Sousa Confident of Success at QPR...Tabb Would Have Welcomed QPR Move...QPR vs Reading Previews...Other Football Snippets

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Among Articles Posted Today on QPR Report Messageboard

- Video snippets of QPR from 1992/1993 as QPR beat Everton 4-2 with Andy Sinton Hatrick

- Premiership Manager Berates "Pathetic" Fans

- Almost all One-Way: How Few English Players Going Abroad

- Premiership Supposedly Wants to End January Transfer Window

- USA Joining the Bidding for the 2018 (and 2022) World Cup

- Another Italian Match-Fixing Scanadal Alleged - Inter Milan


BBC - Sousa confident of success at QPR
- Queens Park Rangers manager Paulo Sousa has said he believes he can achieve his ambitions at Loftus Road.
- The former Portugal international midfielder was appointed Rangers boss in November 2008.
- And Sousa told BBC London 94.9: "I'm an ambitious person, I'm an ambitious coach and manager and I want to achieve the targets.
- "The team work very hard, they believe in my methods, they believe in my ideas and believe they can grow with me."
- Rangers are now seventh in the Championship after their 3-0 victory against Blackpool on Tuesday.
- And Sousa added: "They [the players] believe and when it's like that you get victories.
- "We are getting better as a team every minute, defending, attacking, and of course I'm happy with that."
- Sousa started his managerial career as part of the coaching staff with the Portuguese national team before joining Rangers. BBC


QPR vs Reading Tomorrow;
- Reading's Away Record: Won 5 Drawn 4 Lost 5 - Socred 21. Conceded 18. Reading Stats This Season


Ealing Gazette - Reading FC's Tabb full of respect for QPR
- BRENTFORD old boy Jay Tabb is determined to show QPR fans just what they missed out on when high-flying Reading visit Loftus Road this weekend, writes Rob Brennan.
- The former Ireland U21 international left mid-table Coventry City to sign a twoand-a-half year deal with Reading for an initial fee of £300,000 which will rise significantly should the Royals secure promotion to the Premier League.
- Speaking to the Gazette, Tabb (pictured) admitted a move to West London would have appealed if the money men in W12 had stumped up the cash.
- "I heard some rumours about other clubs and QPR would have been another great club to
have got a move to, but I believe that Reading is the right club for me and I'm delighted to have got the move," he said.
- It will be Tabb's second visit to Loftus Road this season having been part of the Coventry side that drew 1-1 with the Hoops earlier this month, and the 24-year-old admits he has a soft spot for the stadium.
- He said "I love playing at Loftus Road, it's one of my favourite grounds. It's old school, it's in London, and the fans create a good atmosphere and give you plenty of stick.
- "There are so many new grounds around at the moment, it's nice to have a ground with a bit of character."
- The Tooting born midfielder, who grew up in Motspur Park, believes the loss of Martin Rowlands could have a major impact on the Hoops' promotion ambitions.
- "I played with Martin [Rowlands] at Brentford and I heard that he has done his cruciate which is a shame for him and for QPR. He is a really good player, one of the best in the Championship and it's a real shame that he is going to be out for the rest of the season."
- Tabb was voted Brentford and the Gazette's player of the year in 2004 and still looks out for the Bees' results. He plans to watch his former club as soon as possible.
- He said, "I haven't been to Brentford for a while now. The last time I went to a game was when they drew 2-2 at home to Oldham two seasons ago.
- "I'm definitely going to get down to Griffin Park as soon as possible. I might pop along to a midweek game if we aren't playing. It's just down the road now so that's good.
- "I really enjoyed my time there. It's a real shame that we didn't get promoted in my final season. I think we deserved to."
Tabb has followed a familiar trail of ex-Brentford players who have ended up at Reading and is hoping his career can move to another level under Coppell.
"Steve Coppell was definitely a big factor in me coming here. Look at players' careers when they come here - they take off. Look at the number of players in the Ireland squad as well - that is a big incentive for me.
"There has been a bit of banter going round the changing room that to get a move here you either have to be Irish or ex-Brentford. I'm obviously both and have been lucky enough to get a move here." Ealing Gazette


