QPR Snippets: Carlilse, Bowles and Masson...Looking Back on Saturday's Match

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Carlisle Tonight:
QPR play Carlisle tonight at Loftus Road in the Second Round of the Carling Cup. Games against Carlisle always evoke memories of one of QPR's greatest-ever players Stan Bowles, who QPR signed from Carlisle in September 1972 for a then-record fee of 110,000 pounds. Recall Bowles playing for Carlisle at Loftus Road a few months before signing for QPR. Playing in the pooring rain on a mud field, Bowles was brilliant for Carlisle, even though QPR won the game 3-0.)


Carlisle Travel to QPR: - Journal Live/Mark Douglas - Bridges in line for first start at QPR
MICHAEL Bridges will make his first start since returning to Carlisle as the Cumbrians take on Championship high rollers QPR tonight, writes MARK DOUGLAS.
After impressing in a handful of appearances from the bench, the striker gets a chance to make an impact from the start alongside striker Gary Madine, who turned 18 on Sunday. Manager John Ward does not intend to weaken his side significantly at Loftus Road in a game he sees as a “fantastic opportunity” for his promotion hopefuls to prove their pedigree, but he will reshuffle.
“We’ll be looking to make one or two changes for the game – not in terms of weakening the team because we’ve got a lot of guys who aren’t starting games who could be considered first team players,” he said.
“It’s a smashing game for us against a top 10 side in the Championship. Loftus Road is a great ground to go to and a great pitch to play on, and I know that Iain Dowie will have QPR playing football the right way. I’m sure that will suit us because we like to get the ball down and knock it around too.
“It’s a fantastic experience for our team and it’s a great opportunity for them to prove that they can handle their own against a team who have spent heavily and will hope to be in the promotion mix come the end of the season.”
The trip to Loftus Road is Carlisle’s second journey to the capital within a few days, coming after Saturday’s goalless draw at Leyton Orient. A point apiece was a fair return from a game overshadowed by Scott Dobie’s controversial sending-off for violent conduct.
Dobie misses the next three games, starting with the Loftus Road clash, but fellow forward Danny Graham is fit despite suffering an ankle injury in the second half of the Orient game.
Cleveland Taylor may also get a chance to stake his claim, while the chance to name seven subs may also see Ward give youngsters Jeff Smith and Darren Campion a place in his squad. The Carlisle manager is looking to build on Saturday’s battling performance: “I was pleased with it – it was a reasonable point at a ground that is not an easy place to play.” Journal Live


QPR Official Site - MATCHDAY PREVIEW: CARLISLE
Carlisle United make the long journey down to Loftus Road tonight thanks to a stunning free-kick from Peter Murphy that knocked out Shrewsbury Town in Round One.
The Cumbrians have made a fantastic start to their league campaign, with a goalless draw at Leyton Orient on Saturday cementing their place in the top three of the League One standings, after victories over Bristol Rovers and Crewe Alexandra.
It comes as no surprise though, as the Club showed they could mix it with the best of them last season with impressive results over Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Doncaster Rovers. Not only that, but the Cumbrians reached the Quarter Finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Danny Graham, the ex-Middlesbrough striker was in imperious form last season, netting 17 times, and the Cumbrian outfit will look to him again for the goals to fire them up the League.
After losing highly-thought-of striker Joe Garner to Nottingham Forest, a ready-made replacement was needed. Step up crowd favourite Michael Bridges.
The ex-Leeds and Sunderland forward spent a very successful spell at Brunton Park, scoring 15 goals, as Carlisle gained promotion to League One in the 2005/06 campaign. He has returned on loan from Premiership new-boys Hull City.
After highly-rated goalkeeper Kieron Westwood left for Coventry City, Manager John Ward was quick to snap up Ben Williams from Crewe on a free. Ex-Man United keeper Williams will look to have a solid season after inconsistency and injuries have so far blighted his career.
Manager Ward, a former forward for Clubs including Lincoln City, is a more than capable Manager who has learnt his trade from some of English football's well known figures, most notably his time as Assistant to Dave Jones at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Graham Taylor at both Watford and Aston Villa. It was Ward who guided former Club Cheltenham Town into League One before signing on to manage the Cumbrians.
With a free-scoring opening to the season, Ward will need to continue to get the best out of the Danny's - Graham and Carlton - should Carlisle wish to be playing sides like Rangers week in, week out next season. QPR


