Blackpool Preview...Blackpool's Last Win at QPR (Rodney Marsh's Last Game at Loftus Road)...Gorkss and Evatt Want Win...Next Two Refs

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Shana Tova! Have a Good New Year- 5769!


TIME OUT - Queens Park Rangers v Blackpool
In a recent interview, Rangers' co-owner Flavio Briatore stated that he's trying to build 'a unique brand and concept, in essence a boutique stadium'. There are plenty of Rangers diehards who will jib at that description, and also at the wholly unacceptable hike in prices. Tickets which cost £35 are now £50 while the £30 seats are £40. It's a shabby way to treat loyal supporters and also away fans – those from Derby have reported the club to the Football League, and with good reason. The Rams have finally ended their run of 28 games without a win and Paul Jewell's side should begin to make their way up the table, while Tuesday's opponents Blackpool are suggesting they could again confound expectations and stay up. Neither, however, should do a dirty in the Shepherd's Bush boutique. Andrew Shields - Time Out


QPR Game Referees::
- Queens Park Rangers v Blackpool ( 8:00 )
G K HEGLEY I J Cooper and D Ford Fourth Official G R Young
- Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers (12:45 )
A P D'URSO - S J Rushton and W D Smallwood - Fourth Official S J Bratt Refs


Blackpool's Last Victory at Loftus Road - 1972 - Rodney Marsh's Last QPR Game at Loftus Road
QPR play Blackpool tonight, as Blackpool seek their first victory at Loftus Road since 1972. That 1972 Blackpool victory was in fact the last game, Rodney Marsh played at Loftus Road in the hoops. After playing in QPR's next two away games (both lost), Marsh was sold to Manchester City, in what for QPR fans at the time was one of the blackest moments in QPR History. Gordon Jago's QPR started the game in a strong promotion position, but after Venables limped off with a groin injury (and missed the rest of the season) just a black day as Blackpool snatched a win. Of course, after Marsh was sold, QPR went the rest of the season (12 games) undefeated, with a teenage midfield duo of Gerry Francis and Martyn Busby - and just missed out on promotion. QPR's 1972 Team against Blackpool: Parkes - Clement Hazell Mancini Gillard - Saul Venables Francis Ferguson - Marsh McCulloch - Sub: Busby. -


Blackpool Gazette/Steve Canavan - Gorkss hopes for good reception
KASPARS Gorkss is desperate to face his old club tonight but he has no idea if he'll be in the QPR squad, never mind the starting 11.
Gorkss will meet with his team-mates for the first time since his protracted departure to QPR in the summer.
But life at Rangers hasn't been as idyllic as he'd have liked.
Gorkss was dropped after a dodgy start and has so far been unable to fight his way back in.
He wasn't even in the 16 for Saturday's home defeat at the hands of Derby.
The Latvian feels the length of time it took to get him from Blackpool to QPR didn't help.
Because of a row between the two clubs, his £250,000 move took the entire pre-season to complete.
"It didn't help that I missed most of the pre-season games, so I guess my pre-season began with the start of the league season," said Gorkss.
"But I feel much better now fitness-wise and hopefully I can get in the team."
Whether Gorkss is involved tonight or not, he wishes nothing but the best to his former club.
"I can't say that I'm surprised with the way they've started," added the 26-year-old, who scored for Blackpool against Rangers at Loftus Road last season.
"Some people were talking about Blackpool as a team that's going to go down this year.
"But they got 13 new players and it helps Blackpool that everyone was talking about them like that. It's less pressure on them, that makes it easier to play, and I think they will stay up again.
"Last season Blackpool played much better away to strong teams than they did at home to weaker sides.
"Of course when Blackpool play us I'm not on their side, but I wish them well after that and hope to see them get more wins.
"I have good memories of the club, they're a great bunch of lads and I keep in touch with a lot of them.
"I think it's going to be a friendly atmosphere as far as my old team-mates are concerned, that's for sure.
"The Blackpool fans I'm not too sure about, but I hope they'll still be good to me.
"But I want to win. It's a game that is massively important to the club and it is winnable."
Simon Grayson hopes otherwise, though he is thankful to Gorkss for what the centre half did for Blackpool.
"It will be nice to see Kaspars," said the manager. "Whether he actually plays or not remains to be seen but he did very well for us.
"However, I brought players in during the summer who I think have done equally well and it won't be about Kaspars – it's Blackpool versus QPR."
Ben Burgess lived close to Gorkss in St Annes and he too is keen to seeing his old pal, even if it could mean the odd bruise or two.
"I'm especially looking forward to playing against Kaspars. He kicked me enough times in training and I'm sure it won't be any different during the game," said Burgess, who scored both home and away against Rangers last season.
"I think he's an excellent defender. That's why QPR and a lot of other teams wanted him and that is why he is getting a lot of money and probably lives in a house with a swimming pool!
"But he deserves every penny that he gets because he is a good player.
"He has worked hard. He had bad times at Blackpool when he wasn't involved but he showed last season what a good player he is, both in defence and attack."
Blackpool Gazette


