's fifth richest man, Lakshmi Mittal, bought up a 20% shareholding of the Coca-Cola Championship club.
Mittal, an Indian steel magnate who is worth a reported £50billion, will be represented on the club's board alongside Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore by his son-in-law, Amit Bhatia.
In a statement, the QPR board said: "This investment in QPR by the Mittal family is a great stepping stone towards the future development of the club and supports the ambition of the current shareholders to reach the Premier League in the near future.
"The new capital being invested in QPR will help fund the programme that is needed to help us achieve this target."
Formula One chief Ecclestone and Renault team boss Briatore took over at Loftus Road in November and had already pledged hefty transfer funds for manager Luigi De Canio.
Rangers are currently bottom of the Championship, but they could now potentially rival west London neighbours Chelsea in the transfer market should Mittal dip into his vast fortune.
Bhatia added: "The family is excited about becoming involved with Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
"As a family, we love sport and particularly enjoy English football, and alongside Bernie and Flavio, we hope that we can improve the club's performance, with the ultimate ambition of a place in the Premier League." Sporting Life

[Same story on the BBC]

BBC - QPR secure huge investment boost
QPR have been given a cash boost after the family of the world's fifth richest man bought a 20% stake in the club.
The son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, who is worth a reported £50bn, will join Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore on the club's board.
"This investment is a great stepping stone towards the future development of the club," said a club statement.
"It supports the ambition of the current shareholders to reach the Premier League in the near future."
QPR are currently bottom of the Championship, but they could now potentially near neighbours and FA Cup third round opponents Chelsea in the transfer market, should Mittal wish to spend his cash.
"The family is excited about becoming involved with QPR," said Mittal's son-in-law, Amit Bhatia.
"As a family, we love sport and particularly enjoy English football, and alongside Bernie and Flavio, we hope that we can improve the club's performance, with the ultimate ambition of a place in the Premier League." BBC

SKYSPORT - Major cash boost for QPR
Mittal family joins Championship club's board - Sky

-
QPR Official Site - CLUB STATEMENT

Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce today (Thursday 20th December 2007) that the Mittal Family has taken a 20 per-cent shareholding in QPR Holdings Limited.
Alongside Mr Bernie Ecclestone, Mr Flavio Briatore and Sarita Capital, the Mittal Family will now be a significant shareholder in the Club.
As part of the agreement, the Mittal Family have appointed Mr Amit Bhatia as a Director to the board of the Club.
Speaking on behalf of Queens Park Rangers Football Club, the Board of Directors, said: "This investment in QPR by the Mittal Family is a great stepping-stone towards the future development of the Club and supports the ambition of the current shareholders to reach the Premier League in the near future.
"The new capital being invested in QPR will help fund the programme that is needed to help us achieve this target."
On behalf of the Mittal Family, Mr Bhatia, who is Mr Lakshmi Mittal's son-in-law, said: "The Family is excited about becoming involved with Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
"As a family, we love sport and particularly enjoy English football, and alongside Bernie and Flavio, we hope that we can improve the Club's performance, with the ultimate ambition of a place in the Premier League."
*The Club will be making no further comment at this stage.
QPR

Also: "Supposedly Linking Up With QPR: World's Fifth Richest Man, Lakshmi Mittal"

See Also: Wikipedia/Mittal Lakshmi

-
Another excellent Official Site profile of a former QPR (and Chelsea!) star. This time, David Webb

QPR Official Site - BLAST FROM THE PAST
In our latest instalment of exclusive past player interviews on www.qpr.co.uk, former R's number six David Webb comes under the spotlight.
David Webb (1974-1977)
David Webb had a unique pre-match ritual during his time with Queens Park Rangers.

He would saunter into Loftus Road barely ten minutes before kick-off, quickly get changed and then trot out on to the pitch just in time for the start. It invariably led to him giving a wholehearted display in a hooped shirt.

Webb said: "I never liked the stress and the strain that goes on in the dressing room before a game. I just wanted to focus on the task in hand. So I timed it to perfection to get there as late as I could. Then I'd just go straight out to play football without any worries. I always did that during my career.