Don Masson: And speaking of Stan Bowles, a fellow-team member of Bowles 1975/76 "Championship" side, Don Masson turns 62 today. Born August 26, 1946.
Midfielder, Don Masson, bought by Dave Sexton in December 1974 from Notts County for 100,000 pounds. Playing alongside Gerry Francis, Masson played an integral part in QPR's 1975/1976 "Championship side." Scottish International, Masson also played an integral part in QPR's European campaign and League Cup the following season. In October 1977, new manager Frank Sibley sold Masson to Derby County in a straight swop for Derby's winger, Leighton James. See: Don Masson/Wikipedia -- Masson's Playing Record -- QPR Net's Ron Norris Interview with Don Masson - Masson Q&A --- QPR Official Site Profile of/Q&A With Don Masson --
Masson speaking about Stan Bowles "'Bowlesy' was the most talented footballer I ever played with." QPR official Site. And from the QPR Net-)"...QPRnet.com: Who was the best player you played with at QPR? - Don Masson -DM: Definitely Stanley, just for the natural ability he had. Gerry Francis was a good player too, mind you they were all good players! The things Bowles used to do though were unbelievable. I remember him scoring a goal against Sunderland on the television. He picked up the ball on the right wing, beat about three or four players and chipped the goalkeeper. Nowadays they would be in the crowd, ripping their shirts off – he just shrugged his shoulders as if to say “I could do that anytime”. And he could that was the thing! That left foot was fantastic. He was better than Dailglish in my opinion..."


Looking Back on Saturday

Dowie Praise for Ledesman and Parejo
Goal.com - 25/08/2008 - Loan Rangers Delight Dowie
Queens Park Rangers manager Iain Dowie was delighted with the contribution of youthful loan signings Emmanuel Ledesma and Daniel Parejo as his team got back on the winning trail by beating Doncaster Rovers 2-0 in the Coca-Cola Championship on Saturday.
Spanish midfielder Daniel Parejo, on loan from Real Madrid, set up Dexter Blackstock for Rangers’ opener, while Argentine Emmanuel Ledesma, on loan from Genoa, scored a cool second to secure victory over newly-promoted Doncaster. Parejo (pictured) was outstanding, especially in the first half.
Dowie enthused: "Emmanuel is a very good player. It's wonderful to watch him, he makes your eyes open wide with some of his tricks but he can also do the simple things well.
"He played his position very well. He played a bit off the cuff last week but he has responded with a very disciplined display - and he makes the ball talk.
"Daniel has got everything in his locker. For one so young he has got great talent and he's also learning about the physicality of the game.
"They are good lads. We've finished the game with five under-20s on the pitch, there aren't many teams who do that. But we have to give them time to develop.
"They are not going to become superstars overnight. Because Daniel is from where he is from, everyone expects him to be [a superstar]. But he is improving and Emmanuel's discipline was miles better than in his first game.
"They are settling in but it takes time."
Dowie was pleased with the way his side bounced back from last week’s 3-0 mauling by Sheffield United.
"The attitude, application and desire of the players to embrace what we are trying to do has been terrific," he said.
"Doncaster are a very good side, one of the best passing sides in the division, and we nullified that and we had a creativity.
"We were first to everything. The defeat at Sheffield United hurt and we spoke openly and brutally about that in the week and put it to bed. The response was a clean sheet today."
Doncaster had defender Matthew Mills taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw during what proved to be their first defeat of the season.
"You have to give credit to QPR," said their manager, Sean O'Driscoll.
"They learned from that defeat at Sheffield United and were much more solid today, they made it difficult for us.
"Eight of their players are over 6ft 2ins so it's not rocket science to say you have to defend properly at set-plays, so we're disappointed with that.
"It's the first physical test we have faced in this division and we struggled to find a way to get a result. Goal.com


Doncaster Perspective: - Doncaster Official Site: SEAN - CREDIT TO THE HOME SIDE
Doncaster Rovers manager Sean O'Driscoll was understandably disappointed with his side's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road last Saturday.
Goals from Dexter Blackstock and Eduardo Ledesma were enough to condemn the Rovers to defeat, despite the away side playing some neat football against the side tipped for promotion to the Premier League.
However, the thoughts on the minds of every Rovers fan was that of the condition of centre-half Matt Mills, who had to leave the pitch looking dazed following a collision to the face.
Play-Button Sean O'Driscoll speaks to Rovers World following 2-0 defeat at QPR
"He's got a suspected fracture of the jaw, so he was taken to hospital for an x-ray," explained Sean following the defeat in the capital.

