QPR's Ramage Looks Foward to the Season

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QPR Official Site RAMAGE READY FOR W12
Defender Peter Ramage is already looking forward to making his debut at Loftus Road - and the summer signing will be hoping it arrives on Saturday against Chievo.
Iain Dowie has made no secret of the fact that he intends to play the same starting XI against the Italians as he will do seven days later when the R's kick off their Championship campaign at home to Barnsley.
Ramage told www.qpr.co.uk: "The game against Chievo will hopefully give me my first opportunity to play at Loftus Road, and I am really looking forward to it.
"The first time I have ever been to the stadium was when I went to sign for the Club in the summer!
"I really like the place because it's a traditional football stadium, where the fans are right on top of you.
"That's great, because it means the supporters have the potential to create a brilliant atmosphere - and I've been told that's exactly what they do.
"What we need to do is make sure that Loftus Road is a place that opposing teams don't look forward to visiting."
The 24-year-old - who was forced to sit out our 1-0 win over Northampton with a tight hamstring - joined Newcastle when he was just 11. When Kevin Keegan was unable to guarantee him a regular place in the side, Ramage decided the time was right to move on.
The Geordie admits it wasn't an easy decision to make.
"It was a big decision to leave Newcastle, having been there for so long," he explained. "But the lads here have been great in helping me settle in, and the management have been fantastic too.
"All I've ever known is Newcastle United, but I am 100 per cent sure that this was the right thing to do, and I've got no regrets or doubts about it whatsoever."
Following the appointment of Dowie as First Team Coach, Ramage got on the phone to Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, who knows Dowie well from their time together at Southampton.
"Alan spoke very highly of him, and he was spot on in his assessment," said Ramage.
"The gaffer's training sessions are varied and he keeps them really interesting, which is so important.
"Each day you come away from the training ground feeling like you have really done something, or learned something."
The First Team are currently in Scotland and, having featured in the R's 2-0 defeat against Falkirk on Saturday afternoon - he came on for the injured Matt Connolly - Ramage believes the challenge of playing teams in the Scottish Premier League is great preparation for the new campaign, which is less than two weeks away.
He added: "Falkirk, and Kilmarnock, are in the SPL for a reason - because they are good-quality football teams. It's an excellent test for us to compete with these types of sides."
While not looking beyond Tuesday evening's encounter with Killie, Ramage is focused on being involved in that crucial starting line-up against Chievo on Saturday, where he will be aiming to show Rangers supporters what he is all about.
"The fans have been great so far," he added. "I didn't think there would be as many at our pre-season friendlies as there have been.
"I hope they can be as supportive through the season, which I am sure they will be."
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