-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Manager vs Manager: Derby's Clough Charges Davies Assault
- QPR Relegation Form Update: 7 Points from 11 Games - QPR have won just twice since their late October win against Derby County (14 League Games + 2 Cup games) ...and just once in their last 13 league and cup games.
- QPR's Current Promotion and Relegation Odds
- QPR vs Scunthorpe: Compilation of Match Reports and Harford Comments
The Post-Match Protests:
- Post-Match Protests Media Reports
- Post-Match Protests video & photos
- The Spurs "Yids" Debate
- Ainsworth Set for Wycombe
SkySport - Rangers poised for double deal - Harford closes on Priskin and Bent 31st January 2010
- Skysports.com understands Queens Park Rangers are set to sign Tamas Priskin and Marcus Bent on loan.
- It is believed that the duo will join the Championship side on deals which will run until the end of the season.
- Rangers caretaker boss Mick Harford has made no secret of his desire to bolster his attacking options, with Patrick Agyemang and Wayne Routledge having recently left the club.
- Priskin and Bent fit the bill, with both boasting credible scoring records.
- Hungary international Priskin is currently on the books of Ipswich, having joined the Tractor Boys from Watford last summer, but has fallen out of favour under Roy Keane.
- Much-travelled frontman Bent is part of the first-team set-up at Birmingham, but has been deemed surplus to requirements at St Andrews.
- He recently spent three months on loan Middlesbrough, but failed to secure a permanent switch to the North East.
- Skysports.com understands both men will complete their moves to Loftus Road on Monday. Sky
Skysports - Ferencvaros sign Doherty
Free agent moves to Hungarian outfit after leaving Wycombe
By Juha Pal Last updated: 31st January 2010
- Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros have snapped up Tommy Doherty after the midfielder left Wycombe earlier this month.
- The 30-year-old was a free agent after he left the Chairboys by mutual agreement following Gary Waddock's appointment as boss in October.
- Ferencvaros have secured his services until the end of the season, with an option to extend his contract by an additional year.
- The former Northern Ireland international has also played for Bristol City, QPR and Yeovil in his career. Skysports
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
Sunday, January 31, 2010
QPR Report Sunday Snippets...QPR and India...Flashback 4 Years: Ian Holloway's Last Home Game as QPR Manager
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- QPR Relegation Form Update - QPR have won just twice since their late October win against Derby County (14 League Games + 2 Cup games) ...and just once in their last 13 league and cup games.
- QPR's Current Promotion and Relegation Odds
- QPR vs Scunthorpe: Compilation of Match Reports and Harford Comments
The Post-Match Protests:
- Post-Match Protests Media Reports
- Post-Match Protests video & photos
- Ainsworth Set for Wycombe
- The People "QPR want to sign another Clarets attacker - Steve Thompson - on a loan deal." The People
- The World's Most Powerful Billionaires (Lakshmi Mittal #13)
- The Football Elites Get Ever Richer - " the Champions' League final has overtaken the Super Bowl as the most popular televised event in global club sport
- What Can Be Done About Football Debts?
- Portsmouth Fan Bought Name. Ordered to Pay Debts
- Harsh Penalty Imposed on Togo for Withdrawing
- Spurs Ban Book Over Use of the Term "Yids"
News of The World - CURTAINS FOR DUO- IT WOULD normally be a hugely sought- after address, a luxury penthouse apartment in leafy Chiswick.
- Instead, its inhabitants usually live in dread.
- Because this is where QPR house their managers until they find a permanent abode - or leave!
- Mick Harford and Tony Coton moved in earlier this month. Unlikely they will be ordering any new curtains or sofas just yet." News of The World
QPR Official Site - R'S IN MUMBAI
Posted on: Sun 31 Jan 2010
- QPR's trip to host the Mumbai Soccer Challenge over the New Year proved a resounding success, as promising youngsters Shaun Fernandes and Hussain Vahanvaty did enough to earn the right to attend a six-week training camp at the Club's Harlington Training Ground.
- The sheer scale of the event was best demonstrated by the fact that in attendance was Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, MP Milind Deora, Indian National Team Captain Baichung Bhutia, as well as QPR Vice Chairman Amit Bhatia and Managing Director Ishan Saksena.
- Under the watchful eye of QPR Youth Development Manager Steve Gallen, the Challenge was a unique five-a-side tournament involving municipal government aided and private schools and took place in South Mumbai.
- An incredible 2,000 children all participated in the event. Open to boys and girls, the challengers were aged from eight to ten and 11 to 14 years old. A total of 24 children were hand-picked to take part in a follow-up QPR coaching clinic, where the final two were selected to make the trip to West London.
- QPR Holdings Ltd Vice-Chairman Bhatia was delighted with how the event turned out.
- He explained how finding and promoting talent in Mumbai was always likely to happen at some point as a result of the Club's connection to India through himself and QPR shareholder Lakshmi Mittal.
- "With the Club having an Indian association, an initiative was always going to be on the cards," he said, "but it was about what we thought would be right. We have a QPR Football in the Community Trust and this fits there."
- "There is a difference between introducing and exploiting. Clubs need to be willing to spend resources rather than earning them.
"That's what we are looking at doing. We are planning long term. We want to give back and are showing our intentions from day one.
"We have been constantly keeping our eye on a few talented footballers from there. There were Visa issues but that hasn't stopped us from keeping track. I don't see why (having an Indian footballer at Rangers) is not a possibility."
- Bhatia also explained that such events are not all about marketing the Club. Indeed, he believes backing grass roots football is of greater importance.
- "We don't want to come here and sell jerseys and tickets," he added. "We wanted to do something from the grass roots level. Promoting talent in Mumbai is up there on our agenda."
- This view is shared by QPR Managing Director Saksena, who added: "Anything is possible. We have many age group teams and if they do exceptionally well, anything can happen.
- "Even if they fail to make progress, we will keep track of these kids in India and provide them with the facilities that they require. QPR will keep coming to India every year for such events."
- South Mumbai MP Deora welcomed a growing relationship between India and QPR, and he says that the rising popularity of the beautiful game in and around the country suggests that such a partnership can only be a successful one.
- MP Deora said: "Football is a rapidly growing sport with youngsters taking to it in large numbers.
"Besides bringing out qualities of teamwork and the spirit of fair play, the sport also provides an ideal platform for children to engage in both health and fitness activities."
- Fernandes and Vahanvaty will now travel to West London this upcoming summer and Gallen explained that if either of the two boys impresses, then their respective stays could last beyond the six weeks.
- Gallen said: "If they are good enough they might even get the chance to represent the Club in the future QPR
- Flashback: Four Years Ago Today - Ian Holloway's Last Home Game in Charge Vs Leicester-
January 31, 2006, was Ian Holloway's last time he was in charge of a game at Loftus Road as QPR lost 3-2 to Leicester. The following week, QPR played and lost at Leeds, with five players (three loans) making their debuts. It was announced that Ian Holloway had been placed on "gardening leave," after having expressed an interest in the Leicester City managerial job. (Prior to that Leeds game, Ian Holloway reportedly heard - not directy from QPR - that he was out. The official announcement was made a couple of days later)
That Last Home Game: January 31, 2006: QPR 2 Leicester 3
QPR - Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Rose - Ainsworth, Lomas, Langley, Cook - Furlong, Nygaard. (subs) Moore, Kus, Taylor, Donnelly, Baidoo.
Leicester - Douglas, Stearman, McCarthy, Kisnorbo, Johansson - Maybury, Williams, Gudjonsson, Hughes - Hume, Fryatt. (sub) Hammond, Wesolowski, Gerrbrand, Smith, O'Grady. QPR: Ainsworth (6) Shittu (83) Leicester Fryatt (10), Stearman (79), Hughes (88)
IAN HOLLOWAY POST-MATCH COMMENTS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE
Ian Holloway has labelled the defeat to Leicester City as 'totally unacceptable.'"It' s hard to express just how dissapointed I am. Tonight was totally unacceptable. There were some individual performances that were unacceptable.
"The back line were shocking. I stuck with them after Luton and have they have done well for me, but that was awful. I've never seen so many errors in all my life. I've made one or two acquistions, I'll work with them and think about changing it about because that was unacceptable.''
Holloway had seen his Rangers side take the lead through Gareth Ainsworth with just five minutes on the clock, but a quick response from Matty Fryatt five minutes later levelled the scores.Richard Stearman's 79th minute strike gave Leicester the lead for the first time in the game, but despite Dan Shitttu's header nine minutes from time, it was Leicester who went home with the three points.As the clock ticked down, Leicester struck again through Stephen Hughes to kill any chance Rangers may have had of stealing the three points."I think our expectations need looking at. We need to take a right good look at ourselves. What investment have we had? What have we spent? How many injuries have we got. Gallen, Bircham, Rowlands, they're all quality players and I think we need to get real.
"I don't make excuses for my team, but tonight was unacceptable. That's the worst I've seen a lot of my players play for this club. It was a terrible night.'' QPR
Ian Holloway -.BEN KOSKY, KILBURN TIMES
".... "I've never seen such a spate of mistakes," Holloway declared. "It wasn't just one person - nearly every single one of my players played the wrong pass and our clearances were diabolical.
"That was my back four, that I've had for a while and I've showed faith in. But on this showing, it was back to the drawing board. Mentally, they looked the weakest team I've ever had.
"I've asked them all to go home and work out why they were so nervous or frustrated. That wasn't acceptable and it'll have to be changed - we looked like the side who were 13 points behind the other.
"For the first time, I can probably pick a whole new back four, if I want.
We've got some new people and maybe I'm going to have to work with them and get them out there." Kilburn Times
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- QPR Relegation Form Update - QPR have won just twice since their late October win against Derby County (14 League Games + 2 Cup games) ...and just once in their last 13 league and cup games.
- QPR's Current Promotion and Relegation Odds
- QPR vs Scunthorpe: Compilation of Match Reports and Harford Comments
The Post-Match Protests:
- Post-Match Protests Media Reports
- Post-Match Protests video & photos
- Ainsworth Set for Wycombe
- The People "QPR want to sign another Clarets attacker - Steve Thompson - on a loan deal." The People
- The World's Most Powerful Billionaires (Lakshmi Mittal #13)
- The Football Elites Get Ever Richer - " the Champions' League final has overtaken the Super Bowl as the most popular televised event in global club sport
- What Can Be Done About Football Debts?
- Portsmouth Fan Bought Name. Ordered to Pay Debts
- Harsh Penalty Imposed on Togo for Withdrawing
- Spurs Ban Book Over Use of the Term "Yids"
News of The World - CURTAINS FOR DUO- IT WOULD normally be a hugely sought- after address, a luxury penthouse apartment in leafy Chiswick.
- Instead, its inhabitants usually live in dread.
- Because this is where QPR house their managers until they find a permanent abode - or leave!
- Mick Harford and Tony Coton moved in earlier this month. Unlikely they will be ordering any new curtains or sofas just yet." News of The World
QPR Official Site - R'S IN MUMBAI
Posted on: Sun 31 Jan 2010
- QPR's trip to host the Mumbai Soccer Challenge over the New Year proved a resounding success, as promising youngsters Shaun Fernandes and Hussain Vahanvaty did enough to earn the right to attend a six-week training camp at the Club's Harlington Training Ground.
- The sheer scale of the event was best demonstrated by the fact that in attendance was Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, MP Milind Deora, Indian National Team Captain Baichung Bhutia, as well as QPR Vice Chairman Amit Bhatia and Managing Director Ishan Saksena.
- Under the watchful eye of QPR Youth Development Manager Steve Gallen, the Challenge was a unique five-a-side tournament involving municipal government aided and private schools and took place in South Mumbai.
- An incredible 2,000 children all participated in the event. Open to boys and girls, the challengers were aged from eight to ten and 11 to 14 years old. A total of 24 children were hand-picked to take part in a follow-up QPR coaching clinic, where the final two were selected to make the trip to West London.
- QPR Holdings Ltd Vice-Chairman Bhatia was delighted with how the event turned out.
- He explained how finding and promoting talent in Mumbai was always likely to happen at some point as a result of the Club's connection to India through himself and QPR shareholder Lakshmi Mittal.
- "With the Club having an Indian association, an initiative was always going to be on the cards," he said, "but it was about what we thought would be right. We have a QPR Football in the Community Trust and this fits there."
- "There is a difference between introducing and exploiting. Clubs need to be willing to spend resources rather than earning them.
"That's what we are looking at doing. We are planning long term. We want to give back and are showing our intentions from day one.
"We have been constantly keeping our eye on a few talented footballers from there. There were Visa issues but that hasn't stopped us from keeping track. I don't see why (having an Indian footballer at Rangers) is not a possibility."
- Bhatia also explained that such events are not all about marketing the Club. Indeed, he believes backing grass roots football is of greater importance.
- "We don't want to come here and sell jerseys and tickets," he added. "We wanted to do something from the grass roots level. Promoting talent in Mumbai is up there on our agenda."
- This view is shared by QPR Managing Director Saksena, who added: "Anything is possible. We have many age group teams and if they do exceptionally well, anything can happen.
- "Even if they fail to make progress, we will keep track of these kids in India and provide them with the facilities that they require. QPR will keep coming to India every year for such events."
- South Mumbai MP Deora welcomed a growing relationship between India and QPR, and he says that the rising popularity of the beautiful game in and around the country suggests that such a partnership can only be a successful one.
- MP Deora said: "Football is a rapidly growing sport with youngsters taking to it in large numbers.
"Besides bringing out qualities of teamwork and the spirit of fair play, the sport also provides an ideal platform for children to engage in both health and fitness activities."
- Fernandes and Vahanvaty will now travel to West London this upcoming summer and Gallen explained that if either of the two boys impresses, then their respective stays could last beyond the six weeks.
- Gallen said: "If they are good enough they might even get the chance to represent the Club in the future QPR
- Flashback: Four Years Ago Today - Ian Holloway's Last Home Game in Charge Vs Leicester-
January 31, 2006, was Ian Holloway's last time he was in charge of a game at Loftus Road as QPR lost 3-2 to Leicester. The following week, QPR played and lost at Leeds, with five players (three loans) making their debuts. It was announced that Ian Holloway had been placed on "gardening leave," after having expressed an interest in the Leicester City managerial job. (Prior to that Leeds game, Ian Holloway reportedly heard - not directy from QPR - that he was out. The official announcement was made a couple of days later)
That Last Home Game: January 31, 2006: QPR 2 Leicester 3
QPR - Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Rose - Ainsworth, Lomas, Langley, Cook - Furlong, Nygaard. (subs) Moore, Kus, Taylor, Donnelly, Baidoo.
Leicester - Douglas, Stearman, McCarthy, Kisnorbo, Johansson - Maybury, Williams, Gudjonsson, Hughes - Hume, Fryatt. (sub) Hammond, Wesolowski, Gerrbrand, Smith, O'Grady. QPR: Ainsworth (6) Shittu (83) Leicester Fryatt (10), Stearman (79), Hughes (88)
IAN HOLLOWAY POST-MATCH COMMENTS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE
Ian Holloway has labelled the defeat to Leicester City as 'totally unacceptable.'"It' s hard to express just how dissapointed I am. Tonight was totally unacceptable. There were some individual performances that were unacceptable.
"The back line were shocking. I stuck with them after Luton and have they have done well for me, but that was awful. I've never seen so many errors in all my life. I've made one or two acquistions, I'll work with them and think about changing it about because that was unacceptable.''
Holloway had seen his Rangers side take the lead through Gareth Ainsworth with just five minutes on the clock, but a quick response from Matty Fryatt five minutes later levelled the scores.Richard Stearman's 79th minute strike gave Leicester the lead for the first time in the game, but despite Dan Shitttu's header nine minutes from time, it was Leicester who went home with the three points.As the clock ticked down, Leicester struck again through Stephen Hughes to kill any chance Rangers may have had of stealing the three points."I think our expectations need looking at. We need to take a right good look at ourselves. What investment have we had? What have we spent? How many injuries have we got. Gallen, Bircham, Rowlands, they're all quality players and I think we need to get real.
"I don't make excuses for my team, but tonight was unacceptable. That's the worst I've seen a lot of my players play for this club. It was a terrible night.'' QPR
Ian Holloway -.BEN KOSKY, KILBURN TIMES
".... "I've never seen such a spate of mistakes," Holloway declared. "It wasn't just one person - nearly every single one of my players played the wrong pass and our clearances were diabolical.
"That was my back four, that I've had for a while and I've showed faith in. But on this showing, it was back to the drawing board. Mentally, they looked the weakest team I've ever had.
"I've asked them all to go home and work out why they were so nervous or frustrated. That wasn't acceptable and it'll have to be changed - we looked like the side who were 13 points behind the other.
"For the first time, I can probably pick a whole new back four, if I want.
We've got some new people and maybe I'm going to have to work with them and get them out there." Kilburn Times
Saturday, January 30, 2010
The Loftus Road Protest Against Flavio Briatore as QPR's Relegation Descent Continues
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Ainsworth Set for Wycombe - Ealing Gazette/Jacob Murtagh - Wycombe set to land QPR midfielder- WYCOMBE are set to sign Gareth Ainsworth on a permanent deal after the midfielder left QPR.
