QPR REPORT: April 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Blackstock Not Returning?...Adebola Not Arriving?...Dinner Faux Pas?...Groundsmen of the Year Awards

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- For up-to-date QPR and football news....For serious discussions where QOR (and only QPR) matters are discussed...For a site where, differing opinions are welcomed just without the ad-hominems. Visit the free-thinking and completely-independent QPR Report Messageboard. If you see stories on this blog that you want to comment on, just post your views on the QPR Report Messageboard! Posted today:
- One-time-close-to-joining-QPR Avery John now in the MLS
- University Finals Held at Loftus Road
- Brief Video Snippets of QPR with Don Givens and Stan Bowles in 1972/73.

- Groundsmen of the Year Awards Announced

London Informer - QPR to lose Blackstock due to Forest offer

- QPR HAVE refused to match the near £3,000-a-week pay-rise Dexter Blackstock will get if he signs for Nottingham Forest permanently - and have resigned themselves to losing their leading striker.
- Hoops' last hope of enticing Blackstock back to Loftus Road disappeared when Forest secured their Championship status on Monday night after Norwich's defeat to Reading.
- Rangers had wanted the 22-year-old's return after they were forced to loan out a player not able to get into sacked boss Paulo Sousa's team.
- But once the Portuguese manager departed three weeks ago, moves were afoot to reclaim the striker they paid Southampton £750,000 for three seasons ago.
- Blackstock is believed to be on something like £9k-a-week in west London - but once he let it be known he wanted to stay with Forest, Rs slapped a £2million price tag on the Oxford-born player.
- Blackstock said: "I am enjoying it (at Forest) and everything about the club is great. The fan base, ground, training ground and the management staff. It is a massive club. If QPR accept a fee for me it's up to me to leave.'
- Blackstock carried on his goalscoring exploits with the Reds' and netted twice in his five appearances, including last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Blackpool.
- Forest's chief executive is also expected to write out a second cheque for wantaway keeper Lee Camp, who was also on loan at the City Ground earlier in the season. London Informer

London Informer - Adebola deal hanging in the balance
- QPR will not agree a two-year deal with Dele Adebola and have thrown the striker's arrival at the club next season into doubt.
- Rangers want the much-travelled player to fill the gap that's about to be left by Dexter Blackstock, who's on his way to Nottingham Forest. But the man who will be 34 in June wants a two-year contract - and not the one year offered by the Hoops.
- An Rs insider said: "Discussions could continue, but paying excellent wages to someone who will be 36 by time the contract he wants, ends, is not going to be easy to agree."
- Adebola has already refused a one-year deal at current club Bristol City and is available on a free under the Bosman ruling.

- The season-long loan for midfielder Adel Taarabt next year, may be off as well, after he returned to Tottenham with a knee injury requiring surgery. The 19-year-old
- Morocco international suffered the blow in training on Friday, forcing him to miss Saturday's goalless draw with Plymouth. Rangers will review a move to bring Taarabt back for 2009/10 after a scan has shown a cartilage tear that's brought a premature end to his season.
- Taarabt made seven appearances for Rangers and scored one goal in the 2-1 win over Bristol City last month.

- QPR were also counting the cost of their cancelled end-of-season tour to Bahrain this week.
- The tour, which was to have netted the club about £100,000, was called off when most of the Bahranian FA decided to support one of their member's candidacy to the FIFA executive committee, in a meeting in Kuala Lumpur at the same time. London Informer

This is London/Raoul Simons Dishing the dirt on Mutu's shirt
- An own goal was scored by organisers of an auction at Queens Park Rangers' end-of-season dinner on Saturday night. Host Rodney Marsh was asked to invite bids for Adrian Mutu's Fiorentina shirt — donated by a sponsor — and not surprisingly none were forthcoming.
- One of those attending the £70-per-head event told Talk: “What Rangers fan would want a Mutu shirt? Not only was he banned for cocaine but he played for Chelsea — our biggest rivals!” This is London

QPR Dinner Faux Pas?....QPR Season Ticket Prices in 2009-2010?

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

QPR's Rowlands: Club Made Progress. Club Need Stability...Mark Falco Interviewed....University Finals at Loftus Road Today

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For up-to-date QPR and football news....For serious discussions where QOR (and only QPR) matters are discussed...For a site where, differing opinions are welcomed just without the ad-hominems. Visit the free-thinking and completely-independent QPR Report Messageboard. If you see stories on this blog that you want to comment on, just post your views on the QPR Report Messageboard!
- Recent Articles Posted: Parents Need to Teach Kids Local Football Loyalties ...AFC Wimbledon's Success Profiled. And various topics of Discussion. Feel free to participate.

- Nottingham Forest/Blackstock "BBC Gossip "Nottingham Forest are set top open talks with QPR over a £1.5m deal for Loftus Road striker Dexter Blackstock." (Various)"

- University Finals at Loftus Road today

Virgin Media -Club needs stability - Rowlands
- Martin Rowlands believes QPR must resolve their managerial situation if they are to be successful next season.
- Gareth Ainsworth is currently acting as caretaker manager for the second time this season after Paulo Sousa was sacked earlier this month.
- And the midfielder believes QPR need to appoint a full-time boss as soon as possible.
- "Obviously the club needs stability," he told the club's official website.
- "It has not had stability because there have been a lot of managerial changes in recent years but that is not for us to talk about.
- "But obviously the club does need some stability having a manager in charge and hopefully he will pick the right system and the right players to get us to where we all want to be" Virgin Media

Virgin Media- Rowlands highlights progress
- Martin Rowlands insists QPR have made significant progress this year despite missing out on the play-offs.
- Co-owner Flavio Briatore had set the club the target of a play-off place this season but, marooned in mid-table, QPR are destined to fall short.
- However, Rowlands believes they have the potential to emulate Champions Wolves next season.
- "We have made more progress," he told the club's website. "We have finished higher in the league than we have in previous years.
- "Everyone is disappointed. Everyone wants to make the play-offs or automatic promotion.
- "Next season is going to be a big year with players coming and going - as they do at every club - and hopefully we can push on and achieve something like Wolves have achieved this year. Virgin Media

