QPR REPORT

Friday, August 28, 2009

QPR's Jim Magilton Answers Questions...QPR #25 in the Carling Cup Draw Details

Football Snippets Friday...QPR at Scunthorpe

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- For up-to-the-minute QPR news - and QPR Nostalgia - visit the combination blog and messageboard, QPR Report Messageboard Throw in some eclectic football news. And post your own views. QPR Report is Updated throughout the day

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- John Spencer Honoured

- The Danny Dichio Story

- Birthdays: Ray Jones (RIP) and Jamie Cureton

- August 28 QPR Games, including Season Opener for Terry Venables Championship-winning team.

- Year Ago: Talk of Campbell to QPR and Ledesma Signing

- Abramovich Backs Curbing Spending...Platini: Balance Books or Out of Europe

- FA Deny Manchester United Pressure over Removal of England Phsyio

- Portsmouth Finances Examined

- Two More Big Sousa Signings for Swansea

- Southampton's Rasiac Joins Reading

- Danny Shittu Looking to Move

London Paper/Greg Stobart
Under fire QPR boss Jim Magilton ready to ring changes
The former Ipswich Town manager will drop underperforming players ahead of his side’s trip to Scunthorpe following Rangers’ poor start to the season
- JIM MAGILTON has fired a warning at his underperforming players and admitted he will make changes for the weekend’s trip to Scunthorpe.
- The QPR boss watched as his players were booed off the field at half time during last night’s 2-1 Carling Cup second round win over League Two outfit Accrington Stanley.
- Magilton is already under pressure at Loftus Road with Rangers yet to win a game in the Championship this season, and second half goals from Hogan Ephraim and Wayne Routledge secured a barely-deserved victory for the Hoops.
- He said: “We have to re-jig things. If those lads who are currently in the team aren’t doing it, we’ve certainly got enough back-up that will come in and do a bit better.”
- One player who could find himself out of the side is Hungarian international Akos Buzsaky.
- “I know he’s a crowd favourite here but I don’t think a player of his ability should give the ball away as cheaply as he does. I can’t tolerate that,” said Magilton. London Paper

Next: QPR Travel to Scunthorpe
Last time they met: In December 2007, QPR under De Canio, drew 2-2 at Scunthorpe (Buzsaky 2). QPR: Camp, Barker, Stewart, Bolder, Buzsaky (Ainsworth 92), Rowlands, Malcolm, Vine, Rehman (Timoska 74), Leigertwood, Sinclair (Nygaard 76). Subs: Cole, Balanta.
And then on the Ides of March, 2008, QPR won 3-1 at Loftus Road (Rowland Agyemang and Vine) - QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mancienne, Blackstock, Buzsaky (Mahon 81), Rowlands (Stewart 92), Connolly, Agyemang (Lee 93), Vine, Hall, Leigertwood. Subs: Pickens, Balanta.
Prior to these games, the clubs had last met in the old Third Division in the 1966/1967 Season.
- Further QPR vs Scunthorpe Details

QPR OFFICIAL SITE THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: THE IRON
Rangers will go gunning for their first victory of the Coca Cola Championship campaign at Glanford Park tomorrow (Saturday).

After three draws and a defeat from their opening four fixtures of the season, Jim Magilton's men - buoyed by progressing into the third round of the Carling Cup with victory over Accrington Stanley on Tuesday - will be keen to add another win to their tally, against a Scunny side who have found life difficult on their return to the second tier.

Indeed, despite booking their place in the next round of the Carling Cup at the expense of Paulo Sousa's Swansea City in midweek, the Iron have taken just three points from a possible 12 so far.

Team News
Martin Rowlands (ankle) is a doubt for Jim Magilton's men, but Angelo Balanta could be in contention for a recall, after coming through a QPR XI fixture on Wednesday morning unscathed.

Fitz Hall is expected to return from a rib injury, whilst Jay Simpson is likely to make his full QPR debut following the completion of his season long loan move from Arsenal on Thursday.

Defender Rob Jones is unavailable for the Iron after suffering concussion at Sheffield Wednesday last week.

Meanwhile, Niall Canavan - who stood in for Jones against Swansea City in mid-week - is also a doubt after suffering an ankle injury in training yesterday (Thursday).

Andrew Wright (metatarsal) and Kenny Milne (knee) are also unavailable for the match.

Star Man Gary HOOPER - Striker

Iron completed the signing of Gary Hooper in July 2008 and the 21 year-old striker has gone from strength to strength since then.

Thirty goals in all competitions last season saw Scunny return to the Championship and the former Hereford hit-man looks set to continue his fine form this season.

Indeed, Hooper already has two goals to his name in his four Championship appearances to date, and is a proven matchwinner on his day.

Previous encounter

QPR 3, Scunthorpe United 1 - Saturday 15th March 2009 - Coca Cola Championship

Martin Rowlands, Patrick Agyemang and Rowan Vine were all on target, as the R's came from behind to send Scunthorpe United spiralling towards League One.

Rangers trailed to Grant McCann's fine free-kick, only for the hosts to respond courtesy of a debatable Rowlands spot-kick.

Agyemang put the R's in front when he smashed home Akos Buzsaky's classy 79th minute through ball, before Vine put the icing on the cake with a well-taken third goal in stoppage time.

Match odds with Bet365
Scunthorpe win - 7/4
Draw - 11/5
QPR win - 8/5
Click here to back the R's!

Match Coverage
QPR Player will be providing live commentary of this fixture, as well as offering extended highlights next week.
Click here to join QPR Player. QPR

SCUNTHORPE OFFICIAL - PREVIEW: QUEENS PARK RANGERS
-Saturday's home game with Queens Park Rangers is United's final one before a two-week international break, and the Iron will be seeking to finish the first three weeks of the season in style against Jim Magilton's side.

The big-spending Hoops are yet to win in the league this season, and come up against a Scunthorpe team seeking to bulld on their one league victory so far.

They head into the game buoyed by their 2-1 midweek Carling Cup win at Championship rivals Swansea City.