- The 36-year-old spent a stint on loan at Adams Park earlier this season before returning to Loftus Road through injury. But Gary Waddock is poised to land the former Cardiff City flyer in a bid to boost Wycombe's survival hopes. Ealing Gazette
- QPR Relegation Form Update - QPR have won just twice since their late October win against Derby County (14 League Games + 2 Cup games) ...and just once in our last 13 league and cup games.
QPR's Home For Their Managers! News of The World - CURTAINS FOR DUO
- IT WOULD normally be a hugely sought- after address, a luxury penthouse apartment in leafy Chiswick.
- Instead, its inhabitants usually live in dread.
- Because this is where QPR house their managers until they find a permanent abode - or leave!
- Mick Harford and Tony Coton moved in earlier this month. Unlikely they will be ordering any new curtains or sofas just yet." News Of The World
- Earlier Compilation of Match Reports and Mick Harford Comments
- Video of Protest
SPORTING LIFE - HOOPS FANS VENT ANGER
- Angry QPR fans turned on Flavio Briatore after the 1-0 defeat against Scunthorpe but caretaker boss Mick Harford hit back at suggestions the London club have become a laughing stock.
- Briatore was barracked by sections of the home crowd as Rangers slumped to their fourth defeat in six matches.
- Several hundred supporters gathered outside after the final whistle to demonstrate against the Italian, who was at the match along with co-owner Bernie Ecclestone.
- Garry Thompson's goal gave Scunthorpe their first ever victory at Loftus Road, and fuelled the growing anger among home fans.
- A number of them attended the game wearing clown-style wigs and red noses in protest at the events at the club, which has been plagued by problems on and off the pitch since the Briatore-led takeover of 2007.
- Harford said: "I have every respect for the fans. They pay their money and have the right to voice their opinions.
- "People have an opinion that the club is a laughing stock. They might have that perception of it, but I've got an inside view and when you work at the club you see it's run in the right and proper manner."
- Rangers, beaten 5-0 at Nottingham Forest in midweek, had most of the possession but failed to take advantage and were punished when Thompson broke the deadlock with 16 minutes remaining.
- Gary Hooper skipped past full-back Matt Hill and crossed from the right for Thompson to nudge the ball home from close range.
- Harford admitted: "We need a goalscorer. The game should have been out of sight before Scunthorpe got the goal.
- "Up to the penalty box, I thought we were excellent. I'm very disappointed with the result, but there were positives to take from it.
- "I asked for an effort from the players and I certainly got that. If we play like that in every game between now and the end of the season then we'll be fine.
- "The last couple of results have not helped my cause, but they have made me stronger and more determined to improve the team."
- Scunthorpe's victory was their third win in four league matches and lifted them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
- Delighted Iron boss Nigel Adkins said: "What's happening at other clubs is nothing to do with us. We concentrate on ourselves and what we need to do.
- "It's a great victory for us and another excellent three points away from home. The players have been absolutely magnificent.
- "It was our third match in six days, and credit to the players for showing great professionalism . They got themselves re-hydrated and have shown a great attitude.
- "We're hardworking and are endeavouring to do the best we can. We've got a close-knit group of players who just work very hard for each other.
- "I can't underline how proud I am of such an honest, hardworking group of professionals, who yet again have won against the odds." Sporting Life
Daily Mail re Match and Protest
- QPR'S fans staged a mass protest against co-owner Flavio Briatore after their season hit a new low as they lost to lowly Sc*n*horpe.
- Over 300 supporters, some dressed as clowns, barricaded the directors' entrance and called for Briatore and fellow co-owner Bernie Ecclestone sell their stake after turning them into 'a circus'.
- Paul Hart became the sixth permanent manager to leave the club earlier this month after reportedly being told by Briatore which players to pick.
- And caretaker boss Mick Harford's first home game in charge saw Garry Thompson score the only goal of the game with 17 minutes to go, firing home after Gary Hooper had played him in.
- Briatore (right) left his seat as soon as the goal went in, leaving Harford to defend his boss.
- 'The fans have every right to voice their opinions so long as it is done in the right and proper manner,' said Harford, whose side have taken seven points from the last 33 available.
- 'People might perceive us as a laughing stock, but I know this club is run in a professional manner. Everyone can have their opinions, but I have an inside view on it. Will fans stay away in protest at Briatore? They won't stay away if we start winning.'
- But while Harford had to face the tough questions, Sc*n*horpe boss Nigel Adkins was delighted as his side made it three wins in four.
- 'This is a great victory for us, we have an honest, hard-working group of players and we deserved to win,' he said.
And Adkins was right after Sc*n*horpe outplayed their hosts. In Gary Hooper they had the best player on the park, and it was no surprise when the striker left full-back Matthew Hill with twisted blood and laid the ball inside for Thompson to score with ease and claim a deserved three points. Mail
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Ainsworth Set for Wycombe - Ealing Gazette/Jacob Murtagh - Wycombe set to land QPR midfielder- WYCOMBE are set to sign Gareth Ainsworth on a permanent deal after the midfielder left QPR.
- The 36-year-old spent a stint on loan at Adams Park earlier this season before returning to Loftus Road through injury. But Gary Waddock is poised to land the former Cardiff City flyer in a bid to boost Wycombe's survival hopes. Ealing Gazette
- QPR Relegation Form Update - QPR have won just twice since their late October win against Derby County (14 League Games + 2 Cup games) ...and just once in our last 13 league and cup games.
QPR's Home For Their Managers! News of The World - CURTAINS FOR DUO
- IT WOULD normally be a hugely sought- after address, a luxury penthouse apartment in leafy Chiswick.
- Instead, its inhabitants usually live in dread.
- Because this is where QPR house their managers until they find a permanent abode - or leave!
- Mick Harford and Tony Coton moved in earlier this month. Unlikely they will be ordering any new curtains or sofas just yet." News Of The World
- Earlier Compilation of Match Reports and Mick Harford Comments
- Video of Protest
SPORTING LIFE - HOOPS FANS VENT ANGER
- Angry QPR fans turned on Flavio Briatore after the 1-0 defeat against Scunthorpe but caretaker boss Mick Harford hit back at suggestions the London club have become a laughing stock.
- Briatore was barracked by sections of the home crowd as Rangers slumped to their fourth defeat in six matches.
- Several hundred supporters gathered outside after the final whistle to demonstrate against the Italian, who was at the match along with co-owner Bernie Ecclestone.
- Garry Thompson's goal gave Scunthorpe their first ever victory at Loftus Road, and fuelled the growing anger among home fans.
- A number of them attended the game wearing clown-style wigs and red noses in protest at the events at the club, which has been plagued by problems on and off the pitch since the Briatore-led takeover of 2007.
- Harford said: "I have every respect for the fans. They pay their money and have the right to voice their opinions.
- "People have an opinion that the club is a laughing stock. They might have that perception of it, but I've got an inside view and when you work at the club you see it's run in the right and proper manner."
- Rangers, beaten 5-0 at Nottingham Forest in midweek, had most of the possession but failed to take advantage and were punished when Thompson broke the deadlock with 16 minutes remaining.
- Gary Hooper skipped past full-back Matt Hill and crossed from the right for Thompson to nudge the ball home from close range.
- Harford admitted: "We need a goalscorer. The game should have been out of sight before Scunthorpe got the goal.
- "Up to the penalty box, I thought we were excellent. I'm very disappointed with the result, but there were positives to take from it.
- "I asked for an effort from the players and I certainly got that. If we play like that in every game between now and the end of the season then we'll be fine.
- "The last couple of results have not helped my cause, but they have made me stronger and more determined to improve the team."
- Scunthorpe's victory was their third win in four league matches and lifted them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
- Delighted Iron boss Nigel Adkins said: "What's happening at other clubs is nothing to do with us. We concentrate on ourselves and what we need to do.
- "It's a great victory for us and another excellent three points away from home. The players have been absolutely magnificent.
- "It was our third match in six days, and credit to the players for showing great professionalism . They got themselves re-hydrated and have shown a great attitude.
- "We're hardworking and are endeavouring to do the best we can. We've got a close-knit group of players who just work very hard for each other.
- "I can't underline how proud I am of such an honest, hardworking group of professionals, who yet again have won against the odds." Sporting Life
Daily Mail re Match and Protest
- QPR'S fans staged a mass protest against co-owner Flavio Briatore after their season hit a new low as they lost to lowly Sc*n*horpe.
- Over 300 supporters, some dressed as clowns, barricaded the directors' entrance and called for Briatore and fellow co-owner Bernie Ecclestone sell their stake after turning them into 'a circus'.
- Paul Hart became the sixth permanent manager to leave the club earlier this month after reportedly being told by Briatore which players to pick.
- And caretaker boss Mick Harford's first home game in charge saw Garry Thompson score the only goal of the game with 17 minutes to go, firing home after Gary Hooper had played him in.
- Briatore (right) left his seat as soon as the goal went in, leaving Harford to defend his boss.
- 'The fans have every right to voice their opinions so long as it is done in the right and proper manner,' said Harford, whose side have taken seven points from the last 33 available.
- 'People might perceive us as a laughing stock, but I know this club is run in a professional manner. Everyone can have their opinions, but I have an inside view on it. Will fans stay away in protest at Briatore? They won't stay away if we start winning.'
- But while Harford had to face the tough questions, Sc*n*horpe boss Nigel Adkins was delighted as his side made it three wins in four.
- 'This is a great victory for us, we have an honest, hard-working group of players and we deserved to win,' he said.
And Adkins was right after Sc*n*horpe outplayed their hosts. In Gary Hooper they had the best player on the park, and it was no surprise when the striker left full-back Matthew Hill with twisted blood and laid the ball inside for Thompson to score with ease and claim a deserved three points. Mail
QPR's Relegation Slide Continues With Home Loss to Scunthorpe: 1 Win and 7 Points From Last 11 Championship Games
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- QPR Report: Protest Today at Loftus Road?...Harford: " Not as Bad Here as People May Think"..Hungarian Trialist..No Priskin..Happy Hall..Ramage Praise Routledge
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Two Year Flashback: Article Bemoaning QPR's Lack of Youth Development
- Ainsworth Set for Wycombe - Ealing Gazette/Jacob Murtagh - Wycombe set to land QPR midfielder- WYCOMBE are set to sign Gareth Ainsworth on a permanent deal after the midfielder left QPR.
- The 36-year-old spent a stint on loan at Adams Park earlier this season before returning to Loftus Road through injury. But Gary Waddock is poised to land the former Cardiff City flyer in a bid to boost Wycombe's survival hopes. Ealing Gazette
- QPR Relegation Form Update - QPR have won just twice since their late October win against Derby County (14 League Games + 2 Cup games) ...and just once in our last 13 league and cup games.
QPR 0 SCUNTHORPE 1
QPR Official Site - HARFORD'S SCUNNY VERDICT
- Mick Harford felt his QPR side deserved more from this afternoon's Championship clash against Scunthorpe United, as the R's succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road.
- Garry Thompson bagged the only goal of the game, in a contest in which the Hoops more than enjoyed the lion's share of territory and possession throughout the 90 minutes.
- "I felt we deserved more," Harford told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "We were the dominant force in the first half and created the greater chances in the second half too.
- "Their keeper made a number of good saves and they were defending for their lives at times.
- "Their goal came out of the blue really and that's really difficult to take."
- Harford added: "The players gave me everything, but today just wasn't our day.
- "It's disappointing, but we'll pick ourselves up and go again on the training ground on Monday." QPR
EALING GAZETTE/Jacob Murtagh Scunthorpe sink QPR
QPR 0-1 Scunthorpe United
- RANGERS slumped to their second successive defeat against struggling Scunthorpe at Loftus Road.
- Gary Thompson's second-half strike earned The Iron a vital three points in their battle against the drop to leave the hosts' play-off hopes hanging by a thread..
- Both sides started brightly, Adel Taarabt forcing a good save out of Joe Murphy, while Carl Ikeme denied Thompson at the other end.
- Jay Simpson had the ball in the back of the Scunthorpe net midway through the first-half, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.
- But Sam Togwell missed a gilt-edged chance to give the visitors the lead when he blazed the ball over from 12 yards with the goal gaping.
- Kaspars Gorkss came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock after the interval when his glancing header skimmed the bar, while Simpson's solo effort was turned round the post moments later.
- Hooper thought he had headed Scunthorpe in front on 70 minutes, but his effort was chalked off for a push on Matt Connolly.
- Mikele Leigertwood had a long-range effort tipped wide, and from the resulting corner, Connolly could only stab the wall wide from close range.
- But the hosts fell behind 16 minutes from time when Hooper broke free down the right before teeing up Thompson to slot past Ikeme from four yards.
- QPR boss Mick Harford threw on Lee Cook, Antonio German and Angelo Balanta as they tried desperately to salvage a point.
- But they couldn't find a way back as they slipped to another disappointing defeat. Ealing Gazette
- QPR vs Scunthorpe Minute-by-Minute- Updated Championship Table
QPR Official Site REPORT
Garry Thompson's 74th minute strike was enough for Scunthorpe United, as they recorded back-to-back away wins with victory over the R's.
On an afternoon when Gareth Ainsworth said an emotional farewell to the QPR faithful following his departure after a successful seven-and-a-half year playing stint in W12, Thompson latched onto a Gary Hooper centre with only 16 minutes remaining, before firing the ball past Carl Ikeme.
QPR, in truth, enjoyed their fair share of possession throughout the match and pressed for an equaliser late on, but even the much-anticipated return of Lee Cook from injury couldn't prevent the R's from defeat.
Rangers boss Mick Harford made just a single change for the visit of Nigel Adkins' Scunthorpe, with Rowan Vine replacing Damion Stewart.
Ikeme kept his place in goal for the R's.
In defence, skipper Mikele Leigertwood started at right back, Matt Connolly and Kaspars Gorkss at centre back and Matt Hill at left back.
Akos Buzsaky and Adel Taarabt began out wide in midfield, with Nigel Quashie and Alejandro Faurlin supporting from the middle.
Vine partnered Jay Simpson up top.
At a cold but sundrenched Loftus Road, it was the R's who had the first opportunity to open the scoring.
Quashie's lovely, dinked ball over the top found Vine out wide on the left, and when the striker cut the ball back for Taarabt, his stinging effort was blocked away by an Iron defender for a corner.
Moments later, it was Scunthorpe's turn to attack. Cliff Byrne found the ball inside the R's box before touching it back to Hooper, but his shot was saved by Ikeme.
Hooper was then involved again, winning possession around 25 yards from goal before a dipping shot hit the roof of the net.
This was fast becoming an end-to-end encounter. Buzsaky then won possession in the Scunthorpe half before driving at goal, before his shot from 30-yards out went high and wide of the goal.
Soon after, Rangers missed their best chance to date to find the net.
Simpson and Taarabt combined before the former played the Moroccan international through on goal down the left, but his driven effort was palmed away by Joe Murphy for Scunthorpe before a defender cleared the ball up field.
The R's were playing some of the best passing football that they had done in a while. Simpson and Taarabt were then involved again, with the former touching the ball back to the Tottenham loanee on the edge of the penalty area, before his curling shot went inches wide of the post.
Moments later, Leigertwood found Simpson down the right channel before the frontman cut in and shot straight at Murphy in the Iron goal.
Rangers were creating the greater amount of chances, and they almost got the first goal of the game when Taarabt's corner was met by Connolly, whose header went marginally wide of the net.
As half time approached, the Iron almost put themselves into an unlikely lead.
Hooper's neat back heel enabled Martyn Woolford to centre from the left, and when his cross was directed by Ikeme back into the direction of Sam Togwell, he could only blast over from 12-yards out.
Rangers continued where they left off in the first half after the interval - and soon they went only inches from finding the goal.
Taarabt's beautiful corner was met by the head of Gorkss, who nodded the ball just over the bar.
Soon after, Rangers broke at pace through Simpson, who drove at goal before his shot was parried away by Murphy before eventually being put out of play by the Scunthorpe defence for a corner.
Leigertwood and Buzsaky then combined down the right before the Hungarian playmaker's cross went agonisingly across the face of the target and out for a goal kick.
Play then switched to the other end, where Thompson and Hooper combined to play in Paul Hayes on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot went just wide of Ikeme's left-hand post.
Moments later, the Iron almost grabbed the lead but for a brilliant save from Ikeme.
Quashie's pass hit the referee and fell into the path of Hayes on the edge of the box, before his shot was superbly parried away by Ikeme and then cleared by the Rangers backline.
Scunthorpe then thought they had taken the lead. Thompson's cross was headed goalwards and into the top right-hand corner by Hooper, but he was deemed to have pushed his marker Connolly in the back.
The R's raced up the other end and were again denied by Murphy.
Leigertwood received the ball in the right-back position before cutting in and shooting with his left foot 25 yards from goal, but his shot was tipped away for a corner by the Scunthorpe keeper.
From the resultant set-piece, Connolly headed against a defender before the ball fell back at his feet, but he could only shot wide of the target from only six-yards out.
It was a miss that the R's were made to pay for, as just seconds later, Scunthorpe broke at pace and opened the scoring.
