QPR Report Twitter Feed

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Warnock NOT Gone - Club Official Statement (Club Remain Silent about the Official Supporters Club (OSC) Reported Resignations - QPR1st Statement)

-


- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- The Brainchild of a QPR Fan! September 3rd is Non-League Day

- Supposedly sought-after-by-QPR, Italian Defender Fabio Cannavaro WILL be leaving Al Ahli after all

- QPR Announce Second Italian Friendly: Cesena, July 27.

- QPR's July 30th game vs Atalanta. (Looking for Game Information on the Atalanta Site)


QPR Official Statement - NEIL WARNOCKPo

Thu 30 Jun 2011

The Club is aware of rumours circulating today with regards to the future of QPR Manager Neil Warnock.

The Club would like to make it clear that Neil Warnock has not resigned from his post and is continuing to work hard behind-the-scenes ahead of the R's return to pre-season training next week.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Warnock was keen to set the record straight, commenting: "We've targeted a number of players during the last few weeks and although we've missed out on some, the Board are continuing to work hard to assist me in bringing new additions to the Football Club.

"I'm confident that we'll have a few new players on board in the next couple of weeks.

"With regards to my own position, I'm really excited about the challenge that lies ahead next season and I can't wait for pre-season training next week."

We would once again advise QPR supporters to ignore idle speculation and reiterate that news is only official once it appears via our communication channels, including www.qpr.co.uk QPR


Meanwhile ....

QPR1st Supporters Trust www.qpr1st.co.uk

OSC Secretary's resignation sparks rumours of mass walkout

QPR1st understands Linda Favell has resigned from her position as Secretary of the Official Supporters Club. It is understood that other members of the OSC Committee have followed suit and stepped down.

The committee is currently made up of the following: Karen Hampshire, Zach Hampshire, Brian Ahearne, Linda Favell, Rebecca Favell, Brian Patterson, Simon Patterson and Ian Stenning. It's unclear at this stage, who the others are who have resigned, but if true, we presume elections will be arranged by the Club to create a new committee.

The OSC recently met with the Club on June 3rd 2011 to raise their concerns about the ticket pricing for the 2011/2012 season, amongst other issues surrounding the governance of the Club.

On Monday the Club published minutes from the meeting that Linda Favell has stated on message boards, were not written by her, and which she claims did not reflect the entire content of the meeting.

More recently the Club have been using the OSC as a vehicle and mouthpiece for the fans and has refused to meet independent supporters groups on a one-to-one basis, which in the past has occurred on a regular basis. We continue to regret that the Club currently is reluctant to continue with this practice.

QPR1st remains extremely concerned by the Club's inability to engage with its supporters and it's clear that communication levels have now reached a total breakdown between the Club and its fans, irrespective of whether it's an independent supporter group or one that is affiliated to the Club, such the OSC.

We are also saddened to hear that the Club is publishing incomplete, inaccurate and potentially false accounts of the meeting. There are unsubstantiated rumours at this time that not all of the OSC members listed as in attendance in the minutes were actually present at the meeting, and that the Club are deliberately manipulating material to provide a picture to their liking that does not reflect reality.

The Club continues to generate its own negative press by its actions and a mass walkout for its own affiliated Official Supporters Group is the first in the OSC's 75 year history and an embarrassing reflection of how poorly the Club is handling governance matters currently.

QPR1st will try to establish the facts behind the meeting and will write to the Club seeking their position on the matter as well. QPR1st

QPR Report Thursday: Turmoil at Loftus Road?...No Boothroyd?....The Wonderful People of St. Louis...Italy Friendly II

-
The QPR Squad of Forty Years ago!
-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- Supposedly sought-after-by-QPR, Italian Defender Fabio Cannavaro WILL be leaving Al Ahli after all

- QPR Announce Second Italian Friendly: Cesena, July 27.

- QPR's July 30th game vs Atalanta. (Looking for Game Information on the Atalanta Site)

- Ex-QPR Michael Meaker Named Assistant Manager at Yate Town

- September 3rd is Non-League Day

- Bradley Orr at The White City Community Center

- Five Year Flashback: Gianni Paladini and Gary Waddock Press Conference

- Six Year Flashback: Holloway talking about Trying to sign Adre Flo for QPR

- Six Years Ago, the Chairman (Bill Power) and the CEO (Mark Devlin) actually talking to the Fans to put forward their case for why they took certain steps. (What a concept)

- Birmingham owner arrested/in Court in Hong Kong


TURMOIL?

One area of turmoil at Loftus Road is the resignation of the majority of the members Official Supporters Club (OSC) Committee. (Nothing yet on the Official Site)

David McIntyre Blog - A critical stage
Just over two weeks before the start of Rangers’ pre-season campaign and it seems all is not well.

A row over bonuses from last season has been averted, but the all-too familiar spectre of a stand-off between the manager and board is hanging over QPR once again.

I’ve been told that promotion will cost the club around £10m in player bonuses.

That could be a wild exaggeration, but what I do know for sure is that a number of players were unhappy – to put it mildly – when the squad didn’t receive their bonuses in May.

A settlement was reached when it was agreed the players would receive their bonuses at a later date.

But a gulf between Warnock and the club’s owners will also need to be closed if Rangers’ preparations for the Premier League aren’t to be thrown into total chaos.

Warnock told me shortly before the end of last season that he fully expected to be nudged towards a number of Italian players this summer, but most of his targets were English-based.

For recently making public his frustration at missing out on some of those targets, Warnock angered his bosses and has since been reluctant to comment.

Rangers do look close to getting a few of his preferred signings, especially in the case of Jimmy Bullard.

But other potential deals have hit problems, including the mooted signing of Jay Bothroyd, which was shelved because of the proposed wages involved. Talks apparently resumed, and it looks like there is a fair chance the player will end up at Rangers.

DJ Campbell has also been in talks, and again the signs there are positive.

The club need – and expect – to confirm the signings of two to four players very soon, which would indicate that Warnock is getting his way.

In 12 years of covering QPR, you could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I’ve referred to a ‘source’ or ‘insider’. I hate doing that. And there have been even fewer occasions on which I’ve been talked out of doing a story by the club.

But late on Saturday night, after conversations with (here goes) club sources, I was talked out of circulating a story that Warnock’s relationship with the board was close to breaking point.

I was assured that such a story would be proved wrong within a few days, as the club would definitely complete some signings and were making progress with other possible additions.

For once, I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt, partly because I knew much of what I was told to be true.

But the situation has reached a critical stage and is, I understand, being monitored by the League Managers’ Association, which is a very significant development.

The owners have never intended to fire Warnock, but his contract states that he has full control over transfers, and according to some inside the club, there is now a feeling that this stipulation may have been breached, which would apparently entitle him to a full pay-off were he to walk away.

He made several excellent acquisitions last summer but there have been rumblings of discontent among his bosses over signings such as those of Petter Vaagen Moen, Leon Clarke and Rob Hulse.

That may have been a factor in the sea-change during the second half of last season, when Bernie Ecclestone started having more of an influence behind the scenes and Gianni Paladini’s involvement, which had been reduced, seemed to slightly increase.

It is worth pointing out though that Paladini is a staunch ally of Warnock, who was very much his choice for the manager’s job – regardless of how things were portrayed at the time.

I do believe the situation will be resolved, that Rangers will get over the line with at least a couple of signings in the next 48 hours, and that Warnock will still be in charge come August.