Central defender Rob Jones won't play on Saturday, as he continues his recovery from the concussion he suffered at Sheffield Wednesday last week.

"He was on the training ground with us on Thursday morning, but still needs more time to recover," said manager Nigel Adkins, speaking on The Iron Player.

"He should be fine for our next league game against Crystal Palace."

Niall Canavan, who stepped in for him at Swansea, could sit out due to an ankle problem which forced him out of training on Thursday.

"All being well he'll train on Friday," added Adkins.

Fellow defender David Mirfin, who had missed most of pre-season and sat out three games with an ankle injury, played all 120 minutes of the Swansea game and he came through training fine on Thursday.

Andrew Wright misses out with a broken metatarsal, while Kenny Milne is training well after missing the last year with a knee problem.

Elsewhere, there are no fresh injury worries, with the likes of Cliff Byrne, Grant McCann, Michael O'Connor and Gary Hooper pushing for a recall.

QPR could hand a debut to new loan signing Jay Simpson, the highly-rated young Arsenal striker.

The Hoops beat off interest from three Premier League sides to snap up the frontman on a season-long deal.

They will also be hoping that centre-back Fitz Hall will return after missing the midweek Carling Cup win over Accrington Stanley with a rib injury. Kaspars Gorkss will continue to stand in should he miss out.

Winger Lee Cook is still missing as he recovers from summer knee surgery.

The referee for the game is Graham Salisbury.

Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe Official Site - ADKINS CALLS FOR AN ATMOSPHERE

Iron manager Nigel Adkins has called for his side's fans to get behind the club as passionately as they did for the first two home league games when cash-rich Queens Park Rangers come to Glanford Park on Saturday.

United head into the game on the back of a confidence-boosting 2-1 Carling Cup win over Swansea and will be seeking to gain their second league win of the season in their final match before a two-week international break,

"Queens Park Rangers have had massive investment," said Adkins, speaking on The Iron Player.

"They want to win promotion to the Premier League but it hasn't worked out for them at the moment.

"They've been through a couple of managers and Jim Magilton is there now.

"They've got a very large squad of players to select from, so we'll have to see what team they put out.

"They changed a few things in the midweek when they played Accrington Stanley in the Carling Cup, so they've had the opportunity to rest several of their players.

"They may not have had the start they were looking for, so they'll come here looking for an away victory.

"But if we can get the atmosphere right, and have one like we had when we played Derby County and Middlesbrough here, and if we can also put in the energy levels shown against those two teams, then that will give us an opportunity." Scunthorpe

POSTED PREVIOUSLY

- Watford's Tommy Smith Move finalized (to Portsmouth, not Reading)

- Father and Son Change their Name to Queens Park Rangers

- Video Snippet: QPR vs Accrington Stanley

- Ex-QPR Chris Arthur Trialing With Grimsby

- Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) Action Week (October 15-27)

- Fans Asked to Vote on Favourite League Cup Memories

- Interesting Ranking of Premiership Clubs for "Fan Stewardship" - How well owners are building for their club's future. Five categories: - putting the club first, 'long-termism', clarity of role and purpose, engagement of fans and passion"

- Chelsea PR Offensive Ends in Jeers

- New Book re QPR "Hooped Dreams -Billionaires, QPR and the Premiership Promised Land." By Mick Kelly. (Foreword by Rodney Marsh) - Book Description

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Arsenal's Simpson Joins QPR...Why Simpson Chose QPR...Vine Rejects Loan Move... Scunthorpe Preview...Father and Son QPR Name Change...Hogan on Playing

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

John Gorman Optimism....Praising Jay Simpson....Assessing Magilton's Buzsaky Criticism...QPR XI Lose to Watford...Fan Hooliganism Club-by-Club

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- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!

- Past Millwall (and West Ham) Fan Violence, including vs QPR

- Italian Serie A Breaking Away

- Italy coach, Marcello Lippi, Wouldn't Pick Openly Gay Couples for his Squad

Ben Kosky/Kilburn Time John Gorman - Slow start can work out in the long run
- QPR assistant manager John Gorman has stressed that a flying start to the season is no guarantee of success come May.
- Rangers have stuttered in their first four Championship fixtures, gleaning a modest return of three points, but the experienced Gorman is confident of picking up pace as the season progresses.
- "If you do start well, you have to maintain that the whole season, which isn't easy," he observed. "Sometimes you can start not so well, build gradually and finish on a real high and get promoted.
- "Of course it's nice to get a good start because the players build up their confidence straight away. If you don't, questions are asked and managers lose their jobs, which is wrong."
- Four years ago, Gorman's Wycombe Wanderers side seemed unstoppable as they marched towards the League Two title until two-thirds of the way through the season, when the manager tragically lost his wife to cancer.
- While Gorman was away on compassionate leave, his team imploded and dropped out of the promotion places, eventually clinging on to a play-off place and losing in the semi-final.
- "We went 21 games unbeaten and you can hardly get a better start than that," Gorman recalled. "But what happened that February, although it was away from football, affected the football.
- "It had looked as if we'd go right through on a high, but it's where you are at the end that counts - and at QPR we're very hopeful of being one of the teams that are up there. Kilburn Times

Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - re Jay Simpson
Rangers will be jumping for Jay
- FORMER QPR star Marcus Bignot believes his old club have pulled off a coup by persuading Arsenal to loan them Jay Simpson.
- Rangers will sign the 20-year-old forward on a season-long loan later this week in an effort to reinforce their lacklustre front line.
- And Bignot, who played alongside Simpson during the youngster's spell at Millwall in 2008, told the Times: "I think the QPR fans will be excited by him.
- "Jay's not a big lad but he certainly has a physical presence and he's got a good shot in his locker as well. He'll be a good addition to what's already a strong squad at QPR.