Lita May be Fit!
Get Wokingham - Noel Hunt aiming to stay a cut above
- Skinhead Noel Hunt will be aiming for another hair-raising performance for Reading at Queens Park Rangers tomorrow (3pm kick off).
- The Royals striker decided to shave his head as a joke ...Stephen’s future is at the centre of transfer speculation. The winger hit out at the club on Tuesday as he felt the truth was being kept from him about possible interest from Wigan, Everton or Spurs.
Reading manager Steve Coppell, though, again insisted that the club has received no bids for the Republic of Ireland international – and Stephen then claimed his after-match comments were borne out of frustration.
Noel, who is expected to recover from a slight ankle injury, insisted: “I only know as much as you guys! He can’t go anywhere because there has been no bid accepted, but he is very professional. He loves the club and until he is told different that will stay the same.”
Reading are now just two points off the top of the Championship after beating leaders Wolves 1-0 on Tuesday night.
Ivar Ingimarsson will remain sidelined tomorrow by a knee problem, but Kalifa Cisse (ankle) should be fit to play.
Liam Rosenior is set to return from suspension at right-back, while Michael Duberry is hopeful of playing despite needing three stitches in a wound above his left eye during the first half of the Wolves match.
New signing Jay Tabb faces a battle just to make the bench. He made his first appearance in a Reading shirt on Wednesday in a behind-doors friendly with Spurs which ended 4-4.
Leroy Lita is also fine despite briefly dislocating his shoulder during Tuesday’s clash.
He revealed: “I dropped and didn’t feel anything and then I got up and my arm was out of place and not moving.
“I called the physio over and he was about to pop it back in, but the ref managed to do when he tried to move me off the pitch.
“It helped me, but it wasn’t a nice feeling. I’ve never felt anything like that before. It was painful but I managed to get through the rest of the game and I’m fine now.”
Despite Lita’s pain, Coppell joked about the striker’s dramatic reaction to having his shoulder popped back into place, by saying: “RADA (Royal Acting and Dramatic Art) took notice. They saw the acting abilities! No, it’s painful. Julian Kelly did it but said when it goes back in quickly it’s not an issue.”
Marcus Hahnemann is back in full training and could be on the bench tomorrow. Get WOkingham


READING CHRONICLE/Anthony Smith - Coppell wary of Rangers threat
- ROYALS boss Steve Coppell anticipates another close contest against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road this Saturday (3pm ko).
- Rangers held Coppell’s side to a 0-0 draw at the Madejski Stadium in October and have one of the meanest defences in the division.
- Paulo Souza’s team have conceded just once in their last four league games, are unbeaten in seven and have not tasted defeat at Loftus Road since a 2-1 reverse against Burnley on November 15.
- Coppell warned: “They certainly don’t give much away. They showed that when we played them at home earlier in the season.
- “They play a very compact game and they have some strong players capable of winning matches. They haven’t splashed the cash but they have made some very good signings. They’re not buying their way out of the division - even though they are certainly capable of doing that.
- “We will go there and try to win but we know we are in for a tough game.”
- Royals put the recent 2-0 defeat at Swansea well and truly behind them by beating leaders Wolves 1-0 on Tuesday to close the gap to two points.
But Coppell warned: “It means nothing other than three points though it gives us a positive vibe. There was a great atmosphere afterwards because the players worked so hard.
“But it’s not going to make our season any easier or make any significant difference. I thought we had the better chances on the night but, as the home team, I expect us to have the edge.
“Our energy was admirable but it was a good contest between two good teams. The challenge for us now is to push on again...” Reading Chronicle


