QPR Report Twitter Feed

Friday, September 30, 2011

QPR Report Friday: Borrowdale Loaned Out...Fulham Ground Share?...Non-League Trialist In...Two Loans Out

-

-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- Raheem Sterling as one of top Ten Teens in the Premiership

- NEXT: Fulham QPR-Fulham Stats/Shared Players/Previews: Photos from the Bushman Archive Collection

- Answer to This Week's "Spot The Ball"

- "On This Day"...Four Year Flashback; John Gregory's Last Game in Charge of QPR...Crash 5-1 to WBA

- "On This Day..." Six Year Flashback: New QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini Profiled and Interviewed...and Takes Action Versus Evening Standard

- QPR In The Community: Helping Older People Stay Healthy

- Six Years Ago Yesterday: Gianni Paladini Officially Named QPR Chairman - and issues Statement

- Sunderland Suspend Bramble

- Developments at Blackburn?...Off to India, just before QPR Game


Barnet Official Site - BEES BORROW BORROWDALE
Fri 30 Sep 2011

Lawrie Sanchez has made a bid to stop Barnet shipping goals by moving to take 26-year-old left back Gary Borrowdale on loan from this season's Premiership newcomers Queens Park Rangers.
- The 6ft tall Borrowdale, who also plays in central defence, trained with the Bees squad yesterday and is expected to sign for the Bees at The Hive this morning in time to be named in the squad for tomorrow's game against Northampton Town at Underhill.
- With Danny Senda still ruled out with the hamstring injury he collected against Oxford United a fortnight ago, Borrowdale could step straight into the team, with Jordan Parkes perhaps switching flanks to vie with Clovis Kamdjo. There is no announcement from the Bees camp before the final training session of the week; the club did not want to announce their approach for Borrowdale yesterday until the paperwork was complete.
- An experienced defender, Borrowdale made his debut for Crystal Palace at the age of 17 and made more than 100 appearances for the South London club. He then joined Ian Dowie, his former manager, at Coventry City for a £650,000 tribunal fee and made 21 appearances for the club after agreeing a three and a half year contract.
- Borrowdale has made a further 21 apperances for QPR in the past couple of seasons and has been on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion (12 games), Charlton Athletic (11) and Carlisle United (one).
- He has represented England at U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-20 levels and was called up for the U-21s but did not get a game...." Dennis Signy/Barnet Official Site


TELEGRAPH/Jason Burt -Queens Park Rangers and Fulham could consider sharing a new stadium

Queens Park Rangers visit Craven Cottage on Sunday for a west London derby, but is there a chance that the two Premier League clubs may eventually share a bespoke new stadium? It seems so.

Jason Burt: QPR and Fulham could consider sharing a new stadium
Thumbs up: Could Tony Fernandes relocate QPR and share with Fulham?

They have shared before, of course, with Fulham the tenants at Loftus Road for two seasons between 2002 and 2004 while Craven Cottage was redeveloped after plans for an ambitious new ground had been shelved.

Going even further back, in the late 1980s, there was even a scheme by the club’s then owners to sell off the Cottage and merge the two clubs as Fulham Park Rangers and play at Loftus Road.

That plan, after understandable hostility, was quickly dropped.

However new QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has identified that with a stadium at a capacity of just 18,300 and with limited facilities and no real hope of redeveloping the existing ground, his club have to move. And quickly.

It helps that QPR are well located within London with parcels of land available nearby, partly opened up by the BBC’s Salford relocation and the huge Westfield shopping development. Indeed Fernandes has already candidly floated the idea of not just moving but sharing.

Some have assumed that this would entail a deal with Chelsea, who have been considering for some time whether to quit Stamford Bridge and have received approaches ever since Roman Abramovich acquired the club.

It is believed that QPR would like to examine whether an initial 30,000-capacity stadium would work for them and there has even been the idea of building a slightly larger arena and trying to offer discounted tickets to watch the other team that occupies it, and vice-versa.

The attitude of Fulham owner Mohamed Fayed is key, of course, to the possibility of a ground-share. He would encounter opposition to re-developing the Craven Cottage site for commercial use from the local council, as he has found out before, while there is no suggestion that right now he would be even interested in discussing a new stadium.

But given the proximity of both clubs, 2.5 miles apart, and given their similar fan-bases and the challenges they face to stay in the Premier League and compete, it would be surprising if, come Sunday, there isn’t even the slightest suggestion of a collaboration in the pre-match hospitality. Telegraph


Sutton Guardian/Stuart Amos - Hampton's Thompson and Inman on QPR radar
Thursday 29th September 2011

Hampton & Richmond Borough striker Dan Thompson may be back at the Beveree, but boss Mark Harper has admitted it might not be for long.

The 17-year-old returned to the Bevears line-up for Saturday’s 3-1 win over Weston-Super-Mare after a three-week spell on trial at Premier League Stoke City.

Eight other clubs had representatives at Station Road to cast their eye over him only to see Thompson taken off just before half-time with a nasty head injury.

But the scouts seemed to leave happy as defender Dean Inman secured a trial with QPR reserves this week, with his team-mate lined up to do the same when he gets over his concussion.

City remain keen on Thompson, but Harper insisted others were still interested in him.

And providing he can play for Hampton at weekend’s he’s more than happy to see him try out for other outfits higher up the pecking order.

“Dan looks fitter and more accomplished in just three weeks at Stoke,” he said.

“If that is how he comes back from every trial then I’m happy for him to do it as long as he can play for us at a weekend.

“Until there is a firm deal that suits both parties, he is our player.” Sutton Guardian

Player Profiles - Hampton & Richmond Official Site:
Dean Inman
- A product of the Under 18’s Dean is now entering his 3rd full season with the club. Last season Dean was a virtual ever present, missing only 3 games, and despite just turning 20 already has 70 first team appearances under his belt. Equally comfortable playing in midfield he signed a 1 year contract with the club in June 2011.
http://www.hamptonfc.net/index.php/2011-06-04-19-50-17/firstteam/player/1/16

Dan Thompson
- 17 year old striker who is a product of the Juniors section and made the step up to the first team last year after impressing for the Under 18’s and Reserves. Strong and quick he scored his first senior goal for the club in February at Woking, becoming Hampton & Richmond’s youngest ever goal scorer in the process.
http://www.hamptonfc.net/index.php/2011-06-04-19-50-17/firstteam/player/1/5
Hampton Richmond


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - BRUNO ANDRADE LOANED TO ALDERSHOT
BRUNO JOINS SHOTS
- Young winger Bruno Andrade has joined Aldershot Town on loan.
- The teenager has penned a one-month loan deal with the League Two side.
- Andrade - who has made two appearances for the R's this season - could be in line to make his Shots debut against Accrington Stanley this weekend.
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2466663,00.html

ALDERSHOT OFFICIAL SITE - QPR YOUNGSTER JOINS ON LOAN


Aldershot Town have completed the loan signing of Queen's Park Rangers midfielder/winger Bruno Andrade.

Portuguese-born Bruno possesses pace and, despite being predominantly right-footed, can play on either side of the pitch.

He came through the Centre of Excellence at Queen’s Park Rangers, signed his first professional contract in October 2010 and made his debut as a late substitute in the Championship game against Preston North End midway through the following month.

His only other appearance that season was as a first half replacement for broken leg victim Jamie Mackie against Blackburn Rovers in an FA Cup third round tie at the beginning of January, whilst his performances in the under-18 and reserve sides saw him win the “Supporters’ Young Player of the Year” award.

Following QPR’s promotion as the 2010-11 Championship winners, Bruno played the full 90 minutes of the shock League Cup defeat to Rochdale in late August 2011 (meaning he is ineligible for the upcoming game against Manchester United), with his top tier debut coming from the bench against Wigan Athletic four days later.

In order to gain experience, Bruno (who turns 18 on Sunday) has joined Aldershot Town on a one-month loan and has been given squad number 25.

Speaking to www.theshots.co.uk, Shots boss Dean Holdsworth said, "Bruno is a quick and exciting talent and is eager to come and play for Aldershot Town, too. Hopefully, he will give us another spark to the squad. We have a lot of matches coming up in the next month and it is important that we are prepared for them. Aldershot



QPR Offical Site -TROY PENS DAGGERS LOAN

-Troy Hewitt has joined Dagenham & Redbridge on loan.
-The QPR forward has penned a one-month emergency loan deal with the League Two strugglers, and could be in line to make his Daggers debut against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2465829,00.html


DAGENHAM OFFICIAL SITE - Daggers Swoop For Hewitt

Dagenham & Redbridge FC have today completed the emergency loan signing of QPR striker Troy Hewitt.