After a long ball was played from deep up to Hooper, he cut the ball back at the byline to Thompson, who took a touch before smashing low from close range past Ikeme.
Undeterred, Rangers continued to press the Iron, with Cook introduced from the substitutes' bench for his first appearance after injury since April in the league.
Simpson found the ball on the right-hand side of the penalty area, before he cut in a shot just wide of Murphy's right-hand post in the Iron goal.
However, though Rangers continued to attack - namely when Simpson almost found the target after heading wide Cook's cross - they couldn't find a way back into the match, as Scunthorpe held out to take the points.
QPR: Ikeme, Leigertwood, Vine (German 75), Buzsaky (Balanta), Gorkss, Quashie, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, Taarabt (Cook 75).
Subs not used: Ramage, Stewart, Cerny, Ephraim.
Scunthorpe United: Murphy, Williams, Togwell, Byrne, McCann, Hayes, Hooper (Forte 90), Thompson, Jones, Mirfin (Wright 46), Woolford (McDermott 46).
Subs not used: O'Connor, Lillis, Morris, Moloney.
Goals: Thompson (74)
Bookings: McCann
Referee: Mr G Hegley
Attendance: 13, 105 QPR
Scunthorpe Official Site - QPR 0 THE IRON 1 - MATCHDAY LIVE!
Posted on: Sat 30 Jan 2010
FULL-TIME QPR 0 Scunthorpe United 1
Back-to-back away wins for Scunthorpe then, and they've done it by battling through. Many people will have questioned Nigel's team selection today, but he's proved the doubters wrong - again - hasn't he? That was a nice little performance by the Iron, and may well be seen as a defining win time. It also means that they leave Loftus Road after throwing a match that sets the home crowd into an alighted frenzy of disgust.
SECOND-HALF
92 Minutes: Forte time! Hooper goes off.
91 Minutes: As Murphy makes another save, I can hear only the Scunthorpe fans in voice. "It's over" states one QPR fan sat near to me.
90 Minutes: It's on-target, but Murphy makes one of those not-really-complicated-but-seemed-so-in-the-circumstances-type-saves.
89 Minutes: United are defending deep, and simply leathering the ball forwards when it's anywhere near the goal. Three minutes of time are added. QPR win a free-kick after a heavy tackle by Rob Jones.
87 Minutes: This afternoon's right-back, Sam Togwell, launches the ball to Hooper. He takes it down, and runs at Gorkss, who manages to stop him when the ball gets tangled between them. That provides a brief moment of respite.
84 Minutes: Slightly optimistic I feel - but humorous all the same, "Scunthorpe's going up" our fans proclaim.
81 Minutes: And again they hit it off-target: wide this time. Through German, who cuts in from the wing and curls it outside the post.
80 Minutes: Buzsaky replaced by Balanta. That's their last change. United meanwhile, still have the option of making another one. QPR fire another pot-luck-shot over.
78 Minutes: As you'd expect, QPR are throwing everything at us. I can even see a metaphoric kitchen sink heading towards the Scunny goal!
73 Minutes: Immediately, Cook and German are introduced at the expense of Vine and Taarabt for QPR.
72 Minutes: GOAL! Garry Thompson! The United fans go beserk. The contrast of how the QPR 'go' couldn't be more marked. Hooper got the ball, went round his marker, and slotted it across for Thompson. He stayed calm under pressure, rolling his finish into the net inch-perfectly from close-range.
QPR 0 Scunthorpe United 1
67 Minutes: Hooper has the ball in the net. But this time it's United's turn to have it chalked off by the officials. I think it was due to offside. Nope - it was due to a Hooper 'foul'. Well, I for one missed this foul, as the fact that I thought it was excluded for offiside sums-up. It was a lovely move though, Thompson's precise cross picked Hooper out in the box, and he steered it home with his head. Moments before that, McCann had the ball stolen off his head in a goalscoring position by a QPR defender. How ironic it would've been if he'd scored so soon after committing his temper-raising foul.
65 Minutes: Nigel Quashie goes down under a strong tackle, and then commences rolling around on the floor for a prolonged period of time - meaning tempers begin to flare. Grant McCann's booked (it was him who made the tackle). Initially, I thought he'd be dismissed in this sort of enviroment.
62 Minutes: The ball drops for Hayes in the area to rifle a shot on the volley. It has 'goal' written all over it. Although clearly Ikeme hasn't read the script though - he beats it away.
58 Minutes: Sam Togwell throws long into the area. It goes past Hayes, who is been held in a vice-like grip by a home defender, and drops for Hooper, who has his back to goal, but still gets a shot away; which Ikeme saves.
55 Minutes: The game is starting to open up. A goal is certainly on the cards. If I were a betting man I'd say it will be for our hosts. However, the nature of the fact that they're trying to turn the screw means that they're pushing forwards, leaving themselves vulnerable at the back.
53 Minutes: After showing us a little glimpse of his array of trickery, Donal McDermott gets a shot away in the area. It's deflected and fails to trouble Ikeme. It's a shame that didn't fall to a right-footer to be honest.
52 Minutes: A ball punted forwards from the London team's defence finds Rowan Vine. Offside. Another decent QPR chance wasted.
49 Minutes: Centre-back Kaspars Gorkss connects with a QPR corner... and heads over. A clear chance in a lot of space. That was a colossal let-off for United.
45 Minutes: Cliff Byrne leads United back out (quite a while after QPR were back out - a mind game?), and soon enough afterwards, the home side kick-off. United have made two changes for this half, replacing Woolford and Mirfin with Josh Wright and Donal McDermott. Togwell goes right-back, Cliff shuffles into the middle of defence.
HALF-TIME
QPR 0 Scunthorpe United 0
A few mild and muffled boos greet the whistle. The mindset of the QPR fans is there for all to see, and their negative attitude won't do their team on the field any good at all. For that reason, I think that whoever scores first will get this one, but judged on the first-half performances, it could be either of the teams that does so.
ATT: 13,105 (615 away)
FIRST-HALF
44 Minutes: And it's evened out a little bit... I think we'll head into half-time with the scores level.
40 Minutes: A five-minute or so spell of possession culminates in a Scunny corner. McCann plays it short, before getting it back and lashing the ball across goal. Ikeme can only palm it back into play, and Sam Togwell really should do better when he picks it up, controls it, and shoots - over the bar.
34 Minutes: Still located upfield following the attack, Rob Jones rises above everyone else in the area and gets a header at goal. It's caught by Ikeme though.
33 Minutes: Corner for the Iron after Jones makes a nuisance of himself in the box, forcing QPR to clear hurriedly. McCann promptly pops it into the area. QPR promptly pop it back out.
27 Minutes: Over the last few minutes Ranger's have taken this game by the scruff of its neck. United must consolidate for the next few minutes or so, and make sure they don't let a goal go past them. Taarabt needs to be watched really closely.
24 Minutes: QPR's Jay Simpson rounds Murphy and nudges the ball home. It's one-nil, and Loftus Road bursts into life. But the life is short-lived, when the linesman's flag executes it. Nil-nil. "Where's your money gone" taunt the United fans.
22 Minutes: Alejandro Faurlin is caught in possession by a bullish tackle from Sam Togwell. Togwell steals the ball from him, strides forward a couple of yards, sees Ikeme off his line, and wedges an effort towards goal. It goes just over, but would've been some individual goal had it gone in.
17 Minutes: Buzsaky brings the ball out of midfield for QPR, and responds to cries of "shoot" from the crowd when the space opens up in-front of him. His twenty-yard drive isn't bad, but goes over all the same. Seconds later, Taarabt has another go from inside the area, meaning Murphy has to spread himself into a lowly stance to push it away.
11 Minutes: QPR had a corner earlier, but I didn't mention it as it didn't really result in anything. So really, the attack that I'm about to describe was their first real one. Taarabt had the ball on the left, skipped inside, and sent a skimming drive out of play past the far-post.
9 Minutes: After a poor pass out of the box from QPR's left back, Garry Thompson receives the ball. He charges at his man, and then slides the ball inside for the well-placed McCann. McCann falls over, however. Not a problem - Woolford is one more over, and shall get it instead. Or not. He trips too! That was slightly funny actually.
3 Minutes: Gary Hooper lurches onto a ball in the box. He sidesteps a couple of players, before drawing a save from Carl Ikeme; a second chance then falls to Hayes, who tries to get a shot away on the rebound, but can't quite manage it.
1 Minutes: The game starts, and United are the first team to leave their half. The ball travels a little with Woolford, but QPR soon seize it and push up the other end in a very balanced start.
BUILD UP
14:58: Team's are welcomed out. Both teams are wearing a tint of blue on their shirts. United's is combined with Claret; and QPR's with white, however. Loftus Road stands in the shadows of the BBC Television Centre, where so may big things have happened. Let's hope today can hand United a big result in the context of their season.
14:54: The two sets of teams are about to come out. They'll be welcomed into a half-empty Loftus Road... A decent amount of Scunny fans have made the journey south, but this isn't exactly a great turnout from QPR's perspective. To make things worse, there's no sign of any A-list celebrities in the Press Box either. I'm a little dissapointed about that actually. This is usually a hotspot for them!
14:41: During the time I've spent lounging around in the press areas of Loftus Road prior to kick-off, I've got the impression that this is a really big game for QPR. Their fans are feeling a little bit disheartened at the moment since they haven't won in five, and we've been told to be wary of and expect something of a backlash from them today. An early goal for United would turn this already hostile atmosphere into a cauldron of disenchantment, and lay strong foundations for a Scunthorpe victory.
TEAM NEWS
Surprisingly enough, United keep faith with the team that fought to a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. Nigel Adkins said that he left it late to make his decision; and I suppose that ultimately, he would've found it just that little bit too difficult to change the team following Wednesday's win, even though some of his players may be feeling it a little by now. Consequently, Josh Wright and Donal McDermott will continue on the bench. Michael O'Connor, who returns from suspension, will also have to settle for a place on there.
QPR: Ikeme, Leigertwood, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Quashie, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, Taarabt. SUBS: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Cook, Balanta, Ephraim, German.
SCUN: Murphy, Williams, Togwell, Byrne, McCann, Hayes, Hooper, Thompson, Jones, Mirfin, Woolford. SUBS: Lillis, O'Connor, J. Wright, McDermott, Morris, Moloney.
PREAMBLE
For the second weekend in a row, United are faced with a wealthy set of opponents. Last Sunday it was the richest club in the world, Manchester City. This weekend it's Queens Park Rangers, a team located geographically in Shepherds Bush; but also found in the same financial bracket as the likes of City, due to the wealth of their billionaire chairman, Flavio Briatoire. For this week, the man directing QPR from their dugout on a caretaker basis will be Mick Harford. United owe him one actually, as it was he who stuck it to Scunthorpe as Luton manager in another of the Iron's recent expeditions to the capital - during last season's JPT Final.
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- QPR Report: Protest Today at Loftus Road?...Harford: " Not as Bad Here as People May Think"..Hungarian Trialist..No Priskin..Happy Hall..Ramage Praise Routledge
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Two Year Flashback: Article Bemoaning QPR's Lack of Youth Development
- Ainsworth Set for Wycombe - Ealing Gazette/Jacob Murtagh - Wycombe set to land QPR midfielder- WYCOMBE are set to sign Gareth Ainsworth on a permanent deal after the midfielder left QPR.
- The 36-year-old spent a stint on loan at Adams Park earlier this season before returning to Loftus Road through injury. But Gary Waddock is poised to land the former Cardiff City flyer in a bid to boost Wycombe's survival hopes. Ealing Gazette
- QPR Relegation Form Update - QPR have won just twice since their late October win against Derby County (14 League Games + 2 Cup games) ...and just once in our last 13 league and cup games.
QPR 0 SCUNTHORPE 1
QPR Official Site - HARFORD'S SCUNNY VERDICT
- Mick Harford felt his QPR side deserved more from this afternoon's Championship clash against Scunthorpe United, as the R's succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road.
- Garry Thompson bagged the only goal of the game, in a contest in which the Hoops more than enjoyed the lion's share of territory and possession throughout the 90 minutes.
- "I felt we deserved more," Harford told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "We were the dominant force in the first half and created the greater chances in the second half too.
- "Their keeper made a number of good saves and they were defending for their lives at times.
- "Their goal came out of the blue really and that's really difficult to take."
- Harford added: "The players gave me everything, but today just wasn't our day.
- "It's disappointing, but we'll pick ourselves up and go again on the training ground on Monday." QPR
EALING GAZETTE/Jacob Murtagh Scunthorpe sink QPR
QPR 0-1 Scunthorpe United
- RANGERS slumped to their second successive defeat against struggling Scunthorpe at Loftus Road.
- Gary Thompson's second-half strike earned The Iron a vital three points in their battle against the drop to leave the hosts' play-off hopes hanging by a thread..
- Both sides started brightly, Adel Taarabt forcing a good save out of Joe Murphy, while Carl Ikeme denied Thompson at the other end.
- Jay Simpson had the ball in the back of the Scunthorpe net midway through the first-half, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.
- But Sam Togwell missed a gilt-edged chance to give the visitors the lead when he blazed the ball over from 12 yards with the goal gaping.
- Kaspars Gorkss came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock after the interval when his glancing header skimmed the bar, while Simpson's solo effort was turned round the post moments later.
- Hooper thought he had headed Scunthorpe in front on 70 minutes, but his effort was chalked off for a push on Matt Connolly.
- Mikele Leigertwood had a long-range effort tipped wide, and from the resulting corner, Connolly could only stab the wall wide from close range.
- But the hosts fell behind 16 minutes from time when Hooper broke free down the right before teeing up Thompson to slot past Ikeme from four yards.
- QPR boss Mick Harford threw on Lee Cook, Antonio German and Angelo Balanta as they tried desperately to salvage a point.
- But they couldn't find a way back as they slipped to another disappointing defeat. Ealing Gazette
- QPR vs Scunthorpe Minute-by-Minute- Updated Championship Table
QPR Official Site REPORT
Garry Thompson's 74th minute strike was enough for Scunthorpe United, as they recorded back-to-back away wins with victory over the R's.
On an afternoon when Gareth Ainsworth said an emotional farewell to the QPR faithful following his departure after a successful seven-and-a-half year playing stint in W12, Thompson latched onto a Gary Hooper centre with only 16 minutes remaining, before firing the ball past Carl Ikeme.
QPR, in truth, enjoyed their fair share of possession throughout the match and pressed for an equaliser late on, but even the much-anticipated return of Lee Cook from injury couldn't prevent the R's from defeat.
Rangers boss Mick Harford made just a single change for the visit of Nigel Adkins' Scunthorpe, with Rowan Vine replacing Damion Stewart.
Ikeme kept his place in goal for the R's.
In defence, skipper Mikele Leigertwood started at right back, Matt Connolly and Kaspars Gorkss at centre back and Matt Hill at left back.
Akos Buzsaky and Adel Taarabt began out wide in midfield, with Nigel Quashie and Alejandro Faurlin supporting from the middle.
Vine partnered Jay Simpson up top.
At a cold but sundrenched Loftus Road, it was the R's who had the first opportunity to open the scoring.
Quashie's lovely, dinked ball over the top found Vine out wide on the left, and when the striker cut the ball back for Taarabt, his stinging effort was blocked away by an Iron defender for a corner.
Moments later, it was Scunthorpe's turn to attack. Cliff Byrne found the ball inside the R's box before touching it back to Hooper, but his shot was saved by Ikeme.
Hooper was then involved again, winning possession around 25 yards from goal before a dipping shot hit the roof of the net.
This was fast becoming an end-to-end encounter. Buzsaky then won possession in the Scunthorpe half before driving at goal, before his shot from 30-yards out went high and wide of the goal.
Soon after, Rangers missed their best chance to date to find the net.
Simpson and Taarabt combined before the former played the Moroccan international through on goal down the left, but his driven effort was palmed away by Joe Murphy for Scunthorpe before a defender cleared the ball up field.
The R's were playing some of the best passing football that they had done in a while. Simpson and Taarabt were then involved again, with the former touching the ball back to the Tottenham loanee on the edge of the penalty area, before his curling shot went inches wide of the post.
Moments later, Leigertwood found Simpson down the right channel before the frontman cut in and shot straight at Murphy in the Iron goal.
Rangers were creating the greater amount of chances, and they almost got the first goal of the game when Taarabt's corner was met by Connolly, whose header went marginally wide of the net.
As half time approached, the Iron almost put themselves into an unlikely lead.
Hooper's neat back heel enabled Martyn Woolford to centre from the left, and when his cross was directed by Ikeme back into the direction of Sam Togwell, he could only blast over from 12-yards out.
Rangers continued where they left off in the first half after the interval - and soon they went only inches from finding the goal.
Taarabt's beautiful corner was met by the head of Gorkss, who nodded the ball just over the bar.
Soon after, Rangers broke at pace through Simpson, who drove at goal before his shot was parried away by Murphy before eventually being put out of play by the Scunthorpe defence for a corner.
Leigertwood and Buzsaky then combined down the right before the Hungarian playmaker's cross went agonisingly across the face of the target and out for a goal kick.
