QPR REPORT

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for a combination of football items; nostalgia; videos (today's video: QPR Crushed) and posters' comments.

- See Also: "Flashback to QPR-at-Year's End: One, Two and Three Years Ago"
- QPR's at Year's End and in Previous Years and End-of-Season Points Totals
- Loftus Road Ranked at #42 in "Greatest Stadiums for Atmosphere"


North Devon Journal - QPR keep an eye on Appledore's Downing
- APPLEDORE youngster Sean Downing is a target for championship heavyweights Queens Park Rangers.
- Scouts were spotted watching the 17-year-old during Saturday's Peninsula League clash with Okehampton Argyle, in which he was a second-half substitute.
- But Appledore manager Geoff Copp is not prepared to lose the forward without a fight.
- He said: "He is a great prospect and we will do our best to keep hold of him.
"I think everybody can see that it is definitely in him, but he still has a lot of growing and developing to do before he becomes the player that he could be.
- If he gets the chance at a bigger club as a YTS trainee then he would learn his proper trade with quality coaches and better people around him so he would only improve as a player.
- "I will just ask the club to do their best to keep my players." Copp, however, insists that he will not stand in Downing's way if any move develops.
He said: "It will come down to money and how can I be hypocritical and tell him not to go if money is being chucked at him?" North Devon Journal


Telegraph/Sandy Macaskill/Telegraph - Joining or leaving the Premier League? - We look at who is likely to swap the Premier League for the Championship, and vice-versa, in 2009.
Going Down?....
Coming Up?
Despite his side being seven points clear of Birmingham City and Reading at the top, Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has issued a prohibition on the ‘P’ word in the dressing room and set his players a target of 92 points to guarantee promotion.
Their chances of doing so have been helped by the fact that their superb right winger, Michael Kightly, seems happy to stay at the club despite attracting interest from Bolton and now Newcastle.
McCarthy has also extended Chelsea and England defender Michael Mancienne’s loan deal until Jan 29. Wolves would have hoped for more than two draws over the festive period, however.
Tied with Birmingham on 51 points, Reading are currently in second place on goal difference. They knocked the Blues out of the top two for the first time since mid-September a fortnight ago, but have failed to capitalise since.
Yet talk of a three-horse race could be pre-emptive, as Cardiff City are steadily advancing, although they are still some way off with 44 points.
Burnley, on 43 points, and Sheffield United, on 41, also look likely to be competing for play-off places.
Queens Park Rangers ought not to be discounted. With 38 points, they are some way off, yet considering their owners’ deep pockets, the club have the ability to bring in new blood this January. Telegraph


Virginia Media - Vine on road to recovery
- QPR striker Rowan Vine is hoping for a happier 2009 after recently undergoing successful surgery on the leg he broke last season.
- The 26-year-old sustained the injury in a freak training-ground collision back in April, and cut a frustrated figure in the treatment room following a recent setback in his recovery which forced him to go back under the knife.
- However, following a scan of the leg Vine has been given the green light to step up his rehabilitation.
- "The second operation has gone very well," said Rangers physio Paul Hunter.
- "The surgeon is very happy with the outcome and the fracture itself is showing great signs of recovery.
- "We've had the green light to increase the intensity of Rowan's training programme which is a massive boost for everyone connected with the club - Virginia Media


Burnley Express/Chris Boden - Cup king Coyle shifts focus
- CUP king Owen Coyle Owen Coyle has his sights set on a run in the world's premier knockout competition.
- Carling Cup semi-finalists Burnley travel to QPR in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, just seven weeks after winning 2-1 in the league at Loftus Road. - Two titanic clashes with Spurs await, but Coyle doesn't see extra cup commitments as a bind, and would love nothing more than to win a place in the hat for the fourth round.
- Coyle said: "QPR are probably the same, they would have loved to have been playing a team from another division, whether it was higher or lower, because there is a freshness about it, rather than another Championship side.
- "We've been there on a few occasions and we'll go there again, looking to be positive.
"We've enjoyed the Carling Cup, and it would be nice to have a run in the FA Cup as well.
- "But it's going to be a difficult game.
- "They are a quality side."
The Clarets will be without skipper Steven Caldwell and Stephen Jordan through suspension, with Caldwell also missing the Carling Cup semi-final first leg at White Hart Lane after his second sending-off of the season at Doncaster.
- Coyle, meanwhile, is looking forward to locking horns with two-time Champions League winner Paulo Sousa, the new man at the helm at QPR: "Paulo has come in and made an impression.
"He's a very nice man.
"I met him a few months ago at Gleneagles when we were both on a coaching thing.
- "He won the Champions League twice, back-to-back, so that shows you what a good player he was, and I'm sure he'll look to transfer that into management.
- "It will be tough, but we're looking forward to it.
- "Home or away we go and try and win, and that's what we'll look to do."
Indeed, Sousa, a member of Portugal's "Golden Generation" alongside the likes of Rui Costa, Joao Pinto and Paulo Futre, is the only player to win the Champions League in back-to-back seasons, helping Juventus beat Ajax in 1996, before starring for Borussia Dortmund against Juve the following year.
- The 38-year-old was appointed as Carlos Queiroz's assistant with the Portugal national side in the summer, before taking over from caretaker Gareth Ainsworth in November.
- After taking his seat in the stands at Watford, where the Rs lost 3-0, he has only presided over one defeat in eight games at the helm, taking Rangers up to ninth, three points off the play-off places.
- Come tomorrow, the transfer window will reopen, and Coyle is already aware he will have to wheel and deal to bolster his squad - with Bristol City right back Bradley Orr believed to be on his wish list.
Chairman Barry Kilby admits: "Things are tight. Let's see.
"The Carling Cup money has just gone to mitigate our loss really.
"I can't promise anything on that and I'm not going to."
There has been speculation linking Chris McCann and Chris Eagles with Premier League clubs, and while Kilby admits: "I'd never say (we don't have to sell)," the club certainly want to add to their squad, not weaken it.
Burnley have had a reputation as a selling club in the past, but Kilby feels that isn't as clear-cut: "We've been no mugs on the block in transfers I don't think.
"I'd challenge our record in selling players.
"When you buy players, it's your manager's judgement. But if one of your players goes, it's not always your doing, as it would be in business.
"If you've got a player involved, there's an element that's in there that if he's not happy, you have some judgements to make.
"You might say 'we can't sell anybody', you can turn the offer down but sometimes, in this triangle you have – player, buying club, yourselves – it's not just your own decision, and sometimes you have to make a really hard decision with the hand you're dealt in terms of the best thing to do.
"Would we have wanted to get rid of Andy Gray or Kyle Lafferty? No. But you'd have had a player sulking in a corner, so sometimes you have to sell even though, in your own judgement, you sooner wouldn't.
"I'd challenge anyone to look at our record in transfer dealings, and getting top dollar for players as well."
"We have a lot of experience." Burnley Express


Richard Langley Staying on at Burnley
This is Bristol RoversRichard Langley will be staying with Bristol Rovers for another month.
And coach Paul Trollope is hopeful that the experienced Jamaican international can overcome niggling injury worries and prove he has a longer-term future with the Pirates.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who previously had spells with QPR, Cardiff City and Luton Town, had an extended trial spell with Rovers before signing a short-term deal for December.
He was on the bench for recent games against Hartlepool, Stockport and MK Dons but is still waiting to taste first-team action and was not included in the squad for the 0-0 draw at Northampton last Sunday.
"Richard is with us for another month until the end of January and trying to prove his fitness," said Trollope.
"We are pleased with what we have seen from him in training but he has experienced some tightness with his muscles, and that's the reason he wasn't involved on the bench at Northampton.
"It's a difficult time for him because he is desperate to prove his fitness and show his quality, but at the moment he is just being hampered by a bit of soreness.
"We are working hard to eradicate the problems and hopefully he will be available for the game at Crewe next Tuesday."
This week's sub-zero temperatures mean Rovers have had to tweak their training schedule during a nine-day break from competitive action.
But Trollope said the facilities at their Army base HQ in Colerne are a help when it comes to keeping the players busy.
"I would imagine most teams in the country will be finding it difficult this week, but at Colerne we have a great indoor facility and a swimming pool, which we will be using," said Trollope.
"We can get out and do some straight-line running even though the grass is frozen, but the size of the indoor facility means we can do a lot of ball work inside to keep the lads right.
"The fact there is a sprung floor as well means it's not too hard on the legs, which is good This is Burnley

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for a combination of football items; nostalgia; videos and posters' comments. Today's Video: QPR Crushed!

- See Also: QPR's at Year's End: A Comparison to Previous Years - And QPR's Season-End Points Totals Over the Past Decade

Flashback One Year - December 31, 2007: Mahon Joins QPR
(Some debate over whether his permanent signing was ever actually officially announced by QPR)

QPR OFFICIAL SITE EXCLUSIVE: MAHON MOVES IN
- Midfield general Gavin Mahon has joined Queens Park Rangers on an emergency loan deal from Watford, with a view to a permanent transfer.
- The midfielder, who is in line to make his R's debut against Leicester City tomorrow (Tuesday), was an interested spectator in the Vicarage Road press box on Saturday afternoon, as his new charges beat his former employers 4-2.
- Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk before his first training session this morning, Mahon expressed his delight at the move, commenting: "It's a very exciting time to be joining this Club.
- "There were four or five other Championship sides that showed an interest, but once I'd spoken to the Chairman Gianni Paladini there was never any doubt in my mind that I'd be joining Rangers. "The ambition and drive of the board and the new investors really impressed me and I'm delighted to be here."
- Mahon added: "It was a surreal experience on Saturday. When QPR went ahead early on I was happy, but at the same time it was a very difficult situation to be in, having spent so many years at Watford.
"I'm a QPR player now though and I couldn't be more delighted to be here."
- After learning his trade with Hereford United and Brentford, Mahon moved to Watford near the end of the ill-fated Gianluca Vialli reign at Vicarage Road.
He played an integral role in the Hornets' upturn in fortunes and was rewarded by being named Player of the Season at the end of the 2003/04 campaign.
He successfully skippered the Club to promotion in May 2006 and made 36 appearances in their one season stay in the top-flight. QPR

WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE - MAHON A RANGERS A MOVE
- GAVIN Mahon will join QPR on loan with a view to making his move permanent in the January transfer window.
- The Watford captain departs Vicarage Road having dropped down the pecking order in recent weeks and joins the west Londoners in a bid to revive their languishing season, where they have spent the majority of the campaign in the bottom three.
Mahon was present at the Vic on Saturday to see his new club beat the Hornets 2-4, and after the game he said his farewells to the manager, staff and players.
- Watford will receive £200,000 initially for the move as Mahon is still under contract until the end of the season, and there may be a further £50,000 due on further clauses.
- The former club captain skippered Watford to victory in the 2006 play-off final after moving to the Hertfordshire club following spells with Hereford United and Brentford.
- Mahon will forever be remembered for his willingness to take a pay cut and his part in urging his fellow team mates to do the same during Watford's more difficult times.
- Everyone at Watford Football Club would like to wish Gavin and his family well for the future. - QPR Report

Also: Watford Backgrounder on Mahon joining QPR -

Also: Gareth Ainsworth, a year ago, talking about QPR's future, the new owners and Paladini - Ainsworth/Ealing Gazette


Two Years Ago: John Gregory's QPR had just lost 1-0 at Norwich:
QPR: Royce, Bignot, Milanese, Gallen, Rowlands, Lomas, Cook, Stewart, Furlong, Jones, Mancienne. Subs: Cole, Ward, Baidoo, Kanyuka, Blackstock.
Norwich: Gallacher, Drury, Shackell, Huckerby, Croft, Dublin, Earnshaw, Safri, Etuhu, Colin, Doherty. Subs: Lewis, Fleming, Hughes, McVeigh, Jarvis
- Match Reports

John Gregory's Post Match Comments
QPR OFFICIAL - John Gregory Comments - SINKING IN THE RAIN
John Gregory bemoaned the lack of fighting spirit, as the R's succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Norwich.
"Generally it was a good performance, but not good enough.
"We've lost by the odd goal again and that seems to be the story since I've been at this club.''
Gregory continued: "To keep the likes of Huckerby, Earnshaw and Dublin at bay for 90 minues is a huge ask, and we just came up short today.
"Sometimes defenders make the odd rick and today is cost us.''
Despite the loss, the gaffer heaped praise on Steve Lomas, adding: "Steve Lomas set the standards by which the rest should follow.
"He was outstanding today, but too many of his team-mates went missing.
"Unfortunately that's been the case lately and Stevie is absolutely gutted.''
Gregory is looking forward to the opening of the January transfer window, commenting: "The transfer window will be very beneficial to us.
"I'm hoping that it will enable us to do a few deals, but we'll have to wait and see.


Three Years Ago Typical Conflict

"After his club's December 31, 4-3 victory at Crewe (which gave QPR 35 points after 27 games) Ian Holloway was talking about various off-the-field activities at QPR and his place at the club, with press reports of Jim Smith coming to QPR (denied by the club).
"We already have more points than we did at this exact point this time last year with a game hand. "But that doesn't seem to be good enough for some people. I'm sick and tired of every Tom, Dick and Harry getting linked with my job every day. "Well ding, dang, doo. It's my job, I own it and it's up to anyone else to take it off me." BBC
Crewe vs QPR Lineup - Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Rose, Langley, Bircham, Rowlands, Cook, Nygaard, Baidoo - Subs Not Used: Moore, Donnelly, Ainsworth, Furlong. Milanese --

Two Days Earlier on the QPR Official Site: December 29, 2005 - HAPPY NEW YEAR
- Rangers Chairman Gianni Paladini and the Board of Directors would like to wish all QPR fans a Happy New Year.
- After an eventful 2005, Paladini has issued the following statement to supporters of Queens Park Rangers:
- "As you all know, as a club we went through difficult times and the new board had to bear quite a challenge and responsibility.
- "Thanks to some huge efforts in renewing its organization and bringing in some new investments, QPR are now sailing in safe waters.
- "We are optimistic when looking ahead for the New Year and for the whole of 2006, especially as we know we can always count on your continuous support.
"Our hope and aim is that QPR will never again have to struggle against organizational confusion and financial distress that have badly hit the good name of our glorious club.
"A special mention must go to Ian Holloway, who has shown his passion and devotion to the club and as someone who gives us positive hopes for promotion.
"We are proud of our players and we are confident that we can continue to strengthen our team with some new arrivals at the beginning of the next year.
"A special thanks must also go to all our colleagues and staff and of course to all our fans who, from generation to generation, continue to support the club.
"We wish to embrace them all, one by one, with our motto "We are QPR!"
"We wish you all the best for a wonderful 2006." QPR

[A Few Weeks later, Holloway was out on Gardening leave!]

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Just not confirmation coming from the Official QPR Site!

Blackpool Official Site Loan Latest - Tue 30 Dec 2008
- With the transfer window re-opening on New Years Day the official website spoke with Club Secretary Matt Williams and asked him for the latest on those loan players at the club.
- Matt, the club have several players on loan at this moment in time, can you give us an indication on who is staying and who is going?
- I can confirm that Steven Kabba, Zesh Rehman, Lee Hendrie and Graham Stack have all returned to their parent clubs, we would like to thank them for all the efforts over the last few months and we wish them well in the future...."
Blackpool

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Daily Mail - THE LIST - The Most Atmospheric Stadiums in Football
- "Sportsmail celebrates the great cathedrals of world football by revealing our top 50 greatest stadiums for atmosphere. Our writers have voted, with many preferring to salute venues from a time when teams played at 'grounds' rather than stadiums."

- And at #42 - Loftus Road, QPR


50 El Monumental, River Plate

49 Bramall Lane, Sheffield United

48 The Den, Millwall

47 Stadium of Light, Sunderland

46 Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Sampdoria/Genoa

45 Stamford Bridge, Chelsea

44 Villa Park, Aston Villa

43 Britannia Stadium, Stoke

42 Loftus Road, QPR

41 Maksimir Stadium, Croatia

40 Stadio San Paulo, Napoli

39 Turf Moor, Burnley

38 Stade Felix Bollaert, Lens

37 Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

36 Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough

35 Stadio Olimpico, Roma/Lazio

34 Maracana, Brazil

33 Ashton Gate, Bristol City

32 Memorial Ground, Bristol Rovers

31 The Dell, Southampton

30: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich Albion

29: Stark's Park, Raith Rovers

28: Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, Fenerbahce

27: Boothferry Park, Hull City

26: Upton Park, West Ham United

25: Elland Road, Leeds United

24: Tynecastle, Heart of Midlothian

23: Estadio Mestalla, Valencia

22: Ninian Park, Cardiff City

21: Roker Park, Sunderland

20: La Bombonera, Boca Juniors

19: Hampden Park, Scotland

18: Stade Velodrome, Marseille

17: Millennium Stadium, Wales

16: Hillsborough, Sheffield Wednesday

15: Ibrox, Rangers

14: Westfalenstadion, Borussia Dortmund

13: Galatasaray, Ali Sami Yen Stadium

12: Maine Road, Man City

11: White Hart Lane, Tottenham

10: Fratton Park, Portsmouth:
Away teams - particularly south coast rivals Southampton - are always in for a hostile atmosphere when they visit Fratton Park, home of Pompey's chiming, ever raucous fans

9: Wembley (the one with the Twin Towers), England
The home of football. Wembley has been the scene of many a wonderful spectacle, but none topped England's 1966 World Cup victory
Goodbye to all that: Chelsea and Aston Villa fans walk along Wembley Way in 2000 with the - criminally demolished - Twin Towers looming, as the great stadium played host to its final FA Cup final

8: Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid
Real Madrid fans break the goalposts before 1998's Champions League semi-final with Borussia Dortmund. The game, which Real won 2-0, was delayed by 76 minutes, with officials forced to find a replacement from the club's training ground

7: San Siro, AC Milan/Inter Milan
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, commonly known as the San Siro, is an intense cauldron that hosts both AC and Inter Milan. The ground was the site of one of the greatest World Cup shocks when Cameroon beat holders Argentina in 1-0 in the opening game of Italia 90, thanks to Francois Omam-Biyick's goal

6: Goodison Park:
Home of Everton since 1892, no club has contested more seasons in the top flight. Here, jubilant Toffees' fans stage a pitch invasion to celebrate Premier League survival following a 1-1 draw with Coventry on the final day of the 1997-98 season

5: Old Trafford, Manchester United
The Theatre of Dreams is England's largest stadium, and home of the European Champions

4: St James' Park, Newcastle United
Newcastle fans welcome Michael Owen to St James' Park, where the fanaticalToon Army populate the sweeping Gallowgate End

3: Parkhead, Celtic
Bhoys fans in full voice at the intimidating Celtic Park

2: Camp Nou, FC Barcelona
The majestic Camp Nou - with a capacity of 98,787 - is the largest stadium in Europe

1: Anfield, Liverpool
The sign says it all..The world famous Spion Kop - home of Liverpool's most passionate supporters - welcome Chelsea and then boss Jose Mourinho to Anfield, while fans greet the club's 2005 Champions League victory with merriment at the Paisley Gateway, below

Daily Mail

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This is London - Flavio is getting a kick out of his hoop dreams
- Flavio Briatore had not even heard of Queens Park Rangers when the SOS was tapped out last year, so he asked his chauffeur for the lowdown. 'Bad team, bankrupt' was the concise verdict.
- A year on, the crippling debts have been shed and the team's stuttering performances have failed to sway chairman Briatore from his grand vision.
- "I promise we'll reach the Premier League but with our team, our people, our philosophy," he said. "You must build sound foundations; we don't want to go up and come straight back down."

- When Grand Prix maestros Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone bought the club in August 2007 for £14million and then sold a 20 per-cent stake to steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, QPR were labelled as the new Chelsea. Yet the Italian boss of the Renault Formula One team sees the investment as an exercise in organic growth rather than a chequebook-waving orgy.

- "Nobody really expects QPR to go up this season," added Briatore, whose side are just outside the play-off zone after draws against Charlton and Watford over the festive period. "When we took over I always said it was a four-year programme to get into the Premier League. This is the second. Last year we just wanted to survive."

- The rapid disposal of coaches - Paulo Sousa is the fifth to take charge on either a permanent or caretaker basis since Briatore arrived - suggests a more impatient demand for success.
- Briatore claims, though, Iain Dowie has been his only genuine sacking, insisting Luigi de Canio made up his own mind to quit at the end of last season.
- He said: "I never fired De Canio. He did a good job because he saved us from relegation. He left because of family problems."
- 'Communication' is a word Briatore uses frequently in explaining his business philosophy but his relationship with Dowie resembled an arranged marriage which was doomed at the altar.
- Sporting director Gianni Paladini was charged with finding an English-speaking manager who understood the Championship and Dowie appeared to tick the relevant boxes. But even before a ball was kicked in anger in August, there was friction over who should play in goal: Briatore pulled rank to insist that close-season signing Radek Cerny was preferred to the keeper in residence, Lee Camp.- The Italian said: "The coach criticised me over Cerny. I said I thought he was the best keeper in the Championship. I tried to make him understand what we wanted but it was very difficult." The final straw for Briatore came after the 0-0 draw at Swansea on 21 October, a match which saw home keeper Dorus de Vries carried off in the 26th minute.
- With no keeper on the bench, defender Alan Tate replaced De Vries but he was a near spectator throughout a dull game.
- "We didn't have a shot at the target and I found that completely unacceptable," said Briatore.

- Having axed Dowie, Briatore put winger Gareth Ainsworth in caretaker charge before making a surprise move for ex-Portugal international Sousa last month.
- Briatore was then bewildered by suggestions he had started picking the team. He said: "Sure, I give my opinion but the final decision is with him [Sousa]."
- There is no longer the air of tearful gratitude which greeted Briatore's ride to the rescue but the Italian is keen to remind the fans of what might have been.
- Briatore, whose side will be looking to progress in the FA Cup against Burnley at Loftus Road on Saturday, said: "If QPR exist it is because of us.
- "I'm proud because 200 people would have been without a job. I didn't come into football to make money. I came into it to have fun." This is London

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Sky Sports - Ones to watch in '09 Our experts name their ones to watch on 2009
Chris Kamara/Sky Sport
"My ones to watch for 2009 are Adam Lallana who is a midfielder / forward at Southampton and the young striker Angelo Balanta at QPR, who has been on loan at Wycombe. They are both lovely footballers with big futures ahead of them. As they improve they will become big stars in the next generation Sky


- Six simple words...!Blackpool Gazette - Pool face exodus of loan stars
"....Zesh Rehman is back at QPR" - Blackpool Gazette

[Flashback: When Rehman Joined Blackpool on loan in July...

QPR Official Site July 2008 - REHMAN JOINS SEASIDERS ON LOAN
- R's defender Zesh Rehman has joined Blackpool on a six-month loan deal.
The 24 year-old, who joined the Hoops from Fulham for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2006, made 22 appearances in all competitions last season.
Rangers Assistant Manager, Tim Flowers, told www.qpr.co.uk: "Zesh has been first class since the first day of pre-season, but it's clear we've got an abundance of high quality centre-backs at the Club and he knows he's slightly behind in the pecking order at the moment. "It's important that he gets some games under his belt though and he'll get that opportunity at Blackpool.
- "We wish him all the best for his six month spell, because he's a top lad and a first class professional who deserves to be playing football week in, week out."
The Pakistani international was rewarded for his work in the community at the end of last season, by scooping the Community Commitment award at the Club's annual Player of the Year showcase.

Blackpool Official Site
"...Zesh Rehman who has joined the club on loan until January, with Pool having first option on either extending the loan or signing the defender on a permanent basis. The agreement will also see Pool withdraw their complaint against QPR for the alleged illegal approach made to Kaspars Gorkss.


QPR Report

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for a combination of football items (sometimes beyond QPR); nostalgia; videos (today's video Martin Allen's winner); and posters' comments....Manager of The Month Nominees

COMPARING QPR AT YEAR'S END TO PREVIOUS SEASONS

QPR's FIVE YEARS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

- On December 31, 2008 (Dowie/Ainsworth/Sousa) QPR have 38 points from 26 games.

- On December 31, 2007 (Gregory/De Canio), QPR had 27 points from 25 games

- On December 31, 2006 (Waddock/Gregory), QPR had 27 points from 26 games

- On December 31, 2005 (Holloway/Waddock) QPR had 35 points from 27 games

- On December 31, 2004 (Holloway), QPR had 33 point from 26 games (Jan 1 victory: 34 points after 27 games)

- See Also: Championship Table at Year's End for 2005, 2006 & 2007 -- and also The Relegated Championship Teams/points for past Decade

QPR's END OF SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP FINISHES

- 2007-2008, (Gregory/De Canio) QPR finished with 58 points

- 2006-2007, (Waddock/Gregory)QPR finished with 53 points

- 2005-2006, (Holloway/Waddock) QPR finished with 50 points.

- 2004-2005 (Holloway), QPR finished with 62 points

[2001-2002, 2002-2003 & 2003-2004, QPR were in the "Third Division" (albeit a different name!]

- 2000-2001 (Francis/Holloway), QPR relegated with 40 points.

- 1999-2000 (Francis) QPR finished with 66 points

- 1998/1999 (Harford/Francis) ended 47 points.

- 1997/1998 (Houston/Harford) QPR stayed up 49 points.

- 1996/1997 (Wilkins/Houston), QPR finished with 66 points.


QPR Stats Compared to This Time Last Season (From Football 365]

League Record 2008-2009
Pld W D L F A GD GFA GAA PpG Pts Rank
Home Record 13 9 2 2 20 11 9 1.53 0.84 2.23 29 4
Away Record 13 1 6 6 5 15 -10 0.38 1.15 0.69 9 19
Overall Record 26 10 8 8 25 26 -1 0.96 1.00 1.46 38 9

League Record 2007-2008 [for the same period]
Pld W D L F A GD GFA GAA PpG Pts Rank
Home Record 12 3 4 5 9 14 -5 0.75 1.16 1.08 13 21
Away Record 13 3 5 5 18 23 -5 1.38 1.76 1.07 14 13
Overall Record 25 6 9 10 27 37 -10 1.08 1.48 1.08 27 19

[Note: The name of "Division Two" has changed over the years. Currently, it's "The Championship"]

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Bizarre news story of the day?
- Daily Mail - Sousa a Derby candidate despite only just taking over at QPR
"Paulo Sousa has emerged as a surprise contender for the Derby job. The QPR boss has impressed in his short tenure at Loftus Road but will be rivalled by Burton Albion's Nigel Clough." Mail


Meanwhile/Supposedly (even as Cardiff reportedly in contract talks with Routledge)..

Mirror: QPR in for Aston Villa winger Wayne Routledge
QPR are set to beat Cardiff to the £250,000 capture of Aston Villa winger Wayne Routledge.
Routledge is on loan at Ninian Park and has scored twice in nine games. Cardiff want a permanent deal but the player favours a move to London. Mirror

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Update: Clive Whittingham's LoftforWords: Lee Camp's Comments about returning to QPR


Dave McIntyre - BBC606 - The Borrowdale problem
Rangers’ signing of Gary Borrowdale could turn out to be an expensive mistake.
Borrowdale has not made a single appearance since joining on an initial loan deal and is not rated by Paulo Sousa, who has chosen Damien Delaney and even an out-of-position Matt Connolly ahead of him at left-back.
The problem is that the deal to sign Borrowdale from Coventry for around £700,000 was agreed before Sousa’s appointment. As things stand, he is a QPR player.
That leaves the club with a full-back who is struggling to get a look in and Borrowdale facing the prospect of his Rangers career being halted before it’s even started – a far from ideal situation for both parties.
Heidar Helguson on the other hand has proved to be a useful addition and barring no late hitches, his permanent move from Bolton will go through.
Helguson gives Rangers something extra up front and their midfield would really be strengthened if they can finally pull off the signings of Ben Watson and Wayne Routledge. Both players have been targets for some time.
Watson was wanted by Iain Dowie and Rangers also tried to sign Routledge before he moved to Aston Villa, where he has failed to make an impact.
Routledge has been in good form for Cardiff and is scheduled to stay on loan there until 20 January.
If he ends up at Loftus Road it will be interesting to see what the fans make of him.
Routledge has never really been my cup of tea but I reckon he’d go down a storm.
He’s a very exciting winger at Championship level and would have people on the edge of their seats.
Routledge is already hugely popular at Cardiff, who want to keep him.
My concern about Routledge would be the same as it has been with several others who have been brought to Rangers. He’s yet another who wouldn’t be cheap but has little chance of developing into a Premier League player should the club get there.
It’s why I strongly disagree with the theory that this QPR regime hasn’t spent a lot of money.
Most of their signings have improved the squad but I would argue only Akos Buzsaky could cut it at a higher level, although Connolly perhaps could in the future.
For what they have signed, Rangers have shown little restraint in the transfer market despite the soundbites about not overspending.
We’ll soon know how far they are willing to push the boat out for Watson, who is no Buzsaky but would certainly do a good job for Rangers in his absence.
Watson had a brief spell in the top flight as a teenager and many believe he deserves another crack.
A number of Premier League clubs have watched him very closely for a long time but have decided not to take the plunge.
If that changes in January, it will obviously be tough for Rangers to get him even if they can agree a deal with Palace.
The games over Christmas definitely highlighted the areas that need to be improved and Sousa’s changes didn’t go down well with some.
I like what Sousa’s trying to do with Rangers but it is his – and the club’s - good fortune that Flavio Briatore was not at the Watford match.
The tide turns very, very quickly against a QPR manager who fails to please Briatore and his guests at a home game.
For now though, Sousa is still enjoying a honeymoon period and should keep Rangers in the play-off race with a decent signing or two. BBC606

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- For countless other football-related postsings, visit the QPR Report Messageboard: Just to read; or also to post...Meanwhile: Leroy Lita Back at Reading after Norwich loan.


SOME QPR-RELATED POSTS POSSIBLY MISSED OVER CHRISTMAS!

- Two Great Pieces Assessing and Analyzing QPR


- Amit Bhatia Talks About QPR: Pleased with Progress Thus Far


- Iain Dowie Speaks About his time at QPR


- Dani Parejo Reportedly Our Highest Earner


- Tommasi exclusive interview re QPR, Championship and Italian Football


- Frank McLintock Turns Sixty-Nine


- Stan Bowles Turns Sixty; and Brian Bedford Turns Seventy-Five


- Richard Langley Turns 29


- Scott Donnelly Turns Twenty-One


- Briatore Helping Out Kenyan Youth


- Forty Years of QPR's Boxing Day Results


RECENTLY-POSTED QPR VIDEOS

- QPR's Three 1967 League Cup Goals


- Videos: 1977 QPR Vs Manchester United


- Video, 1992 - QPR vs Everton


- Winning Promotion at Sheffield Wednesday


- QPR vs Brentford and Brentford vs QPR


- 1972 Video Snippets


- Past QPR Video Snippets


- Rodney Marsh Pre-QPR Video


SOME OLD QPR PHOTOS

- Old QPR Photos


- Old QPR Photos II


- Old QPR Programmes


ASSORTED NON-QPR ITEMS

- Antisemitism in UK Football


- UK Parliamentary Report "ANTISEMITISM IN EUROPEAN FOOTBALL: A SCAR ON THE BEAUTIFUL GAME - By John Mann MP and Johnny Cohen


- New World Record: Sent off three seconds after the kickoff

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As always: Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional material and views -


BBC - Keeper Camp set to leave Forest
- Nottingham Forest's on-loan goalkeeper Lee Camp has said he believes he has played his last game for the club.
- Camp threw his shirt into the crowd as the Reds players celebrated Sunday's 3-2 victory at Norwich City.
- Camp told BBC Radio Nottingham: "That'll be my last game, the manager who brought me here and wanted me has now left the club.
- "Nottingham Forest have had the opportunity to sort it and stalled and now I'm going back to QPR."
- Since joining the club Camp has become a favourite amongst the club's supporters, who were chanting in support of the goalkeeper during the match at Carrow Road.
- The highlight of his loan spell was a last minute penalty save at the home of his former club and the Reds' local-rivals Derby County, Camp's save secured a point for Forest in a 1-1 draw.
- Two weeks later he saved a late penalty at Bristol City as the Reds held on for a 2-2 draw.
- Camp added: "I am enjoying playing and the fans have taken to me which is good and it has given me the opportunity to be in the East Midlands around the family.
- "If the opportunity came [to stay] I would strongly look at it but it's completely out of my hands at the minute.
- "Maybe the new manager will come in and not even consider me." BBC


Evening Standard/Ben Hunt - Peter Ramage not affected by QPR's great expectations
- Peter Ramage says his Queens Park Rangers team-mates are not affected by the huge expectations being placed on them by the club's board of directors.
- Rangers saw out a scrappy stalemate with Watford yesterday following on from their draw with bottom-placed Charlton on Boxing Day.
- But despite the two draws over the festive period, they are still just three points behind the play-off places and Ramage is confident they are capable of winning promotion.
- The 25-year-old defender said: "Everyone else expects us to do well, but it's not easy because this is one of the toughest leagues in world football.
- "But that does not play on our minds. We just go out there to do what we get paid for and that's to win football matches.
- "The new manager has changed a lot since he has come in. The style of play we have adopted is a little bit unfamiliar to us, but we are slowly getting there.
- "Now the Christmas period is over, we can get back to playing one game a week and getting on the training pitch to work on a few things."
- Heidar Helguson had the best chances for Rangers but was narrowly off-target with one effort, while Watford keeper Scott Loach made a save to deny him a second time.
- Watford came even closer to breaking the deadlock in the second-half when Lee Williamson struck the woodwork with his free-kick.
- And new Hornets' boss Brendan Rodgers was pleased with the solitary point against the promotion hopefuls...." Standard

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard. With its mixture of articles, nostalgia, videos and opinions; and its focus solely on football-related matters, this site strives to be a little different from other QPR Boards. All views welcome! -- Today's Video Snippets: QPR Crushing Everton and more on Briatore in Kenya

Sky - No power Ranger
Iain Dowie has no regrets about leaving QPR, because he was not in complete control of the club.
- The former Northern Ireland international left the Championship club in October with just 12 games gone and Rangers sat in eighth place in the table.
- He has been replaced by Paulo Sousa and the club are now one place worse off, despite the wealth of owners Gianni Paladini and Flavio Briatore.
- But despite feeling he was not given enough time, Dowie looked back on his reign with fondness - and admitted his departure was inevitable.
- "I have to say, from minute one on the training ground, I couldn't have enjoyed it more
- "The lads were ultra-responsive, me and Tim sat down in the summer, felt they probably needed a little bit of tightening at the back. WE ended up with the third best defensive record in the league when we left.
- "It's not too often you get removed with a 53 per cent win percentage, so we can't have been that bad - and we were in the last 16 of the cup.
- "But I'm not a bitter person, I don't have time for that. You've got to move on and wish them all the best. There's still some great lads at the club and I wish them all the success but he's entitled to run it absolutely how it wants it.
-Decisions
- "Flavio was fine with me for lots of the time and then it just became a situation where I felt I had to be very much in control of my own destiny.
- "I had to look the players in the eye and know that the decisions that were being made, were being made by me."
- Rumours of Briatore picking the team himself seem to be exaggerated, but Dowie did reveal more and more of his work was taken out of his hands.
- He and fellow Goals on Sunday guest and coaching colleague Tim Flowers both lamented the way modern management is going, insisting that the foreign set-up of a directors of football and the like does not necessarily work in this country.
- And Dowie believes that he should have been left to do things his way, with the high-profile QPR board remaining in the background.
- "You don't have to do it all by yourself," he said.
- "You have a scouting network in place and a database you work from, and if a player is tagged up three times the manager goes to see him himself.
- "But the board always have the final say and that's got to be the way for me. That was very much the case and I have no problem with that being taken away, as long as you have the final say.
- Compartmentalising
- "Coaching is a big part of what I do. I've not got a problem with compartmentalising each part of the job but I just felt certainly at Championship level, you can do that."
- Dowie's reign at Loftus Road lasted just five months.
- And although he refuses to be bitter, he did point to the example of Mick McCarthy at Championship leaders Wolves, as to what can be achieved if a manager is given time and backing by his board.
- McCarthy is approaching three-and-a-half years in the Molineux hotseat and is sitting pretty at the top of the table seven points clear - proof says Dowie, that patience is needed.
- "Mick has been under pressure, but he has always been a good manager," he said.
- "He's just had time to settle, he's got some good players in there and all of a sudden he's getting it right.
- "Mick's slowly but surely getting Wolves where they should be. But it just shows there's no quick fix.
- "I had a text over Christmas from a player at one of my old clubs and another player I'd worked with, saying I believe in you, we believed in you.
- "I think that always give you faith and I think my record stands up to scrutiny." Sky

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard. With its mixture of articles, nostalgia, videos and opinions; and its focus solely on football-related matters, this site strives to be a little different from other QPR Boards. All views welcome! -- Today's Video Snippets: QPR Crushing Everton.

