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Further Photos from Wigan-QPR
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Throughout the day, the QPR Report Messageboard has news updates, comments and perspectives - even links to other board comments of interest re QPR matters (on and off the field) along with football (and ONLY football) topics in general....Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER
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Chairman Tony Fernandes Tweet:
- All qpr fans. We now closed 2 great signings Joey Barton and Luke Young.
2 more hopefully monday where we need them. Also by newcastle our strike force return. Neil ad previous owners built a good sqaud 4 - 5 players will build on that. Thought team did very well against wigan with so many reserve players. Liked our youg guys."
Fernandes Tweet
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Reminder: With no Game next weekend, Saturday September 3rd is "Non League Day"
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"On This Day" August 28: Past QPR Games
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Updated on The Official Site: QPR Club Honours List
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Re Transfers and Football Agents
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Fulham's Al Fayed's "Idiosyncracies"
SPENDING ON AGENTS: QPR TOPPPED THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The latest Football League report on clubs spending on football agents (covering 2010-2011) shows QPR topped the spending in the Football League. QPR £1,770,000+
QPR
New Registration Transfer 34
Updated Contracts 12
Cancelled Contracts 0
Loans 19
Total transactions 65
1)QPR ............£1,770,262.00
2)BORO.......... £1,598,228.00
3)LEICESTER...£1,280,200.00
4)HULL ...........£993,026.00
5)READING.......£946,425.00
6)LEEDS............£788,630.00
7)NORWICH .....£683,200.00
8)POMPEY.........£674,920.00
9)BRISTOL C .....£653,900.00
10)CARDIFF.......£613,510.00
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SUMMARY
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FULL REPORT
Agents Fees paid top 10 Clubs in the Champs last year.
Total spent on Agents -24 Clubs
£14,089,702
Average spent on Agents per Club £587,070.
Average transactions per Club= 46
QPR spend at £1,770,262 .00was around 12.5 % of the total agents fees paid in the Championship.
PEOPLE - Celtic boss Neil Lennon is making a £1million move for QPR’s out-of-favour striker Rob Hulse.
- Lennon hopes to agree a deal with the Premier League new boys for the experienced forward, 31, who has dropped out of Neil Warnock’s side.
- Hulse only joined QPR from Derby a year ago and would jump at a crack at the SPL.
- Lennon needs to bolster his striker options and Rangers will allow Hulse to leave if they can land a new striker or two before the transfer deadline.
PEOPLE
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WARNOCK: 'WE'LL FIGHT ON'
Posted on: Sat 27 Aug 2011
Neil Warnock refused to be too downbeat after the R's went down to a 2-0 defeat at Wigan.
Franco Di Santo scored twice for the Latics, who defeated Rangers despite an encouraging display from the West Londoners.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Warnock said:"I'm so pleased with the effort that the lads put in.
"All you can ask is for them to do their best and with the team we had out today, I thought they were fantastic.
"I can't ask for any more than that. If we'd have scored the first goal then we would have won the game.
"Both goals were going miles wide before taking deflections. The second one was worse than the first.
"That's the difference between winning and getting nothing. Even with the team that we had out, I thought we were super."
Warnock continued: "We hit the crossbar and post three times and I thought we should have had a penalty.
"Apart from the last 35 minutes against Bolton, where we were a bit shell-shocked, I think we've been excellent.
"It's Wigan's day today but we'll live and fight on."
The summer transfer window slams shut at 11pm on Wednesday evening and, with Joey Barton and Luke Young already in at Loftus Road, Warnock insists all hands will be to the pump to make further additions to his squad.
He added: "I've been speaking to Tony Fernandes most evenings and he's been fantastic. I've never had that kind of support anywhere.
"I've come up with the names and he's told me to go for them. You can't ask for any more than that, really.
"To know that we're going to supplement the squad with five or six new players is exciting.
"You've got to have a squad where you've got players that are good enough to slot into a number of positions, and that's why we're looking at a number of players."
QPR
FULHAM CHRONICLE/Tim Street - Warnock: QPR have nothing to fear in Premiership
-QPR have nothing to fear in the Premiership – according to boss Neil Warnock – despite two defeats in their first three games.
- Warnock reckons his troops, who hit the woodwork three times in their 2-0 defeat at Wigan, were unlucky not to get a share of the spoils.
- And the Rs boss have seen nothing in those first three games to suggest his side will struggle, apart from half an hour of madness which saw them capitulate against Bolton.
- Warnock said: “I reckon (Wigan striker) Franco Di Santo will be getting himself a lottery ticket tonight, as both his goals took deflections in.