Play then switched to the other end, where Thompson and Hooper combined to play in Paul Hayes on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot went just wide of Ikeme's left-hand post.
Moments later, the Iron almost grabbed the lead but for a brilliant save from Ikeme.
Quashie's pass hit the referee and fell into the path of Hayes on the edge of the box, before his shot was superbly parried away by Ikeme and then cleared by the Rangers backline.
Scunthorpe then thought they had taken the lead. Thompson's cross was headed goalwards and into the top right-hand corner by Hooper, but he was deemed to have pushed his marker Connolly in the back.
The R's raced up the other end and were again denied by Murphy.
Leigertwood received the ball in the right-back position before cutting in and shooting with his left foot 25 yards from goal, but his shot was tipped away for a corner by the Scunthorpe keeper.
From the resultant set-piece, Connolly headed against a defender before the ball fell back at his feet, but he could only shot wide of the target from only six-yards out.
It was a miss that the R's were made to pay for, as just seconds later, Scunthorpe broke at pace and opened the scoring.
After a long ball was played from deep up to Hooper, he cut the ball back at the byline to Thompson, who took a touch before smashing low from close range past Ikeme.
Undeterred, Rangers continued to press the Iron, with Cook introduced from the substitutes' bench for his first appearance after injury since April in the league.
Simpson found the ball on the right-hand side of the penalty area, before he cut in a shot just wide of Murphy's right-hand post in the Iron goal.
However, though Rangers continued to attack - namely when Simpson almost found the target after heading wide Cook's cross - they couldn't find a way back into the match, as Scunthorpe held out to take the points.
QPR: Ikeme, Leigertwood, Vine (German 75), Buzsaky (Balanta), Gorkss, Quashie, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, Taarabt (Cook 75).
Subs not used: Ramage, Stewart, Cerny, Ephraim.
Scunthorpe United: Murphy, Williams, Togwell, Byrne, McCann, Hayes, Hooper (Forte 90), Thompson, Jones, Mirfin (Wright 46), Woolford (McDermott 46).
Subs not used: O'Connor, Lillis, Morris, Moloney.
Goals: Thompson (74)
Bookings: McCann
Referee: Mr G Hegley
Attendance: 13, 105 QPR
Scunthorpe Official Site - QPR 0 THE IRON 1 - MATCHDAY LIVE!
Posted on: Sat 30 Jan 2010
FULL-TIME QPR 0 Scunthorpe United 1
Back-to-back away wins for Scunthorpe then, and they've done it by battling through. Many people will have questioned Nigel's team selection today, but he's proved the doubters wrong - again - hasn't he? That was a nice little performance by the Iron, and may well be seen as a defining win time. It also means that they leave Loftus Road after throwing a match that sets the home crowd into an alighted frenzy of disgust.
SECOND-HALF
92 Minutes: Forte time! Hooper goes off.
91 Minutes: As Murphy makes another save, I can hear only the Scunthorpe fans in voice. "It's over" states one QPR fan sat near to me.
90 Minutes: It's on-target, but Murphy makes one of those not-really-complicated-but-seemed-so-in-the-circumstances-type-saves.
89 Minutes: United are defending deep, and simply leathering the ball forwards when it's anywhere near the goal. Three minutes of time are added. QPR win a free-kick after a heavy tackle by Rob Jones.
87 Minutes: This afternoon's right-back, Sam Togwell, launches the ball to Hooper. He takes it down, and runs at Gorkss, who manages to stop him when the ball gets tangled between them. That provides a brief moment of respite.
84 Minutes: Slightly optimistic I feel - but humorous all the same, "Scunthorpe's going up" our fans proclaim.
81 Minutes: And again they hit it off-target: wide this time. Through German, who cuts in from the wing and curls it outside the post.
80 Minutes: Buzsaky replaced by Balanta. That's their last change. United meanwhile, still have the option of making another one. QPR fire another pot-luck-shot over.
78 Minutes: As you'd expect, QPR are throwing everything at us. I can even see a metaphoric kitchen sink heading towards the Scunny goal!
73 Minutes: Immediately, Cook and German are introduced at the expense of Vine and Taarabt for QPR.
72 Minutes: GOAL! Garry Thompson! The United fans go beserk. The contrast of how the QPR 'go' couldn't be more marked. Hooper got the ball, went round his marker, and slotted it across for Thompson. He stayed calm under pressure, rolling his finish into the net inch-perfectly from close-range.
QPR 0 Scunthorpe United 1
67 Minutes: Hooper has the ball in the net. But this time it's United's turn to have it chalked off by the officials. I think it was due to offside. Nope - it was due to a Hooper 'foul'. Well, I for one missed this foul, as the fact that I thought it was excluded for offiside sums-up. It was a lovely move though, Thompson's precise cross picked Hooper out in the box, and he steered it home with his head. Moments before that, McCann had the ball stolen off his head in a goalscoring position by a QPR defender. How ironic it would've been if he'd scored so soon after committing his temper-raising foul.
65 Minutes: Nigel Quashie goes down under a strong tackle, and then commences rolling around on the floor for a prolonged period of time - meaning tempers begin to flare. Grant McCann's booked (it was him who made the tackle). Initially, I thought he'd be dismissed in this sort of enviroment.
62 Minutes: The ball drops for Hayes in the area to rifle a shot on the volley. It has 'goal' written all over it. Although clearly Ikeme hasn't read the script though - he beats it away.
58 Minutes: Sam Togwell throws long into the area. It goes past Hayes, who is been held in a vice-like grip by a home defender, and drops for Hooper, who has his back to goal, but still gets a shot away; which Ikeme saves.
55 Minutes: The game is starting to open up. A goal is certainly on the cards. If I were a betting man I'd say it will be for our hosts. However, the nature of the fact that they're trying to turn the screw means that they're pushing forwards, leaving themselves vulnerable at the back.
53 Minutes: After showing us a little glimpse of his array of trickery, Donal McDermott gets a shot away in the area. It's deflected and fails to trouble Ikeme. It's a shame that didn't fall to a right-footer to be honest.
52 Minutes: A ball punted forwards from the London team's defence finds Rowan Vine. Offside. Another decent QPR chance wasted.
49 Minutes: Centre-back Kaspars Gorkss connects with a QPR corner... and heads over. A clear chance in a lot of space. That was a colossal let-off for United.
45 Minutes: Cliff Byrne leads United back out (quite a while after QPR were back out - a mind game?), and soon enough afterwards, the home side kick-off. United have made two changes for this half, replacing Woolford and Mirfin with Josh Wright and Donal McDermott. Togwell goes right-back, Cliff shuffles into the middle of defence.
HALF-TIME
QPR 0 Scunthorpe United 0
A few mild and muffled boos greet the whistle. The mindset of the QPR fans is there for all to see, and their negative attitude won't do their team on the field any good at all. For that reason, I think that whoever scores first will get this one, but judged on the first-half performances, it could be either of the teams that does so.
ATT: 13,105 (615 away)
FIRST-HALF
44 Minutes: And it's evened out a little bit... I think we'll head into half-time with the scores level.
40 Minutes: A five-minute or so spell of possession culminates in a Scunny corner. McCann plays it short, before getting it back and lashing the ball across goal. Ikeme can only palm it back into play, and Sam Togwell really should do better when he picks it up, controls it, and shoots - over the bar.
34 Minutes: Still located upfield following the attack, Rob Jones rises above everyone else in the area and gets a header at goal. It's caught by Ikeme though.
33 Minutes: Corner for the Iron after Jones makes a nuisance of himself in the box, forcing QPR to clear hurriedly. McCann promptly pops it into the area. QPR promptly pop it back out.
27 Minutes: Over the last few minutes Ranger's have taken this game by the scruff of its neck. United must consolidate for the next few minutes or so, and make sure they don't let a goal go past them. Taarabt needs to be watched really closely.
24 Minutes: QPR's Jay Simpson rounds Murphy and nudges the ball home. It's one-nil, and Loftus Road bursts into life. But the life is short-lived, when the linesman's flag executes it. Nil-nil. "Where's your money gone" taunt the United fans.
22 Minutes: Alejandro Faurlin is caught in possession by a bullish tackle from Sam Togwell. Togwell steals the ball from him, strides forward a couple of yards, sees Ikeme off his line, and wedges an effort towards goal. It goes just over, but would've been some individual goal had it gone in.
17 Minutes: Buzsaky brings the ball out of midfield for QPR, and responds to cries of "shoot" from the crowd when the space opens up in-front of him. His twenty-yard drive isn't bad, but goes over all the same. Seconds later, Taarabt has another go from inside the area, meaning Murphy has to spread himself into a lowly stance to push it away.
11 Minutes: QPR had a corner earlier, but I didn't mention it as it didn't really result in anything. So really, the attack that I'm about to describe was their first real one. Taarabt had the ball on the left, skipped inside, and sent a skimming drive out of play past the far-post.
9 Minutes: After a poor pass out of the box from QPR's left back, Garry Thompson receives the ball. He charges at his man, and then slides the ball inside for the well-placed McCann. McCann falls over, however. Not a problem - Woolford is one more over, and shall get it instead. Or not. He trips too! That was slightly funny actually.
3 Minutes: Gary Hooper lurches onto a ball in the box. He sidesteps a couple of players, before drawing a save from Carl Ikeme; a second chance then falls to Hayes, who tries to get a shot away on the rebound, but can't quite manage it.
1 Minutes: The game starts, and United are the first team to leave their half. The ball travels a little with Woolford, but QPR soon seize it and push up the other end in a very balanced start.
BUILD UP
14:58: Team's are welcomed out. Both teams are wearing a tint of blue on their shirts. United's is combined with Claret; and QPR's with white, however. Loftus Road stands in the shadows of the BBC Television Centre, where so may big things have happened. Let's hope today can hand United a big result in the context of their season.
14:54: The two sets of teams are about to come out. They'll be welcomed into a half-empty Loftus Road... A decent amount of Scunny fans have made the journey south, but this isn't exactly a great turnout from QPR's perspective. To make things worse, there's no sign of any A-list celebrities in the Press Box either. I'm a little dissapointed about that actually. This is usually a hotspot for them!
14:41: During the time I've spent lounging around in the press areas of Loftus Road prior to kick-off, I've got the impression that this is a really big game for QPR. Their fans are feeling a little bit disheartened at the moment since they haven't won in five, and we've been told to be wary of and expect something of a backlash from them today. An early goal for United would turn this already hostile atmosphere into a cauldron of disenchantment, and lay strong foundations for a Scunthorpe victory.
TEAM NEWS
Surprisingly enough, United keep faith with the team that fought to a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. Nigel Adkins said that he left it late to make his decision; and I suppose that ultimately, he would've found it just that little bit too difficult to change the team following Wednesday's win, even though some of his players may be feeling it a little by now. Consequently, Josh Wright and Donal McDermott will continue on the bench. Michael O'Connor, who returns from suspension, will also have to settle for a place on there.
QPR: Ikeme, Leigertwood, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Quashie, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, Taarabt. SUBS: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Cook, Balanta, Ephraim, German.
SCUN: Murphy, Williams, Togwell, Byrne, McCann, Hayes, Hooper, Thompson, Jones, Mirfin, Woolford. SUBS: Lillis, O'Connor, J. Wright, McDermott, Morris, Moloney.
PREAMBLE
For the second weekend in a row, United are faced with a wealthy set of opponents. Last Sunday it was the richest club in the world, Manchester City. This weekend it's Queens Park Rangers, a team located geographically in Shepherds Bush; but also found in the same financial bracket as the likes of City, due to the wealth of their billionaire chairman, Flavio Briatoire. For this week, the man directing QPR from their dugout on a caretaker basis will be Mick Harford. United owe him one actually, as it was he who stuck it to Scunthorpe as Luton manager in another of the Iron's recent expeditions to the capital - during last season's JPT Final.
TEAMS: QPR vs Scunthorpe
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- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Togo penalized for Withdrawing
TEAM NEWS QPR vs SCUNTHORPE
-Posted on: Sat 30 Jan 2010
QPR: Ikeme, Leigertwood, Vine, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Quashie, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, Taarabt.
Subs: Ramage, Stewart, Cook, Balanta, Cerny, Ephraim, German.
Scunthorpe United: Murphy, Williams, Togwell, Byrne, McCann, Hayes, Hooper, Thompson, Jones, Mirfin, Woolford.
Subs: Forte, O'Connor, Wright, McDermott, Lillis, Morris, Moloney.
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Togo penalized for Withdrawing
TEAM NEWS QPR vs SCUNTHORPE
-Posted on: Sat 30 Jan 2010
QPR: Ikeme, Leigertwood, Vine, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Quashie, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, Taarabt.
Subs: Ramage, Stewart, Cook, Balanta, Cerny, Ephraim, German.
Scunthorpe United: Murphy, Williams, Togwell, Byrne, McCann, Hayes, Hooper, Thompson, Jones, Mirfin, Woolford.
Subs: Forte, O'Connor, Wright, McDermott, Lillis, Morris, Moloney.
Gareth AInsworth Departs QPR
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- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- QPR Showing Relegation Form
- QPR Report: Protest Today at Loftus Road?...Harford: " Not as Bad Here as People May Think"..Hungarian Trialist..No Priskin..Happy Hall..Ramage Praise Routledge
- Football Support for Haiti...Fundraiser today at Loftus Road (and at numerous other clubs)
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Two Year Flashback: Article Bemoaning QPR's Lack of Youth Development
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: GAZ LEAVES W12
Posted on: Sat 30 Jan 2010
R's legend Gareth Ainsworth has left the Club after an outstanding playing career at Loftus Road.
- The popular 36 year-old touched the hearts of so many during his seven and a half years in W12.
- Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Ainsworth said: "It's without doubt the most emotional day of my career.
- "I feel so much a part of this Club, so this is a very sad day.
- "The reason I am leaving is to prolong my playing career and it is with a heavy heart that I have had to make this decision.
- "I want to thank every fan of the Club for making my spell here so fantastic and unforgettable.
- "QPR will always have a special place in my heart."
- Ainsworth initially joined Rangers after being released by Cardiff City in June 2003.
- The bustling midfielder's contribution to the Rangers cause has been without question ever since, providing leadership and guile, as well as priceless assists and match-winning goals.
- An undoubted highlight during his early days at the Club arrived during a memorable afternoon in August 2003, when Ainsworth scored two sensational goals in a 3-3 draw at Rushden & Diamonds. In typical Gaz style, he celebrated with a flash of the rock 'n' roll devil horns.
- Promotion at Hillsborough capped a sweet maiden season for the ever-popular winger and his popularity amongst R's fans increased ever more as the years elapsed, scoring 11 goals in the 2005/06 campaign and finishing runner-up in the end of season Player of the Year awards.
- Despite two serious injuries during the 2006/07 campaign, Ainsworth returned stronger than ever, making 25 appearances in all competitions a year later.
- After a brief stint assisting former Manager Luigi De Canio, the experienced midfielder was handed a player / coach role by former boss Iain Dowie in the summer of 2008.
- Ainsworth went on to enjoy two stints at Caretaker boss, as well as working under former Manager Paulo Sousa.
- A loan spell at Wycombe earlier this season saw a brief upsurge in fortunes for the Adams Park outfit, with Ainsworth's Rangers appearances limited to just two in his final campaign at the Club.
- In total, Ainsworth made 152 appearances in all competitions for the Super Hoops, scoring 21 goals.
- On behalf of everyone connected to Queens Park Rangers Football Club, we would like to thank him once again for his outstanding service and commitment and wish him all the best for the future.
- *www.qpr.co.uk and QPR Player will be looking back at Gareth's career in W12 over the coming weeks - so stay tuned! QPR
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- QPR Showing Relegation Form
- QPR Report: Protest Today at Loftus Road?...Harford: " Not as Bad Here as People May Think"..Hungarian Trialist..No Priskin..Happy Hall..Ramage Praise Routledge
- Football Support for Haiti...Fundraiser today at Loftus Road (and at numerous other clubs)
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Two Year Flashback: Article Bemoaning QPR's Lack of Youth Development
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: GAZ LEAVES W12
Posted on: Sat 30 Jan 2010
R's legend Gareth Ainsworth has left the Club after an outstanding playing career at Loftus Road.
- The popular 36 year-old touched the hearts of so many during his seven and a half years in W12.
- Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Ainsworth said: "It's without doubt the most emotional day of my career.
- "I feel so much a part of this Club, so this is a very sad day.
- "The reason I am leaving is to prolong my playing career and it is with a heavy heart that I have had to make this decision.
- "I want to thank every fan of the Club for making my spell here so fantastic and unforgettable.
- "QPR will always have a special place in my heart."
- Ainsworth initially joined Rangers after being released by Cardiff City in June 2003.
- The bustling midfielder's contribution to the Rangers cause has been without question ever since, providing leadership and guile, as well as priceless assists and match-winning goals.
- An undoubted highlight during his early days at the Club arrived during a memorable afternoon in August 2003, when Ainsworth scored two sensational goals in a 3-3 draw at Rushden & Diamonds. In typical Gaz style, he celebrated with a flash of the rock 'n' roll devil horns.