"Roy Francis - the father of Gerry - was Kit Manager at Rangers and he was brilliant for me. He was like my own personal valet! He would drop everything when I arrived at Loftus Road and just concentrate on looking after me. Roy knew exactly what I required and how I wanted it. He would have my boots studded up and everything ready. The whole lot would be spot on.

"I can always remember my home debut in 1974. QPR Manager Gordon Jago started panicking as he didn't think I was going to turn up. So he sent a policeman out looking for me 25 minutes before kick-off. But I was actually just strolling down to the ground from Shepherds Bush Green. The copper picked me up and gave me a lift to the game as a pillion passenger on his motorbike!

"That walking around the streets I used to do before matches was the equivalent of modern players having warm-ups. It used to get me going and then the adrenalin would pump through when I got out on to the pitch. Players wouldn't be allowed to turn up really late nowadays, but it didn't matter to me as long as I got there in time for the start."

Webb was a rock-like presence in the centre of QPR's defence during the famous League title attempt of 1975/76. We finished our campaign on top of the table, but Liverpool won their final game ten days later to pip us by a point. That whole scenario still rankles with the former Rangers number six.

"It wouldn't be allowed to happen nowadays, as all teams have to complete their fixtures on the same day at the same time," said Webb.

"We just missed out and it was so disappointing.

"It was probably the best team I ever played in. We were really ahead of the times with our passing football. Gordon Jago had a part to play in that. Then Dave Sexton took over, changed things slightly and gelled it all together.

"They were fun days and we had great flair players. Stan Bowles up front; Gerry Francis in the middle; and Dave Thomas wide. We constantly played the ball out from the back, which was very unusual in those days.

"My centre-back partner Frank McLintock was always better at that than me, so we tried to make sure he was the spare man. But the full-backs, Dave Clement and Ian Gillard, were also extremely comfortable on the ball so we could build our moves up from defence. The whole team was very well-balanced in that respect."

Despite the heartbreak at the end, it was still a fantastic season for Rangers. Webb was one of the real characters in the team and he is fondly remembered for a string of late goals in important games.

"I was always ready to go forward on corners or play up front in the closing minutes of matches if needed. I have little flashbacks now as I get older and I can vividly remember my goals! For example, I scored two last-gasp winners that year against Peter Shilton, when he was the keeper for Stoke City.

"In saying that, my main role was as a defender. Some people used to say that Frank McLintock and I were a bit too old. He was 37 and I was 30, so the pundits felt we were slow and we couldn't turn.

"But we used to out-cute opposing strikers. We used a lot of know-how between the two of us and I recall that Rangers only conceded 33 goals in the League in 1975/76.

"I used to have little laughs out on the pitch with Frank - a sort of a nod and a wink to each other, because we did things as a pair that were almost sixth sense and like a married couple!

"You might have left your partner in a position that people would think was vulnerable as a defender, but we both instinctively knew exactly how the other one wanted to play and what we wanted to do in matches. So we had total respect and trust in each other and it worked a treat."

Webby is now 61 years-old and lives on the south coast. Despite devoting all his time to a burgeoning business empire, he continues to keep an eye on events at Loftus Road.

"Opportunities came along for me in recent times away from football. I bought up a load of petrol stations and I put my mind into the property side of things. So that is what I have been involved with for the last five years.

"I still follow QPR's fortunes and I was sad that the Club hit the buffers after leaving the Premiership. They just need some sort of stability at the R's now.

"So I am delighted that Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have taken control and it would be very nice if they can bring the good times back to Rangers." QPR

-
Telegraph: Readers Responses to The Telegraph's John Inverdale's "The Italian Job is a West End flop for QPR"...Former (briefly) QPR coach, Ed De Goey Turns 41...Linked-in-the-press-to-QPR Wigan Center Half, Fritz Hall Turns 27

Original Article: John Inverdale's "The Italian Job is a West End flop for QPR" Amid all the euphoria about Fabio Capello's appointment, a gentle warning to all the FA mandarins in central London from their country cousins in west London, about the importance of the new England manager's deal including an unlimited supply of Linguaphone tapes.
Queens Park Rangers have an Italian manager called Luigi De Canio. He speaks virtually no English, and one of the team's players, Marc Nygaard, who speaks five languages, is temporarily acting as interpreter on the field after the club's first official translator lasted only a few days.
QPR defender Chris Barker has said that dressing-room tactical talks are proving difficult, and he is sure that De Canio is frustrated by his inability to communicate, though in one of the game's most trusted cliches, he says that "football is the same in whatever language." Well possibly.
And how, you ask, are QPR getting on in the Championship at the moment? They're bottom."