"He's a quiet lad but a very warming character. He came into a struggling team at Millwall, but that didn't faze him at all and he was a very good player for us.
- "I'd put him in the Theo Walcott bracket in that Arsenal might not have decided yet whether he's a wide player or a front man, but I think he'd prefer to be up top."
- Simpson has been on the Gunners' books since he was a schoolboy, but came to prominence during his loan at Millwall, helping the League One club to escape relegation and winning the divisional PFA fans' player of the year award.
- He made his Arsenal debut in the Carling Cup last season, playing three times and scoring two goals in their 3-0 fourth-round win over Wigan.
- The north Londoner spent the second half of the season on loan with West Brom, netting twice in 17 appearances, but has been back in Arsenal's reserves this term. Kilburn Times

Dave McIntyre/BBC 606 - Magilton's high-risk approach
- Jim Magilton’s criticism of Akos Buzsaky immediately reminded me of the night Ian Holloway turned his guns on Richard Langley.
As Magilton was talking last night, I recalled Holloway standing in the same place after Rangers had been humiliated by Vauxhall Motors.
- Magilton’s verdict on Buzsaky was nowhere near as venomous as Holloway’s on Langley that night.
- But there were some similarities - not least the fact that both players were trying to re-establish themselves after serious knee injuries.
- And in both cases, a number of players could have been slated after a woeful team display. Only one - the man widely regarded as the jewel in the Rangers crown - was unexpectedly singled out.
- Referring to Langley, I remember Holloway saying: “I’ll start with him - because he’s the biggest.”
- It seemed a clear attempt to prove his own authority by showing he was prepared to ‘take on’ the club’s most popular player.
- It’s a tactic sometimes employed by managers. The message is obvious: if even the top dog isn’t safe, then no-one is.
- And by prefixing his comments last night with: “I know he’s a crowd favourite, but…” Magilton was subtly making this point too.
- Many of Buzsaky’s admirers will today be wondering if this signals the end of his QPR career and worry he may respond by looking for a way out.
- It’s a justified concern, but no manager worth his salt will ever be held back by it if he feels something needs to be said.
- In the case of Langley, I believe Holloway’s stance, both during that awful November of 2002 and in general, backfired badly.
- I think it knocked the player’s confidence in the short and long term, that his confidence was affected by events both at QPR and then Cardiff and that this was almost as significant as the injuries he suffered.
- More importantly, I’ve always believed it ended up costing Rangers promotion that season.
- During that spell, Langley was banished in much the same way Gino Padula was. Only injuries to others led to their return, after which Rangers went on a brilliant run and narrowly missed out on the top two.
- They of course might have won the play-offs had Langley not got himself sent off and suspended for the final. But were it not for that turgid mid-season spell, those play-offs may not have been necessary.
- Coincidentally, Holloway also managed Buzsaky at Plymouth, where he was cajoled into some great performances but never quite established himself in the way he did after joining QPR.
- That could be taken as proof that Magilton’s approach will not bring the best out of the player, but there reasons to be more optimistic.
- The first is that Langley and Buzsaky are very different players and characters.
- Buzsaky is older and more experienced than Langley was in 2002 and I think is more likely to come back strongly rather than take it to heart.
- But in my view the crucial thing - and the biggest reason to stay optimistic - is what Magilton was actually criticising Buzsaky for.
- Some managers will not warm to a player like Buzsaky purely for ideological reasons.
- Going back to Langley, he was always on a sticky wicket given Holloway’s musings about “piano shifters” as well as “Fancy Dans” and “flitty farty QPR.”
- Buzsaky’s fans would today have serious reason to worry if Magilton had singled him out for not working hard enough, not putting a foot in or for failing to track back.
- He didn’t. He was angry with him for giving the ball away. That's very significant and Buzsaky ought to take something positive from it.
- If Magilton was trying to change him as a player, then alarm bells really would be ringing.
- Another key difference is that while Langley was a lovely player, he was very much an instinctive one. His strength was producing flashes of brilliance in the final third of the pitch.
- Buzsaky has that instinctive side to his game but, unlike Langley, also has the ability to be more deliberate and precise.
- That means he should be - and is - expected to pull strings in midfield in a way someone in the Langley mould cannot.
- Keeping the ball is therefore crucial, and giving it away cheaply really isn’t on.
- Personally, I disagree with Magilton’s comments but think a far more serious issue for Buzsaky and others is the formation currently being used.
- The last three managers angered their bosses by not sticking to 4-4-2, but all three played a certain way for a very good reason.
- Buzsaky misses playing just off the front man – and he isn’t the only key QPR player who needs that shape to be reintroduced.
- Adel Taarabt also needs to play in a withdrawn role. He is not a striker, while playing wide he will always cause as many problems for his own full-back as the opposition’s.
- Rowan Vine is another who isn’t being helped by the emphasis on two out-and-out strikers.
- He’s a quality player but was always going to find the going tough after his injury.
- Playing slightly off the front puts the emphasis on effective movement, which still suits him, whereas a striker is often required to run flat out.
- Angelo Balanta and Martin Rowlands also operate better in that kind of system and so too, I expect, will Lee Cook.
- I think this is a more urgent worry than Magilton’s comments.
- But publicly criticising a star player always raises eyebrows. It’s also a very risky move.
- At Rangers, there is a growing pool of players the regime would gladly offload if the chance arose. Buzsaky isn’t one of them.
- He is popular with the board as well as supporters, so Magilton has stuck his neck out by taking him to task.
- But that’s what management is all about.
- Many have been calling for the manager to be given a free rein and this is sometimes what that involves.
- It’s an important judgement call by Magilton.
- Time – and Buzsaky’s response – will tell whether he’s got it right.
so..... BBC606

QPR Official Site - QPR XI LOSE AT WATFORD
- A young QPR Reserve side lost 3-0 to Watford this afternoon in a friendly fixture at the Hornets' training ground, which saw Angelo Balanta make a successful return from injury.
- One goal in the first half and two after the break sealed the fate of Keith Ryan's team, and the Reserve Team Manager told www.qpr.co.uk: "It was disappointing to lose but I was delighted to be able to get this fixture as a fitness exercise, because that was the main purpose of it.
- "The Reserve League starts next week, and the lads have been itching for a game, so this came at a good time, in that respect.
- "In all honesty, we didn't really do ourselves justice today, and our passing was a little disjointed.
- "Having said that, it's the first time that a lot of these lads have actually played together, so that obviously didn't help."
- A definite plus to come from the fixture was the return to action of Balanta, who suffered an ankle injury in training and hasn't featured since the opening day draw against Blackpool.
- "It was good to see Angelo get an hour under his belt," Ryan added. "He came through unscathed and has put himself in contention now for a return to the First Team."
- QPR XI: Putnins, Harriman (Sutherland, 55), Brown, Oastler, Harris, Parmentor, Cox, Alberti (Bewick, 60), German, Balanta (Malloy, 60), Parker.
Subs not used: Ehmer, Weeney, Bailey. QPR