"Hopefully, the results will show that it was only suspected and he can get a clean bill of health. He took a nasty knock and we were worried that it may have been something more serious than a bang to the chin."
Sean then gave DoncasterRoversFC.co.uk his verdict on his side's first defeat in the Championship this season.
"I felt for the boys, to be honest," admitted the Rovers boss.
"Once we had given the goal away so early from the set play, they are the team with the personnel of which the majority is over 6'2'', we knew that defending from set plays was going to be crucial. To give the goal away, like that, it was disappointing."

"I thought we rallied and we had enough possession to cause them problems, but didn't really cause them that many problems. You have to give credit to the home side - they bounced back from a bad result against Sheffield United and I think that they were probably a bit more determined and organised."
"We found it difficult to break them down; we couldn't launch long balls into the box because their superior physical strength, which would mean we couldn't score cleanly. We tried to maneuver the ball and credit to them; they worked hard to stop us doing that." Doncaster


Doncaster Official Site - COPPS - BIGGEST TEST SO FAR
Doncaster Rovers suffered defeat for the first time in the League this season, following a 2-0 loss against a Queens Park Rangers side that are tipped by many for being in or around the promotion spaces come the end of the season.
The Rovers played some lovely football throughout the course of the game; however the height and strength of the QPR side shone through as Dexter Blackstock and Eduardo Ledesma both scored for the home side from set plays.
Play-ButtonCoppinger speaks to Rovers World on 'test' provided by QPR.
"It was tough, physically," admitted Rovers midfielder James Coppinger following the encounter.
"The first goal changed the game I think. When you score early doors, especially at home, it's a massive advantage. I though that the lads stuck in, though and we played some good football at times - but there was no end product today."
"I think that this was the biggest test for us so far this season. We are only three games in, but we knew that this lot had spent a lot of money and are tipped to do well - and today showed why. They have a lot of quality up front and they did very well."
"They changed their shape to go three in the midfield to match our three, which we didn't expect. They did their homework and identified our strengths and tried to nullify them - and it worked for them. I totally think that the early goal totally changed the game." Doncaster


Eurosport - View from the Terraces: QPR
Our man at Loftus Road gives his verdict on how the new Championship season is shaping up for Queens Park Rangers.
After another home win at the weekend, what are your expectations for the season?Mid-table: our strikers do not have enough goals in them to reach the play-offs. We should beat teams like Barnsley and Doncaster at home with little trouble; you saw what happened when we had a real test against Sheffield United [QPR lost 3-0]. And we've conceded six goals in four games including the League Cup this season.

Which member of the team would you drop in a second?
Kaspars Gorkss. It was his fault that Barnsley scored at the start of the season and apparently he had a 'mare at Bramall Lane. His positioning is poor and he doesn't seem up to it. We'll have to drop one of the midfielders to get Martin Rowlands back in - maybe Daniel Parejo.

Who would you like the Hoops to sign?
A striker, definitely: an out-and-out goalscorer. I'd have liked Kevin Phillips, but I don't know if that was realistic. We've got the players to make the goals, but forwards like Patrick Agyemang and Dexter Blackstock - although that boy works very hard - aren't going to get you 20 to 25 goals. Maybe a Freddy Eastwood- or Robert Earnshaw-type player.

Who are your main men?
Martin Rowlands (pictured): he works hard, is great at passing, and as our captain, is a real leader on the pitch. He is not the biggest but he has got so much intelligence. He's been suspended for the first three games. Akos Buzsaky was our other star last year and when he gets fit, he could be key again. Emmanuel Ledesma is a good football player but I'm not sure if he's strong enough: he might not like visiting places like Blackpool. Lee Cook can be a big player again - we sold him for big money so he's obviously very good - but he's got to get fit first after he didn't play much last season.

Which club do you really dislike?
I don't dislike anyone. A typical QPR hatred is Brentford and Luton, but I feel sorry for them because they're rubbish! It's harsh to dock anyone 30 points. And Chelsea is another one our fans don't like, although we might end up a bit like them with the new owners..." - Paul Conway / Eurosport - Eurosport