QPR Snippets: Gorkss/Blackpool Perspective....Ben-Sahar Assessed...Transfer Loan Market Reopens..Flashbacks: QPR Managerial Rumours & Takeover Efforts

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Whether hooped socks really go with hooped shirt and blue shorts...? QPR's Hoops (Given that many - if not most - other Championship clubs already have their team photos up on their websites, presumably QPR will soon have their team photo posted.)

Blackpool Wishful Thinking?
Blackpool Gazette/Steve Canavan - Stars struggle after big summer moves
We take a look at the fortunes of Blackpool stars that moved on in the summer, and their struggles with Norwich City, QPR and Huddersfield Town.
Football's a funny old game – it's the oldest saying in the book but is so true.
Consider the following.
When Blackpool lost what many fans would consider their best two players in the summer things looked bleak.
If Pool had struggled to stay in the Championship with tricky winger Wes Hoolahan and defensive rock Kaspars Gorkss in the team, how on earth would they fare without them?
One post on a Blackpool fans' website read: "This is the end of the club as we know it. We may as well give up now because we'll finish bottom this season and probably get relegated to League Two the year after."
Yet, judging by the draw at Norwich and the victory at Southampton – not to mention the signing of players of the quality of Rob Edwards, David Vaughan and Adam Hammill – it may not be as bad as first feared.
But while Pool are doing OK in the Wes and Kaspar-less era, the curious thing is how badly the former Bloomfield Road heroes have started at their new clubs.
If Hoolahan and Gorkss haven't heard of the phrase 'the grass is always greener' they may want to look it up.
No-one can blame them for wanting to move to a 'bigger' club, on better wages, or for wanting to further their careers. But neither has had an enjoyable start elsewhere
Perhaps the biggest surprise is how much the man who was undoubtedly the Seasiders' biggest star has struggled.
Wes Hoolahan moved to Norwich for £250,000 and wowed the fans during pre-season with his usual dazzling array of tricks and magic moments.
But barely a month into the season and Hoolahan has already been given a very public hammering by Canaries boss Glenn Roeder.
Hoolahan tried to win the ball in a 50-50 tackle by flicking it over his opponent against Cardiff last week. It didn't work. Cardiff won possession and went on to score.
Hoolahan was substituted at half-time and Roeder had this to say after the game.
"He wasn't injured – he got taken off because I wasn't happy with his performance and he has to do better in training this week to get a place in the team next week," said the Norwich manager.
"I think it is a whole new ball game for Wes Hoolahan at Norwich, where it is a much bigger club than Blackpool.
"I think at Blackpool he was the star of the show and I think he was allowed to basically do what he wants.
"Well, no, not here – he will play my way or he won't play."
Roeder described Hoolahan's part in Cardiff's first goal, after just three minutes, as "unacceptable".
"It was a bad goal to give away from our point of view. Wes Hoolahan will be very disappointed and he got told that at half-time.
"I knew what he was trying to do – he was trying to lift the ball away from the defender and jump at the same time. You can't do that. It is a 50-50 tackle and you have to win the ball. You have to make the tackle.
"He almost looks like he is jumping out of the way not to get injured and that's totally unacceptable. Wes has been told that and he understands that."
Not quite the Fergie hairdryer treatment but not far off, and not a good way to start at a new club.
Over at QPR, Gorkss – another who took advantage of a clause in his contract and moved on – has had a similarly ragged start.
After spending all summer trying to complete Gorkss' move from Blackpool to Loftus Road, QPR boss Iain Dowie – who tipped Gorkss to be a massive part of the London's club's future – has already dropped the Latvian from his starting 11.
Gorkss had what might be termed a bit of a nightmare in Rangers' second match at Sheffield United.
He was marking Billy Sharp, who scored a hat-trick.
Gorkss was left out of the squad altogether for the next game – a 2-0 home win over Doncaster – and has only been on the bench since.
Former Pool striker Andy Morrell, who played with and befriended both Hoolahan and Gorkss, has followed their fortunes closely and has sympathy.
He also thinks he knows why they are struggling.
"Wes has moved 300 miles from where had a really good life," explained Morrell.
"He knew he'd play every week at Blackpool, and he knew he had players like Claus Jorgensen and John Hills who would look after him and make sure he was OK.
"He's gone to the other end of the country, where he doesn't know anybody. That is going to be really, really hard for him.
"However, his footballing ability is second to none. I think I'd agree with Shaun Barker, who said Wes is one of the best players he has played with.
"He is a fantastic player. He gave us that edge in the Championship that we needed.
"He maybe didn't score as many as some people thought but you were able to give him the ball when you were under pressure and he'd keep it for five minutes.
"He'd dribble around and the defence could get out – everybody could take a breather.
"It definitely will work out for him. It's just about him settling in and it will take time. But what an amazing talent."
As for Gorkss, Morrell again cites the fact that settling into new surroundings often isn't as easy as you'd think.
"Kaspars is very raw but I really liked him because he is horrible to play against – I know that from training," Morrell added.
"He's like a rash, all around you. He has pace, is good in the air and is a left-sided centre-back, which not many are.
"I think he'll do well but it doesn't happen overnight. You have to settle in. Dowie is a very good manager who will teach him."
It will be interesting to see how the duo fare, but they can take some comfort from the fact that they aren't the only ones struggling since leaving Bloomfield Road in the summer....
The conclusion? Seems life at Bloomfield Road might not be so bad after all. Blackpool Gazette