Signed from Harrow Borough in February, Hewitt has made just one appearance for Rangers to date, at home to Rochdale in the Carling Cup.

Troy, 21 was snapped up by Rangers after a prolific season for Harrow Borough where he scored 20 goals in just 30 appearances, three of which came in a FA Cup 4th Qualifying round match against Eastbourne Borough. This performance led to him being nominated for the 'E.on Player Of The Round'.

Daggers manager John Still is delighted to have brought Troy on loan to the club.

"He's a young boy who we looked at when he was at Harrow Borough. He went to Queens Park Rangers but we've kept our eye on the situation.

"He's a local boy from Ilford which helps. We always felt he was a player who might go on to progress from non-league football. As I say unfortunately he went to QPR but the chance has now come up to take him for a month and we think it's a good move for both parties."

Troy has been given squad number 38 and is eligible for Satruday's match with Crewe Alexandra.

Daggers Player caught up with Troy on the morning of his signing, subscribers can hear from him here. Dagenham


- In a Youth Cup Game: Six from Bath City Sent Off Over Underpants!

- A Look at Coventry's "Mysterious" Ownership: MP Calls for Transparency

Thursday, September 29, 2011

QPR Report Thursday Updates and Flashbacks..Mackie's Return

-

-
Thirty-five Years ago today: Brann Bergen 0 QPR 7
-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- To all Jewish QPR Fans: Shana Tova/Happy New Year


- Birthday for Former QPR Chairman - and lifelong-QPR Supporter, Bill Power (BP)

- Birthday for 4 1/2 Year Contract Striker Pat Agyemang

- Thirty-Five Years Ago Today: Brann Bergen 0 QPR 7...41 Years ago: Alec Stock/Mike Keen Revenge at Loftus Road...60 Years Ago: Win over Brentford

- Audio: EX-QPR Tony Sealy on Talksport (talking about life in Hong Kong)

- Interesting (Lengthy) Piece re Italian Football

- At Nottingham Forest: Steve McClaren Stays. David Pleat Out

- NEXT: Fulham QPR-Fulham Stats/Shared Players/Previews: Photos from the Bushman Archive Collection


Ealing GAzette/Paul Warburton Dagenham & Redbridge set to sign QPR strikerSep 28 2011

TROY Hewitt is set to go out on loan to struggling Dagenham & Redbridge for game time in League Two.

The QPR striker has made just one substitute appearance for his new side since his switch from non-league Harrow Borough in March.

Hotshot Hewitt was left out of Neil Warnock's 25-man squad submitted to the Premier League, with the 21-year-old being sent on loan to the Daggers to continue his development. Ealing GAzette



QPR Official Site - IN RESERVE: R'S BEAT BRIGHTON
Posted on: Wed 28 Sep 2011

QPR Reserves beat a Brighton XI at the Club's training ground this afternoon in an eight-goal thriller.

The entertaining match also featured the return of attacker Jamie Mackie, who made a second-half appearance, after a nine-month spell on the sidelines.

Although, Mackie didn't find out he was set to feature until after first-team training this morning.

Saints loanee Jason Puncheon put the R's ahead on 20-minutes with a superb left-footed strike, after cutting inside from the right flank.

Although it wasn't long before the match was level, as Jamie Smith's acute chip beat Brain Murphy in the Rangers goal.

The lead was restored on 37-minutes, when Akos Buzsaky converted from the spot, after Puncheon was fouled inside the Brighton 18-yard box.

Moments later and a goal-line scramble allowed the visitors to once again bring the score level, as George Barker got the decisive and final touch.

Rangers added another to the scoreline on the stroke of half-time, as Buzsaky struck a ferocious shot from distance, leaving the Seagulls number one no chance.

The quick feet of Bruno Andrade gifted the home side their second penalty of the match, which the youngster converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Jordan Woodley beat Murphy from close range as the visitors once again narrowed the score.

But Marcel Henry-Francis had the final say and headed the R's into a two goal cushion late into the second half.

Mackie came close to marking his return with a goal, but the R's number 12 just missed the target on two occasions, in-what was overall a momentous step for the 26 year-old.

QPR Reserves Squad: Brian Murphy, Michael Harriman, Gary Borrowdale, Bruno Perone, Mo Shariff, Taylor Parmenter, Marcel Henry-Francis, Akos Buzsaky, Petter Vaagan Moen, Hogan Ephraim, Bruno Andrade, Jason Puncheon, Patrick Agyemang, Jamie White, Danny Fitzpatrick, Jordan Gibbons, Jamie Mackie, Trialist x 2 QPR


Warnock - QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: GREAT NEWS FOR JAMIE

R's gaffer Neil Warnock was delighted to see Jamie Mackie return to action today after nine months on the sidelines.

Mackie came on for the final 20 minutes of the Reserves' 5-3 win over Brighton at Harlington, much to everyone's surprise.

"I didn't want anyone knowing that he was going to play in the match today," Warnock revealed to www.qpr.co.uk after the final whistle.

"I decided yesterday that he would be involved, and told Nigel Cox (Head Physio) that I wanted him to have 20 minutes.

"I knew it would give him a big lift mentally to feature, but I didn't tell Jamie until after today's training session. He didn't need asking twice!"

Mackie only returned to full training last Friday following his double leg break against Blackburn in January, and Warnock joked: "It was just nice to get him out of the way of us, because he's been like a rash with the First Team since he's returned!

"He had two opportunities when he came on which he unfortunately put wide, but we are all absolutely delighted to see him in the hooped shirt again.

"I have never seen anyone work as hard as him to get fit.

"He can't wait to be involved with the First Team again, so let's help everything carries on the way it's going for him at the moment.

"He will continue to train with us now, and hopefully get 90 minutes for the Reserves next week, and then we'll look to get him involved."

*Exclusive highlights from the Reserves 5-3 victory over the Seagulls will be available on QPR Player tomorrow. To subscribe, click here. QPR


MAIL - QPR confirm interest in making David Beckham Loftus Road's next big signing in November
Queens Park Rangers co-owner Amit Bhatia has confirmed the club’s intention of offering David Beckham a playing contract in November.

Beckham’s deal with MLS side LA Galaxy expires in November and QPR owners Tony Fernandes and Bhatia are eager to make him their next big name signing.

Bhatia previously denied the club were interested but now says: ‘Would we be prepared to offer him a chance to play for QPR? The answer to that question is yes, we would be willing to make him an offer.

‘It’s something Tony and I have discussed and we would throw our hat into the ring for someone like him.

‘It’s up to Beckham — or any other player of that calibre — to decide whether he wants to join QPR.

‘I’m not certain Beckham would want to join a newly promoted club.

‘If he wanted to come to London maybe he would choose Tottenham.’ Mail

No mention of the QPR Podcast with Bhatia! - The QPR Podcast with Amit Bhatia Can be Heard Here

- Video (from QPR Player): Amit Bhatia Interview re QPR

- In a Youth Cup Game: Six from Bath City Sent Off Over Underpants!

- Six Years Ago Yesterday: Gianni Paladini Officially Named QPR Chairman - and issues Statement

- Repost: Brief snippet re a QPR-supporting soldier during the Vietnam War

- A Look at Coventry's "Mysterious" Ownership: MP Calls for Transparency



SPOT THE BALL

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

QPR Report Wednesday: Football Snippets and QPR Flashbacks re Ray Harford, Iain Dowie, Vinnie Jones, Gianni Paladini & Steffan Moore

-

-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- Last Night's QPR Podcast with Amit Bhatia Can be Heard Here

- Video (from QPR Player): Amit Bhatia Interview re QPR

- In a Youth Cup Game: Six from Bath City Sent Off Over Underpants!

- Six Years Ago Today: Gianni Paladini Officially Named QPR Chairman - and issues Statement

- Thirteen Years Ago Today: Ray Harford Resigns as QPR Manager. And in a "Shock Move," Iain Dowie rather than Vinnie Jones is named as Acting Manager. (Soon to be replaced by Gerry Francis!)