The Mirror - Fulham eye QPR striker Dexter Blackstock
Fulham are considering a £2million move for QPR striker Dexter Blackstock.
Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson wants another forward to compete with Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora.
And Fulham scouts have watched the former England Under - 21 frontman several times.
Blackstock has scored 31 goals in 104 games for Rangers and has 18 months left on his contract. The Mirror

BBC Gossip/Daily Mirror "Fulham are considering a £2m move for QPR striker Dexter Blackstock. (Daily Mirror) " BBC Gossip


And Three Years Ago: Flashback to when off-the-field, things were not so bright:
HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS - December 29, 2005 QPR OFFICIAL SITE
- Rangers Chairman Gianni Paladini and the Board of Directors would like to wish all QPR fans a Happy New Year.
- After an eventful 2005, Paladini has issued the following statement to supporters of Queens Park Rangers:
- "As you all know, as a club we went through difficult times and the new board had to bear quite a challenge and responsibility.
- "Thanks to some huge efforts in renewing its organization and bringing in some new investments, QPR are now sailing in safe waters.
- "We are optimistic when looking ahead for the New Year and for the whole of 2006, especially as we know we can always count on your continuous support.
- "Our hope and aim is that QPR will never again have to struggle against organizational confusion and financial distress that have badly hit the good name of our glorious club.
- "A special mention must go to Ian Holloway, who has shown his passion and devotion to the club and as someone who gives us positive hopes for promotion.
- "We are proud of our players and we are confident that we can continue to strengthen our team with some new arrivals at the beginning of the next year.
- "A special thanks must also go to all our colleagues and staff and of course to all our fans who, from generation to generation, continue to support the club.
- "We wish to embrace them all, one by one, with our motto "We are QPR!"
"We wish you all the best for a wonderful 2006."

[And around the same time, December 2005: a QPR Net Interview with then-Chairman Paladini .]


Two Years Ago: Sampsa Timoska Joining QPR
- "Finnish defender checks in at QPR"


One Year ago, today: QPR won 4-2 at Watford (3-0 at half time): Reports and comments
QPR's team: Camp; Barker, Malcolm, Rehman, Stewart; Bolder (c), Rowlands, Ainsworth (Vine 63), Balanta (Buzsaky 74); Blackstock, Nygaard (Walton 90). Subs not used: Cole (gk), Moore.

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard. With its mixture of articles, nostalgia, videos (Today's Video: QPR Crushing Everton) and opinions; and its focus solely on football-related matters, this site strives to be a little different from other QPR Boards. All views welcome!

The Times/Gary Jacob - Paulo Sousa set to buy after dismal display
- Their wealthy owners and romantic history conjure powerful dreams, but truth pays no regard to sentiment and the depressing fact remains that 12 years and nine managers after Queens Park Rangers dropped down from the top flight, on this evidence, they are not equipped for a return. It might one day feature as a Trivial Pursuit question that they ended the inaugural Premier League in 1992-93 as London’s best club, but what they would give now simply to mix it with the likes of Fulham.
- Their desire to stake a position in the play-offs places overflowed into impatience, predictable use of the long ball and a lack of composure. Abysmal passing and control, ballooned crosses, punts from the back and little threat in front of goal - it is hard to imagine that there has been a more dismal match in the Coca-Cola Championship this season.
- Watford, in the thick of a relegation battle and run down by one of the worst defensive records in the division, can, at least, be excused their determined, if poor, display.
- Paulo Sousa has earmarked a list of bargain players to sign in the transfer window, but maybe the QPR first-team coach should start by identifying his best team. For the second match running, the Portuguese made six changes, offering the excuse that tiredness can lead to injuries.
- Heidar Helguson fluffed a header when unmarked from a free kick ten yards out and forced a decent save from Scott Loach after a goalmouth scramble in the closing moments. “We never had the killer instinct,” Sousa said. “The owners and I both know what we want. We never had the confidence to control the game.”
- Watford’s best chance fell to Lee Williamson, when the midfield player found himself unmarked six yards from goal, but poor control allowed Radek Cerny to grab the ball. Late on, Williamson’s curled free kick struck the inside of the post.
- “To be a success, we need those painful moments,” Brendan Rodgers, the Watford manager, said. “If we won here, no one could have argued.” The Times


Daily Mail/Ben Hunt - QPR 0 Watford 0: Rangers denied valuable points by stubborn Hornets
- Queens Park Rangers will need to tempt the chequebook out of co-owner Flavio Briatore’s pocket if his Premier League dream is to become a reality.
Hot on the heels of Boxing Day’s draw away to Charlton, Rangers served up this dire goalless draw for their fans at Loftus Road.
Head coach Paulo Sousa is hoping his transfer targets come thick and fast in January to boost any chances of muscling in on the promotion race.
- Scramble: Heidar Helguson (left) and Dexter Blackstock (second left) of QPR battled to win the ball against Ross Jenkins (centre) and Lee Williamson (second right)
- The Portuguese said: ‘We have identified our targets. If we get them in January, then it will be OK because it will increase our quality.
‘I am a little bit disappointed with the first half today. In the second half, we made some adjustments and we started to create a few opportunities.
- 'We just need a killer instinct.’
Lee Williamson’s free-kick against the woodwork in the second half for Watford was as close as either side went to breaking the deadlock.
- QPR’s best chances fell to Heidar Helguson but the striker could not find a way past goalkeeper Scott Loach.
Watford manager Brendan Rodgers said:‘We were terrific. A point was the least we deserved.’ Mail


QPR Official Site - SOUSA: WE DESERVED MORE
- Paulo Sousa believes the R's deserved more than a point following the 0-0 draw against local rivals Watford.
- Sousa watched on from the dug-out as Rangers went close on a number of occasions in the second half, only to be denied by Hornets custodian Scott Loach.
- "I was disappointed with the first half, but more than pleased with the second period," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "We conceded a lot to a good Watford side in the first 25 minutes, but after that we controlled the match.
- "We made a change at half-time and the intensity of our performance improved.
- "We had good chances to win the match in the second half, but the ball just didn't go in for us."
- Sousa explained his decision to make six changes to the R's starting XI for the second time in as many matches, adding: "The nature of this Championship forces you to make turnovers.
- "It is a squad game and I am pleased with how all the players have performed in the last two matches.
- "I think we deserved more than the two points we got against Charlton and Watford, but we are still on a positive run."
- Sousa admitted he is looking to strengthen his First Team squad in January, but isn't over-concerned if he doesn't.
- "We have indentified the areas we want to strengthen and hopefully we can bring in the players we want," he said.
- "It is not a case of having to strengthen, but we would like to add some players in one or two areas. Even if we can't, I am confident we can push on in the New Year, because I have every confidence in this group of players.
- "We go back to playing one match a week in the New Year, which will allow me to implement my ideas on the training pitch and that is very good for us." QPR


Telegraph/Gemma Clarke - QPR manager Paulo Sousa laments lack of 'killer instinct’ - Queens Park Rangers (0) 0 Watford (0) 0
- QPR manager Paulo Sousa admitted after a game of stalemate that his side had lacked the “killer instinct” to finish off struggling Watford.
- Yet it was the visitors who had been in control for the first half, creating several good chances. Jon Harley whipped in a cross from the left but it fizzed past Lee Williamson and Tamas Priskin as goalkeeper Radek Cerny did enough to put them off.
- Williamson was in a good position to put Watford ahead again but in controlling Ross Jenkins’ cross with his chest, he gave Cerny a chance to come out and collect. A corner from Williamson was flicked on by Adrian Mariappa to Priskin at the far post, but the Hungarian headed wide.
- As the first half drew to a close, Watford came close again as Williamson’s powerful, curling shot from outside the area edged past the post.
- It was enough for Sousa to make a change at half-time, bringing on Dexter Blackstock for Lee Cook. QPR went on the attack from the restart. Patrick Agyemang fired in a shot from close range but his effort rebounded off keeper Scott Loach’s face and a befuddled Blackstock missed the chance to follow up. Agyemang later miscued a chance during a goalmouth scramble.
- Watford came back to life with just under 10 minutes left as the impressive Williamson beat Cerny with a powerful free-kick, but he was denied by the post. The last chance fell to QPR, via a Watford defender, as Mariappa deflected Hogan Ephraim’s cross inches over the crossbar.
- “I was a bit disappointed with the first half,” Sousa admitted. “Watford have a lot of quality and mobility. In the second half we changed one player and started to take control and create opportunities. But sometimes you need a killer instinct.”
- Watford manager Brendan Rogers said: “I’m really pleased. I thought we were terrific, especially first half. It was always going to be a difficult game, they are very strong at home and have a very good manager. A point was certainly the least we deserved.” Telegraph


Sky/Rob Carragher - Sousa ready to invest
Rangers looking to remedy failings as Rodger lauds his Hornets
-QPR manager Paulo Sousa has admitted that there is room for improvement from his side after they played out a goalless draw with Watford at Loftus Road.
- Sousa fielded a much changed side as he attempted to rotate his squad, but the fresh legs did not reap reward as they failed to defeat the Championship strugglers.
- "I'm a little bit disappointed with the first half," Sousa conceded.
"At half-time we made some adjustments and the team then began to control the game and make some chances. Sometimes a team just needs to have that killer instinct.
"I made a lot of changes because we had two games in two days and I have faith in my squad. I didn't want to risk some important players getting injured."
Different systems
The failure of the backup players has prompted calls for January investment, and Sousa has revealed that signings have been lined up.
"We have identified our targets," he added.
"We know what we want and if it's possible to get them in January I will be happy, but if they don't come I am happy with the players I have and happy to work with them.
"I want to have the opportunity to play with different systems and give us the possibility to play in different ways."
Improvement
Meanwhile, recently appointed Watford boss Brendan Rodgers has hailed his team's performance against one of the league's better teams.
"I was really pleased. I thought we were terrific - especially in the first half," beamed Rodgers.
"We came to a difficult place to play and I felt we were very good. The second half was a bit more even but a point was still the least we deserved.
"It was very important that we kept a clean sheet. We're the fourth highest scorers in the division but if you look at the defensive side, that's not been so good.
"If we're going to aspire to be better then we have to defend better as a team, and today we did very well.
"Anyone who has watched us recently will see there has been an improvement." Sky


Watford Official Site - RODGERS: "WE WERE THE BETTER SIDE"
- AFTER his side's 0-0 draw with QPR at Loftus Road, Brendan Rodgers emphasised his satisfaction at the boys' performance, especially following the Boxing Day defeat to Bristol City.
- "I'm very pleased," said the Watford manager who presided over his first away point as boss.
- "I felt since I've come in, we've made progress and some of the performances have been very good.
- "I was aware defensively we weren't strong as a team, and you can't always blame the back four and the goalkeeper; you defend as a team."
- "We were very good the other way and I felt that we were making great progress until the Bristol City game, and at this level, the minute you take your foot off the pedal slightly, you'll get punished, and that's what happened to us."
- With the Northern Irishman's wish of a clean sheet coming true, he praised the players' attitude at Loftus Road.
- "When we're defensively strong and the motivation is good, we play a terrific quality of football.
- "I thought we looked strong defensively today. I've talked to the players about my idea of always dominating and controlling a game, but sometimes you can control the game without the ball.
- "In the first half we were dominant but when you play against good teams, there will be moments when you don't have the ball, but you can still be comfortable as long as your organisation and structures are right, and that's what I felt we were.
- "At half time I felt there was only one team that could win it and that was us.
- "In the second half it was more even and we started playing more on the counter attack, because they were being a little more direct and offensive.
- "We nearly nicked it back at the end with a wonderful free-kick from Lee Williamson."
- And for Rodgers, the only way is up from here.
- "I'm happy for the players in that they've grown the resilience and quality to put in a performance like that a couple of days after one of what was clearly the worst performances since I've been here.
- "That shows that when they're right on it, that they can be as good as any team. I think today, that you could argue that we were the better side here in the 90 minutes."
- With the Yellow Army in full force supporting the players, Rodgers said how important the win was for the fans too.
- "Today, I was pleased for the supporters, they must be pleased too. They were here with a great support, they came to roar us on and the least we wanted to give them was a point and we did." Watford


- See Also: QPR Drop Two Points at home to Watford

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QPR Official Site
- QPR had to make do with just the one point as a determined Watford side held them to a goalless draw at a bitingly cold Loftus Road.
- In an attempt to gain a measure of revenge for the 3-0 defeat at vicarage Road earlier in the season, the R's went close through substitute Dexter Blackstock and Patrick Agyemang, whilst the visitors saw Lee Williamson strike a post with a curling free-kick.
- But in a match of few clear-cut chances, both sides had to be satisfied with a point apiece.
- After resting a number of players for the Boxing Day clash with Charlton Athletic, Manager Paulo Sousa recalled his strongest side for the visit of Watford.
- Radek Cerny continued in goal, Damien Delaney returned to left-back; Peter Ramage took the other full back slot, whilst Damion Stewart and Fitz Hall completed the back four.
- The diamond had ex-Hornets Gavin Mahon and Lee Cook at its base and tip, with Martin Rowlands and Hogan Ephraim on either side.
- Up front was all change, as Agyemang and fellow Watford old boy Heidar Helguson led the attack.
- Watford made wholesale changes to the side that lost heavily to Bristol City, Liam Bridcutt, the midfielder on-loan from Chelsea, amongst those recalled.
- It was Captain Rowlands who tried his luck in the early exchanges, as he picked up possession from Helguson and, with nothing else on, forced a simple save from visiting keeper Scott Loach at his near post from 30 yards.
- Watford however, quickly stamped their authority on the match. After Cerny had had to be brave to deny Williamson a certain goal, Tamas Priskin headed wide from a flicked on Aidy Mariappa throw-in.
- On 28 minutes the R's carved out their best opportunity of the match so far, when a set-piece move almost worked to perfection. Cook's free-kick from the left evaded everyone but Helguson, who had peeled off to the far side. Unfortunately the Icelandic's flying header went wide of the near post from close range.
- Helguson was lurking again at the back post as another hooked Cook delivery nearly fell kindly for the front-man, but this time Jay DeMerit was on hand with a superb lunging clearance.
- As the half drew to a close, there was still time for Williamson to blaze a 25-yard drive wide of the target. The shot had swerve and power, and had Cerny scrambling, but the scores stayed level as it flew wide.
- Something was needed in the second half to light the blue touch paper and fire up Rangers. Step forward R's leading scorer Blackstock, who replaced Cook.
- With three strikers on the pitch, the home side looked to provide more of a threat up front, and almost did just that.
- A long free-kick taken by Delaney was headed by Stewart into the path of Agyemang. As he controlled, he spun expertly and bicycle-kicked an effort that needed a smart save from Loach. Stewart looked to poke home the rebound but solid Watford defending saw them clear the danger in the nick of time.
- On 70 minutes the R's came within a whisker of snatching the lead. A Rowlands free-kick was headed back across goal by Stewart, and Blackstock, unmarked at the other post, only felt the brush of the ball as it skimmed over his head and out.
- Blackstock was at the heart of the next assault on the Watford goal. Ramage's long punt forward sparked the mother of all goalmouth scrambles as first Agyemang, then the former Southampton man, both had shots blocked, before Helguson wriggled free but blazed wide.
- The 10-goal hit-man was at it again seconds later, as Rowlands' corner found the unmarked striker but he could only watch as his header sailed narrowly over the bar.
- Watford weren't lying down, and Mahon had to dive headlong into a fierce Williamson drive that looked destined for the net.
- Williamson was closer with his next effort. A foul by Helguson gave the Jamaican a chance of demonstrating his dead-ball specialties. And he didn't disappoint, striking the post, then Cerny, before the ball bounced away.
- As the match see-sawed back and forth, Mariappa almost turned the ball into his own net before Rowlands smashed a volley high and wide, as both teams desperately tried to claim much-needed points.
- Ephraim followed suit minutes later, but even with four minutes of added time, neither side could break the deadlock, and the final whistle ended a goalless draw.
- QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon (Leigertwood 84), Hall, Agyemang, Rowlands, Ramage, Cook (Blackstock 46), Ephraim, Helguson. Subs: Connolly, Ledesma, Alberti.
Bookings: Ramage (45), Rowlands (63), Helguson (82)
- Watford: Loach, DeMerit, Bridcutt (Bromby 89), Priskin (Rasiak 61), McAnuff, Doyley, Williamson, Harley, Smith, Mariappa, Jenkins. Subs: Lee, Hoskins, O'Toole.
Bookings: Mariappa (29), Rasiak (65), DeMerit (76) Referee: Mr C Penton Attendance: 16,196 QPR


WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE
WATFORD secured a vital clean sheet in the Christmas derby date at Loftus Road today (Sunday) as Brendan Rodgers' side showed the sort of steel Watford fans have been accustomed to in recent years.
- Looking to put behind them a four goal defensive nightmare just 48 hours prior, Rodgers' rear-guard will have been delighted to shut out a side that have been super strong on their own patch this term.
- Having beaten Rangers at Vicarage Road a little over a month ago the Hornets went in search of their first double of the season, but with chances at a premium in the capital they'll have been happy to settle for a share of the spoils to make it a four point haul against their near neighbours.
- Rodgers reacted to the Boxing Day defeat against Bristol City by making four changes to the side that lost 4-2 to the Robins.
-Leigh Bromby, John-Joe O'Toole, Mat Sadler and Grzegorz Rasiak all paid the price for a woeful afternoon in Watford.
- Taking their places were striker Tamas Priskin, midfielders Liam Bridcutt and Ross Jenkins as well as right-back Lloyd Doyley.
- The defensive reshuffle continued with Adrian Mariappa moving to centre-half and Jon Harley moving to left-back.
- For the R's former Hornet Heidar Helguson joined other ex-Watford men Lee Cook and Gavin Mahon in their starting line-up.
- Damion Stewart was also recalled for Kaspars Gorkss as they lined-up 4-4-2 featuring a diamond-shaped midfield.
-Watford kicked off the festive fixture all in red and fared better in the opening minute than they had against their last opponents, getting past the 23-second mark without conceding a goal.
- The Hornets did have to defend a corner after just three minutes, which was delivered by the former Golden Boy Cook in front of the Watford faithful, who took their opportunity to vent some fury at the R's midfielder for the manner in which he had left Vicarage Road.
- Watford were playing a neat counter-attacking game in the opening swathe of the fixture and some 12 minutes in created a spectacular half chance that flashed across Radek Cerny's goal.
- Player-of-the-season Tommy Smith charged from inside his own half on a diagonal run before finding the feet of Harley, who despatched a low cross which went agonisingly close to the outstretched feet of Priskin and Lee Williamson.
- The next chance was Watford's too as Williamson got on the end of a Jenkins lob in to the area - the midfielder's first touch was poor though, giving Cerny enough of a chance to block his intended volley.
- Williamson caused more problems for the home defence when next his floated corner found the head of Mariappa, who flicked on for Priskin, who himself headed marginally wide of goal.
- The Hoops hadn't fashioned a chance of note in the first half an hour, until Helguson found himself on the end of easily the clearest opportunity of the game.
-Two former 'Orns combined to create the opening, Cook swinging a free-kick to the completely unmarked Icelander, who headed woefully wide of a hopelessly exposed Scott Loach. It was a major let-off for Watford.
- Adrian Mariappa then went in the book for dissent, having claimed he was pushed in the build-up to the set-play; referee Clive Penton having none of it as he collected the defender's name.
-With the game stuck at stalemate Tommy Smith tried his luck with a long-range curling effort, but his strike was watched well wide by the ever-alert Cerny.
-Cook was causing Watford problems still and his next hooked cross into the area had Loach scrambling and Jay DeMerit heading clear perilously close to his own goal line to concede just a corner, which in itself came to nothing.
-Williamson clipped a volley wide of goal late on in the period as Jobi McAnuff again found his team-mate driving forward from the centre of the park.
-His next effort was even closer as again he was allowed a free sight at Rangers' goal - this time the former Mansfield man took a touch before launching a blistering low drive which beamed just yards wide of the goal.
-Cook, who had looked Rangers best player on show, was taken off at half-time, with the dangerous Dexter Blackstock introduced as his direct replacement.
-He immediately got himself on the end of a Mahon pass in the Watford area and, but for the timely and excellent intervention of Mariappa, he might have tested Loach within seconds of his appearance.
-The Hoops were already more purposeful attacking their own fans in the Loft End of the ground, and you could anticipate that goals would come at one end or the other at some point, not least because of both sides' jittery defending.
-Loach was down to save some eight minutes into the restart as Watford scrambled for their lives in a frightening penalty area melee.
-Priskin, who had returned from injury in this game, was sacrificed by Rodgers just past the hour mark as Rasiak was thrown into the action to bolster Watford's attacking options.
-He was soon in the thick of the action, being fouled by Martin Rowlands to help him into the referee's book, before picking up a caution for himself after a foul on Fitz Hall.
-Rangers turned up the heat with a period of pressure as the game eased its way to the mid-point of the second period, with Patrick Agyemang coming alive to a host of half-chances near the Watford goal.
-Doyley conceded a free-kick after 70 minutes and after Rowlands floated a ball to the back post Helguson was on hand to nod across the face of goal, where Blackstock was straining every sinew to apply the headed finish, which he was ultimately unable to do.
-There were loud appeals from the home fans soon after as Agyemang went down under pressure from Doyley, but in truth it never looked a penalty as the lumbering striker dropped to his knees.
-The game had descended into a long range affair with little quality or cohesion, and it was in desperate need of some fresh impetus.
-Jay DeMerit went into the book for handling the ball as the game ticked into its final quarter of an hour.
-From the set play Rangers created havoc in the Watford area as two attempted shots were blocked by brave defenders before Loach saves at point-blank range from Helguson.
-From the resulting corner Hall headed over as Loach leapt to cover his net, as Rangers stepped up a gear in the search for a winner.
-Watford were forced to counter attack and when they did McAnuff was unlucky to see a stinging drive blocked by former team-mate Mahon.
-Watford won a free-kick on the left edge of the area when Smith was sent tumbling by Helguson and after a brief discussion it was left to Williamson to strike.
-With the only piece of quality on show all afternoon the midfielder struck a sweet shot past a stranded Cerny, only to see it cannon back off the far post - it was an effort of note that deserved far, far better.
- This time Rangers countered and Helguson's run and cross almost drew an own goal off Mariappa as he deflected the ball into the ground and over the bar without knowing much about it.
- Rangers took former Watford captain Mahon off and replaced him with Mikele Leigertwood, a fellow central midfielder.
- Time was ebbing away when Bromby replaced Bridcutt to help secure the clean sheet, which was registered as four minutes of added time came to an end at Loftus Road. Watford

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Today's Teams for QPR vs Watford

QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Hall, Agyemang, Rowlands, Ramage, Cook, Ephraim, Helguson. Subs: Leigertwood, Blackstock, Connolly, Ledesma, Alberti.

Watford: Loach, DeMerit, Bridcutt, Priskin, McAnuff, Doyley, Williamson, Harley, Smith, Mariappa, Jenkins. Subs: Lee, Bromby, Rasiak, Hoskins, O'Toole. Teams

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Visit the admittedly-different QPR Report Messageboard for a mixture of articles, nostalgia, videos and opinions. All views welcome! -- Today's video: - Gaining Promotion at Hillsborough....Non-QPR: Video of Coventry's famed "Donkey" Freekick..... Sad piece re Paul Gascoigne.


Orient's Jason Demetriou? Sunday People 28 December 2008 - HOTLINE - QPR boss Paulo Sousa
- QPR boss Paulo Sousa is set to make a £750,000 offer for Leyton Orient starlet Jason Demetriou. The 20-year-old has scored three times in his past seven appearances and has impressed Sousa with his ability to play anywhere across the midfield. People
- - See: About Jason Demetriou


Cardiff Rivals/Chris O'Brien - Routledge set for QPR in January
- On-loan Cardiff City man Wayne Routledge will join Queens Park Rangers in January, according to Sky Sports News. The 23-year-old has been on superb form during a two-month loan spell from Aston Villa - but now looks set to join Championship rivals QPR.
- Routledge was signed on loan in a bid to ease a midfield injury crisis - and has quickly established himself in City's side.
- He made his debut in the 2-1 defeat at Plymouth in November, setting-up Chopra's consolation goal, and has notched up five appearances for the Bluebirds bagging two goals in the process.
- There was talk City signing the player on a permanent basis during the January transfer window - but the club's tight finances meant that was always going to be difficult.
- Sky are claiming that filthy-rich QPR are on the verge of signing the midfielder with a January move on the cards. With that in mind, it now looks unlikely that the player will play any part against Plymouth on Sunday afternoon. Cardiff Rivals


Peter Beagrie/Sky Sports -Championship Assessment Half-term report II: Beagrie's half-term report on each Championship club....
Queens Park Rangers
- Everybody expected them to run away with the league, but I honestly didn't. Despite their billionaire owners, they've hardly spent anything in comparison to other teams in the division which is very strange. The stars for them have been Dexter Blackstock and Martin Rowlands who seems to be in a different position every time I see him. But I don't think QPR will make the play-offs unless they have some heavy investment. It will be interesting to see what happens in the transfer window - will they make a couple of singings to make everybody sit up and take notice? Flavio Briatore may have packed the directors' box with supermodels, but we're yet to see the sexy football he promised on the pitch." Sky


"On This Day" (Thirty-Five Years Ago!): QPR's Crushing Victory Over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 0 QPR 3!
- December 28th 1974: Recently-appointed, Dave Sexton-managed QPR against a recently-having-dismissed-Dave Sexton Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. QPR had the recently-signed Don Masson in midfield and John Beck in his best QPR season. Chelsea managed by Ron Stuart with Eddie McCreadie as Coach. Final Score: Chelsea 0 QPR 3 - Two goals from Don Givens; one from Gerry Francis.
QPR: Parkes - Clement Webb Mclintock Gillard - Francis Beck Masson - Givens Bowles Thomas
Chelsea - Phillips - Locke Hay Droy Harris - Wilkins Hollins Kember Cooke - Hutchinson Garland - Sub: Houseman


Ex-QPR Frank McClintock Enters Seventieth Year!
- Born December 28, 1939: Ex-QPR (and Arsenal's) Frank McLintock Turns 69: Frank McLintock, one of QPR's 1975/76 "Championship" heroe....
- Released by Arsenal at age 33 (who preferred Jeff Blockley and later Terry Mancini!), the ex-Arsenal captain who led Arsenal to the 1971 "Double" and won the "Player of the Year," was signed by Gordon Jago after our promotion back to Division One. In four seasons in the First Division, McLintock played 120+ games, scoring 5 goals and formed an elderly, but brilliant, defensive central pairing alongside David Webb. He was a major reason why QPR stabilized in the First Division and why they (so very, very nearly) won the Championship.
- After retiring in the summer of 1977, McLintock became manager of Leicester and a coach at a couple of clubs, including briefly at QPR. And QPR - at least partly because they no longer had Mclintock - were relegated a couple of seasons later. In a club profile of/Interview with Mclintock, earlier this year, Mclintock said ""They were four of the best years of my life,''..
"I was so happy during my time at QPR and that's me speaking straight from the heart"

QPR Official Site BLAST FROM THE PAST - Frank McLintock
- In our latest instalment of exclusive past player interviews on www.qpr.co.uk, former R's legend Frank McLintock comes under the spotlight.
Few players achieve legendary status at more than one Football Club - Frank McLintock is the exception to the rule.
- When McLintock arrived at Loftus Road in 1973, he was already a legend of the beautiful game on the back of his memorable nine-year spell with North London giants Arsenal.
- When he retired from professional football in 1977, his glowing reputation had reached arguably even greater heights in W12.
- Described by former R's boss John Gregory as 'the first player I'd buy if I had the pick of any QPR players past and present,' McLintock joined Rangers for a paltry £20,000 in the summer of 1973.
- "Bertie Mee (the Arsenal Manager) didn't think I was capable of playing in the top flight any more, but I knew I could still produce the goods at the highest level,'' McLintock told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "It (joining QPR) was a simple choice to make - I didn't want my family to leave London.
- "I knew very little about QPR as a Club, but they'd recently got promoted so I saw it as a great opportunity, a great challenge if you like.
- "I didn't go there expecting much, but I received one of the biggest surprises of my life.''
- Indeed, having carved out a successful playing career down the road at Highbury, many viewed McLintock's move to Loftus Road as a step in the wrong direction.
However, in a QPR side full of flamboyance and guile, McLintock embodied the desire and will-to-win that saw Rangers - in Frank's own words - emerge as one of the 'greatest teams in the land.'
- "The quality within the QPR squad was something else. It took me totally by surprise,'' he told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "Gordon Jago was a real gentleman and Bobby Campbell the coach made me feel really welcome.
- "I arrived at QPR intent on proving a point to Bertie Mee and as it contrived a few years later, Arsenal dropped down the table and we were up there competing for the title.''
- After finishing eighth and eleventh respectively in McLintock's first two seasons in W12, Rangers mounted a serious charge for title in the 1975/76 campaign.
- "We were the best football team in the country that year, probably in the whole of Britain. It was a magnificent team to play for.
- "There was a great spine to the side. Phil (Parkes) was probably the number one ke- eper in the land at the time, up there with (Gordon) Banks as the best ever.
"Myself and Webby (Dave Webb) formed a nice little partnership at the back and Don Masson and Dave Thomas were class too. Don made the step up from division three side Notts County look so simple - it was amazing.
- "And then we had Gerry (Francis) and Stan (Bowles) - two of the best players ever to have graced the game. Gerry was just a fraction behind Stan, but they were both absolute class - a joy to play with.
- "It was a joy to behold playing in that team and the team spirit at the time was as good as I'd known throughout my playing career.''
- With just three matches of the season remaining, Rangers held a slender one point advantage over fellow title contenders Liverpool.
- Victory in all three fixtures would guarantee them the coveted Championship - but as fans of the beautiful game know only too well - football is anything but straightforward.
- Easter Saturday 1976 presented Rangers with a tricky away trip to Norwich City - and as R's fans now know - it was an afternoon which saw their title dreams all but evaporate.
- "We just made a mistake against Norwich in our final away game,'' recalled McLintock.
- "Dave Clement didn't get enough weight on his header back to Phil (Parkes) and their striker nipped in to score.''
- For the record, Norwich ran out narrow 3-2 victors, while Liverpool thumped Stoke City 5-2 at Anfield.
- Rangers now had to win their last two matches and hope that Liverpool lost one of their two remaining away games.
- The R's did all they could by beating Arsenal on Easter Monday, but the Reds also produced the goods, scoring three without reply against Manchester City.
- On the last Saturday of the season, QPR were at home to Leeds United and in front of their largest gate of the season - 31,002 - eased to a 2-0 win.
- Unbelievably though, Liverpool weren't playing their all-important final match of the season until ten days later due to international commitments. The wait was almost unbearable: "It was a crazy situation really - the type that wouldn't happen in the present day,'' recalled McLintock.
- "I owned a pub at the time. There were about 35-40 journalists down there for Liverpool's final game of the season against Wolverhampton. They'd all come along to get my reaction to winning another piece of silverware, or so I hoped!
- "We were all listening to it on the radio. They were one down with 15 minutes to go, but scored three to win the Championship and the rest is history.
- "It was such a disappointment, but so typical of that Liverpool side.''
Despite that setback, McLintock insists he has nothing but fond memories of his time in W12.
"They were four of the best years of my life,'' he said.
- "I was so happy during my time at QPR and that's me speaking straight from the heart.'' QPR

Dave Webb Talking about McClintock QPR Official Site
- "...It was probably the best team I ever played in. We were really ahead of the times with our passing football. Gordon Jago had a part to play in that. Then Dave Sexton took over, changed things slightly and gelled it all together.
"They were fun days and we had great flair players. Stan Bowles up front; Gerry Francis in the middle; and Dave Thomas wide. We constantly played the ball out from the back, which was very unusual in those days.
- "My centre-back partner Frank McLintock was always better at that than me, so we tried to make sure he was the spare man. But the full-backs, Dave Clement and Ian Gillard, were also extremely comfortable on the ball so we could build our moves up from defence. .."
- "In saying that, my main role was as a defender. Some people used to say that Frank McLintock and I were a bit too old. He was 37 and I was 30, so the pundits felt we were slow and we couldn't turn.
- "But we used to out-cute opposing strikers. We used a lot of know-how between the two of us and I recall that Rangers only conceded 33 goals in the League in 1975/76.
"I used to have little laughs out on the pitch with Frank - a sort of a nod and a wink to each other, because we did things as a pair that were almost sixth sense and like a married couple!
- "You might have left your partner in a position that people would think was vulnerable as a defender, but we both instinctively knew exactly how the other one wanted to play and what we wanted to do in matches. So we had total respect and trust in each other and it worked a treat." QPR

Don Givens on McLintock (QPRNet Interview)
- "...We had someone in Frank McLintock who was a marvellous influence on the team, he’d come from Arsenal where things were done at a different level and he tried to introduce those things to QPR and help make it better for us. He didn’t always succeed on the club side of things but he did help the team. He was probably the most influential player I’ve ever lined up with." QPRNet

McLintock's autobiography, True Grit
- "Synopsis - Frank McLintock was a leading players of his generation and is acclaimed as one of the Arsenal's greatest captains. After transferring from Leicester, in 1970 he led Arsenal to a famous victory in the Fairs Cup and followed this up with even greater glory a year later, winning an historic league and FA Cup double. He left Arsenal in 1973 after being controversially dropped, and enjoyed four successful years at QPR. He retired from playing in 1977, to make an ill-conceived and hasty move into management. Following this difficult period he entered the often shady world of agents, and faced perhaps his worst moment in the game, becoming involved in the infamous bungs scandal over Teddy Sherringham's transfer from Forest to Spurs. Frank continues to retain a high profile in the game, appearing weekly as a Sky pundit. His is a captivating football story spanning 45 years during which he achieved fabulous success and faced shattering lows, all told with enthusiasm, humour, honesty and intense passion."

- See - McLintock/Wikipedia

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- Reposting from Yesterday's QPR Report Blog {psyomh : Damiano Tomassi Interviewed about QPR and Italy
Excerpts: "....I was injured when I arrived and started slowly to get back in shape. Now I am ready to play and I’m sure there will be a chance for me as well. I am extremely happy to be back working after the injury. My contract expires in June 2009, but I hope that this adventure will continue. The only real difficulty is being far away from my family...."
What is it like to work with Briatore?
The thing that struck me the most is his presence and participation in both victory and defeat, his knowledge of the environment, the players, and the tactics. It seems that this is his only business, but we all know that it isn’t..... Ecclestone comes to see us, but Briatore is more involved with the team."


The Independent Neil Warnock on Transfers
"... The window opens next week so I'm getting ready to start a few bidding wars with Mark Hughes. Actually, as any Palace fan will know, I don't expect to be doing any business. The main focus will be to shift a few off the wage bill and perhaps generate some funds. One player we won't be flogging cheap though is Ben Watson. Because of his age (23), and the fact we developed him, if he leaves the fee is decided by a tribunal, and we'll be looking for a fee which reflects his ability, his Premier League experience, and the fact he's played for England Under-21 and nearly 200 senior games. If anyone thinks they can offer peanuts and pick him up, they're wrong.... Independent


David Kerslake - Nottinham Forest Official Statement
- Nottingham Forest have this evening terminated the contract of manager Colin Calderwood with immediate effect.
First team coach David Kerslake has also left the club.
The move came following Forest's 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Doncaster which left the club in the bottom three of the Championship...." Nottinham Forest
- See David Kerslake/Wikipedia


Ex-QPR Richard Langley Turns 29
Born December 27, 1979. ...
- Made his debut under Gerry Francis, October 1998, and helped save the club from relegation. Became a Jamaica International. Went to Cardiff for a couple of years
- Returned to QPR...and then released. Couple of more bad injuries. Currently on short term contract at Bristol Rovers Sporting Hero --- Wikipedia

Richard Langley Recent Blog Entries, December 10, 2008 "Darkest Day of My Career"
I said in my last blog that this has been one of the hardest periods in my footballing career and I must say a big thank you to the friends, family and team-mates who helped me through the hard times. There were low points, almost bordering on depression at times, but their support kept me positive and focused on getting through it and playing again. It was a long rehabilitation but I had two gym partners that used to go through the same routines with me everyday. That helped a lot and we became good friends through it.
The fact I was at Luton at the time and the club was in such difficulty made it even harder. I could only look on as events off the field took their toll on the pitch. Even the boys who were playing found it hard to focus. And I´m sure the money situation played a part in that. To be told that you were not going to be paid for an indefinite period when you have mortgage payments to make and a family to look after is difficult in any profession.
"I´d like to stay I´m still in contact with a lot of people at the club but only Keith Keane and Dean Brill are still there. We speak from time to time but I don´t have the same connection as I have with QPR, where I spent most of my career.
I still have strong links with Loftus Road and I really hope for the fans that it works out the right way. New owners are coming into football a lot and not all of them have the club´s best intentions at heart. I hope they do at QPR. It´s not a big-time club like Chelsea, it´s more of a family club. You have the same people going to Loftus Road now as have been going for years and it´s those kind of people who make up the backroom staff as well. As long as they keep those people at the club happy they should be OK." Blog

Langley Blog/December 17, 2008 "Hoping for another call from Jamaica
- I´d love to play for Jamaica again. I was called up for the friendly against Mexico in October but unfortunately I was injured at the time and I didn´t have a club, which makes things difficult. Now I´m at Bristol Rovers hopefully I´ll get the call again.
It´s great to see John Barnes in charge of the national team. He was my idol growing up and I´m sure he´ll do a good job. It´s a shame qualification for the World Cup has already gone but I´m sure things will improve. I´d love to think I´m still in contention to play for the Reggae Boys so hopefully I´ll get a call from the Jamaican Football Federation next time they´re putting a squad together." Blog

Flashback: The QPR Team that Played on the Day that Langley was Born
- The QPR team that played on the day that Langley was born (losing 2-0 at Leicester). QPR vs Leicester: December 27, 1979: Woods - Gillard Hazell Wicks Shanks Currie Mcreery Roeder Allen Goddard Hill Sub: Waddock
- Managed by the "mercurial" Tommy Docherty...Stan Bowles had just a couple of weeks previously played his last-ever game for QPR - That's more than a quarter of a century ago -- before being sold to Nottingham Forest. This QPR team didn't go up. But it scored a lot of goals. And there are several First Division players on the 1979 team. (Not sure how many of the 2005 team one could say that about).