READERS RESPONSES
Our story at QPR is one of greed and mismanagement. Curiously the new owners route out of the problems of un-professional management is to bring in a foreign coach. Sounds familiar does'nt it Inverdale. This is happening 500 yards from the back door of the BBC in Wood Lane. Hardly the Country Cousins one would think.
This model for improvement is followed by most leading Clubs and clearly by some of the more imaginative clubs from lower leagues.
Equally its being followed by the F.A.
John Inverdale follows another route and passes an opinion. - Posted by matthew rees

Yet another uninformed opinion from the well-known master of the genre. If he'd care to take a look at this: link he would realise QPR's record under De Canio is better than that of four clubs with English managers. - Posted by James Skinner

The story is how did Bobby Robson, Terry Venables and Roy Hodgson bring their skills to fruition at foreign Clubs.
A further extension of that story is how the Italians and Spanish are mounting a root and branch change to the English game both at Premiership and Championship levels.
These are exciting times and its fascinating to see the dinosaurs of British Journalism, English Football Management, and Ex-Players desperately keep up with those changes. One would have to say the particular nature of Invernales brief point seems narrow-minded, bitter and smug. My advice is to drift out to the Country and see what dedicated business men and professional football can resurrect from the wasteland that Chris Wright and his cronies made of this great Little Club. - Posted by Matthew Rees

Mr Inverdale,
What absolute headline grabbing dross. If you really have an interest in writing an article about QPR why not save it until the end of the season when you can fully assess the influence and impact of the Italians. Why have you not mentioned the previous years of underinvestment at QPR, the fact that De Canio is part of a NEW regime and has inherited a group of players some of which are loanees, some of which are just plain useless and as a collective they are all in a slump. Tell the story in its full context rather than just put a negative end slant on a catchy headline. That or stick to Rugby. - Posted by MarkH

what an insightful well written and informative article. possibly the best researched and presented 12 lines of sports journalism ever penned, an award surely to follow. - Posted by steve masters

What a ridiculous article Mr Inverdale. Mr De Canio has already won over the true fans who can see the impact he is making. He has inherited an awful squad and to keep us in touching distance with the rest is a miracle. He and the new owners took over after the transfer window closed. I believe the saying goes "judge a manager on his signings". Well he hasn't made one yet so to judge him now is a very ignorant thing to do. In fact a very ignorant article from someone whose opinion I have always respected. - Posted by Jonathan Wise

A cheap swipe by John Inverdale. QPR have been in dire straits for a decade and the team that LDC inherited frankly would struggle to beat an egg. Slow steady progress and developemnt is the key for Rangers and England. For goodness sake, the reason English football has 'gone foreign' owes more to the lack of investment by the FA going back years. If homegrown talent was available (players, coaches AND investors) they would of course be preferred to those from overseas. - Posted by Jeff O

This article has more Saxondale than Inverdale about it! QPR have had 3 games when goals were conceded in the final minutes, in which we would have won, and then we would have been well clear of trouble. The teams playing good football, and this piece shows nothing of what a great and proud club we are and better yet will become. Judge the team at the end of the season not a handful of games. I expect Mr Inverdale will be facing his own 'suspension' and 'ban' if he continues to write 'dribble' like this! Red Card!! - Posted by Matthew Bartram

John, I find your article distateful. I think you will find that since Mr De Canio has taken over he has got a bunch of free transfer/loanees and frankly limited players to get the ball down and stop playing hoofball. Alright we are bottom of the league but we are not cut adrift, QPR have a very bright future and I hope when he has the chance to bring some of his own players in you will see a change in fortunes for "the country cousins in West London". FORZA R's!!!! - Posted by BPR

Well-informed comment! Where exactly were QPR in the table when LDC took over? - Posted by StuartW