- Birthday for Steffan Moore...Flashback to his QPR Signing and what was Said

- Repost: Brief snippet re a QPR-supporting soldier during the Vietnam War

- A Look at Coventry's "Mysterious" Ownership: MP Calls for Transparency

- NEXT: Fulham QPR-Fulham Stats/Shared Players/Previews: Photos from the Bushman Archive Collection

- Charges Dropped Against Peter Ridsdale

- Football 365 Premiership Stats:
"...* Only two of their 19 shots against Aston Villa were on target.
* Paddy Kenny has made only 13 saves in six Premier League games this season.
* No QPR player has scored in three matches at Loftus Road."


Mirror - SWP facing an FA charge after C-word tweet

Shaun Wright-Phillips has been warned by the FA after sending an offensive message on Twitter.

The Queens Park Rangers and England midfielder found himself in trouble after re-tweeting a crude message that was sent to him.

Wright-Phillips apologised to the FA after they wrote to him, demanding an explanation for the tweet - which contained the C-word.

It is understood the offending tweet was initially sent to Wright-Phillips by a fan of Manchester City, the club he joined Rangers from this summer.

FA officials, who were alerted to the tweet when the 29-year-old re-tweeted it, launched an immediate investigation.

Wright-Phillips formally apologised for his actions but was still issued with a written warning.

The former Chelsea and Manchester City winger was told by the FA that his conduct was unacceptable and that a repeat would see him face a misconduct charge. Mirror


- Three Years Ago Yesterday: QPR Issue Official Statement Denying and Discussion to change the name of the Club from Queens Park Rangers!

- Flashback: Then Manager John Gregory on a continued QPR role for axed Manager Gary Waddock at QPR

- Clive Whittingham/Loftforwords Interviews Makers of "The Four Year Plan" Documentary re QPR

- Open All R's Podcast Tonight with Amit Bhatia

- Luton Player Hits Dressing Wall/Breaks Hand!

- RIP: UAE Backflip Penalty Taker Dies

- Blackburn Off to India Just prior to playing QPR!



SPOT THE BALL

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

QPR Report Tuesday Update and Flashbacks...QPR-Fulham Historic Flashbacks...Wright-Phillips Happy at QPR

-

-

-
- QPR -Fulham Stats/Shared Players/Previews: Photos from the Bushman Archive Collection
-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- Martin Rowlands Goes out on Loan

- Rowan Vine Returns (Again) From Loan

- Three Years Ago Today: QPR Issue Official Statement Denying and Discussion to change the name of the Club from Queens Park Rangers!

- Flashback: Then Manager John Gregory on a continued QPR role for axed Manager Gary Waddock at QPR

- 11 Years Flashback: QPR Career in Jeopardy: Manager Gerry Francis Very Unhappy With Leon Jeanne

- Birthday for Ex-QPR Member of Gordon Jago's 1972-73 Promotion Squad: John Delve

- Clive Whittingham/Loftforwords Interviews Makers of "The Four Year Plan" Documentary re QPR

- Open All R's Podcast Tonight with Amit Bhatia

- Ex-QPR Leighton James Appointed Director of Football for HaverfordWest County

- Luton Player Hits Dressing Wall/Breaks Hand!

- RIP: UAE Backflip Penalty Taker Dies

- Next: Fulham (Stats, Past Shared Players)

- Video: AEK ATHENS!!

- Blackburn Off to India Just prior to playing QPR!

- Simon Walton Named Plymouth Captain

- SPONSORSHIP: Chelsea and Barbados....Manchester United and Malaysian Potatos


GUARDIAN - FA takes QPR to task over criticism of referee Michael Oliver
The QPR manager, Neil Warnock, was unhappy with the referee Michael Oliver's performance in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa. Photograph: Alex Morton/Action Images

The Football Association has written to Queens Park Rangers requesting their observations about a tweet from the club's new owner, Tony Fernandes, on Sunday in which he branded Michael Oliver, the referee, "blind".

Although it is understood that the letter is intended to serve as a warning and no sanctions will be imposed, English football's ruling body is also examining comments Neil Warnock made about Oliver after QPR's controverisal 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at Loftus Road on Sunday and may yet charge the home manager with bringing the game into disrepute.

During the game Richard Dunne's injury-time own goal secured Warnock's by then 10-man team a point after they had fallen behind to a rather soft-looking Barry Bannan penalty and then seen Villa's Alan Hutton get away with apparently twice handling the ball in the area.

While Warnock and Fernandes fumed, Shaun Wright-Phillips was, at least, revelling in his new life in west London. The 29-year-old former England winger, one of a number of signings made by Warnock after Fernandes bought the club late last month, has impressed since his transfer deadline day move from Manchester City and is not only relishing playing regular first-team football but no longer "hurting inside".

"I am loving it and I think we're gelling quite well as a team," he said. "I go home happy and I look forward to training and the game again. I know how to prepare myself again; if you don't know when you are going to play, how do you focus on a game?

"That's part of football, though, and if you are going to be at a big club you have to deal with it. I had it at Chelsea and Manchester City and you know it's not about yourself, it's a team game.

"If you are hurting inside, you can't really show it because you want the team to do well. I was hurting inside because I am a footballer and I want to play but that's just the way it goes sometimes."

Villa's manager, Alex McLeish, acknowledged that his team had considerable scope for improvement. "Our touch and passing was very poor up until half-time and thankfully we got a grip in the second half," he said.

Asked about Bannan, he said: "I don't want to put too much pressure on the young players. The expectations at a club like Villa are that we should be higher up the table, winning games.

"I will take the pressure off the young players. We have to try and make progress along the way, as steadily as possible. Barry has shown some bright moments in different positions."
Guardian


INDEPENDENT

Wright-Phillips ends hurt with new lease of life at Loftus Road

By Simon Peach

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Shaun Wright-Phillips admits he is thoroughly enjoying life since his recent arrival at Queen's Park Rangers. The 29-year-old has been in superb form since his deadline day move from Manchester City to west London.

Wright-Phillips' performances for Rangers have already seen him linked with an England recall, although the winger is just happy to be playing regular first-team football again.

"I am loving it to be honest," he said. "I go home happy and I look forward to training now on Tuesday and the game again. You just know how to prepare yourself. It's not so much frustrating, it's just that if you don't know when you are going to play, how do you focus on a game?

"That's part of football, though, and if you are going to be at a big club you have to deal with it. I had it at Chelsea and Man City and you know it's not about yourself, it's a team game.

"If you are hurting inside, you can't really show it because you want the team to do well because that's part of football. I was hurting inside because I am a footballer and I want to play but that's just the way it goes sometimes."

Wright-Phillips was one of a number of summer signings made by Rangers manager Neil Warnock, whose side are unbeaten since the close of the transfer window.

"We have played three games and I thought we gelled quite well for a team that has just come together," added Wright-Phillips."But obviously there is still a lot to be done and stuff we are going to work on at the training ground."

On Sunday Wright-Phillips played in QPR's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at Loftus Road which had plenty of controversial incidents.

Richard Dunne's last-minute own-goal helped 10-man Rangers grab a deserved point, having fallen behind to a Barry Bannan penalty, a decision which was not shared by Warnock.

The Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton then twice appeared to handle the ball in the box at the other end without being penalised, leaving the referee Michael Oliver to attract most of the post-match attention.

"I wouldn't say I was frustrated by the referee's performance," Wright-Phillips said. "When I was speaking to him, I just said to him 'people normally get second yellow cards for consistent fouling'.

"In this case, they have done five fouls outside the box within 10 minutes and there was not another card shown. Then Armand [Traoré] does one, OK, it's a yellow card and a red for him but he gets booked straight away. If he doesn't get booked for a penalty that I don't think anybody saw, he stays on the pitch."

Bannan stepped up and tucked away the resulting penalty and impressed throughout. While Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish was quick to praise the midfielder, he admitted he was upset with his side's first-half display.

"Bannan took about 40 minutes to get into the game, like everybody else," McLeish said. "Our touch and passing was very poor up until half-time and thankfully we got a grip in the second half.

"I've seen some players who excelled on the training ground doing the real thing, instead of leaving it all behind in the first half. Bannan claimed the penalty. I never pre-ordained who would take a penalty if we got one, but Barry was confident. You can see in the way he grabbed the ball that he was very confident he'd dispatch it."

