Snippets: Ex-QPR's Mel Johnson Now Spurs Chief Scout...Year Since Vine & Jarrett Joined...Reserves Lose....Stefan Moore Club?...Watson Update...Shanks

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Moving beyond the incredible snideness of the comment, an interesting fact about a man who did a great job at QPR, before moving to Spurs: Mel Johnson is now apparently Spurs Chief Scout.

Charles Sale/Daily Mail - Mel Johnson
"...Beleaguered Spurs director of football Damien Comolli has axed four experienced scouts - Tony Book, Bryan King, Alan Hill and Eddie Presland - for being too old. Yet he has replaced Presland as chief scout with Mel Johnson, an ex-greetings card salesman who failed to make the first team at QPR or Reading. A club spokesperson defended the appointment, citing Steve Rowley, Arsenal's chief scout, as not having been a professional. Mail

[See also " - January 2005: Mel Johnson Leaves QPR for Spurs


Telegraph
Damien Comolli's scouting overhaul at Tottenham under the spotlight
Tottenham's much maligned sporting director Damien Comolli has reportedly culled four of the club's experienced scouts.
In with the new: Damien Comolli makes changes to scouting staff at Spurs. Photo: AP
Comolli, the man Spurs fans have pointed the finger of blame at for their poor start to the season, is said to have axed Tony Book, Bryan King, Alan Hill and Eddie Presland for being too old, according to the Mail .
Former greetings card salesman Mel Johnson, who joined the club from QPR two years ago, is expected to replace outgoing Presland as chief scout.
The decision to promote Johnson may well be questioned in some quarters by already perplexed Tottenham fans as Johnson failed to make the grade as a professional footballer at QPR and Reading.
Comolli is already under pressure at Spurs for his failure to bring in a big-name signing to fill Dimitar Berbatov's void, following his transfer deadline day move to Manchester United.
Spurs assistant Gus Poyet further highlighted the club's attacking frailties earlier this week with his striking admission that Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko are incompatible.
And Comolli's new-look background staff are certain to be scruntised if they fail to recruit the necessary players needed to challenge the Premier League's top four."...
Telegraph


[QPR Reserves lost to Crystal Palace last night. Of course, according to the Palace Official Site, earlier yesterday "Crystal Palace reserves take on Luton Town tonight in a reserve league fixture..."! - Crystal Palace - QPR and Palace Reports

QPR Official Site - IN RESERVE: LATE GOAL SINKS R'S
QPR Reserves went down 3-2 against their Crystal Palace counterparts at Bromley Football Club this evening, despite a spirited second-half display which saw them pull back a two-goal deficit thanks to strikes from Angelo Balanta and Hogan Ephraim.
In what was a tight opening half of few chances, the hosts went in leading 1-0 at the break thanks to a Simon Thomas penalty on 23 minutes, after R's left back Femi Ilesanmi was adjudged to have brought down Neil Danns in the area.
The game exploded into life after the interval, however, with three goals in the opening 15 minutes of the half.
Palace doubled their lead on 51 minutes when Danns smashed home a far post header following an excellent delivery from the right by Nathanial Clyne.
At that stage the R's looked dead and buried but, with Gareth Ainsworth as their Manager, we should have known they wouldn't go down without a battle. And battle is exactly what they did.
Ephraim, playing on the right wing, turned in a determined and passionate display in a clear bid to catch Iain Dowie's eye.
And the watching R's gaffer can't have failed to be impressed by the former West Ham man's skilful run and cross down the flank which beautifully picked out Balanta in the box after 55 minutes.
And the striker made no mistake as he arrived bang on cue to drive the ball beyond the despairing dive of Darryl Flahavan from 16 yards.
With the visitors now in the ascendancy, it wasn't long before they found themselves level in this match - and what a way to do it.
The impressive Ephraim curled a stunning free-kick from 20 yards into the top right hand corner, leaving Flahavan rooted to the spot in the Palace goal.
At 2-2, there appeared to be only one winner as Rangers went in search of a crucial third.
Despite the best efforts of Balanta, who produced an excellent performance, it was the hosts who snatched the victory, however, when substitute Michael Abnett fired beyond Reece Crowther.
Although Ainsworth will have been disappointed to see his charges lose this contest, he would have been delighted with the commitment he got from his players, most notably Ephraim, Balanta and Adam Bolder.
QPR Reserves: Crowther, Ilesanmi, Oastler, Gorkss, Harris, Rose (Flood, 46), Tommasi, Bolder, Ephraim, Balanta (Arthur, 75), Di Carmine.
Subs: Bulmer, Ainsworth. QPR