QPR Official Site - BLAST FROM THE PAST - Mark Falco
- A string of explosive volleys into the roof of the net illuminated Mark Falco's spell at Queens Park Rangers. Quite simply, he had the knack of scoring in breathtaking fashion.
- Falco notched an impressive ratio of 33 goals in 81 starts for the R's. But looking back, he is keen to play down the impact he made.
- "When the opportunities came along, I just chanced my arm really," said Falco. "I had a good technique and so I would try the spectacular shots. They seemed to come off quite a bit for me and I was happy when they went in. But I think a few flew over the crossbar as well!
- "My favourite goal for QPR was at home to Chelsea in December 1989 when we beat them 4-2. It was a left footed volley from 30 yards, which was quite pleasing. Graham Roberts was supposed to be marking me but he wasn't there. Funnily enough, I bumped into Graham the other day and so I took the opportunity to rib him about it 20 years on!
- "Apart from the goals, my job was to hold the ball up as centre-forward, fend the defender off and try to bring other people into the play. I did that fairly well throughout my career and I was always happy to carry out the donkey work for my team-mates. It was part and parcel of my game as a striker back in those days."
- During that period of the late 80's and early 90's, Rangers performed consistently well in the top-flight of English football. Indeed, Falco recalls that we gave all the big Clubs a real run for their money.
- He said: "There were some very good players at Loftus Road. The whole R's team were mainly internationals - from Dave Seaman in goal, right the way through to Roy Wegerle up front. We had some really experienced men like Ray Wilkins, Peter Reid and Trevor Francis.
- "Everyone in the squad was very close to each other and there was excellent camaraderie. We all enjoyed each other's company so that helped out on the pitch as well.
- "The fans at QPR really appreciate good football. And we played some quality passing stuff at times. We had marvellous results against many of the leading teams and it was a lovely period to be involved with the Super Hoops."
- Falco is now 48 years-old and lives in Essex. He enjoys a varied lifestyle and still keeps an eye on events here at the 'Bush.'
- "I work for a friend of mine. We've got a company that does asbestos removal and ventilation hygiene. I go out to meet and greet as I try to sell our wares.
- "I also help out with the coaching at a local semi-professional Club in Colchester called Stanway Rovers. They play in the Ridgeons Eastern Counties League. I just keep my hand in there and I enjoy it. I have also coached kids' teams and I worked at the Spurs Academy for a while.
- "I still get out on the golf course too. I bump into several people and spot some old faces, which is nice. And I continue to try to play veterans' football, although that's more of a social event." QPR

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

QPR Owners Make "Rich List"...Adebloa to QPR Snag....Out-on-Loan QPR Striker, Dexter Blackstock Makes Championship Team of The Week

Tapia on Not Joining QPR

Adebola Joining QPR?...Blackstock on Nottingham Forest...Flashbacks: Witney, Paldini, Brentford Groundshare, Clive Allen's Debut Hatrick

Monday, April 27, 2009

A Week After Announcing a Post-Season Trip to Bahrain, QPR Announce Game's Cancellation

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Visit the free-thinking and completely-independent QPR Report Messageboard. For news and discussion about QPR and football-in-general....For a site, where only football matters are discussed...For a site where, differing opinions about QPR and football are welcomed without the ad-hominems and the shibboleths. See something on this blog you want to comment on? Just post it at the QPR Report Messageboard!

QPR Official Site - April 20, 2009 *R'S HEADING FOR BAHRAIN- Queens Park Rangers Football Club is pleased to announce details of an end of season training camp in Bahrain.
- The five day tour - which will run from Tuesday 5th May to Saturday 9th May 2009 - will see QPR lock horns with the Bahrain national side on Thursday 7th May, as well as showcasing the Club's community initiatives and business partnerships through our association with Gulf Air, Bahrain's national carrier and Queens Park Ranger's official shirt sponsors.
- QPR Holdings Ltd Chairman, Flavio Briatore, welcomed the news, commenting: "This is a fantastic opportunity for the Club to broaden its horizons in the Middle East.
- "Our relationship with Gulf Air has thrived since day one of our partnership and this tour will help build further bridges with them and at the same time, allow the local population up close and personal to both the players and the action."
- Gulf Air CEO, Bjorn Näf said: "As the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain and proud sponsor of the Super Hoops, we are delighted to be associated with QPR's visit.
- "It has been a long hard season for QPR, but with the recent win against Sheffield Wednesday it's clear that the foundations for success have been built and that next season looks set to be a historic one in the Club's proud history.
- "We are looking forward to having them as our guests and to introducing them to their Bahraini fans.
- "Football is extremely popular in the Kingdom and we are delighted to once again offer the youngsters of Bahrain the opportunity to receive coaching from QPR.
- "The previous camps we ran proved a great success and we can now build on that and further contribute to bringing on local talent.
- "I am particularly looking forward to the game against the Bahrain national team.
- "They are on a fine run of form after the fantastic win against Qatar, so it promises to be a great game.
"No matter who wins the game, the real winners will be the football loving people of Bahrain," concluded Mr. Näf QPR

April 27, 2009 QPR Official Site - BAHRAIN TOUR CANCELLED
- It is with great regret that the Club has been forced to cancel our proposed end of season tour to Bahrain.
- The R's First Team squad were due to travel to the Kingdom early next week, ahead of a friendly against the Bahrain national side on Thursday 7th May.
- However, it has recently become evident that a sizeable number of the Bahrain Football Associations' Administration, as well as Executive members, will be travelling to Kuala Lumpar to support their president, H.E Shaikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa in the days leading up to the May 8th election at the AFC Congress. Shaikh Salman is a candidate for the position of AFC Representative to the FIFA Executive Committee.
- Vice President of the Bahrain Football Association, Shaikh Ali Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, said: "It is with deep regret that we have been forced into making this decision.
- "We were all really looking forward to welcoming Queens Park Rangers Football Club to our Kingdom, but the FIFA meeting is of paramount importance to us and so we were left with no option."
- He added: "We are committed to playing this fixture again in the future and we will be working closely with the Club and Gulf Air, their shirt sponsors, to ensure we can fulfill this match in the future."
- QPR's Deputy Managing Director, Ali Russell, added: "It's a great shame for us all, but we understand the reasons behind it.
- "However, the Club is committed to developing our relationship with the Bahrain Football Association, and we will be doing everything in our powers to get this fixture played in the future."
- The BFA and QPR would like to apologise to any fans who have already booked flights and hotels and are willing to discuss compensation.
Supporters are encouraged to e-mail laressak@qpr.co.uk to discuss this further. QPR

PFA Championship XI of The Year...Ex-QPR in PFA League Two XI....QPR Still "Richer Than Chelsea"...Another Kanyuka Injury

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Queens Park Trainers? - Strange Tabloid Claim about Training Cutback...QPR's Part Owner Remains Britain's Richest

Saturday, April 25, 2009

QPR Player of The Year Awards

QPR and Plymouth Draw: Reports and Comments...QPR Division's Lowest Scorers...Taarabt Surgery

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- Visit the free-thinking and completely-independent QPR Report Messageboard. For news and discussion about QPR and football-in-general....For a site, where only football matters are discussed...For a site where, differing opinions about QPR and football are welcomed without the ad-hominems and the shibboleths. See something on this blog you want to comment on? Just post it at the QPR Report Messageboard!