Asked about Bannan's performance in particular, he added: "I don't want to put too much pressure on the young players. The expectations are a club like Villa is that we should be higher up the table, winning games.

"I will take the pressure off the young players. We have to try and make progress along the way, as steadily as possible. Barry has shown some bright moments in different positions."

Meanwhile, the Football Association yesterday wrote to QPR for their observations about a tweet from their new owner Tony Fernandes following the match in which he branded Oliver "blind".

However, it is understood no further action will be taken against the club. Independent


MIRROR

SWP set for England recall after return to form at QPR


Fabio Capello is set to recall Shaun Wright-Phillips to the England squad after witnessing the winger’s new lease of life at QPR.

England chief Capello watched Wright-Phillips in only his third Rangers game as they snatched a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.

And a place back in the national set-up will complete a rapid change in fortunes for the 29-year-old, who revealed he was secretly “hurting” when he was frozen out at Chelsea and then Manchester City last season.

“I’m loving playing every week. I’m going home happy every day,” said Wright-Phillips. “We’re all enjoying football and all getting a chance to play well.”

Wright-Phillips joined Chelsea for £21million in 2005 but returned to Manchester City three years later. And following the Abu Dhabi takeover, he started only two Premier League matches last season and dropped out of international contention.

“I was hurting – it’s normal,” he admitted. “I’m a footballer and all footballers love playing football.

“At City, it wasn’t so much the frustration, it was the never knowing whether you were going to play.

“You just have to prepare yourself for games. If you’re at a big club it’s something you have to deal with.

“It happened to me at Chelsea for a while as well so you know it’s a team game and not about yourself. So when you’re hurting inside you can’t really show it.” Mirror



SPOT THE BALL

Monday, September 26, 2011

QPR Report Monday: Compilation of QPR vs Aston Villa Reports (Attendees Included The Prime Minister and The Engalnd Manager)

-

-
- Suggest a Caption "Contest"!

- 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
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

- Play: "Spot The Ball"

- Next: Fulham (Stats, Past Shared Players)

- Thirteen Years Ago: Death announced of former Long-Time QPR Chairman, Jim Gregory.

- Two Years Ago: Club Lifetime Award to QPR Life President, Harold Winton, (Now RIP)

- Five QPR Birthdays today

- In case You Missed it (Repeated tomorrow, Tuesday): From QPR Fan Paul Stokes: "Hello,I interviewed Joey Barton for Q Radio, it goes out on Sunday at 2pm and Tuesday at 8pm, details here http://bit.ly/ojVZMd I'm a R block season ticket holder, so there's plenty about the team and Neil Warnock along with some general football stuff and his music tastes..."

QPR 1 Aston Villa 1

- Photo Compilation

1 Man Utd 6 17 16
2 Man City 6 14 16
3 Chelsea 6 5 13
4 Newcastle 6 4 12
5 Liverpool 6 0 10
6 Tottenham 5 0 9
7 Stoke 6 -2 9
8 Aston Villa 6 2 8
9 QPR 6 -2 8
10 Everton 5 0 7
11 Wolves 6 -3 7
12 Arsenal 6 -5 7
13 Sunderland 5 2 5
14 Norwich 5 -2 5
15 Wigan 6 -4 5
16 Swansea 6 -5 5
17 Fulham 6 -3 4
18 Blackburn 6 -5 4
19 West Brom 6 -5 4
20 Bolton 6 -8 3 BBC

- Audio of Warnock re Traore Getting himself Sent off "An absolute Disgrace"

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WARNOCK: 'GREAT TEAM SPIRIT'
Posted on: Sun 25 Sep 2011

Neil Warnock praised the spirit in the R's camp, after his side battled back from adversity to grab a deserved 93rd minute equaliser against Aston Villa.

Villa took the lead on 58 minutes, after Barry Bannan struck home from the penalty spot when Armand Traore was harshly adjudged to have tugged back Gabriel Agbonlahor in the box.

Traore was then shown his marching orders in the 90th minute with a second bookable offence following a late challenge on Marc Albrighton, before Richard Dunne's late own goal handed Rangers a point.

Following a breathless second half, Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk: "To come away with a point is credit to the lads.

"The way that we try and play and the attitude of the players is fantastic.

"We've got a great spirit and that won us the Championship last season - you need that.

He added: "We were all disappointed with the decisions - not one Aston Villa player appealed for the penalty.

"There could also have been a couple of Villa players sent off for second bookable offences.

"I thought it was a good game. It takes away from our performance today because I thought we were superb.

"It's one of those days - but we responded in the right way. We kept going.

"I thought we deserved more than a point - but I'm more than happy with it."

QPR


Aston Villa Official Site
McLeish pleased with second half showing but gutted with late leveller
Alex McLeish's post-match verdict.
25th Sep 2011
McLeish pleased with second half showing but gutted with late leveller


By Dan Harrison at Loftus Road

Alex McLeish hailed Villa's second-half response in the draw against QPR - but was gutted to see his team's hard work undone by a stoppage time own-goal.

The Villa boss admitted his side needed to raise their game in the second period after being on the back foot in the early stages.

He got the desired response as the claret and blues took the lead through Barry Bannan's penalty.

But a late Richard Dunne own-goal denied Villa a victory and McLeish felt for the Irishman and his fellow defenders who performed heroically all afternoon.

He said: "I am gutted that we threw it away in the dying embers of the game after a second half performance which is much more what I expected from these players.

"The first half was pretty woeful and I let them know that at half-time.

"I thought we restricted QPR to only a few gilt-edge chances in the first half and defended well but the irony was that two of our best players - Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock - ended up contributing to their equalising goal which both were involved in. I really felt for them."

McLeish said Villa "looked like a different team" after the break following a timid display in the opening 45 minutes.

He was pleased to see a marked improvement in their attacking play.

He added: "In the second half we looked like a different team.

"I gave them a few home truths at half-time. It was very poor.

"We were chasing shadows, not putting a foot in and not making runs off the ball. It was insipid and not an Aston Villa performance.

"I let them know that and it was a much better performance after the break.

"I thought the players looked afraid, they looked frightened in the first half and I don't know why that should be the case because they are playing in a great game and they should relish every moment.

"Our passing and touch was very poor up until half-time and thankfully we got a grip in the second half."

Despite obvious delight at an improved second half display, McLeish was gutted Vila couldn't increase their lead when in front.

He added: "We started to look really dangerous in the second half and I thought we should have done better to increase our lead.

"These are opportunities that we are not making the most of."

Click here to pick up tickets for the Wigan game. Aston Villa

- Also Click to Listen Villa Perspective


TELEGRAPH
QPR v Aston Villa: manager Neil Warnock rounds on referee Michael Oliver and Armand Traore
QPR manager Neil Warnock admitted he was more disappointed with left-back Armand Traore than he was with referee Michael Oliver.


Richard Dunne's last-gasp own goal helped 10-man Queens Park Rangers grab a deserved 1-1 draw from this afternoon's Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Despite dominating the play, QPR fell behind to a Barry Bannan penalty after a soft-looking decision, before Alan Hutton twice handled the ball in the box at the other end.

Oliver did not give either decision but, while frustrated, Warnock believes QPR can be proud of their performance.

''When I was a young man, my father was a referee and he always said that a 'good referee you don't very often see','' he said.

''I thought in today's game the two main decisions went against us.

''When not one Aston Villa supporter behind the goal appeals for a penalty you know there is something wrong.

''It is a very soft one. From his position he assures me he saw this and technically you've still got to change the course of the play.

''You could have blown him down with the amount of contact you're actually talking about.

''If he gives that, there have got to be 20 or 30 more decisions given in the box every game because there is a lot more pulling than that.

''Likewise, I thought he was in a good position for the first handball on 70-odd minutes.

''The lad actually moved his arm down for the handball and it is the most certain 100 per cent penalty you'll ever see when you see it tonight.

''So, we've been unlucky on both counts but, if I am honest, I don't think there was anything to referee.

''I thought the attitude of the players was brilliant, up to the penalty decision.''

Asked whether he spoke to Oliver afterwards, he said: ''Yeah, I always do. I just tell him my opinion.

''I think when you are a young referee you listen and hopefully you learn not just from your assessors but those that have played the game or manage.

''I made one or two points, which I think will help him when something like that happens again.'

Warnock was quick to deny that the 26-year-old was too young to referee in the top flight, with left-back Traore instead feeling the force of his ire.