Shabbaz Baidoo: Where is He Now?
- Baidoo is Currently at Croydon Athletic.

Croydon Athletic: NEW SIGNING: SHABAZZ BAIDOO
Published:Tuesday 28th October 2008
Croydon Athletic are pleased to announce the signing of 21 year old striker Shabazz Baidoo. Shabazz joins us from Lewes FC after being released by Dagenham & Redbridge in August 2008. He started on the books at Arsenal, and subsequently moved to QPR, making his debut for the first team at the age of 16 towards the end of the 2004/5 season, and made 28 appearances at Loftus Road..
Known to have blistering pace and skill, we look forward to seeing Shabazz in action for the Rams. He goes straight into tonight's squad against Fleet Town. Croydon

"SHABAZZ BAIDOO - FORWARD: Former QPR player Shabazz joined the Rams in October 2008 from Lewes. He previously had a spell at Dagenham & Redbridge, and prior to that was in the QPR first team, making 28 appearances. Known to have blistering pace and skill, Shabazz scored his first goal for the Rams in the match against Leatherhead on 1.11.08."

- Baidoo was not in the Croydon team that drew yesterday against Metropolitan Police. Match Report

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- Photos from Charlton vs QPR

Telegraph/Huw Turbervill - Time running out for Phil Parkinson at Charlton - Charlton Athletic (0) 2 Queens Park Rangers (1) 2
- Phil Parkinson must be wondering what he has to do to win a match. Trailing 1-0 to Queens Park Rangers after a limp first-half display, Charlton produced some of the brightest football they have played under their stand-in manager, with Nicky Bailey twice equalising, but still they came up short.
- To make his mood worse, Parkinson was banished to the stands in injury time by Paul Taylor after imploring the referee to award a penalty for handball.
- It has been three draws and four defeats since Parkinson replaced Alan Pardew, and he has been guaranteed only one more chance by the board, at Sheffield United tomorrow.
- Fail to win that, and Charlton will equal their 1955 club record of 16 games without victory.
- If he can somehow build on the spirit they showed in the second half here, it is not inconceivable Parkinson could stay, but time is running out.
- Charlton had trailed to Lee Cook's neat 18th-minute free-kick. Parkinson's half-time talk perked his side up, however, with Bailey desperate to impress after failing to impose himself in central midfield, and he bravely headed in Lloyd Sam's cross.
- QPR regained the lead against the run of play. Mikele Leigertwood's header found Dexter Blackstock in space and he slotted coolly over Rob Elliott for his 11th goal of the season.
- But Bailey rescued Charlton again after 79 minutes with a diving header after Radek Cerny punched weakly.
- Sam should have won it with five minutes remaining but headed back across goal, and then a few frenzied minutes saw Parkinson sent off. He thought Charlton should have had a penalty for a Kaspars Gorkss handball, but QPR broke and again found space.
- Heidar Helguson's shot hit the post, and although Emmanuel Ledesma absolutely cracked the rebound in, it was disallowed for a Blackstock foul on Martin Cranie.
- Parkinson would not talk about his future, but said: "We were tentative in the first half, playing like a bottom-three team, but we were excellent after the break, more like a top-half side."
- QPR manager Paulo Sousa believes Charlton do not deserve to be in the bottom three: "I remember Charlton in the Premier League. I don't like to see them have such problems," he said.
Match details: Charlton Athletic: Elliot, Cranie, Fortune, Hudson, McEveley, Sam, Semedo (Holland 89), Bailey, Bouazza (Basey 80), Waghorn (Burton 71), Gray.
Subs: Weaver, Shelvey. Booked: McEveley, Cranie, Semedo. Goals: Bailey 49, 79.
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Hall, Gorkss, Connolly, Leigertwood, Alberti (Ephraim 60), Cook (Ledesma 67), Rowlands, Blackstock, Di Carmine (Helguson 81).
Subs: Mahon, Agyemang. Booked: Alberti, Cook, Connolly. Goals: Cook 18, Blackstock 68Referee: P Taylor (Luton). Telegraph


The Sun/Andrew Dillon - PHIL PARKINSON blotted his CV by getting sent off.
- Now he has just one game left to prove he can handle the pressure as Charlton’s full-time boss.
- The board are set to decide on the new permanent man in the hot-seat at the end of the year.
But Parky will hardly have made them warm to him by losing his cool as Charlton consolidated their worst run of results for 30 years.
They fought back twice to equalise through Nicky Bailey but caretaker coach Parkinson finished the game sitting in the stands for letting rip at referee Paul Taylor.
Parkinson said: “It was the third penalty appeal. I thought it was a handball in the box that we didn’t get.
“I felt we had one in the first half, also from a Hameur Bouazza shot. Normally if three of these happen, you expect to get one.
“In the first half, we weren’t aggressive enough and gave them too much time on the ball.
“We also played like a team in the bottom three in the first half — but in the second like a team in the top half of the table.”
Parkinson missed only the four minutes of second-half injury-time after being ordered to the stands.
And Charlton had just the one decent shout for a penalty in the 88th minute, when Kaspars Gorkss appeared to handle Lloyd Sam’s cross cum shot.
The erratic Addicks have only themselves to blame for not picking up a crucial win.
One point is not going to be enough to save them, however much spirit they showed in fighting back on two occasions.
Alarming lack of organisation in defence helped Lee Cook fire Rangers ahead from an 18th-minute free-kick, with Parkinson’s side enjoying just one decent shot in the opening half.
Rangers were treating the match pretty much like a training session until Bailey headed an equaliser and triggered a fightback.
It lasted until Dexter Blackstock produced a tidy finish to make it 2-1 on 68 minutes, thanks to a mistake by Mark Hudson.
Ex-Southend midfielder Bailey then popped up again to salvage a point with a freak, long-range diving header 10 minutes from time.
Yet it is still a disastrous no win in 15 for sinking Charlton — their worst run for three decades.
In a crazy finale, Rangers sub Heider Helguson hit a post and ref Taylor then stepped in to rule out the ensuing follow-up effort by Emmanuel Ledesma for a foul.
Parkinson has now picked up just three points out of a possible 21 in his seven games in charge.
Perhaps not surprisingly, he refused to discuss his job prospects ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Sheffield United.
Rangers boss Paulo Sousa might have been somewhat disappointed his side did not take all three points.
He said: “We controlled the game and it was a scrap. I think Charlton can stay up and I hope they do. It is a charismatic club.”
SUN STAR MAN NICKY BAILEY (Charlton). Scored two key goals. The Sun

CHARLTON OFFICIAL SITE - Parky encouraged by second-half fightback
- Caretaker boss Phil Parkinson believes Charlton's second-half display at home to Queens Park Rangers showed his side have the courage and commitment to get out of their current predicament.
- The Addicks trailed to ex-loan man Lee Cook's free-kick at the break after a tepid first-half display.
- But they came out fighting for the second period and pulled level when Nicky Bailey beat Radek Cerny to Lloyd Sam's cross to head home.
- A defensive mix-up allowed Dexter Blackstock to put the Hoops back in front, but again Charlton rallied to equalise when Bailey stooped low to head into an empty net after Cerny had failed to deal with a cross.
- Caretaker boss Phil Parkinson believes Charlton's second-half display at home to Queens Park Rangers showed his side have the courage and commitment to get out of their current predicament
There were further chances to win it in a dramatic end to the game, with Sam heading wide and Emmanuel Ledesma seeing an effort disallowed late on.
Parkinson's frustrations boiled over in the dying stages and he was sent to the stands by referee Paul Taylor after Charlton saw a third appeal for handball in the penalty area turned down.
On his dismissal from the dugout, Parkinson said: "It was after the third penalty appeal. I thought it was handball in the box and we didn't get it.
"Normally if three of those happen, you expect to get one of them and I felt the referee should have given us a penalty. He told me he'd disallowed their goal but everyone could see Dexter Blackstock had held Martin Cranie on the floor so I'm not giving him too much credit for that. I felt we should have had a penalty and that's what I was frustrated with.”
On the game itself, Parkinson admitted he had been frustrated with his team's poor first-half performance, continuing: "In the first half I felt we were tentative; we were on the back foot and gave them too much time on the ball and there wasn't a competitive edge about our play.
"We looked like a team in the bottom three but in the second half we looked like a team who were in the top half of the table and we were excellent.
"We did exactly what we'd worked on in training which is switch the play and get two-v-ones down the sides and deliver crossed into the box. The only criticism I would have is that when the ball went in there I didn't feel any of our strikers would get across their marker and get a goal. The one player who did was Nicky Bailey, who scored two goals and capped off a great performance.”
Sam turned in a superb display on the right-hand side of the park but Parkinson called for the midfielder to continue that form over the remainder of the season.
Nicky Bailey heads home the first of his equalising goals
The winger has suffered with inconsistency at times during his career and Parkinson said: "Lloyd was excellent against Derby County and he put in a terrific performance today. He's an exciting player, he can pick a pass in the final third and if you're a full-back you wouldn't want him running at you and twisting and turning and he's made three out of our last four goals.
"Lloyd isn't a young man anymore. He's got a responsibility and he has to turn in these performances week in, week out and there's no reason why he shouldn't. He has to decide where he wants to go in the game; does he want to play at the highest level or drift around and end up in the lower leagues? It could go either way but he's got the ability to play at the highest level, I have absolutely no doubt about it.”
The point keeps Charlton in the bottom three of the Championship, with a tough fixture at Sheffield United awaiting Parkinson's men on Sunday (3pm).
"If we keep playing like we did today in the second half and like we did against Derby then we'll get out of this situation. I thought the character and play was first class,” Parkinson stated.
"Of course we would have liked three points and Lloyd nearly won it with a header but overall I felt there were a lot of positives. Win, lose or draw, you want your players to have a real go.
"I felt we were going to win it. There are bumps and bruises, we've been in battle. We know we've got to turn these draws into wins but if we keep playing like that we will do.”
- QPR boss Paolo Sousa added: "We changed six players today from last Saturday and they answered me well. The team has a lot of quality. It's not easy to come here and win here but we controlled most of the game and the best moments belonged to us.
- "I think Charlton are good enough to get out and I hope they do. They are a charismatic team. I remember watching them in the Premier League and I don't want to see them have these kind of problems. They have the players to be better and I think they will improve.” Charlton

- See Also: Earlier QPR vs Charlton Reports and Comments

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Charlton 2 QPR 2 -- Updated League Table

QPR Official Site -
QPR found themselves up against a stubborn Charlton Athletic side and had to make do with a point, as they crossed London to the Valley for the Boxing Day clash with the Addicks.
Rangers twice let go of the initiative as first Lee Cook curled a wonderful free-kick beyond Rob Elliot, only for Nicky Bailey to draw the scores level minutes into the second half.
Dexter Blackstock gave the R's a deserved lead on 68 minutes, but Bailey added his and Charlton's second with ten minutes remaining to give the Addicks a share of the spoils.
With one eye on the R's home fixture against Watford in little more than 48 hours time, Paulo Sousa rang the changes for the trip to The Valley.
Midfielder Matteo Alberti came in to make his Rangers debut, as he lined up on the right hand side of the R's midfield diamond. Mikele Leigertwood sat at the base, with Martin Rowlands on the left, and Cook completed the quartet at the tip, against the Club whom he spent time on loan last season.
In defence, Fitz Hall replaced Damion Stewart at centre back; Matthew Connolly returned from a back injury to regain the left back berth; whilst Peter Ramage and Kaspars Gorkss kept their places to complete the four.
Radek Cerny continued in goal, whilst last Saturday's hero, Dexter Blackstock, was handed a start up front, alongside Samuel Di Carmine.
A strong bench saw the likes of Gavin Mahon, Heidar Helguson, Emmanuel Ledesma, Hogan Ephraim and Patrick Agyemang all take up residence.
The Addicks handed starts to loan stars Hameur Bouazza, Martin Cranie, Jay McEveley - who had made a miraculous recovery from a dislocated shoulder - and Martyn Waghorn, whilst Rob Elliot continued between the sticks at the expense of Nicky Weaver.
The home side, as you would expect, began on the front foot, but it was Rangers who carved out the opening chance.
Cook began and ended the move that saw the on-loan Fulham man feed Di Carmine, who found Rowlands. The skipper clipped a fine ball out to Alberti and the debutant crossed for Cook who'd burst into the box. Unfortunately, his header looped up and landed on top of the net.
A well-worked corner saw Hall fail to connect properly with Blackstock's clever knock-down, as Rangers continued to assert their control on the match.
Undeterred, the R's made a deserved breakthrough in the 18th minute.
A foul for a high foot on the bright Alberti saw the R's awarded a free-kick 20 yards out and Cook stepped up to bend a superb shot over the wall and beyond Elliot to register his first of the season.
It was a quite stunning free-kick and the R's just reward for their all-out attacking policy in the opening exchanges.
Charlton attempted to fight back but Rangers responded on the counter attack, and Blackstock saw an effort bounce wide, after Di Carmine's initial strike was deflected into his path.
With the Addicks' fans becoming increasingly frustrated, Rangers could've been two up minutes before half-time, had it not been for a sensational save from Charlton keeper Elliot.
When Rowlands corner was deflected to Leigertwood lurking on the edge of the box, his driven pass was hooked goalwards by a spinning Di Carmine, but somehow the young stopper tipped his fierce drive to safety.
As the clock ticked down to the break, Blackstock met Cook's teasing cross, only to head straight at the inspired Elliot, as Rangers pressed for the killer second goal that would surely seal the points.
The second half saw the men in black attack towards their own supporters, and Leigertwood decided that was reason enough to try the spectacular, launching a volley from around 40 yards straight down the throat of Elliot.
However it was Charlton who raised the tempo and duly drew level four minutes after the restart. Lloyd Sam found space on the right, cut onto his left foot and crossed for Bailey to nip ahead of Cerny and head home.
With the Addicks support in full voice, and their team in full swing, buoyed by the goal, Manager Sousa made his first change. Ephraim replaced Alberti, to add pace to the midfield.
Ledesma soon joined him, and the fresh faces gave the R's the edge. Ephraim thought he'd won a throw, but he should not have worried, as the throw found the head of Leigertwood, who headed a pass for Blackstock to chase, and coolly slot home under Elliot.
However, the R's once again relinquished the lead as Bailey added his second. Cerny's decision to race from his line to punch clear back-fired, as the Addicks midfielder headed the ball over the Czech keeper and into a gaping net.
Sousa once again reacted to the set-back, introducing Helguson at the expense of Di Carmine.
And in a frantic last few minutes, the Iceland striker struck the foot of the post, with the rebound falling kindly for Ledesma, who smashed home what was seemingly the winner, only for referee Mr Taylor to adjudge that Blackstock had committed a foul earlier in the build up.
In the aftermath, an irate Phil Parkinson was sent to the stands for protesting that his side should've had a penalty.
Blackstock forced a decent save from Elliot as the Addicks withstood some last gasp Rangers pressure, but both sides had to make do with a point.
Charlton Athletic: Elliot, Bailey, Hudson, Gray, Sam, Semedo (Holland (90), Fortune, Cranie, Bouazza (Basey 80), Waghorn (Burton 71), McEveley. Subs: Weaver, Shelvey. Scorers: Bailey (49), (80) Bookings: McEveley (38), Cranie (72), Semedo (73)
QPR: Cerny, Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Gorkss, Rowlands, Ramage, Connolly, Cook (Ledesma 67), Alberti (Ephraim 59), Di Carmine (Helguson 81).
Subs: Mahon, Agyemang. Scorers: Cook (18), Blackstock (68) Bookings: Alberti (21), Cook (42), Connolly (45) Referee: Mr P Taylor Attendance: 21, 023 QPR


QPR Official Site - SOUSA'S CHARLTON VERDICT
R's boss Paulo Sousa refused to blame referee Paul Taylor for his decision to rule out Emmanuel Ledesma's late strike, as Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw against Charlton Athletic.
The Argentine midfielder had the ball in the back of the net in added time, only for the official to rule the effort out for a foul by Dexter Blackstock on R's old-boy Martin Cranie.
Sousa told www.qpr.co.uk: "At first, I thought the referee gave an offside decision, but I asked the linesman and he said it was for a foul.
"I didn't see it, but he did and if he says it's a foul, it's a foul and that is that."
Nicky Bailey's double strike cancelled out goals from Lee Cook and Blackstock, but the R's gaffer was pleased with his sides' overall display.
"The system is working well and we are getting better and better," he said.
"I think Charlton are a very good side and I am surprised at their position in the table.
"It was a very exciting match. We controlled a lot of the match, with and without the ball, and we can take a lot of confidence from today."
Sousa also praised the six R's players who returned to the starting XI today, commenting: "I have learnt a lot about my squad today.
"People talk all the time about the transfer window, but the players that came in today showed me they have a big role to play.
"They proved a lot to me and that is very promising. As a group we are getting closer and that gives me great confidence," QPR


Charlton Official Site - Brave Bailey earns a point as Parky sees red
Nicky Bailey's double earned Charlton a point in an incident-packed Boxing Day derby at The Valley.
The midfielder twice brought his side level in a dramatic second-half, his pair of headers cancelling out efforts from Lee Cook and Dexter Blackstock.

Former Addicks loanee Cook curled in an 18th minute free-kick to put the visitors in front but Bailey powered in to level four minutes into the second half.

Dexter Blackstock put Rangers 2-1 up in the 69th minute but Bailey bravely headed in a second equaliser ten minutes from time before Lloyd Sam headed a great opening wide.

There was still time for Addicks caretaker boss Phil Parkinson to get sent to the stands for protesting at one of three penalty denials in the closing stages, and Rangers substitute Emmanuel Ledesma had a last-gasp goal chalked off for a foul after Heidar Helguson had hit the post.

It made for a dramatic finale to a game in which Charlton demonstrated plenty of post Christmas spirit.

And, although the first period was somewhat low key, the second was full of drama with Bailey epitomising his side's tireless efforts.

Cook had opened the scoring for the visitors on his return to SE7 with a perfectly flighted free-kick.

It was his first goal of the season and first since February 24th, 2007, towards the end of his previous spell at Loftus Road.

The Addicks had penalty claims for a hand-ball against Peter Ramage turned down at the end of the half but Bailey dragged them back into it four minutes after the restart, surging in to the box to head a Sam centre beyond Radek Cerny.

Back in the game, the hosts went in search of the lead but it was Blackstock that continued his happy knack of netting against the Addicks to put the R's ahead, somewhat against the run of play.

After the hosts had surrendered possession from a throw deep in their own half, the striker was played in on goal and supplied a fine finish past Elliot for his fourth goal in his last three games against Charlton.

It was his double that earned Rangers a 2-1 win at Loftus Road little over a month earlier in Parkinson's first match in charge, but this time his goal would only be worth a point.

And that was thanks to Bailey who put his body on the line - and amongst the boots - as Cerny half-punched out a cross, and his header flew past the former Tottenham Hotspur keeper and in.

The hosts might have taken the lead soon afterwards as substitute Grant Basey curled in a wonderful cross from the left but Sam headed across the face of goal and wide.

Then came Taylor's late bout of head-shaking as Kaspars Gorkks and Ramage, again, got away with using their arms in the area.

Parkinson had been so incensed at the non-award of the latter he would later be sent to the stands - a seat two rows back next to a baffled young supporter to be precise - and he must have had mixed feelings when he got his marching orders.

For his side had just had a let-off at the other end as sub Helguson escaped on the right and crashed an injury time shot against the left post.

Ledesma rifled the loose ball home but Taylor's assistant had spotted an infringement before that and the goal was chalked off for a foul.

After explaining his decision to the visitors, Taylor made his way to the home bench and sent off Parkinson, the caretaker boss virtually leaning against the fence at the front of the west stand in the closing stages as his side hung on for a point.

There is little doubt that this was a plucky point for the hosts, but Charlton now need to beat Sheffield United in two days to avoid equalling their worst ever winless sequence of 16 games, set back in 1955.

In terms of team news Jay McEveley made a surprise comeback for the Addicks in their Boxing Day derby.

The loan left-back was supposed to be a long term absentee after sustaining a shoulder injury against Coventry City on December 9th.

But he was back in the starting line-up just over a fortnight later, and replaced Basey in the rearguard.

That was the sole change from Saturday's defeat at Norwich City but there were bench returns for Matt Holland and Jonjo Shelvey.

Basey also dropped to the bench after McEveley's startling recuperation while Svetoslav Todorov and Keith Gillespie dropped out of the matchday 16.

Elliot continued between the posts while McEveley was joined in the backline by Martin Cranie - who featured in this fixture for Rangers last season - Mark Hudson and Jonathan Fortune.

Sam and Hameur Bouazza again supplied the width with Jose Semedo and Bailey operating in the engine room.

Up front, leading marksman Andy Gray was paired with Sunderland loanee for the third successive game.

There was a familiar face in the visiting line-up in the shape of Cook; the winger having made nine appearances for the club on loan from Fulham last year.

Despite netting twice last time out, Helguson was only on the Rangers bench while Blackstock was back in up front.

There was also a debut in midfield for Matteo Alberti.

Semedo chested the ball down on the edge of the box and volleyed wide inside 25 seconds, while Cook started and finished Rangers' first move of note on six minutes.

The midfielder had started the match in the hole behind the front two, and after the visitors cleverly spread the play out wide, newcomer Alberti's cross was met by a Cook header that looped over the bar.

Bailey got back well to foil Samuel Di Carmine, who was about to pull the trigger, at the expense of a corner, and when the tenth-minute flag-kick fell to Fitz Hall, Elliott plunged on the defender's half volley.

Hall might have done better having been left unmarked in the area but the visitors were ahead in the 18th minute.

They won a free-kick on the edge of the D as Bouazza caught Alberti and Martin Rowlands and Cook sized up the ball with interest.

In the end it was Cook who ran up and curled the ball over the wall and into the top right corner to become the second ex-Addick to score against Charlton in as many matches.

As the hosts rallied a Bailey corner flicked a Rangers head on its way across the face of goal and behind and then Hudson, amid a clutch of players, missed his kick in the box as Bouazza's corner skidded across the dangerzone.

Alberti was booked after catching Semedo midway through the half while Blackstock snatched at a shot after a Di Carmine shot spun off the turf and confused a clutch of home defenders.

There was nobody in the middle when Sam's stood-up cross was headed back across by Gray, and eventually Bailey's volley was blocked by Mikele Leigertwood.

After Bouazza's poor pass back, McEveley picked up a yellow card after catching Di Carmine, while a sublime flick from Waghorn set up a half chance for Gray on 39 minutes but Kaspars Gorkss got back to block.

Five minutes before the break Elliot made a magnificent stop to foil Di Carmine, spreading himself well after the Italian had diverted a Leigertwood shot from the edge of the area.

The ball eventually went behind off Hall, but play appeared to start with a free-kick.

Blackstock's header from a Cook centre was pouched by Elliot in the last minute of the half while Bailey's curling free-kick flew narrowly over the bar.

There was still time for the hosts to claim a penalty, after Bouazza's attempts to forage in to the box saw the ball spin off the arm of Peter Ramage.

Referee Taylor said no, and after handing a fourth booking of the half to Matthew Connolly, blew up for half-time.

Leigertwood volleyed wide for the visitors 16 seconds after the restart while Cerny got behind a Hudson bouncing effort at a corner at the other end.

The hosts were back level within four minutes, however, as Bailey struck.

The midfielder bravely powered in amongst a cluster of players to head home a fine Sam centre.

The Valley erupted, and Bailey slashed well wide from the edge of the area as the Addicks strived to build further.

The hosts were playing with a real belief at the start of the second period and Rangers manager Paulo Sousa made the first change of the afternoon on the hour, sending on Hogan Ephraim for Alberti.

Cook was replaced by Ledesma but Blackstock once more haunted the Addicks in the 69th minute as he restored the visitors' lead.

After a full blooded Bailey challenge on Ephraim had resulted in a home throw deep in the Addicks half, the hosts somehow contrived to present the ball straight back to the visitors.

One pass later and Blackstock was in behind Hudson, and the striker kept his composure to slot the ball past Elliot and in.

Parkinson sent on Burton for Waghorn two minutes later and there were bookings for Cranie and Semedo in quick succession as the hosts' frustrations boiled over.

But it was all square again ten minutes from time as Bailey headed his second.

Cerny came out to meet a cross from the right and as the ball bounced towards the edge of the box Bailey bravely stooped amongst the boots and headed the ball over the stranded keeper and in.

Shelvey and Basey had been waiting to come on on the sidelines but the goal forced a rethink for Parkinson as just the latter came on, for Bouazza.

The hosts poured forward in the closing stages, and spurned a golden chance in the final five minutes.

Basey was the architect curling in a gorgeous centre from the left and Sam sneaked in at the far post only to head the ball across goal and agonisingly wide of the left upright.

It was a big chance and Sam was in again in two minutes from time.

Played clear by Semedo, he checked inside and into a shooting position and his shot battered against the arm of Gorkks.

As the hosts screamed for a penalty, Taylor again said no, and Burton eventually saw his follow-up deflected behind.

Then there was further frustration in the first added minute as Gray swivelled in the box and saw the ball come off the arm of another defender.

By the law of averages one thought the Addicks must surely get a penalty at the third time of asking, but again Taylor shook his head much to the chagrin of Parkinson and Mark Kinsella.

The action was unrelenting by this stage and Rangers almost nicked a smash and grab third after breaking straight up the other end.

Hudson and the tireless Bailey both went in to challenge on the edge of the box but the ball was eventually manoeuvred wide to substitute Helguson whose shot, from similar range to Blackstock earlier, beat Elliot but came off the left post.

In the aftermath the ball reached Ledesma who smashed home a shot via the underside of the bar.

The celebrations in the Jimmy Seed Stand were shortlived however, the official disallowing the goal for a foul, possibly by Blackstock, as the ball came off the woodwork.

Holland had come on for his 199th Addicks appearance at the end, and before the action could resume the busy Taylor was summoned to the home bench.

And Parkinson was sent to the stands after his dispute of the third disallowed penalty had overspilled on to the pitch.

The caretaker boss made for an empty seat two rows back between the dugouts and watched Elliot make a good parrying save to foil Ephraim in the third added minute after the winger had ghosted in to the box.

The keeper then made two more good contributions at two more corners, the second being the final act at the end of a pulsating second half.

Charlton: Charlton: Elliot; Cranie, McEveley, Hudson, Fortune; Sam, Semedo (Holland 89), Bailey, Bouazza (Basey 80); Waghorn (Burton 71), Gray.

Subs (not used): Weaver, Shelvey.

Goals: Bailey 49, 80

Booked: McEveley 38 (foul on Di Carmine), Cranie 72 (foul on Di Carmine), Semedo 73 (foul on Ledesma)

QPR: Cerny; Ramage, Connolly, Hall, Gorkss; Alberti (Ephraim 60), Leigertwood, Cook (Ledesma 67), Rowlands; Di Carmine (Helguson 82), Blackstock.

Subs (not used): Mahon, Agyemang.

Goals: Cook 18, Blackstock 69

Booked: Alberti 21 (foul on Semedo), Cook 42 (foul on Semedo), Connolly 45 (kicking the ball away)

Referee: P Taylor

Attendance 21,203 Charlton Official Site

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Today's teams: Charlton vs QPR
- QPR: Cerny, Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Gorkss, Rowlands, Ramage, Connolly, Cook, Alberti, Di Carmine. Subs: Mahon, Agyemang, Ledesma, Ephraim, Helguson.
- Charlton Athletic: Elliot, Bailey, Hudson, Gray, Sam, Semedo, Fortune, Cranie, Bouazza, Waghorn, McEveley. Subs: Weaver, Shelvey, Holland, Basey, Burton.


[Note: Not a single one of the QPR team are "home grown.'}

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Via the QPR Italia Site - Interview with Tomassi from Calciomercato.com by Roberto Filippi - Google Translation
-- Click Here to Read English Translation (via Google Translator)

Thursday, December 25, 2008 . Tommasi CM tells you 'I like London. First Division lunga e competitiva' First Division long and competitive '
Tommasi CM tells you 'I like London. First Division long and competitive '
It 'just finished the training of QPR imperialism College Sports Ground in London, a stone's throw from London Heathrow. Damiano Tommasi provides for a moment with his companions, then approached us with a smile, same curls, same beard, same style. 34 years, ten in giallorosso, a shield and a Supercup, then the serious accident, a dark lasted 15 months. Few people would have bet on his return, but he falls in the field and score in the first minute. Pero 'something had cracked in his relationship with Rome, Tommasi prefers to go away, go two seasons at Levante in the Spanish Liga, before landing at the court of Flavio Briatore at QPR. Calciomercato.com interviewed him exclusively.

Tommasi, first of all speak of this: we can 'tell her first months in England?
It's going fairly well. The team and 'competitive. We must fight for the play-off and we are doing. Personally I arrived with an injury and I started with the reserves to capture the momentum game. Now I am ready to play and we certainly will be 'an opportunity for me. I am very happy because 'I returned to my work after the accident. My contract expires in June 2009, but I hope that this adventure can continue. As for the personal, the only real difficulty 'and' remoteness from my family, remained in Rome because 'my children had already' started school.

And London?
I like London, the climate is not 'then as' bad as they say. With the language cable me enough, although I still have some difficulty 'to understand when two English speaking among themselves quickly.

How did you find the "First Division" English?
It 'a very long championship with so many teams competitive. In fact, you can 'win and lose with each of them. At QPR we know this very well having beaten twice in the first league and then lost emblazoned with fewer teams.

Italy has' talked a lot of QPR, mainly due to Flavio Briatore, but perhaps in a few familiar with the club.
The QPR before Briatore belonged to another Italian, Gianni Paladini, and that 'Left to care for the sport. With the entry of new property 'started investment in new players and ambition of the club and' to return to play at high levels.
In football return on investment is not 'automatic, such as we saw with Moratti nell'Inter, and then sometimes the results are not immediately, but we have the potential to be able to achieve the goal of the play - off. Still missing 20 games to finish, then there 'all the time to recover.

Lei e 'to QPR for his experience, to set an example for young talent. How do you feel in this role?
E 'true, here there are many young people, but not' my prerogative to follow me. It 'clear that I try to bring the experience I have acquired over the years with various coaches, but' also true that the English football and 'somewhat' different from us and I do not know what baggage accumulated in other leagues can count really. Anyway'm trying to be what I have always been, to do my job and be ready when needed. If Then you can 'also be helpful to the young, well-being.

What were your early-career examples?
I started in Verona, and players like Pierino Fanna were important. In Rome I was inspired by champions like Aldair, Cafu and Balbo '.

The QPR and 'trained by another old knowledge of Italian football, Paulo Sousa. How are your relations with him?
Very good. He led the news', changing our form of play. One sees that and he 'was a footballer, especially the way clear to communicate with his players. Was' well placed from the outset and I believe has the potential to do very well.

How 'Mr Briatore?
The thing that struck me more 'and' his presence and participation in both victories in that defeat, knowledge of the environment, football, the game module. It seems as if this is its only business', but we all know that and do not '.

And Ecclestone?
Ecclestone is to competitions, but 'Briatore and that' more 'involved with the activities' of the team.

Now in English football speaks Italian. Capello coach of England, West Ham Zola, Di Matteo all'MK Dons, not to mention the many preparatory leadership and athletic. Why '?
Be ', not by chance we are world champions-in-Office and the Italian school, especially the coaches, and' excellent. In Italy we care much more 'tactical aspect and that' perhaps always been the most 'weak here in England.

Capello and 'was his coach Franco Baldini and the sports director of Rome at the time of the shield. Where andra 'England with them?
With Capello and Baldini England will 'get the results you deserve. The national English and 'a great team, with players of great talent. I am sure that Capello riuscira 'a motivating them to 100%.
However we must not forget that the international competitions and especially the final stages of a World Cup live on many variables, primarily in the form of key players in that period. You never know how to get there, especially after long and stressful championships, but I think that England has the potential to get among the top four.

She has been part of the global shipping blue Nippo-Korean in 2002 where it is' one of the best players. I remember that time has not exactly happy for the national team?

It 'been a World Cup started well but then e' was compromised by several incidents that have turned against us, such as the annulment of well-5 goals scored in 10. In any case, and 'fair to say we could do better, especially with Korea, where we had many occasions to quit the game before arriving at the Golden Goal that we eliminated from the tournament. My personal experience is important, but as I said before, a world 'also a lottery and with most teams' enthusiasm and less pressure in their local leagues can make trouble' anyone.

After the match with Korea all have been launched against Moreno shouting at the referee scandal. Yet in our house was gaining a scandal-scale well-piu 'grande. What he thought and when Calciopoli 'came to light?
- I was very disappointed. The prerogative of our players and 'to focus on the field and certainly not to talk about referees, textures, conspiracy and other things that are not related to the field of play. What pero 'has surprised me more' and 'has shown that despite all the evil that was in Italian football, was not seized the opportunity to really change. I do not know why ', I can only imagine that the end to more' is so good '. They could change people's ideas, yet instead we see the same faces at the top executive, the same people who were in office in the old system. So I do not see 'how we can make a real change if people are always the same.

What's NOT lacks in general and Italian football in particular?
I'm not missing the exasperation of the result, the emphasis that from 'the defeat, such as that' happened recently in Turin. Disputes over 'or less endorsed by the mass media. I think this is one of the most 'major problems of Italian football, the take for granted that if a team goes wrong should be criticized and challenged by force, even outside the field of play, hitting a personal level, troubled family life of footballers. In Spain and in England these things do not happen, at least for the time being.

Why 'many players show great fragility' psychological? Fault system that thinks more 'to exploit economically rather than ensure their development as people?
Frankly I think that percentage is less fragile players of other categories of workers.

How will the family in return for a player?
For any person and the family 'fundamental. For me is my family of origin that what I built, were the basis for my behavior, to celebrate the victories and defeats to overcome.
I read that she and 'very religious and expert in philosophy, and in his biography on Wikipedia in English, says she knows very well the work of Kierkegaard, the father dell'esistenzialismo.
It 'true that are religious, but frankly not the expert on Kierkegaard! I like philosophy, but what there is' clearly written on wikipedia be correct ...
She is called "Anima Candida" and "One of the most beautiful tales of Italian football." In reality 'she feels a "Candida Fable"?
Be ', the nickname "Soul Candida" I put the speaker of the Olympic Stadium in Rome, while the definition of "Fable" I was assigned to my return after a serious accident that kept me away from the fields for 15 months. Just come in segnai suffered a goal ... For a player who had to stop playing, returning to the field in its stadium and score in the first minute, be 'I feel really a fairy tale, regardless of whether I was the protagonist. For me anyway and that 'was more' a fable, and 'was the cancellation of months of suffering and therapies lived in solitude and with the specter of a career virtually over.
However, the definition of "Candida Fable" I'm all right! (Laughter)

Spends much time with his wife and his 4 children?
When they are at home more step 'time I can with them. Right now, unfortunately, not 'possible, but just the work I may go back for the weekend. If my contract will be 'renewed for next season, I hope they will reach me here in London.

What are the values that she and 'more' affectionate, that is humanly professionally?
Again the family and the sense of community 'in which one lives, with our rights and our obligations. The values of the Gospel, with what has announced *** on lifestyle and family belong to the community ', move all my choices. I believe that professional success is proportional to what can be a fully whether 'the same, even in the workplace.

C'e'una thing that has particularly hurt during his career?
E 'linked to my accident, but not so much at itself', as to whether I was alone for it. That 'was also the main reason why I went away from Rome. They cracked the relationships with people that I have followed after the accident and that I have forwarded the conviction to be able to return, also because 'they were perhaps the first to not believe it. Obviously sometimes not enough to be "Anime Candide" and behave well ... That 'more moment was' disappointing of my career.

And one more reminder 'affection?
Surely my back on the field, having scored after a minute. This has given even more 'emphasis to my story. It seems that almost everything was already 'written as if there had been a direction from above.

How do you blow one up again?
With the knowledge that is not 'over. Still be able to rise again after a stroke you from 'the force, makes you smile and makes you more' powerful than who or what you had inflicted the blow and believed to have you finished. Who does not fall never can 'have the strength to rise again. Football helps in this, even during a simple game.

His memory of President Sensi
It 'was my president in Serie A, I had only him. I started with him and with him I closed my experience in Rome. It 'was an important person for my career, especially at the beginning when my performance was not so' constant ec'erano also problems related to acceptance by the public of my presence.

It 'still linked to Roma and its fans?
Yes, I have a Roma house, my family lives there, we have many friends, many interests. The link with the environment of sports and Rome 'still tight, with Spalletti that with the changing room. Every opportunity and 'good for andarli to find a Trigoria.

Totti sent a message to Lippi for his resounding return to national: What would you say if Francis was still with him in the team?
I do not know if 'he who sent the message or maybe e' been a question, he replied, and then 're blockbuster. Totti, Cassano as attracting the attention of the media and the public, especially when it comes to National.
I do not know what kind of choices will 'Francis. I have my mind on who goes to National for the 'go or not go. First of all, and 'the coach who chooses the responsibility' and 'only hers. Those going to be proud to wear the blue jersey and realize that represent the other stayed at home and especially the school of Italian football.

When you retire 'riuscira' to stay away from football?
Frankly two years in Spain and England in this period are making me live my work with the right dynamics and the right intensity '. A football so can 'stay in the life of anyone and would not be so intolerable remain in the environment.

