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Birthdays:
- Kenny Sansom Turns 50 - Stats-
- Ex-QPR Loan, Martin Cranie, Turns 22 - Stats
- And apparently also...Luigi De Canio, Turning 51- "1957: Luigi De Canio (51) – Former Udinese, Napoli, Reggina and Siena coach, who most recently had a spell at English Championship side Queens Park Rangers. - Goal.com
Dave McIntyre - BBC 606 - Stewart on a roll
Damion Stewart is the man of the moment, defying expectations by holding down a place in the QPR team and winning praise for his recent performances.
Given the amount of money splashed out by Rangers and the number of players signed in 2008, it’s a surprise to many that Stewart is still at the club, let alone in the side.
Some people, myself included, believed he was the first player who ought to be axed and simply had to be replaced if Rangers were to stand any chance at all of being serious promotion contenders.
Kaspars Gorkss, outstanding for Blackpool last season, looked the ideal replacement – the kind of dominant, footballing centre-back Rangers have desperately needed.
But, short of match fitness after a pre-season ruined by the wrangling over his transfer, Gorkss made a woeful start to his R’s career.
He now faces a fight to establish himself, while Stewart is flavour of the month and is set to keep his place alongside Fitz Hall for Saturday’s game against Derby.
But the real test of Stewart is perhaps yet to come.
He has always been a good athlete; quick, strong and good in the air, and with those attributes, it’s understandable that successive managers have selected him.
He can, and has, had games and spells in a season where he’s able to put these assets to good use.
Some games just pan out in a way that means Stewart can head and tackle his way to rave reviews about his performance. Nothing’s changed in that respect.
But what has definitely improved is his concentration.
Gigi De Canio was convinced Stewart would be a competent defender if he maintained his concentration level for 90 minutes.
Even during a spell towards the end of the 2006-07 season, when Stewart was receiving much praise for his performances, he cost Rangers several points during their relegation battle by being found wanting in various situations, often at set-pieces and often late in games.
This season he has improved in this department and to see the job through against a forward like Aston Villa’s John Carew is a big achievement.
A few days before Rangers’ cup win at Villa Park, I saw Carew destroy West Brom’s defence and Leon Barnett, a centre-back who many in the game feel has real potential, was embarrassed by the big Norwegian.
But in many ways, a physical battle with the likes of Carew and a side peppering Rangers with crosses is right up Stewart’s street.
So too have been the recent away games in which QPR have had a man sent off.
Being reduced to 10 men at Bristol City and Norwich in a way helped Rangers, because it made those games less open.
It was a case of all hands to the pump, with Mikele Leigertwood and Gavin Mahon digging in and shielding the backline.
In more open games, as even 10-man Southampton recently showed, Rangers are more vulnerable and the centre of their defence still looks very poor.
Expect several Championships sides – including Derby this weekend – to focus on trying to isolate Stewart and force him to make decisions in a way he hasn’t had to in recent matches.
Balls into the channel can trouble him, especially when Damien Delaney surges forward.
And while he copes when the game is played out in straight lines, Stewart has all-too often been guilty of ball-watching or been far too easily turned in certain situations.
Those are the situations the likes of Derby, Birmingham and Reading will look to put him in in the coming weeks.
If he passes those kinds of tests, then even his fiercest critics will have to eat their words. BBC 606
QPR Official Site: QPR v WOLVES LIVE ON SKY
The R's Coca Cola Championship fixture at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers has been selected for live Sky Sports transmission.
The fixture on Saturday 6th December will now kick-off at 5.20pm. QPR
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Blog Archive
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2008
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September
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- Dowie Post-Match Comments and Match Reports as QPR...
- Teams - QPR vs Blackpool
- Managerial - QPR-Rejecting Manager Takes Over at P...
- Dowie's Best Young Championship Player...Gavin Mah...
- Blackpool Preview...Blackpool's Last Win at QPR (R...
- Tuesday Snippets: Year Flashback- QPR Crushed and ...
- Manchester United vs QPR Date Set
- QPR's Akos Buzsaky Back in Hungary Squad
- QPR Snippets - New Year Greetings....Next: Blackpo...
- QPR Weekend Overview: Derby Loss...Man Ut Draw......
- Ex-QPR Chairman Bill Power ("BP") Turns 55
- Derby Loss: QPR's Prices Feature in Various (Depre...
- The Return of Akos Buzsaky
- "On This Day" Flashback: Ray Harford Resigns and D...
- QPR-Derby Match Reports and Post-Match Comments
- Stan Bowles Criticizes QPR's Owners
- QPR - Mail "Humour"
- QPR's Derby Loss - Dowie's Post-Match Comments
- QPR Slump at Home
- QPR Away to Manchester United - Carling Cup Draw
- QPR Statement - No Name Change Name Even Discussed
- "One QPR" Statement re Price Increases
- QPR vs Derby - Further Previews....Ex-QPR John Del...
