Damiano Tommasi Signs for QPR...Dowie and Ainsworth on Benefits From Experienced Players in Reserves...Possible Changed Tactics vs Southampton...

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QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: ITALIAN MIDFIELDER SIGNS
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of former Italian international midfielder Damiano Tommasi.
The 34 year-old has put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the 2008/09 campaign, after his release from Spanish side Levante at the end of last season.
Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, R's boss Iain Dowie revealed his delight at the arrival of the experienced midfield general.
"The signing of Damiano adds great experience to the squad," he said.
"He'll compliment what Gavin Mahon and Martin Rowlands provide in that area.
"He has played at the highest level for Club and country and to have a player of that calibre available can only be good for QPR.
"We've got some fantastic young talent in the squad, such as (Emmanuel) Ledesma, (Angelo) Balanta, (Daniel) Parejo and (Hogan) Ephraim, and training with someone of Damiano's stature will be of huge benefit to them I'm sure.
"In the short term, he could prove to be very useful to us."
A player with outstanding experience, Tommasi began his career at Serie B side Hellas Verona, before moving to AS Roma, for whom he won the Scudetto Championship in 2001.
He made over 250 appearances for the Italian giants, but his ten-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico came to an end in 2006, when he joined Levante.
Prior to his release from the then La Liga outfit, he made just shy of 50 appearances, scoring one goal.
On the international stage, Tommasi was part of the Italian Under-21 side that triumphed in the 1996 European Championships.
The combative central midfielder has made 25 starts for the Azzurri national side and played in all four of Italy's matches in the 2002 World Cup.
Tommasi will wear the number 18 shirt. QPR -- See Wikipedia Profile of Tommasi
Tommasi Video From The Mirror - Video -Tommasi in Action


Kilburn Times/Ben Kosky - Dowie wants senior men in reserve
MANAGER Iain Dowie wants his experienced players to fill a vital role by bringing through the youngsters in QPR's reserve side this season.
Rangers included the likes of Patrick Agyemang, Adam Bolder and player-coach Gareth Ainsworth - as well as the returning Akos Buzsaky - in their opening reserve match against Charlton last week.
And Dowie has made it clear that he wants to retain that kind of mix throughout the season - a shift in thinking from previous boss Luigi de Canio, who regarded the reserve side purely as an extension of the youth team.
"I played centre-half in the reserves when I was here before and I switched to play there because I think vocally you can move people around better," Dowie explained.
"I think it's very important that the senior pros do play - not all the time - but for young kids to play alongside people like Adam Bolder is a magnificent experience and they learn a lot from players who can mould their game.
"That's a key element, making sure that players improve. We've got a very good group of senior pros here and when they do come into the reserves they do it properly.
"We've got a lot of young players in the first-team squad, lads like [Emmanuel] Ledesma, [Daniel] Parejo and [Samuel] Di Carmine. In the same way, they need to be around people who understand this league."
Dowie has earmarked some of his younger crop for loan spells at lower league or non-league clubs as and when opportunities arise, but is also keen to retain a strong reserve team under Ainsworth's guidance.
"The likes of Danny Maguire, Romone Rose and Joe Ostler could maybe do with a bit of match experience, but we don't want to leave ourselves light in the reserves - that's important too," the Rs boss added. Kilburn Times


Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times -Back to basics?
QPR could revert to 4-4-2 against Southampton this weekend as manager Iain Dowie ponders how to replace the suspended Emmanuel Ledesma.
The on-loan Argentinian teenager - the find of Rangers' season so far - is serving a one-match ban on Sunday following his red card at Bristol City.
Club captain Martin Rowlands is the obvious choice to start on the right of a five-man midfield, but Dowie is also mulling over a recall for Patrick Agyemang to partner Dexter Blackstock up front.
Blackstock, who scored in the 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate, says he is comfortable as a solo attacker, but Agyemang would also prefer a central role to the wide position he occupied as a substitute in that game.
"I've played on the right a couple of times recently but I didn't get involved as much as I'd wanted," said Agyemang, who has recovered after missing three matches with a groin strain.
"I can play on the right or left but I'd much rather play down the middle and I wouldn't mind being up front on my own because I like to get in behind the defence.
"The way we're playing, with Emmanuel right, Cookie left and Dani [Parejo] just behind the striker means we create plenty of chances. They're good players, all capable of finding a striker in a scoring position."
Dowie could also opt to play both Rowlands and Agyemang at the expense of Gavin Mahon or Mikele Leigertwood, while there is also the possibility of a starting place for Hogan Ephraim or Akos Buzsaky.
The Hungarian playmaker completed 70 minutes for the reserves against Millwall on Tuesday but, after his lengthy absence with an ankle problem, is more likely to earn a place on the bench this weekend.
And Agyemang is particularly keen to feature in the televised game against Southampton (kick-off 4pm) as it offers him the opportunity to get the better of two former Wimbledon team-mates.
"Chris Perry was an established defender at Wimbledon at the time I was just breaking into the team and Kelvin Davis, the goalkeeper, came into the side later on," added Agyemang.
"I'll be looking to put a goal or two past him. We need to keep getting results at home and put ourselves in a strong position at an early stage.
"But if we want to be in contention at the end of the season, we're going to need wins from our away games as well.
"We did well at Bristol City and got a point in the end, but I'd like to think we'd have taken all three if we'd had 11 men on the field all game." Kilburn Times