Then we'll see as a coach, manager or perhaps President? In Italy abroad?
Still do not know, but I'm not sure that the dynamics of football and the Italian still for me, chissa ', we'll see.

Tommasi, after all these years, there 'still something that surprises in football?
Of course! The speech technical always surprised. He who follows football from the outside perhaps believes that the matches are all equal, but in any game can 'be the thing that you do not ever forget the technical point of view. The succession of players and coaches seem a monotonous litany, but in reality 'every game in every league has a formidable side and unforgettable
- Original Italian

Google Translation

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- QPR play Charlton today. Charlton have slumped to one off the bottom; have a caretaker manager, haven't won in 14 games (since October 4), etc, etc, etc. Charlton's Season's Record....Charlton's Results this season...... Charlton's Squad.
- QPR vs Charlton Record. The two teams last met a month ago, at Loftus Road. QPR winning 2-1. Last season, QPR did the double over Charlton, winning both games 1-0.

Charlton Official Site Preview of Charlton vs QPR - "...R's winger Lee Cook...expects Sousa to bring success to Loftus Road with his coaching style rather than his signings. "The boss might bring in English players, Portuguese players or Italian players - we don't know," Cook said. "All I know is, with his coaching and what he tries to get through to you on the pitch, I think we're going to be successful...."

QPR's PAST BOXING DAY RESULTS

1966 QPR 3 Brighton 0

1967 Plymouth 0 QPR 1 (Keen Pen)

1968 QPR 0 WBA 4 (Part of our Division One 1968/69 Humiliation Season!)

1969 Millwall 2 QPR 0

1972 QPR 3 Orient 1 (Leach, Givens, Thomas)

1973 Spurs 0 QPR 0

1974 QPR 4 Leicester 2 (Beck, Thomas, Givens, Westwood)

1975 QPR 2 Norwich

1977 QPR 0 Derby 0

1978 QPR 2 Spurs 2 (Bowles, Shanks)

1980 QPR 3 West Ham 0 (Silkman, Curie, Stainrod)

1981 QPR 0 Chelsea 2

1984 QPR 2 Chelsea 2 (Bannister. MCdonald)

1987 QPR 1 Chelsea 1 (Kerslake)

1988 Aston Villa 2 QPR 1 (T. Francis)

1989 QPR 1 Coventry 1 (Falco)

1990 QPR 1 Liverpool 1 (Falco)

1981 QPR 0 Liverpool 0

1994 Crystal Palce 0 QPR 0

1995 Arsenal QPR 0

1996 QPR 3 Norwich 2 (Peacock, Dichio, Mcdermott)

1997 Portsmouth 3 QPR 1 (Sheron)

1998 QPR 2 Norwich 0 (Murray Peacock)

1999 Norwich 2 QPR 1

2000 QPR 2 Norwich 3

2001 QPR 0 Brighton 0

2002 QPR 2 Wycombe 1 (Rose, Gallen)

2003 Notts County 3 QPR 3

2004 Plymouth 2 QPR 1

2005 Brighton 1 QPR 0

2006 Birmingham 2 QPR 1

2007 Plymouth 2 QPR 1 (Ainsworth)

"DOUBLE HEADERS"
- One of the things that evoke nostalgia was the old home and away games against the same team, over Christmas or Easter - sometimes even on consecutive days. Not quite clear why this ended: whether it was too punishing on the players (especially in the time of train or bus transportation); but end it did (as did the three games in four or five days over Easter).
The last time this occurred, was forty years ago in QPR's 1967/68 Promotion season. QPR's opponents: Plymouth Argyle, away on Boxing Day! (And four days later, Plymouth at Loftus Road.) On Boxing Day, 1967, QPR won at Plymouth 1-0 through a Mike Keen penalty. Four days later, QPR completed their double, by defeating Plymouth 4-1 at Loftus Road. Rodney Marsh, 2 and Mike Keen 2. Springett, Clement Hazell Keetch Harris, Morgan, Keen, Sanderson, Morgan, McGovern, Marsh. (Mick McGovern making his QPR debut) (In the 'return game', Wilks replaced McGovern.
- Before that: In 1966/67 played Brighton (H) 3-0 and next day away (2-2). In 1964/65: QPR were at Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day, and then a couple of days later, home to Bristol Rovers. In 1963/64, over Easter, QPR played Wrexham at home; Reading the next day and then Wrexham a couple of days later. And so one

SOME PAST BOXING DAY QPR TEAMS

Boxing Day 2007 - Plymouth 2-1 QPR 1
QPR: Camp, Barker, Bolder, Buzsaky (Blackstock, 78), Ainsworth, Rowlands (Nygaard, 67), Walton, Malcolm, Vine, Rehman, Leigertwood.Subs: Cole, Moore, Kanyuka.
Goals: Ainsworth (19) Bookings: Buzsaky (30), Rowlands (45), Ainsworth (51), Walton (52), Bolder (70), Nygaard (76), Leigertwood (90) - Match Report

Boxing Day 2006 Birmingham 2 QPR 1
QPR Royce, Bignot, Mancienne, Rehman, Stewart,Milanese (Rowlands 75), Bircham (Bailey 59), Smith, Cook,Furlong, Blackstock (Ray Jones 81). Subs Not Used: Cole, Ward. Sporting Life

Boxing Day 2004 - Plymouth 2 QPR 1
QPR Day, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Padula (Edghill 70), Miller (Best 45), Rowlands, Gallen, Cook (Ainsworth 73), Bircham, Furlong. Subs Not Used: Bean, McLeod. Sporting Life

Boxing Day 2002, QPR 2 Wycombe 1
QPR's squad: Chris Day, Clarke Carlisle, Terrell Forbes, Matthew Rose, Richard Langley, Steve Palmer, Brett Angell, Marc Bircham, Lee Cook, Nicky Culkin, Paul Furlong, Kevin Gallen, Daniel Shittu, Andy Thomson

Boxing Day, 1999 Norwich 2 QPR 1
QPR: Miklosko, Breacker, Baraclough, Ward, Darlington, Plummer, Wardley, Langley, Murray (Gallen 89), Steiner, Kiwomya. Subs Not Used: Bankole, Kulcsar, McGovern, Bruce Sent Off: Langley (89). Booked: Langley. Goals: Wardley 40. Sporting Life

Boxing Day, 1997 Portmouth 3 QPR 1
- Victory for bottom of the table Portsmouth! QPR: Roberts, Yates, Brazier, Quashie, Ready, Maddix, Spencer (Gallen 74), Peacock, Murray, Sheron, Sinclair. Subs Not Used: Barker, Perry. Goals: Sheron 31. Sporting Life

Boxing Day 1968 - QPR 0 WBA 4
Ron Springett - Harris Keetch Hazell Watson - Keen Hunt R. Morgan - Bridges Clarke Marsh - Allen (sub)

Boxing Day 1967: Plymouth 0 QPR 1
On Boxing Day, 1967, QPR won at Plymouth 1-0 through a Mike Keen penalty. (Four days later, QPR completed their double, by defeating Plymouth 4-1 at Loftus Road. Rodney Marsh, 2 and Mike Keen 2.) QPR's team at Plymouth: Springett, Clement Hazell Keetch Harris, Morgan, Keen, Sanderson, Morgan, McGovern, Marsh.

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-[As noted on the blog posting below (at the end of the posting), Scott Donnelly Turned 21 today.]

Daily Mail - Ben Watson is ready to stun Queens Park Rangers by joining Middlesbrough next month.
- QPR were convinced the Crystal Palace midfielder would be heading for Loftus Road in the January transfer window, after first registering an interest in him last season, but are set to be pipped by a late move from Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate.
- After reluctantly sanctioning Gary O'Neil's request for a return to Portsmouth in the New Year, Southgate began the search for a suitable replacement and quickly set his sights on England under-21 midfielder Watson.
- The 23-year old is due to become a free agent at the end of the season, after resisting overtures from Palace manager Neil Warnock to sign a new deal, and can be snapped up for a knockdown £1million next month.
- Southgate is willing to meet the asking price after identifying his combative approach as the ideal way of covering for O'Neil's imminent departure.
- Homesick O'Neil is anxious to seal a move back to the south coast and is seen by Portsmouth manager Tony Adams as a ready-made replacement for Lassana Diarra, following his £20million move to Real Madrid.
- QPR had a £1.25million bid for Watson rejected at the end of last season and will be bitterly frustrated if the London-born prospect opts for proving himself in the Barclays Premier League with Middlesbrough ahead of remaining in the Capital.
Watson has had no shortage of admirers and underlined his standing as one of the Coca Cola Championship's outstanding midfielders by scoring both Palace goals in last season's 4-2 aggregate defeat by Bristol City in last season's promotion play-off semi-final. " Mail

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Visit the somewhat different QPR Report Messageboard for a mix of articles and videos of- interest; QPR nostalgia; and posters opinions about QPR. All views welcome.
- Old QPR Video Snippets - Old QPR Strips - Old QPR Photos - Old QPR Programme Covers

QPR Official Site - December 25, 2008 - HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Dear Supporter,
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a fun-filled New Year.
Your support over the last 12 months has been incredible and we - the Board, management staff and players alike - are all eternally grateful.
2009 has the potential to be a very special year for the Club and with your on-going support, we can achieve our goals and objectives.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
QPR Board of Directors


December 25, 2007 - QPR Official Site - HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
-Dear Supporter,
- We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a fun-filled New Year.
- Your support over the last 12 months has been exceptional and each and every one of you has played a part in both the 2006/07 and 2007/08 Coca Cola Championship campaigns.
- Your fanatical support in these difficult times is much appreciated, and rest assured, we will be doing everything within our powers to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window, as we attempt to pull ourselves clear of the relegation zone in the Championship.
- The new investors are determined to bring the glory days back to W12 and with your continued support; we firmly believe we can achieve our goals.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
QPR Board of Directors


Christmas Greetings 2006 - QPR Official Site - December 25, 2006 - QPR RESPONSE TO DAILY EXPRESS
- QPR Official Site: Official Club statement by Antonio Caliendo and Gianni Paladini.
- We owe it to QPR fans to respond to the allegations made in the Daily Express on Saturday in an article entitled "Are Rangers Going bust?"
- The article was misleading in many respects and we can assure our many supporters that there is no possibility of QPR going bust whilst we remain on board.
- We have seen too many attacks on QPR in the press that simply don't reflect the reality of today's situation. It seems there is always someone who wants to discredit our club.
- Our goal remains the same as always: to take QPR to the highest position in English football. Despite injuries and recent results, we believe John Gregory will be able to take QPR back to the position it was in when he played for the Club.
We accept that talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. We will only ever prove our critics wrong by taking the Club forward, and we are 100 per-cent committed to continuing with that.
- Finally, we would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of the staff and fans of QPR a very happy Christmas and a successful New Year.
Antonio Caliendo - Chairman of QPR Holdings
Gianni Paladini - Chairman of QPR FC QPR Official Site QPR


QPR Official Site - Christmas 2005 - HAPPY CHRISTMAS
QPR/Snow Photo
- Everyone at QPR would like to wish our fans a very happy Christmas and we would like to thank you for your support in 2005. QPR


QPR Official Site - Christmas 2004 - MERRY CHRISTMAS From Bill Power
- On behalf of everybody at the club I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, the finest fans in the land, for your amazing continued support.
- We are only half way through the season so we still have a long way to go but with you all there alongside Ollie and the team, I am certain the best of this season is yet to come.
- There is no need to ask what you all want for Christmas and hope for in the new year and I am just as sure that Ollie and the lads will do their best to give you all what you wish for.
- Thank you again and Merry Christmas from Kevin, Antonio, Carlos and Gianni.
And my very best wishes to you all. Bill


QPR Official Site - 2004 MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Rangers manager Ian Holloway offers his own very special Christmas message to all QPR fans.
It's been quite a year for the club and at this time of reflection, Ollie speaks to Rangers fans everywhere.
To listen to or watch Ollie's message, simply click on one of the icons below.
In the meantime though, and on behalf of everyone at Loftus Road, qpr.co.uk would also like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.


QPR Christmas 2002 - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY
Merry Christmas to you all from everyone at QPR! We hope you have a wonderful day and we look forward to seeing you at Loftus Road tomorrow for the Boxing Day clash with Wycombe. Kick off is at Midday.
In the meantime, you can download a QPR Christmas greeting by right-clicking on the icon below and then 'save target as'.


Christmas 1999 - GERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS
WITH the Rangers team training over the Christmas period, Gerry Francis has a special seasonal greeting for all our supporters.
- Gerry says:" The team have worked very, very hard this year. There's been a great improvement and we are in a reasonable position in the league.
"I hope the fans have a tremendous Christmas because they deserve it for the support they've given me. Also I hope we get a bit of luck in there with all these injury problems that we're having. It's been a bit frustrating, having started the season so well and now knowing that I've got some very good players that are not available for selection.
- "So well done the supporters, well done the players. Hopefully we can have a good Christmas and a Happy New Year."
- Team news for Sunday - Steiner(groin) and Baraclough(virus) will hope to shake off the problems that kept them out of the win at Torquay. Loan signing Darran Ward comes back into contention after being ineligible for the FA Cup. Rangers still have nine first team players out injured.


Christmas 1998 QPR Official Site - CHRIS' CHRISTMAS CHEER
RANGERS chairman Chris Wright has a special seasonal message to the supporters.
He says: "I would like to wish all of our wonderful fans a great Christmas. Enjoy your Christmas Day and get to the ground early on Boxing Day - it’s a 12 noon kick-off as everyone knows. So let’s get some atmosphere going for the Norwich game."
"I’m sure we’ll get a bumper crowd. And the best Christmas present will hopefully be three points on Boxing Day. That’s certainly the Christmas present that I want most! Hopefully the lads on the pitch will be able to deliver it for me."


Christmas 1998 -MERRY GERRY FRANCIS
RANGERS boss Gerry Francis extends Christmas greetings via the internet to supporters around the globe.
Gerry says: "I’d like to wish Rangers fans all over the world a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
"I thank you for your great support, especially since I’ve been back. You’ve got behind the team and the players have responded."
"We need to keep that going and certainly it’s going to be very important that we get as many points as we can over the Christmas period. With the crowd behind us, it helps the players and it helps me."
"So, have a lovely Christmas, we’ll see you all the Norwich game on Boxing Day and let’s hope we get the three points."
Team news for Rangers' clash with Norwich at Loftus Road on Boxing Day:
Lee Harper is ruled out with flu, but overall Rangers expect to be unchanged.


SCOTT DONNELLY
Ex-QPR Scott Donnelly Turns 21-Born December 25, 1987
Donnelly made 13 league appearances (3 full, + 10 as sub). Made his debut as a 16 year old in October 2004, against Preston. Released last year, Donnelly joined Wealdstone. He's currently at Garry Waddock's Aldershot. See also: Wikipedia/Donnelly


What Donnelly Said in February 2007, re his QPR Departure
Scott sets his sights on league comeback - Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times
SCOTT Donnelly is determined to prove John Gregory wrong for booting him out of QPR - despite dropping down five divisions to kick-start his career.
Donnelly, one of eight Rangers players to be axed by Gregory last month, has been tur ning out for Southern League strugglers Wealdstone in recent weeks.
But the midfield playmaker - once rated as the best prospect to emerge from the yo uth set-up at Loftus Road for several years - is confident of returning to the Football League sooner rather than later.
Referring to his exit from QPR, the 19-year-old told the Times: "I saw it coming, to be honest. I'd been training with the youth team and you pick up signs that you're not really wanted.
"No disrespect to John Gregory or Richard Hill, they'd decided on their squad and unfortunately I wasn't in it.
"It's a kick in the teeth, but I've got to be strong enough to get back in there and make them regret releasing me. Hopefully it won't be long and I'll be back, maybe playing against QPR, who knows?
"When D-Day came, I didn't want to go - not only leaving some of the lads and that, also QPR was a good club to be at. But hopefully I've taken a step back to take two steps forward and I want to achieve that soon."
Donnelly was just 16 when he made his first-team debut for Rangers at Preston and had become a regular on the substitutes' bench by the end of Ian Holloway's reign at the club.
The youngster also featured significantly under Gary Waddock - his old youth team boss - but was given just one appearance by Gregory, against Derby last October.
Offloaded in January, Donnelly had a brief trial at Leyton Orient before John O'Brien, formerly QPR's head of recruitment, recommended him to Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett.
"I got a phone call from Gordon about a month ago and he asked me if I wanted to come down, play a couple of games and keep myself ticking over until I found something else," said Donnelly.
"I hadn't played for quite a few weeks, so I jumped at the chance and I'm enjoying myself again. It's just around the corner, so it's easy to get to and I'm trying to get back into the swing of playing football regularly."
So far, the midfielder has played five matches in a Stones shirt and, while the hurly-burly of Southern League football often passes him by, there is little doubt that his ability on the ball exceeds any other at this level.
Wealdstone have won four of those five games and Bartlett has made it clear he intends to get as much as he can out of the youngster, describing him as 'a good player with a lovely attitude'.
Donnelly added: "I can't wait to get back into the Football League - this is a stepping stone and the manager knows what I'm here for. He's very understanding of that.
"I'm more motivated now than in the last few weeks I spent at QPR and when something does come along, I'll be fit, ready and raring to go. Kilburn Times

January 2007 - QPR OFFICIAL SITE - DONNELLY DEPARTS
QPR midfielder Scott Donnelly has had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
The 19 year-old - who made just three starts for the R's in all competitions, as well as featuring a further 11 times from the bench - has left the Club with immediate effect.
Another product of the clubs Centre of Excellence, Donnelly signed a professional contract with the Superhoops in December 2005, just days before his 18th birthday.
Donnelly - who has previously represented England at Under-17 level - made nine appearances in total during the 2005/06 campaign.
However, he has failed to make an impact under the guidance of gaffer John Gregory and has today parted company with the Club. QPR

Past QPR's Official Site Profile -Another product of the clubs Centre of Excellence, teenager Scott Donnelly signed a professional contract with the Superhoops in December 2005, just days before his 18th birthday.Donnelly, who has previously represented England at under 17 level, made nine appearances in total during the 2005/06 campaign, including a strong display at Ewood Park - the home of Blackburn Rovers - in the FA Cup third round.
A talented playmaker, Donnelly is a set-piece specialist, with the unique ability to unlock the meanest of defences with an inch-perfect through ball.

Donnelly was on the Italy tour with QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - JULY 2006 DAY ONE -SCOTT DONNELLY
QPR's pre-season trip has begun and each day we'll be catching up with the latest happenings with our players' diary entries.
Today a home sick Scott Donnelly told qpr.co.uk how his first day had been as Gary Waddock walked past three times, unable to get his door key to open his room.
Despite the fact that Monday was pencilled in as a rest day for the players - an hour long meeting this morning, followed by a pre-match meal left little time for any play.
A local tailor then came to measure the players for matching suits and then it was off to Sorrento.
Here's how Scott Donnelly has found the first day of his first trip abroad.
"I didn't mind the flight, it was a nice steady journey all the way - there were a couple of the lads who don't enjoy it as much but thankfully they got here in one piece!
The hotel is unbelievable and the food is lovely. The people are really friendly as well, they just can't understand us!
The pool looks nice, but it's been all work so far and none of us have had a chance to go in it yet.
We had a meeting this morning to go over what we'd be doing throughout the week and what our schedule will be.
We went through everything to do with pre-season so far. We were given the opportunity to go through things that we didn't like, but hardly anyone had any complaints.
It's been spot on throughout and there wasn't very much negative feedback at all. In fact, the only complaints were that some of the lads wanted to do MORE training.
Then we went through tonight's game against Sorrento and talked about how we're going to approach it.
I'm rooming with Jake Cole, I get on really well with him and he's in the same boat as me.
It was a massive thing for me that I got picked to come here and really was made up, this is my first trip away with QPR and it's great to be here and it's a great experience.
I've never been to Italy before, but I'd definitely come back with my family or my girlfriend. I'd like to be able to order my food and drink on my own though without having to ask Mauro or Marc!
I'm looking forward to the game tonight; I've never played a foreign team before so this will be a bit of a change for me." QPR

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UPDATED: TEAMTALK Bhatia happy with Rangers progress
- QPR Holdings Ltd vice-chairman Amit Bhatia is pleased with the progress made by the club during his first year at Loftus Road.
- The wealthy businessman is determined to guide Rangers to success, and believes Paulo Sousa's men are set for a bright future if this year is anything to go by.
- He told the club's official website: "I'd say it's been exciting, it's been challenging, but none the less we've had a great time
- "I think that there is a marked improvement in the club, as compared to last season I think we are far more competitive this season, which goes a long way to show we are making strides in the right direction.
- "There is a hell of a lot of work to be done still but as we always said it's a long-term plan and the idea is to build from the ground up, and I think if this is the start of the foundations we are laying, I think we are pleased.
- "It's only 12 months which is a very short time. This is a long-term commitment and a long term project, so I like to think we are on the right path to go ahead and to take the club to new heights." Teamtalk


QPR Official Site - LONG TERM SUCCESS
"Amit Bhatia talks about the upcoming transfer window - and naming his son after Rangers!" - Bhatia on QPR World

[Unfortunately, at things stand now, limited to subscribers of QPR World: Hear the views of QPR Holdings Vice Chairman, Amit Bhatia!]

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Visit the somewhat different QPR Report Messageboard for an eclectic mix of articles and opinions.


QPR Official Site - VINE'S EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT
- Rowan Vine's comeback from the fractured leg injury that has kept him sidelined since early April took a positive twist today (Wednesday), with the news that the strikers' latest surgery was a glowing success.
- The 26 year-old front-man sustained the injury during a freak training ground incident at the end of last season, but has suffered a frustrating waiting game since then.
- However, following scan results today, Vine is set to step up his rehabilitation in the next few days, as Head Physio, Paul Hunter, explained: "The second operation has gone very well," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "The surgeon is very happy with the outcome and the fracture itself is showing great signs of recovery.
- "We've had the green light to increase the intensity of Rowan's training program, which is a massive boost for everyone connected to the Club."
Hunter was reluctant to forecast a date for Vine's return, but added: "We've got another X-Ray scheduled in for six weeks time, and we are confident that will be the final time he has to visit the surgeon.
- "Rowan is very relieved, as we all are, and we can really kick on from here in terms of his rehabilitation.
- "He's been a model professional throughout the rehabilitation process and now there's some light at the end of the tunnel, I'm sure he'll show an even greater desire to return to the fold as soon as possible." QPR


BBC - Sousa eager to bring in new faces
- Queens Park Rangers manager Paulo Sousa says he has a Christmas wish-list but is happy with his current squad if he cannot sign new faces in January.
- Rangers visit Charlton on Boxing Day hoping to climb into the Championship play-off positions.
- Sousa told BBC London 94.9: "I know already what we need to increase our quality as a team.
- "The club knows what I want, if we get them it's good for us. If we don't, for me, we have enough."
Rangers are just a point off the play-offs going into Friday's match at the Valley but have struggled away from home this season.
Charlton, meanwhile, are joint bottom of the table but Sousa says he is not underestimating his London rivals.
He added: "I said after my first game here against Charlton it is one of the best teams playing football and I hope they start to win but after they play us." BBC


This is Nottingham - Camp wants to stay at Forest
- Lee Camp is hoping to extend his stay at Nottingham Forest and "complete the job" by steering the club clear of relegation trouble. But he admitted: "It's out of my hands."
- Reds boss Colin Calderwood is keen to sign the QPR keeper and fellow loan signing Joel Lynch permanently, but he admits there is some work to be done before that can happen.
- Camp and Brighton defender Lynch are on lengthy contracts at their parent clubs, and both could play their last game for Forest at Norwich on Sunday.
Camp said: "It's not really 'job done' for me, because I came here to see things through. But it's out of my hands.
- "Players have a certain amount of power but they are also contracted to clubs, and we have to do as we are told.
- "If it all ends after Norwich I have had a fantastic couple of months here. I have some great memories – not least going back to Pride Park and saving that last-minute penalty."
- Calderwood says Forest are in negotiations with QPR, who are understood to be willing to sell Camp. The Reds are also talking to Brighton about Lynch.
- "We are progressing, we are talking to the clubs and the players," the Reds boss said. "We will try to sort things out so they are playing with us in the second half of the season.-
- "In a perfect world we are looking to make them permanent signings.
- "But our league position and what the other clubs want to do are factors."
Camp has another three-and-a-half seasons to run on his contract at Loftus Road, while Lynch is understood to have two-and-a-half years remaining on his deal.
Calderwood said: "Lee's (contract) is more of a problem than Joel's.
- "I want to keep them both. They have both played an important role for us.
"Lee in particular has had a major impact in the dressing room, with his maturity, and Joel is another young player and made a big impression early on. ...." Nottingham Evening Post


Mirror/Oliver Holt - QPR are a tasty dish
Went to Loftus Road to see QPR vs Preston on Saturday. The Cipriani food in a directors' lounge that puts Chelsea to shame was great.
The Preston chairman looked like he'd died and gone to heaven. The football wasn't bad, either. In new boss Paulo Sousa, owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone may just have unearthed a gem. Mirror

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Visit the somewhat different QPR Report Messageboard for a mix of articles and opinions.

- Two Rangers Heroes from different eras: Stan Bowles and Brian Bedford share a milestone birthday today. Stan Bowles turns sixty. Brian Bedford turns seventy-five

Stan Bowles, turns Sixty: Born December 24, 1948...

Stan Bowles in Photos - Brief Bowles video snippets : -- Stan Bowles couple of seconds.......Bowles invovlement in 1975 Goal of the season......(and as posted yesterday)1977 Video of QPR (with Don Givens, Stan Bowles and Leighton James at home to Manchester United [Additional Bowles video clips welcome!)

It's almost thirty years since Stan Bowles played his last professional game for QPR, and still the memories linger on. The man who, in the eye of fans, superceeded Rodney Marsh as THE greatest at QPR! (Last year, supporters of every club were asked to pick their all time favourite player for their club. QPR fans selected Stan Bowles. (So did Brentford fans!)

Say QPR and #10 and the shirt belongs to either Marsh or Bowles....
For anyone old enough to remember the early 1970s: The despair at QPR/The End of the World: When Rodney left QPR in March 1972....And then six months later, the signing of Bowles joining (an already rampant) QPR under Gordon Jago...
Bowles made his QPR debut versus Nottingham Forest - September 16, 1972 after QPR paid a record transfer fee of 110,000 pounds.....Made the first; scored the second
Gordon Jago signed Forward/Midfielder Stan Bowles for QPR in September 1972 paying Carlisle 110,000 pounds (a then-record for QPR). Bowles played 250+ games scoring 70 league goals. Tommy Docherty sold him to Nottingham Forest in December 1979 for 250,000 pounds.
Bowles helped QPR to promotion in his first season and of course was an integral part of the 1975/76 "Championship" Side.
The only question for QPR fans is who was QPR's greatest-ever: Stan Bowles or Rodney Marsh...
Recent fan surveys give that title to Bowles. In a recent PFA Poll of fans, fans of each club were asked to vote for the best player in their club's history. For QPR fans, the vote went to Stan Bowles. (For Brentford fans, the vote went to...Stan Bowles!)

September 1972: Bowles Joins QPR
Bowles made his debut at home to (pre-Brian Clough's) Nottingham Forest, September 16, 1972, two or three days after signing from Carlisle for a club-record 110,000 pounds. Bowles, wearing from that very first game, HIS #10 shirt. Within an hour, he had made the first goal for Don Givens...and scored the second...as Gordon Jago's QPR won 3-0 (Andy McCulloch getting the third). And QPR, of course, went on to promotion.
QPR's team that day.
Parkes
Clement Evans Hazell Watson
Venables Francis Busby
Givens Bowles Mcculloch
Sub: Salvage

From Bowles' autobiography "Stan The Man"
"I was 23 years old when I joined Queens Park Rangers in September 1972, for a then club record fee of 112,000 pounds...
"Rodney had made the No. 10 shirt his own, and, since he moved, no one wanted to tough the thing....The shirt thing didn't seem a big deal to me. I hadn't really heard of Rodney Marsh. So I just shrugged and said: "If no one wants it, I'll wear it."...
"...[A]s luck would have it, I scored one and made another for Don Givens in my first game - against Nottingham Forest on September 16th, 1972. We won 3-0, and the fans seemed to take to my style of play; which, to them, was a bit like Rodney's"(Stan The Man, page 33)

- Seven Years later, Bowles finally left QPR - ironically for Nottingham Forest (by then managed by Brian Clough).

25 October 2007 - Bowle-r hat: Stan Bowles’s England cap is going under the hammer
THE first England cap won by one of Carlisle United’s most colourful and talented players is expected to fetch up to £6,000 when it is auctioned next week.
The light green velvet cap was awarded to Stan Bowles when he made his debut for England against Portugal in Lisbon on April 3, 1974, not long after leaving Brunton Park. It will be auctioned at Bonhams in Chester next Wednesday.
The signing of Stan Bowles, from Crewe for £14,000 in October 1971, was one of the best bits of business in Carlisle United’s history.
For less than a year later,in September 1972, Carlisle sold him to Queens Park Rangers for £112,000.
Carlisle needed someone who could score goals after selling prolific striker Bob Hatton – 38 goals in 93 league appearances – to Birmingham for £90,000. So manager Ian Macfarlane swiftly moved for Bowles, who made his debut for Carlisle, alongside John Gorman,Stan Ternent and Chris Balderstone, in the 2-1 win against Oxford United at Brunton Park on October 30, 1971.
He went on to become Carlisle’s joint top scorer that season.
At QPR, Bowles scored 71 goals in 255 league appearances and became a legend. In 2004, QPR fans affectionately voted him the club’s greatest ever player.
It was at Manchester City that Bowles started gambling and it was an addiction that nearly wrecked his promising football career before it really started.
Bowles admitted: “I’ve never tried to stop the gambling.It’s part of me and has been pretty much all of my adult life.I was an apprentice at City earning £7 a week,but I’d run the bets across the town for a Manchester gang, from pub to pub, when it was illegal to do that. I was earning more doing that than I was from football.That’s how I got myself into trouble at City, because I wasn’t turning up for training.”
One of the final straws was when he failed to turn up at Manchester airport to join City team-mates as they set off for a friendly against Ajax in Holland. He claimed later that he had over-slept.
Years later he admitted : “I had everything going for me and tossed it out of the window.”
He became a friend of George Best, who starred for City’s arch rivals, Manchester United. Bowles said : “I used to enjoy a drink with George Best.
“He was telling me one day about the statue of him they had put in Belfast. I told him there was one of me outside Ladbrokes.”
During his career Bowles frequently clashed with authority and fell out with several managers, including Malcolm Allison, Brian Clough and Tommy Docherty.
Stan Bowles won five England caps, but his fans think he should have won more.
Next year he will celebrate his 60th birthday. News and Star


Bowles and Current QPR Officials Still Close?
Bowles did have a very strong relationship with QPR. However the last public reference to Bowles was in September when this article appeared in The People
- Sunday People/Peter Ward - 28 September 2008 - TIGHT Rs BLASTED
EXCLUSIVE
- QPR legend Stan Bowles has branded the club's billionaire owners skinflints after being sidelined from his hospitality role.
"Billionaires? They're tighter than a coat of paint," said Bowles, 59, once voted Loftus Road's greatest ever player.
- Rangers are owned by Formula One big wheels Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.
- Bowles said: "On the last day of last season Iwas asked on the pitch to draw a raffle. Then I was told there was no budget left to pay me.
"This season I was asked to unveil the new mascot, which was a man dressed up as a furry aeroplane - I suspect he was on more money than I was.
"I was handed £100 which didn't even cover my train fare"
He was due to act as a club ambassador again - but says the club have never got back to him. Sunday People

See Also:

Bowles

Bowles Record II

Bowles England Profile

See: Dave's Queens Park Rangers - Bowles
See Bowles QPR Cult Hero BBC-Bowles

Bowles Book Reviewed - WSC - Bowles

Bowles -Wikipedia

Profiled as an ex-Crewe Player - Bowles

RIAN VINER INTERVIEWS - Stan Bowles: 'Clough, Brooking, Eriksson Brian Viner, The Independent, October 13, 2005


BRIAN BEDFORD TURNS 75

Stan Bowles rightly receives much attention as the QPR hero born on Christmas Eve. But there is another great QPR hero also born on that day: Brian Bedford. Bedford Turns 75 today: Born December 24, 1933.
In 250+ league games for QPR, between 1959 and 1965 (all in the old Third Division) with Alec Stock as manager, Bedford scored 160+ goals. Joined QPR from Bournemouth in 1959. Went to Scunthorpe in September 1965 (Six months before Rodney Marsh arrived at Loftus Road)
1959-60 25 goals
1960-61 33 goals
1961-62 34 goals
1962-63 23 goals
1963-64 23 goals
1964-65 23 goals
1965-66 1 goal

QPR Official Site - BLAST FROM THE PAST - Brian Bedford

In our latest instalment of exclusive past player interviews on www.qpr.co.uk, former R's front-man Brian Bedford comes under the spotlight.

Brian Bedford (1959-1965)

Dexter Blackstock had a fantastic campaign for Queens Park Rangers in 2006/07, notching 14 goals; and Patrick Agyemang has made an immediate goalscoring impact since his January transfer from Preston North End.

But what would be the modern day value of a striker who was guaranteed to score a minimum of 25 goals for the R's every year? One such player from the past was Brian Bedford.

In his six full seasons at Loftus Road, Bedford scored a grand total of 180 goals. His lowest tally was 25 in 1963/64. His highest was a staggering 39 in 1961/62, thereby equalling George Goddard's record from 1929/30 for the all-time QPR record of League and Cup goals scored by one player in a season.

Bedford was born in Wales and joined Rangers from Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in July 1959. He remembers the transfer with some amusement.

"When I signed for QPR, Alec Stock had just been named as the new Manager," said Bedford.

"I travelled up to West London to be interviewed by the Club and Alec said 'You'll score 30 goals a year for me son!' Just like that! So I said 'You're joking?' as my record down at Bournemouth was something like 32 goals over three years. But Alec said 'Yes you will!' And he wasn't far wrong, was he?"

Stock's all-out attacking policy was really beneficial for the strikers at Rangers and Bedford was happy to rattle home goals by the truckload.

"Alec played a big part in my goalscoring. We used to play with those old fashioned players called wingers. We always seemed to get good wide men at the Club like Mark Lazarus who could provide excellent crosses. So I was the benefactor of that.

"Then we would have one inside-forward who dropped deep. I was the inside-right and I would play up front alongside the centre-forward.

"Bernie Evans was my strike partner in my first few years at Rangers. He was a big, strong boy who was pretty useful in the air. So it was just sort of...BANG...flick on...run on...BANG...GOAL...and that's it! Very simple stuff.

"I was a very direct and hard-running player. I could hit the ball with both feet and I was good with my headers.

"I've still got the pen, plaque and two trophies that the QPR Supporters' Club presented me with for my goals in the 1961/62 season. I got six hat-tricks that year, including four in a game against Southend United.

"I recall that the top wage in the Third Division - which Rangers were in at the time - was about £35 to £40 a week. Ridiculous really! But it was still much better than the average working man's salary. Not only that, as far as I was concerned I was getting paid for something I loved doing. That was a big thing for me.

"There was certainly much more emphasis on attacking football in those days than there is today. A lot of teams nowadays play with just one lone striker, which I think is ludicrous. I call it 'dinosaur football.'

"When I see one man up front on his own, I feel so sorry for him, because he is on a hiding to nothing and it is not good entertainment for the fans."

After his great goalscoring adventures, Bedford eventually left Rangers to sign for Scunthorpe United in September 1965. It was a time of great change at Loftus Road.

"Jim Gregory was appointed as Chairman of QPR and he started pouring some money in with new players being signed. Unfortunately, I was just starting to go a little bit over the hill as far as age was concerned. I was nearly 32 years old then. The Club had to offload some of the playing staff and I was one of them, I'm afraid.

"I had six very happy seasons at Rangers. Then they transferred me to that Godforsaken place called Scunthorpe! I don't think Alec Stock wanted me to sign for any other London team or any nearby club in case I embarrassed him.

"It was very sad. I didn't like leaving Loftus Road. But you have to move on don't you? That's life."

Following spells with Scunthorpe United and then Brentford, Brian Bedford's football career started to wind down - but he continued to work in the sporting environment after hanging up his boots.

"In 1967, I went over to America to sign for a soccer team called Atlanta Chiefs. While I was out there, I started playing tennis. We had outdoor courts that were floodlit so we used to play well into the evening.

"I became a little bit addicted as I knew my time in football was more-or-less over. So when I returned to the United Kingdom, I became a professional tennis coach. I did it until my knees gave out and so I retired from that.

"Then I returned to QPR as Stadium Manager in the late 1980's for five years. It was a bit archaic compared to what they have at the Club now. There was only me running the whole ground to begin with, although eventually I managed to get a plumber to help out as the place was falling apart!

"I can remember one year when we had a very severe frost. Rangers were due to play Southampton on the Saturday and there were problems everywhere around the stadium. Most of the toilets were leaking and the overhead pipes were burst. So we stayed until four o'clock in the morning before the game repairing everything! We didn't get much money for it, but there you are."

Brian Bedford is now 73 and lives just outside Cardiff. He keeps himself busy on the local golf courses and continues to watch out for all of the R's results.

"I'm a golfing fanatic! But unfortunately, I'm having a lot of trouble with my legs at the moment so I am going to have to buy myself a buggy.

