Football Snippets Thursday...Lopez Talking to Swansea....Langley Training With Blackpool...The Criminal Restaurant...Six Months of Borrowdale/Helguson

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UPDATES:

- WBA Confirm Swindon's Simon Cox set for WBA

QPR FOOTBALL SNIPPETS
- Six Months Ago today: QPR Complete signings of Borrowdale (3 1/2 year deal) and Helguson (2 1/2 year deal)

- A Decade Ago, Gerry Francis Talking About QPR Prospects

- A Truly Criminal Restaurant!


BBC/David Dulin - Swansea holding talks with Lopez
- Swansea City are holding talks with Uefa Cup winner Jordi Lopez after his contract at Queens Park Rangers ended.
- Lopez, 28, was signed on a three-month deal by new Swans boss Paulo Sousa when he was in charge of QPR last season.
- But Sousa faces competition from two unnamed Championship clubs to sign Spanish midfielder Lopez who won the Uefa Cup with Sevilla in 2006.
- "Contact has been made, we've been talking with Paulo," said Lopez's agent Alex Bonnot.
- "Paulo would be happy to have Jordi with him. There's a good professional relationship between them.
- "But Jordi has two other options. It's going to be down to the talks and the decision of Jordi.
- "Everything so far has been very transparent and clear."
- If he signs, Lopez would become Sousa's first Swansea signing and would join in time to go on next week's training camp in Portugal.
- Lopez won the Uefa Cup with Sevilla in 2006 when the Spanish side beat Middlesbrough 4-0 in the final.
- Before the switch to Sevilla two years earlier, Lopez made three appearances for Real Madrid.
- He arrived in English football after being released by Real Mallorca last December, joining QPR in February.
- Lopez opened talks after his three-month contract at Loftus Road expired, but was unhappy with the wages being offered and negotiations have ended.
- Sousa, 38, was unveiled as successor to Roberto Martinez who left to take charge of Wigan last month...." BBC


Richard Langley Training With Blackpool
- Blackpool Gazette/Steve Canavan - Midfield star joins Pool for 'trial'
Former QPR star Richard Langley
- WINGER Richard Langley joined the Seasiders for their first day back in training – but that doesn't mean he will be signing.
- The former QPR star took part in a running session and a gym workout with the rest of the Pool squad at the De Vere hotel yesterday.
- But manager Ian Holloway stressed that he was simply looking after a player he used to manage and offering him the chance to get fit.
- However, if the 29-year-old can prove he's as good as when he was a regular starter under Holloway at Loftus Road he may yet earn a deal.
- "He's not on trial, he is training with us," said the boss. "We have a friendship and a working relationship that goes back years.
- "Richard has had a very tough time over the last two or three years and I've promised him a chance no-one else is going to get to train with my lads.
- "Now, if he looks anything like the Richard Langley of old, then I need a midfield player and it might suit both of us.
- "But I would not leave a companion of mine who worked so hard for me in the past out on a limb.
- "I'm using my position at Blackpool to help a friend and see if I can get him fit enough for someone to give him a job."
- London-born Langley made 133 League appearances for QPR between 1998 and 2003 before joining Cardiff in a £200,000 move.
- He has struggled of late, though, and has been released by Bristol City.
As for Holloway, he was delighted to finally meet up with his players 41 days after being confirmed as Seasiders boss.
- He talked to his squad at length about the standards he expects from them during the pre-season and the style of play he is aiming for.....
." Blackpool Gazette


Three Ex-QPR Birthdays today
- Steve Morrow turns 39 (born 1970) was axed last year by FC Dallas where he was coach
- Mathew Brazier turns 33 (born 1976) (Back when our "excess-to-need" players went to the likes of Fulham!
- Tim Breacker turns 44 - (born 1965) - Not sure? He was with Holloway/axed at Leicester.

- Simon Royce Staying at Gillingham

- Crime in Football: "Money Laundering Through The Football Sector"

- Match Fixing Claims in Russia

- Photos From QPR's First Day of Training ---Further Photos from Day 1


Kilburn Times/Ben Kosky: Bradley Allen - Find a new Ferdinand!
- FORMER QPR striker Bradley Allen believes his old club need a new fans' favourite up front to have any chance of success next season.
- Rangers were the joint lowest scorers in the Championship last year and have yet to strengthen their forward line this summer.
- Only one player - Andy Thomson - has broken the 20-goal barrier in a season for the Rs since Les Ferdinand's heyday and Allen feels they must unearth a worthy successor to his former strike partner.
- "A goalscorer can be a focal point of the team that supporters really relate to - and that's something they haven't had for a while," said Allen, who spent eight years with QPR in the top flight.
- "Big Les was phenomenally successful in the early 90s. We had smaller people playing off him and chipping in with goals, but that comes at a cost and they need to pinpoint that person.
- "Any of the teams that'll have a chance of being in the promotion shake-up in the Championship will need goalscorers with experience at that level - that's what Rangers have been without for the last few seasons.
- "This is something Jim Magilton will be trying to address and I'm sure he will be getting some financial backing. One would hope the individual he chooses will be the right one."
- Allen, 37, who now combines a coaching role at Tottenham with his work as a radio summariser, watched Rangers several times last season and feels two factors are essential if they are to mount a top six challenge.
- Namely, that newly-appointed boss Magilton is afforded longer than the four to six months each of his three predecessors has lasted, and that the team perform consistently well at home.
- "Consistency hasn't been there and the club have got to be patient with Jim," added Allen. "He hasn't got huge experience, but he's got some good ideas and enthusiasm and did relatively well at Ipswich.
- "If you remember, Ian Holloway had success when he got the supporters on his side and I'd hope Jim will follow the QPR philosophy of playing good football and take them close.
- "Rangers will find it difficult, but they were a big strong side under Paulo Sousa and hopefully their home form will be sufficient to give them a good chance.
- "If they start really well and turn Loftus Road into a fortress, as well as staying organised on their travels, they might give themselves a chance of the play-offs and I'd think that's the directive Jim would be under from the board."
- Magilton was able to take his first look at the squad he inherited from Sousa when the players reported back to Harlington for pre-season training on Wednesday." Kilburn Times

- Crystal Palace Chairman Statement re Payments

- Marking Five Years of MK Dons


PREVIOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST

- Nice Act by Wycombe: Wycombe Official Site - IN MEMORY OF MIKE KEEN

- Video: 1986/87 Leeds vs QPR (FA Cup Fifth Round)

- Ex-Derby Directors Guilty Verdict - Assessment

- The 1969/1970 Season - Memories

- Zesh Reman World Cup Bid Ambassador Blog

- Ex-QPR Players: Where Are They Now?

- Summer Transfers: A Club-by-Club List of Transfers Ins and Outs (thus far)

- Key QPR Dates for 2009-2010

- Pre-season Friendlies: Ticket Prices

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The QPR Accounts

- Excerpts from the 30+ page QPR Annual Report - Including Chairman (Briatore's) Report

- Discuss the Accounts I or Discuss the Accounts II