Kilburn Times/Dave McIntyre - Akos is back in the frame
QPR playmaker Akos Buzsaky has returned to action following an ankle injury and played 45 minutes for Rangers' reserves against Charlton on Tuesday.
Buzsaky, who missed the end of last season and had surgery in the summer, played 45 minutes for Rangers' reserves against Charlton on Tuesday.
The Hungarian, who missed the end of last season and had surgery in the summer, is now in contention for a first-team place - as is Hogan Ephraim, who recovered from shin splints to score in a 1-1 draw against the Addicks' second string. Both players hope to feature against Southampton on Sunday week.
"I could be match fit by then," said Buzsaky. "We have a lot of good players now and if I were on the bench against Southampton I'd be delighted.
"It feels great to be back. It's two weeks since I started full training and by the Southampton game it will be four weeks, so I am getting there.
"My ankle feels right and now it's up to me to get my fitness back and play some first-team football.
"It was an awkward injury," he added. "It was a split in the ligament that settled down but wasn't 100 per cent, so it needed an operation. But that's in the past now and I want to look forward."
Buzsaky was the jewel in Rangers' crown during the second half of last season but he now faces competition for places following the arrivals of Daniel Parejo and Emanuel Ledesma as well as Lee Cook's return.
Ephraim probably faces an even bigger challenge, but is bullish about his chances of making an impact under Iain Dowie.
"I'm glad to be playing again. The shin feels fine and now I'm looking to try and get into the team," said Ephraim.
"The manager doesn't want to rush me but I feel I'm ready. I've got a couple of reserve games behind me and feel I've got my fitness up to the same level as the rest of the lads.
"The football we've been playing is great to watch and it looks enjoyable to play in. I want to be involved and the sooner I can do that the better."
Buzsaky and Ephraim can play in a number of attacking positions, meaning both are likely to have a role to play even if they are initially unable to hold down a regular place.
Buzsaky, who played his best football operating behind the striker last season but can also play on either flank, said: "It's the manager's job to pick the team and I'll always give my best.
"Of course there are positions a player prefers but - especially now there are so many good players here - sometimes you may have to play in a position that is not the best for you.
"Sometimes you have to play left and sometimes right, but it is good if you're a player who feels you can play anywhere."
And Ephraim added: "We've got a lot of players now who are flexible and very creative. There's a lot of what you'd call 'on the ball' players and I just want to play my part.
"The manager knows I can play in two or three different roles and it's up to him to decide which one is best for me.
"Last season this club made the worst start in England. Now there's a good feeling around the place and I want to be a part of it. Kilburn Times


Kilburn Times - Gareth Ainsworth - Step on the Gaz
IT wasn't all that long ago that everyone at QPR used to dread the prospect of playing in front of the TV cameras.
We seemed to be jinxed by live TV games, but that's all gone out of the window now - we beat Stoke comfortably in a Sky game at the end of last season and, apart from that, I think QPR is a club we want to showcase as much as possible.
Sunday will be the first time the new QPR brand has been live on TV. The club's creating a lot of interest and it'll be nice for viewers to see the kind of football we've been playing.
Unfortunately, they won't be able to put a face to the name of Emmanuel Ledesma as he's serving a suspension, but we've got plenty of other players who can give a good account of themselves.
Southampton have revamped themselves too in that they've made it clear they're focusing on youth, which has always been one of their main strengths.
We've got some great young players of our own - even if we might have fished out most of them from abroad - and, with the quality we possess, we should win the game.
The big question is whether we get the international lads back and well rested and, from that point of view, the fact we aren't playing until Sunday is a real bonus.
After that it all concertinas into seven games in 20 days, with Wednesday's trip up to Norwich next on the agenda.
Without tempting fate, you wouldn't think things could go as badly as they did last time we played at Carrow Road, when we were down to 10 men and a goal behind almost as soon as we'd kicked off.
It'll be a difficult place to go again, but I'm confident that both games are very winnable and hopefully our defence can keep things tight again, as they have done recently.
That wasn't the case in our reserve game this week, when we beat Millwall 4-3 - but I was well pleased with the reaction the lads showed after going 2-0 down.
I'd like to give a mention to two young lads, Ed Harris and Femi Ilesanmi, who have come in and done well alongside some of the senior players like myself, Adam Bolder, Akos Buzsaky and Lee Camp.
Playing in the reserves isn't a negative thing as it may have been in the past - it's vital for everyone to get match fitness in whatever way they can, whether they're coming back from injury or not getting a game in the first team.
And I think the youngsters will improve even more from playing with bigger name players than they would have done last season.
They can learn a lot more in one of these games than they would from three games in the youth team and I'm sure QPR will reap the benefits of that in years to come. Kilburn Times


For older QPR fans, when you say the name Stewart in refernence to QPR players, the player many will think of was the brilliant Northern Ireland winger, Ian Stewart who was with QPR at the beginning of the 1980s.

Birthday Today: Ex-QPR's Irish International Winger, Ian Stewart, Turns 47-
Former QPR Ian Stewart, born September 10, 1961. Played 30 Times for Northern Ireland and not that many more games for QPR. Given his debut by Terry Venables, for a couple of years, looked like he was going to be a "great one" for QPR. Then transferred to Newcastle. See: Ian Stewart/Wikipedia A nice little summary of Stewart's career - Stewart's International Record