"It is hardly surprising when you consider the amount of strain I have put on my body over the years. One doctor said to me 'This is pay-back time!' It is poor circulation I think.

"I still follow football and the first score I always look for is QPR. I wish the Club well, I really do. They were really good times for me at Loftus Road - the best days of my life actually." QPR

- See Also Dave's QPR Site - Brian Bedford

- QPR Net Interview with Brian Bedford - QPR Net/Bedford

- See Wikipedia - Bedford

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and videos; opinions and memories. 1977 Video QPR at home to Manchester United

Kilburn Times/Ben Kosky - The Iceman cometh
- QPR have agreed a deal to keep Saturday's two-goal hero Heidar Helguson at Loftus Road when the transfer window opens next week.
- Helguson is currently on loan from Bolton and Rangers boss Paulo Sousa offered a vague response when asked about the Icelandic striker's future following the 3-2 victory over Preston.
- But the Times understands that arrangements for a permanent transfer have already been concluded, with Rangers paying a fee in the region of £750,000 for the former Watford and Fulham forward's signature.
- Helguson's first-half double against Preston took his tally to three goals in five appearances - enough to make him the Rs' second highest scorer in Championship games this season.
- The impact made by the 31-year-old striker has kept top scorer Dexter Blackstock on the bench in recent games, but Saturday's match-winner welcomes the increase in competition for himself and fellow strikers Patrick Agyemang and Samuel Di Carmine.
- "Pat's been very unlucky - he's playing really well and it just hasn't landed for him, but I'm sure the goals will come," Blackstock told the Times.
- "It's only good for competition that Heidar's coming in and scoring goals because overall, as a team, we've struggled to score throughout the season. If he can add to that, long may it continue.
- "All we have to do is start picking up points away from home and we'll certainly be in the shake-up at the end of the season."
- Sousa declined to be drawn on transfer targets in the new year and reiterated his faith in the squad he inherited from Iain Dowie, insisting: "They need to understand all of them count in my mind, all of them are important in the team.
- "I believe a lot in my players, I have no doubts. The club know already what I need in January and I think we can get it but if we don't, it's not a problem.
- "This league is so competitive, you need to anticipate the problems and be prepared when they come."
- Rangers will also make Lee Cook's return from Fulham permanent during January and Sousa is reportedly keen to sign a replacement for injured midfielder Akos Buzsaky, who is out for the season.
- And the Rs coach has already made it clear that he is unwilling to accept players foisted on him by owner Flavio Briatore, having shown the door to costly misfit Daniel Parejo last week.
- Parejo was brought in during the summer on loan from Real Madrid as an ill-advised favour to Briatore's friend Ramon Calderon, the Spanish club's president - but he rarely impressed during his 18 appearances for QPR.
- The fact that his weekly earnings exceeded those of every other player at Loftus Road did not do much for dressing room morale either, and Sousa acted quickly to cut short the season-long loan.
- Meanwhile, Blackstock says Rangers are anxious to make amends for last month's 3-0 capitulation at Watford - Sousa's first match in charge - when they take on the Hornets again on Sunday at Loftus Road (kick-off 3pm).
- "We want to win any game at home, but it'd be great to beat Watford and show just how much we've come on as a team," added Blackstock.
- "I know we've really come on since the last time we played them and the football we're playing now is much better."
- Before that, the Rs make the short trip to The Valley for their Boxing Day clash with Charlton (1pm). Kilburn Times


Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times Rangers at home with new League rule
- RESERVE team manager Gareth Ainsworth is confident QPR will be able to cope when the Football League's new homegrown players rule comes into force.
- From the start of next season, League clubs must include at least four players in their matchday squad who have held domestic registration since the age of 18.
- As it stands, almost half of Rangers' current squad would not qualify as 'homegrown', including younger players such as Emmanuel Ledesma and Samuel Di Carmine.
- And that will place an added importance on nurturing domestic talent through the Centre of Excellence and the reserves.
- "It's difficult to pick out individual names," Ainsworth told the Times. "But I'm certain that when the rule does come in, we'll be well prepared for it.
- "At the moment, the reserves are going through an experimental stage - we're trying to mirror what the first team are doing and learn the system, which is common sense really.
- "The gaffer's taking a big interest. He's the kind of guy who will come and look at everyone anyway, he watches all the games and he'll already have an idea of who he wants."
- The new rule, which was agreed by a majority of clubs after last week's meeting at Pride Park, states that a homegrown player must be registered for at least three seasons prior to his 21st birthday.
- But Ainsworth thinks that may create confusion in the case of late arrivals to the professional game, who might not have held registration in England or anywhere else.
- "If we find somebody playing park football who isn't registered with anyone - which is exactly what happened with Angelo Balanta - would he count as a homegrown player?" Ainsworth queried.
- "Ian Wright didn't start playing professional football until much later than most people and he's as English as they come. Would he not have counted as homegrown?"
- Meanwhile, Balanta - who does qualify as homegrown despite being born in Colombia - has extended his loan with League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers until February 14.
Kilburn Times

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and viewpoints -- Highlight of today: Video from The "Big Match" of QPR vs Manchester United at Loftus Road. Stan Bowles, Don Givens and Leighton James for QPR against Man U's Macari, Coppell and Hill and Jim Gregory and Dave Sexton snippets.


- UPDATED: QPR's Youth Coach made Honorary Vice President of Wycombe's Supporters Trust [See below]


Goal.com Parejo Is An Excellent Player - Michel
- The former youth team coach at Real Madrid has stated that he never had any doubt that Dani Parejo should be given a chance and hopes that Juande Ramos will dip into the youth team more often.
- Michel hinted that he did not want Dani Parejo to leave the club on loan in the summer and stated that he was pleased to see the youngster back at the club to be given a chance.
- Los Merengues' former youth team coach helped raise a number of highly-rated starlets that were then denied a first-team chance and he became more and more frustrated.
- Under Juande Ramos things could be changing at the Bernabéu though and Parejo being recalled is one sign that the new coach is ready to call upon the homegrown talent.
- "(Parejo) is an excellent player, just as he was five months ago," Michel was quoted by Marca as saying. The former Madrid midfielder left the club recently after a long stint at the helm of the youth set-up, but he bears no grudges against the side.
"The decisions are no longer mine to take, they are for Real Madrid to take, but it appears to be a good choice and I wish him all the best," Michel continued.
"I hope that they can go on an win the league and the Champions League.
"In my two-and-a-half years at Real Madrid I tried to have the youth players noticed, because some of them are very, very good, like players from the academy have always been." Lucas Brown, Goal.com


QPR Official Site - FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE!
- Over 800 R's fans were in attendance, as Loftus Road played host to the inaugural QPR Family Fun Day today (Tuesday).
- The event, which was free to enter for Season Ticket holders and Members, gave supporters the opportunity to watch a full-length training session, as well as take part in a series of unique experiences.
- Twenty young Hoops fans were given the opportunity to train with Paulo Sousa's First Team squad in a series of small-sided matches, whilst 10 lucky competition winners had the chance to quiz Sousa and co in a mock-up press conference inside the R's recently refurbished press room.
- As well as all that, the day also included a variety of family-related features, including face-painting, a bouncy castle, football freestylers - and even a Santa's Grotto in the QPR Superstore.
- Marketing Manager, Joe Kyle, was delighted with how the day panned out, telling Hoops: "It was a wonderful occasion, a glowing success - and great to see so many families getting into the festive spirit.
- "We pride ourselves on being a Family Club and days like this make you realise just how special this Club is. QPR


UPDATED: This is Local London: QPR's Rhino rejoins the Blues
"FORMER Blues ace Keith Ryan has been made an Honorary Vice President of the [Wycombe] Supporters Trust. Rhino made more than 500 appearances for Wycombe and also represented the club as caretaker manager and coach before he was sacked for ‘financial reasons’.
Now working with the youth team at QPR, Ryan said: “I still have a great relationship with the Wanderers supporters and I think the trust’s role both in representing the supporters and in protecting the heritage of the club is really valuable. I am delighted to be involved.” He follows Karen Adams who was named honorary president last week." This is Local London

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and videos - along with posters' perspectives and memories (all views welcome!) --

A "Worth Watching" Classic Video: QPR vs Manchester United at Loftus Road: Stan Bowles, Don Givens and Leighton James for QPR against Man U's Macari, Coppell and Hill


Mirror - QPR and West Ham battling for Adrien Silva
QPR boss Paulo Sousa is competing with West Ham for the signature of highly-rated Portuguese teenager Adrien Silva. Sporting Lisbon had hoped to hold on to the 19-year-old midfielder until the end of the season, but a move to England in January now looks on the cards. Mirror


Tribal Football - Real Madrid to use Parejo to beat Barcelona for Diame
Real Madrid are ready to use Dani Parejo to clinch an option on Rayo Vallecano midfielder Mohamed Diame. The 21 year-old Frenchman is a target for Real and Barcelona after a superb first-half of the season at Rayo. Real have just re-signed Parejo from QPR, but are ready to send him to Rayo on-loan in exchange for first refusal on Diame - with a deal to be struck at the end of this season. Tribal Football


Update: Tuesday's BBC Gossip "Middlesbrough themselves are hoping to land Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson for £1.5m". (Daily Mirror) BBC Gossip

Croydon Advertiser - Exclusive: Palace want at least £1m for Watson
- Crystal Palace will only allow prized asset Ben Watson to leave the club in January if they receive an offer of at least £1 million, the Advertiser can reveal.
- The future of the red-headed midfielder has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he reject the offer of a new contract at the club in the summer.
- QPR, Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest were all thought to be interested in the former England Under 21 star.
- Warnock revealed last week that he had recently rejected a fresh approach from the Loftus Road club and the Advertiser has since learned that the offer was for £500,000
- In addition to Watson's Championship admirers, the 22-year-old has recently been linked with a move to the Premier League - with Everton, West ham, Fulham and Middlesbrough all reportedly keen on the Eagles academy graduate.
- However the Advertiser understands that any club preparing a January bid for Watson must do so with the intention of putting down a seven figure sum.
The Selhurst Park club are reluctant to part with Watson, particularly with their promotion tilt gathering pace, and are willing to chance their arm on a summer tribunal rather than accept a cut-price deal in the new year.
- And Palace are confident of getting in the region of £1.5m for Watson through a tribunal and are determined not to part with their talented playmaker unless they receive an offer that is at least close to that mark. Croydon Advertiser


QPR Official Site - SPREADING THE FESTIVE CHEER
QPR Holdings Ltd Chairman Flavio Briatore has been doing his bit to spread some festive cheer to the people of Kenya.
During a recent trip to Malindi, where his uniquely beautiful resort 'Lion In The Sun' is based, Briatore visited the local football team, Zegge FC.
And with the support of Lotto Sport Italia, the R's official kit supplier, Briatore presented them with an assortment of boots, kits and footballs.
Supported by QPR, Briatore now sponsors Zegge FC, which translates in the local slang language as 'the ones that cannot be defeated.' QPR


Today is "Family Fun Day" at Loftus Road
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - FAMILY FUN DAY - THE ALL-IMPORTANT DETAILS!
Posted on: Mon 22 Dec 2008
- Tomorrow (Tuesday) marks a unique occasion at Queens Park Rangers Football Club, as we open our doors to all Season Ticket holders and Members, for the Club's inaugural Family Fun Day at Loftus Road.
- Have you ever wondered what goes on down at the R's Harlington Training Ground? Well, now you can find out first hand, as Rangers boss Paulo Sousa and his backroom team put the R's players through their paces during an hour-long training session at Loftus Road…and you could join them!
- We're giving 20 children between the ages of six and 15 the opportunity to train alongside the R's First Team squad for a 15 minute session.
- To enter, simply answer the following question…
From which Club did QPR sign current top-scorer Dexter Blackstock?
Was it… a) Portsmouth b) Southampton c) Chelsea
Send your answer in to joek@qpr.co.uk - with the subject header TRAINING EXPERIENCE - by midday on Monday 22nd December, along with your name, date of birth and daytime contact number.
For those of you who are not fortunate enough to win that unique experience, there's also another opportunity to meet your heroes!
Have you ever wondered what happens in a post match press conference?
Well, now is your opportunity to question Paulo Sousa and two of his First Team squad.
A special Press Conference will be held after the training season, where 10 children (accompanied by their parent / guardian) will get the chance to quiz Sousa et al in the R's luxurious new Press Room.
To enter, e-mail hamishd@qpr.co.uk - with the subject header PRESS CONFERENCE - by midday on Monday 22nd December, along with your name, date of birth and daytime contact number.
If successful for either of these experiences, you will be contacted on Monday afternoon - so stand by your phones!
Entrance on the day is FREE for all Season Ticket and Half-Season Ticket holders and Members, but tickets are limited, so book now!
To guarantee your entrance, e-mail boxoffice@qpr.co.uk with the subject header FAMILY FUN DAY.
Please ensure you include your full name and client reference number.
All you will require to enter on the day is your Season Ticket or Membership card.
Doors open at 10.00am, and supporters should enter via the Loft Lower (Family Stand) entrance on Loftus Road. Disabled supporters should report to the QPR Box Office on arrival.
With the training session running from 10.30-11.30am, the day will also include a variety of family-related features, including face-painting, a bouncy castle, football freestylers - and even a Santa's Grotto in the QPR Superstore, from midday onwards!
Once training concludes, the players will also be on hand to sign autographs and pose for photos - so don't forget to bring your camera along to savour every minute of this truly unique day.
Club Mascot Spark will also be in attendance, while for the adults, there's the opportunity to sample some nice mulled wine at the kiosks!
Enjoy the day - and come on you R's! QPR

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-- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard to read these and numerous other articles; and to read various posts. Your posts very welcome! Some of those articles include:

- Who's Sponsoring Whom? Sponsors of Every Football club in Premiership and football league.

- Simon Walton transfer-listed by Plymouth

- Reposting): Briatore Helping Kenyan Kids.

- Old QPR Video clips: Compilations

- Some Old QPR Photos

- Antonio Caliendo's World Champions Club - Continued Portrayal of QPR

- QPR Kits Over The Years

- From Earlier this year in the Guardian: "Perspective of a QPR Messageboard Reader"

- From Four Years Ago: THen QPR-CEO talking about QPR Youth Development

These and numerous other posts of a similar nature can be found on the very different QPR Report Messageboard.

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles, old videos - and of course: opinions - including, hopefully, yours!

Congratulations to Heidar Helguson and Lee Cook - Championship Team of the Week
-Stephen Bywater Derby
Nathanial Clyne Crystal Palace
Ugo Ehiogu Sheff Utd
James Tomkins Derby
Matthew Hill Wolves
Jamal Campbell Ryce Barnsley
Nick Carle Crystal Palace
Anderson Da Silva Barnsley
Heidar Helguson QPR
Kevin Lisbie Ipswich
Lee Cook QPR
Team of the Week

London Informer/Paul Warburton - Heidar Helguson is QPR ace after gamble
QPR’s Heidar Helguson was last choice for a loan-signing - but may just turn out to be their best hope of a play-off place.
Heidar Helguson notched his second and third goals in a hooped shirt on Saturday to ease Rangers to a vital 3-2 win over Preston at Loftus Road.
Although top-scorer Dexter Blackstock came off the bench to grab his 10th of the season with a looping header to seal the points, manager Paulo Sousa was full of praise for on-loan Helguson.
But Informer Sport can reveal the former Fulham forward was last-chance saloon earlier this month after efforts to borrow both Ched Evans and Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City came to nothing.
An Rs source admitted: "Heidar had been injured, and it was a gamble. But sometimes you throw down an ace."
Rangers will look to make Helguson a permanent £1m signing in January. London Informer


London Informer/Dec 22 2008 By Paul Warburton - Jimmy Bullard on thin ice at Fulham
Brinkmanship can be a dangerous game – especially close to a river – and it could be either Jimmy Bullard or Fulham will take a bath in January.
The Whites midfielder is asking for an improved contract close to £50,000-a-week, but boss Roy Hodgson has already hinted his player’s demands may be a wage-packet too far despite Bullard’s opener in the 3-0 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday.
If contract talks founder, Fulham will want to cash in on a player who has already been a surprise call-up for the England squad this season.
Ben Watson at Crystal Palace, who QPR also want, is the reported target replacement. London Informer

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Dave McIntyre/BBC606 - Steps in the right direction
- Rangers’ victory against Preston was thoroughly deserved – partly because of Paulo Sousa’s decision to go all out for the win with 10 minutes to go.
- Many people who work in the game and whose judgement I trust say that the hallmark of a good manager is a team that can switch formations seamlessly during a match.
- In that case, the early signs are very good for Rangers under Sousa.
- He confirmed after the game that the players had been practising a back-up formation should one be needed during a match.
- He didn’t really need to say this though, because it was obvious from the moment the change was made that the players were very clear about what was happening.
- Managers often change formations and personnel of course, usually when chasing a game.
- But more often than not, this means simply a sticking an extra body up front and switching to 4-3-3 or another system all players are familiar with.
- Saturday’s switch was a bit different. It involved a specific plan for when a win might be slipping away from Rangers and following Preston’s second equaliser, that plan was put into action.
- If a winning goal hadn’t arrived – or even if it had been scored by Preston – the fact such a plan was in place and Sousa was ready to make the change would itself have been an encouraging sign.
- Of course it’s easy to praise a coach/manager after a win or two.
- Most teams initially fare well under a new man and when they don’t, it’s often not something the manager is to blame for.
- These are still very early days for Sousa and although, like all managers, he’ll be judged by what happens on the pitch, what happens off it is just as important – especially at QPR these days.
- I was cynical about whoever took the job. In fact, I argued that it really didn’t matter who the coach/manager was.
- This is because the infrastructure at QPR means that a mere coach will only have a limited influence – no matter how good he is.
- At most clubs, the manager is the public face of an array of staff he relies on heavily.
- Rangers might be cash-rich, but it is still the case that in many important ways they are the poor man of the Championship.
- For example, there is no chief scout or any credible scouting set-up to speak of.
- This is reflected in the club’s transfer policy of trying to use their money to sign Premier League or Championship players who already have a reputation.
- But it affects more than finding players. It also has a major impact on preparations for games and all sorts of other things that have a much bigger impact on results than what the coach does on a Saturday afternoon.
- You can be the best coach in the world but if your tactics are working a treat and the opposition bring on two players you know nothing about and who didn’t play when the opposing side were watched by someone from your club, then you’ve got a problem.
- Background knowledge, contacts in the game and a strong backroom team are so important.
- Think of the great football Rangers played under the excellent Gigi De Canio, but also how many leads were conceded and how many equalisers were scored or set up by a substitute after a change of system by an opposing team.
- The really encouraging thing for Rangers – much more so than a couple of exciting home wins – is that Sousa seems to be taking some steps towards dealing with all this.
- The significance of Dani Parejo’s departure cannot be overstated. It needed to happen in order to undo past mistakes and show the other players who calls the shots.
- Damiano Tomassi’s days at Rangers are also numbered – another sign that the balance in power is shifting towards Sousa.
- And most significantly of all, after swatting up on English players and binging on DVDs, Sousa now seems to be identifying his own transfer targets – an immeasurable step forward for QPR at this stage.
- “He knows what he wants. It’s his way or no way – that’s the bottom line," was how Damion Stewart recently described Sousa's style to me. Others paint a similar picture.
- If this trend continues in 2009, Rangers might be serious promotion candidates. If it doesn’t, no amount of money will ever be enough to get them out of the Championship.
- Stability and good management are much more important than money and if Sousa can bring some of both, Rangers can make real progress.
- You can hear Paulo Sousa’s thoughts on the Saturday’s game by clicking here.
= And look out for my colleague Paul Fletcher’s great blog on his visit to ‘The Boutique’ on a day when, funny enough, the ground actually felt more like the Loftus Road I used to know. BBC 606

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Telegraph/Andrew Warshaw - Lee Cook hoping to end career at Loftus Road
- When Lee Cook left Loftus Road for Fulham in July last year, he gave his £250,000 signing-on fee back to QPR as a parting gift to the club he supported as as a boy and used to watch from the terraces.
- It made him a hero among many QPR fans, so it’s hardly surprising, after an injury-ravaged season in which he didn’t make a single first-team appearance across the capital, that he was welcomed back with open arms for his third spell at Loftus Road.
- Now, he never wants to leave again, especially given the long-term ambitions of the financially revitalised club.
- Inspirational in Rangers’ exciting 3-2 win over Preston on Saturday, their third straight home win under new manager Paulo Sousa, Cook hopes a permanent deal will be “done and dusted” in the January transfer window. Rangers are still outside the playoff positions but Cook says Sousa’s attention to detail is rubbing off on everyone.
- “The one thing that has stood out for me is his tactical awareness. It’s going to take time - he has said that to us - but he goes through every single detail. We’ve completely changed the way we’re playing.
- “From a personal standpoint, I love this place. For me to commit my future here is very much something I want to do. I’ve had to take a step back because I missed a year. The aim is still Premier League football but I’d like it to be with this team.
- Cook aded: “The manager keeps telling me how important he thinks I am. When you have Paulo Sousa telling you that, it’s a big boost.”
- On Saturday, Sousa started with a diamond formation and saw the on-loan Heidar Helguson twice give his team the lead.
- If their first equaliser rounded off the best move of the match, Preston’s second came from a dubious penalty but when Sousa switched formation and stuck Cook out wide, substitute Dexter Blackstock won the game with an expert header from Martin Rowlands’ freekick. Telegraph


Daily Mail/Laura Williamson - QPR 3 Preston 2: Sousa's switch gives Cook the winning feeling
- Lee Cook praised Paulo Sousa's tactical awareness as a double substitution gave Rangers victory.
- The new QPR boss brought on top scorer Dexter Blackstock and Fitz Hall with 10 minutes to go, and Blackstock scored the winner six minutes later, heading Martin Rowlands' free-kick past Preston keeper Andrew Lonergan for his 10th of the season.
Preston had clawed back Heidar Helguson's opener for QPR through a Chris Sedgwick strike, but the Iceland international scored his third goal in two games to give Rangers a 2-1 lead at the break.
- Cook was the provider for both of Helguson's goals and could have claimed the second himself as he revelled in the freedom of Sousa's 4-4-2 diamond formation in an entertaining first half.
- The midfielder said: 'Helguson stole it from me. He got up and celebrated first. I know it was my goal. He owes me one, definitely.'
- But Cook who, like Helguson, is a loan signing at Loftus Road, said he has been impressed by the start the striker has made at the club.
- Cook said: 'We've lacked that kind of player. He's great in the air for his height and he gets in the right positions to score goals.We've missed those kind of players.'
Red-hot Heidar: QPR striker Helguson was on target twice in the deserved win
Yet Helguson's brace looked to have secured only a point when Callum Davidson equalised from the penalty spot after referee Alan Wiley controversially ruled keeper Radek Cerny had brought down Sean St Ledger.
- In step: Chris Sedgwick (right) celebrates his goal with team mate Sean St Ledger
Rangers were denied a penalty of their own three minutes later when Blackstock went down under pressure from Youl Mawene, but the striker grabbed the winner on 86 minutes as Sousa's brave tactical changes were rewarded.
- Cook said of his manager: 'His tactical awareness is something that's stood out for me, and that's going to be really good for us.
- 'He doesn't mind making changes. He put me out wide for a good 20 minutes as an outlet, brought the subs on, completely changed the formation and we ended up winning the game.'
- Preston manager Alan Irvine was left disappointed. 'I think we deserved something,' he said.
- 'In the first half QPR were the better team and I was praying for the half-time whistle to come, but in the second half we were the better team and I thought we would go on to win.' Daily Mail


Preston Official Site - Back To Working Hard
- Scottish midfielder Barry Nicholson got a chance in his favoured central midfield on Saturday, with the illness to Richard Chaplow. After the game he said that whilst the side had played well in the second half, they must work harder at dealing with set pieces if they are to maintain their push at the top end of the table.
- "Going toward towards the end of the game we were probably looking to take the point," said the former Rangers man. "A point away from home is decent at a difficult place to come and another set piece has killed us. It seems the only goals we concede are at set pieces, so it is obviously something that we have to really work hard on to stop that happening.
- "I think we tried to get it down and play. The surface wasn't the best, but once you made your first couple of passes and got it settled we could knock it about a bit and for 35 minutes of the second half we looked very good until the set pieces, where they threw a few bodies on and changed the game.
- "At the time we were well on top and if we could have gone on and scored the third goal and we went ahead it might have been a different game, but it wasn't to be. It is now back to working hard with another big game on Boxing Day."
- The game against Derby is a big one for Nicholson who says they must bounce back immediately: "We have to get back to winning ways straight away. We would have taken point on Saturday, but now it is vitally important we take all three in the home game against Derby and then try and kick on a couple of days later at Barnsley. We want to stay in the mix in the Play-Offs, but to do that we have to get wins."
- He returned to the starting line-up for the first time since the 2-2 draw at Norwich and is hoping not to have wait as long for his next chance: "I was pleased to be back in. It is disappointing when you are not involved. It is good to still be in the squad and to come off the bench, but I want to start games. It is unfortunate for Chappy that he picked up an illness, but it gave me a chance to get back in. I don't know now what the gaffer will do after the defeat, but I just tried to work hard and do what I normally do. We will wait and see."
- And he also reserved praise for the travelling yellow army: "They gave us some great backing. Coming up to Christmas time a lot of money is being spent elsewhere, so we were glad of the support; they were very vocal and kept us going." Preston

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BBC - Paul Fletcher blog - Times of change at QPR
21 Dec 08 Shepherds Bush, London, the Saturday before Christmas.
Hello, I'm Paul Fletcher and I mainly write about life in the Football League. I have a great enthusiasm for a whole range of sports and love to spread the word about the great game of rugby league.
- Hordes of shoppers looking for some last-minute presents are piling into the recently-opened Westfield Centre, west London's mammoth new cathedral to capitalism.
- Several hundred yards away a church of a different kind is in session as QPR host Preston in their last fixture before Christmas.
- The festive season is in full evidence on the walk to the ground, with supporters discussing their plans and hawkers selling QPR Santa hats (the traditional red giving way to blue). The Superstore is also doing a roaring trade, with security operating a one in, one out system.
- In one sense it is a very traditional scene, one that could have been found at grounds the length and breadth of the country. Yet Loftus Road and QPR are changing. The club has been infused with its own touch of Italian style over the last year, with Flavio Briatore presiding over the Championship side.
- The 58-year-old Italian has been involved with the club since August 2007 and became chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd in February. Since then a succession of glamorous figures have been spotted at Loftus Road, while Briatore has begun to stamp his vision of Rangers upon the club.
- The directors box has been completely overhauled while the area around it is now known as the C Club. It is often fairly empty but its creation involved supporters who had sat in that area for many years being relocated to other parts of the ground. It is clearly a cause of some friction. Top-class dining can now be enjoyed at top restaurant Cipriani, which is built into the main stand, but for the majority of supporters their football grub still takes the form of a pie or a hotdog at the kiosks built into the stands.
- Ticket prices themselves remain an issue. I have a mate whose season ticket went up from £395 to £525 over the summer but he reckons that he was relatively fortunate; others went up by 50%.
- The mascot has been changed, with the historically relevant Jude the Cat giving way to a tiger, while the club has a new badge and rumours intermittently circulate to the effect that some at QPR would prefer a new name, one that included the word London.
- Briatore has made it clear that with Rangers' limited capacity - the ground holds less than 20,000 - he wants it to become a boutique brand. What does this mean?
- Inside the directors entrance is a very lush stand of designer clothes and trainers for sale. Prices aren't on display. The first time I saw it I wondered what it was. It oozes luxury. Perhaps this hints at the future.
- I was struck on my way to Loftus Road and, later, looking around inside the ground at the number of supporters who are middle-aged. It is a purely anecdotal observation and could be totally wrong so I asked a couple of supporters whether they were concerned about where the next generation of fans are. They agreed it was a concern. Perhaps people are being priced out of watching Rangers? In the club's defence they have held some ticket promotions over recent games. Maybe they do understand the implications of the credit crunch on ordinary people.
- It is interesting talking with Rangers fans. They see Rangers as a welcoming, well-supported club with a fine tradition and a distinct place in London's footballing community. But I sense a definite unease about the future. No-one is sure where the club is heading but one thing is for sure. Nobody that I have talked to seemed prepared to sacrifice what they regard as the heart and soul of their club for success.
- Whatever people make of Briatore nobody could justifiably accuse him of lacking commitment. It is unusual for him to miss a home game and he has certainly not been scared to make decisions.
- Rangers, for example, are on their third manager of the season in former Portugal international Paulo Sousa. The appointment of Sousa is particularly interesting. It is his first managerial role after working with the coaching staff of the Portuguese national team and the early signs are that he is a man capable of succeeding under a chairman who is keen to be kept in the loop.
- A colleague of mine visited the training ground days after Sousa's arrival and was impressed with the knowledge he had already gained of the other teams in the Championship. Sousa has apparently watched DVD after DVD in order to bring himself up to speed.
- His team play a diamond formation in midfield and it looked extremely effective at times against Preston. Rangers lost the initiative after the break and North End equalised for the second time. Sousa made a decisive double substitution, with his team switching to a 3-4-3 formation. It is testimony to the coaching skills of Sousa that his team quickly looked comfortable after the change and went on to score a late winner.
- Sousa was quizzed about his formations by the press afterwards. A clearly intelligent man (he apparently speaks Spanish, Italian, French and English as well as some German and Greek in addition to his native Portuguese), Sousa was asked whether his diamond formation lacked width. I think he both impressed and confused some of the assembled media when he explained how his side are still able to exploit "lateral corridors".
- Parejo, a flagship Briatore signing in the summer on loan from Real Madrid, has returned to Spain since Sousa arrived, which suggested that he is keen to make his own decisions. Briatore's alleged influence on first-team affairs is the subject of plenty of rumours but Sousa explained on Saturday that he does not discuss strategy with his chairman. He handles himself with style and seems at ease in his role, though time will be the ultimate judge of his relationship with his chairman.
- The squad are extremely fit. Performamnce manager John Harbin has obviously done a superb job and it is no surprise that QPR have won two games this season - against Birmingham and Norwich - after having a player sent off.
- There is plenty of quality in the squad as well - Martin Rowlands, Lee Cook, Heidar Helguson - though what happens in January will probably have a big say on the rest of the season (though I think this was somewhat overstated on Saturday when the announcer said over the tannoy "The whole of football is waiting to see what QPR do in January.")
- No one is quite sure exactly who is bankrolling the club and to what extent - and Sousa would not be drawn on how much he has to spend in January - but the club does not lack cash. In addition to Briatore, Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone and the extraordinarily wealthy Mittal family are involved at Loftus Road. It prompted QPR fans to talk in terms of being the richest club in the world in the wake of their takeover, though Manchester City may well have that tag now.
- Briatore has made it clear he wants to see the club run properly; he wants to reorganise and build a strong brand. With a few shrewd signings in January it might be that Rangers win promotion this season. They, like so many other clubs, are hovering just below the play-off zone but their extra financial muscle could make the difference.
- Success is a balm to salve many pains and after years of financial uncertainty at Loftus Road, not to mention all sorts of bizarre stories such as guns in the boardroom, a return to the Premier League after a 13-year absence would doubtless bring great joy to many supporters.
- As the fans made their way out of the stadium on Saturday it was with a smile on their face. The club had given them an early Christmas present. Yet at the same time I cannot help wondering to what extent these supporters feature in the club's long-term vision of the future. BBC Blog

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Sunday Nation/Kenya Daniel Nyassy- Renault’s F1 boss Briatore pits in Malindi with Christmas tidings
- Briatore with his girlfriend, Italian model Elisabetta Gregoraci in Mombasa earlier this year. The billionaire couple is in Mailindi for the holidays. Photos/ GIDEON MAUNDU
- With exorbitant operational costs coupled with the global economic downturn stinging Formula One, residents of Malindi are not complaining at all.
- It appears that Formula One team Renault’s boss, Flavio Briatore, is releasing the motorsports stress by spending more time on the Kenyan coast and footballers in Malindi are enjoying every moment of it.
- Malindi team, Zege FC from Mayungu, have a reason to smile after the Italian billionaire handed them uniforms and balls on Thursday and pledged to strike a partnership between Kenyan clubs and his English league side, Queens Park Rangers, which is battling to make a comeback to the Barclays Premier League.
- Briatore said a container full of sports equipment was on the high seas headed for local schools and institutions.
- “This is just something small that I brought with me. Many more items are coming in one months’ time. They will be distributed to schools and other institutions in Malindi,” the Renault team manager told local officials while making the presentation to Zege FC at his exclusive Lion In The Sun Hotel in the upmarket Casuarina area on Thursday evening.
- “I saw these players playing bare feet at Mayungu when I walked around and promised to assist them with sports equipment,” he said.Briatore flew into in Malindi on a private jet on Tuesday morning accompanied by his Italian lingerie model girlfriend, Elisabetta Gregoraci, for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
- He is set to visit the Seychelles Islands on a business trip before coming back to Malindi for the New Year’s holiday, a source at the hotel said.
Queens Park Rangers
- “I have my team in London, the Queens Park Rangers, which I think could work in co-operation with local teams,” he said.
- Briatore said the purpose of equipping the local teams was to make the youths occupied in sport and keep them away from the streets and from drugs.
- The brief but colourful ceremony was witnessed by the Briatore Group of Companies’ manager Liana Pierino, Lion In The Sun general manager, Mr Philip Chai, and the hotel’s plus staff.
- Briatore said area MP Gideon Mung’aro, a close ally of the billionaire, will help in distributing further equipment. Sunday Nation

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Visit the messageboard with a difference! QPR Report Messageboard for opinions and various articles of interest! -- All Three of QPR's 1967 Cup Final Goals Vs WBA

Blog of Sports Journalist/Oliver Pickup - LEE COOKING A STORM AT QPR
- Lee Cook believes Queens Park Rangers should rush to secure the services of on-loan striker Heidar Helguson, who scored twice in the London side’s 3-2 win over Preston North End on Saturday.
- Dextor Blackstock came off the QPR bench with nine minutes to go and headed the winner after Chris Sedgwick and Callum Davidson had earlier equalised for the visitors.
- Helguson opened the scoring with a powerful header from Cook’s cross and claimed his side’s second – but Cook is positive that he had the last touch.
- “I told him he could claim it because he is a goalscorer,” grinned the 26-year-old. “But I know it was my goal and he owes me one, definitely. He kicked my foot and then ran away celebrating!
- “Heidar gives us something different. He is great in the air for his height and he gets in the right places to score goals – that is what he is all about. We have lacked that kind of player. I hope he is here for the long haul, and the club sort it out and get him in.”
- Like the 31-year-old Icelandic international, midfielder Cook is on loan until January, but is hoping to re-join the Hoops, a club he “loves”. He added: “Hopefully my deal is going to be tied up this week.
- “We can get it done and dusted and then we can relax more. I love this place and I want to sign and ensure my future is here and I’m glad the club is showing faith again.- “The team spirit is great at the minute – we are all enjoying playing under the new boss. He has completely changed our style – we are trying to play more football. With his coaching and his ideas I think we are going to be successful.” Blog

- See also: - Oliver Pickup/Blog - BLACKSTOCK LATE SHOW LEAVES SOUSA PROUD AND PRESTON BITTER

About Oliver Pickup: "Oliver Pickup has written articles published in The Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Mirror, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times, The Observer and The Sunday Mirror." - Bio

- Oliver Pickup Blog

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Visit the messageboard with a difference! QPR Report Messageboard for opinions and various articles of interest! -- All Three of QPR's 1967 Cup Final Goals Vs WBA


Sunday People
PAULO SOUSA praised his team's versatility after late substitute Dexter Blackstock nodded the winning goal with only four minutes remaining against a battling Preston side.
Heidar Helguson had twice put Sousa's team in the lead in a first half they dominated, but Preston came back both times through Chris Sedgwick and a Callum Davidson penalty.
Desperate for all three points, the Portuguese boss gambled with nine minutes remaining and it paid off as leading scorer Blackstock headed in his 10th goal of the campaign.
"We needed to take a risk as we wanted to get the three points," said 38-year-old Sousa who took the reins last month, and has won all three of his home games.
"It was very important - we had planned for these occasions in training. It was fantastic when Dexter scored and I am proud of my players.
"Each and every player is important for the team. We are learning to adapt to certain situations during the game. We prepared well for this and anticipated the problems. After this game we will have more power - it will give us confidence."
Teasing
Sousa's team started the brighter and took 16 minutes to open the scoring through Helguson. The striker, on loan from Bolton, headed in Lee Cook's teasing cross from the left.
But after the goal QPR's defence went to sleep and Sedgwick stole in to nod home Paul McKenna's chip after 34 minutes.
With Cook, another loan signing, running the show after being allowed a free role by Sousa, QPR retook the lead 10 minutes before the interval. At the far post Patrick Agyemang headed Martin Rowlands' corner back across goal where Cook and Helguson were quick to react.
From three yards out the pair managed to bundle the ball into the net, though the goal was attributed to the Icelandic international.
After the break Preston hit back and were awarded a penalty when QPR keeper Radek Cerny felled Sean St Ledger in the box.
Left-back Davidson stepped up to score his second spot kick of the season and Preston looked on course for a draw.
But Sousa had other ideas and, with nine minutes left, called for Blackstock.
Five minutes later, after Cook was fouled on the left, Rowlands' freekick picked out the powerful striker. His booming header was too much for Andrew Lonergan and had the Hoops manager punching the air.
His opposite man, Alan Irvine, was bitterly disappointed, and said: "In the first half QPR were the better team. I was praying for the whistle to go before any more damage was done. But after the break we were the better team and I expected us to win the game.
"We deserved something. I thought it was a good game of football but it was disappointing to lose to a late goal. It was harsh to come away with nothing." Sousa, whose team are now only three points off a play-off place, picked out Cook, who is due to return to Fulham in January, for special praise.
He said: "Lee came to us with an injury but is getting better and physically stronger. We need players of Lee's quality to help us." People