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - READING PREVIEW
- Buoyed by Tuesday night's 1-0 victory at home to Championship table-toppers Wolverhampton Wanderers, Steve Coppell's Reading outfit seem perfectly poised to mount an assault on the summit of the second tier.
- Indeed, victory against the Molineux men moved the Royals to within two points of top spot, but perhaps just as pleasing for Coppell, saw them bounce back from a rare defeat away at Swansea City just 10 days earlier.
- Neil Collins' own goal after only 61 seconds proved to be the difference, as 23,000-plus supporters packed into the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Wolves, to their credit, had chances to level with Andy Keogh stabbing Matt Jarvis' cross wide from close range, but at the other end, Noel Hunt almost increased the lead for the hosts only to see his dipping free-kick well saved Wanderers stopper Wayne Hennessey.
Despite seeing his charges chalk up a 12th home victory of the campaign - the Championship's best home record by some distance - Coppell, who last May committed his future to the Royals in favour of a move elsewhere, refused to talk up his sides' title ambitions.
"I'm not even thinking about the championship. You'll get my bland answer that it's one game at a time," he said,
"The result is all important. The goal was not exactly something we've been working on but you take what you can.
"There wasn't much space for anyone to play football. We are two similar sides in the way we play and the shape we keep so it was always going to be difficult to break the deadlock.
"There is a third of the season to go and it is all to play for. I see it as psychologically important but not significant as to who goes up. It is three points and at this stage it doesn't matter who it comes against."
Whilst Coppell et al refuse to get too carried away, if the likes of Kevin Doyle and Noel Hunt continue to do their talking on the pitch over the coming months, the pre-season title favourites will almost certainly book their place back in the top tier - and Coppell's decision to stay put will seem like a good one.
Team News
Royals boss Steve Coppell could hand a debut to young defender Dan Harding, who yesterday penned a loan deal from Ipswich Town until the end of the season.
Michael Duberry (eye), Leroy Lita (shoulder), Noel Hunt (ankle) and Kalifa Cisse (ankle) are all major doubts, but right back Liam Rosenior is free to return following a recent suspension. QPR


Interesting Observation
Chris Wathon/Western Echo on Cardiff and Swansea's Promotion Rivals:
"...QPR, due to face both Cardiff and Swansea early next month, could yet feel the benefit of their January spending and a new manager as they hang around with intent.
But the Hoops, as with experienced promotion hunters Sheffield United, have to deal with six games each against top eight rivals in the run-in that will serve as true tests of credentials." Western Mail -- [QPR's Remaining Fixtures]
- QPR Stats This season- including vs Top and Bottom Teams


Teamtalk - Blades quash Kilgallon rumours
- Sheffield United assistant manager Sam Ellis has strongly denied the club has turned down a bid from QPR for Blades defender Matt Kilgallon.
It has been reported the Londoners have tabled a £1.5million offer for the 25-year-old central defender, who cost the Blades £1.75million when he signed from Leeds in January 2007.
- Ellis, who worked with Kilgallon during his time as assistant to manager Kevin Blackwell at Elland Road, said: "It's absolute nonsense.
- "It's a good job that the rumour hasn't upset Matt because they can unsettle players.
- "What happens is that a rumour starts and then the media turn it into a 'story'.
- "Sheffield United paid a lot of money for him and he has always been a good player - pace, heading ability and good on the floor. What more could you ask from a centre-back?"


Former QPR, Peter Crouch turns 28 today: Born January 30, 1981. Career Stats


Flashback Two Years Ago - QPR Drop Into The Relegation Trio with a Loss at Barnsley - QPR, were in the middle of a terrible run, From QPR's Last 12 League Games: 10 Losses and 2 wins:

January 30, 2007
17 Norwich 29 -11 34
18 Leicester 29 -9 33
19 Barnsley 30 -15 32
20 Hull 30 -11 31
21 Luton 30 -14 31
22 QPR 30 -12 30
23 Southend 30 -21 27
24 Leeds 29 -22 27

January 30, 2008
Norwich 29 35
Leicester 29 34
Blackpool 29 34
QPR 29 33
Coventry 28 32
Sheff Wed 28 31
Preston 29 30
Scunthorpe 29 27
Colchester 28 26


January 30, 2009
P GD PTS
1 Wolverhampton 29 21 59
2 Reading 29 32 57
3 Birmingham 29 10 55
4 Cardiff 28 13 48
5 Sheff Utd 29 14 47
6 Preston 29 4 47
7 QPR 29 4 45
8 Swansea 29 10 44
9 Burnley 29 -1 43
10 Ipswich 29 11 42
11 Crystal Palace 28 6 40
12 Bristol City 28 0 38
13 Sheff Wed 29 -10 38
14 Coventry 29 -3 37
15 Blackpool 29 -9 34
16 Plymouth 28 -6 33
17 Nottm Forest 29 -7 33
18 Barnsley 29 -10 32
19 Norwich 29 -7 30
20 Watford 29 -9 30
21 Doncaster 28 -12 30
22 Derby 28 -12 29
23 Southampton 29 -18 27
24 Charlton 29 -21 22
(BBC)