- “I was just pleased with the effort we put in with the team we had out – all I ask is we give our best – and we hit the bar and post three times.
- “Apart from 25 minutes against Bolton, when we were shell-shocked, we have done all right so far, and I'm pleased with how we have coped.
- “I think we will continue to do well, we came to Wigan and we created chances.”
Fulham Chronicle
WEST LONDON SPORT/Paul Gregory - QPR - Barton watches as unlucky QPR lose
Joey Barton watched as former Chelsea forward Franco di Santo scored twice to beat a QPR side that were denied by the woodwork three times.
Barton, whose move to Loftus Road from Newcastle was sealed on Friday afternoon, saw his new team-mates undone by a superb goal and a fortuitous one from a player who had previously scored only once for Wigan.
The good news for Rangers is that as well as capturing Barton, they have confirmed the signing of another England international in Luke Young, whose transfer from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee has been completed.
Young has agreed a three-year contract and his arrival is a massive boost for the R’s, whose limited defensive options were underlined when Fitz Hall went off injured against his former club.
Hall’s exit on the hour-mark meant Rangers, already without the suspended Clint Hill, were forced to bring 18-year-old right-back Michael Harriman on for his league debut.
Having started at right-back, Danny Gabbidon moved into the centre to partner Bruno Perone, who was also making his first Premier League appearance.
Rangers looked short at the other end of the pitch too, with DJ Campbell, who has had a virus, again missing and Jay Bothroyd having to settle for a place on the bench with Patrick Agyemang starting up front.
Perone almost scored on his Premier League debut
Agyemang ran himself ragged as Rangers worked tirelessly in the first half only to fall behind four minutes before the break.
There seemed little danger when di Santo controlled Hugo Rodallega’s pass, but he then let fly with a spectacular volley that flew past helpless goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and into the top corner of the net.
Victor Moses had wasted two chances to put Wigan ahead, first by dragging wide after riding two challenges, and then by shooting straight at Kenny after being found by Rodallega’s perfect through-ball.
But otherwise, Rangers were comfortable and had looked the more likely team to score.
Shaun Derry had an early effort tipped away by Ali Al Habsi, before Adel Taarabt beat the Wigan keeper with a curling 25-yarder that bounced back off the post.
And summer signing Perone missed the visitors’ best chance of the half by heading over from the impressive Akos Buzsaky’s fine cross.
Rangers were made to pay for that miss when di Santo lashed home, and Wigan were rescued agan by the woodwork when Al Habsi prevented an equaliser by pushing Taarabt’s free-kick onto the post.
Another piece of good fortune for the Latics led to them going further ahead midway through the second half.
Rodallega was not amused when di Santo took the ball away from him near the edge of the penalty area, but the Argentine justified his cheekiness with a shot that deflected past Kenny.
Rangers’ luck was summed up when they hit the woodwork yet again, this time when Perone headed Taarabt’s corner against the bar."
West London Sport
QPR OFFICIAL SITE Wigan 2 QPR 0
Franco Di Santo's deadly double saw the R's fall victim to a 2-0 defeat at the DW Stadium, despite a positive display.
In front of the watching Joey Barton - who completed his move to QPR from Newcastle United on Friday afternoon - as well as close to 2,000 travelling supporters, Rangers were undone courtesy of goals either side of the half-time break from Di Santo.
Wigan took the lead on 41 minutes, after Di Santo's bullet effort from the edge of the box left Paddy Kenny with no chance.
And that's before the Latics front-man grabbed a crucial second goal on 66 minutes, after his effort - again from outside the penalty area - took a cruel deflection off Bruno Perone.
R's gaffer Neil Warnock handed Perone his first league start for QPR, after Bradley Orr missed out owing to a groin problem.
Patrick Agyemang continued in attack following last weekend's memorable victory at Everton, while Fitz Hall was also named in the starting XI against the side he left to move to W12.
Kenny was in goal for Rangers, behind a back four of Danny Gabbidon, Fitz Hall, Perone and Matt Connolly.
Shaun Derry and Ali Faurlin were in defensive midfield.
Further forward, Akos Buzsaky, R's skipper Adel Taarabt and Tommy Smith operated just behind Agyemang up front.
Wigan were first to go close on three minutes.
Perone was penalised for a foul 25 yards from goal, before Jordi Gomez stepped up to curl an effort just over the bar.
There was nothing to separate the two sides early on in what was fast becoming a hard-fought encounter, although it was the Latics who again went close on nine minutes.
Emmerson Boyce rode three different tackles and, when he fed fellow former Crystal Palace man Victor Moses, he skipped past Perone down the left before firing a cross-come-shot along the six-yard box that somehow skipped across the face of goal without a touch.
