Selecting Incoming QPR Players By Committee?...Ramage on QPR

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Paul Warburton/London Informer - Choices are us
Sep 11 2008 By Paul Warburton, London Informer

It wouldn't do for Kevin Keegan - but new QPR players are now chosen by committee - with boss Iain Dowie a mere third of the decision making.
In a week when former Fulham boss Keegan quit Newcastle over his right to decide on new players, Dowie accepts co-owner Flavio Briatore and sporting director Gianni Paladini will continue to set the agenda in strengthening Rs' squad.
Even though Briatore claimed in a radio interview last week he wouldn't trust the coach with his money, and has been a frequent visitor to the changing room, the manager insists HE'S the one who decides the starting XI that go out on the pitch.
"I'm the one who selects the team, and I decide what we do at the training ground," Dowie rapped.
For all that, the manager was playing his cards close to his chest about the day Briatore and co want a player he doesn't.
"It hasn't happened yet," Dowie said. "So what's the point in talking about it? People might make mischief out of that.
"But it would churlish to refuse quality players Flavio can bring in that I would have no chance of getting."
Midfield starlet Dani Parejo wouldn't have come close to QPR if Dowie had been doing the asking at Real Madrid, according to the manager.
And the man who beat off Steve McClaren and Sam Allardyce to land the job in the summer, still had the last word over whether the club sign Emanuel Ledesma.
The Argentine midf ielder was captured from Genoa after Dowie had run the rule over the precocious talent at a youth tournament in the summer.
"I'm asked my opinion," Dowie said, "and what would be the point of hearing it if it wasn't going to be acted on?
"But I would never disrupt the training ground and the spirit we're building here on things I can't control." London Informer


London Informer - Ramage: We'll only get better
Peter Ramage reckoned he made a 'life-changing' decision to join QPR - but the Geordie reckons he was left with little choice after Kevin Keegan bombed him out at Newcastle.
And the full-back was as uncertain of west London life as were the rest of the defence in the first three games - but in both cases that's been sorted - he hopes.
Ramage was considered to be the next big thing in the north-east when he won the coveted Jackie Milburn Trophy for rising stars five years ago, but now he hopes to watch his star rise around W12.
"I've just got myself sorted with a place," he said. "And it was a bit of a life-changing decision, but Kevin Keegan was big enough to say he didn't think I was going to be part of his plans, and the chance for QPR was too good to turndown."
The defender, who made his Newcastle Premiership debut against Manchester United, reckoned a QPR team that recruited a new keeper, centre-half, as well as himself in the summer was always going to need time to bed in - and hey presto! Rangers conceded six goals in the first three games.
But the second three have been positively stingy with just one added to the goals-against column.
And that when the team had its back to the wall with 10 men for 40 minutes against Bristol City in the last match.
"We've been working hard on the training ground and now I think you can see the benefits of that," Ramage said.
"We looked solid against Bristol, and that's what we're about.
"Progressively, we've improved performance wise, firstly defensively and then in attack. We've got players who can score goals at any occasion and hopefully we can continue. London Informer