But I have to admit I’m less confident about that than I was this time last week.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 30th, 2011 at 00:40 and is filed under 2011. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Dave McIntyre Blog


Paul Warburton/Fulham Chronicle - QPR fail in Bothroyd bid
- QPR have been priced out of a move for Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd.
- The England striker, although a free agent when his deal expires tomorrow, is understood to have wanted wages of around £50,000-a-week.
- And with a wage cap somewhere around half of that at Loftus Road – the club is no nearer the extra firepower needed to do better than Olly’s club.
- Although a pay packet was a problem in Bothroyd’s case, the position of manager Neil Warnock was the rock on which the transfer of £4million Craig Mackail-Smith foundered, according to Peterborough director of football, Barry Fry. Fulham Chronicle


ST LOUIS HELPING OUT GRACE MURPHY -

St Louis - Soccer team to host fundraiser for UK girl



http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journal....bf14afbef6.html

The St. Louis Lions semi-professional soccer team will raise money for 8-year-old Grace Murphy at their game against the Springfield Demize at 5 p.m. June 26 at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex, 2 Woodlands Parkway in Cottleville.

Grace, who lives in a small town outside London, England, has cerebral palsy and will be in St. Louis to undergo selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery at St. Louis Children's Hospital later this month.

In an effort to help with the cost of surgery and physical therapy, the Lions will collect donations and sell baked goods, gift baskets, Grace's ribbons and vintage Lions jerseys during the game. Grace, her mother Claudette, her father Ed and her brother Teddy will attend the game.

"When we heard about Grace coming to St. Louis to undergo this complicated procedure, which will improve her mobility and quality of life, we immediately wanted to help," said Tony Glavin, Lions head coach and former All-Star Steamers soccer player. "Our St. Louis Lions and Tony Glavin Soccer Club members are a tight-knit family, always wanting to make a difference in a child's life — on and off the field."

To make a donation, call Tony Glavin and the St. Louis Lions at 636-939-5151. Visit www.tonyglavin.com for more information.

[url]http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/article_8af2feb1-363a-5955-a91a-73bf14afbef6.html#ixzz1QerT huGi[/url]


ST LOUIS LIONS OFFICIAL SITE
Demize Rally for 2-2 Draw with the Lions


St. Louis, Mo…The Demize rallied in the second half to capture a 2-2 draw with the Lions in front of 826 at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex. The game was played is extremely humid conditions after nearly 4 inches of rain fell in the St Louis area overnight.

The Lions came out firing and struck first in the 4th minute when Defender Alan Braderic found Captain Dean Lovegrove on a long outlet pass up the middle. Lovegrove deflected the ball past the Springfield defender and sent a nifty toe poke past the on rushing keeper.

The Lions continued to take early control of possession and Lovegrove found the back of the net when he ripped a shot from outside the 18 yard box in the 7th minute. Kenny Kranz controlled the ball on the right side of the 18 and found a streaking Lovegrove across the top of the box.

Although the Lions controlled much of the possession and had numerous chances from inside the box they could not put the game away. In the 40th minute Springfield began to claw their way back into the game when Jose Esparza capitalized on a defensive miscommunication in the Lions goal box.

“The game was there for us to take and we didn’t finish it off when we had the chance. It’s disappointing because we had numerous opportunities and we did not take full advantage of them,” said Tony Glavin Lions Head Coach “Credit to Springfield because they fought the entire way”

The game remained 2-1 going into the halftime break and the crowd was celebrating amid the humid conditions.
In the second half the Lions came out strong again only to come up empty on several close chances inside the box.

“When we are in the box we have to finish” said Glavin

In what still is a confusing incident, in the 57th minute, the referee had heard enough from the Springfield coaches and went over to issue a warning. No cards were show but the result was a Springfield Coach exiting the field. The apparent dismissal sparked the Demize for a brief couple of moments. In the 60th minute the Demize were finally able to get into the Lions goal box and a shot deflected off a defender and hit a Lions player in the arm. The referee was quick to signal a penalty kick for the hand ball. Juan Maffey stepped in to convert the PK and complete the comeback for Springfield.

For much of the remainder of the game it was one-way traffic, in the Demize defensive 3rd, as the Lions continued to press looking for the go ahead goal. Springfield dropped into a defensive state and held on to the 2-2 draw.

Today’s game between the St. Louis Lions and the Springfield Demize was a fundraiser for 8-year-old Grace Murphy.

Grace, who lives in a small town outside London, England, has cerebral palsy and is in St. Louis to undergo selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital later this month.

In an effort to help with the cost of surgery and physical therapy, the Lions collected donations and sold baked goods, and held raffles for gift baskets. The Lions also sold Grace’s ribbons and vintage Lions jerseys during the game.

“When we heard about Grace coming to St. Louis to undergo this complicated procedure, which will improve her mobility and quality of life, we immediately wanted to help,” said Tony Glavin, Lions head coach and former All-Star Steamers soccer player. “Our St. Louis Lions and Tony Glavin Soccer Club members are a tight-knit family, always wanting to make a difference in a child’s life — on and off the field.”

To make a donation, call Tony Glavin and the St. Louis Lions at 636-939-5151. Visit www.tonyglavin.com for more information.As a reminder the St Louis Lions will be holding an Open House announcement at Lindenwood University Basketball Arena, this evening at 7:00pm, to formally announce the St Louis Lions Elite Youth Academy’s partnership with Glasgow Celtic. Greig Robertson, Director of International Development and Academy Coach will be in town for the formal presentation. All media and public are welcome to attend

The Lions return to action Saturday July 2nd – Lindenwood University for “Pack the House” St Louis deserves a professional team and here is your chance to show your support for professional soccer in St Louis. Come out and Pack The House.

Go to www.stllions.com or call 636-939-5151 for more information and tickets.
http://www.stllions.com/blog/demize-rally-for-2-2-draw-with-the-lions/

- Wonderful Tale of St Louis Support: QPR Fan Grace Murphy in St Louis, Missouri (USA) for Operation. The People of St.Louis Help Out



- QPR reportedly for Michel Morganella

- QPR's Joe Oastler Joins Torquay

- Ex-QPR Jamie Cureton Joins Orient

- QPR/St Jude Plaque Commemoration

- Tavistock AFC vs QPR, July 18...A Tavistock Invite/Appeal...Order Tickets

Current Premiership Relegation Odds

- General Advice: How to Choose a Password

- Ex-QPRs: Where Are They Now?

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

QPR Report Wednesday Update: Hulse's Agent Explains Rejection...Why Becoming Harder to Like QPR


-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- QPR reportedly for Michel Morganella

- QPR Fan Grace Murphy in St Louis, Missouri (USA) for Operation. The People of St.Louis Help Out

- QPR's Joe Oastler Joins Torquay

- Further Open Questions to The Official Supporters Club (OSC) - (Still Lacking Contact Info)

- Ex-QPR Jamie Cureton Joins Orient

- Ex-QPR Simon Walton Looking Forward to New Season with Plymouth

- Westfield Courting West Ham

- Four Year Flashback: John Curtiss Joins QPR

- Four Year Flashback II: Two New Coaches Join QPR

- Birthday for Terry Venables's First QPR Signing

- Argentina's River Plate Club Examined

- QPR's Pre-Season Updated: Playing Atalanta


- Hulse Turns Down Millwall Move. His Agent Explains
Football League - Hulse not interested in Hoops exit
- QPR striker Rob Hulse has no intention of leaving Loftus Road and wants to establish himself as a force in the Premier League, according to the player's agent.
- Hulse has been linked with a move away this summer but his agent Matt Buck insists he is fully focused on proving his worth in the top flight - a stance that recently saw him reject the chance of joining Millwall.
- "There was an inquiry to QPR and there was an inquiry to Rob to see what his thoughts were on it," Buck told Press Association Sport. "Basically he wants to go back pre-season and try to prove himself to the coaching staff and people at QPR that he warrants a place in the Premier League 25-man squad."
- He added: "And hopefully the Premier League matchday squad."
- He added: "Rob is not even considering temporary moves at the moment.
- "With Millwall if the situation changes we told them we would keep them in informed like anybody else.
- "But his whole 100% focus is to get back, work hard in pre-season, work hard in the friendly games and prove he is worth that place."
- Hulse penned a three-year deal with QPR when he joined from Derby last summer, but only made 12 starts in the second tier.