A minute later, it was Rangers' turn to go close. Derry picked up possession around 25 yards from goal, before the midfield general let fly with a magnificent effort that forced an equally superb save from Ali Al Habsi.
Three minutes later, QPR went as close as you can do without finding the net.
After neat link-up play with Buzsaky, Taarabt found space on 25 yards before unleashing an effort that thundered back off the right-hand post and, from the follow up, Agyemang could only drag an effort wide of the target.
The R's were edging closer. On 25 minutes, Faurlin picked up the loose ball after a weak clearance from a corner and, when he fed Buzsaky out wide on the right, the Magical Magyar sent over a pinpoint cross on to the head of Perone, who somehow headed wide when unmarked.
Di Santo forced a smart save from Kenny just a minute later, after dispossessing Connolly from 10-yards out.
Kenny pulled off a comfortable save from Moses soon after, before Wigan took the lead in the 41st minute - harsh, it has to be said, on Rangers, after their more than satisfactory performance in the first half.
Maynor Figueroa found Di Santo in space on the edge of the box, before the former Chelsea man took a touch and smashed an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner, leaving Kenny with no chance.
Rangers went within inches of equalising on the stroke of half-time.
Taarabt's stinging free-kick took a wicked deflection off the Latics wall with Al Habsi having to scurry across his line to wonderfully tip the ball on to the right-hand post, before Wigan cleared their lines.
The R's started the second period just like they performed for much of the first.
It wasn't long before Buzsaky ran at the Latics defence and slid a pass to Taarabt on 20 yards, who fired an effort just wide of the right-hand post, albeit under pressure from his marker.
At the other end, Figueroa disposed Hall before eventually finding Gomez, whose deflected effort went just wide of Kenny's left-hand post on 58 minutes.
The R's number one was called into action just a minute later, pulling off a smart stop after Di Santo's blast from 10-yards out.
But the R's were on top and appeared to be the most likely to score next.
As it turned out that wasn't to be the case, as Rangers found themselves two down on 66 minutes.
Di Santo received possession on 25 yards and, when he shifted his feet to find space, the Latics attacker's resultant shot flicked up off the boot of Perone before the ball flew past Kenny and into the top left-hand corner.
It was tough luck on the R's but they still pressed for a goal, with substitute Jay Bothroyd, Perone and Taarabt all going close on separate occasions.
But, ultimately, it wasn't to be, as the home side preserved their unbeaten home record, which stretches back to February.
Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Caldwell, Watson, Di Santo (Sammon 68), Moses (McArthur 68), Gomez (Stam 86), Boyce, Rodallega, Diame, Lopez, Figueroa.
Subs: Kirkland, McCarthy, Thomas, Jones.
Goals: Di Santo (41 & 66)
Bookings: Lopez (33)
QPR: Kenny, Derry, Hall (Harriman 61), Gabbidon, Taarabt, Faurlin, Buzsaky (Bothroyd 72), Perone, Connolly, Agyemang, Smith (Andrade 80).
Subs: Murphy, Helguson, Ephraim, Hewitt.
Referee: Mr M Oliver
Attendance: 17,225
QPR
BBC/Phil Dawkes
BBC Sport
Di Santo has now scored three goals in 32 matches for Wigan Wigan extended their best start to a Premier League season to three unbeaten games as Franco Di Santo's brace gave them victory over QPR.
The Argentine volleyed home in the first half and found the top corner with a deflected drive in the second to give the Latics a deserved win.
They didn't have it all their own way, though, as QPR's Adel Taarabt twice struck the same post in the first half.
Bruno Perone also hit the woodwork from a second-half Taarabt corner.
Wigan's victory brings a successful end to their early-season trilogy of games against the newly promoted sides, following draws with Norwich and Swansea.
Martinez delighted with 'great win'
For the large part this was an intriguing contest between two closely matched sides.
The difference between the two, and what may ultimately prove decisive over the course of the season, is that Wigan have a broader and more incisive threat in attack in the form of Victor Moses, Hugo Rodallega and goalscorer Di Santo, who was busy throughout and brilliant when it mattered.
His first goal, four minutes before the break, was a masterclass in technique as he flicked up a pass from Moses and hammered a volley, which grazed Shaun Derry's hand en route, past Paddy Kenny from 25 yards.
For his second he initially frustrated strike-partner Rodallega by taking the ball off his foot on the edge of the area, but then wipe away the Colombian's chagrin by planting a drive in the top corner courtesy of a decisive deflection off Perone's back.