- Promotion at Hillsborough capped a sweet maiden season for the ever-popular winger and his popularity amongst R's fans increased ever more as the years elapsed, scoring 11 goals in the 2005/06 campaign and finishing runner-up in the end of season Player of the Year awards.
- Despite two serious injuries during the 2006/07 campaign, Ainsworth returned stronger than ever, making 25 appearances in all competitions a year later.
- After a brief stint assisting former Manager Luigi De Canio, the experienced midfielder was handed a player / coach role by former boss Iain Dowie in the summer of 2008.
- Ainsworth went on to enjoy two stints at Caretaker boss, as well as working under former Manager Paulo Sousa.
- A loan spell at Wycombe earlier this season saw a brief upsurge in fortunes for the Adams Park outfit, with Ainsworth's Rangers appearances limited to just two in his final campaign at the Club.
- In total, Ainsworth made 152 appearances in all competitions for the Super Hoops, scoring 21 goals.
- On behalf of everyone connected to Queens Park Rangers Football Club, we would like to thank him once again for his outstanding service and commitment and wish him all the best for the future.
- *www.qpr.co.uk and QPR Player will be looking back at Gareth's career in W12 over the coming weeks - so stay tuned! QPR
QPR Showing Relegation Form: Seven Points from Last Ten Championship Games
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- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- QPR Report: Protest Today at Loftus Road?...Harford: " Not as Bad Here as People May Think"..Hungarian Trialist..No Priskin..Happy Hall..Ramage Praise Routledge
- Football Support for Haiti...Fundraiser today at Loftus Road (and at numerous other clubs)
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Two Year Flashback: Article Bemoaning QPR's Lack of Youth Development
- Reported QPR striking Target, Tamas Priskin: Ipswich Say Priskin Going Nowhere
- Reported QPR Target, Hull's Daniel Cousin, May Not after be Joining Greek Club, Larissa
- Ben Watson on Wanting to Stay at Wigan and his Time at QPR
- Birthday for Peter Crouch (29)
- Football's Crazy Economics: The latest case of Crystal Palace
- British Fans Banned from The World Cup
- Youngest Footballer in the League
- Ex-QPR goalie, Liam O'Brien in Portsmouth FA Youth Cup vs Chelsea
QPR Stats This Season
We've won twice since our late October win against Derby County (13 League Games + 2 Cup games) ...and just once in our last 12 league and cup games.
14 30-Oct-09 H Leicester City L 1-2 (1-1) Taarabt 33 17,082
15 03-Nov-09 H Crystal Palace D 1-1 (1-0) Buzsaky 19p 14,377
16 07-Nov-09 A Sheffield Wednesday W 2-1 (1-1) Simpson 10; Gorkss 82 19,491
17 21-Nov-09 A Doncaster Rovers L 0-2 (0-0) 10,821
18 28-Nov-09 H Coventry City D 2-2 (1-1) Simpson 35; Buzsaky 69 13,712
19 05-Dec-09 H Middlesbrough L 1-5 (0-1) Agyemang 53 13,949
20 07-Dec-09 A Watford L 1-3 (1-1) Agyemang 33 15,058
21 14-Dec-09 A West Bromwich Albion D 2-2 (0-0) Olsson(og) 56; Gorkss 62 21,565
22 19-Dec-09 H Sheffield United D 1-1 (1-1) Leigertwood 2 12,639
23 26-Dec-09 H Bristol City W 2-1 (2-0) Simpson 31; Leigertwood 40 13,534
24 28-Dec-09 A Ipswich Town L 0-3 (0-1) 25,349
25 16-Jan-10 A Blackpool D 2-2 (0-1) Taarabt 55p; Connolly 84 7,600
26 26-Jan-10 A Nottingham Forest L 0-5 (0-3) 23,293
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- QPR Report: Protest Today at Loftus Road?...Harford: " Not as Bad Here as People May Think"..Hungarian Trialist..No Priskin..Happy Hall..Ramage Praise Routledge
- Football Support for Haiti...Fundraiser today at Loftus Road (and at numerous other clubs)
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Two Year Flashback: Article Bemoaning QPR's Lack of Youth Development
- Reported QPR striking Target, Tamas Priskin: Ipswich Say Priskin Going Nowhere
- Reported QPR Target, Hull's Daniel Cousin, May Not after be Joining Greek Club, Larissa
- Ben Watson on Wanting to Stay at Wigan and his Time at QPR
- Birthday for Peter Crouch (29)
- Football's Crazy Economics: The latest case of Crystal Palace
- British Fans Banned from The World Cup
- Youngest Footballer in the League
- Ex-QPR goalie, Liam O'Brien in Portsmouth FA Youth Cup vs Chelsea
QPR Stats This Season
We've won twice since our late October win against Derby County (13 League Games + 2 Cup games) ...and just once in our last 12 league and cup games.
14 30-Oct-09 H Leicester City L 1-2 (1-1) Taarabt 33 17,082
15 03-Nov-09 H Crystal Palace D 1-1 (1-0) Buzsaky 19p 14,377
16 07-Nov-09 A Sheffield Wednesday W 2-1 (1-1) Simpson 10; Gorkss 82 19,491
17 21-Nov-09 A Doncaster Rovers L 0-2 (0-0) 10,821
18 28-Nov-09 H Coventry City D 2-2 (1-1) Simpson 35; Buzsaky 69 13,712
19 05-Dec-09 H Middlesbrough L 1-5 (0-1) Agyemang 53 13,949
20 07-Dec-09 A Watford L 1-3 (1-1) Agyemang 33 15,058
21 14-Dec-09 A West Bromwich Albion D 2-2 (0-0) Olsson(og) 56; Gorkss 62 21,565
22 19-Dec-09 H Sheffield United D 1-1 (1-1) Leigertwood 2 12,639
23 26-Dec-09 H Bristol City W 2-1 (2-0) Simpson 31; Leigertwood 40 13,534
24 28-Dec-09 A Ipswich Town L 0-3 (0-1) 25,349
25 16-Jan-10 A Blackpool D 2-2 (0-1) Taarabt 55p; Connolly 84 7,600
26 26-Jan-10 A Nottingham Forest L 0-5 (0-3) 23,293
Protest Today at Loftus Road?...Harford: " Not as Bad Here as People May Think"..Hungarian Trialist..No Priskin..Happy Hall..Ramage Praise Routledge
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- QPR's Relegation Form: One Win and Seven Points from Last Ten Championship Games
- Football Support for Haiti...Fundraiser today at Loftus Road (and at numerous other clubs)
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Two Year Flashback: Article Bemoaning QPR's Lack of Youth Development
- Reported QPR striking Target, Tamas Priskin: Ipswich Say Priskin Going Nowhere
- Reported QPR Target, Hull's Daniel Cousin, May Not after be Joining Greek Club, Larissa
- Ben Watson on Wanting to Stay at Wigan and his Time at QPR
- Birthday for Peter Crouch (29)
- Football's Crazy Economics: The latest case of Crystal Palace
- British Fans Banned from The World Cup
- Youngest Footballer in the League
- Ex-QPR goalie, Liam O'Brien in Portsmouth FA Youth Cup vs Chelsea
The Sun - The Sun: Harford: We R no clowns
- MICK HARFORD insists QPR have not become a comedy club.
A group of furious fans will turn up for today's home clash with Sc*n*horpe dressed as clowns to show the board they feel Rangers are now a laughing stock.
The protest was arranged in the wake of Paul Hart becoming the sixth manager to leave the club in just 2½ years.
Billionaire owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have refused to throw their cash around.
But new boss Harford said: "It's not as bad here as people may think. It's a good club and the set-up is fantastic." The Sun
- Red Nose Day/Facebook
Sky Sports/Juha Pal - Hoops hungary for starlet - QPR check on midfielder
- Queens Park Rangers have handed a trial to Hungarian starlet Peter Takacs.
- The 20-year-old midfielder is currently with Diosgyor, but they have now agreed to him to travel to England.
- Takacs is now due in London next week and will spend three-days in West London.
- QPR are no stranger to Hungarians, as they already have Akos Buzsaky in their ranks
Skysports
Reminder: On TV This Morning
QPR Official Site - R'S KIDS ON SKILL SKOOL
Posted on: Fri 29 Jan 2010
- R's youngsters Raheem Sterling and Christian Nanetti will showcase their skills on cult Saturday morning TV show, Soccer AM, tomorrow morning.
- The duo will go head-to-head in the popular Skill Skool feature, which will be aired from 9.00am on Sky Sports 1.
- Meanwhile, the Under-18's are in league action against Colchester United on Saturday morning.
- Steve Gallen's side lock horns with the U's at their Garrison B Ground home, in an 11.00am kick-off. QPR Official
Chronicle Live - NUFC 'will reap success of Wayne's World'
Jan 29 2010 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle
PETER RAMAGE says Queens Park Rangers’ loss is Newcastle United’s gain when it comes to Wayne Routledge.
Routledge is in line to make his first start for the Magpies tomorrow night against Leicester City.
The diminutive playmaker started his career in style by helping to seal victory over Crystal Palace when he played in a measured right-wing pass to the feet of Nile Ranger before the young Londoner polished off a vital win for Newcastle.
Ramage was sad to see Routledge depart Loftus Road, but feels Toon boss Chris Hughton has made one of the best signings of the January transfer window by securing his services.
Ramage told the Chronicle: “He will be a massive asset to Newcastle. He is very quick – that is his game.
“He gets to the byline and will be the perfect foil for the forwards at Newcastle.
“He has been a massive both seasons for us. He showed that in September when he played up there when he really caused Newcastle problems.”
Now, with QPR slumping to a mid-table position after a succession of managers this season, Ramage is sad to see the departure of a player he could have ended up playing alongside earlier in his career at Newcastle when Routledge was scouted by Graeme Souness.
He said: “The lads are disappointed he has gone, but it is a great move for him – he will love it up there.
“It is a shame from our point of view he has gone – he has been one of our best players. He ha been a massive creative influence.
“United are a massive club, and he has been at big clubs before.
“He knows how to deal with the situation.”
Ramage feels United’s strike force of Peter Lovenkrands, Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi and Nile Ranger will revel in playing alongside him.
He added: “He causes problems with his pace, and has been on top form for us this season.
“Hopefully, he will keep creating chances for Newcastle, and I have no doubt he can again play in the Premier League.
“He is a top player, and a top lad.
“He wants to play at the top, and he is willing to work hard to play there. I am sure it a great move for both parties.”
Ramage reluctantly left St James' in 2008 seek-ing first-team football" Newcastle Chronicle
Fitz Hall's Newcastle United dream fulfilled
Jan 30 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
FITZ Hall says it is a “dream come true” to join Newcastle United.
The QPR defender has joined on a loan deal that runs until March and is reunited with former team-mate Wayne Routledge, who signed for United earlier this week.
With Steven Taylor (pictured right) ruled out until March he will compete with new boy Mike Williamson and existing pair Fabricio Coloccini and Tamas Kadar for a first team place.
“When you get the chance to come to a club like Newcastle you don't think twice - there's no decision to make really,” he said.
“Even to come on loan is a dream come true. I've been hearing about the possibility of a move for a week or so now and I'm delighted to be here.
“My aim has got to be to win a place in the team because I want to play games. I've been impressed with the way Newcastle have adapted to the Championship because sometimes teams struggle when they come down from the Premier League.
“But they have done well and that shows by their position.”
“I've spoke with Wayne but all he wanted to tell me all about how he set up the goal on Wednesday night!
“It's the third club we've been together at - just as well as I get on with him. He was my room-mate at QPR so I had to come up here because I was lonely without him!” Newcastle Journal
Almost QPR Loan, Patrick van Aanholt Joins Newcastle
Jarrow Gazette - Toon go Dutch with Chelsea Defender.. Patrick van Aanholt.
Published Date: 29 January 2010
- NEWCASTLE United have signed Chelsea teenager Patrick van Aanholt on an emergency loan.
- Boss Chris Hughton moved for the left-back – who spent the first half of the season on loan at Coventry City – after Jose Enrique suffered a hamstring injury in Wednesday night's win over Crystal Palace.
- And van Aanholt, 19, is expected to go into the squad for tomorrow's game at Leicester City along with Fitz Hall, who has signed from Queens Park Rangers until the end of the season.
- The Dutchman – who will wear the No14 jersey – turned out for Coventry against Newcastle at the Ricoh Arena last month. Jarrow Gazette
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!.......Also: Also visit the combined QPR news and QPR messageboad: The QPR Report Messageboard! All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- QPR's Relegation Form: One Win and Seven Points from Last Ten Championship Games
- Football Support for Haiti...Fundraiser today at Loftus Road (and at numerous other clubs)
- Predicting QPR's Season: Pre-Start-of the Season Predictions of What QPR's Season Would Look Like
- Year Flashback: QPR 7th and Sousa Confident
- Two Year Flashback: Article Bemoaning QPR's Lack of Youth Development
- Reported QPR striking Target, Tamas Priskin: Ipswich Say Priskin Going Nowhere
- Reported QPR Target, Hull's Daniel Cousin, May Not after be Joining Greek Club, Larissa
- Ben Watson on Wanting to Stay at Wigan and his Time at QPR
- Birthday for Peter Crouch (29)
- Football's Crazy Economics: The latest case of Crystal Palace
- British Fans Banned from The World Cup
- Youngest Footballer in the League
- Ex-QPR goalie, Liam O'Brien in Portsmouth FA Youth Cup vs Chelsea
The Sun - The Sun: Harford: We R no clowns
- MICK HARFORD insists QPR have not become a comedy club.
A group of furious fans will turn up for today's home clash with Sc*n*horpe dressed as clowns to show the board they feel Rangers are now a laughing stock.
The protest was arranged in the wake of Paul Hart becoming the sixth manager to leave the club in just 2½ years.
Billionaire owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have refused to throw their cash around.
But new boss Harford said: "It's not as bad here as people may think. It's a good club and the set-up is fantastic." The Sun
- Red Nose Day/Facebook
Sky Sports/Juha Pal - Hoops hungary for starlet - QPR check on midfielder
- Queens Park Rangers have handed a trial to Hungarian starlet Peter Takacs.
- The 20-year-old midfielder is currently with Diosgyor, but they have now agreed to him to travel to England.
- Takacs is now due in London next week and will spend three-days in West London.
- QPR are no stranger to Hungarians, as they already have Akos Buzsaky in their ranks
Skysports
Reminder: On TV This Morning
QPR Official Site - R'S KIDS ON SKILL SKOOL
Posted on: Fri 29 Jan 2010
- R's youngsters Raheem Sterling and Christian Nanetti will showcase their skills on cult Saturday morning TV show, Soccer AM, tomorrow morning.
- The duo will go head-to-head in the popular Skill Skool feature, which will be aired from 9.00am on Sky Sports 1.
- Meanwhile, the Under-18's are in league action against Colchester United on Saturday morning.
- Steve Gallen's side lock horns with the U's at their Garrison B Ground home, in an 11.00am kick-off. QPR Official
Chronicle Live - NUFC 'will reap success of Wayne's World'
Jan 29 2010 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle
PETER RAMAGE says Queens Park Rangers’ loss is Newcastle United’s gain when it comes to Wayne Routledge.
Routledge is in line to make his first start for the Magpies tomorrow night against Leicester City.
The diminutive playmaker started his career in style by helping to seal victory over Crystal Palace when he played in a measured right-wing pass to the feet of Nile Ranger before the young Londoner polished off a vital win for Newcastle.
Ramage was sad to see Routledge depart Loftus Road, but feels Toon boss Chris Hughton has made one of the best signings of the January transfer window by securing his services.
Ramage told the Chronicle: “He will be a massive asset to Newcastle. He is very quick – that is his game.
“He gets to the byline and will be the perfect foil for the forwards at Newcastle.
“He has been a massive both seasons for us. He showed that in September when he played up there when he really caused Newcastle problems.”
Now, with QPR slumping to a mid-table position after a succession of managers this season, Ramage is sad to see the departure of a player he could have ended up playing alongside earlier in his career at Newcastle when Routledge was scouted by Graeme Souness.
He said: “The lads are disappointed he has gone, but it is a great move for him – he will love it up there.
“It is a shame from our point of view he has gone – he has been one of our best players. He ha been a massive creative influence.
“United are a massive club, and he has been at big clubs before.
“He knows how to deal with the situation.”
Ramage feels United’s strike force of Peter Lovenkrands, Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi and Nile Ranger will revel in playing alongside him.
He added: “He causes problems with his pace, and has been on top form for us this season.
“Hopefully, he will keep creating chances for Newcastle, and I have no doubt he can again play in the Premier League.
“He is a top player, and a top lad.
“He wants to play at the top, and he is willing to work hard to play there. I am sure it a great move for both parties.”
Ramage reluctantly left St James' in 2008 seek-ing first-team football" Newcastle Chronicle
Fitz Hall's Newcastle United dream fulfilled
Jan 30 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
FITZ Hall says it is a “dream come true” to join Newcastle United.
The QPR defender has joined on a loan deal that runs until March and is reunited with former team-mate Wayne Routledge, who signed for United earlier this week.
With Steven Taylor (pictured right) ruled out until March he will compete with new boy Mike Williamson and existing pair Fabricio Coloccini and Tamas Kadar for a first team place.