Dan King/News Of The World - Why it's become harder to like the not-so-Super Hoops
June 28, 2011
- UNLESS you are a Chelsea fan, it is hard not to have a soft spot for Queens Park Rangers.
- Or at least, it was.
- In what should be a summer of celebration as they return to the top flight, something is not right at Loftus Road. Quite a few things, actually.
- Up and down... Manager Neil Warnock (left) and player Alejandro Faurlin (right) Up and down... Manager Neil Warnock (left) and player Alejandro Faurlin (right) When I was growing up, QPR went from plucky FA Cup Finalists to Premier League respectability. They were part of the landscape.
- Sure, they annoyed everyone with their plastic pitch, but they had decent players, an attractive style and a certain, slightly down-at-heel, West London charm.
- I can remember watching them demolished by Manchester United's Andrei Kanchelskis and later snatching a deserved draw with Chelsea.
- Invited by a Super Hoops-supporting mate both times, the atmosphere standing in the West Paddock at pitch level was great. It felt like proper football.
- That was the first season of the Premier League and a lot has changed since then, only some of it for the better.
- When I first started working as a football reporter in 2000, there was still something homely and decent about a trip to Twyford Avenue in West Acton to chat to Gerry Francis or Kevin Gallen.
- The ongoing uncertainty about the future of Neil Warnock tells you everything you need to know about the current regime
- Tony the Tailor, who was there every week with his rail of clothes for the players to try on, ended up making suits for my wedding.
- But as Rangers gear up for their first season in the Premier League since 1996, they seem to epitomise a lot of what is wrong with the game - only without the trophies to go with it. A poor man's - or should that be an even richer men's? - Manchester City.
- Billionaires with little understanding of football squabbling over who is going to own the club? Check (or cheque).
- Bizarre off-the-field shenanigans? Buenos dias, Alejandro Faurlin.
- Massive ticket price hikes? Welcome to the recession-proof industry of football.
- The ongoing uncertainty about the future of Neil Warnock tells you everything you need to know about the current regime. We don't just make these stories up, you know. Despite bringing QPR back to the promised land, Warnock's job is far from safe.
- He is not everyone's cup of tea. But you cannot argue with his record of getting teams promoted and the least he deserves is a chance to keep them up.
- Can Flavio Briatore honestly say that another manager could do a better job with the players Warnock is likely to have at the start of the season?
- QPR's chances of attracting better footballers have hardly been enhanced by the row over promotion bonuses which has only just been resolved.
- The billionaires' blueprint for Rangers - "boutique football" is the irritating phrase Briatore once used - seems to be to squeeze everyone for every penny they possibly can while clinging on to Premier League status.
- That's business, you may say. And no one wants another Portsmouth, a club loaded with decent players they could not afford to pay.
- But no one wants a club that has lost its soul and dignity either. News of The World


- QPR/St Jude Plaque Commemoration

- Five Year Flashback: "THE TRIAL" Not Guilt Verdicts

- "Who Knew?!" - Jamie Mackie Played in Wimbledon's Last League Game before became MK Dons

- Two-Year old Article: Which Clubs do Fans of Premiership Clubs Most Hate

- Tavistock AFC vs QPR, July 18...A Tavistock Invite/Appeal...Order Tickets

- Article: The Power of Football Agents

Current Premiership Relegation Odds

- General Advice: How to Choose a Password

- Ex-QPRs: Where Are They Now?

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Why It's Becoming Harder to Like QPR

-
- Bushman's 1965/66 Season History
-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________
-
An article well worth reading


Dan King/News Of The World - Why it's become harder to like the not-so-Super Hoops


June 28, 2011

UNLESS you are a Chelsea fan, it is hard not to have a soft spot for Queens Park Rangers.

Or at least, it was.

In what should be a summer of celebration as they return to the top flight, something is not right at Loftus Road. Quite a few things, actually.

Up and down... Manager Neil Warnock (left) and player Alejandro Faurlin (right) Up and down... Manager Neil Warnock (left) and player Alejandro Faurlin (right) When I was growing up, QPR went from plucky FA Cup Finalists to Premier League respectability. They were part of the landscape.

Sure, they annoyed everyone with their plastic pitch, but they had decent players, an attractive style and a certain, slightly down-at-heel, West London charm.

I can remember watching them demolished by Manchester United's Andrei Kanchelskis and later snatching a deserved draw with Chelsea.

Invited by a Super Hoops-supporting mate both times, the atmosphere standing in the West Paddock at pitch level was great. It felt like proper football.

That was the first season of the Premier League and a lot has changed since then, only some of it for the better.

When I first started working as a football reporter in 2000, there was still something homely and decent about a trip to Twyford Avenue in West Acton to chat to Gerry Francis or Kevin Gallen.

The ongoing uncertainty about the future of Neil Warnock tells you everything you need to know about the current regime

Tony the Tailor, who was there every week with his rail of clothes for the players to try on, ended up making suits for my wedding.

But as Rangers gear up for their first season in the Premier League since 1996, they seem to epitomise a lot of what is wrong with the game - only without the trophies to go with it. A poor man's - or should that be an even richer men's? - Manchester City.

Billionaires with little understanding of football squabbling over who is going to own the club? Check (or cheque).

Bizarre off-the-field shenanigans? Buenos dias, Alejandro Faurlin.

Massive ticket price hikes? Welcome to the recession-proof industry of football.

The ongoing uncertainty about the future of Neil Warnock tells you everything you need to know about the current regime. We don't just make these stories up, you know. Despite bringing QPR back to the promised land, Warnock's job is far from safe.

He is not everyone's cup of tea. But you cannot argue with his record of getting teams promoted and the least he deserves is a chance to keep them up.

Can Flavio Briatore honestly say that another manager could do a better job with the players Warnock is likely to have at the start of the season?

QPR's chances of attracting better footballers have hardly been enhanced by the row over promotion bonuses which has only just been resolved.

The billionaires' blueprint for Rangers - "boutique football" is the irritating phrase Briatore once used - seems to be to squeeze everyone for every penny they possibly can while clinging on to Premier League status.

That's business, you may say. And no one wants another Portsmouth, a club loaded with decent players they could not afford to pay.

But no one wants a club that has lost its soul and dignity either. News of The World

QPR Report Tuesday: St Jude's...Ferdinand on QPR's Return...Who's Buying Players...Questions after Club-Official Supporters Club (OSC) Meeting

-

- See Bushman's "Early Years" of QPR Photos ....
- QPR/St Jude Placque Commemoration
QPR Official Site - CLUB TO UNVEIL ST JUDE'S PLAQUEPosted on: Tue 28 Jun 2011
- To commemorate the 125th anniversary since St Jude's Institute and Christchurch Rangers merged to become Queens Park Rangers, the Club are set to mark this milestone by the unveiling of a plaque at St Jude's Hall - QPR's original headquarters.
- The Club are organising an event as part of the unveiling, with fun activities, raffles and prizes for local families and QPR fans.
- The event will take place on Saturday 9th July 2011 between 1.00pm and 4.00pm at: St Jude's Hall, Ilbert Street, Queen's Park, London, W10.
- The plaque unveiling will take place at approximately 2.00pm.
- Special guests from the Club's past and present day will also be in attendance.
- Please note that there will be no alcohol served at this event.
- The QPR story began in 1882 in a newly-built residential estate of West London, with the formation of two local youth teams, St Jude's Institute and Christchurch Rangers.
- St Jude's was set up for the boys of Droop Street Board School (now Queen's Park Primary) by Jack McDonald and Fred Weller, supported by the Revd. Gordon Young, whilst Christchurch Rangers was formed by George Wodehouse Snr.
- Both teams amalgamated in 1886.
- Wodehouse had played in a match between the two sides and was watched by a friend of his, who suggested that a merger between the two Clubs would be a good idea.
- Queen's Park Rangers was the name chosen for the new Club, suggested by E.D Robertson because the members were based in the Queen's Park district of West London. QPR
-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________
-
- Five Year Flashback: "THE TRIAL" Not Guilt Verdicts

- Five Year Flashback: Gary Waddock OFFICIALLY appointed QPR Manager....Four Year Flashback, Title Winning Youth Coach, Joe Gallen, strangely axed by Manager John Gregory.