BBC/Ollie Willams - Crowd trouble club-by-club
- Violence at football matches of the kind witnessed outside and inside Upton Park at Tuesday's Carling Cup match between West Ham and Millwall has been thankfully rare in recent years.
- But the Home Office keeps a record of every arrest relating to professional football in England and Wales, as well as banning orders handed out to persistent or serious offenders.
- Each year, it publishes a club-by-club breakdown of arrests made, including the type of offence, ranging from ticket touting or pitch invasion to violent disorder or possession of a weapon.
- So where do each team's supporters rank?
Taking Tuesday's two sets of fans as examples, by November last year, 117 Millwall fans had been given banning orders. Only Leeds United (152) and Cardiff City (136) had more.
- West Ham had 39 supporters with banning orders in the same list, in the middle of the table for Premier League clubs, which was headed by Portsmouth with 91.
- The last set of figures published covers the 2007/08 season, but the Home Office online archive stretches back at least to 2001. You can download PDF files of the data here:
- Statistics on football-related arrests and banning orders 2007-2008
- Statistics on football-related arrests and banning orders 2006-2007
- Statistics on football-related arrests and banning orders 2005-2006
- Statistics on football-related arrests and banning orders 2004-2005
- Statistics on football-related arrests and banning orders 2003-2004
- Statistics on football-related arrests and banning orders 2002-2003
- Statistics on football-related arrests and banning orders 2001-2002
- Using all the links, you can see how arrests and banning orders for each team - and for whole divisions, the Football League and the Premier League - have changed so far this century.
- For some additional context, there's also a helpful page from the University of Leicester listing figures for arrests at football matches from the 1986/87 season through to 1998/99.
- Broadly, the trend shows violence at football matches continues to fall - or at least, arrests do.
- In 1988/89 there were just over 6,000 arrests at games in England and Wales. There were 3,842 arrests in 2007/08.
- The University of Leicester points out that hooliganism has long been more of a problem outside grounds than inside and the Home Office figures suggest around six in every 10 arrests are made outside the stadium.
- But two-thirds of games manage to pass off without a single arrest being made.
- It's difficult to draw many conclusions about individual teams without spending time properly analysing the data, but I've pulled out some more info from these files and added it below - add a comment if you find anything else interesting.
- In terms of arrests at matches, Manchester United fans were the biggest offenders looking at the raw data, with 248 supporters arrested in 07/08.
- That doesn't take into account the club's larger attendances - and dividing by home attendance won't work, since arrest figures include their supporters at away matches (and it's largely away fans causing the trouble), so it's unfair to simply label United fans as the worst-behaved without really crunching the numbers.
- Reading and Fulham can both be proud of largely unblemished records in the top flight that season, though, accounting for just 31 arrests between them.
- Almost a third of Birmingham fans' 99 arrests were for the serious offence of violent disorder, far more than for any other top-flight team.
- Further down the divisions, Cambridge United's figure of 16 arrests stands out in the Conference National, while Chesterfield had the highest number of arrests in League Two.
- Leeds fans recorded more arrests than those of any other professional team, with the exception of Manchester United. (Though again, remember their home attendances and away support will have been higher - not that this entirely accounts for the figure of 156 arrests.)
- It's interesting that the figure for Leeds has increased by 52 since the 2002/03 season, when Leeds were in the Premier League.
- Millwall's figure for arrests has increased from 18 to 78 in that time. One Millwall fan was arrested for a public disorder offence in 2002/03; 40 supporters were arrested for the same offence in 2007/08.
- However, when publishing these figures in 2008, the Home Office said the last four years had seen "the lowest number of football-related arrests since records begun".
- Is violence at football matches on the way down, despite events at Upton Park, and do all these stats reflect your experiences at matches?
BBC

- New Book re QPR "Hooped Dreams -Billionaires, QPR and the Premiership Promised Land." By Mick Kelly. (Foreword by Rodney Marsh) - Book Description

- QPR 2 Accrington Stanley 1: Compilation of Match Reports and (harsh) Managerial Comments
- The Carling Cup Third Round Draw will be made on Saturday (12:15pm Skysports)

- Year Flashback: Dowie makes if four wins out of five as with Ledesdma hatrick

- Fans Asked to Vote on Favourite League Cup Memories

- Interesting Ranking of Premiership Clubs for "Fan Stewardship" - How well owners are building for their club's future. Five categories: - putting the club first, 'long-termism', clarity of role and purpose, engagement of fans and passion"
- On This Day: The last time QPR (even temporarily) headed the First Division (Premiership)
- Chelsea PR Offensive Ends in Jeers

- "When Players Fall Out of Love With Football"

- The West Ham-Millwall Fan Violence

QPR Football Snippets Wednesday...Accrington Reports...The New QPR Book...Flashback: Dowie Makes it 4 Wins out of 5 and Last Time QPR Headed Football

- New Book re QPR "Hooped Dreams -Billionaires, QPR and the Premiership Promised Land." By Mick Kelly. (Foreword by Rodney Marsh) - Book Description and details

- Year Flashback: Dowie makes if four wins out of five as with Ledesdma hatrick

- Birthday for Ex-QPR Genius, Don Masson

- Fans Asked to Vote on Favourite League Cup Memories

- Interesting Ranking of Premiership Clubs for "Fan Stewardship" - How well owners are building for their club's future. Five categories: - putting the club first, 'long-termism', clarity of role and purpose, engagement of fans and passion"