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good, controversial headline, eh, Mr. Inverdale.
Yes, QPR are bottom of the Championship, but they are one point off being outside the drop zone and three from 18th. Not exactly heady heights, but we were four points adrift after three games.
And, if Holy Mourinho took charge of the pile of dross De Canio inherited, he'd have struggled to do any better.
STOP this Xenophobic attitude and let Fabio get on with things. If it doesn't work out, then publish your 'I told you so's', but now is NOT the time.
(I thought this sort of tittle tattle was confined to the tabloids; maybe things are changing...) - Posted by Davin Condon

At least the italians have kept QPR in business unlike wimbledon. Chris Barker has Ryman league skills and English wouldnt help. Mr Inverdale they d\they do have an interpreter on the team. They are last because John Gregory rubbished up the team by not training them and playing lousy players. The team is full of loanees who dont know if theyre coming or going. Also they have no strikers that are instinctive goal scorers. The phenom Ray Jones was killed but despite this they are unbeaten in last three games.
Briatore is going to bring in 5 high priced high skilled players in Jan. Plans
to enlarge Stadium are a foot ... much better marketing concessions raising Rs marketability and contracts with top rate ubiform companeies. Remember Benetton
started out as a small shop. I would go to Loftus Rd in 1944 and stand on the one
terrace with mud surrounds. That this is happenning is truly a miracle. - Harry Soloway - Posted by HARRY J SOLOWAY
Telegraph

OTHER ITEMS

QPR's recently-departed coach, Ed De Goey turns 41: Career Stats

Wigan Center Half, Fritz Hall -linked in the press to QPR turns 27. Career Stats

-
DAILY TELEGRAPH - QPR seek slice of Lakshmi Mittal's £26bn - By Tom Collomosse
Queens Park Rangers hope to persuade Lakshmi Mittal, the world's fifth-richest man, to invest some of his estimated £26 billion fortune in the club.
The Indian steel magnate was a guest of Rangers co-owners Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore for the 0-0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Loftus Road last Saturday which left QPR bottom of the Championship.
Mittal, 57, is a friend of Ecclestone after buying the Formula One rights holder's £70 million house in Kensington.
A Rangers source said: "The club heard Mittal had been interested in Wigan and Everton, but this is a lot closer to home. He already knew Bernie from the time when he bought his house. The real worry is what clubs are going to want for players when Rangers try to buy them."
Ecclestone is thought to be worth about £2.5 billion, while multi-millionaire Briatore is the managing director of the Renault F1 team and has diverse business interests including fashion, nightclubs and pharmaceuticals.
Were Mittal to be brought on board, Rangers' spending power would dwarf even that of their west London rivals Chelsea, who are bankrolled by Roman Abramovich's £9.5 billion fortune.
Mittal's Kensington Gardens home is known as the 'Taj Mittal' as it is decorated with the marble taken from the same quarry that supplied the Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra, India. In June 2004, Mittal paid more than £30 million to host his daughter Vanisha's wedding.
Even if Mittal, who has been linked with Birmingham City, as well as Wigan Athletic and Everton, were not to get involved, QPR's financial future appears secure, but it is the present which causes most concern.
Since appointing Italian Luigi de Canio to succeed John Gregory as manager in October, Rangers have shown little improvement.
De Canio is expected to invest heavily in new players during next month's transfer window, and he will be expected to lead a rapid upturn in Rangers' results, as Ecclestone and Briatore are not accustomed to presiding over failing institutions.
The pair took control of Rangers on Nov 7, since when they have attended the majority of home games. Briatore is frequently at the club's Harlington training base near Heathrow Airport and holds regular discussions with his compatriot, De Canio. Telegraph

This is London - Fifth-richest man in the world set to buy into Queens Park Rangers
Mittal: Latest big name linked with Rangers
Multi-billionaire Lakshmi Mittal — the world's fifth-richest man — is to become a director of QPR.
The London-based Indian steel magnate, a friend of the club's coowner Bernie Ecclestone, is ready to pour some of his estimated £26billion fortune into the Championship club.
A QPR source said: 'The club heard Mittal had been interested in Wigan and Everton, but this is a lot closer to home for him.' This is London