- Betting Fair/Ralph Ellis: Premier League Summer Transfers: When the board men pick the players

"Gone are the days when it was solely the Manager who decided which players his club should sign. Ralph Ellis looks at which Premier League Chairmen and Board Members like to meddle when it comes to raiding the transfer market.

We all think we know about football. We've all got an opinion. And that's fine when it's you and me discussing what to have a bet on, or what went wrong with England's Under 21s. It doesn't really do that much harm either when it's random punters ringing in to the local radio station to air their daft views, however much that might add to the pressure on the guy who's running the team.

When it really causes problems is when football club directors start thinking they can spot a player. All the more so, when they reckon they know more than their manager. Then you've got a recipe for disaster.

The trend in football for chairmen and chief executives to get involved in transfers began when they took responsibility from managers for the task of negotiating fees and contracts. What happened next, in many clubs, was that they tried to take over choosing the players to buy as well. Agents saw the signs, and cosied up to the blokes who signed the cheques.

It's ended up with the ridiculous situation that Birmingham's acting chairman put out a statement over the weekend insisting he didn't meddle in the transfer decisions of former boss Alex McLeish; and he justified the claim by giving a list of players he'd wanted to sign that McLeish wouldn't have. It struck me it actually proved the board did interfere - otherwise why were they spending time finding players in the first place?

"There's a similar row brewing, you sense, at Queen's Park Rangers. The story from Italy has leaked this morning that Italy's World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro could be recruited at Loftus Road. The stylish centre back, the most capped player in Italy's history, is available on a free after turning down a lucrative coaching role at Qatar club Al Ahli, where he's been since leaving Juventus.

Now I know that Hoops boss Neil Warnock seemed to have changed his lifetime of pragmatic football philosophy last season by finding a role for maverick Moroccan Adel Taarabt. But I somehow can't see that his idea of how to shore up a defence ready for the Premier League is to sign a 37-year-old, whose legs have gone. The man behind the move is clearly co-owner Flavio Briatore, whose passion to interfere in the running of the team caused so many problems for the ten managers and 47 players who came and went in four years of his control previously.

Ominously, in the last few weeks QPR have also been linked with 37-year-old Marco Matterazzi (who has been freed by Inter Milan) as well as Nicola Legrottaglie, who is 34 and just been let go by AC Milan.

Warnock has hitherto been adept at handling the politics of the QPR boardroom, but the higher profile of a place in the Premier League will re-open the whole can of worms. Briatore is now back in charge of football operations, backed by Bernie Ecclestone's money, since Amit Bhatia and Ishan Saksena, the men behind the recruitment of Warnock, stood aside.

QPR are 1.96 to be the top promoted team in a new Betfair market, and I'm tempted to lay that. Warnock has been telling his local papers how he's "hoping the board will clarify that I can sign" players he's been looking at. It's fair to assume that none of them are ageing Italian World Cup legends.

The toughest task for any newly promoted manager is strengthening his squad. Players are reluctant to sign up to a club that promises them little more than a struggle against relegation, and want to wait to see if they can do better.

relegation, and want to wait to see if they can do better.

Swansea, not surprisingly, are the 4.8 outsiders to be best of the new boys. The play-off winners always start at a disadvantage with less time to prepare, and that was reduced even more as Brendan Rodgers took himself off to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity and then took a holiday after Wembley was over.

Of the three that went up it seems Norwich, priced at 3.3, have best got the ball rolling so far, with James Vaughan from Everton, Welsh international striker Steve Morison from Millwall, and Brighton's promising Elliott Bennett all putting pen to paper for Paul Lambert. I'm betting that Delia Smith never said a word about any of them. Well possibly except "Let's be 'avin you". But only after Lambert told her who he wanted. Betting Fair


LES FERDINAND ON QPR

Al Jazeera/Jason Dasey - Sir Les welcomes Rangers back to the big time
Former striker Les Ferdinand recalls glory days but says things have changed as QPR prepare for Premier League return.
-The greatest goals compilations from the early days of the English Premier League are aired in high rotation on cable television, providing a window into the last time that Queens Park Rangers competed with England’s elite.

Banging them in along with the likes of Eric Cantona, Teddy Sheringham and Ian Wright is Les Ferdinand, wearing the familiar blue and white-hooped shirt of the west London club.

The shorts were shorter back then, but it's easy to recognise the ex-England international almost two decades later as a striker coach at Tottenham Hotspur, another of his former clubs.

Approaching his 45th birthday, Ferdinand still looks fit enough to put in a full shift up-front against his much younger cousins, Rio and Anton Ferdinand.

Last week's draw for the 2011/12 season gave QPR an October trip to White Hart Lane in their return to the Premier League after a 15-year absence.

Their opening fixture on August 13 is at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Paddington-born Ferdinand supported Spurs as a boy but admits to having a soft spot for QPR, where he scored 80 league goals in 163 games over eight years.

When he was sold to Newcastle United in July 1995 for a club record £6 million ($9.5 million), many fans saw it as the beginning of the end for the R's days in the Premier League.

Relegated

Indeed, just 10 months later they were relegated and would drop to England's third tier a few years later.

"It is great to see QPR back in the Premier League," Ferdinand said.

"Football today is very different because there is a lot of rotation. In my day if I scored two goals I knew I would be in the team the next weekend, but you are not guaranteed that these days even if you get goals"

Les Ferdinand, Tottenham Hotspur forwards coach

"I think everyone expected it to happen a few years ago once the money came into the club, yet it wasn't to be. But they are there now and I'm delighted for them."

The money was from QPR’s foreign owners – Formula One magnates Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone plus Indian steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal – who promised an immediate transformation when they took control of the club in 2007, giving it an estimated value of £22 billion ($35 billion).

The return to the promised land did come, but happened only after 10 different managers and yet more boardroom shake-ups.

At the height of Ferdinand's heyday in the early 1990s, both QPR and the English game were vastly different compared to the multicultural mixing pot that saw Moroccan Adel Taarabt inspire their successful promotion campaign, and Dutch recruit Rafael Van Der Vaart emerge as Tottenham's top scorer.

Taarabt is a former Spurs player who reportedly wants to leave Loftus Road because he thinks the current squad will find the going tough in the Premier League.

Ferdinand agrees.

"Like most clubs who come up from the Championship it will be a struggle for QPR," he said.

"They need to spend, and spend wisely, and if they do that, they will give themselves the best chance.

"But Neil Warnock is a wily manager who has had a taste of the Premier League and knows what it is all about and deserves another crack."

Calibre

If QPR had a striker of Ferdinand's calibre, their chances of avoiding the yo-yo fate of so many clubs in recent seasons would be much higher.

'Sir Les' was a human battering ram with finesse whose strong right foot produced 180 league goals and prolonged his career until his 40th year.


Taarabt's goals have fired QPR into the English Premier League [GALLO/GETTY]

In the mid to late '90s, he formed a formidable partnership with Jurgen Klinsmann at Tottenham, and alongside Alan Shearer at Newcastle, where he had a phenomenal scoring rate of 50 goals in just 84 matches.

But it was in the scruffy London suburb of Shepherds Bush where he first made his reputation.