Ex-QPR loan, Ben Sahar, Profiled
Haaretz/By Neil Allen and Uzi Dann - Slow down, Ben, you move too fast
Ben Sahar really wants to make it in the Premier League. It's clear. He even opted to be loaned out to Portsmouth rather than play with Dutch league club Nijmegen, where he could almost certainly get more playing time, perhaps even start. It was an admirable decision. Moreover, he's a good kid, who puts in 110 percent in practice, shows what he's made of in friendlies, and gets along with his teammates despite his age and foreign background.
But it will be a long and hard slog until the young striker gets playing time, let alone starts, on a club that currently holds the English FA Cup, plays in the UEFA Cup and is near the top of the Premier League. It is doubtful, for example, that an injury to Sahar on the eve of a match against Manchester United prevented him from playing. It's a safe bet he would not have played anyway; he hasn't spent a minute on the pitch during the team's first three league games.
The fact that he distinguished himself during Portsmouth's preseason friendlies had people in Israel mistakenly believing he would be a star this year. Postgame quotes by Sahar suggest he might have been misled, too. After scoring a pair of goals right in front of coach Harry Redknapp for a 4-0 victory, he talked as if he was going to compete with Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch for a spot in the starting lineup.
With all due respect, those two players are clearly superior, and if they are fit, they are Redknapp's dream offense. In that 4-0 game, Sahar came in with striker John Utaka, a member of the Nigerian national team who cost Redknapp 7 million pounds a year and is at least Sahar's equal. Add to that players like Nwankwo Kanu and David Nugent, and the fight for a spot in the starting lineup is tough indeed.
Sahar is good. He has potential, but to get significant minutes he needs a spate of injuries along the front line. Alexandre Gaydamak, Portsmouth's owner, has repeatedly said that "if Sahar would work hard he would succeed," but Redknapp knows what he wants - the best strikers he can put on the field, and there's no room for a third.
"We are in four different competitions this year," Redknapp said this week. "So I have an expanded roster in general and several strikers. Each one could vie for a spot in the starting lineup, it's clear, but whoever is the best plays in the important games."
A euphemism is a euphemism
Redknapp acknowledged that it's a long season with severe competition. "Ben Sahar is a talented player who wants to prove himself," added Redknapp, "and he is part of this broader roster." In other words, chances are that Sahar will play in one of the less important competitions such as the Carling Cup.
Craig Terry, a local journalist in Sheffield, saw Sahar stand out as a scorer with Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season.
"There's no doubt he has potential. He scored and didn't play badly at all, but I think Sahar's problem is that at a young age he was turned into a star." Terry said. "To be 17 on Chelsea's roster and to practice with the greatest and even play a bit, albeit in the Carling Cup, is a big deal. To be loaned after that experience to second-division teams, without knowing what lies ahead, is very difficult."
According to Terry, Sahar "really wants to prove himself. That's how it was with Queens Park Rangers [in 2007], where he was less successful, and that's how it was in Sheffield where he did better. But to be good in the second division does not mean you have a spot in the Premier League."
Terry concludes: "It could be that what Sahar needed was to spend two years or so with the same team in the second division, start, score, and prove himself over the long haul, so then maybe he could return to the Premier League. But it seems that either he doesn't have enough patience, or maybe it's the people around him." Haaretz