- A crowd of just under 15,000 at Loftus Road today saw 0-0 Draw.

- Photos From Loftus Road

- QPR Bottom of the Scoring Charts (with 41 goals) - Updated Championship League Table

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - MANAGERIAL COMMENT - AINSWORTH ON PLYMOUTH
- Gareth Ainsworth pulled no punches when describing the 0-0 draw with Plymouth Argyle.
- Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, the R's Caretaker boss remarked, "It was hardly a classic was it! It was a typical end of season game.
- "I think they came for a point, slowing the game down a lot in the second half.
- "Fair play to them - they have every right to do that when their divisional status is at stake."
- Ainsworth added: "Neither keeper has had a difficult save to make really. Radek's kept us in it with a stop or two but neither side really dominated.
- "We didn't create too much but then it was Plymouth who needed the points more than us and we frustrated them."
- Ainsworth praised the support of the R's faithful, who turned out in their numbers to give the players a send off in Rangers' final home match of the season.
- "They were great, as they have been all season long.
- "The reception they gave the players during the lap of honour was excellent." QPR

Plymouth Official Site
- ARGYLE failed to end their season in their penultimate game, although they gave their all in pursuit of Championship safety.
- If Norwich City beat Reading on Monday night, then the Pilgrims will go into next Sunday's Home Park game against Barnsley - also not free from the drop - with their league status still uncertain.
- However, a point would be enough to make them safe, and, in the final analysis, they might not need that, depending on final-day results elsewhere.

The Pilgrims created chance after chance at Loftus Road, especially in the first half, and, although none of them were easy to convert, on another day, they would have been two or three goals to the good at half-time.

Argyle manager Paul Sturrock sent out an identical starting 11 for the fourth successive game, ostensibly the same side that had beaten Blackpool and Coventry, drawn at Birmingham, and lost at home to Doncaster seven days earlier.

However, there are those who witnessed the 3-0 home capitulation against the Yorkshiremen who would swear blind they were watching a totally different line-up to the previous three matches, even though the names remained the same.

It was a chance for the favoured to gain redemption, and they seized it eagerly.

Rangers, safe from the threat of relegation and way off the play-offs - given their backing, a season arguably poorer than the Pilgrims' - made three changes to the team that had begun the previous weekend's 1-0 defeat at Wolves: defender Mikele Leigertwood, midfielder Liam Miller and Patrick Agyemang returning at the expense of Peter Ramage, Jordi López and Rowan Vine.

The Hoops came into the game on the back of an impressive five-match unbeaten home run (victories over Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City and Swansea; draws with Crystal Palace and Sheffield United) but had failed to win any of the five games at Loftus Road prior to that.

Argyle so nearly got the start they, and their nervous supporters on the upper tier of the School End stand, needed.

Within two minutes, Jamie Mackie's persistence in chasing a channel-ball from Carl Fletcher saw the ball break nicely for Paul Gallagher on the edge of the penalty area. Gallagher's shot was saved by goalkeeper Radek Cerny, who spilled the ball, but not quite far enough in front of him for the lurking Ashley Barnes to profit.

Argyle buzzed through the early stages, and individuals that, a week earlier, had looked as stale as Christmas cake were performing as brightly as the West London sunshine.

A second chance came their way as Rangers' defence failed to deal with another incursion down the right and the ball sat up nicely for Gallagher, whose deft dipping volley was a couple of feet too high.

An even better opportunity was spurned in the 17th minute, when Gallagher unpicked the QPR defence with a logarithmically precise pass that allowed Mackie to fire an equally measured pass across Cerny.

The ball found its way to the far post, where Karl Duguid had read the play exactly to arrive at the right time, but at the wrong angle, and the skipper could not quite force the ball in with a necessary first-time shot from a tight position.

Rangers looked like a side already mentally attending their post-match end-of-season player-of-the-year awards night, and Argyle took advantage at will without making their superiority tell in the only way that really counts.

Still, the Pilgrims occasionally had to be wary of the Londoners, especially given Argyle's woeful record when conceding first, and a right-wing cross from Wayne Routledge was inches away from finding Agyemang's head in front of goal.

A fourth decent scoring chance came Argyle's way after Cerny injudiciously elected to come for a cross by Alan Judge and flapped the ball into the path of Barnes, who, through a combination of surprise and the ball arriving at the wrong height, could not wrap his foot around it.

For all their admirable endeavour, the Pilgrims remained vulnerable at 0-0, and the fragility of their position was demonstrated shortly before the break when Leigertwood skipped merrily through the midfield to the Argyle penalty area, all the time looking to shift the ball on to his trusty right foot, before being squeezed out by a combination of Marcel Seip and David Gray.

The Pilgrims needed to start the second half as they had played most of the first - a failure to do just that in their previous away game had cost them two points - and the Green Army did their best to keep the tempo torrid.

However, Rangers' patient football dominated the opening stages of the second period, often taking them within range of the Argyle goal, but never with too much menace.

Argyle, on the other hand, carved out another glorious half-chance, Barnes nodding on a Gray throw-in for Gallagher to hook a volley just wide of Cerny's right-hand post.

The game settled into a midfield duel which occupied the Pilgrims' playmakers so much that they were unable to exert the same influence that had served them so well in the opening half.

With Barnsley winning, Forest having played, and Norwich unoccupied, the Pilgrims were very much on their own, and it felt like it.

Chances became fewer at either end, although Rangers, who quickly brought on all three substitutes for a run-out, worked themselves into decent positions.

A fallow period for Argyle ended with Gallagher firing a free-kick narrowly over, the ball's drift away somehow a metaphor for the Pilgrims' own falling away.

They rebounded to nearly secure their safety when Mackie fired off a shot that Cerny spilt but Barnes was denied from sweeping in the loose by the toe of Rangers' defender Kaspars Gorkss.

That spurred a little revival which saw Gallagher curl a shot over the crossbar after being sublimely played in by Fletcher.

In injury-time, a break by Mackie saw the ball end up at the feet of Gallagher, who again fired over.

Right at the death, Mackie broke through again, but wasted himself so much in the run that he could not fire a shot off that could trouble Cerny.