Ferdinand had been loaned out to third division Brentford, and Besitkas in Turkey, before he established himself in the first team in the 1990-91 season.

Two years later as the Premier League was launched, Ferdinand's 20 goals in 37 matches saw QPR finish fifth in the table as Manchester United took the inaugural title.

"My best memory would be from that year where we finished as the top London team," he said.

"We were at a small club that was never going to win the league, but what we tried to do every year was finish as high up as we possibly could.

"You had Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea – the three big clubs – and West Ham, who were a good little side then, and we finished top of the bunch."

Like West Ham, QPR were known to play an attractive style and certainly produced some eye-pleasing performances as they were cruised to the second division Championship title last season.

But manager Warnock will be careful not to follow the fate of former QPR boss Ian Holloway.

He was praised for Blackpool's entertaining passing game, yet couldn’t stop the Seasiders slipping straight back into the second division last month.

Ferdinand recalls that QPR's reputation as an attractive team was built during his days growing up in London.

"I always remember when I played there and a lot of people said it in the 70s as well, that if their favourite team was away from home they would go and watch QPR play instead," he said.

"It was always a good little footballing club, similar to West Ham, who grew up on that same tradition. The quality of that side meant that most of our players were comfortable on the ball."

Like the QPR of old, his current club Tottenham have earned critical acclaim without having the consistency to back up the hype.

They dazzled on the European Champions League stage last season, yet a fifth place EPL finish means they’ll be missing in 2011/12.

And Ferdinand admits that the lack of production from Spurs' strikers cost them dearly.

"Football today is very different because there is a lot of rotation," he said.

"Jermain Defoe scored two goals against Wolves then, for the next game he was on the bench.

"In my day if I scored two goals I knew I would be in the team the next weekend, but you are not guaranteed that these days even if you get goals."

With no Champions League qualifying distractions, Tottenham open the season at home to Everton.

But Ferdinand admits he'll have more than a curious eye a dozen miles across town to Loftus Road as QPR make their long overdue return.

Jason Dasey (www.jasondasey.com) is an Asia-based international sports broadcaster and host/executive producer of Kopi-O, a new football chat show for Singapore. Al Jazeera


The Club and the Official Supporters Club

Three weeks after the meeting between a Club official and the Official Supporters Club (OSC), the "Minutes" of the meeting was posted on the QPR Official Site's OSC Site. The Minutes evoked further, mostly rather caustic, comments on the various QPR fan boards (including QPR Report).

One fan, Terry Brown who was in earlier repeated contact with the club and the Official Supporters Club in trying to obtain further information re the OSC-Club meeting and the makeup of the OSC, wrote the following, which was sent to various official at the Club and the OSC:

The Letter

After reading the minutes of the meeting between QPR & the OSC on 3/6/11 I would like to make the following comments & raise some questions.

Firstly, I would like to thank the OSC committee for requesting a meeting with the club & asking some pertinent questions. However, the responses in the minutes would suggest that the club did not take the meeting as seriously as the OSC or Rangers supporters. Would have preferred.

Therefore, please can the club or the OSC answer the following questions:-

1) For a meeting of such importance why were the club only represented by the Marketing dept. & not senior management/decision makers?

2) Why could the board have not agreed a two tier ST price system prior to the result of the FA enquiry – one set of prices for the Premier & one set for the Championship? These could then have been issued directly after the Leeds match.

3) Stating that the increases were a board decision is an irrelevance. We all knew that! Why is there no explanation for the board’s rationale?

4) Why is there no “Early Bird” discount for renewals?

5) Other London based clubs have vastly superior facilities. Have any of the board or marketing dept. ever looked at Loftus Road or Ellerslie Road ? Have any of you ever tried to sit in those areas during a match?

6) You imply, by omission that the prices for Gold is not competitive. How do the club intend to compensate Gold ST holders? (I must declare an interest here as a Gold ST holder).

7) Why were the minutes from the meeting only issued two days before the closing date for renewal, when this was the purpose of the meeting?

8) What is there in the minutes that required 3 weeks to be approved by the club senior management? Surely the only approval & accuracy could be given by the attendees?

9) By stating that the club will only talk to the OSC, do the club realise that they have caused the backlash for the OSC committee from members & supporters groups?

I look forward to your reply & would ask that the answers are made public to the supporters of Queens Park Rangers FC.

Terry Brown - QPR Report



QPR Official Site - Minutes from meeting between OSC Committee and QPR 03/06/11


Attendees:
QPR:
Joe Kyle
Daniel Laryea

OSC Committee:
Karen Hampshire (Chair)
Ian Stenning (Vice Chair and Trust Liaison)
Brian Ahearne (Treasurer)
Linda Favell (Secretary and Assistant Treasurer)
Rebecca Favell (Assistant Secretary)
Brian Paterson
Zach Hampshire

OSC stated that they had called this meeting because they wanted to try and give
some answers to the fans about Season Ticket prices and other areas of concern.

OSC indicated that they had been subject to a backlash from some of the other
supporters groups because they were not publicly seen to be meeting with the club.

OSC expressed the view that they, and in their belief a number of fans, were feeling let down by the handling of the Season Ticket campaign. They raised the following points:
- The prices were extremely high.
- The club has held out as long as possible before releasing prices in order to see how
much more they could charge.
- They were concerned that the prices would drive away the core support that had
been coming to the club for years.
- There was no loyalty shown to the long term supporters.
- The proposed timeframe was too short for many fans to pay.

The club responded that there had been no possibility of releasing prices any earlier until the outcome of the FA enquiry had been resolved, which wasn’t until the end of the season.

The club pointed out that the prices reflected the fact that the fans would be
watching a higher class of football at Loftus Road next season and that the prices
remain competitive with other London based clubs. They also stated that the ticket
prices were a board decision, as has always been the case.

The club then provided a brief summary of the ‘per match’ price breakdown of
Season Tickets and indicated that the pricing was still competitive in many areas,
particularly around Bronze and Silver level. The Platinum level only constitutes
approximately 2% of the entire stadium Capacity so needs to be placed in context.

Age Groups Bronze Silver Gold Platinum
Kids U8 £2.58 £5.21 - -
Junior U16 £7.84 £10.47 £13.11 £28.89
Young Adult 16-21 £16.79 £21.00 £26.26 £36.79
Adult £28.89 £34.16 £39.95 £52.58
Disabled £16.79 £21.00 £26.26 -
Senior Over 60 £16.79 £21.00 £26.26 £36.79
Family Area (Renewals Only)
2 adults & 2 U16s - £73.63 - -
1 adult & 2 U16s - £47.32 - -
1 adult & 1 U16 - £42.05 - -
1 adult & 1 U21 - £52.58 - -

OSC raised concerns about the quality of stadium facilities. The club made it known
that they always strive to improve the match day experience for the fans.
Unfortunately due to the constraints of Loftus Road stadium, major improvements
are not possible.

OSC expressed the view that the ‘Stars Come Out’ campaign was misguided and
receiving a lot of negative comments on the message boards. They were unhappy
with the focus on other teams' players as a draw to attract fans to Loftus Road.
The club said that the ‘Stars Come Out’ campaign was not questioning the loyalty of
the fans but rather promoting the higher standard of football that will be played at
Loftus Road next season. The views on the message board were taken out of context
because they had only seen that part of the campaign separately from the rest of the
season ticket brochure which tracked the club's fantastic achievements throughout
the season.

OSC stated that they were receiving a fairly high volume of negative comments from
other groups, suggesting that they were not doing anything proactive to help the
fans. They expressed their enthusiasm to have as much of an active role as possible.

The club said that the relationship with the OSC is very important and that they were keen to work alongside each other more regularly and make people more aware of
the OSC’s contribution. They felt that the OSC can make a real difference addressing
supporter issues such as catering, facilities, coach travel, away details to name but a few.

