QPR Snippets: Rufus Brevett on QPR Expectations and Doncaster...St.Aimie Misses Out...Anniversary of Reaching Wembley

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Doncaster Free Press - Expert corner: Rufus Brevett
- AFTER making his Rovers debut as a 17-year-old in 1987, speedy full back Rufus Brevett made 118 appearances for Doncaster before being forced to leave when the cash strapped club accepted a club record £275,000 bid from QPR in 1991.
Seven years at Loftus Road were followed by further spells in the Premier League with Fulham and West Ham. Surrey-based Rufus, who retired in 2007, is currently studying for his coaching badges and is aiming to return to the game in the near future.
- I ONLY played for Doncaster at Saturday's opponents Cardiff once - early in the 1990-91 season - but to be honest I can't remember much about that game!
- But I do remember that we enjoyed a really good start to the season.
We had a fantastic set of players and a wonderful manager in Billy Bremner, who pulled all the players together and got us playing for one another.
It is important when you start a new season to get off to a flyer and we certainly didn't like losing.
That all came from Billy - because he was a winner.
Although Jean Tigana at Fulham was also different class, Billy was one of the best managers I played under in my career and some of the stories he told us about his playing days were brilliant!
I played at Ninian Park a few other times in my career and it is a tight, tight ground.
Cardiff normally get good vocal support from the crowd down there - which means it can be quite intimidating for visiting teams.
With the top two sides losing games, Cardiff are looking at grabbing one of the automatic places and, at the moment, it seems as though none of the leading sides in the Championship want to win promotion!
When it gets to this time of the season teams cannot afford to go on a poor run but both Wolves and Reading are dropping points - so Cardiff have everything to play for.
But Doncaster's recent form has been unbelievable - especially looking at the start of the season when they couldn't win a game for love nor money.
The manager stuck to his beliefs - and if you continue to believe in your methods the results will come.
- On Tuesday they play my former club QPR and, although things turned out very well in my time there, I was gutted to leave Doncaster.
- I thought we had a real chance of doing something in the 1990-91 season but I ended up leaving because of the situation at the club.
- My only regret in football is that I didn't have the chance to come back to Doncaster later in my career.
- Although I've only seen QPR a few times this season the impression I get is that there is too much expectation among the fans.
- With the owners and the new manager now in charge there is a lot of pressure because the fans expect them to steamroller teams.

But when a new manager comes in they want to get their new ideas across - and that takes time.

When he arrived everyone was saying that they would get into the play-offs but I don't think it will happen this season.
- The summer is when we will see him make his mark.
- And, like Manchester City in the Premier League, everyone who plays QPR wants to beat them because of their owners.
- It was a similar situation when I was at Fulham and Mohamed Al Fayed took over.
- We were known as the League One millionaires and everyone would raise their game against us.
- So it's going to take time for QPR and they need players that can handle the expectation.
Prediction: Doncaster will earn a 1-1 draw at Cardiff before beating QPR 2-0 at home.
- Free Press prediction: The run continues - 2-2 at Cardiff and a 2-0 win over QPR. Doncaster Free Press


- St Albans City FC News - St Aimie no-show scuppers move
- CITY will not be signing Kieron St Aimie after the 19-year old failed to turn up for training last night [Wednesday].
- City had hoped to sign the former QPR and Barnet attacker to cover for the suspended Paul Hakim but they will not be pursuing their interest following his no-show.
- Talking to The Herts Advertiser Castle said: "It's his loss. He hasn't shown me enough to offer him more and I won't be chasing him up."
- Hakim's suspension means City are light up front for the visit of Team Bath but otherwise the squad is looking healthy.
- "I haven't got a fantastic choice up front so Simon Martin will come in and hopefully make it difficult for me to leave him out on Tuesday," said Castle. Herts Advertiser


Melbourne Victory keeps Nick Ward
- THE core midfield of Melbourne Victory's A-League championship team will remain intact, with the re-signing of Nick Ward.
- A key component in midfield with Billy Celeski and Tom Pondeljak after overcoming injury problems and settling into his role, Ward has agreed to a new two-year deal.
- Victory officials made no comment yesterday on any contract negotiations, but it is believed Ward's deal will be announced today.
- A young journeyman after starting his career with Perth Glory, before going to England to play for Queens Park Rangers and Brighton on loan, Ward landed with Victory just before Christmas 2007 in something of a coup.
- But long-term groin problems and an ankle injury kept Ward from showing his true potential until he won a starting role with Victory midway through this season.
- Victory can now focus on trying to re-sign captain Kevin Muscat, goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos and attacking midfielder Carlos Hernandez, whose situation is more complicated by the fact his rights are still owned by Costa Rican club LD Alajuelense.
- Victory will officially close its treble-winning season tonight with its Victory Medal dinner to name the club's player of the year. Herald Sun


On This Day, QPR Drew at Anfield and Reached Wembley Again
- Memory


Official Supporters Club Letter re Season Tickets