Come on you Royals. Plymouth

QPR Official Site
- The last match of the season at Loftus Road ended in a 0-0 stalemate as QPR made Plymouth Argyle wait until the final fixture of the season for survival.
- In a match of few clear cut chances, it was the visitor's who largely created the better opportunities, Paul Gallagher going close on a number of occasions, whilst in the second half, Ashley Barnes was only denied a goal by a superb tackle from
-For Rangers, Heidar Helguson, Mikele Leigertwood and Matt Connolly all had chances, Angleo Balanta gave an impressive cameo from the bench, whilst Patrick Agyemang returned from injury to play around an hour.
- But it stayed all square, despite a later Mackie sitter, and both sides earned a point.
- Gareth Ainsworth decided a change was in order after last week's loss at Wolves. They say three is the magic number, and with Agyemang returning, and Leigertwood operating at right back, and Liam Miller bolstering the midfield, Ainsworth was hoping it would be.
- With Peter Ramage on the bench, the back four looked like this: Leigertwood, Gorkss, Damion Stewart and Connolly, with Radek Cerny in goal as the last line of defence.
- In midfield, Miller joined skipper Gavin Mahon and wingers Lee Cook and Wayne Routledge, whilst Heidar Helguson partnered Agyemang in attack.
- Joining Ramage on the subs bench, strikers Angelo Balanta and Antonio German rubbed shoulders with defenders Damien Delaney and Fitz Hall.
- As the sun beat down on the Loftus Road pitch, it was the visitors who started the more positive. Danger-man Gallagher tried his luck twice - first with a venomous shot that was well saved by Cerny - and again with a dipping volley that flew narrowly over the Czech's cross-bar, as the R's failed to deal with a long throw.
- Argyle threatened again minutes later, as Jamie Mackie squared a good-looking cross into the path of Karl Duguid, but - with Cerny nowhere - the former Colchester United man could only skew his effort wide.
- With the men in bright orange enjoying the possession and the chances, Leigertwood felt obliged to open up from range after weaving his way this way and that through the luminous shirts. His left-foot effort however, flew harmlessly wide.
- Carl Fletcher increased Argyle's shots statistic by following suit seconds later, but his fierce drive took a deflection and found its way into Cerny's grateful arms at a trickle.
- Leigertwood it seemed had decided right-back wasn't for him, and he again went gallivanting off in a bid to notch the opening goal.
- Combining with Routledge, he again jinxed his way through, played a neat one-two, before attempting a left foot sot. A combination of Chris Barker and the ball not falling for him as he would've liked led to his effort bouncing away for a corner.
- Inspired, Cook tried an audacious chip over Plymouth keeper Romain Larrieu, following an exquisite pass from Routledge. The French stopper, however, read it well and was in the right place at the right time to claim.
- It was Leigertwood who was turning in arguably Ranger's best performance of the match, and when he sent Routledge off down the right, the former Aston Villa man fed Agyemang, who in turn crossed brilliantly for Helguson.
- The Icelander's header lacked enough power to bother Larrieu however.
- The second half saw Rangers pick up where they left off, passing well but lacking the final pass that would present a clear cut opportunity.
- In a bid to increase their attacking potential, Cook made way for Balanta.
- Change number two followed some minutes later, with injury forcing Ainsworth's hand. Miller limped off with what looked like an ankle injury, with Ramage taking his place.
- The third and final change saw German replace Agyemang, who had done very well on his return from injury.
- With chances at a premium, Connolly almost handed Plymouth the lead. A first-time cross from the left from Gallagher nearly caught out the young full-back, who's attempt at control with his chest evaded Cerny and - luckily - the post.
- Then, from the resultant corner, Alan Judge blazed high and wide as Rangers failed to properly clear their lines.
- Rangers, now driven by Balanta down the left-hand side, hit back. The Columbian's short corner found Routledge, he picked out Connolly, and Connolly picked out a fan sitting behind the goal with a rasping drive.
- After a driving run through the heart of the Plymouth midfield, Helguson followed suit, eager to snatch victory for his side. But once again, the effort flew wide and the score remained goal-less.
- And then, the closest either side came to scoring. Mackie went close when he found space just inside the area, and when his effort was palmed back into danger by Cerny, in stormed Ashley Barnes to try and tap in the loose ball.
- He was denied by a superb recovery tackle from Gorkss, who somehow flicked the ball away for a corner.
- Plymouth continued to press, Gallagher curling an effort high and wide as the clock ticked towards the 90.
- But despite a glorious chance at the death for Mackie, who shot straight at Cerny when clean through, it remained all square and a point apiece.
- QPR: Cerny, Stewart, Mahon, Leigertwood, Routledge, Agyemang (German 66), Gorkss, Connolly, Cook (Balanta 56), Miller (Ramage 62), Helguson. Subs: Delaney, Hall.
- Plymouth Argyle: Larrieu, Duguid, Gallagher, Barker, Sawyer, Seip, Judge, Barnes (Fallon 84), Mackie, Fletcher, Gray. Subs: Saxton, Timar, Clark, Douala Bookings: Judge (90), Fletcher (90) Referee: Mr N S Miller
Attendance: 14,779 QPR

QPR Official Site - TAARABT TO UNDERGO SURGERY
- R's loanee Adel Taarabt will undergo surgery on Monday.
- The Spurs midfielder picked up the injury in training on Friday and subsequent scans revealed a cartilage tear in his left knee.
- Since joining the Hoops on loan in March, the 19 year-old made seven appearances, scoring one goal.
- The Club would like to place on the record its thanks to Adel for his contribution during his loan period, and wish him all the best for a successful rehabilitation." QPR

Teams: QPR vs Plymouth

A QPR Player Failing...Two Years Since a Fan Forum...Ex-QPR's Gavin Peacock Post-Football Career Profiled...QPR Compared: Why Other Clubs Succeeded

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- Visit the free-thinking and completely-independent QPR Report Messageboard. For news and discussion about QPR and football-in-general....For a site, where only football matters are discussed...For a site where, differing opinions about QPR and football are welcomed without the ad-hominems and the shibboleths. See something on this blog you want to comment on? Just post it at the QPR Report Messageboard!
[Among the articles posted today:
- "Owners should be happy for the football men to run their clubs" and
- Fan Power Succeeds at Exeter- Flashback "Cristal and Caviar at QPR"

See also:(Posted Yesterday): How QPR Should Operate: Looking at how others succeeded and QPR have not: Dave McIntyre "Watch and Learn"

- Tomorrow Marks Two years Since QPR's Last Fan Forum
[From the December 13, 2007 minutes of the Fan/Club Consultative Committee Meeting of December 2007 (published on QPR's Official Site):
3a - Are the club planning on holding a Fans' forum in the future?
[Q{R's Managing Director] Alejandro Agag:
- in response, Agag said: "Yes. Sure, we can do that."
- agreed and suggested that a minimum of 2 Fans' Forums should be held per season.- the suggested timeline for these to take place were February/March and September/October
- A third Fans' Forum could be held during the season in "extraordinary" cases if necessary
- Stressed that the Fans' Forums should be for football talk and team matters and not to discuss finances or the ABC loan...."

