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- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
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QPR vs Barnsley: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
Telegraph By Oliver Brown
Flavio Briatore ordered a Queen's Park Rangers substitution from Kuala Lumpur
QPR supporters could be forgiven for not remembering their derby match against Crystal Palace on April 4 this year.
26 Sep 2009
It was a turgid goalless draw and yet, unbeknown to those in the stands at Loftus Road, something extraordinary was happening as midfielder Lee Cook came on for the home side at half-time to replace Liam Miller.
Telegraph Sport can disclose that the substitution was made on the direct orders of Flavio Briatore, the QPR chairman and co-owner, working 6,500 miles away at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur.
Sport on television Sources close to the west London club have confirmed that the disgraced former Renault team principal, unimpressed by the footage he had seen of Miller's first-half performance, contacted Paulo Sousa, the then team manager, to demand that the 28 year-old be replaced by Cook.
It would be neither the first time nor the last that Briatore exercised such a remarkable degree of control over selection decisions at QPR.
Gareth Ainsworth, a stalwart QPR player who has also spent two spells as caretaker manager, had an equally memorable brush with the Briatore treatment.
Ainsworth was in charge for the club's fourth-round Carling Cup match at Manchester United on Nov 11, 2008, and, in sodden conditions, decided to leave his mobile phone in the dressing room, in his jacket pocket. After a 1-0 defeat he returned to find 72 missed calls from Briatore.
As insights into Briatore's outlandish methods as a football club owner, these are instructive. The Italian continued to be investigated by the Football League, who were digesting the full details of his order to Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jnr to crash at last year's Singapore Grand Prix, before deciding whether to apply their fit and proper persons test.
It is far from certain that Briatore will be removed by the League as a QPR owner since he could not be banned from Formula One directly, having resigned from Renault before last week's FIA hearing in Paris, where a ban was merely recommended.
Among the conditions of the League's test is that subjects must declare that they have not been banned by a sports governing body from involvement in the administration of that sport, and Briatore could claim that he has not.
Instead the 59 year-old's extravagant presence remains acutely felt around Loftus Road, even at his time of personal turmoil. Since Nov 2007, when he took over QPR with the joint backing of Bernie Ecclestone, F1's commercial rights holder, and Lakshmi Mittal, the billionaire steel magnate, he has elevated the club's ambitions, reigniting the prospect of a swift return to the Premier League, and presided over some dramatic upheavals.
Briatore is already on to his fifth manager, in Jim Magilton, while respected and long-serving club officials such as former secretary Sheila Marson have been sacked without so much as a word of explanation. Almost all decisions at QPR are coloured by Briatore's cult of personality, as Sousa, Magilton's predecessor and once a protégé of Jose Mourinho, discovered.
Sousa was unveiled as manager in Nov 2008 amid great excitement, the photogenic young Portuguese finding himself acclaimed as the Championship's answer to Mourinho; the new 'special one'.
But he rapidly decided that even though he was technically in charge of the team, he had precious little power. To his chagrin, Briatore would undermine his selections by conveying team line-ups of his own immediately before kick-off.
Tensions came to a head when Crystal Palace came to Shepherd's Bush, for the match that brought the Miller substitution.
Dexter Blackstock was at the time QPR's top scorer by some margin and yet it was announced that he would be loaned out to Nottingham Forest, one of the club's main division rivals.
Sousa, stunned, admitted that the move had been made without his knowledge. It had instead been sanctioned by Briatore, understood to have been affronted by Blackstock's perceived lack of respect.
Rowan Vine, Blackstock's strike partner, was asked what he thought of the switch. His response was well-documented: "There doesn't seem to be a lot of need to let your top goalscorer go for the last part of the season. It doesn't really make sense." Briatore's reaction, less so: Vine was fined two weeks' wages for speaking out of turn.
Although Briatore has never been afraid to castigate the QPR players – accounts abound of his running commentaries from the directors' box, muttering oaths about the poor skills on show – he can also be surprisingly comradely.
In Feb 2008 he stepped into the breach when Luigi De Canio, his first appointment as manager, had to return home to Italy due to a family bereavement. Briatore took over team-talk duties for the home game against Bristol City, telling the team: "You are professionals. We pay you. You know exactly what to do. I want you to go out there and do it. You win, for Gigi. OK, that's all."
Briatore, who has developed a "love" for QPR, declared upon his arrival that it was mission to provide entertainment and the beautiful game. After De Canio's departure, preposterous rumours circulated that Briatore was poised to install a name as manager that QPR's fans could barely believe: Zinedine Zidane.
What the fans got, ultimately, was Iain Dowie. With Dowie's unglamorous image and uninspired tactics running counter to his benefactor's template, it did not take long to realise that this was another marriage that could never work.
"I liked Flavio as a person," said Dowie, fired after just five months in Oct 2008.
"I won 53 per cent of my matches at QPR, so I'm very proud of my record. It's just that Flavio's vision for the club was very different to the one that I had."
That Briatore has noble ambitions for the club is not in doubt; the question today is whether he can return to bring those to fulfilment, now that he has been found guilty of the most ignoble episode to scandalise motorsport.
Should the Football League keep him in place, it will require Briatore to do what he loathes most, namely to keep a low profile' Telegraph
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Saturday, September 26, 2009
QPR Crush Barnsley at Loftus Road (Briatore Absent) - Reports & Managerial Comments
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- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- League Cup (Carling Cup) Draw Made
- QPR won today 5-2: Elsewhere, Chelsea lost at Wigan! Ian Holloway's Blackwool won and moved into the top six. First win for Sousa's Swansea (a week before the big grudge match in Wales!..Ex-QPR Scott Donnelly got one for Aldershot...Kevin Gallen scored two for Luton.
- - Updated League Table - QPR up to 8th
QPR Official Site - QPR 5 Barnsley 2
- Akos Buzsaky was the star of the show, notching a double to help an irresistible Rangers overcome Barnsley in a pulsating encounter at Loftus Road.
- The R's - who were three goals up at half time - had to halt a Barnsley revival, though, after the visitors notched two quick-fire goals after the break.
- Mikele Leigertwood gave Rangers the lead, as he sent home an unstoppable, low effort from fully 20-yards out.
- The R's didn't rest on their laurels thereafter, as Buzsaky - finding much joy from his role down the left - tucked the ball away from close-range after a devastating pass from Ben Watson.
- This was arguably Buzsaky's best performance in an R's shirt since a lengthy lay-off through injury, and just before the interval, he got a second goal of the match with a stunning effort 30-yards from goal.
- But Barnsley - who were mere spectators in the first period - were much better, to their credit, after the break.
- And after Stephen Foster headed home an Iain Hume free-kick, Jonathan Macken put the hosts right back into the affair when he finished from close-range, after his initial penalty was saved by Radek Cerny.
- Though Rangers' blushes were spared soon after, as Watson and Jay Simpson made sure their side would take a first home league win of the campaign.
- R's chief Jim Magilton made two changes from the side that lost out in the Carling Cup third round against Chelsea in midweek - reverting back to the same starting line-up that did more than enough to overcome Cardiff City away from home last Saturday.
- In goal, Cerny returned to the fray at the expense of Tom Heaton.
- The back four remained unchanged, with Leigertwood taking his place alongside Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart and Gary Borrowdale.
- After missing out on Wednesday, Watson replaced Alejandro Faurlin next to Captain Martin Rowlands in the middle of the midfield, with Wayne Routledge and Buzsaky on the flanks.
- In attack, Simpson partnered Rowan Vine.
- Full of optimism after two outstanding performances away at both the new Cardiff City Stadium and Stamford Bridge, you could understand if the R's were to start the game on the front foot.
- Indeed they did just that and Rangers, in truth, should have found the net. Only a minute or so had passed on the clock when after Routledge burst down the left and crossed into the box, Buzsaky was unmarked at the back post.
- From 10-yards out, the Magical Magyar shot for goal - only for a forest of legs to deny his effort on the line.
- Soon after, Barnsley had their first opportunity. Anderson De Silva played in Iain Hume away down the right, only for the Tykes front man to drag his effort just wide of Cerny's left-hand post.
- Rangers, though, were better in possession. Passing the ball around with ease and elegance it was only a matter of time until the hosts broke the deadlock - and they did so in the 7th minute.
- What a goal it was too. Rowlands found the ball just past halfway before playing the ball out wide on the right to Leigertwood.
- Driving from right-back, Leigertwood ran at the Barnsley defence before sending in an unstoppable, low shot past David Preece from 20-yards out.
- It was no more than the home side deserved early on. In fact, buoyed by their opener, Rangers went searching for a second and just 8 minutes later - they got it.
- Watson was the provider, sending a clever through ball to Buzsaky in the 15th minute. After missing a great opportunity in the first half, the Hungarian playmaker wasn't going to miss this time, and slotted home low past Preece in to the right-hand corner of the net.
- This was magnificent play from the hosts, and in particular the fit-again Buzsaky - as R's fans from the home end raised their voices in appreciation of the Magical Magyar.
- The R's were in cruise control, and moments later, they undoubtedly should have added a third. Watson, again the provider, played the ball through to Routledge.
- The pacy winger looked up before blasting at the goal from close range, but his effort agonisingly hit the post and went to safety.
-Buzsaky was then in the act again, and after he crossed for Simpson, the young striker held the ball up fantastically well for Rowlands, but the Rangers Skipper's blast was deflected wide.
- Barnsley were passengers in this affair, though the R's did have to be on their guard briefly - as first a diving challenge from Stewart prevented Andy Gray from close-range, before Borrowdale slid in on Hume to prevent the front man from finding the goal.
- But that was the only threat Barnsley had left to poise in the first period, and soon after, an irresistible Rangers were three goals to the good courtesy of the man of the moment, Buzsaky.
- Breaking at pace after a corner from the away side, Simpson and Buzsaky linked well before the former laid a pass to the latter 30-yards out.
- The rest was pure brilliance, and when the Hungarian international looked up, he planted a stunning curling shot past a helpless Preece in the 39th minute.
- The R's could have been four up at the break, but Preece did well to stop Vine, getting his fingertips that effort after good play down the right from Routledge once again.
- As the teams emerged for the second half, the R's were keen to increase their dominance in the match.
- They looked like doing so too, though after Buzsaky played the ball to Simpson, he flashed an effort just wide from six-yards out.
- But Rangers weren't to have it all their own way. And soon after, Barnsley added a quick-fire double to put the result in some doubt.
- Firstly, after a fine set-piece from Hume, Foster rose highest to give the visitors hope in the 51st minute.