The Transfer Loan Market has now reopened and QPR fans wait to see if there will be an arrivals or departure - Loan conditions

From BBC Gossip re the repeatedly-cited on some QPR messageboards as coming to QPR, Ched Evans: "Cardiff are keen to sign Ched Evans if the Manchester City striker finds himself out in the cold after the change of ownership at Eastlands. (Daily Mirror)"


Flashback to a Year Ago - Managerial Rumours:
While John Gregory was still QPR's manager, media speculation about Fabio Capello coming to manage QPR and a Ray Wilkins return.
Sunday, September 09, 2007 - Sunday Star/Ted Macauley -WILKINS ON FOR QPR RETURN -
Ray Wilkins could make a sensational return to QPR.New Loftus Rd owners - Formula One big-hitters Bernie Ecclestone and Italian Flavio Briatore - have the former Rangers player-boss on their hit-list.
Ex Chelsea,Manchester United and England skipper Wilkins was QPR boss for two years from 1994,and is eager to get back into the club game,since losing his job as No2 to Dennis Wise at Millwall.
.....He could now be in line for a 'dream team' return to the big time with pal Gianlucci Vialli.They worked together at Chelsea and Watford and have long planned another partnership if the right offer came along. Wilkins said " I'd love to get back into the game.I feel I have so much to offer.With the right level of backing and financial support I know I could make a success of any club. First time round as QPR manager was not easy.There was no money.But my achievements with the England kids are proof positive of my ability to coach at a high level". Sunday Star


SEVEN YEAR FLASHBACK - TAKEOVER EFFORTS
Seven years ago, a variety of people and consortia were in the process of attempting to take over from Chris Wright. One of those was head by Brian Melzac (BBC "Melzac's Hopes Rise" followed by "QPR takeover in doubt"

September 2001, the Fan Group, QPR 1st reported on their meeting with the Melzac Consortium. At the meeting was Haleem Kherallah, who eighteen months later, made his own takeover effort. ("QPR takeover bid tabled" and "QPR takeover stalemate" (Not to be confused with the Andrew Ellis-Maurice Fitzgerald consortium.) and "Ellis Pulls Out of QPR Bid" Or the Peter Winkleman Consortium effort!