The club acknowledged that they need to make people aware of their regular
meetings with the OSC on behalf of the fans. As such they proposed that a structure
of regular meetings is put in place where the OSC and the club will meet monthly.
Each meeting will be promoted on the website and on Facebook a week in advance
and all fans will be encouraged to share any concerns with the OSC so that they may
be discussed at the next meeting. The meeting minutes would then also be published
on the club website following each meeting. QPR


Also Posted (as previously "reported" on QPR Report last Friday: The membership of the OSC has been "disclosed"


QPR Official Site - OSC COMMITTEE DIRECTORY


Posted on: Mon 27 Jun 2011

Karen Hampshire - Chair

Ian Stenning - Vice Chair and Trust Liaison

Brian Ahearne - Treasurer

Linda Favell - Secretary and Assistant Treasurer

Rebecca Favell - Assistant Secretary

Other members ...

Brian Paterson

Simon Paterson

Zach Hampshire

QPR


- Update re The QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC): The Committee Membership...Club/OSC Meeting Minutes Released Today (Monday)...The OSC Constitution - [Note: Not everyone appreciated such questions being asked!]

- QPR Fan Groups Speaking Out in Protest

- QPR's Last Fan Forum: More than One Thousand, Five Hundred Days (1,500) Days Ago. Flashback to that last forum.



- [Note: Not everyone appreciated such questions being asked!]

- QPR Fan Groups Speaking Out in Protest

- Swansea Faced and Now Seem Set to Escape Transfer Ban

- Five Year Flashback: QPR Manager Gary Waddock Optimistic...>Four Years ago Coaches Neil and Skinner join John Gregory at QPR

- Four Year Flashback: Danny Nardiello Joins QPR on a Free

- Dave Clement's Son Axed by Chelsea

- "Who Knew?!" - Jamie Mackie Played in Wimbledon's Last League Game before became MK Dons

- Two-Year old Article: Which Clubs do Fans of Premiership Clubs Most Hate

- Tavistock AFC vs QPR, July 18...A Tavistock Invite/Appeal...Order Tickets

- Article re Transfer Gossip/Rumours on Social Media

- Article: The Power of Football Agents

- Strange Comments from Hearts


Leicester Mercury - Leicester City's bid for Craig Mackail-Smith accepted by Peterborough
Monday, June 27, 2011

Leicester City have had a bid accepted for Peterborough United striker Craig Mackail-Smith.

City have emerged as the front-runners to land the 27-year-old after he turned down moves to Premier League new boys Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City.

West Ham are also in negotiations for the prolific forward but Posh have yet to accept an offer from the Hammers for him.

Posh director of football Barry Fry confirmed Mackail-Smith was now in talks with City.

"We have accepted a bid from Leicester," said Fry.
"Their manager Sven-Goran-Eriksson is out of the country at the moment, but was due to speak to Craig over the weekend.
- "I have had several conversations with West Ham, but we have turned down their bid. I am certain they will be back.
- "Craig is facing a tough decision. He turned down Norwich and he has now turned down QPR."
Leicester Mercury


- Watford Assessment of QPR's Bid for Danny Graham
From the great
Watford Fan Blog BHaPPy / from last month

Current Premiership Relegation Odds

- General Advice: How to Choose a Password

- Ex-QPRs: Where Are They Now?

Monday, June 27, 2011

Minutes of The QPR-Official Supporters Club (OSC) Meeting

-

-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________
-

QPR Official Site - Minutes from meeting between OSC Committee and QPR 03/06/11


Attendees:
QPR:
Joe Kyle
Daniel Laryea

OSC Committee:
Karen Hampshire (Chair)
Ian Stenning (Vice Chair and Trust Liaison)
Brian Ahearne (Treasurer)
Linda Favell (Secretary and Assistant Treasurer)
Rebecca Favell (Assistant Secretary)
Brian Paterson
Zach Hampshire

OSC stated that they had called this meeting because they wanted to try and give
some answers to the fans about Season Ticket prices and other areas of concern.

OSC indicated that they had been subject to a backlash from some of the other
supporters groups because they were not publicly seen to be meeting with the club.

OSC expressed the view that they, and in their belief a number of fans, were feeling let down by the handling of the Season Ticket campaign. They raised the following points:
- The prices were extremely high.
- The club has held out as long as possible before releasing prices in order to see how
much more they could charge.
- They were concerned that the prices would drive away the core support that had
been coming to the club for years.
- There was no loyalty shown to the long term supporters.
- The proposed timeframe was too short for many fans to pay.

The club responded that there had been no possibility of releasing prices any earlier until the outcome of the FA enquiry had been resolved, which wasn’t until the end of the season.

The club pointed out that the prices reflected the fact that the fans would be
watching a higher class of football at Loftus Road next season and that the prices
remain competitive with other London based clubs. They also stated that the ticket
prices were a board decision, as has always been the case.

The club then provided a brief summary of the ‘per match’ price breakdown of
Season Tickets and indicated that the pricing was still competitive in many areas,
particularly around Bronze and Silver level. The Platinum level only constitutes
approximately 2% of the entire stadium Capacity so needs to be placed in context.

Age Groups Bronze Silver Gold Platinum
Kids U8 £2.58 £5.21 - -
Junior U16 £7.84 £10.47 £13.11 £28.89
Young Adult 16-21 £16.79 £21.00 £26.26 £36.79
Adult £28.89 £34.16 £39.95 £52.58
Disabled £16.79 £21.00 £26.26 -
Senior Over 60 £16.79 £21.00 £26.26 £36.79
Family Area (Renewals Only)
2 adults & 2 U16s - £73.63 - -
1 adult & 2 U16s - £47.32 - -
1 adult & 1 U16 - £42.05 - -
1 adult & 1 U21 - £52.58 - -

OSC raised concerns about the quality of stadium facilities. The club made it known
that they always strive to improve the match day experience for the fans.
Unfortunately due to the constraints of Loftus Road stadium, major improvements
are not possible.

OSC expressed the view that the ‘Stars Come Out’ campaign was misguided and
receiving a lot of negative comments on the message boards. They were unhappy
with the focus on other teams' players as a draw to attract fans to Loftus Road.
The club said that the ‘Stars Come Out’ campaign was not questioning the loyalty of
the fans but rather promoting the higher standard of football that will be played at
Loftus Road next season. The views on the message board were taken out of context
because they had only seen that part of the campaign separately from the rest of the
season ticket brochure which tracked the club's fantastic achievements throughout
the season.

OSC stated that they were receiving a fairly high volume of negative comments from
other groups, suggesting that they were not doing anything proactive to help the
fans. They expressed their enthusiasm to have as much of an active role as possible.

The club said that the relationship with the OSC is very important and that they were keen to work alongside each other more regularly and make people more aware of
the OSC’s contribution. They felt that the OSC can make a real difference addressing
supporter issues such as catering, facilities, coach travel, away details to name but a few.

The club acknowledged that they need to make people aware of their regular
meetings with the OSC on behalf of the fans. As such they proposed that a structure
of regular meetings is put in place where the OSC and the club will meet monthly.
Each meeting will be promoted on the website and on Facebook a week in advance
and all fans will be encouraged to share any concerns with the OSC so that they may
be discussed at the next meeting. The meeting minutes would then also be published
on the club website following each meeting. QPR


Also Posted (as previously "reported" on QPR Report last Friday: The membership of the OSC has been "disclosed"


QPR Official Site - OSC COMMITTEE DIRECTORY


Posted on: Mon 27 Jun 2011

Karen Hampshire - Chair

Ian Stenning - Vice Chair and Trust Liaison

Brian Ahearne - Treasurer

Linda Favell - Secretary and Assistant Treasurer

Rebecca Favell - Assistant Secretary

Other members ...