- And moments later, Barnsley added a second. After Stewart was adjudged to have brought down Adam Hammill in the area, Macken stepped up to take it.
- Though his spot-kick was saved well by Cerny, he made no mistake at the second opportunity in the 55th minute, smashing home their second.
- Rangers, however, shook off all hopes of a Barnsley equaliser soon after, adding two goals of their own to put the match out of visitors' reach.
- It was delightful stuff again from Buzsaky - and when he crossed superbly for Vine in the 67th minute, the R's striker knocked down well for Watson, his effort just crept past Preece, who fumbled the ball into the net.
- If there was any doubt over who would take the points, there could be none whatsoever after 79 minutes - as Rangers notched a fifth.
- After Watson's teasing corner was deflecting towards goal, Simpson got the last touch to ensure the R's of their first home league win of the season.
- QPR: Cerny, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge (Faurlin 69), Vine (Taarabt 69), Buzsaky, Gorkss, Rowlands, Watson, Simpson (Pellicori 79), Borrowdale. - Subs not used : Heaton, Ramage, Mahon, Ephraim. Goals: Leigertwood (7), Buzsaky (15 & 39), Watson (67), Simpson (79) Bookings: Borrowdale (87)
- Barnsley: Preece, Colace, Foster, Hume (Bogdanovic 60), De Silva, Butterfield (Kozluk 56), Hammill, A. Gray (Campbell-Ryce 76), Dickinson, Shotton, Doyle.
Subs not used: Rusling, Devaney, J. Gary, Thompson. Goals: Foster (51), Macken (55)
Bookings: Shotton (36), De Silva (39), Kozluk (59) Referee: Mr K Evans Attendance:12 025 - QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - GAFFER: 'IT'S BEEN COMING'
- Jim Magilton insisted no praise could be too high for his charges, as the R's ran riot against Barnsley.
- A first half brace from Akos Buzsaky, to add to Mikele Leigertwood's early strike, set the tone in a totally one-sided first half, and although the Tykes hit back with a couple of goals early in the second period, further goals from Ben Watson and Jay Simpson sealed the rout.
- "We're on the up," Magilton told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "Its work in progress and I still think there's so much room for improvement with us, but we have a fantastic bunch of lads, who we have great belief in.
-"Performances bring you points. There's still a long way to go, but the belief is growing and confidence is too with results."
- Magilton paid credit to Mark Robins' side for their battling second half display, but insisted he was always confident his side would go on to register the three points, even when the Tykes reduced the deficit to 3-2.
- "Credit to Barnsley, they didn't fold, and they certainly made us step up to the mark.
- "Some of our attacking play was outstanding in the first half though. We dropped those standards for a bit in the second half, but we upped it again and in the end we ran out comfortable winners."
- Magilton concluded by paying tribute to two goal hero Akos Buzsaky, commenting: "Akos is improving. He's slowly but surely getting back to where he was.
- "He needs to maintain the standards he set today, because when he plays like that, he's a very, very good player.
- "His second goal was top, top class." QPR
Sporting Life. PA's Andy Sims - MAGILTON: WE'VE RAISED THE BAR
- QPR boss Jim Magilton feels his side are beginning to hit top gear after they roared to a 5-2 win over Barnsley.
Rangers shrugged off the uncertainty surrounding co-owner Flavio Briatore to put in a fine performance in a seven-goal thriller.
Briatore gave Loftus Road a swerve despite having an unexpected weekend off following his F1 ban, and the controversial Italian missed seeing his side race into a three-goal half-time lead.
- Akos Buzsaky scored twice to add to Mikele Leigertwood's opener, and despite a second-half Barnsley fightback when Stephen Foster and Andy Gray reduced the arrears to one, further goals from Ben Watson and Jay Simpson secured a maiden home win for Rangers.
- "We've raised the bar," said Magilton.
- "I was worried about today because I know Mark Robins is a very good manager and his side have improved under him, so it was always going to be a tricky game for us, especially after all the hype.
- "We had to do whatever we could to get three points and some of our play was extremely good.
- "It was a bit nervy at times and we afforded them a few too many chances, but all in all I am pleased."
The first half was particularly sweet for Buzsaky, the Hungary international scoring his first goals of the season having missed most of last term through injury.
- Leigertwood had already scored from long range when Buzsaky slid in the second, and before the break he conjured up a trademark 30-yard curler.
- "His form is on an upward curve," added Magilton.
- "I think he's got some way to go, like all of us, but we know he possesses great individual ability and his second goal was magnificent."
- Rangers never like to make life too easy for themselves, though, and after Barnsley pulled one back through Foster's header, Andy Gray tucked away the rebound after his penalty was saved.
- Radek Cerny preserved Rangers' lead when he tipped Adam Hammill's shot over before Watson and Simpson bundled home late goals to secure the points.
Robins, who gave full debuts to three defenders, said: "We shot ourselves in the foot. They were poor goals to give away.
- "We can point to the fact it was a new back four but they are decent players."
- Barnsley were handed a Carling Cup visit from Robins' old club Manchester United when the draw was made shortly before kick-off.
- But Robins added: "I'd swap that for some points on the board at this time." Sporting Life
Barnsley Official Site -POST MATCH REACTION FROM LOFTUS ROAD
- REDS boss Mark Robins gave his thoughts following today's defeat at QPR.
- Mark said: "It was a costly first ten minutes or so and we really shot ourselves in the foot. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and were not good enough defensively.
- "We allowed them took much room and conceded some very poor goals. We created one or two things ourselves as well and it could have been seven six to either side. We came within a whisker of equalising but then pushed forward and forgot to defend again.
"Darren Moore missed the game through injury, Rob Kozluk had a groin problem and Jon Macken was struggling with a side-muscle strain. We have to be better away from home and we conceded some needless, poor goals" Barnsley
Barnsley Official Site
- QPR 5 (Leigertwood 8; Buzsaky 15, 39; Watson 67; Foster OG 79)
BARNSLEY 2 (Foster 50, Gray 54)
- BARNSLEY made a real fight of it in the second half but let QPR off the hook after battling back from three down at the break.
Despite an impressive performance in midweek against Burnley, Reds boss Mark Robins rang the changes at Loftus Road with Nathan Doyle, Ryan Shotton, Carl Dickinson and Andy Gray all coming into the starting eleven. Julian Gray and Rob Kozluk dropped to the bench while injury kept out Darren Moore and Jon Macken.
Barnsley were on the back foot inside the first two minutes when Wayne Routledge managed to dig out a cross from the right that skipped off Stephen Foster's head and dropped nicely for Akos Buzsaky at the back post. The midfielder smashed the ball well but Shotton was in the right place to make a telling block.
- The Reds responded well and Iain Hume's third minute corner caused absolute chaos in the Rangers area. The ball bounced around and eventually fell to Anderson but the Brazilian could not find the top corner and blazed high over.
Barnsley went even closer two minutes later as Anderson's first time pass sent Hume in behind the QPR defence. The striker hit his shot well but the ball just curled wide of the far post with Radek Cerny at full stretch.
QPR grabbed the lead on eight minutes but the Reds really only have themselves to blame after allowing Mikele Leigertwood to run half the length of the field and smack a low drive past David Preece from the edge of the area.
Things went from bad to worse on 15 minutes when Ben Watson picked out a fine pass to split the Reds defence wide, wide open and send Buzsaky through on goal. Buzsaky did not need a second invitation to plant a deflected shot past Preece and into the far corner.
Rangers were rampant and almost had a third on 18 minutes as again Watson picked open the new-look Barnsley defence to put Routledge through and the winger beat Preece from a tight angle only for his effort to cannon away off the foot of the far post.
Barnsley slowly found their feet and Hugo Colace saw a shot cannon away for a corner on 19 minutes after Rangers had failed to deal with Shotton's long throw.
Good play by Doyle then caught Rangers flat-footed on 23 minutes as he found Anderson on the edge of the box but the midfielder was denied a goal as Cerny dove to grab his curling effort. Butterfield then lashed a volley high over the bar moments later as the Reds enjoyed their best spell of the game in QPR territory. It was the right reaction from the visitors.
Barnsley were still looking shaky on the counter attack and good play by Rowan Vine and Jay Simpson gave Martin Rowlands the chance to shoot on 28 minutes but the ball crashed in the Colace and away. Buzsaky then hammered one a foot or so over the top from 22 yards seconds later.
The Reds finally got in behind QPR on the half hour as Jacob Butterfield never gave the ball up and ended up at the byline after Gary Borrowdale had missed his clearance. Butterfield put a goal on a plate for Andy Gray but Damion Stewart was in the right place to put the striker off and the chance went begging.
Adam Hammill then had Cerny scrambling as he curled one from 25 yards on 31 minutes but his effort just flew wide of the post.
Rangers forced to play again on 33 minutes as Watson put Barnsley under pressure from Watson's corner. Stewart saw a header deflect over the top of Preece's goal.
It was a case of one tackle, one booking for Shotton on 36 minutes as the on loan defender went in hard on Leigertwood. It was a nothing tackle but referee Karl Evans was quick to show a yellow card.
Barnsley crafted another fine chance on 38 minutes as Doyle's long ball gave Gray something to attack in the area. Gray knocked the ball down to Hume, who's quick feet found Anderson but Borrowdale appeared from nowhere to stop the Brazilian rolling a shot past Cerny.
QPR ended Barnsley's brave fight in spectacular fashion just moments later. If the Reds' defence had been at fault for the opening goals, there was nothing they could have done about Buzsaky's audacious strike from 35 yards which flew over Preece and into the top corner.
Anderson picked up a booking practically from the restart while Rowan Vine almost added a fourth on 42 minutes when he tricked his way into the area before bringing a fine one-handed save from Preece.
Barnsley started the second half with purpose after an interval rollicking from manager Robins. It was QPR though who crafted the first chance on 48 minutes as Jay Simpson turned well and shot into the sidenetting.
The Reds got a foothold back into the game just two minutes later when Hume swung over a fine free kick from the left and Foster rose highest to nod past Cerny from 12 yards out.
Hume went close again on 52 minutes as he reacted quickest after Shotton's long throw had bounced around on the penalty spot. Hume smashed his shot into a crowd of players but the ball flew clear.
Barnsley had the chance to get right back into it on 54 minutes as Hammill raced towards goal only to be checked in the area by Stewart. The referee pointed straight to the spot but Andy Gray's penalty was saved by Cerny. Thankfully the ball came back out and Gray was able to smash it into the back of the net.