“When you get the chance to come to a club like Newcastle you don't think twice - there's no decision to make really,” he said.
“Even to come on loan is a dream come true. I've been hearing about the possibility of a move for a week or so now and I'm delighted to be here.
“My aim has got to be to win a place in the team because I want to play games. I've been impressed with the way Newcastle have adapted to the Championship because sometimes teams struggle when they come down from the Premier League.
“But they have done well and that shows by their position.”
“I've spoke with Wayne but all he wanted to tell me all about how he set up the goal on Wednesday night!
“It's the third club we've been together at - just as well as I get on with him. He was my room-mate at QPR so I had to come up here because I was lonely without him!” Newcastle Journal
Almost QPR Loan, Patrick van Aanholt Joins Newcastle
Jarrow Gazette - Toon go Dutch with Chelsea Defender.. Patrick van Aanholt.
Published Date: 29 January 2010
- NEWCASTLE United have signed Chelsea teenager Patrick van Aanholt on an emergency loan.
- Boss Chris Hughton moved for the left-back – who spent the first half of the season on loan at Coventry City – after Jose Enrique suffered a hamstring injury in Wednesday night's win over Crystal Palace.
- And van Aanholt, 19, is expected to go into the squad for tomorrow's game at Leicester City along with Fitz Hall, who has signed from Queens Park Rangers until the end of the season.
- The Dutchman – who will wear the No14 jersey – turned out for Coventry against Newcastle at the Ricoh Arena last month. Jarrow Gazette
Friday, January 29, 2010
QPR Report Snippets...Another Player Exits Loftus Road...Goalie Extends His Stay...Routledge "QPR Was A Bit Mad at Times"...Scunthorpe Previews
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Also available: The combined messageboard and QPRnews quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard! Check Back throughout the day for comprehensive QPR-related news snippets. All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Football Support for Haiti
- Antonio Caliendo vs Flavio Briatore?
- QPR1st Recommendation to Directors re Season Tickets
- Update: Portsmouth in Trouble?
- Tough West Ham cost-cutting Measures
- Two Ex-QPR Birthdays Today: Steve Yates and Mark Stein
- Flashback: QPR's League Position One and Two Years Ago
- Flashback: Briatore's Perspective from April 2009
- Flashback Two Years - QPR Report: "The Changing Face of QPR"
- Gary Hooper? Teamtalk citing The Sun: "Wolves, Middlesbrough and QPR are battling it out to land Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper." Teamtalk
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: IKEME INKS EXTENSION
- The Club is pleased to confirm that goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has extended his loan deal with QPR.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers custodian, who made his debut for Mick Harford's men in the R's 2-2 draw at Blackpool last weekend, will remain with the Hoops until April 6th 2010.
R's gaffer Mick Harford told www.qpr.co.uk: "It's great to have Carl here for the remainder of the season. He will provide good competition for Radek Cerny.
"Carl has trained ever so well since he's been here.
"He played a lot of games for Wolves last season in their promotion-winning side, so we knew we were getting a good goalkeeper when he arrived.
"He's a good size and has a great presence, which helps to take the pressure off the back four a little bit.
"We have said to all the players that if you train hard, show the right attitude, personality and work ethic, then you will get your chance in the side.
"We want players who want to play for this Football Club QPR
QPR Official Site - HALL JOINS MAGPIES
Posted on: Fri 29 Jan 2010
- R's defender Fitz Hall has joined Championship pacesetters Newcastle United on loan until the end of the season.
- The 29 year-old travelled to St James Park last night and successfully underwent a medical on Tyneside this morning.
- Hall - who could make his Magpies debut against Leicester City this weekend - will remain with Chris Hughton's side until May 31st 2010. QPR
Newcastle United Official Site/Craig Hope - Breaking News: Hall Fitz Toon Bill
- NEWCASTLE United have completed a loan deal until the end of the season for Queens Park Rangers defender Fitz Hall.
- The 29-year-old was at the club's Benton headquarters on Friday morning and will go straight into the squad for this weekend's Championship clash at Leicester City.
- Hall, who will take the No.5 jersey, joins former Loftus Road team-mate Wayne Routledge on Tyneside after his permanent switch earlier this week.
- And there are also familiar faces in the form of Ryan Taylor, who he played with at Wigan Athletic, and fellow new arrival Mike Williamson who was at Southampton during his time on the South Coast.
- The 6ft 4ins centre-back started his playing career with non-league Barnet before joining Chesham United.
- There he came to the attention of Oldham Athletic manager, and former Magpie coach, Iain Dowie who took the Londoner to Boundary Park in 2002.
A brief stay at Southampton followed before rejoining Dowie at Crystal Palace.
There, alongside Routledge, Hall and The Eagles were relegated from the Premier League during their first season back in the top flight.
In 2006, though, Hall returned to England's top division when he was snapped up by Wigan for a £3m fee.
After two-and-a-half years with The Latics he moved back to the capital and to QPR in January, 2009.
Hall made 56 appearances for The Hoops, scoring twice, before his loan switch to Gallowgate. Newcastle
Journal Live - Champions League is Routledge’s big dream
Jan 29 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
= WAYNE Routledge has set himself a couple of lofty goals after signing for Newcastle United – to return the club to the Champions League and spend the rest of his career at St James’ Park.
The former QPR winger made an enterprising debut against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, adding the pace and the attacking threat that has often been missing from the right of midfield for Newcastle this season.
It was a promising start to life in black and white for a player who recognises the need for stability in his career after accumulating eight clubs in his first nine years as a professional. That desire to settle down extends to making Newcastle United the final club of his career.
“Why have I had so many clubs in my career? I honestly couldn't tell you. There are different reasons why you don't settle at a particular club or it doesn't work out with a certain manager,” he said.
“But I am here now and I want to establish myself as a Newcastle player. In an ideal world I would be at Newcastle for the rest of my career.
“I want to see us back in the Premier League and back in the Champions League. That is my goal, we'll just have to see how we go.”
He believes St James’ Park is the perfect platform for a career renaissance and has been enthused by the atmosphere in the dressing room, which he believes is one of the best he has ever encountered.
“I can already see that these are a very confident bunch of lads who are all working as a unit. You can sense the atmosphere in a dressing room from the minute you walk in,” he said.
“I've been at a few clubs and you can tell if there is a problem in the team from the banter in the dressing room. It's obvious that these are a bunch of lads who are enjoying their football and are all focused on winning games and getting promotion. It's all looking positive.
“People tell me Newcastle have had a bit of turmoil off the pitch but QPR was a bit mad at times, managers changing and such like so it was difficult to focus on football. Hopefully that is all behind me and it's all about getting Newcastle back in the big time.
“This is easily one of the top ten maybe top five clubs in the country. It's just in the wrong division at the moment and that is what we're trying to change on the pitch.
“The prospect of playing in the Premier League was a massive factor. I’m confident of my own ability and believe that I can do well in the Premier League.”
Settling down quickly in the north will be the key for Routledge, who has spent the lion’s share of his career in the capital with Palace, QPR and Tottenham.
But he has signalled a willingness to embrace the North East footballing culture and “new experiences”.
“I've played most of my football in the south so it does feel a bit weird being this far north but you have to grow up sometime,” he said.
“I want to get myself settled in the area a quickly as possible. I'm going house-hunting this week and hopefully find myself a nice place.
“I knew Ryan and Steven Taylor from the England set-up but apart from that it's all new people and new experiences and that's good. I needed a new start. QPR are a great club but it was time to go.”Routledge knows that he will need to be more prolific if he is to regain the momentum he had earlier in his career.
“I want to add goals and more of an attacking threat,” he said. “My game is all about making opportunities for other people. I set one up for Nile on Wednesday and he put it away with a great finish. Long may that continue and we stay at the top of the league.” Journal Live
QPR Official Site - THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: SCUNNY
Posted on: Fri 29 Jan 2010
Mick Harford and his charges will be desperate to get back to winning ways after defeat at Nottingham Forest in midweek when they welcome Scunthorpe United to Loftus Road this weekend.
Saturday's fixture is the first league match to have been played in W12 since the Boxing Day victory versus Bristol City, and the R's will be hoping for another three points against Nigel Adkins' side.
This season, the Iron have been much better at home than they have been on the road, though the fact that they have picked up 4-0 and 4-1 victories at both Crystal Palace and Derby County - their last away fixture - suggests that a victory for the R's cannot be taken for granted.
Rangers took maximum points the last time these two sides met in the league, with Adel Taarabt's strike inside the first five minutes the deciding factor in a hard-fought affair at Glanford Park in September.
Team News
Both Lee Cook and Rowan Vine are again set to be involved in Mick Harford's squad for the visit of The Iron.
Cook, of course, completed 45 minutes for the Reserves in midweek, while Vine played the final 20 minutes of Rangers' defeat at The City Ground on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon continue to remain sidelined with long-term knee injuries, while Gareth Ainsworth is out with a calf problem.
Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins should be able to call on the services of defender Rob Jones, who completed 69 minutes in the Iron's 2-0 midweek win over Sheffield Wednesday following a three-week absence with a hamstring injury.
Saturday's visitors also look set to again include loan signings Donal McDermott and Brendan Moloney, who signed from Manchester City and Nottingham Forest respectively, on the bench.
Star Man
Gary HOOPER - Striker
The Iron completed the signing of striker Gary Hooper in July 2008 and he had an amazing first season at Glanford Park - scoring 30 goals to help his side win promotion to the Championship.
He came close to breaking Billy Sharp's record of 32 in a season, and also scored at Wembley in the Final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Aged 20, the young marksman signed a three-year contract to join United in a £125,000 deal, which could eventually rise to £175,000.
Hooper began his career with Grays Athletic, making his debut at the age of 15 and then helping them win promotion into the Conference South, scoring 12 goals in 2004-05.
He notched on eight occasions the following season before joining Southend on trial in July 2006.
Gary went on to make 32 appearances for the Shrimpers, mostly as a substitute, scoring two goals in the Championship for Steve Tilson's side.
He had an enjoyable loan spell at Leyton Orient in 2007, scoring two goals in four games.
Hooper then had a prolific loan spell at Hereford United, scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances and helping the Bulls win promotion from League Two.
Classic Encounter
Scunthorpe United 2, QPR 2
Coca Cola Championship - Saturday 8th December 2007
Akos Buzsaky's deadly double clinched Rangers a creditable point at Glanford Park.
The midfield maestro bagged a brace of contenders for goal of the season, on an afternoon where the R's twice threw away a lead against fellow strugglers Scunthorpe United.
Buzsaky's first half double saw Rangers into the break with a 2-1 lead, after Martin Paterson put the Iron on terms midway through the first half.
Scunny's reward for an electrifying start to the second half arrived courtesy of Jonathan Forte's 54th minute strike and although both sides went in search of a winning goal, a draw was probably a fair reflection.
Match odds with Bet365
QPR win - 4/6
Draw - 5/2
Scunthorpe win - 9/2
Match Coverage
QPR Player will be providing live commentary of this fixture, as well as offering extended highlights later this week. Click here to join QPR Player. QPR
- Also available: The combined messageboard and QPRnews quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard! Check Back throughout the day for comprehensive QPR-related news snippets. All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Football Support for Haiti
- Antonio Caliendo vs Flavio Briatore?
- QPR1st Recommendation to Directors re Season Tickets
- Update: Portsmouth in Trouble?
- Tough West Ham cost-cutting Measures
- Two Ex-QPR Birthdays Today: Steve Yates and Mark Stein
- Flashback: QPR's League Position One and Two Years Ago
- Flashback: Briatore's Perspective from April 2009
- Flashback Two Years - QPR Report: "The Changing Face of QPR"
- Gary Hooper? Teamtalk citing The Sun: "Wolves, Middlesbrough and QPR are battling it out to land Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper." Teamtalk
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: IKEME INKS EXTENSION
- The Club is pleased to confirm that goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has extended his loan deal with QPR.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers custodian, who made his debut for Mick Harford's men in the R's 2-2 draw at Blackpool last weekend, will remain with the Hoops until April 6th 2010.
R's gaffer Mick Harford told www.qpr.co.uk: "It's great to have Carl here for the remainder of the season. He will provide good competition for Radek Cerny.
"Carl has trained ever so well since he's been here.
"He played a lot of games for Wolves last season in their promotion-winning side, so we knew we were getting a good goalkeeper when he arrived.
"He's a good size and has a great presence, which helps to take the pressure off the back four a little bit.
"We have said to all the players that if you train hard, show the right attitude, personality and work ethic, then you will get your chance in the side.
"We want players who want to play for this Football Club QPR
QPR Official Site - HALL JOINS MAGPIES
Posted on: Fri 29 Jan 2010
- R's defender Fitz Hall has joined Championship pacesetters Newcastle United on loan until the end of the season.
- The 29 year-old travelled to St James Park last night and successfully underwent a medical on Tyneside this morning.
- Hall - who could make his Magpies debut against Leicester City this weekend - will remain with Chris Hughton's side until May 31st 2010. QPR
Newcastle United Official Site/Craig Hope - Breaking News: Hall Fitz Toon Bill
- NEWCASTLE United have completed a loan deal until the end of the season for Queens Park Rangers defender Fitz Hall.
- The 29-year-old was at the club's Benton headquarters on Friday morning and will go straight into the squad for this weekend's Championship clash at Leicester City.
- Hall, who will take the No.5 jersey, joins former Loftus Road team-mate Wayne Routledge on Tyneside after his permanent switch earlier this week.
- And there are also familiar faces in the form of Ryan Taylor, who he played with at Wigan Athletic, and fellow new arrival Mike Williamson who was at Southampton during his time on the South Coast.
- The 6ft 4ins centre-back started his playing career with non-league Barnet before joining Chesham United.
- There he came to the attention of Oldham Athletic manager, and former Magpie coach, Iain Dowie who took the Londoner to Boundary Park in 2002.
A brief stay at Southampton followed before rejoining Dowie at Crystal Palace.
There, alongside Routledge, Hall and The Eagles were relegated from the Premier League during their first season back in the top flight.
In 2006, though, Hall returned to England's top division when he was snapped up by Wigan for a £3m fee.
After two-and-a-half years with The Latics he moved back to the capital and to QPR in January, 2009.
Hall made 56 appearances for The Hoops, scoring twice, before his loan switch to Gallowgate. Newcastle
Journal Live - Champions League is Routledge’s big dream
Jan 29 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
= WAYNE Routledge has set himself a couple of lofty goals after signing for Newcastle United – to return the club to the Champions League and spend the rest of his career at St James’ Park.
The former QPR winger made an enterprising debut against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, adding the pace and the attacking threat that has often been missing from the right of midfield for Newcastle this season.
It was a promising start to life in black and white for a player who recognises the need for stability in his career after accumulating eight clubs in his first nine years as a professional. That desire to settle down extends to making Newcastle United the final club of his career.
“Why have I had so many clubs in my career? I honestly couldn't tell you. There are different reasons why you don't settle at a particular club or it doesn't work out with a certain manager,” he said.
“But I am here now and I want to establish myself as a Newcastle player. In an ideal world I would be at Newcastle for the rest of my career.
“I want to see us back in the Premier League and back in the Champions League. That is my goal, we'll just have to see how we go.”
He believes St James’ Park is the perfect platform for a career renaissance and has been enthused by the atmosphere in the dressing room, which he believes is one of the best he has ever encountered.
“I can already see that these are a very confident bunch of lads who are all working as a unit. You can sense the atmosphere in a dressing room from the minute you walk in,” he said.
“I've been at a few clubs and you can tell if there is a problem in the team from the banter in the dressing room. It's obvious that these are a bunch of lads who are enjoying their football and are all focused on winning games and getting promotion. It's all looking positive.
“People tell me Newcastle have had a bit of turmoil off the pitch but QPR was a bit mad at times, managers changing and such like so it was difficult to focus on football. Hopefully that is all behind me and it's all about getting Newcastle back in the big time.
“This is easily one of the top ten maybe top five clubs in the country. It's just in the wrong division at the moment and that is what we're trying to change on the pitch.
“The prospect of playing in the Premier League was a massive factor. I’m confident of my own ability and believe that I can do well in the Premier League.”
Settling down quickly in the north will be the key for Routledge, who has spent the lion’s share of his career in the capital with Palace, QPR and Tottenham.
But he has signalled a willingness to embrace the North East footballing culture and “new experiences”.
“I've played most of my football in the south so it does feel a bit weird being this far north but you have to grow up sometime,” he said.
“I want to get myself settled in the area a quickly as possible. I'm going house-hunting this week and hopefully find myself a nice place.
“I knew Ryan and Steven Taylor from the England set-up but apart from that it's all new people and new experiences and that's good. I needed a new start. QPR are a great club but it was time to go.”Routledge knows that he will need to be more prolific if he is to regain the momentum he had earlier in his career.
“I want to add goals and more of an attacking threat,” he said. “My game is all about making opportunities for other people. I set one up for Nile on Wednesday and he put it away with a great finish. Long may that continue and we stay at the top of the league.” Journal Live
QPR Official Site - THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: SCUNNY
Posted on: Fri 29 Jan 2010
Mick Harford and his charges will be desperate to get back to winning ways after defeat at Nottingham Forest in midweek when they welcome Scunthorpe United to Loftus Road this weekend.