- QPR Name Change?
- Snippets: De Canio and other Ex-QPR Birthdays...Mo...
- Ex-QPR Gino Padula Doing Well in the American MLS
- Camp to Quit?....Stewart on Wembley...Parejo Speak...
- Next: Derby County at Loftus Road
- QPR's Support for the Kiyan Prince Foundation
- Advocating Fan "Response" to QPR's Announced Price...
- Carling Cup (League Cup!) Draw Details...QPR #9
- Vote For Championship Player of The Month
- QPR's Vice Chairman, Amit Bhatia Official Site Sta...
- QPR's Win At Aston Villa - Reports Compilation
- QPR's Shock Win Over Aston Villa! - Reports and Co...
- Strong Opinion Piece Advocating QPR Protests
- Teams - Aston Villa vs QPR
- (Corrected): QPR's Ticket Prices Summed Up in Cart...
- QPR Snippets...Buzsaky on Playing...Preparing for ...
- QPR Statement (Sort of) on Ticket Pricing, But Si...
- QPR Ticket Update - From Derby County (Continued S...
- Next: Aston Villa Away
- League Rule Against QPR: Derby Comment...QPR Remai...
- Snippets: QPR Chairman Briatore, Profiled...Flashb...
- Football League Rejects QPR Price Increases
- Dowie: "I have a different set of problems now but...
- QPR's Balanta Again on Cusp of Young England Chanc...
- Coventry's QPR Win - Further Reports and Comments
- QPR 5 Newcastle 5: On This Day, The Incredible QPR...
- Continued Media Attention on QPR's Price Increases
- QPR Fan Groups United in QPR Protest - One-QPR Sta...
- Snippets...Dowie on Lee Cook...Another Ticket Pric...
- QPR's Coventry Loss - Reports and Comments
- Bottom Line: QPR Lose at Coventry...Stay Fourth
- Teams - Coventry vs QPR
- Joint QPR Fan Groups Protest Supposedly Planned
- Snippets: Watson to QPR?...Bosnich on Not Signing ...
- QPR's Price Increases: Compilation of QPR's Variou...
- QPR vs Coventry - Previews and Memories
- QPR Prices - QPR Fans Side With Derby
- Yet More Commentary re QPR Rising Prices
- QPR1st Add Their Criticism...Condemn QPR's Price I...
- Waiting For The Football League...Price of Success...
- QPR's Price Increases (Continued) "First Champions...
- 1967 Stalwart Turns Sixty-One....Flashback Two Yea...
- QPR's Case For Increased Ticket Prices
- Connolly Misses Coventry...Coventry Welcome Back D...
- Media Disparages QPR's Decision to Raise Ticket Pr...
- Snippets: Ex-QPR's Ray Wilkins Back at Chelsea...E...
- QPR's Norwich Victory - Further Reports and Comments
- QPR Win at Norwich - Reports and Comments
- Teams: Norwich vs QPR - Ledesma and Rowlands Return
- Snippets: Ex-QPRs Bean, McLeod, Quashie, Ben Sahar...
- Dowie and Ainsworth Perspectives...One For The Fut...
- QPR's Ali Russell Comments QPR's Finances/Ticket P...
- Norwich-QPR Tonight...Roeder on QPR
- Snippets: Lee Cook's Generosity to QPR Praised...T...
- QPR Supporters Group Expresses "Dismay and Disgust...
- Dowie on QPR's Solid Defense...Norwich Hoping for ...
- QPR's Dexter Blackstock Makes "Team of the Week"...
- QPR Fans React Strongly to Price Increases
- "On This Day" Flashbacks - Stan Bowles QPR Debut.....
- "QPR Looking Good For Promotion"...View of Blackst...
- QPR Increase Their Prices
- The Kiyan Prince Foundation Launched
- Snippets:: Martin Allen's Appointment Confirmed......
- Next! Norwich Away
- QPR's Win Over Southampton: Compilation of Match R...
- QPR Up to Fourth After Defeating Southampton: Repo...
- Teams - QPR vs Southampton
- Another Perspective re QPR's New Owners
- QPR vs Southampton...Matt Connolly Loving Loftus Road
- QPR's First League Encounter With Chelsea: 40 Year...
- Ex-QPR Martin Allen's Reported New Managerial Appo...
- Gerry Francis Returning to Football...Ex-QPRs: All...
- Lakshmi Mittal and His Involvement With QPR
- Gerry Francis Returning to Coaching?...Ben Watson ...
- Viewing QPR-Southampton in the USA....Previewing Q...
- Selecting Incoming QPR Players By Committee?...Ram...
- Former QPR Player Returns to QPR as Academy Coach
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September
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