Again Barnsley paid the price for the referees one foul, one booking policy as Kozluk, who had only been on the pitch a matter of moments, held off Buzsaky on half way line. Buzsaky hit the deck and Kozluk picked up a yellow card.
It was turning into a real cracker in the early autumn sunshine at Loftus Road. Simpson hit the sidenetting on the hour mark after finding a yard behind Dickinson. Buzsaky then hammered one high over the bar on 64 minutes after a lightening counter from the home side.
There was almost more drama a minute later after Hammill took on QPR single-handed before curling a shot towards the top corner that brought an outstanding one-handed save from Cerny.
Daniel Bogdanovic then managed to get in behind QPR on 66 minutes and crossed for Gray but the ball just skipped in front of the striker and a golden chance went begging.
Rangers grabbed a killer fourth goal they simply did not deserve on 68 minutes. Buzsaky did well down the left to cross and Vine knocked it down to Watson who crashed a volley goalward. Preece managed to get both hands on the ball but it agonisingly squirmed out of his grasp and across the line.
Preece had to work again on 70 minutes as he saved well from Adel Taarabt, who let fly from the edge of the box.
Rangers grabbed a fifth on 79 minutes as the Reds failed to deal with Buzsaky's right wing corner. Kaspars Gorkss nodded the ball back across the six-yard box and a combination of Foster, Stewart and Simpson turned the ball over the line.
Still the chances came for the men in red and Hammill swung over a fine free kick on 83 minutes that gave Shotton a great free header at the back post but the defender completely missed the ball and the opportunity went begging. Hammill then crossed on 88 minutes to give Colace half a chance but the midfield volleyed well wide of the mark.
It really summed up the Reds day in stoppage time when Campbell-Ryce looked to take a quick free kick only to smack the ball into Watson four yards away. The referee waved play on - rather inexplicably - and Rangers almost crafted a sixth as Rowlands burst into the area only to be halted by a combination of Foster and Preece. Barnsley
TEAMTALK - Rampant Rangers brush off Tykes
- Flavio Briatore gave Loftus Road a swerve but QPR's fast starters raced past Barnsley to record their first home win of the season.
- Akos Buzsaky scored twice to add to Mikele Leigertwood's opener as Rangers roared into a three-goal lead at half-time.
Barnsley hit back twice at the start of the second half, but Ben Watson and Jay Simpson ensured the points stayed in west London with Rangers starting to look like a team capable of staying with the promotion pace.
Controversial co-owner Briatore was not in attendance, despite having an unexpected free weekend following his F1 ban.
But his mood would have improved with news of a fine display from Rangers which halted Barnsley's resurgence under Mark Robins.
The new Tykes boss handed full debuts to three of his back four - and it showed with the visitors two down in 15 minutes.
Yet Barnsley twice went close in the opening stages with Anderson de Silva firing over and Iain Hume shooting wide.
Rangers went ahead in the sixth minute when Leigertwood loped forward from right-back and, with no Barnsley defender showing any inclination to close him down, fizzed a low shot past David Preece from 25 yards.
And the hosts were two ahead when Watson slipped Buzsaky in behind and the Hungary international tucked the ball past Preece.
It could have been three two minutes later but Wayne Routledge's angled drive fizzed across the goal and flicked the far post.
But Buzsaky did add the third five minutes before half-time when he collected the ball 30 yards out, looked up and curled a superb effort over Preece and into the net.
It was a sweet moment for the 'Magical Magyar', scoring his first goals of the season having missed most of last term through injury.
Rangers never like to make life too easy for themselves, though, and Barnsley pulled one back at the start of the second half when Stephen Foster rose highest to nod Iain Hume's cross past Radek Cerny.
And five minutes later the deficit was back to one when Damion Stewart tripped Adam Hammill in the area.
Andy Gray's spot-kick was saved by Cerny but the ball fell kindly for the striker to tuck away the rebound.
Cerny tipped Hammill's long-range effort over the top to preserve Rangers' lead in the 63rd minute.
Three minutes later Buzsaky's cross was headed back across goal by Rowan Vine and Watson's effort was fumbled over the line by Preece. And Rangers were home and dry when Kaspars Gorkss's header caused more mild panic in the Barnsley box and Simpson got the final touch to complete the scoring." Eurosport
- Today's Fourth Official for QPR vs Barnsley - Twittering
- Happy Birthday to ex-QPR Manager (First Team Coach) Luigi De Canio(turning 52) - -- Also Birthday greetings to ex-QPR Kenny Samson (turning 51) and ex short-term stays, Martin Cranie (turning 23) and Paul Warhurst (turning 40)
- Flashback: QPR Chairman Jim Gregory RIP
- "Out of Touch Ecclestone Under Fire"
- Briatore Vows to Fight Back
- Barnsley at Loftus Road: Previews & Managerial Comments
- Notts County trust 'should never have handed control to Qadbak'• Fans group says trust 'went against its very reasons for existing' • Former trust member concerned by 'lack of transparency'
- New Book: 50 People Who Fouled Up Football
- Stats: QPR Stats & Helguson Injury Update
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Sousa Considered
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- League Cup (Carling Cup) Draw Made
- QPR won today 5-2: Elsewhere, Chelsea lost at Wigan! Ian Holloway's Blackwool won and moved into the top six. First win for Sousa's Swansea (a week before the big grudge match in Wales!..Ex-QPR Scott Donnelly got one for Aldershot...Kevin Gallen scored two for Luton.
- - Updated League Table - QPR up to 8th
QPR Official Site - QPR 5 Barnsley 2
- Akos Buzsaky was the star of the show, notching a double to help an irresistible Rangers overcome Barnsley in a pulsating encounter at Loftus Road.
- The R's - who were three goals up at half time - had to halt a Barnsley revival, though, after the visitors notched two quick-fire goals after the break.
- Mikele Leigertwood gave Rangers the lead, as he sent home an unstoppable, low effort from fully 20-yards out.
- The R's didn't rest on their laurels thereafter, as Buzsaky - finding much joy from his role down the left - tucked the ball away from close-range after a devastating pass from Ben Watson.
- This was arguably Buzsaky's best performance in an R's shirt since a lengthy lay-off through injury, and just before the interval, he got a second goal of the match with a stunning effort 30-yards from goal.
- But Barnsley - who were mere spectators in the first period - were much better, to their credit, after the break.
- And after Stephen Foster headed home an Iain Hume free-kick, Jonathan Macken put the hosts right back into the affair when he finished from close-range, after his initial penalty was saved by Radek Cerny.
- Though Rangers' blushes were spared soon after, as Watson and Jay Simpson made sure their side would take a first home league win of the campaign.
- R's chief Jim Magilton made two changes from the side that lost out in the Carling Cup third round against Chelsea in midweek - reverting back to the same starting line-up that did more than enough to overcome Cardiff City away from home last Saturday.
- In goal, Cerny returned to the fray at the expense of Tom Heaton.
- The back four remained unchanged, with Leigertwood taking his place alongside Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart and Gary Borrowdale.
- After missing out on Wednesday, Watson replaced Alejandro Faurlin next to Captain Martin Rowlands in the middle of the midfield, with Wayne Routledge and Buzsaky on the flanks.
- In attack, Simpson partnered Rowan Vine.
- Full of optimism after two outstanding performances away at both the new Cardiff City Stadium and Stamford Bridge, you could understand if the R's were to start the game on the front foot.
- Indeed they did just that and Rangers, in truth, should have found the net. Only a minute or so had passed on the clock when after Routledge burst down the left and crossed into the box, Buzsaky was unmarked at the back post.
- From 10-yards out, the Magical Magyar shot for goal - only for a forest of legs to deny his effort on the line.
- Soon after, Barnsley had their first opportunity. Anderson De Silva played in Iain Hume away down the right, only for the Tykes front man to drag his effort just wide of Cerny's left-hand post.
- Rangers, though, were better in possession. Passing the ball around with ease and elegance it was only a matter of time until the hosts broke the deadlock - and they did so in the 7th minute.
- What a goal it was too. Rowlands found the ball just past halfway before playing the ball out wide on the right to Leigertwood.
- Driving from right-back, Leigertwood ran at the Barnsley defence before sending in an unstoppable, low shot past David Preece from 20-yards out.
- It was no more than the home side deserved early on. In fact, buoyed by their opener, Rangers went searching for a second and just 8 minutes later - they got it.
- Watson was the provider, sending a clever through ball to Buzsaky in the 15th minute. After missing a great opportunity in the first half, the Hungarian playmaker wasn't going to miss this time, and slotted home low past Preece in to the right-hand corner of the net.
- This was magnificent play from the hosts, and in particular the fit-again Buzsaky - as R's fans from the home end raised their voices in appreciation of the Magical Magyar.
- The R's were in cruise control, and moments later, they undoubtedly should have added a third. Watson, again the provider, played the ball through to Routledge.
- The pacy winger looked up before blasting at the goal from close range, but his effort agonisingly hit the post and went to safety.
-Buzsaky was then in the act again, and after he crossed for Simpson, the young striker held the ball up fantastically well for Rowlands, but the Rangers Skipper's blast was deflected wide.
- Barnsley were passengers in this affair, though the R's did have to be on their guard briefly - as first a diving challenge from Stewart prevented Andy Gray from close-range, before Borrowdale slid in on Hume to prevent the front man from finding the goal.
- But that was the only threat Barnsley had left to poise in the first period, and soon after, an irresistible Rangers were three goals to the good courtesy of the man of the moment, Buzsaky.
- Breaking at pace after a corner from the away side, Simpson and Buzsaky linked well before the former laid a pass to the latter 30-yards out.
- The rest was pure brilliance, and when the Hungarian international looked up, he planted a stunning curling shot past a helpless Preece in the 39th minute.
- The R's could have been four up at the break, but Preece did well to stop Vine, getting his fingertips that effort after good play down the right from Routledge once again.
- As the teams emerged for the second half, the R's were keen to increase their dominance in the match.
- They looked like doing so too, though after Buzsaky played the ball to Simpson, he flashed an effort just wide from six-yards out.
- But Rangers weren't to have it all their own way. And soon after, Barnsley added a quick-fire double to put the result in some doubt.
- Firstly, after a fine set-piece from Hume, Foster rose highest to give the visitors hope in the 51st minute.
- And moments later, Barnsley added a second. After Stewart was adjudged to have brought down Adam Hammill in the area, Macken stepped up to take it.
- Though his spot-kick was saved well by Cerny, he made no mistake at the second opportunity in the 55th minute, smashing home their second.