Saturday's fixture is the first league match to have been played in W12 since the Boxing Day victory versus Bristol City, and the R's will be hoping for another three points against Nigel Adkins' side.
This season, the Iron have been much better at home than they have been on the road, though the fact that they have picked up 4-0 and 4-1 victories at both Crystal Palace and Derby County - their last away fixture - suggests that a victory for the R's cannot be taken for granted.
Rangers took maximum points the last time these two sides met in the league, with Adel Taarabt's strike inside the first five minutes the deciding factor in a hard-fought affair at Glanford Park in September.
Team News
Both Lee Cook and Rowan Vine are again set to be involved in Mick Harford's squad for the visit of The Iron.
Cook, of course, completed 45 minutes for the Reserves in midweek, while Vine played the final 20 minutes of Rangers' defeat at The City Ground on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon continue to remain sidelined with long-term knee injuries, while Gareth Ainsworth is out with a calf problem.
Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins should be able to call on the services of defender Rob Jones, who completed 69 minutes in the Iron's 2-0 midweek win over Sheffield Wednesday following a three-week absence with a hamstring injury.
Saturday's visitors also look set to again include loan signings Donal McDermott and Brendan Moloney, who signed from Manchester City and Nottingham Forest respectively, on the bench.
Star Man
Gary HOOPER - Striker
The Iron completed the signing of striker Gary Hooper in July 2008 and he had an amazing first season at Glanford Park - scoring 30 goals to help his side win promotion to the Championship.
He came close to breaking Billy Sharp's record of 32 in a season, and also scored at Wembley in the Final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Aged 20, the young marksman signed a three-year contract to join United in a £125,000 deal, which could eventually rise to £175,000.
Hooper began his career with Grays Athletic, making his debut at the age of 15 and then helping them win promotion into the Conference South, scoring 12 goals in 2004-05.
He notched on eight occasions the following season before joining Southend on trial in July 2006.
Gary went on to make 32 appearances for the Shrimpers, mostly as a substitute, scoring two goals in the Championship for Steve Tilson's side.
He had an enjoyable loan spell at Leyton Orient in 2007, scoring two goals in four games.
Hooper then had a prolific loan spell at Hereford United, scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances and helping the Bulls win promotion from League Two.
Classic Encounter
Scunthorpe United 2, QPR 2
Coca Cola Championship - Saturday 8th December 2007
Akos Buzsaky's deadly double clinched Rangers a creditable point at Glanford Park.
The midfield maestro bagged a brace of contenders for goal of the season, on an afternoon where the R's twice threw away a lead against fellow strugglers Scunthorpe United.
Buzsaky's first half double saw Rangers into the break with a 2-1 lead, after Martin Paterson put the Iron on terms midway through the first half.
Scunny's reward for an electrifying start to the second half arrived courtesy of Jonathan Forte's 54th minute strike and although both sides went in search of a winning goal, a draw was probably a fair reflection.
Match odds with Bet365
QPR win - 4/6
Draw - 5/2
Scunthorpe win - 9/2
Match Coverage
QPR Player will be providing live commentary of this fixture, as well as offering extended highlights later this week. Click here to join QPR Player. QPR
Thursday, January 28, 2010
QPR Report Snippets: Moritz Volz for QPR?...Harford: Stick Together...QPR Haiti Fundraiser..."Routledge is no Buzsaky"
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Also available: The combined messageboard and QPRnews quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard! Check Back throughout the day for comprehensive QPR-related news snippets. All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Administrators Ban Crystal Palce's Victor Moses From Playing: Too Valuable an asset
- Football Support for Haiti
No Zimbabwean to Loftus Road: QPR Won't be signing Bhasera
- Antonio Caliendo vs Flavio Briatore?
- QPR1st Recommendation to Directors re Season Tickets
- Portsmouth in Trouble?
- Cardiff in Trouble
- Crystal Palace in Trouble...10 Point Deduction...Neil Warnock could be job Hunting (Note: QPR were reportedly, previously interested]
- Morritz Volz for QPR?
BBC - QPR eye ex-Fulham defender Moritz Volz
- Volz had a spell on loan at Ipswich last season
Former Fulham defender Moritz Volz is training with Queens Park Rangers ahead of a possible move to Loftus Road.
- Volz, a free agent after being released by Fulham last summer, recently attracted interest from German club Schalke, where he started his career.
- The full-back, 26, joined Arsenal in 2000, but did not make a league appearance for the Gunners before signing for Fulham four years later.
- He received a German international call-up in 2004, but did not play.
- Volz, who played 146 times for Fulham, ended last season on loan at Ipswich Town. BBC
QPR Official Site - HARFORD: 'WE'LL STICK TOGETHER'
- Mick Harford remains adamant the R's season is still very much to play for, but admits he will have to make a few unpopular decisions over the coming weeks.
- Defeat at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night saw the R's drop seven points off the pace in the race for the play-offs.
- However, Harford is confident the R's can turn the tide, commenting: "That (Nottingham Forest) result makes me stronger and more determined to stop the downturn in results which, of late, have been disappointing.
- "We must remain positive as a group. The staff, players and myself must roll up our sleeves and pull in the same direction.
- "I have faith and belief in this group of players at QPR to be strong, resolute, stick together and get the Club moving forward.
- "After two games in charge I will now have to make decisions about the team and the squad which are not popular, but are necessary." QPR
David McIntyre - BBC Sport (U1628513) - Routledge is no Buzsaky
Judging by some of the reaction to Wayne Routledge’s move, QPR fans would have broken the internet had it existed the day Rodney Marsh was sold.
Routledge is no Marsh of course. And he is no Roy Wegerle, whose sale to Blackburn left me as inconsolable as some Rangers supporters seem to be today.
More importantly, he is no Akos Buzsaky. And that’s the biggest reason I think the angst at his departure is misplaced.
I don’t know how much Newcastle paid to steal Routledge from under the noses of Middlesbrough, who expected to sign him today.
But I do know that if they at least matched Boro’s offer, which they surely did, then Rangers will bank at least £1m and probably around £2m.
In this era of undisclosed fees and misleading rumours filtering out of Loftus Road, the likes of Dan Shittu, Lee Cook, Dexter Blackstock and others are regularly said to have been sold for significantly more than they were.
But in the case of Routledge, Rangers really will bank around £2m and can justifiably claim to have secured an excellent deal for the club.
No doubt they will now be thinking of a response to try and appease the fans.
Well, if Rangers made a habit of making such a good profit in the transfer market, the club would be in a far better state and the fans wouldn’t need to be appeased.
In my opinion, Routledge is no more than a very good Championship player - as his spells with a number of Premier League clubs underlined.
Anywhere near the £2m mark is a good price for someone of that standard.
Of the many players Rangers have signed with their millions, Buzsaky is the only one with genuine top-drawer ability who could play at a higher level and would be impossible to replace.
Buzsaky, a much better player in my view, can simply slot in to replace Routledge on the right flank.
With the likes of Hogan Ephraim and Angelo Balanta also in the squad, there is no urgent need to replace Routledge and his sale was more than justified – not least because he wanted to go.
If Buzsaky is sold, then it really will be time to despair of the club and the failure of its owners.
Routledge did well and moved for a good price at a good time seeing as Rangers are, to some extent, having to rebuild after creating an expensively-assembled squad which will only take them so far.
That this rebuilding job is required only two-and-a-half years after a major takeover, and after a multitude of player transactions, is a more damning indictment of the regime than the sale of one player.
Routledge is an exception to the rule. Too often, Rangers’ transfer dealings have involved an appalling waste of money.
The fact they are now trying to offload the likes of Fitz Hall, Patrick Agyemang, Matteo Alberti and the unfortunate Rowan Vine is proof of this.
They have this week managed to get rid of Agyemang, who has joined Bristol City on loan with the prospect of a £450,000 permanent move if he impresses.
Alberti, who agreed a four-year contract when he was signed in 2008, is also on his way out.
So, some progress is being made in terms of reshaping the squad.
Whether it means Rangers will finally start to build sensibly remains to be seen.
Cutting their losses is all well and good, but means nothing if another batch of bad signings arrive.
A bid has already gone in for Ipswich striker Tamas Priskin, who has failed to impress since being signed from Watford for big money in the summer.
Rangers are interested in signing the Hungarian – an international team-mate of Buzsaky – on loan with a view to a permanent move.
A number of other players have been lined up, although in QPR Land the same can be said every week.
Half of Routledge’s transfer fee should be more than enough to vastly improve any Championship team.
Sadly, QPR have needed tens of millions just to go from being a bottom team to a mid-table one. This might be why many fans seem to think vast sums of money must be spent for the club to move forward.
For some time I’ve believed the best thing Rangers could do would be to put the chequebook away and stop making signing after signing in an attempt to somehow get it right.
They should put the Routledge cash away, and not throw money at the likes of Dave Kitson to try and clinch a signing to pacify fans unhappy at Routledge's exit.
They should ride out the storm until the end of another season in which supporters were duped into believing promotion was a realstic possibility.
Install a proper manager with a sound backroom and scouting team in the summer.
Only then should that chequebook reappear. BBC606
QPR Official Site HAITI BUCKET COLLECTIONS ON SATURDAY
HAITI BUCKET COLLECTIONS ON SATURDAY
Posted on: Thu 28 Jan 2010
Football has joined international governments, charities and aid agencies in the battle to help Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake that hit the island recently.
The Football League has pledged its support to the recovery effort by placing the Disaster Emergency Committee's (DEC) Haiti Earthquake Appeal donation form inside every one of the 72 programmes over three weekends for free.
As part of our own pledge to support this worthy need, the Club will be holding a series of bucket collections around the stadium against Scunthorpe United on Saturday afternoon.
Members of our QPR in the Community Trust will be in and around the ground from 1.30pm, so please give generously.
Furthermore, programmes for matches in Coca-Cola League 1 and League 2 will carry the advertisement on January 30 and February 6 and it will also feature in all Coca-Cola Championship matchday programmes on February 6 and 13 giving fans across England and Wales the opportunity to donate vital money to the people of Haiti.
The full-page advertisement publicises the DEC donation line - 0370 60 60 900 - and includes means of donation by credit or debit card and cheque.
Gavin Megaw, Director of External Affairs at The Football League said: "The Football League is pleased to be working with the DEC to raise awareness of this cause. We hope our small gesture helps the humanitarian effort at such a desperate time for the people of Haiti."
Click here http://www.dec.org.uk/ to donate directly to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal. QPR
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Also available: The combined messageboard and QPRnews quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard! Check Back throughout the day for comprehensive QPR-related news snippets. All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Administrators Ban Crystal Palce's Victor Moses From Playing: Too Valuable an asset
- Football Support for Haiti
No Zimbabwean to Loftus Road: QPR Won't be signing Bhasera
- Antonio Caliendo vs Flavio Briatore?
- QPR1st Recommendation to Directors re Season Tickets
- Portsmouth in Trouble?
- Cardiff in Trouble
- Crystal Palace in Trouble...10 Point Deduction...Neil Warnock could be job Hunting (Note: QPR were reportedly, previously interested]
- Morritz Volz for QPR?
BBC - QPR eye ex-Fulham defender Moritz Volz
- Volz had a spell on loan at Ipswich last season
Former Fulham defender Moritz Volz is training with Queens Park Rangers ahead of a possible move to Loftus Road.
- Volz, a free agent after being released by Fulham last summer, recently attracted interest from German club Schalke, where he started his career.
- The full-back, 26, joined Arsenal in 2000, but did not make a league appearance for the Gunners before signing for Fulham four years later.
- He received a German international call-up in 2004, but did not play.
- Volz, who played 146 times for Fulham, ended last season on loan at Ipswich Town. BBC
QPR Official Site - HARFORD: 'WE'LL STICK TOGETHER'
- Mick Harford remains adamant the R's season is still very much to play for, but admits he will have to make a few unpopular decisions over the coming weeks.
- Defeat at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night saw the R's drop seven points off the pace in the race for the play-offs.
- However, Harford is confident the R's can turn the tide, commenting: "That (Nottingham Forest) result makes me stronger and more determined to stop the downturn in results which, of late, have been disappointing.
- "We must remain positive as a group. The staff, players and myself must roll up our sleeves and pull in the same direction.
- "I have faith and belief in this group of players at QPR to be strong, resolute, stick together and get the Club moving forward.
- "After two games in charge I will now have to make decisions about the team and the squad which are not popular, but are necessary." QPR
David McIntyre - BBC Sport (U1628513) - Routledge is no Buzsaky
Judging by some of the reaction to Wayne Routledge’s move, QPR fans would have broken the internet had it existed the day Rodney Marsh was sold.
Routledge is no Marsh of course. And he is no Roy Wegerle, whose sale to Blackburn left me as inconsolable as some Rangers supporters seem to be today.
More importantly, he is no Akos Buzsaky. And that’s the biggest reason I think the angst at his departure is misplaced.
I don’t know how much Newcastle paid to steal Routledge from under the noses of Middlesbrough, who expected to sign him today.
But I do know that if they at least matched Boro’s offer, which they surely did, then Rangers will bank at least £1m and probably around £2m.
In this era of undisclosed fees and misleading rumours filtering out of Loftus Road, the likes of Dan Shittu, Lee Cook, Dexter Blackstock and others are regularly said to have been sold for significantly more than they were.
But in the case of Routledge, Rangers really will bank around £2m and can justifiably claim to have secured an excellent deal for the club.
No doubt they will now be thinking of a response to try and appease the fans.
Well, if Rangers made a habit of making such a good profit in the transfer market, the club would be in a far better state and the fans wouldn’t need to be appeased.
In my opinion, Routledge is no more than a very good Championship player - as his spells with a number of Premier League clubs underlined.
Anywhere near the £2m mark is a good price for someone of that standard.
Of the many players Rangers have signed with their millions, Buzsaky is the only one with genuine top-drawer ability who could play at a higher level and would be impossible to replace.
Buzsaky, a much better player in my view, can simply slot in to replace Routledge on the right flank.
With the likes of Hogan Ephraim and Angelo Balanta also in the squad, there is no urgent need to replace Routledge and his sale was more than justified – not least because he wanted to go.
If Buzsaky is sold, then it really will be time to despair of the club and the failure of its owners.
Routledge did well and moved for a good price at a good time seeing as Rangers are, to some extent, having to rebuild after creating an expensively-assembled squad which will only take them so far.
That this rebuilding job is required only two-and-a-half years after a major takeover, and after a multitude of player transactions, is a more damning indictment of the regime than the sale of one player.
Routledge is an exception to the rule. Too often, Rangers’ transfer dealings have involved an appalling waste of money.
The fact they are now trying to offload the likes of Fitz Hall, Patrick Agyemang, Matteo Alberti and the unfortunate Rowan Vine is proof of this.
They have this week managed to get rid of Agyemang, who has joined Bristol City on loan with the prospect of a £450,000 permanent move if he impresses.
Alberti, who agreed a four-year contract when he was signed in 2008, is also on his way out.
So, some progress is being made in terms of reshaping the squad.
Whether it means Rangers will finally start to build sensibly remains to be seen.
Cutting their losses is all well and good, but means nothing if another batch of bad signings arrive.
A bid has already gone in for Ipswich striker Tamas Priskin, who has failed to impress since being signed from Watford for big money in the summer.
Rangers are interested in signing the Hungarian – an international team-mate of Buzsaky – on loan with a view to a permanent move.
A number of other players have been lined up, although in QPR Land the same can be said every week.
Half of Routledge’s transfer fee should be more than enough to vastly improve any Championship team.
Sadly, QPR have needed tens of millions just to go from being a bottom team to a mid-table one. This might be why many fans seem to think vast sums of money must be spent for the club to move forward.
For some time I’ve believed the best thing Rangers could do would be to put the chequebook away and stop making signing after signing in an attempt to somehow get it right.
They should put the Routledge cash away, and not throw money at the likes of Dave Kitson to try and clinch a signing to pacify fans unhappy at Routledge's exit.
They should ride out the storm until the end of another season in which supporters were duped into believing promotion was a realstic possibility.
Install a proper manager with a sound backroom and scouting team in the summer.
Only then should that chequebook reappear. BBC606
QPR Official Site HAITI BUCKET COLLECTIONS ON SATURDAY
HAITI BUCKET COLLECTIONS ON SATURDAY
Posted on: Thu 28 Jan 2010
Football has joined international governments, charities and aid agencies in the battle to help Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake that hit the island recently.
The Football League has pledged its support to the recovery effort by placing the Disaster Emergency Committee's (DEC) Haiti Earthquake Appeal donation form inside every one of the 72 programmes over three weekends for free.
As part of our own pledge to support this worthy need, the Club will be holding a series of bucket collections around the stadium against Scunthorpe United on Saturday afternoon.
Members of our QPR in the Community Trust will be in and around the ground from 1.30pm, so please give generously.
Furthermore, programmes for matches in Coca-Cola League 1 and League 2 will carry the advertisement on January 30 and February 6 and it will also feature in all Coca-Cola Championship matchday programmes on February 6 and 13 giving fans across England and Wales the opportunity to donate vital money to the people of Haiti.