Sunday Times/Andy Sims, PA - QPR's Win December 20, 2008
Dexter Blackstock climbed off the bench to secure a dramatic victory for QPR against Coca-Cola Championship play-off rivals Preston.
The striker grabbed his 10th goal of the season four minutes from time to maintain Rangers’ promotion bid.
A controversial penalty decision from referee Alan Wiley had earlier looked to have gifted Preston a point.
Rangers were leading 2-1 courtesy of Heidar Helguson’s double, but in the 60th minute Premier League official Wiley adjudged Sean St Ledger was felled in the area by Rangers goalkeeper Radek Cerny.
Callum Davidson gratefully slammed the penalty past Cerny, only for Blackstock to deny the visitors with his late intervention.
On-loan Bolton striker Helguson took his tally to three goals in the last two games in the first half, either side of Chris Sedgwick’s first goal in a year for Preston.
The hosts, who have been in fine form at home this season, almost went ahead inside the opening two minutes only to be denied by a superb double save from Andy Lonergan.
The goalkeeper hurled himself to his right to keep out Lee Cook’s curling shot, and then managed to block the follow-up from former Preston striker Patrick Agyemang.
They took the lead after quarter of an hour when the impressive Cook swung in a cross from the left and Helguson darted in front of St Ledger and headed past Lonergan.
But 12 minutes later Preston hauled themselves level with their first meaningful attack.
Skipper Paul McKenna was given far too much space in the penalty area and he picked out Sedgwick, who planted a firm header past Cerny and into the corner of the net.
The visitors should have gone ahead moments later, but Youl Mawene blasted over the crossbar from close range following a corner.
And Rangers went back into the lead 10 minutes before half-time when Agyemang brought down Martin Rowlands’ corner and Helguson prodded the loose ball over the line.
They almost had a third when Agyemang played in Cook, but the on-loan Fulham midfielder missed his kick in front of goal.
After the break, Lonergan saved well from Cook and Agyemang, while Eddie Nolan skied a good chance for Preston.
But the game exploded in controversy on the hour when Wiley adjudged Cerny to have brought down St Ledger in the area despite not a single Preston player appealing for a foul.
After the protests from the hosts had died down, Davidson stepped up to thump the ball down the centre past the diving Cerny.
Substitute Mikele Leigertwood and Hogan Ephraim fizzed shots wide as Rangers went in search of a winner.
And the breakthrough came when Rowlands swung in a free-kick which Blackstock met with a glancing header to give Lonergan no chance. Sunday Times


News of the World - QPR 3, PRESTON 2
ALAN IRVINE took an angry swipe at his defenders as Preston’s bid for a third straight win flopped.
- Irvine’s men twice battled back after falling behind to play-off rivals QPR.
- But they were sunk five minutes from time, as sub Dexter Blackstock headed the home side’s winner.
- It brought back unpleasant memories of the side’s trip to Loftus Road last season, when Preston blew a 2-0 lead with minutes remaining to draw 2-2.
-Deserved
Manager Irvine groaned: “We deserved something. We were the better side in the second half and I expected us to win, not come away with nothing.
- “I was disappointed with our defending for QPR’s first goal. We’d shown the lads videos to highlight their strength.
“The second goal just dropped for them but we defended too deep at the free-kick for their third and that was disappointing too.
“The final result was a bit harsh, even though QPR deserved to be ahead at half-time and I was praying for the whistle to come.”
Preston keeper Andy Lonergan had to make a stunning double save after just two minutes.
Blast
He did well to beat out a long-range blast from Heidar Helguson, then superbly denied Patrick Agyemang as the North End old boy seemed certain to force in the rebound.
But the visitors’ respite lasted just 16 minutes.
Then on-loan Fulham winger Lee Cook cleverly beat two defenders and crossed for Helguson to head powerfully beyond Lonergan.
Preston withstood more QPR pressure before equalising out of the blue on 27 minutes.
Good work down the right by Paul McKenna saw him pick out Chris Sedgwick and the winger headed his first goal of the season into the bottom corner of the net.
Six minutes later, though, the Londoners were back in front.
Squeezed
Preston’s defence failed to deal with a Martin Rowlands corner and on-loan Bolton striker Helguson squeezed the loose ball over the line from two yards. A short time before, French defender Youl Mawene ought to have put Preston ahead. But he blazed over following a corner.
The impressive Cook almost increased QPR’s lead when his centre skimmed the crossbar.
An Agyemang drive drew a fine Lonergan save before Preston levelled in controversial fashion just before the hour mark.
Defender Sean St Ledger went down under a clumsy challenge from keeper Radek Cerny and referee Alan Wiley awarded a penalty.
The home players protested, but to no avail, and spot-kick expert Callum Davidson duly beat Czech international Cerny with a firmly struck drive.
QPR continued to press, with sub Mikele Leigertwood and winger Hogan Ephraim going close from 25 yards.
And they got their reward in that fatal 85th minute, when Blackstock rose highest to head in a Rowlands free-kick.
Preston are kept out of the play-off places on goal difference, with QPR moving to within a point of them in ninth spot. Irvine added: “We were at the bottom of the table this time last year, so it really shows the clear progress that we have made. This is a very hard division.”
QPR boss Paulo Sousa said: “It was important for us to prepare well. Preston have been playing better football than us recently.
“But I was disappointed with the decision for their penalty.
“I believe a lot in my players. I don’t have doubts about them. They are getting better and more consistent.
“To make a big step, you need players with qualities, different players, to get more alternatives.
“It’s easier for a manager when you have more resources.
“But I know what’s needed and I think we can get it.”
Rangers will once again be expected to splash out on a number of new signings during the course of the January transfer window.
But mega-rich chairman Flavio Briatore’s priority surely must be to secure the future of Cook.
Former Portugal star Sousa added: “Lee Cook has come back from an injury and is starting to get better physically, while his skill and quality is always the same — fantastic. “We need to use players with this kind of quality to achieve success.” News of the World

- See also: Earlier Match Reports & Comments re QPR 3 Preston 2

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Visit the messageboard with a difference! QPR Report Messageboard for opinions and additional articles of interest! -- -- All Three of QPR's 1967 Cup Final Goals Vs WBA.

Sunday Mercury - Home Midlands Sport Aston Villa FC Aston Villa FC news
Aston Villa winger in hot demand
ASTON Villa winger Wayne Routledge is at the centre of a tug of war between Championship rivals Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers.
Routledge is impressing on-loan at Cardiff and Ninian Park boss Dave Jones wants to make the move permanent in the January transfer window. But the former England under-21 international has also attracted the interest of Rangers’ manager Paulo Sousa who is lining up a bid for him. Villa boss Martin O’Neill is unlikely to stand in the way of Routledge leaving Villa permanently.
Routledge has failed to make a success of his £1.25m move to Villa from Tottenham in January.
He has not started a Premier League game for Villa - making just two substitute appearances in the top flight.
While Routledge is heading for the exit door, O’Neill is to open contract talks with midfielder Stiliyan Petrov in the New Year...." Sunday Mercury

News of the World: TUG-OF-WAR FOR ROUTLEDGE
ASTON VILLA winger Wayne Routledge is at the centre of a tug of war between Championship rivals Cardiff and QPR.
Routledge, 23, is currently on loan at Ninian Park and Bluebirds boss Dave Jones wants to make the move permanent during the transfer window. But Rangers boss Paulo Sousa is also lining up a bid for him. News of the World


From last week:Rushden & Diamonds - Leon Knight sacked
Striker, Leon Knight has this week been sacked by Rushden & Diamonds FC following continuous breaches of the Club's code of conduct.
Chairman Keith Cousins confirmed "His contract has been terminated without prejudice to our right for a fee. He has been informed of that in writing this week with the approval of the FA, PFA and Football Conference."
Although Knights' contract has been terminated, he cannot move to another Club without an agreement being made with Rushden & Diamonds F.C. until such time as the term of his contract has expired.
Knight played 13 times for the Diamonds scoring 4 times, where the former Chelsea trainee has also played for Milton Keynes Dons, Huddersfield, Brighton, Swansea and Wycombe.
Since being placed on the transfer list in October 2008, Knight has not been involved with the squad at all. Rushden & Diamond

- Flashback: Leon Knight & QPR:
- Leon Knight Joins QPR on Loan "...QPR boss Ian Holloway has completed his first signing by securing the services of Chelsea's Leon Knight on a month's loan...."

- November 17, 2004 - QPR Official Site - LEON KNIGHT IN TALKS
- Rangers manager Ian Holloway has confirmed that talks are underway with Leon Knight in an attempt to bring the 20-year old striker to Loftus Road.
Less than 24 hours after the Chelsea front man grabbed a brace for loan club Brighton to condemn Rangers to a 2-1 defeat, Holloway admitted that he has been trying to secure the services of Knight for some time and that he is a player he would love to sign.
"We witnessed first hand what this player is capable of last night and he is just the type of player we need to boost our promotion chances.
"Talks have been underway since before the game and I have to say that I am very impressed with him as a young man as well as a footballer. He's a good listener, very mature and I would love to sign him."
Rangers now face a tug-of-war with Brighton for the player's services after both the Rs and the Seagulls agreed a fee with Chelsea. Ollie knows that Knight has some thinking to do.
"Naturally we all understand that he is enjoying his football at Brighton, but I have done my best to show what we can offer him here in terms of potential and I know he will have a very difficult decision to make. But I hope he makes the right decision for us.
"Just like us, Brighton have lost a key player and I am sure they would like to sign him - I just hope that I have been able to convince him that signing for QPR would be a wonderful move for him. But he's a great lad and I wish him all the best whatever happens and whatever he decides."
Knight is one of a number of strikers that Rangers have their eye on, but it is clear that the Chelsea youngster is right at the top of Ian Holloway's wanted list and has been for some time.
Knight will now head back to Brighton and leave the Rangers management to await his decision. QPR


Rushden Official Site - Justin Cochrane signs
Midfielder, Justin Cochrane has today joined Rushden & Diamonds.
Cochrane started his career as a trainee with QPR, later moving on to Hayes and Crewe Alexandra, where he made more than 70 appearances. More recently Cochrane went on to Rotherham, Yeovil and has most recently been on the books at Millwall, where he made one appearance. This season he has been on trial with Leyton Orient.
The 26 year old midfielder plays internationally for the Antigua and Barbuda national team and will be given squad number 22. Rushden & Diamonds


Ex-QPR Loan, Bob Malcom:
"....Along with the likes of Stephen Hughes, Graeme Smith and Chris Porter, Malcolm is out of contract in the summer.
English vultures are bound to be circling but after sampling life at Derby and QPR, Bob said: "The grass isn't always greener down south.
"You can play a few games then be out for 10 before you get back in. But if any of us wants to move on we'll need to do better." Sunday Mail

Flashback: Two Years Ago (Yesterday): QPR Forward Adam Czerkas Sent Home
December 20, 2006: QPR Official Site -POLE AXED
[After a few hours, The club changed their headline to "CZERKAS DEPARTS"]
Polish front-man Adam Czerkas has had his loan contract terminated with immediate effect. The 22 year-old - who penned a one year loan deal with the R's from Kolporter Korona SSA in mid July - made just three appearances in the Championship, as well as figuring in the Carling Cup tie against Port Vale.

July 2006: QPR OFFICIAL SITE - SIGNS ON ONE YEAR LOAN - CZERKAS SIGNS
- Gary Waddock's prolonged search for a striker is finally over - after Polish front-man Adam Czerkas today (Tuesday) put pen to paper on a one year loan deal with the R's. The 22 year-old - who impressed Waddock during pre-season training and again in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday - signed on the dotted line at Loftus Road this evening. Rangers have the option of signing the Kolporter Korona SSA striker on a permanent basis at the end of his loan spell....
[Garry Waddock:] "It's no secret that we've been on the look out for a striker for months, not just weeks, and our patience has finally been rewarded. "Obviously I'm delighted we've secured his services and if what we've seen in training and in the practice match is anything to go by, R's fans are in for a treat next season.
"He's got a great eye for goal, has terrific movement, is good with his back to goal and has the unique ability of being able to get in behind defenders.
"He'll complement our current crop of attackers and we've got extremely high hopes for him next season.'' The former Kolporter Korona SSA attacker - who measures in at 6'1'' and will wear the number 28 shirt - is in line to make his R's debut against Stevenage Borough on Wednesday. QPR Report


Flashback: George Kulscar - Ray Harford's First Signing, Debuted Eleven Years Ago Today
- Eleven years ago today, December 21, 1997, QPR new manager's Ray Harford's first signing for QPR, George Kulscar, made his QPR debut at home to Bradford (the club he had just left). Hungarian/Australian, Kulscar signed from Bradford for 250,00 pounds. QPR won that game 1-0 (Peacock penalty) before a crowd of just under 9,000 with Kulscar going off injured. (one of four victories under Harford). QPR won 's team that day: Roberts - Brevitt Ready Maddix Yates - Sinclair Kulscar Peacock Quashie - Spencer Sheron - Sub: Gallen & Murray

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QPR Win...Updated Table
QPR Official Site - SOUSA: EVERY PLAYER COUNTS!
- Paulo Sousa paid tribute to his entire First Team squad, as the R's made it three wins on the spin at Loftus Road with a memorable 3-2 victory against Preston North End.
Super sub Dexter Blackstock was the last gasp hero for the R's with a trademark header, but the Rangers gaffer chose to praise each and every member of his squad as opposed to one or two heroes.
"We are a squad, not a team, and every player counts for us," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "I am proud for all my players. They are all important for the team and today, with a lot of decisions going against us - like the two penalty decisions - they didn't let it affect them."
With Rangers being held with just over a quarter of an hour to play, Sousa gambled by switching to a 3-4-3 formation, and his bold decision was rewarded with Blackstock's winner just five minutes from time.
"It was a very important tactical change," he said.
"We needed to win the three points and we did, so of course it was a successful change.
"We had worked on changing to a 3-4-3 in training and the players responded to it."
Sousa added: "Dexter's goal was excellent. A good delivery from Martin (Rowlands) and a great, great header.
"I am very happy for him and the rest of the players - they were first class." QPR


SPORTING LIFE/By Andy Sims, PA Sport - Sousa and Irvine's Comments
- QPR boss Paulo Sousa saw a late substitution pay off after Dexter Blackstock came off the bench to secure a dramatic 3-2 win over Preston.
Sousa sent on Blackstock to form a three-pronged attack alongside Heidar Helguson and Patrick Agyemang, and was rewarded when the striker expertly nodded Martin Rowlands' free-kick home four minutes from time.
The victory was all the sweeter after Premier League referee Alan Wiley gave Preston a soft penalty to bring them back to 2-2 and then infuriated the home dug-out when he denied Blackstock a spot-kick.
"We had to take risks to get three points. It's important to be prepared and anticipate situations," said Sousa.
"And it's a better win because we had to overcome the problem with the penalties, so it will give us more power."
Helguson had earlier taken his tally to three goals in his last two games.
The on-loan Bolton forward nodded Lee Cook's cross past Andy Lonergan for the opener, and pounced from close range before the break after Chris Sedgwick had headed an equaliser.
Wiley took centre stage on the hour mark, pointing to the spot after Radek Cerny was adjudged to have brought down Sean St Ledger in the area.
Callum Davidson gratefully slammed home the penalty and Preston were looking good for a point until Blackstock tucked away his 10th goal of the season.
Rangers will once again be expected to splash out in the January transfer window, but mega-rich chairman Flavio Briatore's priority must be to secure the future of Cook.
The on-loan midfielder ran Preston ragged for much of the game, finally showing the sort of form which prompted Fulham to splash out £2.5million on him last summer.
"I believe a lot in my players. I don't have doubts about them, they are getting better and more consistent," added Sousa.
"To make a big step you need players with qualities, different players, to get more alternatives. It's easier for a manager when you have more resources.
"I know what's needed and I think we can get it - but if we don't get it it's not a problem for me.
"Lee has come back from an injury and is starting to get better physically while his skill and quality is always the same - fantastic.
"We need to use players with this kind of quality to achieve success."

- Preston manager Alan Irvine was disappointed not to come away with at least a point.
"I think we deserved something," he said.
"In the first half QPR were the better team and I was praying for the whistle to come, but in the second half we were the better team and I thought we would go on and win." Sporting Life


PRESTON OFFICIAL SITE - Irvine: We Did Not Deserve To Lose
- Manager Alan Irvine was very disappointed not to be coming away from the capital with at least a point after he rallied his troops into an excellent second half display.
Speaking after substitute Dexter Blackstock had scored a late goal against the Lilywhites for the second year in succession, the North End boss thought his half-time team-talk had again done enough to earn the travelling army something to take back up the M6.
"In the first half Queens Park Rangers were the better team and I was desperate for the half-time whistle to blow," said Alan. "I felt as though there were things we could sort out. I believe that we did from the performance of the lads in the second half. We were certainly the best team in the second half.
- "Their first goal was something we predicted. We did our video work this morning and showed them that Cook works the ball well onto his left foot, crosses early and Helguson gets in at the far post, so it wasn't something unexpected and I believe it is something we should have defended better."
- The side got back into the game with the best piece of football in the first half, but again a set piece saw them go behind at the interval: "It was a terrific bit of play by Eddie Nolan and Paul McKenna and Chris Sedgwick got into a great position and executed the goal very well, but I was disappointed we conceded the second goal.
- "However, I didn't think it was something we couldn't come back from. We have an excellent record of coming back from behind and we have an excellent record of scoring late goals and I felt that if we could come in 2-1 down at half-time we had every chance of certainly playing better and getting chances.
- "I think everyone who was at the game would concede that we were certainly the better team in the second half. We were very much on the front foot and dominant. We got the ball wide early and caused them a great number of problems. Most of the game was played in their half."
- After the interval North End camped in the half in front of their travelling support and it was Sean St. Ledger who surprisingly found him self at the highest man in the box before being upended by Cerny in the Rangers goal, with Alan Wiley pointing to the spot.
-"It was good play," continued Irvine. "I haven't seen the penalty again yet, but my first instinct was to look at the referee and of course I was delighted when I saw him point to the spot."
- As the game started to draw to its conclusion Irvine looked like he was about to bring Billy Jones into the action before the R's and he admitted that this was a little too late: " We were all set to make change. As soon as that set piece had been defended we were ready to change it to make sure that we were able to make sure we could cope with Queens Park Rangers going for it; which is what they were doing, but unfortunately we didn't hold out long enough and that meant we needed to score a goal and there was no point making that change."
- However, they still had time to carve out one more good move, having already spurned some good opportunities - one in each half - from two unlikely sources: "Both Youl and Eddie's chances were good chance. I accept they were falling to defenders. Youl's wasn't easier; Eddie's was a lot easier than that. Simon Whaley also got into a great position after they had scored the third and unfortunately he didn't pick out one of our forwards.
- "We didn't deserve to lose. Everybody is very disappointed in there. At half-time we couldn't have complained if that had been the full-time score, but in the second half we could certainly complain." Preston


QPR Official SITE
Dexter Blackstock rose from the bench to nod home a late winner, after Rangers had twice relinquished the lead to high-flying Preston North End.
In a topsy-turvy encounter, Heidar Helguson headed home an early opener, only for Chris Sedgwick to restore parity with a header of his own.
After an Agyemang header fell kindly for the Iceland international to bundle home his and Rangers' second, Referee Alan Wiley plunged the match into controversy by awarding a contentious penalty that Callum Davidson duly thundered home.
Not to be outdone, Rangers threw everything forward in search of a winner and more than deserved to snatch victory thanks to Blackstock's headed goal.
For the visit of the high-flying Lilywhites, Manager Paulo Sousa made a single change. The more attacking Hogan Ephraim came into the side to replace Mikele Leigertwood.
Elsewhere, Agyemang faced his former side, alongside Helguson, and Kaspars Gorkss once again kept Fitz Hall from returning to the starting line-up.
Preston handed a start to striker Jon Parkin after the 'Beast's' heroics against Birmingham City. On-loan duo Eddie Nolan and Ross Wallace retained their places in defence and midfield respectively.
Not two minutes in and the R's should've taken the lead, but for a phenomenal double save from visiting keeper Andy Lonergan.
Lee Cook - operating on the tip of the diamond - strode forward towards the Preston box and rifled a well hit shot that the Lilywhite keeper parried into the path of Agyemang. With the goal gaping, the Ghanaian miss-hit his shot, but Lonergan still needed to dive at full stretch to keep it out.
Rangers kept the pressure up and were duly rewarded in the 16th minute. After winning a throw deep in the Preston half, Cook's determined run and cross met the forehead of a stooping Helguson and he sent the ball beyond Lonergan to register his first Loftus Road goal.
Unfortunately for the R's, the next real chance fell to Preston, and they capitalised in emphatic style. Patient build-up play involving Wallace led to Paul McKenna crossing for Sedgwick to nod home the leveller.
The R's hit back, and Preston's Nolan came to the rescue to clear a beautiful Hogan Ephraim cross before an onrushing Helguson could connect.
The Icelander, however, was not to be denied, and when Martin Rowlands' pin-point corner was headed goalwards by Agyemang, Helguson was on hand to scramble the ball over the line and restore Rangers' lead.
Neat, flowing, wonderful football almost created a chance for Cook, but after Agyemang had slipped through a clever pass for the on-loan Fulham man, he could only watch agonisingly as the ball slipped just too far and was cleared to safety.
Rangers were mesmerising, and Cook, Ephraim and Agyemang combined to almost tee-up Rowlands, but determined Preston defending kept the R's at bay for the time being.
And with that latest chance, referee Wiley blew a halt to proceedings.
Fortunately, Rangers, and in particular Cook, were in no mood to rest up for too long and instantly found their feet in the second period. Cook tested Lonergan with a volley from the edge of the area, seconds after the restart.
An even better chance fell for Agyemang, seconds later, as Helguson was freed down the left and clipped a pass over for his strike partner to let fly whilst airborne. His well-struck effort looked to be fizzing into the side of the net, only for the Preston keeper to dive full-length and palm it away to safety.
Preston were not lying down however, and Gavin Mahon had to be brave to dive in front of a venomous Davidson piledriver.
Preston continued to try and get back into the match and were given a massive helping hand by Wiley. As a Wallace free-kick was floated in, it found a way to Sean St Ledger via Parkin, and as the Irish defender tried to get a touch to send it goal-bound, out came Cerny to apparently push the ball away.
Wiley saw differently, however, and awarded Preston a penalty, which Davidson duly smashed down the middle to bring the Lilywhites, once again, level.
Reacting to the set-back, Sousa replaced Mahon with Leigertwood just past the hour.
And the substitute rose to the occasion, picking up the ball from Rowlands' inside pass before launching a rasping 25-yard drive that whistled wide of the left-hand upright.
Ephraim followed suit some minutes later after he was found lurking a similar distance from goal by Cook. Like Leigertwood, however, the shot went high and wide.
In a positive change, Sousa altered his formation, bringing on Hall and Blackstock and going 3-4-3.
And it almost paid dividends, as Hall played a cracking cross-field pass that found Cook on the left. He bamboozled his way past Nolan and chipped in a cross that bounced here, there and everywhere before Lonergan finally came and claimed it.
Sousa's gamble did pay off, however, as Rangers scored a third to lift the roof off Loftus Road. A foul on Cook gave Rowlands the chance to deliver a fine cross onto the head of the newly-introduced Blackstock, who rose majestically to guide home beyond the despairing dive of Lonergan.
The drama had not ended and Helguson was sniffing around for any chances to complete his hat-trick. A neat one-two with Blackstock nearly played him in, had it not been for a crucial tackle from Davidson.
A raucous noise greeted the final whistle as Rangers fans and players alike celebrated a fine win that saw the R's edge still further to the play-off places.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney (Hall 81), Stewart, Mahon (Leigertwood 62), Agyemang, Gorkss, Rowlands, Ramage (Blackstock 81), Cook, Ephraim, Helguson. Subs: Ledesma, Di Carmine. Scorers: Helguson (16), (34), Blackstock (85) Bookings: Delaney (51)
Preston North End: Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, Sedgwick (Whaley 90), Brown, Nicholson, St Ledger, McKenna, Wallace, Parkin, Nolan. Subs: Neal, Hawley, Carter, Jones. Scorers: Sedgwick (28) Bookings: Sedgwick (45), Davidson (60)
Referee: Mr A Wiley Attendance: 14,103 QPR


PRESTON OFFICIAL SITE QPR vs Preston
Preston were denied at the death as a superb battling performance ultimately amounted to nothing as late sub Dexter Blackstock secured a second miserable finale at Loftus Road in as many seasons.
Twice pegging back their hosts with strikes from Chris Sedgwick and Callum Davidson, North End were excellent value for a point that never came as both sides went hammer and tongs at one another. There were two changes to the side that turned out a week earlier, with a switch in midfield as the unwell Richard Chaplow saw his place taken by Barry Nicholson.
North End also lined up with two big men up front with Jon Parkin given his first start in six weeks due to Stephen Elliott's unavailability, with QPR doing likewise as Heidar Helguson partnered ex-North Ender Patrick Agyemang.

The rangy forward, who left Deepdale for London in January, should have put his side in front inside the opening 90 seconds, but Andy Lonergan performed heroics to deny him.

His block from Lee Cook's initial long-range snapshot couldn't have fallen any worse than straight at the feet of his onrushing former team-mate, but with Agyemang looking odds-on to convert the rebound, unmarked, from ten yards, Lonergan reacted expertly to smother at his near post and enthuse the 600 or so PNE supporters behind him in the School End Upper Tier.

The big target man approach did, however, appear to be the way to go, as the game's next clear goalscoring chance - after a decent spell of North End pressure - was converted by Helguson.

Lee Cook was the provider with the left flank, supplying the ideal ball for a tall striker as it landed at head height on the edge of the six yard box, and a firm, downward connection gave Lonergan no chance from point blank range.

It's fair to say that Preston found it difficult to play their usual expansive game against a tall, rangy side on a small playing surface, with the game physical rather than pretty.

Chances were at a premium but there was no let up in the entertainment value in a real blood and thunder battle.

Eddie Nolan continued to grow his fledgling reputation by standing up to the threat posed on him by the 'bigger boys', dealing manfully with the more robust elements of the game, and also producing the quality where needed.

It was his cross that got PNE back on an even keel, whipping the ball in from his right flank with his wrong foot after Ross Wallace had twisted and turned the defence inside out, laying the ball back for the Irishman as he lost his footing on an inconsistent surface.

Nolan's delivery was precise, Chris Sedgwick's header was even better, stooping low to get to the ball before his marker and place the ball perfectly inside the far post as he attacked it from the opposite wing.

The leveller was no more than Preston deserved, and having equalised two minutes earlier, they were nearly ahead on the half hour, but Youl Mawene's volley cleared the bar by an agonisingly small margin after Parkin had flicked on Barry Nicholson's corner.

On such margins do tight games turn, though, and a mere three minutes had elapsed since Youl's near miss than he was helping to pick the ball out of the North End net.

Patrick Agyemang couldn't quite profit from a left wing corner as his attempted header appeared to be missing the target, but he had inadvertantly re-routed the ball perfectly into the path of Helguson, who was lurking in the ideal place to stab the ball home, a mere three yards away from the line.

The ding-dong battle continued with Preston pummelling the home goal for a quick leveller, but having failed to turn pressure into goals, the last five minutes belonged to the hosts, and with Cook a constant thorn in Preston's side and Agyemang more than just a sidekick, it took some dogged defending from the likes of Davidson and St. Ledger to keep the half-time defecit to one, which in itself seemed harsh on the visitors.

Fortune was required if North End were to get back into the game as they deserved, and once Lonergan had denied Agyemang's stunning volley within the first few minutes of the half, it started to go North End's way.

A number of Alan Wiley's refereeing decisons riled the home fans either side of some well worked chances that neither Nolan nor Davidson could convert as they charged forward from full back, but the fluent football inspired largely by the wing play of Sedgwick and Wallace, allied with some strong forward play from Parkin, eventually got its reward.

Jon Parkin, putting in a tireless shift, worked wonders to win the ball back on the edge of the box as a PNE set piece was half cleared, and having slipped a neat ball through to St. Ledger, the defender was stopped in his tracks by keeper Radek Cerny as he dived at his feet.

Though Cerny got a good connection on the ball, St. Ledger was sent flying by the force of the challenge, and Wiley deemed that to be the telling factor in Cerny claiming possession, thereby awarding a penalty to the away side in front of their own supporters.
They were sent into delerium as Callum Davidson crashed the ball hard and low into the netting, and it set up a grandstand finish with the home crowd now throughly frustrated by a combination of the referee and what they saw as the inability of their own team to play the right balls at the right time.
Breathless football at both ends had the heart-stopping on numerous occasions, with QPR firing a warning shot as Hogan Ephraim's 25-yard sizzler only inches away from finding the top corner.
Paulo Sousa's tactical masterstroke ultimately proved decisive, sending on Dexter Blackstock as part of a double change to break North End's hearts.
He had already played a number of telling balls into the box and gone over under Mawene's challenge which was rightfully brushed aside by the referee when he came to condemn North End to defeat.
Martin Rowlands whipped a neat free kick in from the left flank with just four minutes to play, and Blackstock lept higher than anyone else to meet the ball powerfully with his head, and the previously rattled home fans were suddenly in delerium.
It was unfair on a Preston side that had given it their all, but were left with nothing to show for it as Rangers played the game out to a professional finish, winding down time and eventually giving the beating hearts some time to regain a normal beat. Preston

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QPR 3 Preston 2
With two goals from Helguson and a late winner from Subtitute Blackstock, QPR moved up to 36 points from 24 games - Updated Table

Can read Preston's excellent Minute-by-Minute blogging

QPR v PNE: Minute-By-Minute
QPR 3 PNE 2 (Helguson 16, 33, Blackstock 86; Sedgwick 28, Davidson 60 pen)

90+4 mins: That's it - we've lost, but I hope the players aren't too disheartened despite the crushing manner of defeat, because they've given their absolute all here. On another day we may have taken one or two of our other chances, but it just wasn't to be. Here's hoping for an immediate bounceback as Derby head to Deepdale on Boxing Day. We'll be there with you once again that day, so don't miss out (unless you're able to join us in person at the home of football!). Merry Christmas to one and all from everyone at PNE - just a shame that late heartbreak has struck once again at Loftus Road to steal what would have been a nice present of a point.

90+3 mins: Just 20 seconds left as I make it, and we can't get the ball back until it's pumped into Lonergan's hands

90+2 mins: Agyemang tries to play out time by running it into the corner but its nigh on impossible to see where he's gone as everyone to my left rises to their feet. Still incredibly tense.

90 mins: Substitution for PNE - Whaley for the impressive Sedgwick. There will be four minutes of added time. Come on PNE!

88 mins: Helguson and Blackstock exchange a one-two which St. Ledger and Lonergan put to a last ditch halt, smothering the former as he prepared to pull the trigger from six yards.

87 mins: Sedgwick's snapshot at the far post is spilt round the post by Cerny who had initially appeared to have it under control. That could have gone anywhere. The tension is remarkable.

86 mins: Goal for QPR! Martin Rowlands curls a beauty of a free kick into the centre of the box and supersub Dexter Blackstock leaps higher than anyone around him to flick the ball towards the top corner, meaning that even a full stretch Lonergan can't do much more than help tip it on its way. This is heart-stopping. 2-3

83 mins: Mawene challenges Blackstock who goes over in the box as the ball rolls out of play. Nothing doing says the ref as the blood pressure rises once again.

81 mins: Utter chaos all over the park - it's just one of those games. Blackstock, straight into the action, draws a clearing header from Mawene, but just as the danger looked to have gone, a return ball into the box seems to make time stand still as everyone awaited someone to nod it in, but Lonergan got their first.

80 mins: Double substitution for QPR - Hall and Blackstock for Ramage and Delaney.

78 mins: Ephraim gives the home support something more positive to mull over as his 30-yard shot misses the upright by a matter of inches. That one certainly fizzed past the frame of the goal at some pace.

77 mins: Another 50/50 free-kick goes our way - the officials might need a bit of assistance from the security staff after the game as the crowd bays for blood.

72 mins: Chris Brown - keen not to be outdone by Parkin, who's appearing here there any everywhere - tries his luck with an overhead kick as the ball is pumped into the R's box, but his acrobatics amount to nothing as the ball clears the bar.

70 mins: PNE are penning QPR back in their own half and it's not being met with much glee from the home fans. Good stuff, lads.

68 mins: Wallace's cross from the right finds Parkin, but he can't direct it inside the post and the home defence breathes a sigh of relief.

63 mins: A good advantage from the referee as he lets Nicholson play on after a foul, but gives the free kick as the Scot can't keep his footing. After his call a few minutes ago, you can understand that the home fans don't like that very much.

62 mins: Substitution for QPR - Gavin Mahon off, Mikele Leigertwood on.

61 mins: What a game this has been so far!

60 mins: Goal for PNE! Cerny dives to the left but Callum Davidson's penalty went hard and low, evading the keeper's toes as it's power made the support structure at the bottom of the goal frame lift from the ground. With Cerny having appeared to have got quite a lot of the ball as he took out St. Ledger, the home fans don't like the decision at all, and most of the media around us agree. 2-2

59 mins: Penalty to PNE! St. Ledger brought down by Cerny after Parkin poked the ball back into the box having done very well indeed to win it back as a set piece broke down.

56 mins: There's no logic to the game at the moment. It's all kamakaze dribbling on the edge of your own area or square balls to no-one, but it's no less compelling for that.

53 mins: Great passing and movement from Preston. Parkin flicks a ball across the face of goal which is just beyond the point at which Sedgwick can convert, but he holds it up until Davidson joins the attack, and the left-back's shot probably would have blown a hole through the net had it not struck a hooped shirt and bounced to safety. The home supporters appear restless after a mere couple of minutes on the back foot, with one local hot-head screaming to his side: "Look - that's the goal. Yes, that one over there to the left!".

52 mins: 14,103 inside Loftus Road see Eddie Nolan strike the ball high over the bar with his left foot after Parkin headed Wallace's corner back into a dangerous position.

51 mins: Yellow card - no sign of any after-effects from the now treated Wallace, as his jinking run draws a foul, and a booking, from Delaney.

50 mins: Ross Wallace is down on the near side with a head injury so play is brought to the inevitable halt.

48 mins: Lovely move, started and nearly finished by Agyemang. His interplay in midfield allowed Cook to pick out Helguson on the left, and the return ball into the middle was met by a rampaging Pat, whose volley was well pummelled away by Lonergan, low to his left.

46 mins: An early test for Lonergan. I couldn't see whose shot it was because I was busy typing, but he saved it anyway to spare my confusion.

1605: Agyemang's shirt will do for now, and we're playing again.

1604: The players return, with the line-ups appearing to be unchanged. Patrick Agyemang clearly forgot to dress himself in the 15 minutes available to him for any wardrobe-related changes, as he struggles to get his jersey on just moments before the whistle.

1549: The half time whistle blows. There will be a break in proceedings from me as I head over to Whites World duties with Steve Cowell.

45+2 mins: Yellow card - Sedgwick the offender for taking out Ramage near the corner flag.

45+1 mins: Ephraim plays a nice through ball for Agyemang on the overlap - luckily Callum is there to cut it out and concede one of a growing number of QPR corners.

45 mins: There will be two added minutes after this.

44 mins: The livewire Cook hits the top of the crossbar with a right wing cross. He's a threat to be looked at keenly.

42 mins: Agyemang slips it through for Cook, but luckily Cook himself then slips, leaving Mawene with the relatively simple task of whacking it clear in no nonsense fashion.

37 mins: Parkin outmuscles Stewart well as he battles for Youl Mawene's pitched ball into the box, but the referee stops him from continuing the battle for a demeanour unseen by most. The Beast is certainly not amused.

35 mins: No let up with the effort from Preston - they continue to bombard the goal away to our left.

34 mins: Chris Kamara nearly loses his headphones in the excitement of describing the goal to the Sky audience.

33 mins: Goal for QPR! A brave header from Eddie Nolan denies Gavin Mahon from heading home at the far post, but it only delays the inevitable. The resulting corner is worked towards goal by Agyemang (I typed too soon) and Helguson swirls on the spot to turn in his and his side's second from just inches away. 1-2

31 mins: Stick for Agyemang as he stabs a cross straight into St. Ledger's path with all the sensible options a good ten yards away.

30 mins: One very nearly became two as PNE suddenly find a new lease of life. Nicholson's corner is flicked on by Parkin at the near post, and the lurking Youl Mawene's volley clears the bar by a fraction of an atom.

28 mins: Goal for PNE! A quality leveller with similarities to the opener. Wallace, giving the defenders something to think aboute having switched to the right, was unfortunate to slip as he tried to play his cross in, but quick thinking allowed him to stab the ball back to his full-back, Nolan, whilst prone on the floor. The young Irishman's cross - with the left foot - was precise to a tee, and Chris Sedgwick showed great athleticism and bravery to stretch and head the ball into the bottom right hand corner ahead of his marker. 1-1

24 mins: The home fans express their disgust as PNE win a debatable free-kick on half way. Fair call, if you ask me!