- Rangers, however, shook off all hopes of a Barnsley equaliser soon after, adding two goals of their own to put the match out of visitors' reach.
- It was delightful stuff again from Buzsaky - and when he crossed superbly for Vine in the 67th minute, the R's striker knocked down well for Watson, his effort just crept past Preece, who fumbled the ball into the net.
- If there was any doubt over who would take the points, there could be none whatsoever after 79 minutes - as Rangers notched a fifth.
- After Watson's teasing corner was deflecting towards goal, Simpson got the last touch to ensure the R's of their first home league win of the season.
- QPR: Cerny, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge (Faurlin 69), Vine (Taarabt 69), Buzsaky, Gorkss, Rowlands, Watson, Simpson (Pellicori 79), Borrowdale. - Subs not used : Heaton, Ramage, Mahon, Ephraim. Goals: Leigertwood (7), Buzsaky (15 & 39), Watson (67), Simpson (79) Bookings: Borrowdale (87)
- Barnsley: Preece, Colace, Foster, Hume (Bogdanovic 60), De Silva, Butterfield (Kozluk 56), Hammill, A. Gray (Campbell-Ryce 76), Dickinson, Shotton, Doyle.
Subs not used: Rusling, Devaney, J. Gary, Thompson. Goals: Foster (51), Macken (55)
Bookings: Shotton (36), De Silva (39), Kozluk (59) Referee: Mr K Evans Attendance:12 025 - QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - GAFFER: 'IT'S BEEN COMING'
- Jim Magilton insisted no praise could be too high for his charges, as the R's ran riot against Barnsley.
- A first half brace from Akos Buzsaky, to add to Mikele Leigertwood's early strike, set the tone in a totally one-sided first half, and although the Tykes hit back with a couple of goals early in the second period, further goals from Ben Watson and Jay Simpson sealed the rout.
- "We're on the up," Magilton told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "Its work in progress and I still think there's so much room for improvement with us, but we have a fantastic bunch of lads, who we have great belief in.
-"Performances bring you points. There's still a long way to go, but the belief is growing and confidence is too with results."
- Magilton paid credit to Mark Robins' side for their battling second half display, but insisted he was always confident his side would go on to register the three points, even when the Tykes reduced the deficit to 3-2.
- "Credit to Barnsley, they didn't fold, and they certainly made us step up to the mark.
- "Some of our attacking play was outstanding in the first half though. We dropped those standards for a bit in the second half, but we upped it again and in the end we ran out comfortable winners."
- Magilton concluded by paying tribute to two goal hero Akos Buzsaky, commenting: "Akos is improving. He's slowly but surely getting back to where he was.
- "He needs to maintain the standards he set today, because when he plays like that, he's a very, very good player.
- "His second goal was top, top class." QPR
Sporting Life. PA's Andy Sims - MAGILTON: WE'VE RAISED THE BAR
- QPR boss Jim Magilton feels his side are beginning to hit top gear after they roared to a 5-2 win over Barnsley.
Rangers shrugged off the uncertainty surrounding co-owner Flavio Briatore to put in a fine performance in a seven-goal thriller.
Briatore gave Loftus Road a swerve despite having an unexpected weekend off following his F1 ban, and the controversial Italian missed seeing his side race into a three-goal half-time lead.
- Akos Buzsaky scored twice to add to Mikele Leigertwood's opener, and despite a second-half Barnsley fightback when Stephen Foster and Andy Gray reduced the arrears to one, further goals from Ben Watson and Jay Simpson secured a maiden home win for Rangers.
- "We've raised the bar," said Magilton.
- "I was worried about today because I know Mark Robins is a very good manager and his side have improved under him, so it was always going to be a tricky game for us, especially after all the hype.
- "We had to do whatever we could to get three points and some of our play was extremely good.
- "It was a bit nervy at times and we afforded them a few too many chances, but all in all I am pleased."
The first half was particularly sweet for Buzsaky, the Hungary international scoring his first goals of the season having missed most of last term through injury.
- Leigertwood had already scored from long range when Buzsaky slid in the second, and before the break he conjured up a trademark 30-yard curler.
- "His form is on an upward curve," added Magilton.
- "I think he's got some way to go, like all of us, but we know he possesses great individual ability and his second goal was magnificent."
- Rangers never like to make life too easy for themselves, though, and after Barnsley pulled one back through Foster's header, Andy Gray tucked away the rebound after his penalty was saved.
- Radek Cerny preserved Rangers' lead when he tipped Adam Hammill's shot over before Watson and Simpson bundled home late goals to secure the points.
Robins, who gave full debuts to three defenders, said: "We shot ourselves in the foot. They were poor goals to give away.
- "We can point to the fact it was a new back four but they are decent players."
- Barnsley were handed a Carling Cup visit from Robins' old club Manchester United when the draw was made shortly before kick-off.
- But Robins added: "I'd swap that for some points on the board at this time." Sporting Life
Barnsley Official Site -POST MATCH REACTION FROM LOFTUS ROAD
- REDS boss Mark Robins gave his thoughts following today's defeat at QPR.
- Mark said: "It was a costly first ten minutes or so and we really shot ourselves in the foot. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and were not good enough defensively.
- "We allowed them took much room and conceded some very poor goals. We created one or two things ourselves as well and it could have been seven six to either side. We came within a whisker of equalising but then pushed forward and forgot to defend again.
"Darren Moore missed the game through injury, Rob Kozluk had a groin problem and Jon Macken was struggling with a side-muscle strain. We have to be better away from home and we conceded some needless, poor goals" Barnsley
Barnsley Official Site
- QPR 5 (Leigertwood 8; Buzsaky 15, 39; Watson 67; Foster OG 79)
BARNSLEY 2 (Foster 50, Gray 54)
- BARNSLEY made a real fight of it in the second half but let QPR off the hook after battling back from three down at the break.
Despite an impressive performance in midweek against Burnley, Reds boss Mark Robins rang the changes at Loftus Road with Nathan Doyle, Ryan Shotton, Carl Dickinson and Andy Gray all coming into the starting eleven. Julian Gray and Rob Kozluk dropped to the bench while injury kept out Darren Moore and Jon Macken.
Barnsley were on the back foot inside the first two minutes when Wayne Routledge managed to dig out a cross from the right that skipped off Stephen Foster's head and dropped nicely for Akos Buzsaky at the back post. The midfielder smashed the ball well but Shotton was in the right place to make a telling block.
- The Reds responded well and Iain Hume's third minute corner caused absolute chaos in the Rangers area. The ball bounced around and eventually fell to Anderson but the Brazilian could not find the top corner and blazed high over.
Barnsley went even closer two minutes later as Anderson's first time pass sent Hume in behind the QPR defence. The striker hit his shot well but the ball just curled wide of the far post with Radek Cerny at full stretch.
QPR grabbed the lead on eight minutes but the Reds really only have themselves to blame after allowing Mikele Leigertwood to run half the length of the field and smack a low drive past David Preece from the edge of the area.
Things went from bad to worse on 15 minutes when Ben Watson picked out a fine pass to split the Reds defence wide, wide open and send Buzsaky through on goal. Buzsaky did not need a second invitation to plant a deflected shot past Preece and into the far corner.
Rangers were rampant and almost had a third on 18 minutes as again Watson picked open the new-look Barnsley defence to put Routledge through and the winger beat Preece from a tight angle only for his effort to cannon away off the foot of the far post.
Barnsley slowly found their feet and Hugo Colace saw a shot cannon away for a corner on 19 minutes after Rangers had failed to deal with Shotton's long throw.
Good play by Doyle then caught Rangers flat-footed on 23 minutes as he found Anderson on the edge of the box but the midfielder was denied a goal as Cerny dove to grab his curling effort. Butterfield then lashed a volley high over the bar moments later as the Reds enjoyed their best spell of the game in QPR territory. It was the right reaction from the visitors.
Barnsley were still looking shaky on the counter attack and good play by Rowan Vine and Jay Simpson gave Martin Rowlands the chance to shoot on 28 minutes but the ball crashed in the Colace and away. Buzsaky then hammered one a foot or so over the top from 22 yards seconds later.
The Reds finally got in behind QPR on the half hour as Jacob Butterfield never gave the ball up and ended up at the byline after Gary Borrowdale had missed his clearance. Butterfield put a goal on a plate for Andy Gray but Damion Stewart was in the right place to put the striker off and the chance went begging.
Adam Hammill then had Cerny scrambling as he curled one from 25 yards on 31 minutes but his effort just flew wide of the post.
Rangers forced to play again on 33 minutes as Watson put Barnsley under pressure from Watson's corner. Stewart saw a header deflect over the top of Preece's goal.
It was a case of one tackle, one booking for Shotton on 36 minutes as the on loan defender went in hard on Leigertwood. It was a nothing tackle but referee Karl Evans was quick to show a yellow card.
Barnsley crafted another fine chance on 38 minutes as Doyle's long ball gave Gray something to attack in the area. Gray knocked the ball down to Hume, who's quick feet found Anderson but Borrowdale appeared from nowhere to stop the Brazilian rolling a shot past Cerny.
QPR ended Barnsley's brave fight in spectacular fashion just moments later. If the Reds' defence had been at fault for the opening goals, there was nothing they could have done about Buzsaky's audacious strike from 35 yards which flew over Preece and into the top corner.
Anderson picked up a booking practically from the restart while Rowan Vine almost added a fourth on 42 minutes when he tricked his way into the area before bringing a fine one-handed save from Preece.
Barnsley started the second half with purpose after an interval rollicking from manager Robins. It was QPR though who crafted the first chance on 48 minutes as Jay Simpson turned well and shot into the sidenetting.
The Reds got a foothold back into the game just two minutes later when Hume swung over a fine free kick from the left and Foster rose highest to nod past Cerny from 12 yards out.
Hume went close again on 52 minutes as he reacted quickest after Shotton's long throw had bounced around on the penalty spot. Hume smashed his shot into a crowd of players but the ball flew clear.
Barnsley had the chance to get right back into it on 54 minutes as Hammill raced towards goal only to be checked in the area by Stewart. The referee pointed straight to the spot but Andy Gray's penalty was saved by Cerny. Thankfully the ball came back out and Gray was able to smash it into the back of the net.
Again Barnsley paid the price for the referees one foul, one booking policy as Kozluk, who had only been on the pitch a matter of moments, held off Buzsaky on half way line. Buzsaky hit the deck and Kozluk picked up a yellow card.
It was turning into a real cracker in the early autumn sunshine at Loftus Road. Simpson hit the sidenetting on the hour mark after finding a yard behind Dickinson. Buzsaky then hammered one high over the bar on 64 minutes after a lightening counter from the home side.
