QPR Snippets: Eventually Signing Watson?... Dowie's Watson Contact...Buzsaky, Ephraim and Ainsworth Perspectives

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London Informer/Paul Warburton - It's going to hap-Ben
QPR will play the waiting game over Ben Watson - and eventually laugh all the way to the bank.
Renewed speculation over the weekend predicted Rangers would splash out £2m for the Crystal Palace midfielder, who turned down a late bid from Nottingham Forest, having set his heart on a move across London to Loftus Road.
But Rangers were never going to pay over the odds for a player they hope to get in January for a knockdown fee or next summer for nothing - providing they wait until July 9.
On that day, the former England U21 player turns 24, and Palace will lose the right to ask a Football League tribunal to decide any kind of payment.
Eagles' chairman Simon Jordan was unwilling to do business with Rangers before the transfer window closed on Monday night because of Rs boss Iain Dowie.
The discontent between the two runs deep after Jordan took his former Palace manager to the High Court last year over Dowie's defection to fierce rivals Charlton in 2006.
But current Palace manager Neil Warnock has already resigned himself to losing Watson, especially as he now has a disgruntled player on his hands.
He said: "Ben and his agent have made it clear he wants to go to QPR so I don't know where that leaves us."
Rangers may need to go back in January, depending on injuries and suspensions for Watson - but even then they have no intention of offering more than £500,000 to reunite him with his former manager at Selhurst Park. London Informer




South London Press/John Stanton - 'Watson to QPR? They never called'
Ben Watson's move to QPR never materialised
BEN Watson’s hopes of a move to QPR fell through this week - but Eagles chief Neil Warnock says the Loftus Road outfit never made a bid for the wantaway midfielder.
Watson turned down the chance to join Nottingham Forest on deadline day after City Ground boss Colin Calderwood had an offer accepted by Palace.
Watson rejected the move, apparently telling Calderwood he had been promised a better deal by Hoops manager Iain Dowie.
“Ben’s agent turned down Forest, saying he wanted the type of package that he had been offered by QPR,” Warnock told the South London Press.
“But we never had any contact from them, so I don’t know what’s gone on there.”
For the full story and all the latest Eagles news, see Friday's South London Press South London Press


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 Emmanuel 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


Gareth Ainsworth/Kilburn Times - Step on the Gaz
GETTING drawn against Aston Villa is a fantastic tie for the club, particularly as this is only the second time in my time at QPR that we've been in the hat for the third round.
On that occasion we went out against Manchester City and we've got Premier League opponents again, but I feel we're much better equipped to progress and we'll be going to Villa Park to win.
They'll certainly put a strong side out because winning the competition means European qualification, but it's really exciting and the club deserves it.
Hopefully this is a sign of things of come and will be the first of many trips up to Villa in the not too distant future.
It would have been nice to be drawn at home, partly for the fans, but also because our new signings have settled in really well at Loftus Road and we would have fancied our chances even more.
Emmanuel Ledesma can only blame himself for getting sent off on Saturday because we told him at half-time to watch himself on his yellow card, and five minutes later he was off.
It's a steep learning curve and part of adapting to the English game is getting used to the referees and understanding that they're maybe not as lenient as they are in Italy.
Emmanuel's got that Latino, South American flair about him but with that comes a bit of temperament. We don't want to take away any of his exuberance because then we'd lose something from his game.
In a strange way it was probably a good thing that it happened on Saturday, getting it in early so he can learn from it and move on.
Emmanuel's got a huge amount of talent, he's going to be a target from now on and he'll probably upset a lot more referees, but as long as he keeps banging in the goals we won't mind too much.
It's a sign of how strong our squad is now that we have three players going off on international duty this weekend.
Damien Delaney has been called up by Ireland, Kaspars Gorkss will represent Latvia and Daniel Parejo has been making waves back home and has been selected for Spain's under-21s after playing for us.
The worry is that they'll come back injured but that's the price you pay for having top-class players at the club.
We've got two weeks until our next league game but then they come thick and fast with three games in a week.
It's for exactly that reason that we've got a squad of 24 players and we'll be looking to make full use of that by making some changes for each game.
I'm delighted to see Akos Buzsaky back in action after his ankle injury. He did well in the reserves on Tuesday and could be in contention to play against Southampton a week on Sunday. Kilburn Times


Also: Ramage on the official site, speaking primarily about Newcastle