The full-page advertisement publicises the DEC donation line - 0370 60 60 900 - and includes means of donation by credit or debit card and cheque.
Gavin Megaw, Director of External Affairs at The Football League said: "The Football League is pleased to be working with the DEC to raise awareness of this cause. We hope our small gesture helps the humanitarian effort at such a desperate time for the people of Haiti."
Click here http://www.dec.org.uk/ to donate directly to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal. QPR
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Newcastle and Burnley Want Fitz Hall
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Also available: The combined messageboard and QPRnews quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard! Check Back throughout the day for comprehensive QPR-related news snippets. All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Administrators Ban Crystal Palce's Victor Moses From Playing: Too Valuable an asset
- Football Support for Haiti
- Ten Best Football Advertisements
No Zimbabwean to Loftus Road: QPR Won't be signing Bhasera
- Antonio Caliendo vs Flavio Briatore?
- QPR1st Recommendation to Directors re Season Tickets
Mirror/Alan Nixon - Newcastle and Burnley battle for QPR centre-half- QPR are trying to sell centre-half Fitz Hall - to slash their wage bill in a major cost-cutting measure.
- Hall has been cleared to speak to Newcastle United and Burnley about a surprise deadline move. He would cost around £750,000, but Rangers also want to get his salary off their payroll.
- Versatile Hall is keen on the switch to the Toon, with Brian Laws's Burnley only interested in him as a squad player. Mirror
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Also available: The combined messageboard and QPRnews quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard! Check Back throughout the day for comprehensive QPR-related news snippets. All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Administrators Ban Crystal Palce's Victor Moses From Playing: Too Valuable an asset
- Football Support for Haiti
- Ten Best Football Advertisements
No Zimbabwean to Loftus Road: QPR Won't be signing Bhasera
- Antonio Caliendo vs Flavio Briatore?
- QPR1st Recommendation to Directors re Season Tickets
Mirror/Alan Nixon - Newcastle and Burnley battle for QPR centre-half- QPR are trying to sell centre-half Fitz Hall - to slash their wage bill in a major cost-cutting measure.
- Hall has been cleared to speak to Newcastle United and Burnley about a surprise deadline move. He would cost around £750,000, but Rangers also want to get his salary off their payroll.
- Versatile Hall is keen on the switch to the Toon, with Brian Laws's Burnley only interested in him as a squad player. Mirror
No Zimbabwean to Loftus Road...Harford Locks Up The Players
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Also available: The combined messageboard and QPRnews quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard! Check Back throughout the day for comprehensive QPR-related news snippets. All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Administrators Ban Crystal Palce's Victor Moses From Playing: Too Valuable an asset
- Football Support for Haiti
- Ten Best Football Advertisements
Zimbabwean Bhasera on the move again
Written by Sports Reporter Wednesday, 27 January 2010
onismor_bhaseraJOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwean international defender, Onismor Bhasera, is on the move again. (Pictured: Onismor Bhasera is adamant that he is a free agent.)
The Warriors fullback, who has been on the sidelines for six months owing to a protracted battle with his former South African club – Kaizer Chiefs and struggling English Premiership side, Portsmouth over his signature, is now said to be trying out at Sheffield Wednesday.
According to sources close to Bhasera, the Warriors left back, who spent the past few weeks trying to sign with another Championship side, Queens Park Rangers (QPR), began training last week. “Bhasera failed to strike a deal with QPR for a number of reasons and so he left,” said the source. According to the source, also a soccer player, Bhasera’s bid to sign for QPR failed because of technical changes in the team during the past two weeks.
“The man who initially wanted to sign him for Portsmouth – Paul Hart (former Portsmouth Manager) joined QPR last month, and he is the one who wanted to sign Bhasera for QPR.” However, the source added, Hart resigned a few days after Bhasera had resumed training with the Championship club, creating a problem for the Warriors defender. After his failure to land the QPR contract, Bhasera left for Wednesday late last week and is now training with the club, hoping for better luck.
“He has begun training with Sheffield Wednesday and I just hope that things will work out for him this time because he is a talented and committed individual who really deserves a break into the bigger and financially rewarding English leagues,” added the friend. Bhasera’s move from QPR comes a few days after the English First Division side denied signing the former Kaizer Chiefs defender, something that had been reported last week.
“We did not sign Bhasera, although we have had him regularly coming for trials here,” said QPR media manager, Paul Morrissey last week. It remains to be seen if Kaizer Chiefs will allow Bhasera’s latest bid to find an English club, as the Naturena-based club still insist that the Zimbabwean is contracted to them until the end of the current season, while the defender is adamant that he is a free agent. Zimbabwean
See Earlier re Bhasera
Evening Standard - Harford in striker search after Rangers capitulate
Mick Harford will ask the Queens Park Rangers board for the cash to buy a striker after his side were thumped 5-0 by Nottingham Forest last night.
The caretaker boss locked his players in the City Ground dressing room for nearly an hour after the hammering.
Harford, who has seen winger Wayne Routledge join Newcastle, is set to step up his attempts to find some more firepower to boost his flagging play-off bid.He said: "It's clear from that performance that we need a striker and that's something I'll be looking to address. The players have been told in no uncertain terms that kind of performance is not acceptable." This is London
Ben Kosky - Kilburn Times: Harford on Quashie and Ikeme
MICK Harford is convinced Nigel Quashie's QPR roots will be a key asset as the midfielder embarks on his second spell at Loftus Road.
Quashie came through the youth system at Rangers and played 63 times for the first team before the cash-strapped club sold him to Nottingham Forest for £2.5m in 1998.
And Harford, whose predecessor Paul Hart first sounded out the former Scotland international about a return to west London, told the Times: "It is a big help that he knows the club.
"He already has an affiliation with the fans, that's important and every player here knows who Nigel Quashie is and what he's about. I think he'll be a good signing for Queens Park Rangers.
"Nigel's had an injury problem, but he's been at MK Dons and played eight or nine games in the last two months, so we know he comes here fit and available to play football.
"He brings a bit of experience and knowhow with him and he's a very good footballer. He's trained with us and looked excellent and settled in very well."
Quashie, now 31, moved on to Portsmouth, Southampton, West Brom and West Ham following his two-year stint at Forest and also won 14 caps for Scotland.
He trained with QPR last week while negotiating his release from West Ham and made his second debut for Rangers in Tuesday's 5-0 hammering by former club Forest.
Another debutant was left-back Matt Hill, who signed a loan deal from Wolves until the end of the season - almost five years after turning down the chance to play for QPR.
The 28-year-old, who began his career with Bristol City, was a transfer target for former Rs manager Ian Holloway, but opted to sign for Preston instead.
Meanwhile, QPR will also try and persuade Wolves to extend goalkeeper Carl Ikeme's loan period until the end of the season.
Ikeme, who is behind Wayne Hennessey and Marcus Hahnemann in the queue for the keeper's jersey at Molineux, has impressed at Rangers since his temporary move, which ends after next week's trip to Peterborough.
"Ikeme's here to add competition and play games," said Harford. "He's looked great in training, he's got a great attitude and presence about him and we're delighted with him.
"I think when you sign players from Premier League teams, firstly they're expected to play and if they're not good enough, they won't. But Carl's proved he's more than good enough to play for Queens Park Rangers Kilburn Times
Priskin? - Kilburn Times 27 January 2010 Ipswich Town's Tamas Priskin
By Dave McIntyre and Ben Kosky
QPR have made a bid to sign Hungarian hitman Tamas Priskin from Ipswich after offloading Patrick Agyemang to Bristol City.
Priskin has failed to impress since a big-money move to Portman Road from Watford in the summer and has lost his place in Ipswich's first team.
But Rangers are interested in taking the 23-year-old target man - an international team-mate of Rs playmaker Akos Buzsaky - on loan with a view to a permanent move.
They have enquired about a number of other forwards, including Stoke's Dave Kitson, but are now preparing to make a formal offer for the Town striker.
Priskin scored 19 goals in 82 appearances during his three-year spell with the Hornets, which included a brief loan with Preston in 2008, before his move to Ipswich.
Rangers have cleared the decks for his arrival by allowing Agyemang to move to Ashton Gate on loan until the end of the season, with an agreed price of around £450,000 for his permanent transfer if he impresses.
The 29-year-old striker hit a purple patch of scoring form soon after his £350,000 arrival from Preston two years ago, but had been in and out of the side under Rangers' recent procession of managers.
Also leaving Loftus Road was winger Wayne Routledge, who joined Championship front-runners Newcastle in a £1.25m deal after they beat neighbours Middlesbrough to his signature.
Rangers turned down an initial bid for Routledge from Gordon Strachan's side, but had been anxious to trim their wage bill by selling the former Crystal Palace and Tottenham player.
There has also been speculation over the future of Rowan Vine, but new QPR boss Mick Harford confirmed that the forward remains very much part of his plans.
Vine recently underwent a hernia operation, but featured in last week's friendly against Luton and Harford told the Times: "He'll probably have a reserve game or two, but he's not in my plans to go out on loan.
"I was instrumental in bringing Rowan to the club when I was here last time and everyone knows what he's about. He's industrious, infectious and good to have around the place.
"Unfortunately he had that horrific injury, which obviously set him back a bit and he's just had a little operation, but he's training well and looks fit.
"If we can get Rowan Vine back to what he was, we've got a good player on our hands.
"You've got to be careful with players who have been out long-term, with secondary injuries, not fatigue them and make sure they're fresh and ready to go into the first team."
However, there could be further departures from QPR before the transfer window closes next Monday, with central defender Fitz Hall also lined up for a loan move.
The central defender was another of the clutch of players who joined what was then viewed as a Rangers revolution two years ago, but he has lost his place in the Rs side since Jim Magilton's departure in December. Kilburn Times
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Also available: The combined messageboard and QPRnews quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard! Check Back throughout the day for comprehensive QPR-related news snippets. All QPR Perspectives genuinely Welcomed
- Administrators Ban Crystal Palce's Victor Moses From Playing: Too Valuable an asset
- Football Support for Haiti
- Ten Best Football Advertisements
Zimbabwean Bhasera on the move again
Written by Sports Reporter Wednesday, 27 January 2010
onismor_bhaseraJOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwean international defender, Onismor Bhasera, is on the move again. (Pictured: Onismor Bhasera is adamant that he is a free agent.)
The Warriors fullback, who has been on the sidelines for six months owing to a protracted battle with his former South African club – Kaizer Chiefs and struggling English Premiership side, Portsmouth over his signature, is now said to be trying out at Sheffield Wednesday.
According to sources close to Bhasera, the Warriors left back, who spent the past few weeks trying to sign with another Championship side, Queens Park Rangers (QPR), began training last week. “Bhasera failed to strike a deal with QPR for a number of reasons and so he left,” said the source. According to the source, also a soccer player, Bhasera’s bid to sign for QPR failed because of technical changes in the team during the past two weeks.
“The man who initially wanted to sign him for Portsmouth – Paul Hart (former Portsmouth Manager) joined QPR last month, and he is the one who wanted to sign Bhasera for QPR.” However, the source added, Hart resigned a few days after Bhasera had resumed training with the Championship club, creating a problem for the Warriors defender. After his failure to land the QPR contract, Bhasera left for Wednesday late last week and is now training with the club, hoping for better luck.
“He has begun training with Sheffield Wednesday and I just hope that things will work out for him this time because he is a talented and committed individual who really deserves a break into the bigger and financially rewarding English leagues,” added the friend. Bhasera’s move from QPR comes a few days after the English First Division side denied signing the former Kaizer Chiefs defender, something that had been reported last week.
“We did not sign Bhasera, although we have had him regularly coming for trials here,” said QPR media manager, Paul Morrissey last week. It remains to be seen if Kaizer Chiefs will allow Bhasera’s latest bid to find an English club, as the Naturena-based club still insist that the Zimbabwean is contracted to them until the end of the current season, while the defender is adamant that he is a free agent. Zimbabwean
See Earlier re Bhasera
Evening Standard - Harford in striker search after Rangers capitulate
Mick Harford will ask the Queens Park Rangers board for the cash to buy a striker after his side were thumped 5-0 by Nottingham Forest last night.
The caretaker boss locked his players in the City Ground dressing room for nearly an hour after the hammering.
Harford, who has seen winger Wayne Routledge join Newcastle, is set to step up his attempts to find some more firepower to boost his flagging play-off bid.He said: "It's clear from that performance that we need a striker and that's something I'll be looking to address. The players have been told in no uncertain terms that kind of performance is not acceptable." This is London
Ben Kosky - Kilburn Times: Harford on Quashie and Ikeme
MICK Harford is convinced Nigel Quashie's QPR roots will be a key asset as the midfielder embarks on his second spell at Loftus Road.
Quashie came through the youth system at Rangers and played 63 times for the first team before the cash-strapped club sold him to Nottingham Forest for £2.5m in 1998.
And Harford, whose predecessor Paul Hart first sounded out the former Scotland international about a return to west London, told the Times: "It is a big help that he knows the club.
"He already has an affiliation with the fans, that's important and every player here knows who Nigel Quashie is and what he's about. I think he'll be a good signing for Queens Park Rangers.
"Nigel's had an injury problem, but he's been at MK Dons and played eight or nine games in the last two months, so we know he comes here fit and available to play football.
"He brings a bit of experience and knowhow with him and he's a very good footballer. He's trained with us and looked excellent and settled in very well."
Quashie, now 31, moved on to Portsmouth, Southampton, West Brom and West Ham following his two-year stint at Forest and also won 14 caps for Scotland.
He trained with QPR last week while negotiating his release from West Ham and made his second debut for Rangers in Tuesday's 5-0 hammering by former club Forest.
Another debutant was left-back Matt Hill, who signed a loan deal from Wolves until the end of the season - almost five years after turning down the chance to play for QPR.
The 28-year-old, who began his career with Bristol City, was a transfer target for former Rs manager Ian Holloway, but opted to sign for Preston instead.
Meanwhile, QPR will also try and persuade Wolves to extend goalkeeper Carl Ikeme's loan period until the end of the season.
Ikeme, who is behind Wayne Hennessey and Marcus Hahnemann in the queue for the keeper's jersey at Molineux, has impressed at Rangers since his temporary move, which ends after next week's trip to Peterborough.
"Ikeme's here to add competition and play games," said Harford. "He's looked great in training, he's got a great attitude and presence about him and we're delighted with him.
"I think when you sign players from Premier League teams, firstly they're expected to play and if they're not good enough, they won't. But Carl's proved he's more than good enough to play for Queens Park Rangers Kilburn Times
Priskin? - Kilburn Times 27 January 2010 Ipswich Town's Tamas Priskin
By Dave McIntyre and Ben Kosky
QPR have made a bid to sign Hungarian hitman Tamas Priskin from Ipswich after offloading Patrick Agyemang to Bristol City.
Priskin has failed to impress since a big-money move to Portman Road from Watford in the summer and has lost his place in Ipswich's first team.
But Rangers are interested in taking the 23-year-old target man - an international team-mate of Rs playmaker Akos Buzsaky - on loan with a view to a permanent move.
They have enquired about a number of other forwards, including Stoke's Dave Kitson, but are now preparing to make a formal offer for the Town striker.
Priskin scored 19 goals in 82 appearances during his three-year spell with the Hornets, which included a brief loan with Preston in 2008, before his move to Ipswich.
Rangers have cleared the decks for his arrival by allowing Agyemang to move to Ashton Gate on loan until the end of the season, with an agreed price of around £450,000 for his permanent transfer if he impresses.
The 29-year-old striker hit a purple patch of scoring form soon after his £350,000 arrival from Preston two years ago, but had been in and out of the side under Rangers' recent procession of managers.
Also leaving Loftus Road was winger Wayne Routledge, who joined Championship front-runners Newcastle in a £1.25m deal after they beat neighbours Middlesbrough to his signature.
Rangers turned down an initial bid for Routledge from Gordon Strachan's side, but had been anxious to trim their wage bill by selling the former Crystal Palace and Tottenham player.
There has also been speculation over the future of Rowan Vine, but new QPR boss Mick Harford confirmed that the forward remains very much part of his plans.
Vine recently underwent a hernia operation, but featured in last week's friendly against Luton and Harford told the Times: "He'll probably have a reserve game or two, but he's not in my plans to go out on loan.
"I was instrumental in bringing Rowan to the club when I was here last time and everyone knows what he's about. He's industrious, infectious and good to have around the place.
"Unfortunately he had that horrific injury, which obviously set him back a bit and he's just had a little operation, but he's training well and looks fit.
"If we can get Rowan Vine back to what he was, we've got a good player on our hands.
"You've got to be careful with players who have been out long-term, with secondary injuries, not fatigue them and make sure they're fresh and ready to go into the first team."
However, there could be further departures from QPR before the transfer window closes next Monday, with central defender Fitz Hall also lined up for a loan move.
The central defender was another of the clutch of players who joined what was then viewed as a Rangers revolution two years ago, but he has lost his place in the Rs side since Jim Magilton's departure in December. Kilburn Times
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