There was almost more drama a minute later after Hammill took on QPR single-handed before curling a shot towards the top corner that brought an outstanding one-handed save from Cerny.
Daniel Bogdanovic then managed to get in behind QPR on 66 minutes and crossed for Gray but the ball just skipped in front of the striker and a golden chance went begging.
Rangers grabbed a killer fourth goal they simply did not deserve on 68 minutes. Buzsaky did well down the left to cross and Vine knocked it down to Watson who crashed a volley goalward. Preece managed to get both hands on the ball but it agonisingly squirmed out of his grasp and across the line.
Preece had to work again on 70 minutes as he saved well from Adel Taarabt, who let fly from the edge of the box.
Rangers grabbed a fifth on 79 minutes as the Reds failed to deal with Buzsaky's right wing corner. Kaspars Gorkss nodded the ball back across the six-yard box and a combination of Foster, Stewart and Simpson turned the ball over the line.
Still the chances came for the men in red and Hammill swung over a fine free kick on 83 minutes that gave Shotton a great free header at the back post but the defender completely missed the ball and the opportunity went begging. Hammill then crossed on 88 minutes to give Colace half a chance but the midfield volleyed well wide of the mark.
It really summed up the Reds day in stoppage time when Campbell-Ryce looked to take a quick free kick only to smack the ball into Watson four yards away. The referee waved play on - rather inexplicably - and Rangers almost crafted a sixth as Rowlands burst into the area only to be halted by a combination of Foster and Preece. Barnsley
TEAMTALK - Rampant Rangers brush off Tykes
- Flavio Briatore gave Loftus Road a swerve but QPR's fast starters raced past Barnsley to record their first home win of the season.
- Akos Buzsaky scored twice to add to Mikele Leigertwood's opener as Rangers roared into a three-goal lead at half-time.
Barnsley hit back twice at the start of the second half, but Ben Watson and Jay Simpson ensured the points stayed in west London with Rangers starting to look like a team capable of staying with the promotion pace.
Controversial co-owner Briatore was not in attendance, despite having an unexpected free weekend following his F1 ban.
But his mood would have improved with news of a fine display from Rangers which halted Barnsley's resurgence under Mark Robins.
The new Tykes boss handed full debuts to three of his back four - and it showed with the visitors two down in 15 minutes.
Yet Barnsley twice went close in the opening stages with Anderson de Silva firing over and Iain Hume shooting wide.
Rangers went ahead in the sixth minute when Leigertwood loped forward from right-back and, with no Barnsley defender showing any inclination to close him down, fizzed a low shot past David Preece from 25 yards.
And the hosts were two ahead when Watson slipped Buzsaky in behind and the Hungary international tucked the ball past Preece.
It could have been three two minutes later but Wayne Routledge's angled drive fizzed across the goal and flicked the far post.
But Buzsaky did add the third five minutes before half-time when he collected the ball 30 yards out, looked up and curled a superb effort over Preece and into the net.
It was a sweet moment for the 'Magical Magyar', scoring his first goals of the season having missed most of last term through injury.
Rangers never like to make life too easy for themselves, though, and Barnsley pulled one back at the start of the second half when Stephen Foster rose highest to nod Iain Hume's cross past Radek Cerny.
And five minutes later the deficit was back to one when Damion Stewart tripped Adam Hammill in the area.
Andy Gray's spot-kick was saved by Cerny but the ball fell kindly for the striker to tuck away the rebound.
Cerny tipped Hammill's long-range effort over the top to preserve Rangers' lead in the 63rd minute.
Three minutes later Buzsaky's cross was headed back across goal by Rowan Vine and Watson's effort was fumbled over the line by Preece. And Rangers were home and dry when Kaspars Gorkss's header caused more mild panic in the Barnsley box and Simpson got the final touch to complete the scoring." Eurosport
- Today's Fourth Official for QPR vs Barnsley - Twittering
- Happy Birthday to ex-QPR Manager (First Team Coach) Luigi De Canio(turning 52) - -- Also Birthday greetings to ex-QPR Kenny Samson (turning 51) and ex short-term stays, Martin Cranie (turning 23) and Paul Warhurst (turning 40)
- Flashback: QPR Chairman Jim Gregory RIP
- "Out of Touch Ecclestone Under Fire"
- Briatore Vows to Fight Back
- Barnsley at Loftus Road: Previews & Managerial Comments
- Notts County trust 'should never have handed control to Qadbak'• Fans group says trust 'went against its very reasons for existing' • Former trust member concerned by 'lack of transparency'
- New Book: 50 People Who Fouled Up Football
- Stats: QPR Stats & Helguson Injury Update
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Sousa Considered
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
Snippets Saturday...Barnsley...A Twittering 4th Official...Briatore and Ecclestone in The News...Happy Birthday Luigi De Canio!
-
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Today's Fourth Official for QPR vs Barnsley - Twittering
Happy Birthday to ex-QPR Manager (First Team Coach) Luigi De Canio(turning 52) - -- Also Birthday greetings to ex-QPR Kenny Samson (turning 51) and ex short-term stays, Martin Cranie (turning 23) and Paul Warhurst (turning 40)
- "Out of Touch Ecclestone Under Fire"
- Briatore Vows to Fight Back
- Flashback: QPR Chairman Jim Gregory RIP
- Barnsley at Loftus Road: Previews & Managerial Comments
Yorkshire Post -Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley: Robins pays Cryne thanks
MARK ROBINS has paid tribute to Barnsley owner Patrick Cryne after signing five players in just over two weeks.
Defenders Carl Dickinson and Ryan Shotton are the latest new arrivals at Oakwell – on three-month loan deals from Premier League club Stoke City – and both could figure today.
- New manager Robins has also signed former Crystal Palace winger Julian Gray, Hull City defender Nathan Doyle, and Slovenian international centre-back Suad Filekovic since replacing Simon Davey.
- "I have to thank Patrick Cryne for backing me in the transfer market," said Robins. "These are the right sort of players we need here. I also think we will get better when we have everybody available and back in with us."
- After losing his opening game in charge against Watford, Barnsley are unbeaten in three games and produced a midweek shock in the Carling Cup by beating Premier League Burnley.
- "We have only just started," stressed Robins. "Winning games builds confidence. The effort, commitment, desire and confidence was there against Burnley and that was pleasing."
- Notts County trust 'should never have handed control to Qadbak'• Fans group says trust 'went against its very reasons for existing' • Former trust member concerned by 'lack of transparency'
- New Book: 50 People Who Fouled Up Football
- Stats: QPR Stats & Helguson Injury Update
Chris Charles BBC BLOG - Week in Review re QPR at Chelsea- "....In the Carling Cup, Barnsley produced the shock of the round by toppling Burnley, while I was at Stamford Bridge to see 'plucky' (hate that word) QPR go down to Chelsea (not keen on that word either).
- My first priority was to make sure I got home in one piece after hearing a bloke behind me in the pub utter the immortal line: "Chelsea have come down proper firmed up - tools the lot." Gulp.
- There were a few running battles - fortunately nothing on the scale of Upton Park - which I avoided by bravely chatting to a very nice policeman inside the shopping precinct. Turns out he was a Millwall fan (you don't get many of them to the pound) who was spared the decision of whether to attend the West Ham game because he happened to be on holiday. Result. ..."
BBC
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Sousa Considered
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Today's Fourth Official for QPR vs Barnsley - Twittering
Happy Birthday to ex-QPR Manager (First Team Coach) Luigi De Canio(turning 52) - -- Also Birthday greetings to ex-QPR Kenny Samson (turning 51) and ex short-term stays, Martin Cranie (turning 23) and Paul Warhurst (turning 40)
- "Out of Touch Ecclestone Under Fire"
- Briatore Vows to Fight Back
- Flashback: QPR Chairman Jim Gregory RIP
- Barnsley at Loftus Road: Previews & Managerial Comments
Yorkshire Post -Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley: Robins pays Cryne thanks
MARK ROBINS has paid tribute to Barnsley owner Patrick Cryne after signing five players in just over two weeks.
Defenders Carl Dickinson and Ryan Shotton are the latest new arrivals at Oakwell – on three-month loan deals from Premier League club Stoke City – and both could figure today.
- New manager Robins has also signed former Crystal Palace winger Julian Gray, Hull City defender Nathan Doyle, and Slovenian international centre-back Suad Filekovic since replacing Simon Davey.
- "I have to thank Patrick Cryne for backing me in the transfer market," said Robins. "These are the right sort of players we need here. I also think we will get better when we have everybody available and back in with us."
- After losing his opening game in charge against Watford, Barnsley are unbeaten in three games and produced a midweek shock in the Carling Cup by beating Premier League Burnley.
- "We have only just started," stressed Robins. "Winning games builds confidence. The effort, commitment, desire and confidence was there against Burnley and that was pleasing."
- Notts County trust 'should never have handed control to Qadbak'• Fans group says trust 'went against its very reasons for existing' • Former trust member concerned by 'lack of transparency'
- New Book: 50 People Who Fouled Up Football
- Stats: QPR Stats & Helguson Injury Update
Chris Charles BBC BLOG - Week in Review re QPR at Chelsea- "....In the Carling Cup, Barnsley produced the shock of the round by toppling Burnley, while I was at Stamford Bridge to see 'plucky' (hate that word) QPR go down to Chelsea (not keen on that word either).
- My first priority was to make sure I got home in one piece after hearing a bloke behind me in the pub utter the immortal line: "Chelsea have come down proper firmed up - tools the lot." Gulp.
- There were a few running battles - fortunately nothing on the scale of Upton Park - which I avoided by bravely chatting to a very nice policeman inside the shopping precinct. Turns out he was a Millwall fan (you don't get many of them to the pound) who was spared the decision of whether to attend the West Ham game because he happened to be on holiday. Result. ..."
BBC
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Sousa Considered
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
Friday, September 25, 2009
Helguson Reflects and Fitness Update
-
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Briatore Vows to Fight Back
- QPR Stats & Helguson Injury Update
Watford Observer/Frank Smith
Heidar Helguson reflects on dramatic Watford return
- Heidar Helguson says he couldn't have dreamt of making a better second debut after his exceptional 36-minute cameo and described the fans' reception as "absolutely magnificent".
Helguson scored two goals against Leicester City on Saturday in his first game back at Vicarage Road after re-joining the Hornets on loan from Queen Park Rangers.
But his 200th appearance for the club was cut short by a calf injury and Helguson described it as the "last thing he needed".