Moses was equally busy and almost scored himself early in the first half courtesy of a mini-demonstration of his own skill, as he jinked past two defenders before flashing his shot across goal.
Guy Mowbray,
Match of the Day commentator
"I particularly enjoyed Wigan's football. Fourteen passes in the build-up to the first goal. Di Santo, Rodallega & Moses a front-three handful."
In contrast to their hosts, QPR rely primarily on the threat of the mercurial Taarabt.
The Moroccan led the Hoops' fight at the DW, twice hitting the post in the first half - firstly from a superb 20-yard curling shot and then via a deflected free-kick from 35 yards, which Ali Al Habsi palmed onto the woodwork - but they cannot rely on him alone.
New signing Joey Barton was consigned to the stands after he signed too late to feature, but it is clear to see how his drive will improve Rangers' midfield.
In a tame second-half performance, the visitors managed only a handful of meaningful efforts, the best of which Perone headed against the bar from a corner.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez:
"It's important to get that first win. We knew we needed a good start and it's been pleasing to see how we're working and the competitive edge we have.
Click to play
QPR boss Warnock desperate to bolster squad
"In football you should never be happy with what you've got and there are things we need to work on. But it's pleasing that our three performances have shown us getting stronger.
"It's more than just the goals with Franco. He is going through a maturity process but the way he works for the team is very valuable. The front three are starting to show good association between them."
QPR manager Neil Warnock:
"I think Di Santo should buy a lottery ticket tonight, having both goals going in off deflections.
"We've had a bit of short change but I can't fault the lads, they given me everything today. It just didn't go for us.
"I'm pleased with the effort they put in today. I thought they were fantastic and I told them I couldn't ask for more. If we'd scored first we'd have won the game."
BBC
WIGAN OFFICIAL SITE - 'WE CAN GET BETTER' - MARTINEZ
Posted on: Sat 27 Aug 2011
Gaffer praises team win over QPR and expects development to continue
Roberto Martinez praised the performance of his team in overcoming Queens Park Rangers at the DW Stadium and recording their first win of the new season.
It was a comfortable afternoon for Latics with Franco Di Santo scoring the all-important goals, one either side of half-time to secure a tidy 2-0 victory.
Afterwards the Gaffer explained how his side had some tough challenges to overcome in order to maintain their unbeaten start to the season:
"We knew how difficult today's game was going to be but I felt the players approached the match in the right way and as a team we were strong and competed well," said Martinez.
"At times QPR played with great freedom in the final third and created a lot of problems, but overall our performance was very pleasing and that first win of the season always helps to settle the squad.
"We deserved three points today but what was important was how we earned them.
"In the build-up to the game there was much talk about the new players Neil Warnock has brought to his squad, and that can be the most dangerous time to play the opposition; all their players are out there with a point to prove as to how they can help the team and keep their place.
"However, we handled their freedom very well, created chances that concluded with two outstanding finishes from Franco Di Santo - a just reward for the hard work he's put in over the last three games.
"We showed patience which is very important at home; sometimes having grown in confidence throughout previous games you can go into a new game too eager to win.
"We knew it was a must-win game and that can be difficult to approach, but Franco's first goal represented what we had to be - patient and confident."
Jordi Gomez
PLATFORM GAME - Martinez believes there is a solid base now for Latics to continue improving upon
With no game now for two weeks as an international break disrupts the calendar, Martinez is delighted with the foundation laid in the opening three games by everyone at the club and the desire of the squad to continue improving:
"There are certain players who have been working very hard on the pitch and in training who perhaps haven't had the rewards in games, but there was a real appreciation shown to all of them today from the fans and hopefully this is the platform for them to continue developing at Wigan Athletic.
"We need to keep creating that environment at the DW Stadium which can be really hostile to visitors and inspire our players at the same time.
"We've been working for around 20 months to find that consistency and stability in our play and now you can see there is a real desire to be on the pitch and play as a team.
"All the ingredients are there to make what we have the ideal platform to build upon, and there is a set of players proud to play for Wigan Athletic hungry for success.
"We always want to be better and improve, so we'll look back at games like Norwich and Swansea to understand why we didn't come away with maximum points and correct those fine points.
"There are going to be difficult phases during the season when we'll need to have as many points as possible behind us, ready to stick together and come through as a group."
Wigan
WIGAN OFFICIAL SITE
Franco Di Santo's deadly double saw the R's fall victim to a 2-0 defeat at the DW Stadium, despite a positive display.
In front of the watching Joey Barton - who completed his move to QPR from Newcastle United on Friday afternoon - as well as close to 2,000 travelling supporters, Rangers were undone courtesy of goals either side of the half-time break from Di Santo.