Lincolnshire Echo - Chris Arthur blows chance of Lincoln City move
- Lincoln City boss Peter Jackson admits Chris Arthur has blown his chances of a summer switch to Sincil Bank after casting doubts over the winger's attitude.
- The Imps chief was disappointed with the speedy wideman, who has been on trial at the club pending his release from Championship club, QPR this summer.
- Jackson identified the winger as a possible target after being impressed by his performance against the Imps while playing for Kettering in the FA Cup earlier this season.
- Having shone for the reserves at the start of the month, Jackson gave the player a one-week trial.
- But the Imps chief was unimpressed by his commitment during training and revealed how he sent the left-sided player home early.
- "There was a winger called Chris Arthur, who played against us for Kettering in the FA Cup earlier in the season" said Jackson.
- "He did well and, having watched him, I gave him the chance to show us what he could do.
- "Chris then joined us for a week's training, but I sent him back early because he simply didn't have the desire and passion that I need." Lincolnshire Echo

The Times/Tom Dart - April 25, 2009 - Gavin Peacock Profiled
Pew to a thrill: Peacock has been seeking a more intimate understanding of - the word of God in Canada after a long and successful playing career
A block from Main Street, the Canmore Mountain Baptist Church lives in a hall attached to an Anglican chapel. Colourful tapestries, tropical plants and walls of sunbeam yellow contrast warmly with the snow outside. A flock of about 30 have gathered for Pastor Trevor Sato’s Sunday evening service. Wearing a blue checked shirt with rolled-up sleeves, he gives a practical sermon on reading the Bible, then grabs a guitar to strum a couple of hymns, his sons on keyboard and bass.
- Early on Sato throws the service open to the floor. A young woman at the back of the room breaks down, tearfully explaining that her husband has suffered a bad fall and she is struggling to care for him and their young family. Quickly, half a dozen worshippers surround her, support her. One kneels in front, Bible in hand, and reads out Psalm 146. “The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.” His voice is calm, clear and certain. This is Gavin Peacoc k; this is his new life.
- You will remember Peacock as one of the most astute English attacking midfield players of the 1990s in his time with Newcastle United, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers. He retired in 2002 to become that rare species, a pundit of eloquence and insight. Last summer, after covering Euro 2008 for the BBC, he did an extraordinary thing. He gave up his comfortable life in Kent and his male-fantasy job and emigrated to Canada with his wife, two children and two dogs to study divinity in preparation for a life in the church.

Home is now a chalet in Canmore, a prosperous little place in the Rockies, an hour’s drive west of Calgary and 15 minutes from Banff. Coyote and elk roam the icy golf course that backs on to the rear of the swish modern property the PeaC***s bought as a holiday retreat in 2007. Pine trees peek out from the snow swaddling the mountains that surround the town and make the 4x4s that hurry along the Trans-Canada Highway seem as mighty as dots of dust.
- Canmore is a physical waypoint on Peacoc k’s spiritual journey. A couple of times a week he drives to Calgary’s western fringe for classes at Ambrose University College, an evangelical seminary where he is at the end of the first year of a three-year masters degree in divinity. Last summer he pondered whether Spain’s 4-5-1 formation was more cunning than Germany’s 4-2-3-1. At the moment he is studying Incomplete Synonymous Hebrew Parallelism and the Syntactic Display of Greek Text.

Among his lessons are two Hebrew and two Greek classes a week, deconstructing Bible passages in their ancient form for a more intimate understanding of the word of God. Peacoc k also spent a year in Cambridge on an Old and New Testament foundation course.

Sport borrows terms and concepts easily and lazily from religion, but some parallels flow naturally: the community, the glory and the suffering, the places of worship; the saviours. After all, Peacoc k’s former Match of the Day team-mate, Alan Shearer, recently rose from the studio sofa to become Newcastle’s latest Geordie Messiah. Peacoc k understands how sport can be essential yet trivial, spiritual and secular, because his life has entwined religion and football since his teenage years.

Now 41, he became a Christian aged 19. “I walked into a youth group as a young professional footballer with money in his pocket, a nice car, promising career,” he says. “The world would say I’ve got everything. And these young people were just sitting around talking about Christ as if they knew him personally. I thought, ‘There’s something real here and something missing in my life.’

“Up until then football was my God. Suddenly, everything fell into its proper place. I realised who Jesus was and what He had done on the cross by dying for my sin.”

Peacoc k still plays — for Canmore United, the local amateur team, who train indoors each week during the long winters and treat him like one of the lads. He discusses football with enthusiasm but he talks about God with zeal. “When you score a goal you never feel more alive,” he says. “But that’s just a momentary high, it’s not reality. It’s not the truth, it’s just a glimpse of something. In the big picture my reality is my walk with God and it’s eternal and everlasting.”

Two and a half years ago the walk became a sprint. “I was at a bit of a plateau spiritually and I was drifting, I didn’t feel I was moving on in my Christian life,” Peacoc k says. “I just didn’t have that fire, that real urge and desire. And really it was a case of out of the blue, I felt a weight of conviction and I just knew I was to pursue this trajectory in life.

“I remember sitting in my study reading the Bible and suddenly the words were leaping off the page and coming alive. Just this weight of conviction, like, ‘Yeah, I want to do this but also I’ve got to do this.’ ”

The immediacy of the memory pushes him into the present tense. “Now I’m wanting to read scripture and wanting to pray and wanting to proclaim the word of God, and now I’m thinking I’ve got to give up the media and pursue this full time,” he says. “There’s a fire in me that was flickering before, but now it’s stoked.”

The plan is to return to Britain after the course, become a pastor and possibly do short-term missionary work in the Third World. “It was right to break away from it all, I get time to come away, throw myself into studies, reflect on things and go back in,” he says. “I see myself being attached to a church as a pastor, preaching and teaching, with a freedom one or two days a week to spend time going out into the country preaching Christianity through sport.

“I feel that I could go into an inner-city area and speak to kids or adults belonging to a football club and feel connected. And say, ‘Your hope is in football, but there’s something that can give us hope and joy beyond that.’ I want to say to young kids, in a country that says success is fame and having ambition and money and cars and beautiful women and sex, ‘That’s not it, you hit the ceiling and there’s something else instead.’ ”

When Sato leaves on sabbatical this summer, Peacoc k will take charge for three months and preach his evangelical, conservative Christian vision. His intensity may jolt those who remember him as the genial guy with the pencil-thin beard and sharp shirts sharing banter with Lee Dixon and Adrian Chiles on the Match of the Day 2 sofa.