Helguson said: "I couldn't have dreamt for a better start personally. If I hadn't have got injured and we didn't concede that late equaliser then it would have been perfect."
Helguson is regarded as a Watford legend by most fans after scoring 64 goals during his initial five-and-a-half year spell at the club, which ended when he moved to Fulham for £1.3m in 2005.
The striker enjoyed a couple of decent seasons at Craven Cottage but made only ten appearances in all competitions during 18 months at Bolton Wanderers, after spending a year on the sidelines with an ankle injury and was then out of favour with new manager Gary Megson.
A loan move to QPR was made permanent in January but the Iceland international is currently not part of manager Jim Magilton's plans.
When asked whether the old adage of 'you should never go back to your old club' was on his mind, considering his legendary status among the Watford fans, Helguson replied: "Of course you think about having a reputation somewhere because if I came back and did not do anything then is the reputation ruined, well not ruined, but does the perception change?
"It was something that I thought of but it didn't affect my decision and I was always confident that I would come and do well here."
Watford were made aware of Helguson's availability before the close of the transfer window on September 1 but were unable to wrap up the deal in time.
The 32-year-old was keen not to discuss the full reasons behind his switch from QPR but revealed he could have returned to Watford on three previous occasions.
He said: "It just came up and I was asked at the other end whether I wanted to go and I thought about it for a while. I heard about it before the international break but I didn't have the chance to talk to anybody at Watford.
"I just wanted to come once the chance came up. When it has happened before there has always been other options that I have decided to take and they have always been permanent. I would have never gone somewhere where I would have to move [house] for a three-month loan and this is handy because I can go to training and drive home again."
Watford's assistant manager Sean Dyche and goalkeeping coach Alec Chamberlain both played with Helguson during his first stint with the Hornets and the likes of head of medical Richard Collinge were also at the club.
Lloyd Doyley, Jay DeMerit and Richard Lee have all played alongside Helguson, while current stand-in captain Adrian Mariappa was on the verge of his first-team breakthrough.
"The fact I knew quite a few people was a big factor in me coming here," Helguson said.
"Having Dyche, Alec [Chamberlain] and Rich [Collinge], it makes things easier when you know people. It didn't make the decision for me but it aided my decision and sped up the process of it getting completed."
Manager Malky Mackay arrived at Watford a month-and-a-half after Helguson's departure in 2005.
The striker has lined up against Mackay though, but claimed he didn't know the Scot too well as he was always a player "you didn't want to mess with" and "you tried to stay out of his way".
The club has a new gym and Helguson said the colour of the paint is different but he claims not a lot has changed since he left in 2005.
This week his strike partner Danny Graham, who Helguson helped set up for his fifth goal of the season, said he hoped the 32-year-old's loan move would be extended until the end of the season.
But Helguson said: "That hasn't been mentioned or talked about at all and I knew that beforehand and we will cross that bridge when it comes.
"There is a long time until Christmas and a lot of things can happen in that time Watford Observer
And a Helguson fitness update
Watford Official Site - ORNS WAITING ON HEIDAR’S FITNESS
HEIDAR Helguson will continue to receive treatment on his calf injury ahead of this weekend's game with Reading.
The striker limped off during the pulsating 3-3 draw with Leicester last Saturday and had an MRI scan on Wednesday to assess the extent of his injury.
Mackay is now watching Helguson's progress carefully, before making a decision on the Icelandic international.
The gaffer said: "We're working on Heidar, he's touch and go, we need to see how he reacts to intense physiotherapy over the next two days.
"He's had knocks and bruises and injuries throughout his career, but he's a Viking, he just gets on with it.
"Over the next couple of days there will be a lot of work done on him, before we make a decision on Saturday morning." Watford
Chris Charles BBC BLOG - Week in Review re QPR at Chelsea- "....In the Carling Cup, Barnsley produced the shock of the round by toppling Burnley, while I was at Stamford Bridge to see 'plucky' (hate that word) QPR go down to Chelsea (not keen on that word either).
- My first priority was to make sure I got home in one piece after hearing a bloke behind me in the pub utter the immortal line: "Chelsea have come down proper firmed up - tools the lot." Gulp.
- There were a few running battles - fortunately nothing on the scale of Upton Park - which I avoided by bravely chatting to a very nice policeman inside the shopping precinct. Turns out he was a Millwall fan (you don't get many of them to the pound) who was spared the decision of whether to attend the West Ham game because he happened to be on holiday. Result. ..."
BBC
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Nice article from a QPR Fan, Nick Gordon Brown ("ngb_qpr") on the Chelsea QPR game "History, Hernias and Sibling Rivalry"
"The morning after the night before, and I’m still buzzing..."
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!) - Previews & Managerial Comments
- The two Managers: Martin Allen Recalls Gary Waddock when they were both QPR Players
- Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times: "Time to Go, Flavio"
- Sousa Considered
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
- David Conn/The Guardian on Fit and Proper Test and re QPR Case
- RANSACKER - Boot Room Banter with QPR’s Rowan Vine -
- Investigating Man Behind the Notts County Deal
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
- Gillingham's Manager on Simeon Jackson (touted by some as QPR having an interest in)
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- Chelsea vs QPR Match Reports
- Video - Winkball: QPR Fans Speak About Flavio Briatore
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Briatore Vows to Fight Back
- QPR Stats & Helguson Injury Update
Watford Observer/Frank Smith
Heidar Helguson reflects on dramatic Watford return
- Heidar Helguson says he couldn't have dreamt of making a better second debut after his exceptional 36-minute cameo and described the fans' reception as "absolutely magnificent".
Helguson scored two goals against Leicester City on Saturday in his first game back at Vicarage Road after re-joining the Hornets on loan from Queen Park Rangers.
But his 200th appearance for the club was cut short by a calf injury and Helguson described it as the "last thing he needed".
Helguson said: "I couldn't have dreamt for a better start personally. If I hadn't have got injured and we didn't concede that late equaliser then it would have been perfect."
Helguson is regarded as a Watford legend by most fans after scoring 64 goals during his initial five-and-a-half year spell at the club, which ended when he moved to Fulham for £1.3m in 2005.
The striker enjoyed a couple of decent seasons at Craven Cottage but made only ten appearances in all competitions during 18 months at Bolton Wanderers, after spending a year on the sidelines with an ankle injury and was then out of favour with new manager Gary Megson.
A loan move to QPR was made permanent in January but the Iceland international is currently not part of manager Jim Magilton's plans.
When asked whether the old adage of 'you should never go back to your old club' was on his mind, considering his legendary status among the Watford fans, Helguson replied: "Of course you think about having a reputation somewhere because if I came back and did not do anything then is the reputation ruined, well not ruined, but does the perception change?
"It was something that I thought of but it didn't affect my decision and I was always confident that I would come and do well here."
Watford were made aware of Helguson's availability before the close of the transfer window on September 1 but were unable to wrap up the deal in time.
The 32-year-old was keen not to discuss the full reasons behind his switch from QPR but revealed he could have returned to Watford on three previous occasions.
He said: "It just came up and I was asked at the other end whether I wanted to go and I thought about it for a while. I heard about it before the international break but I didn't have the chance to talk to anybody at Watford.
"I just wanted to come once the chance came up. When it has happened before there has always been other options that I have decided to take and they have always been permanent. I would have never gone somewhere where I would have to move [house] for a three-month loan and this is handy because I can go to training and drive home again."
Watford's assistant manager Sean Dyche and goalkeeping coach Alec Chamberlain both played with Helguson during his first stint with the Hornets and the likes of head of medical Richard Collinge were also at the club.
Lloyd Doyley, Jay DeMerit and Richard Lee have all played alongside Helguson, while current stand-in captain Adrian Mariappa was on the verge of his first-team breakthrough.
"The fact I knew quite a few people was a big factor in me coming here," Helguson said.
"Having Dyche, Alec [Chamberlain] and Rich [Collinge], it makes things easier when you know people. It didn't make the decision for me but it aided my decision and sped up the process of it getting completed."
Manager Malky Mackay arrived at Watford a month-and-a-half after Helguson's departure in 2005.
The striker has lined up against Mackay though, but claimed he didn't know the Scot too well as he was always a player "you didn't want to mess with" and "you tried to stay out of his way".
The club has a new gym and Helguson said the colour of the paint is different but he claims not a lot has changed since he left in 2005.
This week his strike partner Danny Graham, who Helguson helped set up for his fifth goal of the season, said he hoped the 32-year-old's loan move would be extended until the end of the season.
But Helguson said: "That hasn't been mentioned or talked about at all and I knew that beforehand and we will cross that bridge when it comes.
"There is a long time until Christmas and a lot of things can happen in that time Watford Observer
And a Helguson fitness update
Watford Official Site - ORNS WAITING ON HEIDAR’S FITNESS
HEIDAR Helguson will continue to receive treatment on his calf injury ahead of this weekend's game with Reading.
The striker limped off during the pulsating 3-3 draw with Leicester last Saturday and had an MRI scan on Wednesday to assess the extent of his injury.
Mackay is now watching Helguson's progress carefully, before making a decision on the Icelandic international.
The gaffer said: "We're working on Heidar, he's touch and go, we need to see how he reacts to intense physiotherapy over the next two days.
"He's had knocks and bruises and injuries throughout his career, but he's a Viking, he just gets on with it.
"Over the next couple of days there will be a lot of work done on him, before we make a decision on Saturday morning." Watford
Chris Charles BBC BLOG - Week in Review re QPR at Chelsea- "....In the Carling Cup, Barnsley produced the shock of the round by toppling Burnley, while I was at Stamford Bridge to see 'plucky' (hate that word) QPR go down to Chelsea (not keen on that word either).
- My first priority was to make sure I got home in one piece after hearing a bloke behind me in the pub utter the immortal line: "Chelsea have come down proper firmed up - tools the lot." Gulp.
- There were a few running battles - fortunately nothing on the scale of Upton Park - which I avoided by bravely chatting to a very nice policeman inside the shopping precinct. Turns out he was a Millwall fan (you don't get many of them to the pound) who was spared the decision of whether to attend the West Ham game because he happened to be on holiday. Result. ..."
BBC
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Nice article from a QPR Fan, Nick Gordon Brown ("ngb_qpr") on the Chelsea QPR game "History, Hernias and Sibling Rivalry"
"The morning after the night before, and I’m still buzzing..."