QPR1st: Friday 7th September 2001 - Update on the Melzack consortium bid
"We met recently with three of Brian Melzack's consortium - but not Brian himself - in Central London in the expectation of learning more about the nature of their bid.
Waiting to greet us was one of the - then - consortium members, Haleem Kherallah. Haleem is into property, a lawyer and a registered FIFA football agent. He can certainly talk and we spent the first 20 minutes listening to him talking about football, particularly his ideas on how small clubs can survive. His philosophy is to develop or buy players cheap and sell them big. At one point, Haleem told us that he knew "what was wrong with every club in the league" and that "he could put them all right".
At this point, two other members of the consortium arrive. One was a larger-than-life character who wouldn't tell us his name - "Just call me JR," he said. The other was Andy Clark.
JR, it seemed, was under the (wrong) impression that QPR1st had linked their consortium with the move to Milton Keynes. He said that referring to their bid as "Mickey Mouse" had cost them a lot of money. Quite why he had thought this was the case is a mystery, but we able to assure him that we had never stated or suggested any such thing. He replied that he must have been misinformed.
Haleem was continuing in full flow, and we obliged to point out that our financial advisor, Bill Butler, had limited time there and we really needed to discuss the financial implications of their bid.
Their supposed structure is simple - as JR set it out. They claim to have secured "substantial funding from a lender against collateral" (security in layman's terms) and the intention is to buy out Chris Wright and leave adequate funds over for working capital. They also claim they would be buying Chris Wright's shares and - depending on which answer you believed - would or wouldn't be re-instating Loftus Road plc on the AIM market. This would remove the current embargo on dealing (buying/selling) in Loftus Road shares.
Bill pointed out that in buying Chris Wright's majority shareholding (including the family trusts, etc), they would likely have an obligation to make a similar offer to buy out all the other shareholders. JR acknowledged this but we are far from convinced that he knew this before we mentioned it. He talked about keeping the fans involved financially, but we aren't convinced he really has a full grasp of the issue. In such a share purchase scenario, we understand that smaller shareholders would have to receive the same price per share as Chris Wright.
In supposedly putting up sufficient collateral for borrowing (suggesting a market value of assets to be pledged up to 30% in excess of the funds borrowed), they said that they would not be tying in Loftus Road plc assets (including the ground), which would leave the club free of any charge and with a pot of working capital.
JR stated that he want nothing on the QPR 1st website before the following Wednesday as they were trying to keep a controlled profile until getting the green light to roll. He said that they have been involved in their bid for 10 months, at one time considering a joint bid with Andrew Ellis.
JR went on to say that (if their bid is successful) he will be working mainly on the finance side and also overseeing the Academy (which therefore would need to be re-introduced). He said he would use the youth team to launch "a new brand". He said he was glad when Chris Wright took Twyford Avenue out of the equation (Haleem had the opposite view) as that meant that some of the interested bidders pulled out. In their deal, there would be a five-year agreement for QPR to use the training ground.
Haleem kindly paid for some of us to eat and drink (bloody QPR1st freeloaders...). Like a lot of talkers, he wasn't a great listener, and more interested in getting his point across. There was a telling moment very early on when Haleem seemed to suggest he was unsure about Ian Holloway's credentials - but quickly changed his tune once we let him know that we thought the manager was doing a fine job. He said that he would mobilise the Arab community in West London - and also by introducing players from the Middle East, who would come much cheaper than similar European/South American ones. He also said how attractive our location was and only a madman would want to move the club to Heathrow. Haleem is an extremely charming man, who exhudes energy. But if was on the board, then it's all too easy imagining him interfering in team affairs.
However, we have since learned that Haleem is no longer part of the consortium, with suggestions that it is for those very reasons.
JR is a West Ham fan, but seems to have built quite a genuine passion for QPR and reckons our supporters are generally a decent lot. He is amusing and likeable, but clearly wasn't entirely comfortable with some of our close questioning. He revealed that if QPR needed to move, they had earmarked three potential new sites, all within spitting distance of Loftus Road.
Andy Clark expanded on the branding theme that JR had mentioned earlier, saying that this would involve the club manufacturing the kit and creating a sports brand that would fit into the general ethos of what they were trying to create at QPR, ie innovative and top quality. It seems, Andy has a lot of experience in brand management and the plan is to build up and produce goods for all sorts of sports, ultimately to provide extra income for QPR. We talked to him about how the club could be run better, and he proved himself a good listener, taking our points and questions on board, and providing full answers.
The meeting was both informal and relaxed. On the face of it, the deal sounds feasible - but as with the Maurice FitzGerald bid, there are questions over where the backing is coming from and the detailed structure of the bid.
Fortunately, it's not our position to back any bid, especially one over another. Our task is to convey as much practical information as possible, together with our impressions of those involved. Our club is in administration, but there is no pressing need to rush into a deal for the sake of it. Funding is there for the season - albeit there are (long overdue) budgetary constraints. With a half-successful season and a sustained level of support, which has been excellent so far, it's likely there will be other, more diverse interest in buying the club.
Finally, we note with dismay, from our various meetings and contact, that Chris Wright seems prepared to sell to anyone with the right money (for him) but that the welfare of the club (which his PR machine has said he will protect)seems to have become a secondary issue. Perhaps this will not surprise some people, but we had gained an impression of someone who was being patient in the early days and perhaps was genuinely trying to flush out (and see off) the property developers, who would not think twice about dumping the Club." QPR1st