Brian Paterson

Simon Paterson

Zach Hampshire

QPR


- Update re The QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC): The Committee Membership...Club/OSC Meeting Minutes Released Today (Monday)...The OSC Constitution - [Note: Not everyone appreciated such questions being asked!]

- QPR Fan Groups Speaking Out in Protest

QPR Report Monday Update and Flashbacks...Player Reportedly Rejects QPR

-

-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- Football League Players report back for training this week. QPR players (whoever they are!) report back next week! And waiting to see if QPR really Sign Bullard, Hargreaves or 37-year old Fabio Cannavaro (His Current Club Deny he's leaving)

- Update re The QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC): The Committee Membership...Club/OSC Meeting Minutes Supposedly Released Today (Monday)...The OSC Constitution
- [Note: Not everyone appreciated such questions being asked!]

- QPR Fan Groups Speaking Out in Protest

- Swansea Faced and Now Seem Set to Escape Transfer Ban

- Five Year Flashback: QPR Manager Gary Waddock Optimistic...>Four Years ago Coaches Neil and Skinner join John Gregory at QPR

- Four Year Flashback: Danny Nardiello Joins QPR on a Free

- Dave Clement's Son Axed by Chelsea

- "Who Knew?!" - Jamie Mackie Played in Wimbledon's Last League Game before became MK Dons

- Two-Year old Article: Which Clubs do Fans of Premiership Clubs Most Hate

- Tavistock AFC vs QPR, July 18...A Tavistock Invite/Appeal...Order Tickets

- Article re Transfer Gossip/Rumours on Social Media

- Article: The Power of Football Agents

- Strange Comments from Hearts


Leicester Mercury - Leicester City's bid for Craig Mackail-Smith accepted by Peterborough
Monday, June 27, 2011

Leicester City have had a bid accepted for Peterborough United striker Craig Mackail-Smith.

City have emerged as the front-runners to land the 27-year-old after he turned down moves to Premier League new boys Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City.

West Ham are also in negotiations for the prolific forward but Posh have yet to accept an offer from the Hammers for him.

Posh director of football Barry Fry confirmed Mackail-Smith was now in talks with City.

"We have accepted a bid from Leicester," said Fry.
"Their manager Sven-Goran-Eriksson is out of the country at the moment, but was due to speak to Craig over the weekend.
- "I have had several conversations with West Ham, but we have turned down their bid. I am certain they will be back.
- "Craig is facing a tough decision. He turned down Norwich and he has now turned down QPR."
Leicester Mercury


Assessment of QPR's Bid for Danny Graham

From the great Watford Fan Blog BHaPPy / from last month

End of Term Report Part 3 22/05/2011 Posted by Matt Rowson in Thoughts about things.


The hardest episode to write so far, simply because the status of the first two subjects is a little up in the air…
10 – Danny Graham

There’s not a lot to say here, really. Twenty-seven goals speaks for itself, although perhaps less so Graham’s herculean contribution to our season in terms of tieing together our attacking play. Danny’s first season with Watford featured barren spells without goals, but he was well worth his place during those spells for his industry, his link-up play, and his intelligence… Tom Cleverley and Henri Lansbury both benefitted from the space he created. This year his role as the fulcrum of the attacking play was undiminished… but the barren spells didn’t come except, arguably, harshly, at the very end of the season. Having a quick sidekick in Marvin Sordell didn’t hurt Graham at all, but in any event Graham has developed into the perfect second tier striker; a bit of everything, and humility as well. You wouldn’t swap him for any other striker in the division, bar none.

Next Season: Whether the perfect second tier striker is up to being a Premier League striker is something we’re likely to find out. Graham’s public eagerness to test himself at the highest level is one pointer, another our very noisy rejection of QPR’s baffling opening bid for Graham. Baffling – and I’m digressing a little – because it’s not quite clear what they hoped to achieve by it.

An early bid to get in ahead of any rivals still focused on the Premiership relegation bunfight would make sense, but not at that price. £4m, and the time to remodel, perhaps we’d have been tempted. So this bid achieves precisely nothing for QPR, but gives us the opportunity to shout from the rooftops in case anyone wasn’t paying attention already. “Look, that’s NO to £2.5m. Who’s next? Don’t be shy…”.

Was Warnock doing Malky a favour? Or was he drawing someone else’s fire, someone also eyeing his real target? Or is he just an idiot? Anyway… is Danny equipped for the top flight? Difficult. My reservation would be that he’s good at everything, but not brilliant at anything. So… he’s quick, but not like Theo Walcott. He’s strong, but he’s no Alan Shearer. He’s clever, but he’s no Sheringham. He’s a good finisher, but not spectacular like an Henry or a Rooney. He’s guaranteed to work his socks off, of course. But then so would I, probably. Hertfordshire will still be rooting for him, at any rate. Even if he joins our alumni at Loftus Road. Bhappy

- BhAPPy reader comments re this article

- See also on BHappy a Watford Fan Perspective re "Golden Graham 08/06/2011 Posted by Ian Grant in Thoughts about things.


- Chelsea and Financial Fair Play Rules..Brian Glanville on Chelsea and Ken Bates

- Approaching Four Years: QPR "Saved" by Briatore and Ecclestone

- July Plaque to Commemorate QPR Founding

- Stan Bowles Pub Appearance, July 6

- QPR1st - QPR1st attend Ladies Presentation Night

- Three Year Flashback: Blackpool Complain about QPR and Gorkss

- 12 Year Flashback: QPR Statement on QPR-Fulham Groundsharing

- 11 Year Flashback: QPR's Chris Warren Aiming for Premiership Football

- Craziness at Hearts: Official Statement

- Current Premiership Relegation Odds

- General Advice: How to Choose a Password

- QPR's Last Fan Forum: More than One Thousand, Five Hundred Days (1,500) Days Ago. Flashback to that last forum.

- Ex-QPRs: Where Are They Now?

Sunday, June 26, 2011

QPR Report Sunday: Tabloids Link QPR to (Another) Aging Italian International and Recently-Injured England International

-
UPDATED: Bushman's Collection of Photo Memories from the 1967 League Cup Final
-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- Today, Sunday: Race in Memory of Neil Roberts (for Females)

Update re The QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC): The Committee Membership...Club/OSC Meeting Minutes Supposedly Released Tomorrow (Monday)...The OSC Constitution

- QPR Fan Groups Speaking Out in Protest

- Dave Clement's Son Axed by Chelsea

- Chelsea and Financial Fair Play Rules..Brian Glanville on Chelsea and Ken Bates

- Approaching Four Years: QPR "Saved" by Briatore and Ecclestone

- Two Year Flashback: QPR "Source" "Gary Borrowdale has never been given a chance"

- Tavistock AFC vs QPR, July 18...A Tavistock Invite/Appeal...Order Tickets

- July Plaque to Commemorate QPR Founding

- Stan Bowles Pub Appearance, July 6


News of The World - Hoops eye Cannavaro
June 26, 2011
- QPR are lining up a sensational move for Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro.
- Defender Cannavaro, 37, is available on a free after being released by Dubai side Al-Ahli.
- Hoops owner Flavio Briatore, who wants to land a big name to mark the club's return to the Premier League, would love to bring the former Juventus and Real Madrid star and fellow countryman to Loftus Road.
- Cannavaro - who rejected a coaching role at Al Ahli to continue his playing career - said: "I have not yet decided when I will retire."
- Centre-back Cannavaro is the most capped player in Italy's history and led the nation to victory over France in the 2006 World Cup Final.