- On This Day: The last time QPR (even temporarily) headed the First Division (Premiership)

- QPR 2 Accrington Stanley 1: Compilation of Match Reports and (harsh) Managerial Comments

- The Carling Cup Third Round Draw will be made on Saturday (12:15pm Skysports)

ESPNStar - Magilton slams playmaker Akos
- QPR manager Jim Magilton criticised playmaker Akos Buzsaky after his side stumbled into the third round of the Carling Cup with a 2-1 win at home to Accrington.
- The Hungarian was among several Rangers players who struggled before Hogan Ephraim and Wayne Routledge scored to see off the League Two side, who pulled a goal back through Michael Symes.
- Buzsaky and Rowan Vine recently returned from long-term injuries, and Magilton said: "We've got to give them time and we know they're very good players.
- "Vine was better but 'Buz' gave the ball away cheaply. I wasn't happy about that.
- "I know he's a crowd favourite, but we should pride ourselves on ball retention and there were times he gave it away under no pressure. To be honest, it was embarrassing."
- The R's boss admitted: "We were outplayed in the first half and you have to commend Accrington. They showed some of our lads what enthusiasm is all about.
- "The quality of our play, our ball retention - everything about us - was sloppy in the first half and I expect much more. We had international footballers giving the ball away cheaply."
- Rangers improved after the interval and went ahead in the 68th minute.
- Peter Ramage was released by Adel Taarabt and sent in a right-wing cross which Ephraim controlled nicely before steering his shot beyond keeper Alan Martin and into the corner of the net.
- Rangers' lead was doubled in stoppage time, when Routledge cut in from the left-hand edge of the penalty area and scored with a blistering right-foot shot that bounced in off the underside of the bar.
- There was still time for Accrington to net a consolation goal. Gary Borrowdale failed to clear Robert Grant's free-kick and Symes fired home from eight yards out.
- Rangers were far from impressive, but Magilton dismissed suggestions their form has deteriorated since the season began.
- He said: "I wouldn't get carried away and go in for mass hysteria with talk of deterioration. These games are always tricky and we were much better in the second half.
- "Rome wasn't built in a day. We'll keep going and looking to build something here. The most important thing is that we're in the next round."
- Accrington manager John Coleman praised his players but felt they failed to make the most of an opportunity to cause an upset.
- "I'm proud of them, but the disappointing thing is that the two goals we conceded were avoidable," said Coleman.
- "We switched off, and when you give a lad like Routledge a chance he will take it. To be fair to him, that was a fantastic strike.
- "I do feel it was a chance lost. QPR were edgy. They've got good players and we didn't see the best of them tonight, but credit to our lads.
- "When you play a team from a lower level, as much as you try to guard against complacency it is always there. We knew that and tried to take advantage." ESPN

- Chelsea PR Offensive Ends in Jeers

- "When Players Fall Out of Love With Football"

- The West Ham-Millwall Fan Violence

QPR Official Site - QPR XI IN ACTION AT WATFORD
- A QPR XI, which includes Matteo Alberti and Angelo Balanta amongst others, are in action against Watford this morning. Reserve Team Manager Keith Ryan will take charge of the fixture at the Hornets' training ground. The match kicks-off at 11.00am. QPR XI squad (v Watford): Putnins; Harriman, Brown, Oastler, Harris, Parmentor, Cox, Alberti, German, Balanta, Parker, Ehmer, Weeney, Malloy, Sutherland, Bewick, Bailey. QPR

PREVIOUSLY POSTED

- Arsenal's Simpson in...Vine Out?

- See also: Jay Simpson Stats... Arsenal Items re Jay Simpson

- Two Year Flashback: More Takeover articles and Flavio Briatore talking about his QPR role (which would be secondary to F1) compared to his involvement with his restaurant, Ciprianis: "I occasionally go there to eat, but I don't go in the kitchen to cook the food. And with QPR, I will occasionally go to a match. Nothing more.' Takeover Talk

- Ex-Watford Manager Adrian Boothroyd Talking about his almost-hire by unamed club

- Blame the Board; not the Manager (Non-QPR per se)

- Video Snippet: Alan Shearer Scoring Against QPR

- Roy Keane "You'll Never Play for Me Again"

-Article re a QPR Fan Finally Gets to see QPR "The Loneliness of Long-Distance Fandom"

- Football League Teams of the Week.

- The QPR Club Shop Burglary/Fire

- A Flashback to the QPR Staff Directory of Three Years Ago

- Chelsea's Training Ground Brawl...FA Investigation and the "Hidden" Chelsea Video

- Updated: QPR's continuing-to-Decline Championship Promotion Odds

- Coming in September, the Football-focused Film: The Firm

- Three Years Ago: Graham Mackrell (briefly) appointed QPR CEO

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

QPR Scrape Into The Third Round...Reports and Managerial Comments re QPR vs Accrington

QPR 2 Accrington Stanley 1

QPR Official Site - GAFFER: 'NO WAY NEAR GOOD ENOUGH'
- Jim Magilton failed to hide his disappointment with the R's first half display, despite seeing his side progress to the third round of the Carling Cup at the expense of an excellent Accrington Stanley side.
- Goals from Hogan Ephraim and Wayne Routledge eventually handed Rangers a 2-1 victory, but the Hoops boss was far from impressed, commenting: "They came here with nothing to lose, but you can only commend them for a quite magnificent display.
- "They totally outplayed us in the first half.
- "The goal gave us a lift, but we couldn't have played any worse than we did in the first half.
- "You can't defend that first half display. It's just not good enough and things need to improve very, very quickly."
- Magilton added: "I expect far, far better from the lads.
- "It was a real potential banana skin, but Accrington deserve credit - they were outstanding to a man.
- "Unfortunately, we've got a certain few who believe they can just turn it on and off, but you can't in this game.
- "You always need to show your opponents respect, but one or two of our lads were kidding themselves tonight with their performances.
- "I'm going to shake the living daylights of them! QPR

QPR Official Site QPR vs Accrington 2 - 1 Attendance:
5,203 Referee:
Hogan Ephraim and Wayne Routledge continued their scoring runs in the Carling Cup against Accrington Stanley, as they put Rangers into round three.