“Are we radically living for Christ or are we living in a lukewarm, plastic kind of Christianity?” he asks when we speak at his house after the service. “I don’t think people are radical enough, I don’t think they really are on fire and have it in their hearts.

We’re preaching a man-centred, therapeutic gospel now. It’s a make-you-feel-good gospel and it’s a small gospel. I see a lack of respect for the authority of scripture. We need to see who He really is and we need to live in response to that.”

Outside, the light fades and unseen in the distance skiers and hikers make their way down from the mountains. Tomorrow the sun will burn off the morning fog and wash the Bow Valley with a brilliant clear blue. “People worship the beauty, but they don’t worship the creator of the beauty,” Peacoc k says. “It’s not to be found in the mountains themselves but in the creator of those rivers, valleys and wildlife. They’re just an echo, a display.”

Highlights from a match flicker distractingly on the living-room television. Arsenal destroy Newcastle and, in despair, the club turn to Shearer. Can he save them? Do you believe? “What we’re searching for in football, this coming together on Saturdays — it’s just a shadow of something else that’s in us,” Peacoc k says.

“Fans join together and experience it just for a moment with the player who’s scored or with the team’s victory. We want to partake in something of beauty, of glory, to take us out and up. Our souls were made for the majesty of Christ,” he says, not watching the screen. Voice calm, clear and certain, eyes ablaze.

Oh come all ye faithful: five famous sporting Christian converts

Jason Robinson

The former England rugby union star discovered Christianity with the help of a team-mate when his previous life in rugby league was spiralling out of control because of drinking and personal crises.

Corey Pavin

The golfer and United States captain for the 2010 Ryder Cup switched from Judaism to Christianity shortly before the 1991 US Open and credited God when he won the tournament four years later.

Linvoy Primus

The Portsmouth defender converted to Christianity aged 27 and credits his faith with improving his performances on the pitch. He is also a Christian charity worker, whose autobiography is called Transformed.

George Foreman

Had a near-death, out-of-body experience in his dressing-room after losing a bout in 1977, gave up boxing for a decade and became the ordained minister of a church in Texas.

Jonathan Edwards

The British former Olympic triple-jump champion became devout after attending a Christian youth camp and presented Songs of Praise but dramatically lost his faith after retiring from athletics - The Times

Friday, April 24, 2009

How QPR Should Operate - Comparing QPR to Other Successful Clubs

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Dave McIntyre - BBC 606 - Watch and learn
-Wolves’ promotion party, which Rangers had the misfortune to be caught up in on Saturday, was well deserved and their reward for being the kind of club QPR need to become.
- After a season of seeing Rangers’ attacking shortcomings exposed, it’s easy to look at Wolves - with Ebanks-Blake and their other strikers - and feel that more spending by Briatore and co is required.
- It was the same story a year ago, when QPR fans looked on enviously as West Brom celebrated winning the title at Loftus Road.
- But like QPR, Wolves are where they are not because of how much they spent, but how they spent it.
- Both clubs are where they are because of the way they’re run. Sadly, that’s just about the only thing they have in common.
- Off the pitch, the support manager Mick McCarthy has received and the general way Wolves operate couldn’t be more different to the way Rangers have been run since 2005. On the pitch, they have built a good team while QPR have wasted money and opportunities.
- The £1.5m paid for Ebanks-Blake, Wolves’ flagship signing, is small in comparison to the total transfer fees and wages Rangers have shelled out for since 2007.
- And like many other clubs, Wolves did the groundwork and made the important judgement calls to bring in the kind of players that could have been picked up by QPR - even without the extra millions Briatore brought to the party.
- Andy Keogh was watched carefully before being signed from Scunthorpe. He is still only 22.
- Michael Kightly, 23, has been a revelation since being signed from non-League Grays.
- David Edwards, Matt Jarvis and Kevin Foley - all 23 or under - were signed from the lower leagues.
- The highly-rated Richard Stearman, who is only 21, was snapped up from Leicester and Stephen Ward, 23, was initially taken on trial from Irish club Bohemians before being signed.
- Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessy came through the ranks at Wolves, whereas promising keeper Liam O'Brien didn't even have a full-time coach before leaving QPR for Portsmouth last year.
- David Jones was signed on a free transfer while, in fairness to Rangers, they made Karl Henry a good offer to join them from Stoke before he opted for Molineux.
- These aren’t extravagant transfer dealings by any means, yet many will still tell you the key to promotion is for Rangers’ owners to write even more cheques.
- This despite not only the example set by Wolves, but also Reading - who have not spent big to sign the likes of Kevin Doyle and Noel Hunt – as well as Burnley, Preston, Swansea and Bristol City to name a few.
- Lower down, the likes of Coventry and even Doncaster have made their money go further for them than Rangers have.
- Many seem convinced Rangers need to spend big on a striker this summer. But Doyle, Jason Scotland and Ross McCormack, who have all scored 18 goals or more this season, were signed for modest fees.
- This isn't new. It’s six years since Crewe – a club with nowhere near Rangers’ resources – celebrated promotion at Loftus Road and sent QPR into the play-offs.
- The following year, Plymouth sealed promotion against Rangers and won the title ahead of them at a canter despite having a significantly smaller budget.
- Several seasons and numerous diabolical signings later, Rangers are still being shown the way forward by better-run clubs.
- Last season was a similar story, with Stoke winning the title and Bristol City reaching the play-off final despite their limited resources.
- Shrewd business like Stoke’s capture of Ryan Shawcross and City’s signing of Marvin Elliott proved to be crucial.
- Stoke manager Tony Pulis is clear that the main reason for his success last season was his careful scouting of players.
- Rangers have done their homework and used good judgement to bring in players like Akos Buzsaky and Matt Connolly, but all too often their transfer dealings have been shoddy.
- Players are often targeted only after they’ve started to pop up on television and in the papers, or simply because so-and-so says they’re good or they’ve played for such-and-such team, so they apparently must be good.
- As Pulis put it last summer: "The biggest thing for a manager is knowing the product. And the product in football is players.
- "You don't find out about players sat around the television. You have to be out and about, on the road, watching games. It takes a lot of time to analyse what is out there."
- Several clubs, including Wolves, have worked along similar lines.
- Their signing of Sam Vokes, still just 19, spoke volumes and is a good example of the huge difference between Wolves and QPR.
- A number of clubs watched Vokes very closely at Bournemouth and felt he would make a good signing for a Championship side with time to let him develop, perhaps in the reserves initially and then as a substitute.
- That led to one or two clubs looking elsewhere while Wolves took the plunge and have eased Vokes along as only a stable, well-run club can.
- QPR’s shortcomings mean not only are they less likely to pick up this kind of player, but someone like Vokes would be handled very differently at Rangers – as the cases of Nick Ward and Emmanuel Ledesma showed.- Imagine a player like Vokes - or Keogh for that matter - at QPR.
- Rather than play down the hype surrounding him in order to limit the pressure on his shoulders, Rangers would have announced the signing with a huge fanfare, unveiling him as one of the best prospects around.
- This would partly be a self-indulgent swipe at their critics by the powers-that-be, as would the inevitable bragging about beating off competition from other clubs to get their man.
- And whereas a promising start would be played down by any sane club for obvious reasons, QPR would be beside themselves with excitement hyping up their new star. A Ledesma T-shirt, anyone?
- Then the inevitable dip in form would follow and the player is cast aside as *attention switches to the next transfer window. It's no way to run a football club.
- After all the hype, Rangers are struggling to finish in the top 10 this season despite a huge turnover of players, and it's not because they've not spent enough.
- Mercifully, soundbites from the club about emulating Wolves’ achievements have been relatively thin on the ground this week compared to after West Brom’s day in the sun in W12 a year ago.
- That’s just as well, because while QPR’s defeat on Saturday was a narrow one, the two clubs are streets apart.
- And if Rangers are ever to stand a chance of following in Wolves’ footsteps, they first need to stop walking in the opposite direction. BBC606