NEIL WARNOCK'S OWEN HARGREAVES CHANCE

ABOVE: Neil Warnock is considering giving Owen Hargreaves a chance Neil Warnock is considering giving Owen Hargreaves a chance to save his career
26th June 2011 By Carl Eldridge
- NEIL WARNOCK is considering giving Owen Hargreaves a chance to save his career at QPR.
- Owen Hargreaves was released by Manchester United at the end of last season and is now a free agent.
- Hargreaves, 30, has been sidelined for two years with injuries, most of which stem from having tendonitis in both knees.
- But Warnock could do with the former Bayern Munich star’s Premier League experience as the Hoops look to improve their squad in order to stay in the top flight for more than one season.
Ex-Sheffield United and Crystal Palace boss Warno could make a move – if the midfielder will entertain a pay-as-you-play deal.
But he will have to hurry, MLS sides Toronto and Vancouver also want to offer Hargreaves a deal. Star


NEWS OF THE WORLD
Monty on QPR's radar - Premier League new boys want Sheffield United's Nick Montgomery

News of The World - Hughton targets Puncheon
June 26, 2011

CHRIS HUGHTON wants to make Southampton winger Jason Puncheon his first signing as Birmingham boss - but faces competition from QPR.
Puncheon impressed during a loan spell with Blackpool in the Premier League last season but was unsettled in the North-West.
And with Saints desperate to move the 24-year-old on this summer, Hughton is ready to swoop in a £1million deal.



QPR1st - QPR1st attend Ladies Presentation NightPublished June 25, 2011


Neil Jackson attended the QPR Ladies http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/qprladiesfc/ Presentation Night on behalf of QPR1st yesterday, and received a gift from the Club for The Trust’s continued sponsorship of a player every season.
- The event was held at Loftus Road Stadium in the Tony Ingham suite.
- The Trust have been sponsoring a Ladies player for the past three seasons and continues to pledge its support for the Ladies department going forward.
- This season The Trust sponsored Tammy Scrivens from the Ladies first-team, who went on to pick up the Manager’s Player of the Year Award.
- For further details on how to sponsor a Ladies player for the 2011/12 season, please download the Ladies Kit Sponsor Form.
http://www.qpr1st.com/news/qpr1st-attend-ladies-presentation-night/


- Three Year Flashback: Blackpool Complain about QPR and Gorkss

- 12 Year Flashback: QPR Statement on QPR-Fulham Groundsharing

- 11 Year Flashback: QPR's Chris Warren Aiming for Premiership Football

- Craziness at Hearts: Official Statement

- Current Premiership Relegation Odds

- General Advice: How to Choose a Password

- QPR's Last Fan Forum: More than One Thousand, Five Hundred Days (1,500) Days Ago. Flashback to that last forum.
Ex-QPRs: Where Are They Now?

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Routledge Revised...The Committee of the QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC)...Out Monday: Club-OSC Meeting Minutes

-
- UPDATED: Bushman's Collection of Photo Memories from the 1967 League Cup Final
-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- Tavistock AFC vs QPR, July 18...A Tavistock Invite/Appeal...Order Tickets...Visit

- July Plaque to Commemorate QPR Founding

- Stan Bowles Pub Appearance, July 6

- The Norwich Summer Signings

- Ipswich Want Transfer Ban Imposed on Swansea!

- Three Year Flashback: Blackpool Complain about QPR and Gorkss

- 12 Year Flashback: QPR Statement on QPR-Fulham Groundsharing

- 11 Year Flashback: QPR's Chris Warren Aiming for Premiership Football

- Oastler Set for Torquay

- Craziness at Hearts: Official Statement

- Current Premiership Relegation Odds

- General Advice: How to Choose a Password


Routledge Update: Luke Edwards/The Journal - Wayne Routledge QPR deal hits snag
- WAYNE Routledge's permanent transfer to Queens Park Rangers has stalled because the winger is waiting for a so-called "loyalty" payment from Newcastle United before he agrees to the move.
- Routledge is holding out for the six-figure sum as he did not ask for a transfer, even though United have agreed a fee with QPR and he has accepted personal terms.
- Whether the stalemate continues once pre-season training gets under way remains to be seen, but The Journal understands the club will not be paying the money to Routledge.
- As things stand, the winger is expected to report for the start of pre-season training – even though he spent the last half of the previous campaign on loan at Loftus Road and has made it clear he wants to sign for them on a permanent basis.
- QPR boss Neil Warnock is still keen to bring Routledge into his squad following his side’s promotion to the Premier League.
- While ex-Newcastle boss Chris Hughton – now in charge of Birmingham – would also like to take the former Tottenham prospect to St Andrew’s following his appointment as manager this week, QPR remain in pole position ti sign him.
- United are happy to let Routledge leave as manager Alan Pardew does not think he is good enough for a top-half-of-the-table Premier League side.
- However, they do not see why they should have to compensate him for that move after just 18 months on Tyneside – six of which he was a QPR playe
- In reality, Routledge is likely to break first. Although he has every right to remain on Tyneside for the remaining year of his contract, he will hardly be involved in the first team following the signing of Sylvain Marveaux and the return to fitness of Hatem Ben Arfa.
- In contrast, he is expected to be a key member of the side under Warnock and will also be able to live in his hometown where he spent much of his spare time, even when playing regularly for the Magpies..." Journal Live


Update re The QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC)

- Three weeks ago, the club and the Official Supporters Club(OSC) announced in a joint statement that they had met. Various questions were subsequently asked about the Official Supporters Club. (See below some "Open Questions" below)

The club have now responded to a questioner and have promised that minutes of the meeting will be posted on Monday, June 26.

According to another QPR Report poster: the following seven people make up the Committee of the Official Supporters Club:
- Karen Hampshire
- Zach Hampshire
- Brian Ahearne
- Linda Favell
- Rebecca Favell
- Brian Patterson
- Simon Patterson
- Ian Stenning


QPR and the Official Supporters Club: Some Open Questions

Two weeks ago, (June 3rd) QPR and the QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC) issued a joint statement about the OSC meeting with Club Representatives about among other things, ticket prices. The joint statement went on to say "The meeting also highlighted the importance of the OSC as a mouthpiece for the fans. It was agreed that moving forward, the OSC would continue to meet frequently and will aim to meet monthly with the Club to discuss any issues or concerns that the fans might have. The Club proposes to publish a reminder of the upcoming meeting a week in advance and encourage the fans to contact the OSC with any topics they would like discussed. A summary of the points of discussion and the agreed next steps will be made available on the Club website following each meeting. The Club hopes that other supporters groups will also be able to hold regular meetings with the OSC, in order to allow the OSC to better communicate their views to us."

As others have noted, the OSC Constitution sets out certain things and a number of questions have been asked re the Official Supporters Club and how things are run. And a letter to the OSC was sent from 30+ fans, meeting the OSC bylaws. Two weeks later, things remain as unclear as two weeks ago.

So: Four Open Questions to the OSC and the Club (and there are probably quite a few other questions that could be posed.

[Note: These Questions were composed by someone else and were sent to the club several days ago. Thus far, the questions have yet to be answered.]

1) What was the response by the club to the OSC comments regarding the incredible rises in the cost of season tickets?

2) When will the minutes of the meeting be published?

3) As a member of the OSC (by being a ST holder) please could you inform me as to whom the representatives are?

4) How are the representatives of the OSC elected?


- The Official Supporters Club (OSC) Website
- The Official Supporters Club (OSC) Constitution


- Also:

- QPR Fan Groups Speaking Out in Protest

- QPR Report Blog June 7- The Club's Effort to "Syphon" Access Through Its Designated Fan Group

- Any Corrections or Response for publication can be posted on the QPR Report Messageboard or emailed to QPR Report

Year Flashback: OSC's Other Site Down


- QPR's Last Fan Forum: More than One Thousand, Five Hundred Days (1,500) Days Ago. Flashback to that last forum.


- Two Year Flashback: QPR Reject Parma Friendly!

- Ex-QPRs: Where Are They Now?

Blog Archive