Crystal Palace Official Site - Reserves Victory
Crystal Palace reserves snatched a 3-2 win against QPR last night at Bromley Football cCub.
In the opening 20 minutes neither side had much to shout about, but that all changed on the 23rd minute thanks to Neil Danns being brought down in the penalty area by R's left back Femi Ilesana.
Simon Thomas stepped up to the spot and calmly deposited the ball into the back of the net to the delight of the Eagles fans, in what would be the only goal of the first half.
However, within 15 minutes of referee blowing the whistle to start the second half, the game would see three goals.
Having been brought down in the first half, Danns got his name on the score-sheet with a header at the far post following a superb delivery from the right by Nathanial Clyne.
With the Eagles looking comfortable the R's began to show some fight in front of former Palace manager and current R's boss Iain Dowie.
A mesmerising run and cross from Ephraim proved fruitful on the 55th minute when he picked out Balanta who made no mistake in driving the ball past Darryl Flahavan from 16 yards.
With the visitors 2-1 down and over half an hour to play it was not long before the scores were levelled.
Ephraim was again involved as his free kick from 20 yards flew straight into the top right corner past Flahavan.
With the momentum appearing to be with the R's it was the Eagles who grabbed the decisive and winning strike.
Michael Abnett was the hero as he fired beyond Reece Crowther to ensure his team walked away from Hayes Lane with all three points. Crystal Palace


Two Players who joined QPR on loan a year ago today:

- Rowan Vine: It's a year to the day since Rowan Vine initially joined QPR. "Rowan Vine Signs on Loan"

- Jason Jarrett Joins on Loan: Another player who joined QPR a year ago today, on a three months Loan: - and then was strangely almost immediately returned: Then Preston's Jason Jarrett "Jarret Joins QPR on Three MOnth Loan"


Don Shanks Turns 56 - Born October 2nd, 1952. Dave Sexton's first signing, when he took over at QPR in 1974: Shanks was signed from Luton in November, 1974. A full back, who also played a few games in midfield. He initially was mostly a reserve, before playing most games in his last four seasons at QPR. In August, 1981, Shanks joined Brighton on a free. (Shanks was also known for being good friends with Stan Bowles!) Shanks Stats. Also Shanks/Wikipedia


Kidderminster Shuttle/Peter McKinney - Yates eyes up ex-Villa striker - Stefan Moore
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Mark Yates is casting his eye over former Aston Villa hitman Stefan Moore as he bids to strengthen his Blue Square Premier promotion chasers.
Yates is having a good look at the 26-year-old hitman, who has trained with Harriers this week and scored twice in Tuesday night’s 5-2 friendly win over Bewdley Town at Ribbesford Meadows.
Yates is determined to strengthen his squad so they can cement their position in the play-off places, after Saturday’s 3-2 win over Eastbourne Borough propelled them into second (read report) .
If the former Queens Park Rangers and Port Vale forward signs then it will mark another busy week of squad restructuring by Harriers’ manager....
“Stefan’s training with us at the moment and he played in our friendly,” said Yates.
“I’m not sure if anything will happen, we’ll just have to wait and see.
“We’re always looking for players to strengthen the squad but I am confident we’ve got a talented group here....". Kidderminster Shuttle


News of Ben Watson - the player we keep hearing on message boards, will be joining QPR:
BBC Gossip "Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has been promised £2m to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson in the January transfer window. (Various) BBC Gossip


Ex-QPR Loans Michael Mancienne and Martin Cranie in Latest England U-21 Squad
- FA - Full Squad