QPR Youth's Viareggio "World Cup" Tournament Starts Monday....Chopra: Wanted By QPR? ...Pay to Play for Charity

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- Visit the "Boutique" QPR Report Messageboard: A board that aspires to be different (as suggested by the Messageboard's Honorary Moderators) and with a focus solely on QPR and football. Beyond its discussions, the board also includes a daily smattering of ("Macmoish-style") posted articles of general football interest, which are not posted on this blog. Among items posted today:
- Gambling, Corruption and FA Powerlessness
- Platini Proposal to Equalize Clubs re Spending and Finances
- A Look at England's Competitors to Host the 2018 World Cup
- An Examination Whether Three Points For A Win Made a Difference
- Four QPR Goalies in "Best 50 Goalkeepers List"

- Also posted late yesterday on QPR Report blog: A previously-not posted, Stan Bowles Profile and Interview; and report that Tommasi is considering playing in China

Today is the last day for QPR fans to nominate their favourite publication, onlne site, writer and blog.

-Now on the Official Site: "Play at Loftus Road" (for charity Football Aid)
- See also: QPR Report, January 30 "Pay to Play at Loftus Road"


QPR INVOLVEMENT in VIAREGGIO "WORLD CUP" TOURNAMENT

QPR's first game is on Monday, February 9 vs Inter Milan - Schedule

QPR Fixtures: (First Round!)
Inter Milan - Mon 9th February
Palermo - Wed 11th February
A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers - Fri 13th February

- See more re the Viareggio Tournament


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - January 16, 2009
QPR Official Site - YOUNG R'S PREPARE FOR WORLD SHOWCASE

- Next month, the R's Youth side will head to Italy to take part in the Coppa Carnevale, the most prestigious Under-20's Club tournament in World football.
Based in Viareggio, Italy, and with the biggest sides in Italian football represented by their youngsters, the three-week long tournament will provide the young R's with a unique chance to not only face some of the world's best sides, but also an opportunity to experience the football culture in a different country.
- Many former and current World superstars have participated in the Coppa Carnevale. The likes of Paolo Maldini, Francesco Totti, Gabriel Batistuta and Alessandro Del Piero all lit up the tournament with their talents and have gone on to achieve success, both domestically and on the international stage.
- And the draw for the Viareggio Cup has handed Rangers a dream ticket in their very first tie, with Inter Milan first up for Steve Brown's side.
After the glamour match with the Nerazzuri, further fixtures against another established Italian side Palermo, and Australian side A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers, present two fascinating tests.
- Manager Brown is relishing the chance to lock horns with one of the biggest teams in the world, telling www.qpr.co.uk: "It's a massive match against Inter; it's fixtures like these you want to play in and the boys will relish a huge test first up.
- "We'll be up against a different style to what we are used to, but that is all part of their development as young players."
- Thoughts turn to the other two sides lying in wait for Brown's team: "Inter is huge but take nothing away from Palermo, who are up there amongst the best sides in Serie A. Tottenham Hotspur played Leichardt last season and beat them comfortably but once again it will be an interesting challenge.
- "But that's the draw of this tournament. In every group there is fantastic, quality opposition, from all Leagues in Italian football, and from around the world so we are delighted to have been invited."
- Rangers, however, will not be in Italy to make up the numbers: "Make no mistake; whilst it is a great experience, we are heading there to win football matches. It helps that it's an Under 20s tournament so we can take the likes of Danny Maguire and Romone Rose.
- "We will prepare ourselves as well as possible because we will travel with the intention of doing as well as possible. The sides we will face are used to playing the best Under 20 sides in the country. We're not, but that's where we want to be, and so this represents a massive opportunity for the boys, and will only serve to enhance their development."
- Such is the overwhelming recognition the festival receives from the media, Italian television crews will follow all the action, starting with the R's head-to-head with their Internazionale counterparts.
- English teams have enjoyed limited of success since its creation in 1949. Ipswich Town flew the flag for England, finishing runners-up in successive years in 1981 and 1982, losing out to AS Roma and Fiorentina respectively.
- The Viola are the tournament's most successful side boasting eight wins, and another seven times the Florence side have finished runner-up. They are intriguingly paired this season with the most successful foreign outfit in Dukla Prague of the Czech Republic, who have recorded six tournament wins, twice coming in second. QPR Report


Not fully-clear if he Chopra means just before he returned a second time to Cardiff; or as was previously-reported, prior to his first Cardiff loan.

Michael Chopra is aiming to shoot Cardiff City into Premier
Feb 6 2009 by Mark Bloom, Western Mail

MICHAEL CHOPRA has vowed to forget his top-flight frustration as he prepares to start a third spell at Cardiff City.

But, as the 25-year-old returns to the Bluebirds in time for their Championship clash with Charlton after his deadline-day switch from Sunderland this week, the striker has admitted he felt he was never given the chance to shine in the Premier League.

Chopra was whisked off to the top flight in 2006, the Black Cats stumping up £5m for the frontman after his 22 strikes in 44 Bluebirds appearances.

Yet a troubled time, on and off the field, saw him return to South Wales in October, only for new Mackems manager Ricky Sbragia to offer him renewed hope of a future on Wearside.

But, having managed just one start under the Scot, Chopra’s future was spelled out as the club attempted to land Tottenham’s Darren Bent, a move that would have further limited his opportunities for action leading the player himself to question the decision to recall him.

And Chopra, who also revealed he was wanted by Cardiff’s Championship rivals QPR, insisted he knew then linking up with trusted boss Dave Jones once more was the right way to revitalise his career.

“Everything is good and I’m pleased to be back,” said Chopra, who has signed a loan deal until the end of the season, but with an option on a permanent deal thought to be worth between £3m and £4m.

“But, in an ideal world, I would have liked to have kept the original loan deal going a bit longer. At the time I thought I might have had a chance when I went back to Sunderland, but it was not to be.

“The managers who picked the team up there might think differently, but I would say I didn’t have a fair crack of the whip.

“And when you’re playing in the Championship every week and then go back to the bench it gets a bit disappointing and disheartening, I was back at square one and back to the same position I was in before I went to Cardiff.

“I don’t even know why I went back – maybe it was just because the manager wanted to sell me in the transfer window, I don’t know.

“I didn’t have any regrets about going back because I thought I could get a decent run in the team and my heart was in it.

“But then I knew they were trying to get in another striker in Darren Bent and that would have put me further down the pecking order. I just wasn’t prepared to hang around like a spare part – it was time to move on.”

Chopra made his move on Monday, Cardiff filing the paperwork with seconds to spare to ensure he can play a part in the club’s promotion push.

And the former England U21 international insisted just knowing Jones will give him a chance to prove his worth in front of goal all over again has boosted his confidence.

“The best thing is to get out and play football because that’s what I love doing,” he said.

“People said that I should have stayed, but what’s the point staying and not playing. I would be working and training hard all week and Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse would be getting the nod before me.

“Here I have a fresh start knowing that if I do that then, more often than not, I’ll be playing every Saturday.”

Chopra will have his work cut out to fight his way into a winning side, Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack doing a superb job of leading the line and Cardiff’s push for a top-two spot in recent weeks.

But Chopra, who achieved cult status in his first spell in South Wales after a goal-laden debut season following a £500,000 move from Newcastle, has made no apologies in trying to force 16-goal Scot McCormack from the top of the leading goalscorers pile.

“When I was up at Sunderland I always kept a close eye on Cardiff, it has a special place in my heart and I have so many good memories here,” he said.

“And am confident that I can now help shoot Cardiff City into the Premiership.” Western Mail