The Frenchman was sent off for a reckless challenge on Marc Albrighton in the 90th minute, which earned him a second yellow card and looked to have ended any hopes of a QPR comeback.

Although the Hoops managed to snatch a late equaliser, Warnock was furious with Traore.

''I thought it was a disgrace. Not the referee, the player,'' he said.

''I am going to fine him as much as I can. Total amateur Sunday league sending off.

''They must be laughing their heads off, Villa. At that stage, losing 1-0 and he goes in for a tackle like that?

''I would have got him sent off. I would have been there because I knew he was going to knock .125the ball away.375 and jump.

''You've got James Collins and Charles N'Zogbia, who both should have had a second yellow card.

''But both were cleverer, both know what they are doing and they are both playing next week.

''What Traore did, that's not clever at all. He is a young lad, he obviously has got to learn and he can become a very good player.

''But like the referee sometimes you have to learn from experience - and I think Traore will learn from it.''

Warnock pulled the Frenchman back from the tunnel after the sending off and when asked why, he responded: ''To tell him what a disgrace he was. I think he understood what I was saying.''

Counterpart Alex McLeish was visibly frustrated having seen seeing Aston Villa throw away the chance of victory late on and admitted he had stern words with his team at the break.

''I am gutted that we should throw that away in the dying embers of the game,'' he said. ''Especially after a second half performance that was much more what I expect of these players.

''The first half was pretty woeful and I let them know that at half-time.

''Fortunately we restricted QPR to not many gilt-edged chances in the first-half as the back five defended well.

''The irony was that two of the top players ended up in the equalising goal. I felt sorry for those guys.'' Telegraph



WEST LONDON SPORT - QPR rescue point after late own goal
Richard Dunne’s injury-time own goal gave QPR a point – and their first goal at Loftus Road since returning to the Premier League.

Rangers, down to 10 men after the 90th-minute sending-off of Armand Traore, looked set to suffer a controversial defeat until Stephen Warnock’s clearance from Heidar Helguson’s low cross hit Dunne and went in.

Barry Bannan’s hotly disputed penalty had given Aston Villa, who remain unbeaten in the league this season, a 57th-minute lead.

Referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot following Traore’s slight tug of Gabriel Agbonlahor’s shirt, but later gave Alan Hutton the benefit of the doubt after Shaun Derry’s header from Adel Taarabt’s corner struck the Villa defender’s arm.

Rangers dominated most of the first half and went close to going ahead after only six minutes, when Taarabt turned away from Stiliyan Petrov and sent a curling 25-yard shot against the post.

Jay Bothroyd headed wide from a Joey Barton free-kick and then served up an excellent cross from the right only for Barton to miscue at the far post.

Having been a virtual spectator, R’s keeper Paddy Kenny produced a fine save to prevent his team falling behind a minute before the break, diving to his left to claw away Bannan’s free-kick.

It was a sign of things to come as Villa were much more effective after the restart and almost scored when Fabian Delph shot wide after drifting behind the QPR defence to collect Bannan’s pass.

Rangers were fortunate on that occasion but luck was certainly not on their side when Oliver handed Bannan the chance to score his first Premier League goal.

There was no obvious foul when Agbonlahor failed to connect with Warnock’s left-wing cross, but Traore’s contact with the Villa forward was enough for Oliver to award a spot-kick.

As with his earlier free-kick, Bannan put his penalty to Kenny’s left but this time managed to place it beyond his reach.

It was tough on Rangers but a consequence of their failure to take their chances.

Just as against Newcastle in their previous home match, Neil Warnock’s men struggled to make the most of their possession and Bothroyd was unable to find his elusive first goal for the club.

With England manager Fabio Capello watching at Loftus Road, Bothroyd will regard his first-half header wide as an opportunity missed in more ways than one.

Capello is expected to recall Shaun Wright-Phillips to the international fold, although the former Manchester City man was not as influential as in his previous games for Rangers.

But Bothroyd’s England chances probably didn’t improve despite some decent hold-up play, and DJ Campbell made an impact when he replaced him midway through the second half.

Campbell knocked the ball down to Wright-Phillips, whose shot was superbly tipped away by keeper Shay Given.

That lifted Rangers and they should have had a penalty when Hutton handled in the box. They again appealed in vain when substitute Tommy Smith’s cross struck Hutton’s arm, although that time it was purely accidental.

When Traore, yellow-carded after conceding the penalty, fouled Marc Albrighton and was dismissed for a second bookable offence, Villa looked home and dry.

But Rangers did not give up and Dunne, who has scored more own goals than any other top-flight player, came to their rescue in the final seconds. West London Sport



GUARDIAN - Late own-goal salvages a deserved point for QPR against Aston Villa


Sachin Nakrani at Loftus Road guardian.co.uk, Sunday 25 September 2011 15.37 EDT Article history
Aston Villa's Richard Dunne, standing left, scores an own-goal as QPR snatch a late point at Loftus Road. Photograph: Alex Morton/Action Images
Neil Warnock stated in the programme for this contest a desire to be "ultra careful" with his comments to the media having, in his opinion, created too many controversial headlines already this year. Well, that lasted long. The QPR manager's tongue was at its acidic best here, unleashing a stream of rage and ridicule towards the referee, Michael Oliver, for the decisions which livened up this otherwise underwhelming stalemate.

At the centre of Warnock's fury was the penalty with which Aston Villa took the lead. Oliver deemed that Armand Traor̩ had pulled back Gabriel Agbonlahor as he prepared to convert Stephen Warnock's cross and pointed to the spot. The decision certainly took those in attendance Рwhich included the prime minister, David Cameron Рby surprise. Even the away supporters required a few seconds of silence before they broke into cheers.

Barry Bannan converted the penalty for Villa but they, according to their own manager, Alex McLeish, had been "woeful" up to then, especially in the first half when they were unable to exert any pressure against hosts who had pinned them back with their high-pressing approach, creating several scoring chances, the most notable being Adel Taarabt's curling drive on four minutes that clipped the post.

They deserved an equaliser and until Richard Dunne's injury-time own-goal it appeared they would not get one, with Warnock convinced his team should have had at least two penalties for handballs by the Villa right-back Alan Hutton.

"I don't think [Villa's] penalty would have been a penalty at a lot of grounds and I think we would have got a penalty on certain days. Not one Aston Villa supporter appeals for their penalty," said Warnock. "Referees should be seen and not heard and it takes away from our performance – we were superb."

Those comments were made to Sky Sports immediately after the final whistle and in an unusual move Warnock returned to the cameras moments later.

"How has the linesman not seen that? He [Hutton] deliberately handballs it," said Warnock in a noticeably more agitated state. "Their penalty – he [the referee] wanted to give it. My boys deserve better than that."

Warnock had calmed down by the time he addressed the written press, still standing by the view "that all the decisions went against us" but less willing to criticise Oliver directly, although there was something rather patronising about the way he described his meeting with the official – who, aged 25, became the Premier League's youngest referee last August – after the game.

"When you're a young referee you listen and learn from people in the game," Warnock said. "I made one or two points which I think will help him."

The QPR manager did also describe Oliver as "one of the best referees" in the Premier League and in fairness to him his decisions here were hardly scandalous. Traoré did appear at least to put off Agbonlahor prior to the penalty and Hutton did illegally obstruct Shaun Derry's 71st‑minute header. The Scotland international's block of a Tommy Smith cross was also dubious but happened at a speed which made Oliver's job difficult.

Warnock's criticism also stretched to Traoré who, having been booked for his role in Villa's penalty, received a second yellow card for a lunge on Marc Albrighton. "The player was a disgrace and I'll fine him as much as I can," said Warnock.

Down to 10 men, QPR looked set for a third defeat of the season, an unjust reward for a committed and eye-catching display. But then Stephen Warnock's clearance of Heidar Helguson's cross hit Dunne and went into the net to secure the hosts' first goal here this season. Guardian


INDEPENDENT/Sam Wallace - Another Dunne disaster allows Rangers to escape with a point

If you want to get a measure of just how angry Neil Warnock was with the performance of referee Michael Oliver yesterday, then the fact he insisted on giving two television interviews to Sky Sports might give you an idea.