- See Also: Next: Blackpool - Squad, Results, Past Results


Ian Evatt returns to QPR: Famously signed by Bill Power and Gianni Paladini in Majorca in June 2005 - Evatt Joins QPR -- Evatt Leaves QPR

Blackpool Gazette/Steve Canavan - Evatt wants QPR revenge
BLACKPOOL defender Ian Evatt returns to his old club QPR determined to get revenge and keep the Seasiders' Championship campaign on track.
Evatt told The Gazette he believes he is in the form of his life – and tonight he'll need to be.
Britain's second-richest club after Manchester City, fifth-placed Rangers represent a huge challenge for Pool.
Add to that the fact that the Tangerines haven't emerged from Loftus Road with three points for more than 36 years – a 1-0 success in 1972 - and it shows how tough tonight's trip is.
But Evatt is undaunted. He said: "QPR are a good team and it's a tough game for us, but we have been doing well away from home, as the Birmingham and Southampton games showed.
"It suits our style to be the away team because we play good counter attacking football.
"Hopefully QPR will come at us and it will give us opportunities to find gaps in their defence. If we can do that then we are capable, with our creative and attacking players, of getting a goal or two.
"I didn't leave QPR on the best of terms but it's all forgotten now.
"I am loving my football here. I am probably playing the best football of my career.
"Myself and Rob Edwards are thoroughly enjoying it and doing well together" Blackpool Gazette


What Evatt Said After Leaving QPR
IAN EVATT The Times Evatt proves to be Wise signing Ian Whittell
".......“QPR bought my contract out at the start of January, I’d had a good loan spell here and was more than happy to sign,” Evatt said. “But I was disappointed and felt let down a bit by how QPR treated me, especially towards the end.
“You just have to hold your head up and keep battling away and I’ve proved today I can play at Championship level, most of the lads have done. Going for promotion, as we are, that has got to give you confidence...” Times

Dail Mail Leveller Evatt sends message to Gregory - By COLIN WOOD -
Ian Evatt clearly hopes his rescue act for Blackpool will come to the attention of Queens Park Rangers manager John Gregory and everyone at Loftus Road....
The tall, 25-year-old central defender feels he has no cause to be grateful to Gregory and QPR, who paid him off before he made his loan to Blackpool a permanent move this month.
Evatt played under Gregory for more than a year at Derby and admitted that he felt his old boss had treated him with "a lack of common courtesy".
Speaking of the latest parting, Evatt said: "He got sacked at Derby while I was there. Having known him a while it's disappointing that I didn't even get a phone call. I felt let down, the way I was treated at QPR towards the end. A few players will say the same thing. I did not speak to John Gregory, full stop."
But after netting his first goal for Blackpool - "the most important I've ever scored" - he doesn't intend to let that bitterness stop him enjoying his time ahead.His sights are set on promotion to the Championship and a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup - a stage the club last reached 17 years ago..."

Guardian -Evatt settles the scores of a season Louise Taylor at Bloomfield Road
"... afterwards Blackpool's villain-turned-hero displayed greater enthusiasm for deconstructing Gregory than discussing the rematch. "I was bitterly disappointed by the way it ended at QPR; I felt a bit let down," said Evatt, who joined Blackpool, where he spent the early part of the season on loan, for nothing this month after QPR terminated his contract. "I didn't get one phone call from anyone at QPR to explain what was happening. And John Gregory didn't speak to me, full stop. That hurt but I've just got to hold my head up and try and get back into the Championship with Blackpool," added the 25-year-old who, although already borrowed by Grayson when Gregory took charge at Loftus Road, believed their earlier association at Derby County entitled him to a debrief, if not a second chance.
Things went badly wrong for the centre-half almost from the moment QPR's former manager, Ian Holloway, paid Chesterfield £150,000 for him and said he was the club's "new Glenn Roeder". Evatt's decent distribution failed to compensate for a lack of pace and a string of mishaps. Grayson, though, detected potential and Evatt has vindicated this by playing an important role in Blackpool's emergence as promotion contenders...." Guardian - Evatt View


- LoftforWords' Clive Whittingham Previews QPR vs Blackpool and Ashleigh Rose/LoftforWords Memories of and Links Between QPR vs Blackpool