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!) - Previews & Managerial Comments
- The two Managers: Martin Allen Recalls Gary Waddock when they were both QPR Players
- Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times: "Time to Go, Flavio"
- Sousa Considered
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
- David Conn/The Guardian on Fit and Proper Test and re QPR Case
- RANSACKER - Boot Room Banter with QPR’s Rowan Vine -
- Investigating Man Behind the Notts County Deal
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
- Gillingham's Manager on Simeon Jackson (touted by some as QPR having an interest in)
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- Chelsea vs QPR Match Reports
- Video - Winkball: QPR Fans Speak About Flavio Briatore
"Betrayed" Briatore To Fight Back and Win
-
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome! --- - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
Reuters "Betrayed" Briatore Vows to Fight Back And Win
- Banned former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said he had been betrayed by Formula One on Friday and promised to hold a big party when he eventually emerges victorious.
- The flamboyant Italian was handed a life ban this week for his role in Nelson Piquet's deliberate crash in last year's Singapore Grand Prix.
- Renault were handed a suspended permanent ban at Monday's International Automobile Federation (FIA) hearing in Paris.
- "In the end I will win and you will see, we will have a big party," he was quoted as saying on La Repubblica's website (www.repubblica.it).
- "It will be well organised and we'll invite everyone who has stayed close to me in these difficult times."
- "I've been betrayed by my own world," Briatore added. "I will talk only at the right time, assuming they let me talk.
- The sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Briatore's friend and business partner, has said the life ban is too harsh as has Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.
- Media reports have said Briatore will appeal to the FIA or take his case to the civil courts.
- "Look at the verdict the FIA put online on Tuesday. It's not about me," he said.
- Renault suffered further fallout from a race-fixing scandal on Thursday when title sponsor ING and Spain's Mutua Madrilena tore up their contracts with immediate effect.
- (Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Alan Baldwin) Reuters
Telegraph/Tom Cary - Flavio Briatore hits back at Formula One 'betrayal' over Singapore GP crash
Flavio Briatore claims he has been “betrayed” by his own kin and has vowed to hit back against those who handed him a lifetime ban from the sport on Monday.
- The former Renault team principal was punished by the World Motor Sport Council for his role in conspiring with driver Nelson Piquet Jnr to cause a deliberate crash at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Briatore will also not be allowed to participate in any FIA-sanctioned series or manage any Formula One drivers in the future.
- Grosjean repeats Piquet crash But with F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo both admitting the sentence was “harsh” – and with FIA president Max Mosley reported to have rung Briatore to advise him that he is allowed to appeal – the flamboyant Italian is already plotting his comeback from his yacht in the Mediterranean.
- "I've been betrayed by my own world," Briatore said. "In the end I will win and, you'll see, we'll have a great party. It will be organized well and we'll invite all those people who have stayed close to me during these tough times.
- "(This response) is just a matter of good manners, because I don't want to say absolutely anything. I'm not giving any quotes. I will talk only at the right time, assuming that they still allow me to talk.
- "Look at the verdict the FIA has put online on Tuesday: it is not about me."
- Meanwhile, Ecclestone has come in for some criticism in the paddock here in Singapore for his bizarre comments in support of Briatore.
- The 79-year-old was one of the 26 council members who handed the Italian his life sentence on Monday and it is felt that he had undermined the whole process by admitting just four days later that the WMSC got it wrong. Telegraph
Chris Charles BBC BLOG - Week in Review re QPR at Chelsea- "....In the Carling Cup, Barnsley produced the shock of the round by toppling Burnley, while I was at Stamford Bridge to see 'plucky' (hate that word) QPR go down to Chelsea (not keen on that word either).
- My first priority was to make sure I got home in one piece after hearing a bloke behind me in the pub utter the immortal line: "Chelsea have come down proper firmed up - tools the lot." Gulp.
- There were a few running battles - fortunately nothing on the scale of Upton Park - which I avoided by bravely chatting to a very nice policeman inside the shopping precinct. Turns out he was a Millwall fan (you don't get many of them to the pound) who was spared the decision of whether to attend the West Ham game because he happened to be on holiday. Result. ..."
BBC
- QPR Stats & Helguson Injury Update
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Nice article from a QPR Fan, Nick Gordon Brown ("ngb_qpr") on the Chelsea QPR game "History, Hernias and Sibling Rivalry"
"The morning after the night before, and I’m still buzzing..."
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!) - Previews & Managerial Comments
- The two Managers: Martin Allen Recalls Gary Waddock when they were both QPR Players
- Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times: "Time to Go, Flavio"
- Sousa Considered
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
- David Conn/The Guardian on Fit and Proper Test and re QPR Case
- RANSACKER - Boot Room Banter with QPR’s Rowan Vine -
- Investigating Man Behind the Notts County Deal
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
- Gillingham's Manager on Simeon Jackson (touted by some as QPR having an interest in)
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- Chelsea vs QPR Match Reports
- Video - Winkball: QPR Fans Speak About Flavio Briatore
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome! --- - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
Reuters "Betrayed" Briatore Vows to Fight Back And Win
- Banned former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said he had been betrayed by Formula One on Friday and promised to hold a big party when he eventually emerges victorious.
- The flamboyant Italian was handed a life ban this week for his role in Nelson Piquet's deliberate crash in last year's Singapore Grand Prix.
- Renault were handed a suspended permanent ban at Monday's International Automobile Federation (FIA) hearing in Paris.
- "In the end I will win and you will see, we will have a big party," he was quoted as saying on La Repubblica's website (www.repubblica.it).
- "It will be well organised and we'll invite everyone who has stayed close to me in these difficult times."
- "I've been betrayed by my own world," Briatore added. "I will talk only at the right time, assuming they let me talk.
- The sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Briatore's friend and business partner, has said the life ban is too harsh as has Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.
- Media reports have said Briatore will appeal to the FIA or take his case to the civil courts.
- "Look at the verdict the FIA put online on Tuesday. It's not about me," he said.
- Renault suffered further fallout from a race-fixing scandal on Thursday when title sponsor ING and Spain's Mutua Madrilena tore up their contracts with immediate effect.
- (Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Alan Baldwin) Reuters
Telegraph/Tom Cary - Flavio Briatore hits back at Formula One 'betrayal' over Singapore GP crash
Flavio Briatore claims he has been “betrayed” by his own kin and has vowed to hit back against those who handed him a lifetime ban from the sport on Monday.
- The former Renault team principal was punished by the World Motor Sport Council for his role in conspiring with driver Nelson Piquet Jnr to cause a deliberate crash at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Briatore will also not be allowed to participate in any FIA-sanctioned series or manage any Formula One drivers in the future.
- Grosjean repeats Piquet crash But with F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo both admitting the sentence was “harsh” – and with FIA president Max Mosley reported to have rung Briatore to advise him that he is allowed to appeal – the flamboyant Italian is already plotting his comeback from his yacht in the Mediterranean.
- "I've been betrayed by my own world," Briatore said. "In the end I will win and, you'll see, we'll have a great party. It will be organized well and we'll invite all those people who have stayed close to me during these tough times.
- "(This response) is just a matter of good manners, because I don't want to say absolutely anything. I'm not giving any quotes. I will talk only at the right time, assuming that they still allow me to talk.
- "Look at the verdict the FIA has put online on Tuesday: it is not about me."
- Meanwhile, Ecclestone has come in for some criticism in the paddock here in Singapore for his bizarre comments in support of Briatore.
- The 79-year-old was one of the 26 council members who handed the Italian his life sentence on Monday and it is felt that he had undermined the whole process by admitting just four days later that the WMSC got it wrong. Telegraph
Chris Charles BBC BLOG - Week in Review re QPR at Chelsea- "....In the Carling Cup, Barnsley produced the shock of the round by toppling Burnley, while I was at Stamford Bridge to see 'plucky' (hate that word) QPR go down to Chelsea (not keen on that word either).
- My first priority was to make sure I got home in one piece after hearing a bloke behind me in the pub utter the immortal line: "Chelsea have come down proper firmed up - tools the lot." Gulp.
- There were a few running battles - fortunately nothing on the scale of Upton Park - which I avoided by bravely chatting to a very nice policeman inside the shopping precinct. Turns out he was a Millwall fan (you don't get many of them to the pound) who was spared the decision of whether to attend the West Ham game because he happened to be on holiday. Result. ..."
BBC
- QPR Stats & Helguson Injury Update
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Nice article from a QPR Fan, Nick Gordon Brown ("ngb_qpr") on the Chelsea QPR game "History, Hernias and Sibling Rivalry"
"The morning after the night before, and I’m still buzzing..."
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!) - Previews & Managerial Comments
- The two Managers: Martin Allen Recalls Gary Waddock when they were both QPR Players
- Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times: "Time to Go, Flavio"
- Sousa Considered
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
- David Conn/The Guardian on Fit and Proper Test and re QPR Case
- RANSACKER - Boot Room Banter with QPR’s Rowan Vine -
- Investigating Man Behind the Notts County Deal
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
- Gillingham's Manager on Simeon Jackson (touted by some as QPR having an interest in)
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- Chelsea vs QPR Match Reports
- Video - Winkball: QPR Fans Speak About Flavio Briatore
QPR Hitting the Woodwork! Other QPR Stats Including Attendances...Helguson Injury Wait
-
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome! --- - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Harewood Joins Newcastle on Loan
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Football League Stats - STAT ATTACK
Posted on: 25.09.2009
- When your luck is down, it's really down, just ask Queens Park Rangers. Jim Magilton's side have lost just once so far this season but currently sit in 12th place with just 10 points, after winning two and drawing four games.
- Things could be so different though, had they not hit the woodwork as often as they have.
- The Hoops have only scored seven goals but they have been left cursing the woodwork an amazing nine times already!
- Cardiff City have had a good start to the season and sit sixth in the table but again had they had more luck of their side they could find themselves in a better position, after hitting the woodwork seven times.
- The Bluebirds have scored 12 goals so far, with seven coming from Michael Chopra but the former Newcastle striker has also seen four efforts thwarted by the post and crossbar.
- At the moment Plymouth Argyle can't seem to buy a result, as they sit rock bottom of the Coca-Championship table but after hitting the woodwork six times already surely it's only a matter of time before their luck changes.