A Look at QPR's Season...John Giles on Keane and QPR...QPR's Comeback Goals...Plymouth Prepare for QPR

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- A Chairman Calls on Championship Clubs to Slash Ticket Prices to increase attendances

- Video: QPR's Comeback Goals vs Sheffield Wednesday --- Also "flashback"- Video Promoting The New Loftus Road

John Giles (Herald/Ireland) on Roy Keane at Ipswich Notes re QPR
" ...There was a lot of talk about Keane taking over at QPR and they have plenty of wealthy benefactors at Loftus Road as well. But I couldn't see any way that Keane could cope with the egos at play there and I have little doubt that it would have been a disaster if he had chosen QPR." - Herald/Ireland

Plymouth Herald - Rangers' early promise has failed to materialise
- QUEENS Park Rangers started the season as one of the favourites for promotion but will finish it among the also-rans.
There were high expectations for Rangers, whose chairman and co-owner is Formula One tycoon Flavio Briatore.
Instead, the west London club have struggled for consistency – on and off the pitch.
QPR have rarely threatened to mount a play-off push, let alone a challenge for automatic promotion.
And this season has also seen the arrival and departure of two bosses – Iain Dowie and Paulo Sousa.
- Dowie was appointed by Briatore last May but he only lasted until October.
QPR player-coach Gareth Ainsworth had a three-match stint as caretaker boss before Sousa, the former Portugal and Juventus midfielder, took over in November.
- But Sousa had his contract terminated a fortnight ago, allegedly for divulging sensitive information.
- It followed his admission that he had not been told about the departure of top scorer Dexter Blackstock in a loan move to Nottingham Forest.
Ainsworth was reappointed as caretaker boss and, since then, Rangers have won once and lost twice.
- They are 11th in the Championship, 12 points outside a play-off position, going into their final home game of the season against Argyle tomorrow.
- There is a suspicion that QPR are already looking beyond the end of the current campaign.
For example, Rangers will be wearing their 2009/10 home kit for the first time against Argyle.
And the club have also announced they will be making a trip to the Middle East next month.
- Rangers, whose shirt sponsors are Gulf Air, will play the Bahrain national team in a friendly on May 7.
- That will be four days after they end the Championship season with an away game against Preston North End.
Blackstock, the former Argyle loan signing, had grabbed 11 goals for QPR this season before moving to Forest at the end of March.
His departure was compensated for by the return of striker Rowan Vine from a long-term injury.
Vine, who has always flourished against Argyle, did not make his first appearance of the season until the start of April following a badly broken leg.
He has made four appearances, starting twice, and scored in the 3-2 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Loftus Road on Easter Monday.
Former Argyle fans' favourite Akos Buzsaky has not played for QPR since November.
The Hungary international suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury when QPR lost 1-0 away to Manchester United in a Carling Cup tie.
It is hoped the talented 26-year-old midfielder will be fit for the start of next season.
QPR are also currently without midfielder Martin Rowlands (knee) and striker Patrick Agyemang (thigh). Plymouth Herald

Plymouth Herald - Sturrock keen to finish season with a flourish
- ARGYLE can ensure Championship football for another season by beating Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road tomorrow.
Otherwise, the wait to find out whether the Pilgrims will win their battle against relegation will continue until at least Monday.
That is when Norwich City, who are 22nd in the Championship table, are at home to Reading in a Sky-televised clash.
Bottom-of-the-table Charlton Athletic have already been demoted to League One.
And the fate of Southampton was sealed yesterday when the Football League announced they would be deducting them 10 points (see page 36).
- But the one remaining relegation position could still be filled by any of seven clubs.
Should Argyle beat QPR in their penultimate match of the season they will definitely be safe, regardless of other results.
If the 19th-placed Pilgrims draw tomorrow, Norwich must win their last two matches to stand any chance of finishing above them.
But an Argyle defeat at Loftus Road could see them overtaken by Nottingham Forest and Barnsley, and put them firmly in the sights of Norwich.
Then the Pilgrims would face a pressure-filled encounter against Barnsley at Home Park next Sunday.
Not surprisingly, Argyle manager Paul Sturrock is hoping to avoid that last scenario.
He said: "As long as we mirror-image Norwich in terms of results this weekend, then it's happy days.
"But I don't want to limp over the line. I would like us to do our business to get over the line.
"It would leave a nice taste in our mouths for next season if we were to win the last two games."
Argyle have won seven times on their travels this season, including a 1-0 success over promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers.
They are also unbeaten in their last two away games, after defeating Blackpool 1-0 and drawing 1-1 at Birmingham City.
But QPR, who are 11th in the Championship, have an impressive record at Loftus Road this term, with 12 wins and only four defeats.
And their players know they must continue to put in decent performances while the club search for a new manager after the recent dismissal of Paulo Sousa.
Sturrock said: "It's a difficult place to go because QPR have got good home form.
"If their players want to stay there they have got to impress their owners."
Striker Rowan Vine, who has recently returned from a broken leg, is someone that Sturrock has a particularly healthy respect for.
"The boy Vine has missed most of the season so he should be flying," said the Pilgrims' boss.
"It's a difficult place to go, but no more difficult than going to Birmingham (on Easter Monday) when they needed the points to stay in the top two, or when we went to Wolves."
Argyle will have to improve considerably on their display in the 3-0 defeat by Doncaster Rovers at Home Park last Saturday.
Sturrock said: "That game isn't forgotten. I will make sure it's not forgotten. I think I have got to use it as a tool.
"We have got to appreciate we are an attitude and workrate team. That's the kind of team we are.
"And when you are that kind of team, you have to have that cutting edge all the time, as far as attitude and workrate is concerned.
"We thought it was just going to happen for us last Saturday, and the team that had played against Blackpool, Coventry and Birmingham didn't turn up.
"Their bodies were there, but the mental side of it wasn't there."
Before Argyle play QPR, Blackpool will take on Forest in a 12.30pm kick-off at Bloomfield Road.
One point would see 18th-placed Blackpool to safety.
Sturrock said: "I would probably like a Blackpool win because it keeps a team (Forest) below us with one game left." Plymouth Herald