In the first, Warnock was angry. By the second, having seen the replays, he was livid. By the time he came to speak to the newspapers an hour after the end of the game, the Queen's Park Rangers manager had only just started to calm down. His team only got their equaliser in stoppage-time, an own-goal by Richard Dunne, having been denied a penalty of their own by what their manager called an "embarrassing" decision by Oliver.

With the Prime Minister and Villa fan David Cameron in attendance, Rangers dominated the first half, in which Alex McLeish admitted his team were "insipid". Having told them so at half-time, the Villa manager saw his team take the lead with Barry Bannan's penalty before the hour, its award the first of a series of borderline decisions by Oliver that transformed the match.

After Armand Traoré was sent off for two bookings, the first of which was given for the foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor for the penalty, Warnock had to shepherd his players away from the referee on the pitch at the end of the game. For the penalty, there was evidence that Traoré grabbed the Villa striker's shirt but in the context of the whole incident it still looked like a harsh decision by Oliver.

As far as a Football Association charge goes, Warnock sailed closest to the wind in his initial, expansively voiced televised criticism of Oliver, the youngest Premier League referee at 26, for the penalty given against Traoré. "Traoré's penalty, come on, I've never seen anything like that," Warnock said. "He [Traoré] blows on him. He [Oliver] wants to give the penalty and it's wrong."

Earlier in the same interview, Warnock was also indignant about Oliver's decision not to give two penalties for hand-ball incident involving full-back Alan Hutton in the second half; in particular, the first from a Shaun Derry header on 71 minutes.

"How has the linesman not seen that?" Warnock asked. "He deliberately hand-balls it. And the second one [hand-ball by Hutton], we're told that if you raise your hands it's a hand-ball. He's raised his hands against Tommy Smith. But the first one is embarrassing. How that cannot be given a penalty – he can't even say he's in a bad position."

Later, in his press conference, Warnock said that he had spoken to Oliver after the game and that he hoped the young referee "would learn" from some of the points he had made to him: "I was disappointed. When I was a young man my father refereed and he always said, a good referee, you don't very often see them.

"The two major decisions have gone against us. When not one Aston Villa supporter behind the goal appeals for a penalty, you know there is something wrong. It was a very soft one. From his [Oliver's] position, he assures me it was. Technically, you still have to change the course [of the player] ... so if he gives that, there has to be 20 or 30 more free-kicks in the box, because there is a lot more pulling than that.

"The [decision on the] Derry header, the lad [Hutton] almost moved his hand down and it is the most certain, 100 per cent penalty you will ever see. So we have been unlucky with both counts. I always [talk to the referee] just tell him my opinion. When you are a young referee you learn not just from your assessors but from people who played the game or manage. I made one or two points to him that I think will help him for when something like that happens again."

If Warnock was hard on Oliver he was even harder on Traoré, who was sent off for a silly lunge on substitute Marc Albrighton in the 90th minute. Warnock stopped the player from going down the tunnel to admonish him on the touchline in full view of the whole stadium, later calling Traoré a "disgrace".

Warnock said: "I will fine him as much as I can. Total amateur, Sunday League sending off. They must be laughing their heads off, Villa. We are losing 1-0 and he [Traoré] goes in like that. If I was a player I would have got him sent off because he went in and jumped. [James] Collins and [Charles] N'Zogbia both should have had a second yellow card, but they are both cleverer, both know what they are doing and they are both playing next week.

"He [Traoré] obviously has a lot to learn, he has become a very good player. Sometimes you have to learn from experience. I told him what a disgrace he was, I think he understood what I was saying."

McLeish had equally harsh words for his team at half-time and praised their second-half performance, in which Bannan excelled. In the absence of the team's usual penalty-taker, Darren Bent, the Scottish midfielder took responsibility himself to give Villa the lead. Dunne scored the ninth own-goal of his Premier League career – a record – when substitute Heidar Helguson's cross cannoned off Stephen Warnock, against the Irishman and in.

McLeish said: "I'm frustrated we should throw it away in the dying embers of the game. The first half was pretty woeful and I let them know that at half-time, but the second half was much better. In the first half, there were no direct forward runs and we couldn't even control the ball.

"We have to make forward runs and control the ball. They looked frightened in the first half and I don't know why that should be. It's the greatest game they'll ever play football and they should relish."

The Villa manager disagreed with Warnock's assessment of the penalty for Villa, saying that he thought Oliver had made the right decision.

"As soon as he blew the whistle I thought it was a pen," McLeish said, although by then he had heard of Warnock's point of view and looked more than a little keen to contradict his counterpart.

Substitutes: Queen's Park Rangers Campbell 5 (Bothroyd, 66), Helguson (Derry, 79), Smith (Wright-Phillips, 86). Aston Villa Albrighton (Bannan, 72), Weimann (N'Zogbia, 85).

Booked: QPR Traoré. Aston Villa Warnock, Hutton, Collins, Petrov, Agbonlahor, N'Zogbia. Sent off: QPR Traoré (90)

Man of the match Bannan. Match rating 6/10. Possession: QPR 54% Aston Villa 46%.

Attempts on target: QPR 9 Aston Villa 4. Referee M Oliver (Northumberland).

Attendance 16,707. INDEPENDENT




Saturday, September 24, 2011

QPR Report Saturday Update: Aston Villa Preview...Warnock's QPR Perspective

-

-

AN ASTON VILLA PERSPECTIVE

Many thanks to QPR Reports Maudesfishnchips for conducting this interview. And many thanks to Aston Villa fan, Damian Dugdale http://www.thevillablog.co.uk/



How long have you supported Villa?

All my life



How long have you been involved with your Blog? Why did you decide to do it?

The blog started in 2005 and I started it for fun as I had an opinion and it basically developed from that.



Who's Villa’s biggest Rival (or Rivals)?

Biggest rival - Manchester United. The Clowns (Birmingham City) don't really register as rivals. They are a small club and will never be close to what we have achieved in the game.



Are you happy with your team and how things are? – What are your opinions on Alex Mcleish? His spending/selling this summer?

The team is fine. Alex McLeish it turned out was the best our owner wanted to get, so we have to live with him for now. In terms of buying and selling, we are going to have to see but the business he did at The Clowns wasn't the most inspiring.



What do you think of your current Owners? WHY are they involved? WHO ARE THEY?! What do you expect? Could they
realistically have done more to boost your chances?

Randy Lerner is the owner and he has done okay. He is making money and his investments to date are fairly safe. What do I expect from him is easy, I just look back to what Doug Ellis used to do. A big spend followed by a season or three of not really spending, then spend again. He isn't here to buy the league, but I'm not really convinced he is here to try and win it organically either. I'm fairly sure he is here for what he can get out of it though.



How do you think Villa treats its fans? Appreciates them? Listens to them? Screws them?

The club tell the fans what they want to hear, but I think that is true of most clubs these days. They treat us like any other club too. free scarves every now and then, the odd coach trip and a flag once or twice a season. Nothing that hasn't happened elsewhere, but of course we think it is special.



Who are you Dangermen/Most valued/most overrated/most underrated players?

For me, the most important players are the younger ones coming through like Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton and Ciaran Clark but the most valuable is Darren Bent. When he gets into his stride, he'll start scoring for fun. Most overrated will be Gabby Agbonlahor. He has had another good start to the season, but by Christmas he'll be back to his one goal every 4 games ratio.



Are you happy with your youth set up? Is your club doing enough to bring young/local talent through the ranks?

Our youth set up for many years has been considered one of the best in the land but we need to give more youngsters a chance in the first team or they'll not continue to develop through the system, instead picking somewhere else to play. We bring a few local players through,
but we also scout younger players and bring them to the club - but they need game time when they are ready to step up and while they play every now and then, we will only really see how good they are if they get a proper run.



Who would you say was the greatest Villa player that you yourself
personally saw? And past player? (You can name more than one if it's that close!)

Greatest I ever saw was Paul McGrath - as gifted defensively as Pele was up front. As for past player - too many to name.



What is your prediction for Villa this season?

Top half. Just


Are you aware of any player or manager links between our two clubs past and present?

John Gregory managed you and us and you've just signed Luke Young and there must be more, but pub is open and I'm thirsty.



What is your opinion of the Luke Young transfer? Have we gained a good player?

You've got a great player, but he wanted out for the cash and he got it. He'l do well and work hard - not the best going forward but will keep trying.



What is your view and the general Villa view of QPR (If we even
feature in your consciousness) or of Neil Warnock and our owners?