22 mins: North End are looking to Parkin a lot as the man to hold up the ball and create openings, but there's not much room within which to work in and around a crowded box.

19 mins: The sun is setting in the west behind the away fans in the School End - not a particularly forgiving angle, therefore, for seeing what's going on at that end from the press box vantage point. The view is generally good apart from the sun, the aforementioned near touchline problem, and a couple of pillars in either corner - we're nice and high, level with the half way line in a generally ideal spot.

16 mins: Goal for QPR! The hosts are in front via the most logical method of scoring at this tight ground - whip in a perfect cross for the big man to head in. Lee Cook is the provider from the left, Heidar Helguson the man that doesn't miss from six yards. 0-1

14 mins: I've just realised that I can't see the near touchline at all so I can't see what amused the home fans as PNE line up a throw in just beyond the dug outs.

13 mins: Chris Kamara's face has just appeared on the Sky Sports News monitor hanging from the stand roof - the original (and arguably best) in vision reporter is here at Loftus Road today.

12 mins: Nice to see Parkin bossing his marker as his strength wins a corner from Gorkss. St. Ledger fires over as Nicholson's delivery is flicked to him at the back post via Mawene.

10 mins: Good start for ex-North End duo Sam Allardyce and Neil McDonald at Blackburn - they lead Stoke 1-0 thanks to a Benni McCarthy penalty.

9 mins: A handy looking deep cross from Nolan is aimed towards Parkin but he elects to leave it for the runner who doesn't come with the ball a little too high for The Beast to reach.

8 mins: St. Ledger beats Gorkss to a header as PNE defend Lee Camp's corner in front of the 600 or so PNE fans in the School End Upper Tier.

6 mins: North End currently camped in the QPR half (can't make a pun about being camped in Camp's half with Rangers' second choice keeper Lee Camp not selected), but the general pattern of play is a bit scruffy as both sides go direct at present.

3 mins: Our old media colleague Rob Urbani will think he's still feeling tipsy from last night's PNE Media night out as he witnesses the events surrounding his new employers Bolton - they're 2-0 up against Portsmouth after just three minutes!

2 mins: Squeeky bum time! Lee Cook's piledriver is blocked by Andy Lonergan, but he can't hold on and it lands right onto the toes of Patrick Agyemang, who scores a dream goal against his former club... or not. Lonners with a top drawer block denies Pat an almost inevitable opener from point blank range. Astonishing stuff.

1 mins: Adam Cottier of Radio Lancashire warned me that on his last visit to this venue he found the red numbers on QPR's blue and white hooped shirts pretty tricky to depict, and he's not wrong. They're awful.

1501: The game is underway.

1458: An interest sight during our World broadcast - Derek Shaw deep in conversation with Bernie Ecclestone. Maybe Derek has eyes on entering a team to replace Honda on next year's F1 circuit?

1457: Back from an enjoyable Whites World stint with Jonathan and Steve (eventually!) who were both in good form, but the teams are now out so you have my full undivided attention - unless we're hit by technical difficulties at any point!

1428: Time to head onto World duties. Join me, Jonathan Breeze, and hopefully Steve Cowell once he gets here, as we bring you all the action courtesy of PNE Live on Whites World. Just waiting for the pasta to settle - I don't really like pasta but that's all they serve at this Italian-owned club and to be fair they did an excellent job as I actually found it quite edible.

1420: The team news is in. There are a number of changes to the North End team as the games come thick and fast. Missing out are Richard Chaplow and Stephen Elliott - two men you would have otherwise expected to have seen on the team sheet (the former said to have been unwell in recent days) - so in come Barry Nicholson and supersub Jon Parkin. There's a welcome return too for Billy Jones on the bench.

There's a familiar face up front for the R's but there's no room in the 16 for the legend that is Gareth Ainsworth.

PNE: Lonergan, Nolan, Mawene, St. Ledger, Davidson, Sedgwick, Nicholson, McKenna (capt), Wallace, Brown, Parkin. Subs: C Neal, Hawley, Carter, Whaley, Jones.

QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Agyemang, Gorkss, Rowlands, Ramage, Cook, Ephraim, Helguson. Subs: Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Ledesma, Di Carmine.

1351: Right, off in search of food - and hopefully some early team news.

1349: I always like to rate the ground I visit based on the quality of their musical output, and while I'm not eagerly excitied by The Hooisers, I was heartened by the retro Manic Street Preachers and Lightning Seeds classics that appeared at the start of the playlist.

1347: The North End players have just arrived, with some taking a chance to check out the pitch facilities. Chris Neal and Stephen Elliott seem to be the most interested in the surface itself, with Ross Wallace and Jon Parkin having a good read of the programme while Simon Whaley and Darren Carter chat away on their mobiles. With The Hoosiers blaring out of the PA system at full blast, I can't imagine they're finding it that easy to hold a conversation.

1344: Having just come back from a mini tour of the South Africa Road Stand's facilities, I'm pleased to say that our hosts have done a very good job of modernising the interior of their ageing showpiece stand. The press box seems to have been given a striking re-fit in keeping with the all-black theme that seems to run through many of the rooms in the area, with executive lounges that look very 'Footballers Wives'. There's even a boutique downstairs, selling R's related merchandise to any WAGs or celebs that turn up last minute without the required blue and white hooped gear.

1340: I've just heard that the brand new Westfield Shopping Centre - which is literally round the corner - is the biggest in Europe (London trying to steal our thunder yet again having seen the success of the Trafford Centre?). Having earlier taken a mere 45 minutes to complete the entire circuit (on two main floors with a sort of mezzanine level above) and visit every shop I took an interest in, I am prepared to dispute the accuracy of that particular accolade.

1338: Good afternoon and welcome to all the minute-by-minute action from a mild but breezy Loftus Road. This is a game being described by the man from BBC London as "the battle of the acronyms", which I liked, but he then mentioned that Preston don't travel well, which I didn't like. Let's hope we don't live up to the billing. Well, except the acronym bit.

By Adrian Ward Preston

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Today's teams:
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Agyemang, Gorkss, Rowlands, Ramage, Cook, Ephraim, Helguson. Subs: Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Ledesma, Di Carmine

Preston North End: Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, Sedgwick, Brown, Nicholson, St Ledger, McKenna, Wallace, Parkin, Nolan. Subs: Neal, Hawley, Carter, Whaley, Jones.
Teams


Compared to the two teams when they met in April at Loftus Road

QPR: Camp, Mahon (Ainsworth 67), Stewart, Mancienne, Blackstock, Rowlands, Connolly, Agyemang, Ephraim (Balanta 62), Hall, Leigertwood. Subs: Barker, Pickens, Lee.
Preston North End: Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, Sedgwick, Brown, Carter, St Ledger, Whaley, McKenna, Jones, Mellor (Priskin 46). Subs: Chaplow, Hill, L Neal, C Neal.

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Nice, innovative idea from Preston!

Preston Official Site - Pre Match Blogging

1351: Right, off in search of food - and hopefully some early team news.

1349: I always like to rate the ground I visit based on the quality of their musical output, and while I'm not eagerly excitied by The Hooisers, I was heartened by the retro Manic Street Preachers and Lightning Seeds classics that appeared at the start of the playlist.

1347: The North End players have just arrived, with some taking a chance to check out the pitch facilities. Chris Neal and Stephen Elliott seem to be the most interested in the surface itself, with Ross Wallace and Jon Parkin having a good read of the programme while Simon Whaley and Darren Carter chat away on their mobiles. With The Hoosiers blaring out of the PA system at full blast, I can't imagine they're finding it that easy to hold a conversation.

1344: Having just come back from a mini tour of the South Africa Road Stand's facilities, I'm pleased to say that our hosts have done a very good job of modernising the interior of their ageing showpiece stand. The press box seems to have been given a striking re-fit in keeping with the all-black theme that seems to run through many of the rooms in the area, with executive lounges that look very 'Footballers Wives'. There's even a boutique downstairs, selling R's related merchandise to any WAGs or celebs that turn up last minute without the required blue and white hooped gear.

1340: I've just heard that the brand new Westfield Shopping Centre - which is literally round the corner - is the biggest in Europe (London trying to steal our thunder yet again having seen the success of the Trafford Centre?). Having earlier taken a mere 45 minutes to complete the entire circuit (on two main floors with a sort of mezzanine level above) and visit every shop I took an interest in, I am prepared to dispute the accuracy of that particular accolade.

1338: Good afternoon and welcome to all the minute-by-minute action from a mild but breezy Loftus Road. This is a game being described by the man from BBC London as "the battle of the acronyms", which I liked, but he then mentioned that Preston don't travel well, which I didn't like. Let's hope we don't live up to the billing. Well, except the acronym bit. Preston Official Site Minute-by-Minute Pre-Match


Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and to read and if interested, to express your own views about any of these posts. Amng recent items posted: - Ben Watson on Transfer Speculation ..... QPR Involvement With"Coaching for Hope" .... Bemoaning Premiership's current lack of "Magicians" (such as Zola or Rodney Marsh) .... Video of Rodney Marsh Hatrick .... Holloway seemingly, Not Getting the Swindon Job.

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and to read and if interested, to express your own views about any of these posts. Recent Items posted: - Ben Watson on Transfer Speculation ..... QPR and "Coaching for Hope" .... Bemoaning Premiership's current lack of "Magicians" (such as Zola or Rodney Marsh) .... Video of Rodney Marsh Hatrick .... Wigan Beat the Police ..... Holloway seemingly, Not Getting the Swindon Job.


FLASHBACK ONE YEAR: DECEMBER 20, 2007: MITTAL INVESTS IN QPR
QPR Official Site - CLUB STATEMENT
QPR Announcement: The Mittal Family is Investing in QPR and Joining QPR's Board
- Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce today (Thursday 20th December 2007) that the Mittal Family has taken a 20 per-cent shareholding in QPR Holdings Limited.
- Alongside Mr Bernie Ecclestone, Mr Flavio Briatore and Sarita Capital, the Mittal Family will now be a significant shareholder in the Club.
- As part of the agreement, the Mittal Family have appointed Mr Amit Bhatia as a Director to the board of the Club.
- Speaking on behalf of Queens Park Rangers Football Club, the Board of Directors, said: "This investment in QPR by the Mittal Family is a great stepping-stone towards the future development of the Club and supports the ambition of the current shareholders to reach the Premier League in the near future.
"The new capital being invested in QPR will help fund the programme that is needed to help us achieve this target."
On behalf of the Mittal Family, Mr Bhatia, who is Mr Lakshmi Mittal's son-in-law, said: "The Family is excited about becoming involved with Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
"As a family, we love sport and particularly enjoy English football, and alongside Bernie and Flavio, we hope that we can improve the Club's performance, with the ultimate ambition of a place in the Premier League."
*The Club will be making no further comment at this stage. QPR

NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE MITTAL QPR INVESTMENT
-- For how the press reported the news: See: - Compendium of News Stories announcing Mittal's QPR Investment and QPR as "World's Richest Club"

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and to read and if interested, to express your own views about any of these posts. Recent Items posted: - Crystal Palace's Ben Watson on Transfer Speculation ..... QPR and "Coaching for Hope"..... Bemoaning Premiership's current lack of "Magicians" (such as Zola or Rodney Marsh) .... Video of Rodney Marsh Hatrick .... Wigan Beat the Police ..... Holloway seemingly, Not Getting the Swindon Job.


This is Lancashire: Helguson's Permanent Move to QPR
- "....It also looks a case of when, and not if, Heidar Helguson’s move to QPR is made permanent.
- The Iceland international is currently on loan at Loftus Road but as a stipulation of his contract, can transfer clubs in January if he completes a certain number of games.
- “A lot of the time Heidar hasn’t played it has been down to the form of Nicolas Anelka, Johan Elmander or Kevin Davies,” [Gary Megson] said. “He had one or two injuries in between but has been fine for a while now.
- “He’s got an opportunity down at QPR and there is something that will trigger after a couple of games. He is playing them at the moment and scored on Saturday, so he’s doing well for them.” This is Lancashire


A somewhat bizarre title for article...!
Rufus Brevett takes steps to be QPR boss - Dec 20 2008 By Colin Rowe, London Informer
QPR legend Rufus Brevett reckons Rangers are still a couple of players short but could make a promotion team.
The rugged defender, who made 153 appearances for QPR during the 1990s before joining Fulham during the Al Fayed revolution, still takes a seat at Loftus Road when he can and has casts a knowledgeable eye over the team inherited by Paulo Sousa.
He said: "We will have to see what happens in the window, and that's when they have got to kick on if they are going to achieve anything this season."
Despite QPR's inconsistent season Brevett believes the new manager's reputation may benefit the team. "He's unproven as a manager, but he has a decent playing pedigree - you can't argue with what he's done on the pitch," he said.
Brevett knows the effect money can have on a team after seeing chairman Mohamed Al Fayed take over at Fulham during his time at Craven Cottage.
"When I was at Fulham, Al Fayed came in and suddenly there was a lot of money in the club and the potential to buy in big players," he said. "As long as QPR spend wisely and get the right players in, there is no reason they can't get promoted this season."
Brevett is currently taking his FA coaching badges and lending his experience to Combined Counties League outfit Bedfont.
He always felt he wanted to stay in football after his playing career ended and hopes to make his way into the Football League.
While not ruling out returning to QPR as manager, Brevett knows eventually shifting into Paulo Sousa's seat is a long term project. "Obviously I want to coach or manage as high as possible and Bedfont is an opportunity to get my foot on the ladder," he added. London Informer


Preston Official Site Match Preview: A Tall Order?
- Preston North End boss Alan Irvine is expecting a big challenge against QPR this weekend, in more ways than one. The Lilywhites boss has done his homework on the London club, a side packed with talent but also a side packed full of players who might be better suited to a basketball court.
- "They've got nine players who are over six foot tall, so you are going to have to cope with that, but they have got decent footballers as well," Irvine said ahead of the trip to Loftus Road.
- "I know one or two of them, I worked with Peter Ramage at Newcastle, he's a fantastic lad and I am looking forward to seeing him. Patrick Agyemang is rapid, as we all know, they've also got Blackstock who is very quick, they've got some good athletes throughout the team.
- "Gareth Ainsworth is a terrific lad, I've known him since he was a youth team player at Blackburn, he's a lovely lad. He had a fantastic career, he's probably as hard a player as I've ever come across, he's incredibly tough."
North End drew 2-2 on their last visit to QPR, it was a result though that left the PNE players disappointed after they disasterously threw away a two-goal lead in the last minutes of the game.
Irvine said: "For 90 minutes we were fantastic, it was only in the last three or four minutes - the extra time that was added on - that things went wrong for us.
"Funnily enough Gareth played a huge part in that, he made a big big difference to them when he came on. Fortunately I don't think he will be coming on this time, we won't have to deal with him.
"It was a great performance, we played really well on the day, the Queens Park Rangers people were very complimentary, and rightly so. We came away from a 2-2 draw very disappointed, even though it was a result we would have accepted willingly before the game."
Ainsworth was caretaker boss at Loftus Road for a short while following the departure of Ian Dowie but he's now been replaced by Portuguese legend Paulo Sousa, it was an appointment that raised a few eyebrows but one which hopefully won't catch PNE's scouting network unawares.
"We are preparing in exactly the same way as we would normally prepare, obviously we have got information about his style of play from the few games that he has been involved in. It would have been hard had this been his first game becasue we wouldn't know what to expect.
"We've got an idea about how they will play and if they do turn out to be playing that way then we have got an idea of what we need to do in order to win."
Saturday's match will be a significant marker for the progress both PNE and QPR have made over the last twelve months, the Lilywhites and the R's are chasing a place in the Play-Offs but this time last year they were second bottom and bottom of the Championship respectively.
Irvine recognises that both clubs have made good progress, even if that progress has been made by different means.
"We've had to do it in a different way, there's no question about that. QPR are a very wealthy club now, they're able to bring in the level of player who demands a great deal in the way of wages, players that we just can't afford.
"Having said that, that doesn't guarantee anything, the expectation level will be very high and I'm sure they will be hoping to improve on their current league position.
"We've had to get to where we are in a very different way, with a couple of new players and a lot of hard work."
The North End boss has a few minor selection doubts ahead of the trip down south, both injury and illness may play a part in what team the Gaffer decides to play: "Billy Jones trained on Thursday and we will see how he is on Friday morning. Neil Mellor didn't train but is reporting that he is feeling a lot better, so we will see how he is. Richard Chaplow didn't train on Thursday, he was ill but I'm expecting him to be alright for Saturday.
"Brett Ormerod is training again, that's good news and Joe Anyinsah is back now, it's looking a lot better for us." Preston

Preston Official Site - Match Preview: QPR
It's been a whirlwind year and a half for the R's that's seen them transformed from paupers to being properly loaded.
Until Manchester City's takeover they had reasonable claims to being the richest club in the world and expectations have risen with that status.
Stability in the managerial hotseat has been difficult to find though and new gaffer Paulo Sousa is the sixth manager since the takeover.
North End's last visit to Loftus Road was a bittersweet experience for PNE and one which they would like to forget.
Two goals to the good with only injury time to spare and PNE looked good for another three points.
Dextor Blackstock and former North Ender Gareth Ainsworth had other ideas though and a point was all the whites garnered from their trip.
This year QPR have flirted with the Play-Off spots and, like PNE, have built a decent start on a strong home record with 8 wins.
The R's last home game saw skipper Martin Rowlands fire in from 20 yards to give QPR am impressive 1-0 victory over league leaders Wolves.
This time last year both clubs were bottom of the Championship, a win for either side at Loftus Road would be a further indication of how far both clubs have come.
Manager - Paolo Sousa
Following in the footsteps of permanent managers John Gregory, Luigi Di Canio and Iain Dowie in the Loftus Road hotseat is Portugese legend Paolo Sousa.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan attacking midfielder was a member of the backroom staff for the Portugese national team under Luis Scolari but was tempted by the challenge in the capital.
QPR's form has been solid since he took over from Gareth Ainsworth, who took charge temporarily after Iain Dowie's departure.
Two wins, two defeats and two draws under the European Cup winner have seen the Loftus Road outfit return to within striking distance of the Play-Offs.
Paolo Sousa playing for Inter
Sousa told the QPR official website on arrival that he intended to have his new charges playing in an attractive manner.
"I believe in playing positive attacking football. To achieve positive results you have to maintain a focussed outlook and my team will do this, both for ourselves and the fans."
Following the last minute goal that denied the hoops three points at Plymouth (see below) the Portugese admitted that consistency is key in the Championship.
"That is the main thing for me- for the players and the team to grow in confidence and show consistency because in this league you have to be consistent," he told the Ealing Times.
Last Match - Plymouth Argyle 1 QPR 1
Maclean 83, Helguson 16
A debut goal from new loan signing Heidar Helguson wasn't enough for the travelling side to secure all three points after a late winner from Pilgrims sub Steven MacLean.
The Bolton loanee converted captain Martin Rowland's corner in the fourteenth minute to put the R's a goal up.
Paul Sturrock made Maclean his final throw of the dice, making an unpopular decision to replace crowd favourite Paul Gallagher with the former Glasgow Rangers man.
Rory Fallon was the provider for the equaliser, nodding down for Maclean to turn in and send the Rs home without the win.
Plymouth: Larrieu, Clark, Timar, Seip, Barker, Mackie (Marin 78), Summerfield, Walton, Paterson (Noone 69), Gallagher (MacLean 77), Fallon.
Subs Not Used: Folly, Cathcart.
QPR: Cerny, Ramage (Hall 81), Stewart, Gorkss, Delaney, Mahon, Rowlands, Cook (Ephraim 68), Leigertwood, Agyemang (Blackstock 77), Helguson.
Subs Not Used: Cole, Tommasi.
Latest News - Ins and Outs
Preparations for tomorrow's game have been affected by Daniel Parejo's return to Real Madrid.
The highly-rated midfielder was recalled by Juande Ramos due to the Spanish champion's injury problems.
18-year-old Angelo Balanta's loan has been extended at Wycombe Wanderers for another couple of months.
Meanwhile, Sousa has welcomed the arrival of Heidar Helguson and praised his impact against Plymouth Argyle.
He told the BBC: "Helguson took his goal well and he will grow in confidence with that goal." Preston

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The Telegraph/Huw Turbervill
It is the halfway stage in the regular Championship season, and so a chance for me to revisit my pre-season predictions on how the clubs in my 'capital' blog area would fare.

Charlton - Prediction: 6th. Current position: 23rd. My new prediction: 20th.
Whoops. I said: "Alan Pardew has silenced his critics before - and I'm backing him to do it again." Alan who? Temporary manager Phil Parkinson's prospects are not looking great, and to stay up, they may need to get the right man in. Former Valley legend Alan Curbishley on a short-term deal anyone?

Crystal Palace - Prediction: 2nd. Current position: 8th. New prediction: 4th.
Sounds as if I was a long way off, but, like last season, they are putting a sticky start behind them, and have just taken 16 points from a possible 18. They may not pip Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham City and Reading, but they should make the play-offs. They have also managed to keep hold of young wing wizard Victor Moses. He has terrific potential.

QPR - Prediction: 4th. Current position: 9th. New prediction: 6th.I made my informed guess just after a story broke about Iain Dowie having a row with owner Flavio Briatore. There were denials all round, but Dowie went anyway after only 15 games as manager. Stand-in Gareth Ainsworth failed his audition, but now Paulo Sousa seems to be reintroducing some stability. They are still capable of making the play-offs.

Watford - Prediction: 9th. Current position: 17th. New prediction: 14th.
A bad call, it seems. I said Aidy Boothroyd had "to reinvent himself", and they did not start the season too badly, but form fell away and he is no longer in charge. Another relative novice, Brendan Rodgers, a protegee of Jose Mourinho, is the new boss and has just led them to successive wins so there is hope for the Hornets.

Reading - Prediction: 3th. Current position: 3rd. New prediction: 2nd.
I saved the best till last, in particular predicting a bright season for Stephen Hunt, who has been excellent. Reading have had their average moments this season, but still have Premier League pedigree, and striker Kevin Doyle has been superb, scoring 15 goals. The Telegraph

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and views Posted today: Why 4-4-2 Replaced by 4-2-3-1. .....Video Snippet: QPR vs Huddersfield )(with Rodney Marsh) See also: Articles of Interest-Thursday


QPR vs Preston
- 9th place QPR (33 points) play 5th place Preston (37 points) at Loftus Road on Saturday. Like QPR, Preston have a great home record. Away, Preston have won 2, draw 4, lost 5. Scored 12 let in 16. Preston Stats this season.
- Past Head to Head Results Preston Squad...Preston Results.... League Table...
- The most famous shared player: Clive Clarke. Currently, of course, QPR have Patrick Agyemang.
The last QPR vs Preston encounter was back in April, when QPR came from 0-2 down to draw with two goals in the last couple of minutes. (a few hours after Coach Luigi De Canio had been mugged in London). SEE QPR 2 Preston 2Match Reports
QPR's Team: Camp, Mahon (Ainsworth 67), Stewart, Mancienne, Blackstock, Rowlands, Connolly, Agyemang, Ephraim (Balanta 62), Hall, Leigertwood. Subs: Barker, Pickens, Lee. Scorers: Ainsworth 90, Blackstock 94
Preston North End: Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, Sedgwick, Brown, Carter, St Ledger, Whaley, McKenna, Jones, Mellor (Priskin 46). Subs: Chaplow, Hill, L Neal, C Neal.
Scorers: Mellor 37, Connolly 65
See Also: Clive Whittingham/LoftforWords QPR-Preston Preview


Manchester United Trained (again) at Loftus Road
[Hopefully didn't do any damage to the field]
Manchester United Official Site
"...Fitness coach Tony Strudwick is the man entrusted with ensuring the Reds remain at peak fitness during and after their time in Japan...
- We've been planning for the Club World Cup trip for a while and so far things have gone well from a fitness point of view.
- We set out with three phases to our plan – pre-Japan, during our stay and post-Japan. We focused on the first phase in the lead-up to the game at Tottenham last weekend. That week also included our Champions League clash with Aalborg so we had to taper training somewhat to prepare the lads for those games and the trip to the Far East.
- We stayed over in London on Sunday night and got the players up early for a training session at Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road ground. Those who played at White Hart Lane did some recovery work, while the rest did some stimulation work....Manchester United Official Site

Les Ferdinand Turned 42, December 18, 2008:
- Various Bio Details (just update his age)

Birthday for Another of the 1967 Heroes: Ron Hunt Turns 63
- QPR's (small) Center Half/Center Back, Ron Hunt:- Born December 19, 1945.
Ron Hunt made his debut in December 1964 and played some 200+ games for QPR until 1972-73 when he forced to retire with a knee injury at 29.
- But of all his games, he is perhaps most famous for his role in QPR's third and winning goal in the 1967 League Cup Final when he collided with the WBA Goalie.
Hunt was just one of a number of QPR players of that time who had come through the youth ranks at around the same time (Sibley, Peter Springett, Tony Hazell, Ian Morgan, Roger Morgan, Mick Leach). Photo of 1967 Team (Hunt in back row). The famous photo of Hunt

Ron Hunt's Appearances
1964-65 10 1965-65 32 1966-67 44
1967-68 10+1 1968-69 29+2 1969-70 21+1
1970-71 37 1971-72 29+1 1972-73 2 See also: Wikipedia/Ron Hunt

SNIPPETS

- Blog Flashback: December 19, 2006: : Winter Comes Early to Loftus Road

Also Two Years Ago, December 2006: -
Sporting Life QPR MAKE EMERGENCY TAX PAYMENT
- QPR have reportedly made an emergency payment of £500,000 to the Inland Revenue to prevent the club facing a winding up order and going into administration.
Rangers would have incurred an automatic 10-point deduction under Football League regulations, and that would have meant the club dropping into the Championship relegation zone.
- However, the payment was made on Friday, and chairman Gianni Paladini told the Sunday Mirror: "There was a winding-up order in place when we took over.
"We made a first payment of £500,000 last month and another of £500,000 on Friday so we are currently up to date.
- "If we hadn't paid the bill by December 20 they'd have published details of the winding-up order in the London Gazette. There is a provisional hearing set for January if we haven't paid the bill.
"The total bill is for £1.58million and so far we have paid £1million. We've an agreed schedule with the Inland Revenue for the remainder to be paid as part of our regular monthly payment." Sporting Life

- Three Years Ago today: Jake Cole made his league debut against Coventry. Coming on after Simon Royce was sent off. And Cole's act having to (and failing) to save a penalty. Coventry won 1-0.
QPR: Royce (sent off 85), Bignot, Evatt, Shittu, Ainsworth (Cole 86), Rowlands, Santos (Bircham 80), Bean (Cook 65), Moore, Dyer, Langley Subs: Cole, Milanese, Rose Scorers:Bookings: Rowlands 15, Santos 57
Coventry: Fulop, Whing, Page, Duffy, Doyle, Adebola (Scowcroft 75), McSheffrey (Jorgensen 89), Morrell (Impey 61), Osbourne, Shaw, HutchisonSubs: Ince, Thornton Scorers: McSheffrey (pen) 85 Bookings: McSheffrey 17, Adebola 73Att: 13,556. Match Reports QPR 0 Coventry 1

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for articles and views (including your own, if interested). Updated through the day

BLOG POSTINGS:

- Balanta Extending Stay at Wycombe


- Dani Parejo: Happy to Be Back With Real Madrid


- The "Home Grown" League Rule Now In Effect


- Dani of the 100 Days: Remembering Parejo's Arrival at QPR


QPR REPORT MESSAGEBOARD - ARTICLE POSTINGS


- Laskhmi Mittal Listed as one of the donors (non-QPR)


- Dean Parrett on the Bench Tonight for Spurs vs Spartak


- Chelsea Breaking Norm: Helping Spartak Against Spurs (and Spartak don't sound too grateful)


- Nostalgia Video: QPR vs Portsmouth - and Notes from that Match Programme


- Scott Sinclair: Also Wanted by Crystal Palace


- Maybe Ben Watson Not to QPR: Update


- Amit Bhatia on WATRBS


- Ian Holloway DEFINITELY NOT Getting Swindon Managerial Job


- Year Flashback: Chief Scout Ceravalo Depart "resigned...with immediate effect, owing to family reasons"


- Flashback: QPR AGM's Report


- Top Fifty British Footballers of 2008


- Fifty Best-Ever Football Books (Ongoing Thread)


- QPR Kits over the years: Pick Your Favourite (Ongoing Thread)


- - "Football fans have rights too - Under cover of the Violent Crime Reduction Act, police are taking arbitrary and oppressive action against football fans" and "Watching Football is Not a Crime


- Football League to Install "Home Grown" Ruling for Football League Clubs (starting next season)


- Barclays Reviewing its Premiership Sponsorship (as well as its other sponsorship)


- World Soccer Rankings. England Up to #8


- Southgate Warns of English Football's Finances/Future


- The Football Museum: London or Preston?


- FA Questioning Manchester United's "Veracity"?


- Alex Ferguson Denies Ronaldo to Real Madrid; proclaims Wouldn't Even Sell Real Madrid a Virus


Also: QPR Report: Articles of Interest- Wednesday

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- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for articles and views. See Also: QPR Report Array of Articles of Interest

QPR Official Site BALANTA LOAN EXTENDED
The Club can confirm it has reached agreement with Wycombe Wanderers Football Club to extend Angelo Balanta's loan deal.
The 18 year-old striker initially penned a two month loan deal with the League Two front-runners, but that agreement has now been extended until Saturday 14th February 2009.
Under the terms of the deal, Balanta - who has scored two goals in five appearances for the Chairboys - can be recalled at 24 hours notice.
R's boss Paulo Sousa told www.qpr.co.uk: "Angelo is benefitting greatly from the experience he is getting at Wycombe.
"He is playing regularly in a very good environment and this will only help him to develop as a player.
"I have spoken to (Wycombe Manager) Peter Taylor who has been very impressed by him, and of course, we will continue to monitor his progress over the coming weeks." QPR

WYCOMBE OFFICIAL SITE - BALANTA EXTENDS BLUES STAY
- The Blues have been boosted ahead of their trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday with the news that Angelo Balanta has extended his loan deal with the club until Saturday 14th February, wwfc.com can exclusively reveal.
- The QPR youngster joined the club on November 14th on a two-month deal but after impressing during his first month with the Blues, manager Peter Taylor has extended the deal by a further 30 days.
-Balanta has scored twice in the Wanderers' last three games, both of them stunning strikes, his first for the club was the second in the 4-0 win over Macclesfield at Adams Park and the other came in the Blues' loss at Aldershot Town on Saturday 6th December.
- Angelo missed the Blues' game with Luton Town at the weekend due to injury but Peter Taylor is hopeful that the 18-year-old will be fit for the trip to the ProStar Stadium on Saturday.
- Taylor said after the game with the Hatters: "It's only a very, very slight hamstring strain or what they call a spasm. It's not even a tear but I just didn't want to take that chance. I'm confident he will be fit for Saturday." Wycombe

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-Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for articles and views. See Also: Parejo's QPR Arrival and Departure and an array of Articles of Interest

Parejo delighted at Real Madrid return
- Dani Parejo spoke on Thursday about his joy at being able to make a quick return to form part of the Real Madrid first team squad.
- The 19-year-old has been recalled from a loan spell at English Championship (second division) side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) to give more depth to the Real Madrid attack.
- Parejo was only a limited success in his English adventure, losing his place in the QPR first team as the club made a disappointing start to the campaign. He made 14 league appearances for the London-based outfit and failed to score any goals.
- However, Real Madrid sees him as part of the solution to their injury crisis that has left them without players such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ruben de la Red and Mahamadou Diarra, all of whom willmiss the rest of the season. Parejo is delighted to be given the chance.
- "You can never say 'no' to Real Madrid and I have waited for this moment for many years," Parejo told sports paper Diario AS.
- Apart from his brief spell in England, the youngster has spent his entire career in the Real Madrid youth system and last season he scored 10 goals in 33 outings with their "B" team. Nevertheless, he feels that he has benefited from his half season with QPR.
- "I am returning to Real Madrid more complete as a person and as a footballer, but also with the hopes that all former youth team players have."
-"Now I want to help the team all that I can," he concluded.
- Parejo has his first training session with the first team on Thursday morning. Xinhua

Real Madrid Official Site - "I am thrilled to be back"
- Daniel Parejo was declared fit for action by Real Madrid's Medical Services on Thursday morning. The player arrived at Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital at 8:00 to undergo the required physical, which Dr. Carlos Díez stated "was totally satisfactory. He is in perfect health to participate in sports."
- The tests consisted of different blood and urine labs, and EKG, an ECHO, and MRI, x-rays and a physical.
- Parejo was given the green light after nearly two hours of poking and prodding. "The player is excited to be back at his lifelong club," added Dr. Díez.
- The player is expected to participate in his first training session this morning. Real Madrid

Real Madrid Official Site - Class, vision and lots of Madridismo
Meet Daniel Parejo
- Daniel Parejo returns to his home Club as a member of the first team. The youth system player stands out for his vision, his exquisite technique -he is a specialist at taking set pieces- and his powerful shot. The Under-19 European champion returns to Real Madrid after a brief spell at Queens Park Rangers.
- Daniel Parejo joined Real Madrid's Under-13 side after playing for his fathers team UD Espinilla (Coslada). In just one year, he managed to play for the Under-20 A side, Real Madrid C and Castilla, finishing the season off with a brilliant free-kick goal that made Spain's Under-19 squad European champions.
- He was a starter in 33 games with Castilla last season and scored ten goals, becoming a key player on the team.
- His excellent run at Castilla earned him Bernd Schuster's trust. The German coach had him train with the first team on numerous occasions. Parejo even worked out with the squad during the pre-season. He scored Real Madrid's victory goal against Hamburg in the Emirates Cup clash.
- He was loaned out to English First Division team Queens Park Rangers at the end of the pre-season. He enjoyed much playing time and managed to perform very well in a tough and competitive league.
- "Raúl, Casillas and Guti are the players I look up to," said Parejo when he was part of Real Madrid's academy, "These three great players started out in the youth system and have gone on to be successful at Real Madrid. I think about achieving such greatness whenever I see them. I am young and patient." Real Madrid

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- As has been noted on the QPR Report Messageboard for the past few weeks, the new "home grown players" rule has now been passed..
- See also: Parejo's QPR Arrival and Departure and an array of Articles of Interest


QPR Official Site 'HOME GROWN PLAYERS' RULE
- Football League Clubs have voted to introduce a 'Home Grown Players' rule, as proposed by The Football League Board, at a specially arranged EGM of Clubs at Derby County. The new rule will come into effect from the beginning of next season.
- The 'Home Grown Players' rule will require at least four players from Clubs' 16 man matchday squads to be registered domestically, for a minimum of three seasons, prior to thei 21st birthday.
- In welcoming the Club's decision Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "I would like to compliment Football League Clubs for having the foresight to make changes that will benefit the wider game.
- "League Clubs are at the forefront of developing young playing talent for the domestic game and are investing more than £40m a season in this important area.
- "As a result of today's vote, those players being developed will have a greater chance to demonstrate their talent at First Team level."
- The new rule is in line with the approach favoured by UEFA rather than the '6+5' approach being proposed by FIFA as The League has concerns over the legality of the latter in European law. This means that players will be considered as 'home grown' regardless of their nationality. QPR


Football League- CLUBS IN FAVOUR OF 'HOME GROWN' RULE
- Football League clubs have voted to introduce a 'Home Grown Players' rule, as proposed by The Football League Board, at a specially arranged EGM of clubs at Derby County. The new rule will come into effect from the beginning of next season.
- The 'Home Grown Players' rule will require at least four players from clubs' sixteen man matchday squads to be registered domestically, for a minimum of three seasons, prior to their 21st birthday.
- In welcoming the club's decision Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "I would like to compliment Football League clubs for having the foresight to make changes that will benefit the wider game.
- "League clubs are at the forefront of developing young playing talent for the domestic game and are investing more than £40m a season in this important area.
- "As a result of today's vote, those players being developed will have a greater chance to demonstrate their talent at first team level."
- The new rule is in line with the approach favoured by UEFA rather than the '6+5' approach being proposed by FIFA as The League has concerns over the legality of the latter in European law. This means that players will be considered as 'home grown' regardless of their nationality. Football League

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for articles and views (including your own, if interested) Article updates posted throughout the day

Dani Parejo Arrives
- "Dani of the 100 Days: From Summer Hype To Cold Reality." - Recalling the Arrival at Loftus Road of Daniel Parejo "We are delighted to have agreed a deal to sign arguably the hottest prospect in European football..."

Dani Parejo Departs:
- The Sun: QPR have sent teenager Dani Parejo back to Real Madrid — and are ready to offload Emmanuel Ledesma to Genoa next. The loan pair caused chaos when Iain Dowie was Rangers boss as club owner Flavio Briatore insisted that they play. New chief Paulo Sousa seems to have more control and told Briatore they are not in his plans - The Sun

- Arguing the Case: Excessive Police Actions Against Fans

- Football League to Install "Home Grown" Ruling for Football League Clubs (starting next season)

- Top Fifty British Footballers of 2008

- Barclays Reviewing its Premiership Sponsorship (as well as its other sponsorship)

- World Soccer Rankings. England Up to #8

- Alex Ferguson proclaims: Wouldn't Even Sell Real Madrid a Virus

- Southgate Warns of English Football's Finances/Future

- The Football Museum: London or Preston?