Thursday, April 23, 2009

What Warnock Supposedly Would Cost QPR...QPR Player Wants

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- If you're interested in up to-date QPR information without an agenda. Visit the free-thinking and completely-independent QPR Report Messageboard. For news and discussion about QPR and football-in-general....For a site, where only football matters are discussed...For a site where, differing opinions about QPR and football are welcomed without the ad-hominems and the shibboleths: Visit the QPR Report Messageboard.

- Video of Briatore Talking and QPR Stadium "Promotional" Behind the scenes...and the Sheffield Wednesday Comeback Goals

- London Informer/Paul Warburton - Well-travelled Warnock comes at quite a price for QPR
- QPR ARE torn over whether to cough up a whopping £2million to bring Neil Warnock to the club as their new manager - or go for a much cheaper option.
- The Crystal Palace boss has jumped to the head of the queue after Rangers cooled over moves to reunite Luigi Di Canio with caretaker boss Gareth Ainsworth.
- Fans' favourite Ainsworth will be retained in some coaching capacity, but Rs have dropped interest in their former Italian manager, who left the club last summer.- However, Warnock openly praised the set-up he found at Rangers when he visited for the 0-0 draw between Hoops and Palace at the beginning of the month.
- He has friends on the Rs board - but the fly in the ointment is around £1m in compensation the Eagles will ask for the much-travelled coach as well as Warnock's own wage demands.
- Your favourite local paper has learned owner Flavio Briatore is warming to the idea of the 60-year-old taking over, even though he knows he will get a larger than life character that regularly hits the headlines for better or worse.
- The QPR chairman is in no hurry to appoint, however, while he mulls over 20-plus applications from a host of top names. Luiz Felipe Scolari, Sven Goran-Eriksson and Roy Keane are three of the latest to be linked with the job - none are likely to be interviewed.
- * QPR WILL make around £100,000 from a five-day tour to Bahrain at the end of the season as part of their sponsored tie-in with Gulf Air.
- The Hoops fly out just two days after their final game of the season at Preston, with one or two grumbling over cancelled private holiday arrangements. However, even the walking wounded will be the club's ambassadors on the tour that sees them take on the Bahrain national team on May 7. London Informer

Dazzling Taarabt top of QPR's wish list - Apr 23 2009 London Informer
- QPR WANT Adel Taarabt for the entirety of next season after the Spurs youngster's impressive performances over the last five matches.
- The 19-year-old Moroccan has dazzled the faithful with a blend of audacious dribbling skills and enthusiasm for the Rs cause that resulted in the winning goal in the 2-1 triumph over Bristol City last month.
- Tottenham are unwilling to sell Taarabt to Rangers, but will view a longer loan campaign in the Championship as a learning curve in the midfielder's development. However, the jury's still out over whether to offer Spanish midfielder Jordi Lopez a new deal when his current contract runs out in July.
- The former Real Mallorca player scored a stunning free-kick in the same Bristol match as Taarabt - but injury curtailed a perfect run in March and earlier this month. And doubts over the 28-year-old's fitness scuppered his move to Birmingham in December. An Rs insider said: "It will depend on how the new manager sees things, as well as Jordi's wage demands." London Informer

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Kevin Gallen Prepared to Play Non League

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- If you're interested in up to-date QPR information without an agenda. Visit the free-thinking and completely-independent QPR Report Messageboard. For news and discussion about QPR and football-in-general....For a site, where only football matters are discussed...For a site where, differing opinions about QPR and football are welcomed without the ad-hominems and the shibboleths: Visit the QPR Report Messageboard. Recently Posted: Rodney Marsh Remembers and Flashback: "[Steve] Slade Looks Ahead"

Luton Today/Mark Wood - Gallens left in the tank
- Frontman keen to help Hatters regain league status
- Veteran striker Kevin Gallen has admitted that he could be swayed to stay at Kenilworth Road next season if the Hatters can keep the nucleus of their squad together.
- The former Milton Keynes Dons and QPR forward, who signed on at Kenilworth Road until the end of the season, revealed that he would love to be part of a promotion-winning team next term.
- He said: "I really do like it at Luton. I've had a great six months even though we've been relegated. I've enjoyed training. Mick is a very good manager and I like the way he wants to play football. There's a great team spirit.
- "We will see what happens in the summer. If they want me to sign we will have to sit down and see what happens. If I was offered something I would have to think about it very carefully.
-"There's nothing better than being part of a winning team and a team getting promoted. It's a great feeling and I've been a part if it a couple of times."
- Gallen has often helped glue the Hatters together this season and he thinks he still has plenty to offer.
- The 33-year-old said: "I think when I'm in there I can make a difference and make an impact. Not being big-headed, I know I can control the ball and pass it. It's nothing extraordinary.
- "The best way to play football is simple. There are quite a lot of young lads and I think they benefit when I'm out there because I speak to them.
- Communication is a big part of football. You can help people."
- And he believes Jack Wood's first inclusion on Town's bench in the 1-0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night will have done the young full-back no end of good.
- Gallen said: "It's good for him. The gaffer said before the game that if someone does well in the reserves they will get their chance.
- "I think if we were winning tonight he would have come on.
- "It's maybe not fair to bring him on when we are chasing the game. The crowd doesn't look at the age."
- But Gallen was disappointed with the way the Hatters lost out to negative Wycombe.
- He added: "From the start it was 10 men behind the ball. They looked like they came for a draw and nicked a goal. We were really disappointed for obvious reasons.
- "Obviously they think we are good team. They were third in the league and supposed to be one of the best teams in the league. You wouldn't know which team is near the top and which is relegated.
- "We try and pass the ball as well as we can. We try and play a passing game and every time they got the ball they hit it long for their front man to chase it."
- Luton Today

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