Wigan took the lead on 41 minutes, after Di Santo's bullet effort from the edge of the box left Paddy Kenny with no chance.
And that's before the Latics front-man grabbed a crucial second goal on 66 minutes, after his effort - again from outside the penalty area - took a cruel deflection off Bruno Perone.
R's gaffer Neil Warnock handed Perone his first league start for QPR, after Bradley Orr missed out owing to a groin problem.
Patrick Agyemang continued in attack following last weekend's memorable victory at Everton, while Fitz Hall was also named in the starting XI against the side he left to move to W12.
Kenny was in goal for Rangers, behind a back four of Danny Gabbidon, Fitz Hall, Perone and Matt Connolly.
Shaun Derry and Ali Faurlin were in defensive midfield.
Further forward, Akos Buzsaky, R's skipper Adel Taarabt and Tommy Smith operated just behind Agyemang up front.
Wigan were first to go close on three minutes.
Perone was penalised for a foul 25 yards from goal, before Jordi Gomez stepped up to curl an effort just over the bar.
There was nothing to separate the two sides early on in what was fast becoming a hard-fought encounter, although it was the Latics who again went close on nine minutes.
Emmerson Boyce rode three different tackles and, when he fed fellow former Crystal Palace man Victor Moses, he skipped past Perone down the left before firing a cross-come-shot along the six-yard box that somehow skipped across the face of goal without a touch.
A minute later, it was Rangers' turn to go close. Derry picked up possession around 25 yards from goal, before the midfield general let fly with a magnificent effort that forced an equally superb save from Ali Al Habsi.
Three minutes later, QPR went as close as you can do without finding the net.
After neat link-up play with Buzsaky, Taarabt found space on 25 yards before unleashing an effort that thundered back off the right-hand post and, from the follow up, Agyemang could only drag an effort wide of the target.
The R's were edging closer. On 25 minutes, Faurlin picked up the loose ball after a weak clearance from a corner and, when he fed Buzsaky out wide on the right, the Magical Magyar sent over a pinpoint cross on to the head of Perone, who somehow headed wide when unmarked.
Di Santo forced a smart save from Kenny just a minute later, after dispossessing Connolly from 10-yards out.
Kenny pulled off a comfortable save from Moses soon after, before Wigan took the lead in the 41st minute - harsh, it has to be said, on Rangers, after their more than satisfactory performance in the first half.
Maynor Figueroa found Di Santo in space on the edge of the box, before the former Chelsea man took a touch and smashed an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner, leaving Kenny with no chance.
Rangers went within inches of equalising on the stroke of half-time.
Taarabt's stinging free-kick took a wicked deflection off the Latics wall with Al Habsi having to scurry across his line to wonderfully tip the ball on to the right-hand post, before Wigan cleared their lines.
The R's started the second period just like they performed for much of the first.
It wasn't long before Buzsaky ran at the Latics defence and slid a pass to Taarabt on 20 yards, who fired an effort just wide of the right-hand post, albeit under pressure from his marker.
At the other end, Figueroa disposed Hall before eventually finding Gomez, whose deflected effort went just wide of Kenny's left-hand post on 58 minutes.
The R's number one was called into action just a minute later, pulling off a smart stop after Di Santo's blast from 10-yards out.
But the R's were on top and appeared to be the most likely to score next.
As it turned out that wasn't to be the case, as Rangers found themselves two down on 66 minutes.
Di Santo received possession on 25 yards and, when he shifted his feet to find space, the Latics attacker's resultant shot flicked up off the boot of Perone before the ball flew past Kenny and into the top left-hand corner.
It was tough luck on the R's but they still pressed for a goal, with substitute Jay Bothroyd, Perone and Taarabt all going close on separate occasions.
But, ultimately, it wasn't to be, as the home side preserved their unbeaten home record, which stretches back to February."
Wigan
1 Liverpool 3 4 7
2 Chelsea 3 3 7
3 Wolves 3 3 7
4 Man City 2 5 6
5 Man Utd 2 4 6
6 Aston Villa 3 2 5
7 Wigan 3 2 5
8 Newcastle 2 1 4
9 Bolton 3 1 3
10 Everton 2 0 3
11 QPR 3 -5 3
12 Stoke 2 0 2
13 Sunderland 3 -1 2
14 Norwich 3 -2 2
15 Swansea 3 -4 2
16 Arsenal 2 -2 1
17 Fulham 2 -2 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 West Brom 2 -2 0
19 Tottenham 1 -3 0
20 Blackburn 3 -4 0
(From The Bushman Archives. Thanks)
- Play "Spot The Ball"