Stanley, in all fairness, did pose some threat to the R's in the first half.

But Rangers were much the better after the break, with Ephraim's looping effort finding the goal in the 68th minute after a good spell of possession.

Routledge added a second in injury time, before Michael Symes netted a consolation for Accrington.

Rangers Gaffer Jim Magilton made no less than eight changes to the side that drew with Nottingham Forest at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon.

Only Peter Ramage, Damion Stewart and goalscorer at the weekend Mikele Leigertwood kept their places in the R's starting XI against League Two visitors Accrington Stanley.

Though the changes didn't mean that Rangers were short on quality, with the likes of Akos Buzsaky, Ephraim and Rowan Vine all involved in an attempt to put the hosts into round three.

In other team news, goalkeeper Tom Heaton made his first R's start following a three-month emergency loan move from Manchester United.

As the game kicked off under the beam of the Loftus Road floodlights, tributes were made to the late Ray Jones to mark the second anniversary of his tragic passing.

And it was Rangers who started the brighter, creating the game's first chance. After a long pass up to Ephraim, he played a cushioned ball into Vine, who cut in to beat one man before shooting straight at keeper Alan Martin in the Stanley goal.

Play then switched to the other end, as Stanley broke at pace and had the best opportunity of the tie to date to take the lead. After a neat pass found its way to Sean McConville down the right, he had the time and space to pick out Symes on the edge of the area.

The Accrington forward did all he could after that, unleashing a rasping shot at the bottom right-hand corner. Fortunately though for the R's, Heaton was more than equal to the effort to tip it wide.

The game wasn't exactly being played at a frantic pace, though chances were forthcoming. Soon after, good link-up play between Vine and Ephraim enabled the latter to cut in and shoot - though that effort went just wide of the Accrington goal.

Stanley, to their credit, were far from passengers in this second round tie and were doing a good job of frustrating Rangers. Heaton was forced into another save after a dangerous free-kick from Luke Joyce looked to be heading for the bottom right-hand corner, though the Red Devils loanee got down well to palm the ball to safety.

Moments later it was the visitors who again threatened to take the lead with arguably the best chance of the first period. After a fantastic long pass, Symes chested down fantastically before beating his full-back and shooting for goal, though that effort went just wide of Heaton's right-hand post.

Just before the break Rangers could have taken the lead when Vine was played through on goal down the left, though he could only blast his effort straight at Martin, who parried the ball out for a corner.

Rangers were far from the free-flowing footballing side that they had been in previous fixtures. Mindful of that, R's Manager Magilton made a double switch come half-time. Gary Borrowdale and Adel Taarabt replaced Kaspars Gorkss and Patrick Agyemang respectively for the hosts.

And they were changes that seemed to spring Rangers into life as soon after the interval, they nearly broke the deadlock.

After a superb centre from a corner by Buzsaky, the ball broke loose to Stewart from close range, who could only thunder the ball over the crossbar.

Buoyed by that chance the R's then went on the attack again, and when Buzsaky gave the ball to Taarabt in the middle of the park, he beat one man before shooting just wide from 25-yards out.

There could be no question that Rangers were now having the better of the possession. After a ball was played over to Ephraim on the left, he cut in before unleashing a fierce strike in at goal and it was a shot that had to be beaten away by Martin in the visitors' net.

The introduction of Taarabt was something that seemed to give the R's that little bit extra, and it was that man who played a part, as Rangers took a 68th minute lead.

Driving through the middle, Taarabt played a lovely, measured pass out wide to Peter Ramage. The right-back then crossed for Ephraim, who controlled well on the edge of the box before sending a looping effort home to put Rangers in front.

Not long after that, the R's were on the attack once again, and only a fine diving save from Martin - who pushed the ball away for a corner - could stop Vine from scoring after a clever through ball from Leigertwood.

In added time, Rangers put the tie beyond Stanley. After receiving the ball from a throw-in, Routledge cut in past two men before sending in a thunderous strike on the edge of the area that hit the underside of the crossbar and went in.

That scoreline may have been a little unjust on the visitors, so maybe it was deserved that Symes sent home a late consolation for Stanley.

Though that was all it was to be, as the R's put themselves into the hat for Saturday's Carling Cup third round draw.

QPR: Heaton, Ramage, Stewart, Mahon (Routledge 68), Leigertwood, Vine, Buzsaky, Agyemang (Taarabt 46), Gorkss (Borrowdale 46), Connolly, Ephraim.

Subs: Helguson, Pellicori, Balanta, Cerny.

Goals: Ephraim (68), Routledge (90).

Bookings: Ramage (28).

Accrington Stanley: Martin, Kempson, Procter, Miles, Joyce, Edwards, Ryan (Turner 81), Winnard, McConville (Grant 73), Symes, Murphy (Kee 73).
Subs: Richardson, Mullin, King, Dunbavin.
Goals: Symes (90).
Bookings: Ryan (38).
Referee: Mr C L Pawson.
Attendance: 5, 203. QPR

SPORTING LIFE
Goals from Hogan Ephraim and Wayne Routledge eased the pressure on QPR manager Jim Magilton as brave Accrington bowed out of the Carling Cup at the second-round stage.

Magilton, who took over the helm at Loftus Road in the summer, is already under fire with Rangers having failed to win a game in the Championship this season - and chairman Flavio Briatore is not renowned for his patience.

But after being given an almighty scare by their League Two opponents, Ephraim pounced for the winner in the 68th minute and Routledge made sure in the last minute to send the 1967 winners into the hat for the third-round draw on Saturday.

Michael Symes was a handful for QPR all night and he deservedly got a consolation goal for Stanley in stoppage time.

After QPR striker Patrick Agyemang blasted a shot over the crossbar, Accrington, who knocked Nottingham Forest out of the Carling Cup in 2006, nearly took a shock lead.

Symes unleashed a 25-yard effort which was saved by QPR goalkeeper Tom Heaton, on loan from Manchester United.