Neil Warnock could do a job this season and you've brought in some decent players and you've got a fantastic old stadium - or did have. I've not been there for years and years. Nice honest club that for some reason, should be in the top flight - probably because you were when I was growing up.



Who(if any) is your most memorable/favourite QPR Player over the years?

Gotta be Les Ferdinand. I used to bump into him quite a bit when he lived in between St Albans and Hatfield - or had a house there anyway. Top bloke.



Your score prediction for QPR v Aston Villa?

I've got to say 2-1 to us, but if that was reversed it wouldn't
surprise me. If you're a betting man, get your money on a draw.



What, realistically, do you think Villa are capable of achieving in
the next five years?

Much the same as we will achieve this year unless we get a multi billionaire owner or the game is fixed.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

QPR Report Thursday: Bhatia on No Debts and Financially Handling Relegation...Questioning Barton as Captain...TWO Mascots!

-
- See more from The Bushman Archives: QPR's 1947-1948 Championship Season
-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- See QPR from Directors Box vs WBA/Meet Warnock/Get Team-Signed Shirt: Charity Auction Fighting Cancer

- Hill Joins Nottingham Forest on loan (Although seemingly not announced yet on the QPR Official Site)..Update: QPR Tweet- Not Officially Confirmed yet by QPR
- Joey Barton and Arsenal

- Dyer Injury Update

- Chelsea's Embarassing Team Sheet Error!

- On This Day, 27 Years Ago: THE QPR-Newcastle Game!

- Four Year Flashback: Briatore Talking QPR

- Tony Fernndes: QPR Mascots: Sparky and Jude

- Traore Called up by Senegal for October 9, Mauritius Match

- Next QPR Game: Aston Villa at Loftus Road (Sunday) - Stats/Previews

- QPR vs Chelsea Ticket News

- Three Year Flashback: QPR Fan Groups United in Opposition to QPR Ticket Price Increase


David McIntyre/West London Sport - QPR would cope with relegation – Bhatia

Big-spending QPR would cope financially if they are unable to stay in the Premier League this season, Amit Bhatia has insisted.

The Tony Fernandes-led takeover at Loftus Road resulted in significant investment in new players before the transfer deadline – and added to the club’s already swelled wage bill.

With the likes of Joey Barton and Shaun Wright-Phillips having made an immediate impact – as demonstrated in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Wolves – Rangers now appear capable of comfortably avoiding the drop.

But QPR Holdings vice-chairman Bhatia, who describes the club as “debt-free”, says the new-look regime first discussed what would happen in the event of relegation before deciding to spend.

“The signings we’ve made mean we have every chance of staying up but of course we had to think about the alternative in case that did not happen,” Bhatia told West London Sport.

“For example, in some cases we have relegation clauses in the players’ contracts. In others we were not able to do so but I’ve spoken to Tony about this and we’re both happy.”

QPR’s accounts showed heavy annual losses throughout Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone’s four years as co-owners, during which a number of directors’ loans financed spending on and off the pitch.

An even worse situation developed during the Chris Wright era, when similar funding failed to deliver success and Rangers ended up in administration with Wright as their main creditor.

Bhatia says there is no question of a similar scenario developing under the current owners.

He said: “Let’s be clear, previously directors provided loans and those debts no longer exist. They have been wiped out. In fact I would go so far as to describe the club as being debt-free.

“Cash is now being provided by the owners with no burden being placed upon the club and we felt that was the best way.

“The main thing is that we’ve brought stability to QPR, which was badly needed. It gives us a chance to achieve what we all want for the club.” West London Sport


Daily Mail/Leo's London - Leo Spall

Warnock is asking for trouble by handing captaincy to Barton


Neil Warnock has always been an idiosyncratic manager but you have to wonder about his take on captaincy.

First, he chooses Adel Taarabt as QPR's skipper; then he trumps that by replacing him with Joey Barton.

Has he confused the role with that of an agent provocateur? Does he demand that his Rangers captain must be a supreme irritant of some sort?

Finding two more ill-suited players to wear the captain's armband than Taarabt and Barton really would be a challenge.


Counting against the Moroccan in the captaincy stakes should be his clear focus on individual rather than team play, the exact opposite character type of most natural team leaders.

His obvious treatment of Rangers as a stepping stone to bigger things doesn't make him a shoo-in for the job, either.

Perhaps Warnock thinks picking the player he rates as best in the team as captain is an appropriate policy.

But if that is the case with Barton, it is obviously flawed and asking for trouble.

It took Barton just two games to spark trouble on the pitch and get involved in a slanging match with Wolves player Karl Henry and manager Mick McCarthy off it.

Now we are told he is ordering Taarabt about on the training ground and his predecessor is reacting well.

Given Barton's past on the training ground, it is probably a good job. We have been told many times that Barton is a reformed character, that his violence and anger is behind him.

He has tried to reinvent himself on Twitter with high-brow quotations and some well-meaning contributions to campaigns for the greater good.
Over the top: Wolves' George Elokobi left in a heap after Barton challenge

Over the top: Wolves' George Elokobi left in a heap after a Barton challenge

Yet on the pitch he has shown twice already this season that he is as angry, arrogant and irresponsible as ever.

His behaviour when playing for Newcastle against Arsenal last month, when he feigned injury to get an opponent sent-off, was a disgrace.

So, too, were the potentially inflammatory gestures he made to Wolves fans when QPR were 3-0 up on Saturday.

Gifted player as Barton is, it is hard to think of a less appropriate captain of a club, of a player who doesn't need a genuine leader beside him, someone ready to try to protect him from himself.

He is a key part of the image of Rangers but would any right-minded parent want their child to follow Barton's example?

The debate about players as role models is a minefield but when someone captains a team they are charged with carrying certain responsibilities that Barton is simply not cut-out for.

Warnock and the club may believe that any publicity is good publicity but the manager claimed that his midfielder 'epitomised what we are about' and he is surely mistaken.

QPR have brought something fresh to the Premier League with the enterprising spirit and endlessly ebullient tweeting from the club's new owners.

They have made a raft of interesting and solid-looking signings, made the right noises to fans and have looked a welcome addition to the top flight.

To make their leader on the pitch a trouble-maker who courts controversy is their first big mistake. Mail


David McIntyre/West London Sport - QPR take Spurs youngster on trial
QPR are giving a trial to teenage Tottenham midfielder Freddy Champion – a player who was previously on the books at Loftus Road.

Champion, who was born and raised in Shepherd’s Bush, was with Rangers and Chelsea before Spurs snapped him up in 2010.

The 17-year-old featured for QPR’s reserve side in a match against Watford on Wednesday afternoon. West London Sport


QPR Official Site - QPR vs Watford Reserves - IN RESERVE: RESSIES BEAT HORNETS
Posted on: Wed 21 Sep 2011

QPR Reserves beat a Watford XI this afternoon in a behind-closed-doors friendly fixture at the Club's Training Ground.

Four first half goals from the R's secured a convincing win, in front of the observing eyes of senior management duo Neil Warnock and Mick Jones.

Bradley Orr got the ball rolling after just seven minutes, when the defender latched onto the end of a Jason Puncheon through ball and applied a cool finish from close-range.

Article continues
Advertisement
Petter Vaagn Moen doubled the R's lead on 26 minutes. Puncheon's cleared cross, fell to the midfielder, who needed just one touch before unleashing a thunderbolt from 20-yards.

With the momentum now with the home side, it wasn't long before Rangers added another to the scoreline. Puncheon, again the provider, set-up Hogan Ephraim, who slotted the ball home with a first-time right-footed shot across the goalkeeper.

The result was complete just five minutes before half-time. Man of the moment, Puncheon, created space for himself in the middle of the park, before playing in Gary Borrowdale, whose first-time drive put the match to bed.

Second year scholar Sean Murray pulled a consolation back for the visitors, mid-way through the second half, after his perfectly executed free-kick proved too much for Radek Cerny to handle.