- Nostalgia Video: QPR vs Portsmouth - and Notes from that Match Programme

- Year Flashback: Chief Scout Ceravalo Departs - "resigned...with immediate effect, owing to family reasons"

- Flashback: QPR AGM's Report

- Scott Sinclair: Also Wanted by Crystal Palace

- Maybe Ben Watson Not to QPR Update

- Ian Holloway DEFINITELY NOT Getting Swindon Managerial Job

- Chelsea Breaking Norm: Helping Spartak Against Spurs (and Spartak don't sound too grateful)

- FA Questioning Manchester United's "Veracity"?

ONGOING THREADS

- Fifty Best-Ever Football Books (Ongoing Thread)

- QPR Kits over the years: Pick Your Favourite (Ongoing Thread)

- QPR's Scouts: Are They Completely Incompetent? (Ongong Thread)


Also: QPR Report: Articles of Interest- Wednesday
- Flashback: December 2007 Fans Consultative Meeting with QPR Officials
- QPR Nostalgia Video Snippet: QPR vs Norwich
- QPR Reserves Draw With Gillingham - Match Report
- The Rule Preventing Liverpool's Robbie Keane's Return to Spurs
- Premier League and Yet MORE TV Money Coming?
- The Finances of Blackburn and Paul Ince
- Scott Sinclair Playing for Chelsea Reserves!
- Player Manager Trouble at Chelsea

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and to express your views.


QPR Report - Vital Football QPR - Dani of the 100 Days
Dani of the 100 Days: From Summer Hype To Cold Reality. By QPR Report
QPR Report takes us back to the summer and the revelation that Queens Park Rangers had signed Spanish wonder-kid Daniel Parejo
"The return to Real Madrid of Daniel Parejo after just a few short months at Loftus Road, brings to a disappointing end what just a few months earlier had appeared to be a brilliant, bold, mold-shattering signing, exemplifying the new QPR era under Flavio Briatore and friends..." To Read Complete article, See: Vital Football QPR "Dani of the 100 Days: From Summer Hype to Cold Reality"

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboardfor further articles and views. Alternate views are welcomed! See: QPR Report Articles of Interest - Wednesday


- Parejo's Departure: Interesting/Fortuitous (or Whatever!): Real Madrid recall Dani Parejo at the very time that QPR were playing him less and less under their Chief Coach, Paulo Sousa.


"...Parejo made 18 appearances for QPR during an impressive loan spell at Loftus Road." Sporting Life


QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE : PAREJO RETURNS TO REAL
- Daniel Parejo has returned to Real Madrid, after the Spanish giants activated a recall clause within the players' loan contract with Queens Park Rangers.
- The 19 year-old will officially return to Madrid on January 1st 2009, however, Rangers have agreed to release Parejo - who made 18 appearances in all competitions for the R's - with immediate effect.
- Speaking about Parejo's impending return to Spain, Rangers boss Paulo Sousa said: "We have a very good working relationship with Mr Calderon and Mr Mijatovic at Real Madrid and we are very grateful to them for allowing us to take Daniel on loan in the first place.
- "He is a player of great potential and I am sure that with a good professional attitude, he has the talent to achieve at the very highest level.
- "I will continue to follow his progress at Madrid, and of course, we wish him all the best for his future career."


Real Madrid - Official Announcement Parejo Returns to Real Madrid
The midfielder was loaned out to Queens Park Rangers and will now join the first team
- Daniel Parejo, an international for Spain's Under-21 side, was loaned out to English First Division team Queens Park Rangers this summer. He played for Castilla last season after a brilliant run on other youth system teams. He even had some minutes of playing time with the first team. Parejo has become one of Real Madrid's winter transfer window reinforcements.
- Through their spokesman, Queens Park Rangers thanked the player and Real Madrid for their disposition and collaboration in the past few months, during which Parejo has completed his formation.
-The 19-year old is already in Madrid and will start working for Juande Ramos right away. Real Madrid


And Real Madrid Official Site Parejo regresa al Real Madrid
- El centrocampista, que jugaba cedido en el Queens Park Rangers, se incorpora al primer equipo
- Parejo, internacional sub '21 español, fue cedido el pasado verano al Queen Park Rangres, club inglés que milita en la First Division. El centrocampista, tras una brillante trayectoria en las secciones inferiores del Real Madrid, jugó la campaña anterior en el Castilla e disputando incluso minutos ya en el primer equipo. Daniel Parejo se convierte así en uno de los refuerzos del Real Madrid en el mercado de invierno.
- El Queens Park Rangers, a través de su portavoz y director deportivo Paulo Sousa, agradeció a Dani Parejo y al Real Madrid la disposición y la colaboración máxima en estos meses donde el futbolista ha completado su formación.
- Dani Parejo, de 19 años, se encuentra ya en Madrid y se pondrá de inmediato ya a las órdenes de Juande Ramos en la Ciudad Deportiva de Valdebebas. Real Madrid

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboardfor articles of interest and view. (Your views welcomed!). See Today's QPR Report Articles of Interest (Wednesday)..... QPR Reserves Draw with Gillingham


UPDATE: SKY SPORT
Dani Parejo is in talks to cut short his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers.
The Real Madrid starlet signed for Rangers in the summer after the London club's chairman Flavio Briatore struck a deal with counter-part Ramon Calderon.
However, things have not worked out as well as was expected for the 19-year-old.
Parejo, who has started 10 league games for the club - is now back in the Spanish capital in talks with Madrid.
It is believed coach Juande Ramos is more than happy to have the teenager back in the squad - given their current injury problems. Sky Sports


GuillemBalague QPR: Parejo in talks with Real Madrid over recall
- Dani Parejo is in Madrid today holding talks with Real Madrid over a return to the Spanish club. Dani, currently on loan from the Spanish champions at English championship side QPR has struggled to hold down a first team place at Loftus Road since moving to London in the summer and would be happy to return to Spain.
- Juande Ramos, the new Madrid coach, has inherited a side depleted by injuries and he is keen maximise his options in the squad. Discussions involving Juande, Dani and the technical staff at the club are taking place today: with a view to establishing whether the new Madrid coach feels that Dani could feature in his plans.
- Bernd Schuster, sacked as coach of Madrid last week, was eager for Dani Parejo to cut short his loan spell in London and bring the Spanish U21 international back to the La Liga club, and it remains to be seen if Ramos will feel the same. However, if there is no possibility that Parejo will feature for Ramos at Real Madrid, then it is most likely that the player will go out on loan to another Spanish first division club – possibly Espanyol – rather than return to London where his playing time has been limited.
- Championship football in England is of a completely different style to the football played at youth level in Spain and it has been difficult for Parejo to adapt to. Dani, a friend of GuillemBalague.com who has regularly blogged for us on the site during his time in England, feels that he has nevertheless benefitted from the experience of English football, but he is now ready to return to Spain in order to further his career. Guillem


Setanta/Laurent Picard - Exclusive: QPR star back in Madrid
Setanta.com understands that QPR midfielder Daniel Parejo is currently in Madrid to negotiate a return with employers Real.
Exciting Spanish talent Parejo has been called back by Juande Ramos, who is in search of a right winger, and is about to move on from Championship side QPR.
The 19-year-old is on loan to the Loftus Road outfit this term, but appears to be on his way back to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Parejo impressed during the Emirates Cup last summer and moved to QPR straight away, with his parents also moving to London.
When contacted by Setanta.com, the Spaniard said he was currently in Madrid, but was not allowed to speak about his future. Setanta


London Informer - Dani Parejo and Emanuel Ledesma to exit QPR
- QPR have sent teenager Dani Parejo back to Real Madrid - and are ready to offload Emanuel Ledesma as well.
- It's the clearest sign yet the balance of power has shifted from chairman back to manager after the Rs boardroom dominated team selection during the last two months.
- At the end of October, chairman Flavio Briatore was seething then boss Iain Dowie wouldn't pick the two on-loan starlets - and paid for it with his job.
- But new man Paulo Sousa quickly decided the midfielder and Argentine winger from Genoa weren't up to the task of a tough Championship campaign and travelled down the same line of thought as Dowie.
- Briatore was instrumental in bringing the pair to the club in the summer - Parejo through his friendship with Real president Ramon Calderon - but has reluctantly agreed to his new manager's wishes.
- At one stage, the chairman was handing caretaker boss Gareth Ainsworth his own team selection.
- But this week Sousa tapped the part of his contract allowing him complete control of first-team affairs and has also demanded midfielder Damiano Tomassi be included in the mini-cull come the January transfer window.
- The 34-year-old Italian initially made an impact on his debut in the 1-0 win over Birmingham in October, but couldn't compete with the likes of Gavin Mahon and Mikele Leigertwood for a regular berth.
- Those heading for the exit is also expected to include the permanent transfer of keeper Lee Camp to Nottingham Forest allowing Rangers to pursue Ben Watson at Crystal Palace, although sources at Rangers fear they won't be able to compete with Premiership giants such as Everton, also waiting in the wings for the 23-year-old.
- An Rs source said: "We've already offered £1million.
- "There may be a little more available. But what would you do if you're ambitious and the choice is between a Premiership and Championship club?"
-Midfielder Adam Bolder is also up for permanent grabs after the former Derby player spent most of the year on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and with League One Millwall. London Informer


Express and Star - Wolves interested in Sinclair
- Mick McCarthy is looking at strengthening Wolves’ wing options in the January transfer window after reiterating his interest in Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair.
- McCarthy failed in a bid to take the exciting 19-year-old when Matt Jarvis was injured. After losing Sunderland’s Carlos Edwards last month, he could now return with an enquiry.
- The manager said: “I’ve contacted Chelsea about Scott Sinclair and he can’t come out until the window, so everyone knows I’ve got an interest in him.
- “But there were about 22 other clubs interested in him at the time, which was when we lost Jarvis. I rang instantly and we tried them all – Scott Sinclair, Carlos Edwards and other names. I still like Scott as a player.
- “We looked to see what we could do and we got Carlos. I would love to have still had him here, but that’s not the case. But all that could change.”
- But McCarthy stressed signing loan players is no foregone conclusion.
- He said: “These players need to play, it’s like Mark Davies going from us to Leicester. I would never give anyone a guarantee – they have to earn the right to play – but when you’re taking loan players, you’re taking them with a view to playing them.
- “I’m loaning players out but I’m not going to loan them out to be on the bench – they might as well play in our reserve games.”
- McCarthy admits he would be hard pushed to improve his squad next month, given their position six points clear at the top of the Championship.
“I would do very well to get players better than the ones I’ve got because they’ve been brilliant, absolutely different class and I’ve got a lot of time for them,” he said.
“But if I can get someone to supplement the squad and make it stronger, then that’s my job and I’ll do it.” Express and Star

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for articles and views (including your own, if interested) Article updates posted throughout the day

- QPR Reserves Draw With Gillingham - Match Report

- The Rule Preventing Liverpool's Robbie Keane's Return to Spurs

- QPR Nostalgia Video Snippet: QPR vs Norwich

- Flashback: December 2007 Fans Consultative Meeting with QPR Officials

- Premier League and Yet MORE TV Money Coming?

- The Finances of Blackburn and Paul Ince

- Scott Sinclair Playing for Chelsea Reserves!

- Player Manager Trouble at Chelsea

- Fifty Best-Ever Football Books (Ongoing Thread)

- QPR Kits over the years: Pick Your Favourite (Ongoing Thread)

- QPR's Scouts: Are They Completely Incompetent? (Ongong Thread)


- Also: Yesterday's Compilation of Articles of Interest (Tuesday)
- Gary Penrice: Now a Premiership Scout
- Leeds in Trouble: Don't Panic. Blame the Players
- Flashback: Gianni Gets His Award
- A Youth Development System to Emulate
- Video: FA Cup Victory for QPR
- Video Compilation of QPR Goals
- Video: The Great Port Vale Comeback
- Financial Situation Impact on Chelsea and Spurs
- "Could-Have-Been" QPR Manager, John Collins Gets Managerial Job
- Ex-Bristol City Manager (at time of QPR-Bristol City Promotion Race), Danny Wilson Axed
- Portsmouth "Astounded" Over Fine

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboardfor additional articles and posters' opinions


- Nice Nostalgia QPR Video Snippet


Tribal Football Spain QPR's Parejo in Spain for Real Madrid return talks
Real Madrid are re-signing Dani Parejo from QPR.
AS says Parejo was in Madrid yesterday to negotiate his return to Real. The youngster will replace Ruben de la Red, whose place in Juande Ramos' squad is in doubt after his collapse during a Copa del Rey tie earlier this season.
Parejo had signed for two seasons with QPR, but Flavio Briatore won't hold Real to that agreement. Tribal Football Spain


Player QPR Supposedly Wanted, Trialing at Birmingham
Fans Fc Birmingham land winger on trial
Highy-rated non-league hopeful Robin Shroot has gone to St Andrews on trial
The 20-year old is on the radar of several clubs, including Derby, Charlton, Coventry and Queens Park Rangers but Birmingham appear to be at the head of the queue.
Shroot has been playing on a non-contract basis for Harrow Borough after previously playing for AFC Wimbledon. Fans FC


News of Dave Clement's Son
- Paul Clement was appointed Reserve Team Manager at Chelsea to replace Brendan Rodgers who took over at Watford.- See Chelsea Official Site


QPR Official Site - IN RESERVE - BORROWDALE IN SQUAD
Defender Gary Borrowdale is in line to make his first appearance in the blue and white hoops this afternoon (Wednesday) as the Reserves take on Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium. Reserve Team boss Gareth Ainsworth has named a strong squad for the trip, with Emmanuel Ledesma, Samuel Di Carmine and himself all expected to feature at some stage.
The Totesport.com Combination League fixture kicks off at 2pm.
QPR Reserves (from): Putnins, Crowther, Harris, Brown, Borrowdale, Ainsworth, Oastler, Alberti, Maguire, Smith, Flood, Ledesma, Di Carmine, Rose, Parker, German.
QPR


Also: See Part II of Vital Football/QPR Analysis of QPR's Squad
- Vital Football/QPR

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for articles and views (including your own, if interested) Article updates posted throughout the day, as warranted.

- Gary Penrice: Now a Premiership Scout "We now have Gary Penrice working for us because he knows the foreign market really well..."

- Leeds in Trouble: Don't Panic. Blame the Players

- Flashback: Gianni Gets His Award

- QPR Kits Over the Years: Select Your Favourite

- A Youth Development System to Emulate

- Video: FA Cup Victory for QPR

- Video Compilation of QPR Goals

- The Great Port Vale Comeback

- Fifty Best-Ever Football Books

- Financial Situation Impact on Chelsea and Spurs

- "Could-Have-Been" QPR Manager, John Collins Gets Managerial Job

- Ex-Bristol City Manager (at time of QPR-Bristol City Promotion Race), Danny Wilson Axed

- Portsmouth "Astounded" Over Fine

- Are QPR Scouts Completely Incompetent? - Discuss

- Selecting Favourite QPR Kit Over The Years


- Other Recent Articles of Interest

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- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and views (yours welcome!) In particular: The Fifty Best Football Books (of "All Time")


Scott Sinclair?
"Wolves, Birmingham, QPR and Crystal Palace are all battling to sign Chelsea's teenage winger Scott Sinclair on loan in January. (Daily Mirror) BBC Gossip

The Mirror: Birmingham and Wolves to battle to take Scott Sinclair
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy faces a battle with promotion rivals Birmingham for Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair. McCarthy wants Sinclair for a loan move in January to strengthen his title challenge. But Brum, QPR and Crystal Palace will also attempt to sign the 19-year-old. Mirror


Vital Football QPR's Analysis of the QPR Squad
- 'The first part of Superhoop50`s analysis focuses on the R`s defensive unit...
Vital Football QPR


QPR Official Site Reports on its Bahrein Activities - "Football in the Community - Bahrein Report


TWO YEARS AGO TODAY: QPR IN TROUBLE ON AND OFF THE FIELD

Two Year Ago December 16, 2006
QPR's Fifth Consecutive Loss: QPR 0 Wolves 1 before a crowd of just over 12,000. Wolves goal from Michael Knightly making his debut on loan from Grays (a player QPR clearly missed out on). QPR's team: Royce, Milanese, Rehman, Mancienne, Bignot, Rowlands, Smith, Gallen, Bircham (Furlong 65), Blackstock, Jones. Subs: Cole, Ward, Baidoo, Bailey. QPR 0 Wolves 1 Match Reports

After the Game: Very Strong Gregory Comments -
"...We're in trouble - serious trouble. "We enjoyed a period of brief respite when we jumped up to mid-table, but make no mistake; we're in big trouble now" (Official Site)
"...Today said a lot about us....After they scored, we showed a lack of quality and our delivery was awful....Some of my players are out of contract at the end of the season...That means six more paydays and then they might be out of work. If that was me, I’d be frightened to death..." (Sunday Times) OR! "Some of the boys who played today have six more pay packets until the end of the season and could be out of work...That would frighten me to death. They should realise they are playing for their livelihood and we need to withhold judgement until the end of the season." (People)

League Table - December 2006
Crystal Palace 23 26
Luton 23 26
QPR 23 24
Barnsley 23 23
Hull 23 20
Leeds 23 20
Southend 23 16


OFF THE FIELD TWO YEARS AGO: Daily Express Story re QPR Finances - eliciting response from QPR.

Daily Express- Saturday, December 16 - By Tony Yorke
- Are Rangers going bust?; -Even Club's Accountants Have Fears for Future
Accountants at debt-ridden Queens Park Rangers have warned the club that they may ha ve broken the law in their desperate attempt to avoid going bust.
- The Daily Express has discovered the amazing confession in financial documents filed last month at Companies House - the government agency reporting directly to the Department of Trade and Industry.
- Recording debts to the tune of GBP 19million, an annual income of just GBP 8.5m and losses that are running at GBP 4.32m, auditors Rothman Pantall & Co have chosen to paint a very bleak future picture of the struggling Championship club, who are run by colourful chairman Gianni Paladini.
- They expose the current accounts of Queens Park Rangers Football & Athletic Co - the company who run the football side of the QPR business - as being worthless because there is no "evidence" to back up the club's claims.
- And they say the club's financial statements - lodged with the DTI an incredible 16 months late - may have been prepared improperly. If true, this would be a clear breach of the Companies Act and regarded as a criminal offence.
- "We have had problems and the accounts have been a mess, " Paladini said yesterday. "But the issues we have faced have not been of my making.
"They are the results of the actions of the club's former directors. I am simply the man who has been left to pick up the pieces - which has included raising 6m [pounds[ since September 2005 so we can pay our way.
- "Without that money, we would have been forced to call in the administrators because our losses have simply been so great. But we have not been insolvent, I guarantee that." But Paladini's reassurances may not have the desired effect on officials from the Football League and the DTI.
- They will be very concerned by the claim that evidence provided by the club's board - including current and past directors - cannot not be relied upon, particularly over the club's assertion that they are a "going concern" and have not traded while bust.
- And their own accountants have delivered a damning indictment on the business credentials of the club's board.
- "We planned our audit so as to obtain all of the information and explanations considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable reassurance that the financial statements are free of material mis-statement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error, " say the accountancy firm.
- "But the evidence available to us to confirm appropriateness of preparing the financial statements on the going concern basis was limited. This is because the company have not prepared any profit or cash flow projections for the appropriate period subsequent to the balance sheet date." As a result, they say, they have been "unable to form a view" as to whether the club are a going concern. They also could not offer an opinion as to whether the statements gave a true and fair state of the company's affairs or if they had been properly prepared.
- Senior sources within the game's top brass and the DTI suggest they may be forced to act. "We are monitoring the QPR situation very closely and have spoken to the club about the restructuring of their debts, " said a Football League spokesman. "If we find out that Rangers have broken the rules then we will act." It is difficult to assess just how bad Rangers' financial affairs are because the figures released by the club on November 15 relate to the period ending May 31 2004 and are hopelessly out of date.
- However, a well-placed finance director at a Premiership club who has seen the Rangers accounts, said: "There is a golden rule when it comes to football finances - you must avoid getting in over your heads at all costs.
- "It goes to another level when your own accountant reports publicly that there is no evidence to back up important financial claims - and that the club may have breached the Companies Act.
- "If that was to happen at my club, we would expect to be under formal investigation by the DTI and the League." Regardless of what might happen with the League and the DTI, Paladini has pledged to ensure things are done by the book in future.
- "I have had professional people around me and relied on them to do things properly and on time, " he said. "That hasn't always happened. But you have my word that it will do now. From now on our accounts will be sorted out on time." (Daily Express, December 16)


December 2006 - QPR RESPONSE TO DAILY EXPRESS
QPR Official Site: Official Club statement by Antonio Caliendo and Gianni Paladini.
- We owe it to QPR fans to respond to the allegations made in the Daily Express on Saturday in an article entitled "Are Rangers Going bust?"
- The article was misleading in many respects and we can assure our many supporters that there is no possibility of QPR going bust whilst we remain on board.We have seen too many attacks on QPR in the press that simply don't reflect the reality of today's situation. It seems there is always someone who wants to discredit our club.
- Our goal remains the same as always: to take QPR to the highest position in English football. Despite injuries and recent results, we believe John Gregory will be able to take QPR back to the position it was in when he played for the Club.
We accept that talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. We will only ever prove our critics wrong by taking the Club forward, and we are 100 per-cent committed to continuing with that.
- Finally, we would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of the staff and fans of QPR a very happy Christmas and a successful New Year.
Antonio Caliendo - Chairman of QPR Holdings Gianni Paladini - Chairman of QPR FC QPR Official Site QPR QPR Report


December 2008! Blackpool Gazette - Nardiello itching for Seasiders chance
DANIEL Nardiello is as fit as he's been since arriving at Blackpool and itching for a first team chance.
The striker has – touch wood – finally overcome the injury problems that have dogged him since he signed for the Seasiders from QPR at the start of the season.
He has been confined to two brief substitute appearances from the bench so far, spending the majority of his time undergoing treatment in the physio's room.
But the 26-year-old, described by many in the Blackpool squad as the best natural finisher at the club, is training at full pelt and believes he is ready for action.
Manager simon Grayson said: "Daniel has trained a lot recently and he is itching to get back into the squad. He won't be 100 per cent but if we need him he is there to be called upon.
"I'm delighted for the lad because he has had a real tough time since he came here and it's no fun to arrive at a new club and to then have to deal with being out injured for three or four months.
"He's probably as fit as he's been and hopefully he'll stay that way."..
Gazette

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles of interest and for board perspectives (your views very welcome). Some of the articles recently posted

South London Press/Richard Cawley - Warnock issues Watson warning
Monday, 15 December 2008
- Neil Warnock has revealed that Ben Watson will not be allowed to leave Crystal Palace on the cheap - after QPR recently made a fresh bid for the former England U21 international.
- And the Eagles boss is unhappy that reports keep stating that the midfielder is a free agent in the summer, pointing out he will still be under the age of 23 and a compensation package would be set by a tribunal if a figure could not be agreed.
- Warnock told the South London Press: “We’ve not had a 100 per cent enquiry for Ben but we did have a derogatory offer from QPR a few weeks ago, since Iain Dowie left. But we might as well keep him ourselves.
“The press keep reporting he is a free transfer but he’s not - we will be going into a compensation situation at the end of the season. We’re not just going to take anything now when we can get a decent figure at a tribunal.” South London Press

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and comments Also: Another Managerial Axing (ex-QPR "Nemesis')

Football 365 - [Dean] PARRETT POISED FOR SENIOR BOW
Tottenham v Spartak Moscow.
Tottenham youngster Dean Parrett looks set for his senior debut this week in the UEFA Cup following the injury crisis which has hit Harry Redknapp.
Spurs boss Redknapp has a host of injury concerns ahead of the clash against Spartak Moscow on Thursday at White Hart Lane, with Vedran Corluka and Roman Pavlyuchenko also ineligible.
Adel Taarabt, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Hossam Ghaly, Paul Stalteri and Ricardo Rocha would have been in contention but they were out of favour under former manager Juande Ramos and not registered for the competition.
It brings John Bostock, 16, and 17-year-old Parrett into Redknapp's selection plans.
"Thursday is a big headache for us," Redknapp said.
"I've got some kids out of the youth team because you have to have so many homegrown players in the squad so it will give me a chance to see one or two of them play.
"We've got John Bostock and Dean Parrett, I'll throw them in and let's see what they can do."
Bostock, a controversial signing from Crystal Palace in the summer, made his debut earlier in the year and became Spurs' youngest player.
Parrett, an attacking midfielder said to be in the mould of Steven Gerrard, has impressed at England youth level and was signed from QPR as a 15-year-old nearly two years ago, with Chelsea thought to be among the other clubs interested him...
. Football 365


Congratulations to Martin Rowlands

Championship Team of The Week
Andy Lonergan Preston
Kevin Foley Wolves
Youl Mawene Preston
Leigh Bromby Watford
Tommy Spurr Sheff Wed
Kyel Reid Blackpool
Joey Gudjonsson Burnley
Martin Rowlands QPR
Ross Wallace Preston
Jay Bothroyd Cardiff
Martin Paterson Burnley
Football League Championship Team of the Week


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - ROWLY REWARDED!
- Martin Rowlands has been named in the Football League's Team of the Week following his virtuoso display against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
The R's skipper led by example in the heart of the Rangers midfield at Home Park, setting up Heidar Helguson's goal with a stunning assist, as well as having an effort controversially ruled out for offside.
QPR

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- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and opinions (and offer your own!). See Also: Compilation of Articles of Interest - Monday including: - All-time Top Fifty Football Books and Another QPR Video Compilation


Nottingham Forest Official Site - A Loan Saving
The long-term future of Lee Camp might be shrouded in uncertainty but the on-loan keeper couldn't be more clear-cut about one issue surrounding life at The City Ground.
- In the two months that he has been with us Camp has been convinced that the future is as rosy red as the shirts currently in front of him on a match-day.
- His current deal with us is due to expire at the end of the month but whether he remains our last line of defence or not, Camp has an optimistic view for the remainder of the season.
- He said: "I've seen enough to know that Forest are heading in the right direction. In the short time that I have been here I have seen a maturity that is growing week by week.
- "It's unfortunate that we are in the position we are in because some of the performances I have seen are that of a team that should be in a much higher position.
- "Day by day in training and in matches I have seen some very positive things and if you keep doing the things you believe in - as we are - then things will turn round.
"It's been a learning process for some of the players because a lot of them are very young. What you have to remember as well is that they have been used to winning in their careers so far and now they have had to adapt to a different set of circumstances.
- "But we have proved in recent times that we are a difficult side to beat and we have not been far away from turning a lot of the draws we have had into victories."
- Camp's contribution to our recent run has been without question. His general level of consistency has been top drawer and he's decorated his performances with some highlight saves.
- And there's no denying the pleasure he has had from running out as a first choice keeper again over the last two months.
- He added: "I wasn't getting a game at Queens Park Rangers so it wasn't a difficult decision for me to take up the invitation to come to Forest.
- "I was desperate to get first team football, Forest gave me the opportunity and I've enjoyed every single minute of it.
- "I'm part of the team but I have focused my own thoughts on being as consistent as I possibly could because that's the first target for any goalkeeper.
- "The saves I have made - like the penalties against Derby and Bristol City - are stand-out moments but it is all about setting standards. It's no use being good one week and poor the next.
- "I've been helped enormously by the way the players have performed in front of me and for all those reasons I feel as though I have picked up my form from where it left off last season at Loftus Road.
- "I doubt whether I will ever know the reasons why I was overlooked there this season but I've been given this chance at The City Ground and it's all about making the most of it."- Camp cleverly evades the million-dollar question of where his long-term future lies and confesses that the final decision might be taken out of his hands.
- He said: "I've known from day one that Rangers had the option to recall me in 24 hours but the point where a decision has to be made about my immediate future is getting nearer and nearer.
- "If the clubs get together and talk then obviously I will have a decision to make but the reality at the moment is that I am on loan - it's as simple as that.
- "I have been very happy here and being back near my family in the Midlands is great but, whatever my feelings, I can't make decisions until I am faced with one and until that day arrives I can't play any part in the process."
-Question time......
Any reasons for your current squad number?
No 1 for obvious reasons but when I came to Forest getting No. 21 meant that I had the same number as Mark Poom had when he arrived at Derby and I've got such great respect for him as a goalkeeper and as a person. He was a big help to me and we still speak.

Who is your roommate? Has he any bad habits?
I've had a few already at Forest and I'm currently with Paul Anderson, who snores quite a bit. Fortunately, for me, I think I managed to drown him out with my own snoring.

Who is the most annoying person to sit near on the team coach?
Kelvin Wilson - he seems to insist on spreading himself across three seats.

What other sports are you good at and terrible at?
I love playing cricket - can't bowl to save my life but I do fancy myself as a bit of a batsman. I keep trying to master golf but I get to that exasperated stage when you feel like flinging your clubs over a hedge!

Do you download any podcasts?
Unlike most of the lads, I do. I enjoy listening to Chris Moyle because he is a very funny bloke and I'm into something called 'Wrestle Cast'. As you would imagine, it's all about wrestling and I enjoy that.

Favourite TV programme?
Entourage

Best practical joke witnessed in the dressing room?
I'm sure there have been some but none spring readily to mind and from a personal point of view the lads here have been pretty easy on me up to now.

Nickname at school?
It's always been Campy

What would be your dream day?
We're expecting our first child in March. It can't come soon enough and certainly represents my dream day.

If you weren't a footballer what would you like to be?
Who knows? I'd probably be in some business of my own but not sure about what sort.

Would you rather cook or clean?
Cook definitely. After a lot of trying, I've just about nailed the art of sweet and sour chicken.

Funniest player played with?
Probably Michael Johnson as Derby. He tries to be funny at times but he can be even when he's not setting out to be.

Toughest player played against?
A striker called Giampaolo Pazzini, who plays for Fiorentina. I played against him in an Under-21 international for England against Italy and he scored after 28 seconds in my first match at Wembley.
Thanks a lot!

How do you normally spend your days off?
I spend most of my time off on a motorway, travelling to see my girlfriend.

Worst haircut at the club?
Sorry Lee (Martin), I've got to agree with most of the other lads.

If you could have free tickets to any event what would it be?
I would loved to have gone to the Ricky Hatton-Floyd Mayweather world title fight in Las Vegas. What I know about boxing you could put on a postage stamp but it sounds like it was some occasion.

Which four people (living or dead) would you invite to a dinner party? Former wrestler Bret 'The Hit Man' Hart; Peter Schmeichel; Jennifer Aniston and Grenier, a fictional character from 'Entourage'. Nottingham Forest Official Site


Sky Sports - Cerny happy at QPR
Goalkeeper pleased to be playing regularly
By Vasek Kadlec Radek Cerny has admitted he is delighted to be playing regularly at Queens Park Rangers following his experience at Tottenham.
The goalkeeper made just 12 appearances for Spurs during a three-year spell at White Hart Lane before moving to Loftus Road over the summer.
He has already played 25 times for QPR and is satisfied that he made the right decision to leave Tottenham.
"I don't regret the choice," Cerny told Denik Sport.
"I will have played in more matches by the end of December than I would have had in Czech Republic in one season overall.
"I did not know exactly what kind of league I was coming into. It is a very demanding competition and the level of toughness is different to the Czech leagues or the Premier League, where there are still several teams playing a European style of football."
Tottenham
Cerny believes the time he spent at Tottenham was crucial for his development and has no hard feelings about his exit.
He explained: "I wanted to experience the Premier League.
"I can say now that the possibility of me staying at Tottenham was there, as they eventually made their second-choice goalkeeper a 37-year-old guy from Spain. But I don't mind."
Cerny has been surprised by Tottenham's results this season, with the team only improving after Harry Redknapp came in to replace Juande Ramos.
"The problem at Tottenham was the fact that decisions were made not only by Ramos, but also by the sporting director (Damien Comolli)," he said.
"That had not been working well already when Martin Jol was there. The European style of managing a team was not working there. Now everything has been made by Redknapp alone.
"I must say that it did surprise me (how Spurs started) as I saw how well they had played in the pre-season.
"But sometimes you need luck and they were unfortunate to lose matches in which they played well." SkySports

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for articles and Board Perspectives. If interested, offer your own views. Among today's Postings:

UPDATED:

- Portsmouth Fined. Portsmouth Astounded by Fine

- Ex-QPR Dean Parrett Set for Spurs Debut

- Another Manager (ex-QPR "Nemesis")Axed

- More Suspects in Spurs vs Portsmouth Racist Chanting Questioned by Police


EARLIER

- Top Fifty Football Books - Ever


- Another QPR Video Compilation


- QPR Strips Over the Years: Select Your Favourite


- The Football Museum: London or Preston?


- The Football League and Development of Stars - and the issue of Selling youths for high up-front prices.


[Included in Recent Previous Days' "Articles of Interest"]

-- Articles of Interest (Sunday)

-- Various Articles of Interest (Saturday)

-- Various Articles of Interest (Friday)

-- Various Articles of Interest (Thursday)


Articles of Interest (SUNDAY)
-- Briatore Says Will Quit Renault in two Years.
-- Journalist Dave McIntyre re his QPR Coverage
-- Fans/Club Reps (David Davies, Mark Devlin, etc) Meeting Report - From Exactly a Decade Ago: The Issues of Concern - Ground Sharing with Fulham; WASPS; Fan-Club Communication, etc.
-- Football League Meeting December 18 to consider "Home Grown" Quotas for Clubs, starting next season
-- Wycombe vs Luton: Almost saw two QPRs: Kevin Gallen vs Angelo Balanta
-- Various Football Snippets - (Including Mark Hughes saying owners not involved in tactics! and "Best Football Books of the Year")


Various Articles of Interest (SATURDAY)
- The Different Types of Messageboard Poster ("Work in Progress"!)
- Football Fan Survey Findings
- "... Style of football (33%), family tradition (14%) and history of success (13%) were highlighted as the main factors behind team support • 85% of Barclays Premier League fans would never change the team they support....92% consume the league via TV, and 82% use desktop computers to keep up to date • 54% of fans keep up to date with news and results by logging online via a desktop PC, while a further 24% access the web via their mobile phones..."
- Premiership Manager of the Month and Player of the Month Announced
- Transfer Window Stays Open another Day
- Putting Managerial "Pressure" into Perspective....And the reality of Player Power and "Tapping."
- Arsenal Players Available for Loan: And the potential benefits/risks to the Players
- More on Premiership/Asia Link being formed (and possible "39th game"
- More on Racist Chanting: The Portsmouth - Spurs Case
- VAT/Football Price Reductions (or non-reductions) Watch



Various Articles of Interest (FRIDAY)
- Premership/Asia Link and Impact....England Fans Abroad Want Protection....Non-League Lewes Close to Administration
- See: World Football Fan Survey Findings
- Why Italian coaches go back for seconds
- Office of Fair Trade Investigates Ticketing Policy of Manchester United (but of obvious general fan interest)
- Not nice: Chelsea helping out Spurs Opponent in the EUFA Cup
- Video: 1997 QPR Goal of the Season
- VAT Price Reduction Watch: Thread III



Various Articles of Interest (THURSDAY)
- VAT/Club Reductions (or otherwise). Leeds take a step to help seasonticket holders. (QPR's announced actions thus far remain limited to the one Burnley game)
- The Five Worst-Run Football Clubs
- News of Ex-QPR Holding Chairman at the time of "The Boardroom 'coup'" (Kevin McGrath)
- Ex-QPR Tony Thorpe & Coach Tim Flowers
- QPR Youth Drawn at Home in Next Round of FA Youth Cup
- QPR's FA Youth Cup Comeback vs Bristol City
- Video of one of QPR's Greatest Comebacks.
- Video of QPR's Last League Victory Over Chelsea
- Watch London football for under £10
- QPR One of Clubs Supposedly "chasing" Non League Player
- Crackdown on Racist Chanting: Two Spurs Fans arrested; Newcastle fan NOT banned over Mito Chanting
- Swindon's Caretaker Manager, Byrne Really Going After Swindon Fans Posting on the Messageboards

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- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and opinions (and offer your own!). See Also: Compilation of Articles of Interest - Monday including: - All-time Top Fifty Football Books and Another QPR Video Compilation


Goal.com - Ramos On Parejo "Real Madrid's New Signings, Barcelona And The Youth Team
Juande Ramos has revealed which positions Real Madrid will be reinforcing in January, explained how and when he will give the club's homegrown players a chance, he reflected on his first league game in charge at Barcelona and thinks that the league title is not decided.
Juande Ramos has revealed that Real Madrid will be signing a right-winger and central midfielder in January but he is also looking forward to players coming back from injury and giving the youth a chance.
The new Bernabéu head coach earned praise at the weekend for Los Merengues' performance in Barcelona, but he explained that he has ignored all reaction and is only concerned with reshaping his squad.
With speculation rife about which players will arrive, Ramos has confirmed that two players will join and despite the reports, neither of them will be a striker.
"Clearly we want a right winger and a central midfielder. The club is working to find them and I hope they arrive soon. I want to players quality and desire who are ready to play," he told AS.
"I have only been working here a week, but I can say that injuries have already had an effect on the backbone of the team. If you have Pepe, [Gabriel] Heinze, [Mahamadou] Diarrà, [Arjen] Robben and [Ruud] van Nistelrooy out it means that you are 50 per cent down on the team that won the league last season.
"While I am coach Madrid, will not give in. We will not give up on anything. What is important is that we are competitive again and that was my first task when taking over. We will be even more so in January when we have players back from injury and some signings."
In recent weeks Madrid's youth policy has been under the spotlight, with not many players being given a chance, but Ramos could change all that although Daniel Parejo will continue learning at Queens Park Rangers.
"He is a player and there is an option for the future. But first we are going to spend our time on