Heaton was called into action again in the 12th minute to deny Symes for a second time before Gavin Mahon's 18-yard shot was comfortably dealt with by Stanley stopper Alan Martin.

Symes was in the thick of the action again 12 minutes later. After he was up-ended by Mikele Leigertwood, James Ryan produced a decent attemt from 30 yards which Heaton parried.

QPR were struggling to handle Symes and he was on hand to fire another attempt at goal but could not find the target from 18 yards.

The home side responded and Rowan Vine's effort was parried away by Martin.

Magilton made a double substitution at the break as he targeted an improvement in the second half and within 65 seconds Akos Buzsaky blasted a shot wide before Damion Stewart put his effort over the bar from six yards.

QPR were starting to dominate and after Adel Taarabt was off-target, Buzsaky forced Martin into a smart save to deny him from 20 yards.

Stanley were coming under increasing pressure and Martin was called into action again to keep out Gavin Mahon's strike from range.

The home side finally broke Accrington's resistance in the 68th minute through Ephraim

Peter Ramage delivered the cross and Ephraim brought the ball down before producing a neat lob from 18 yards.

They nearly added to their lead moments later only for Martin to come out on top yet again to thwart Vine.

Stanley pressed for an equaliser and Billy Kee and Dean Winnard fired efforts off-target either side of John Miles being denied by Heaton before Routledge thumped home a second.

There was still time for Accrington to deservedly get a goal through the impressive Symes. SPORTING LIFE

Lancashire Telegraph FULL TIME: QPR 2 Accrington Stanley 1
ACCRINGTON Stanley were left to rue missed first-half chances as they were knocked out of the Carling Cup at QPR tonight.

The Reds had the better of the first 45 minutes in the second round tie but eventually went down to goals from Hogan Ephraim and Wayne Routledge in the second half, with Michael Symes scoring a late consolation.

Symes - brought into the side for Paul Mullin - saw an early chance saved, although Alan Martin had to save Gavin Mahon’s free kick at the other end.

Jimmy Ryan came close with a free kick of his own for Stanley, with Rangers keeper Tom Heaton saving before Symes was offside from the rebound.

A fine Stanley move then should have seen them go ahead, but Symes fired wide from Ryan’s pass.

QPR almost scored when Martin saved from Rowan Vine, but the hosts were booed off at the interval before bringing on Adel Taarabt and Gary Borrowdale for the second half.

Akos Buzsaky put a shot wide just after the break, while QPR kept the pressure on and Damion Stewart turned the ball over the bar from close range when he should have scored.

Taarabt missed the target with a shot before Martin saved from Buzsaky and Mahon.

But the home side broke the deadlock in the 68th minute when Peter Ramage put in a cross from the right and Ephraim volleyed past Martin.

Immediately afterwards the Stanley keeper had to save from Vine as QPR sought a second goal.

The Reds, though, did not give up on an equaliser and John Miles forced a good save from Heaton.

But QPR sealed their progression to the third round when Wayne Routledge slammed home off the underside of the bar in injury time.

Symes found the net on the turn in the dying seconds for Stanley but it was always going to be too late to rescue a result.

Stanley: Alan Martin, Peter Murphy (Billy Kee 73), Phil Edwards, Darran Kempson, Dean Winnard, Jimmy Ryan (Chris Turner 81), Luke Joyce, Andy Procter, John Miles, Sean McConville (Bobby Grant 73), Michael Symes.

Subs not used: Ian Dunbavin, Leam Richardson, Gary King, Paul Mullin.

QPR: Tom Heaton, Peter Ramage, Damion Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss (Gary Borrowdale 46), Matt Connolly, Rowan Vine, Gavin Mahon (Wayne Routledge 68), Mikele Leigertwood, Akos Buzsaky, Hogan Ephraim, Patrick Agyemang (Adel Taarabt 46).

Subs not used: Radek Cerny, Wayne Routledge, Angelo Balanta, Alessandro Pellicori, Heidar Helguson.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire

Lancashire Telegraph

- Arsenal's Simpson in...Vine Out?

- See also: Jay Simpson Stats... Arsenal Items re Jay Simpson

- Two Year Flashback: More Takeover articles and Flavio Briatore talking about his QPR role (which would be secondary to F1) compared to his involvement with his restaurant, Ciprianis: "I occasionally go there to eat, but I don't go in the kitchen to cook the food. And with QPR, I will occasionally go to a match. Nothing more.' Takeover Talk

- Recalling August 25 Opening Games of the Season (including Gordon Jago's QPR First game back in Division One (now the Premiership)

- Ex-Watford Manager Adrian Boothroyd Talking about his almost-hire by unamed club

- Blame the Board; not the Manager (Non-QPR per se)

- Video Snippet: Alan Shearer Scoring Against QPR

- Roy Keane "You'll Never Play for Me Again"

-Article re a QPR Fan Finally Gets to see QPR "The Loneliness of Long-Distance Fandom"

- Football League Teams of the Week.

- The QPR Club Shop Burglary/Fire

- A Flashback to the QPR Staff Directory of Three Years Ago

- Cardiff Reportedly Trying for Ben Watson Loan (QPR Interest?)

- Two goals for ex-QPR Scott Donnelly

- Peter Reid Reportedly to Stoke as #2

- Four Year Anniversary since QPR's Boardroom "coup"

- Chelsea's Training Ground Brawl...FA Investigation and the "Hidden" Chelsea Video

- Updated: QPR's continuing-to-Decline Championship Promotion Odds

- Coming in September, the Football-focused Film: The Firm

- Three Years Ago: Graham Mackrell (briefly) appointed QPR CEO

Tonight's Teams - QPR vs Accrington Stanley

- Arsenal's Simpson in...Vine Out?