QPR XI: Cerny, Orr, Borrowdale, Parmenter, Peroni, Champion, Ephraim, Vaagan Moen, Andrade, Hewitt, Puncheon. QPR



-This Week's "Spot The Ball"

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

QPR Report Wednesday: Hill to Nottingham Forest...Traore Call Up...Kevin Gallen Birthday...Barton Feud...Next: Aston Villa...QPR-Chelsea Ticket News

-
- Courtesy of "Bushman:" - Photos from the 1967 League Cup Final and Cup Final Previews
-
- 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
_____________________________________________________________________________________

- Traore Called up by Senegal for October 9, Mauritius Match

- Next QPR Game: Aston Villa at Loftus Road (Sunday) - Stats/Previews

- Birthdays for QPR's Kevin Gallen and Rowan Vine

- QPR vs Chelsea Ticket News

- Flashback Article from a Year ago - "Chelesea's Lack of Fan Growth"(Something perhaps Tony Fernandes should consider when talking of a 40,000-45,000 New Stadium for QPR)

- Flashback Article: "Chelsea: Muppets on a String!"

- Three Year Flashback: QPR Fan Groups United in Opposition to QPR Ticket Price Increase

- The Taxman and Footballers

- Manchester City's massive Academy Project/Spending

- Update re Plymouth Axe Peter Reid as Manager


CLINT HILL to NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Nottingham Forest Official Site - Reds Swoop For Hill


Steve McClaren has moved swiftly to boost his defensive resources following the injury to Chris Cohen.

The Nottingham Forest boss has agreed terms with Queens Park Rangers to sign Clint Hill on a 93-day emergency loan.

Hill (pictured) will link-up with The Reds later this week and will be in line to make his debut in Saturday's televised Championship date with Watford at Vicarage Road.

Cohen is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after scans revealed he has ruptured the cruciate ligament in his right knee.

McClaren said: "It's a bitter blow for Chris who has been one of our stand-out performers so far this season but we are delighted to have agreed terms with QPR for Clint.

"He has great experience and will add to our defensive options."

Hill, who can operate in the centre of defence or at left back, played in all but two of Rangers' league games last season as they clinched the Championship title.

The 32 year old was included in QPR's starting line-up for their opening game of the Premier League season against Bolton but has not figured since after being sent off. Nottingham Forest


David McIntyre/West London Sport -QPR and Forest agree Hill loan deal

QPR have agreed to let Clint Hill join Nottingham Forest on a three-month loan deal.

The reliable defender was a mainstay of Rangers’ promotion-winning side but the recent signing of Luke Young meant his first-team chances were likely to be limited.

Forest are set to sign him as cover for the injured Chris Cohen and he is expected to make his debut for them against Watford on Saturday.

R’s boss Neil Warnock prefers to play with a dynamic full-back on one side and a steady player on the other, so the arrival of solid right-back Young meant the signing of an attack-minded alternative to Hill was a priority.

Armand Traore was duly transferred from Arsenal and has impressed with his swashbuckling performances against Newcastle and Wolves.

Young, Matt Connolly and Danny Gabbidon can all play at left-back if required, so Warnock is prepared to let Hill – who followed him from Crystal Palace to QPR last year – leave Loftus Road.

After Rangers’ Championship triumph gave Hill the chance to play in the Premier League at the age of 32, his first and only appearance in the top flight was an unhappy one.

He was sent off after lashing out at Martin Petrov during the opening-day 4-0 defeat against Bolton and Warnock’s pre-deadline signings meant Hill had dropped down the pecking order by the time he had served a three-match ban." West London Sport


LONDON 24/Ian Cooper - Summer signing wants to see out his career at QPR

West London boy DJ Campbell is feeling right at home

DJ Campbell has revealed he would jump at the chance to see out his career at QPR.

Twenty-nine-year-old Campbell scored his first goal for the Rs in the 3-0 win at Wolves on Saturday, after replacing Jay Bothroyd as a second-half substitute at Molineux.

Campbell, who joined QPR from Blackpool this summer, was born and bred in east Acton, and played for the club’s junior side as a teenager, and he insisted that once he left the Tangerines he was only ever going to join the club he supported as a young boy.

“Could I finish my career here? I’d love to,” said Campbell. “It’s a club that means a lot to me, I’ve got ties with this club from years and years ago. I was born literally two minutes over the road.

“It was always in my mind. I always thought I’d love to come back to QPR if I had the chance. Thankfully it’s worked out well.

“I had other clubs in the summer, maybe people would have said you should have gone there or here, but I’m 29, and after the season last year I thought this was the right time to come back, rather than moving or staying up north,

“I wanted to be with my family, and obviously my family were delighted that I chose QPR and I’m sure they knew that I was going to choose QPR.”

Follow Ian Cooper on Twitter @QPRTimes London 24
Guardian/Louise Taylor


Guardian/Louise Taylor - Karl Henry dismisses Joey Barton's new image as 'the same old story'

• Feud continues between Wolves and QPR midfielders
• Mick McCarthy defends Henry following Barton's criticism


One of the Premier League's most public feuds shows little sign of abating after Karl Henry described Joey Barton as "embarrassing".

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain has a history of hostility with Barton dating back to the latter's Newcastle United days but the matter appears to have inflamed since the midfielder's switch to Queens Park Rangers.

The pair clashed on the pitch during QPR's 3-0 win at Molineux on Saturday, prefacing a childish spat variously conducted via Twitter, television and audio interviews which continued to rage on Monday night.

Barton used Twitter after the game to call Henry "a Sunday league player" and "a mug" while also suggesting Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager, must have been on drugs when he declined to sign him from Newcastle.

The Football Association duly examined the Twitter feed and, keen not to be seen interfering with players' rights to freedom of speech, had almost certainly resolved to take no action over a possible disrepute charge when Barton appeared as a guest on Sky Sports' Goals on Sunday.

Once in front of the camera he claimed that Henry is "always sticking his foot in and trying to hurt people" and is only "out to make a name for himself". It is understood FA officials may now wish to review that footage.

That Sunday viewing proved the cue for further retaliation from Henry. "Joey Barton was telling everyone he is on 80 grand a week as usual. That is him," he said. "He always does that during the game. Always. He riles a few people up when he says those things and tells everybody how great he is.

"It is just embarrassing really. If that is what he wants to do, he can carry on doing it but that is why a lot of people dislike him. He has tried to reinvent his image but it is probably the same old story.

"I know we had our battle last season. I don't want to keep going over it. But [on Saturday] they were winning the match. There was no need for him to keep going on the way he does."

Although McCarthy declined to respond to the comments Barton had made in his direction he enthusiastically endorsed Henry's stance. "Opinions are like backsides," he said. "We have all got one but it isn't always wise to air them in public.

"Karl is one of the best pros I've ever worked with in terms of his attitude and conscientiousness to his profession. He has earned himself the right to play in the Premier League by his guts and determination and made himself a better player. I've got nothing but admiration for him and never, ever, has he gone out to hurt anyone. In defence of my player, who has been with me for five years, I'd hang my hat on him all day long. He is a great guy.

On the subject of Barton's assertion that Henry is a "Sunday League player" McCarthy was scathing. "Not unless Wolves are in the Dog and Duck League! He is a Premier League player," he said. "He captained us to the Championship and has been instrumental in our success over the last five years." Guardian


Sky -Buzsaky hopes to avoid bench

Hungarian playmaker determined to play his part this season
By Juha Pal. Last Updated: September 20, 2011 2:09pm

Akos Buzsaky is delighted to be involved with an ambitious outfit like Queens Park Rangers, but admits he is hoping to be more than just a squad player.

The Hungarian playmaker has been at Loftus Road since 2008, making him a rarity in as much as he has survived the many ups and downs taken in by the club in recent years.

The 29-year-old admits he is honoured to still form part of the club's plans, as they attempt to consolidate back in the Premier League, but is keen to point out that he has his own targets.

Buzsaky has been selected in Neil Warnock's squad for the forthcoming campaign and insists he will do all he can to force his way out of the shadows and into the top flight spotlight.

"Last week the squad was narrowed down to the 25 players that can play during the season," Buzsaky told Nemzeti Sport.
Honour

"I should be happy that I was chosen and I could also say that it is an honour to sit on the bench of a Premier League club, but that is not enough for me.

"Our manager, Neil Warnock, knows he can rely on me at any time.

"I am the last member of the old QPR generation, but that is down to me. It was only me that decided I would stay here. I won't be forgotten about.

"I think it is not only talent but also persistence that you need if you want to be successful in football outside of Hungary.

"Our aim this season is to avoid relegation, but I think there is more calmness than stress in the dressing room. It's good to be here at the moment."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11711_7190549,00.html


-This Week's "Spot The Ball"

Blog Archive