The Sun - It's a Steel By MAX SHORT
MULTI-BILLIONAIRE Lakshmi Mittal — the world’s fifth-richest man — is poised to become a director of QPR.
The Indian steel magnate is a friend of Rangers co-owner and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, and is ready to pour some of his £50billion fortune into the Championship strugglers.
Mittal bought Ecclestone’s house in Kensington for £70m and was a guest of Ecclestone and co-owner Flavio Briatore for Saturday’s 0-0 home draw with Wolves.
An R’s source said: “We heard Mittal had been interested in Wigan and Everton but this is a lot closer to home.
"The worry is what clubs are going to want for players when Rangers try to buy them.” The Sun

-
In the quarter-final, Chelsea vs Liverpool: Scott Sinclair starts, but no place for Ben Sahar. [Edit: Ben Sahar of course is not eligible to play for Chelsea; he's officially still on loan with QPR. Sinclair went off, at 0-0. Chelsea then took the lead...Ex-QPR Peter Crouch was sent off.]

Chelsea Official Site
1 Petr Cech
35 Juliano Belletti
22 Tal Ben-Haim
6 Ricardo Carvalho
17 Wayne Bridge
5 Michael Essien
12 John Mikel Obi
8 Frank Lampard (c)
21 Salomon Kalou
7 Andriy Shevchenko
17 Scott Sinclair
Subs: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 20 Paulo Ferreira, 9 Steve Sidwell, 13 Michael Ballack, 10 Joe Cole.

Liverpool are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation as follows:
Itandje; Aurelio, Carragher, Hobbs, Arbeloa; Sissoko, Lucas, Alonso; Babel, Voronin, Crouch. Subs: Martin, Hyypia, Riise, Benayoun, El Zhar.
Chelsea Starting Lineup

-
Briatore, mai trattato con Moggi |
vedi foto (ANSA) - MILANO, 19 DIC - 'Non ho mai parlato con Moggi o altri di acquisire societa' di calcio in Italia. Ne' sentito Moggi a proposito del Qpr', precisa Briatore. Chiamato in causa dalle ultime intercettazioni all'ex dg della Juve apparse sulla stampa, Briatore spiega: Non sento Moggi da piu' di un anno. Non ho mai trattato una societa' di calcio in Italia, ne' il Palermo ne' il Parma. Non ho parlato con Zamparini e non conosco il manager del Palermo Foschi'. Ansa

Il Secola -Calciopoli: Briatore, ''Non ho mai parlato con Moggi ne' con altri''
MILANO - ''Non ho mai parlato ne' con Luciano Moggi ne' con altri di acquisire societa' di calcio in Italia. Non ho neppure mai sentito Moggi a proposito del Queens Park Rangers di Londra''. Chiamato in causa dalle ultime intercettazioni all'ex direttore generale della Juventus apparse sulla stampa, Flavio Briatore precisa in una dichiarazione la sua posizione. ''Non sento Moggi da piu' di un anno - continua Briatore -. Non ho mai trattato una societa' di calcio in Italia, ne' il Palermo ne' il Parma. Non ho parlato con Zamparini e non conosco il manager del Palermo Foschi''. Flavio Briatore sottolinea infine che solo per il Napoli manifesto' interesse, e sono passati dieci anni: ''Vengo tirato in ballo ogniqualvolta una societa' di calcio cambia azionista. Una sola volta, dieci anni fa, ho manifestato interesse per una grande societa': il Napoli. Sono trascorsi dieci anni - conclude -, forse e' il caso di lasciarmi in pace''. (Agr) Report

Translation Links

General Online Web Translations - Bable Fish

-
Gareth Ainsworth/Kilburn Times - Step on the Gaz
WHEN I first joined QPR, we made Loftus Road into a fortress - and we really need to get back to the goals and razzmatazz of those days.
I hate the cliché 'six-pointer' - you never get more than three points for one match, do you? - but there's no denying that Colchester is a massive game for us.
Colchester have been dropping down the table and I feel they're one of the teams we need to be below us. But it's the kind of game we've tended to struggle with at home this season.
I was a bit gutted we only got a point at home to Wolves. We certainly had the better possession, even if a lot of our chances were longer-range efforts.
As for Wolves, I can't remember them having more than one real chance and they should have scored, but it would have been an injustice if they had done.
Now we've got four matches in 10 days and, as I've said before, this will be where the squad comes in. I wouldn't be surprised if you see 16 or 17 players used in these next four games.
After the Colchester game, we'll have a couple of days' break and, wh