- See also: Jay Simpson Stats... Arsenal Items re Jay Simpson

- Two Year Flashback: More Takeover articles and Flavio Briatore talking about his QPR role (which would be secondary to F1) compared to his involvement with his restaurant, Ciprianis: "I occasionally go there to eat, but I don't go in the kitchen to cook the food. And with QPR, I will occasionally go to a match. Nothing more.' Takeover Talk

- Recalling August 25 Opening Games of the Season (including Gordon Jago's QPR First game back in Division One (now the Premiership)

- Ex-Watford Manager Adrian Boothroyd Talking about his almost-hire by unamed club

- Blame the Board; not the Manager (Non-QPR per se)

- Video Snippet: Alan Shearer Scoring Against QPR

- Roy Keane "You'll Never Play for Me Again"

-Article re a QPR Fan Finally Gets to see QPR "The Loneliness of Long-Distance Fandom"

- Football League Teams of the Week.

- The QPR Club Shop Burglary/Fire

- A Flashback to the QPR Staff Directory of Three Years Ago

- Cardiff Reportedly Trying for Ben Watson Loan (QPR Interest?)

- Two goals for ex-QPR Scott Donnelly

- Peter Reid Reportedly to Stoke as #2

- Four Year Anniversary since QPR's Boardroom "coup"

- Chelsea's Training Ground Brawl...FA Investigation and the "Hidden" Chelsea Video

- Updated: QPR's continuing-to-Decline Championship Promotion Odds

- Coming in September, the Football-focused Film: The Firm

- Three Years Ago: Graham Mackrell (briefly) appointed QPR CEO

Forthcoming: New Book re QPR - "Hooped Dreams: Billionaires, QPR and the Premiership Promised Land"

" "Hooped Dreams: Billionaires, QPR and the Premiership Promised Land (Paperback) By Mick Kelly - [Book out beginning of September] Book Details

Penant Publishing "
HOOPED DREAMS Billionaires, QPR and the Premiership Promised Land
by Mick Kelly

THE EPIC STORY OF QUEENS PARK RANGERS’ RECENT TRANSFORMATION – AS CANDIDLY DESCRIBED BY THE QPR FANS WHO WATCHED IT ALL UNFOLD DOWN AT THEIR BELOVED BUSH. WITH A FOREWORD BY RODNEY MARSH.

Hooped Dreams charts a year at the eye of the hurricane for Championship side Queens Park Rangers FC. After standing on the edge of financial ruin and a decade of depressing headlines about huge debts and boardroom rows, the club suddenly found itself among the richest in the world when taken over by billionairs Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal, and multimillionaire Flavio Briatore.

A dramatic new chapter in QPR’s history begins – but what will be the outcome? The promised land of the Premiership, or a club that loses its local identity? Fans celebrating a winning side on the pitch, or at odds with the new direction of their club?

Hooped Dreams tells the inside story of one remarkable season, with firsthand accounts from vice-chairman Amit Bhatia, caretaker-manager Gareth Ainsworth and star player/fan Lee Cook. We also hear from club legends Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles and Marc Bircham – as well as QPR fans ranging from the street to the entertainment industry, and Labour Government minister Alan Johnson.

Head coaches come and go; controversial departures out of the blue. All QPR fans want to see their club back where they believe it belongs – but at what cost?

Authors
Mick Kelly is a television documentary-maker and journalist. He specialises in sport documentaries and has produced factual programmes for all the major TV broadcasters. A lifelong QPR fan, he is passing the family tradition down to his two young sons. Penant Publishing Limited

Amazon.co.uk - Product Description
- The epic story of QPR's recent transformation, candidly told by those Rangers fans who watched it all unfold down at their beloved Bush. Hooped Dreams will chart a year full of unrivalled potential for Championship side Queens Park Rangers FC, following the takeover by multimillionaire Flavio Briatore and billionaires Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal. From standing on the brink of bankruptcy, and after a decade of depressing media headlines about huge debts and boardroom rows, the club suddenly found itself among the richest in the world. A dramatic new chapter in its history began - but what would be the outcome of this adventure? The promised land of the Premiership, or a club that loses its local identity? Supporters celebrating a winning side on the pitch, or a loyal fanbase that feels it no longer possesses its club? We talk to people inside the club and fans from all walks of life, well-known and otherwise, as we document a roller-coaster season both on and off the pitch. Head coaches come and go as the new owners, with Renault F1 boss Briatore at the helm, strive to get QPR back to where the fans believe they belong, among football's elite in the Premiership.

About the Author
Mick Kelly is a television documentary maker and journalist. He specialises in sport documentaries and has produced factual programmes for all the major TV broadcasters. A lifelong QPR fan, he is passing the family tradition down to his two young sons. - Amazon.co.uk

- Arsenal's Simpson in...Vine Out?

- See also: Jay Simpson Stats... Arsenal Items re Jay Simpson

- Two Year Flashback: More Takeover articles and Flavio Briatore talking about his QPR role (which would be secondary to F1) compared to his involvement with his restaurant, Ciprianis: "I occasionally go there to eat, but I don't go in the kitchen to cook the food. And with QPR, I will occasionally go to a match. Nothing more.' Takeover Talk

- Recalling August 25 Opening Games of the Season (including Gordon Jago's QPR First game back in Division One (now the Premiership)

- Ex-Watford Manager Adrian Boothroyd Talking about his almost-hire by unamed club

- Blame the Board; not the Manager (Non-QPR per se)

- Video Snippet: Alan Shearer Scoring Against QPR

- Roy Keane "You'll Never Play for Me Again"

-Article re a QPR Fan Finally Gets to see QPR "The Loneliness of Long-Distance Fandom"

- Football League Teams of the Week.

- The QPR Club Shop Burglary/Fire

- A Flashback to the QPR Staff Directory of Three Years Ago

- Cardiff Reportedly Trying for Ben Watson Loan (QPR Interest?)

- Two goals for ex-QPR Scott Donnelly

- Peter Reid Reportedly to Stoke as #2

- Four Year Anniversary since QPR's Boardroom "coup"

- Chelsea's Training Ground Brawl...FA Investigation and the "Hidden" Chelsea Video

- Updated: QPR's continuing-to-Decline Championship Promotion Odds

- Coming in September, the Football-focused Film: The Firm

- Three Years Ago: Graham Mackrell (briefly) appointed QPR CEO

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