#QPR Report Monday: Ref for #Nottingham Forest Game...Chevanton Departs...Happy Hughes

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Chairman Fernandes on Saturday...Other Photos (from Zimbio) of QPR vs Leicester

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- Chevanton Departs


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   Ref for Nottingham Forest Vs game: Keith Stroud



His Stats this season:

In 18 Games: 83 Yellow and 5 Red - including 8 yellow and 1 red for Millwall-Derby...7 Yellow in Brighton-Sheff Wed and 7 Yellow and 1 Red this past Saturday's Leeds-Barnsley...And Booked in every game this season  - Soccerbase Stats

Last Season's stats 10 Reds and 160 Yellows
Soccerbase


And season before, when last reffed a QPR game - Stats


Given that there are bookings given out in almost every single Stroud-Reffed game, QPR Report predicts a match with several yellows - and maybe even some Reds. (Sadly there will be no Joey Barton in this game!)








HAPPY MARK HUGHES

MAIL


Happy Hughes is busy proving his point at Stoke after QPR nightmare... but Guzan admits Villa have problems

By Chris Wheeler

PUBLISHED: 17:00 EST, 22 December 2013 | UPDATED: 17:00 EST, 22 December 2013


Mark Hughes spent last Christmas stewing over his sacking at QPR after failing to win any of his first 12 games of the season in the Barclays Premier League.

Twelve months on, and the Welshman is satisfied that he has rebuilt his reputation and silenced some of the doubters who questioned his appointment at Stoke in the summer.

Hughes’s side head into a difficult double-header away to Newcastle and Tottenham on the back of a four-game unbeaten run that has lifted them into the top half of the table (check after Swansea game today), and he believes the season is going to plan.
Happier times: Mark Hughes is rebuilding his Premier League reputation at Stoke City

Happier times: Mark Hughes is rebuilding his Premier League reputation at Stoke City

Latched: Peter Crouch scored the winner against Aston Villa to move the Potters into the top half of the table

Latched: Peter Crouch scored the winner against Aston Villa to move the Potters into the top half of the table

SUPER STAT

Stoke have not lost in the Premier League in December for the last 12 games, a run going back two years to a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on December 21, 2011.

‘I was a little bit put out because I felt I was getting judged on 12 games rather than the 250-odd Premier League games I’ve been in charge of clubs for,’ said Hughes. ‘I felt it was unfair but I could understand why people were questioning me.

‘I think it has to be viewed as progress. I’ve done it for a number of years now and I’ve got a number of wins behind me, so I do know how to win in the Premier League.

‘But it’s never about me. It’s always about trying to do my best to make a club and a team better.
New life: Charlie Adam scored Stoke's first and is reborn playing further forward under Hughes

New life: Charlie Adam scored Stoke's first and is reborn playing further forward under Hughes

It's not about me! Hughes is pleased at his side's position as they try to beat last season's 13th placed finish

It's not about me! Hughes is pleased at his side's position as they try to beat last season's 13th placed finish

‘We’re 10th and maybe after this weekend we’ll still be 10th leading into the Newcastle game. That gives us confidence that we’re doing a decent job at the moment.

‘It’s where we wanted to be at this stage. We’ve obviously got targets in terms of what we hope to do this season. We’re as near as damn it where we hoped to be so we’re pleased about that.’

Stoke’s upturn in fortunes is in contrast to Aston Villa’s three defeats in a row. With consecutive home games against Crystal Palace and Swansea over Christmas, goalkeeper Brad Guzan is determined to stop the rot.

‘Obviously nobody is happy,’ said Guzan. ‘We have to find a way to bounce back. It’s not a great way to go into Christmas but the good thing about this period is that the matches are a quick turnaround. It makes Palace a massive game.’


www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2527995/Mark-Hughes-busy-proving-point-Stoke-QPR-nightmare.html

MIRROR

Mirror

Mark Hughes' Stoke masterplan coming together as Potters hit top ten after Villa win

Dec 22, 2013 22:30
By David Anderson


“I think what we’ve done so far has to be viewed as progress. We’re in decent shape at the moment," says Potters boss
I got this: Hughes has won his last two in a row with the Potters I got this: Hughes has won his last two in a row with the Potters
Scott Heavey

Christmas is a time for giving - and Mark Hughes should be given credit for the job he is doing at Stoke.

Hughes knew he had to prove himself in the Premier League all over again because of his failure at QPR.

He was axed 13 months ago with Rangers bottom of the league without a win in their first 12 games.

He was miffed that as his critics queued up to kick him, they conveniently forgot his Premier League record at Blackburn, Manchester City and Fulham.

After a difficult autumn when Stoke fell down the table faster than the leaves off the trees, he can point to real progress as he attempts to lead the Potters to a first top-10 finish in the Premier League.

This win, coupled with their historic victory over Chelsea, made it back-to-back wins in the league at the Britannia to lift them to 10th.

The proud Hughes resisted the temptation to thumb his nose at his critics and knows he must focus on maintaining their run of just one loss in their last eight league games.

“I was a little bit put out when I came here because I felt I was getting judged on 12 games rather than the 250-odd Premier League games I’ve been in charge of clubs for,” said the Potters boss.

“I felt it was a little bit unfair, but I could understand why people were questioning me.

“I’ve done it for a number of years now and I’ve got a number of wins behind me so I do know how to win in the Premier League.

“It’s difficult, but the situation is that sometimes you can’t be successful because of lots of things that have an impact on you as a manager and the club you’re at.

“I think what we’ve done so far has to be viewed as progress. We’re in decent shape at the moment.”

To make Hughes’ task even harder he has changed Stoke’s direct style, which was so ingrained under Tony Pulis, while he has less money than his predecessor.

“It’s not easy,” he confessed. “But it’s been easier because of the players who are here, and the players we’ve been able to bring in.”

After trying to get Stoke to pass the ball, Hughes went more direct against Aston Villa and their first goal on 50 minutes came when Peter Crouch flicked on Geoff Cameron’s free-kick for Charlie Adam to score within five minutes of coming on.

The normally-reliable Erik Pieters committed an uncharacteristic blunder when his back header went straight to Libor Kozak to equalise on 66 minutes.

Four minutes later, Crouch, who Hughes says won’t be sold in January, showed his wife and new Strictly champion Abbey Clancy isn’t the only one with moves as he converted Cameron’s cross for the winner.

The defeat was the third on the spin for Villa, who were without the injured Christian Benteke, and goalkeeper Brad Guzan admits they must beat Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

“It’s not a great way to go into Christmas, but the good thing about this period is that the matches are a quick turnaround,” he said.

“It makes Palace a massive game and we have to make sure we come out of it with three points.

“It’s all about the next game and Palace is a big test for us. We have to make sure we’re up for it and come out for it ready.”
www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mark-hughes-stoke-masterplan-coming-2953203#ixzz2oHXRbXIQ

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