- In Coca-Cola League 1 Leeds United currently lead both the league table and the shooting tables and with 133 shots it's hardly surprising that they have hit the woodwork more times than anyone else......"Football League Stats
- See Also: QPR Stats in 2009/2010
2009/2010 ATTENDANCES
Club High High Opponent Low Low Opponent Average
Newcastle 43904 Sheffield Wed(19/08/09) 36944 Reading(15/08/09) 40639
Derby County 33010 Peterborough(08/08/09) 26186 Plymouth(22/08/09) 28811
Sheffield Utd 29210 Sheffield Wed(18/09/09) 24638 Watford(15/08/09) 26271
Sheffield Wed 30644 Barnsley(08/08/09) 20215 Scunthorpe(22/08/09) 24462
Nottm Forest 28143 Derby County(29/08/09) 19232 Watford(18/08/09) 23414
Leicester City 26171 Swansea 08/08/09) 21485 Peterborough(15/09/09) 23070
Cardiff City 25630 Newcastle(13/09/09) 20121 QPR(19/09/09) 22217
Middlsbr 23541 Sheffield Utd(07/08/09) 19742 Ipswich Town(12/09/09) 22012
WBA 23502 Newcastle(08/08/09) 19390 Ipswich Town(22/08/09) 21816
Ipswich Town 22454 Leicester City(15/08/09) 19454 Preston(29/08/09) 20846
Reading 19640 Nottm Forest(08/08/09) 15697 Doncaster(12/09/09) 17012
Coventry 16449 Bristol City(12/09/09) 14426 Sheffield Utd(15/09/09) 15865
Crystal Pal 20643 Newcastle(22/08/09) 12760 Derby County(19/09/09) 15168
Bristol C 14603 Crystal Palace(15/08/09) 14203 Scunthorpe(19/09/09) 14444
Swansea City 16201 Middlesbrough(15/08/09) 12775 Reading(18/08/09) 14001
Watford 15636 Doncaster(08/08/09) 12613 Barnsley(12/09/09) 13910
QPR 14013 Blackpool(08/08/09) 11814 Peterborough(12/09/09) 12961
Preston 13025 Bristol City(08/08/09) 11230 Coventry City(19/09/09) 12164
Barnsley 12552 Coventry City(15/08/09) 11116 Reading(29/08/09) 11778
Plymouth 11918 Cardiff City(18/08/09) 8703 Watford(15/09/09) 10609
Doncaster 10711 Ipswich Town(19/09/09) 9484 Coventry City(18/08/09) 10001
Peterbrh 10747 Sheffield Wed(15/08/09) 8473 Crystal Palace(31/08/09) 9123
Blackpool 9647 Newcastle(16/09/09) 7698 Cardiff City(15/08/09) 8410
Scunthorpe 8274 Middlesbrough(18/08/09) 5383 Preston(15/09/09) 6718
Attendances
Previous Seasons Average Attendances
Currently in 2009/10 12,961
2008/2009 - 14,003 + (Dowie/Ainsworth/Sousa/Ainsworth)
2007/08 13,958 (Gregory/Harford/De Canio)
2006/07 12,936 (Waddock/Gregory)
2005/06 13,440 (Holloway/Waddock)
2004/05 (Our First back in the Championship) 16,055
2003/2004 (Our Promotion Season) 14,784
2002/03 (Our Playoff Season) - 13,206
- See QPR Specific Stats
Helguson Injury Update
Watford Observer "...[Watford] will have to wait until tomorrow morning to see if they will face Hornets legend Heidar Helguson.
- Mackay described the striker's chances of making the Championship clash as "touch and go" after the striker pulled his calf during his second 'debut' last weekend.
- Helguson left Vicarage Road on crutches on Saturday and despite having an MRI scan on Wednesday, Mackay says he will have to wait until tomorrow morning's fitness test to see if the 32-year-old will be able to play.
- Mackay said: "The scan showed that we need to look and see how he reacts to intense physio over the next two days before we make a decision. It will be Saturday before we make a decision on that.
- "He has had knocks and bruises throughout his career but he is a typical Viking – he just gets on with it..." Watford Observer
- Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Nice article from a QPR Fan, Nick Gordon Brown ("ngb_qpr") on the Chelsea QPR game "History, Hernias and Sibling Rivalry"
"The morning after the night before, and I’m still buzzing..."
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!) - Previews & Managerial Comments
- The two Managers: Martin Allen Recalls Gary Waddock when they were both QPR Players
- Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times: "Time to Go, Flavio"
- Sousa Considered
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- Renault Lose Big Sponsor (Effective Immediately) and Clash of Dates of British Grand Prix and the 2010 World Cup
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
- Ecclestone on Briatore Staying in Football
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
- David Conn/The Guardian on Fit and Proper Test and re QPR Case
- RANSACKER - Boot Room Banter with QPR’s Rowan Vine -
- Investigating Man Behind the Notts County Deal
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
- Gillingham's Manager on Simeon Jackson (touted by some as QPR having an interest in)
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- Chelsea vs QPR Match Reports
- Video - Winkball: QPR Fans Speak About Flavio Briatore
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome! --- - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Harewood Joins Newcastle on Loan
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
Football League Stats - STAT ATTACK
Posted on: 25.09.2009
- When your luck is down, it's really down, just ask Queens Park Rangers. Jim Magilton's side have lost just once so far this season but currently sit in 12th place with just 10 points, after winning two and drawing four games.
- Things could be so different though, had they not hit the woodwork as often as they have.
- The Hoops have only scored seven goals but they have been left cursing the woodwork an amazing nine times already!
- Cardiff City have had a good start to the season and sit sixth in the table but again had they had more luck of their side they could find themselves in a better position, after hitting the woodwork seven times.
- The Bluebirds have scored 12 goals so far, with seven coming from Michael Chopra but the former Newcastle striker has also seen four efforts thwarted by the post and crossbar.
- At the moment Plymouth Argyle can't seem to buy a result, as they sit rock bottom of the Coca-Championship table but after hitting the woodwork six times already surely it's only a matter of time before their luck changes.
- In Coca-Cola League 1 Leeds United currently lead both the league table and the shooting tables and with 133 shots it's hardly surprising that they have hit the woodwork more times than anyone else......"Football League Stats
- See Also: QPR Stats in 2009/2010
2009/2010 ATTENDANCES
Club High High Opponent Low Low Opponent Average
Newcastle 43904 Sheffield Wed(19/08/09) 36944 Reading(15/08/09) 40639
Derby County 33010 Peterborough(08/08/09) 26186 Plymouth(22/08/09) 28811
Sheffield Utd 29210 Sheffield Wed(18/09/09) 24638 Watford(15/08/09) 26271
Sheffield Wed 30644 Barnsley(08/08/09) 20215 Scunthorpe(22/08/09) 24462
Nottm Forest 28143 Derby County(29/08/09) 19232 Watford(18/08/09) 23414
Leicester City 26171 Swansea 08/08/09) 21485 Peterborough(15/09/09) 23070
Cardiff City 25630 Newcastle(13/09/09) 20121 QPR(19/09/09) 22217
Middlsbr 23541 Sheffield Utd(07/08/09) 19742 Ipswich Town(12/09/09) 22012
WBA 23502 Newcastle(08/08/09) 19390 Ipswich Town(22/08/09) 21816
Ipswich Town 22454 Leicester City(15/08/09) 19454 Preston(29/08/09) 20846
Reading 19640 Nottm Forest(08/08/09) 15697 Doncaster(12/09/09) 17012
Coventry 16449 Bristol City(12/09/09) 14426 Sheffield Utd(15/09/09) 15865
Crystal Pal 20643 Newcastle(22/08/09) 12760 Derby County(19/09/09) 15168
Bristol C 14603 Crystal Palace(15/08/09) 14203 Scunthorpe(19/09/09) 14444
Swansea City 16201 Middlesbrough(15/08/09) 12775 Reading(18/08/09) 14001
Watford 15636 Doncaster(08/08/09) 12613 Barnsley(12/09/09) 13910
QPR 14013 Blackpool(08/08/09) 11814 Peterborough(12/09/09) 12961
Preston 13025 Bristol City(08/08/09) 11230 Coventry City(19/09/09) 12164
Barnsley 12552 Coventry City(15/08/09) 11116 Reading(29/08/09) 11778
Plymouth 11918 Cardiff City(18/08/09) 8703 Watford(15/09/09) 10609
Doncaster 10711 Ipswich Town(19/09/09) 9484 Coventry City(18/08/09) 10001
Peterbrh 10747 Sheffield Wed(15/08/09) 8473 Crystal Palace(31/08/09) 9123
Blackpool 9647 Newcastle(16/09/09) 7698 Cardiff City(15/08/09) 8410
Scunthorpe 8274 Middlesbrough(18/08/09) 5383 Preston(15/09/09) 6718
Attendances
Previous Seasons Average Attendances
Currently in 2009/10 12,961
2008/2009 - 14,003 + (Dowie/Ainsworth/Sousa/Ainsworth)
2007/08 13,958 (Gregory/Harford/De Canio)
2006/07 12,936 (Waddock/Gregory)
2005/06 13,440 (Holloway/Waddock)
2004/05 (Our First back in the Championship) 16,055
2003/2004 (Our Promotion Season) 14,784
2002/03 (Our Playoff Season) - 13,206
- See QPR Specific Stats
Helguson Injury Update
Watford Observer "...[Watford] will have to wait until tomorrow morning to see if they will face Hornets legend Heidar Helguson.
- Mackay described the striker's chances of making the Championship clash as "touch and go" after the striker pulled his calf during his second 'debut' last weekend.
- Helguson left Vicarage Road on crutches on Saturday and despite having an MRI scan on Wednesday, Mackay says he will have to wait until tomorrow morning's fitness test to see if the 32-year-old will be able to play.
- Mackay said: "The scan showed that we need to look and see how he reacts to intense physio over the next two days before we make a decision. It will be Saturday before we make a decision on that.
- "He has had knocks and bruises throughout his career but he is a typical Viking – he just gets on with it..." Watford Observer
- Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Nice article from a QPR Fan, Nick Gordon Brown ("ngb_qpr") on the Chelsea QPR game "History, Hernias and Sibling Rivalry"
"The morning after the night before, and I’m still buzzing..."
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!) - Previews & Managerial Comments
- The two Managers: Martin Allen Recalls Gary Waddock when they were both QPR Players
- Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times: "Time to Go, Flavio"
- Sousa Considered
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- Renault Lose Big Sponsor (Effective Immediately) and Clash of Dates of British Grand Prix and the 2010 World Cup
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
- Ecclestone on Briatore Staying in Football
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Sousa Considered
- David Conn/The Guardian on Fit and Proper Test and re QPR Case
- RANSACKER - Boot Room Banter with QPR’s Rowan Vine -
- Investigating Man Behind the Notts County Deal
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
- Gillingham's Manager on Simeon Jackson (touted by some as QPR having an interest in)
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- Chelsea vs QPR Match Reports
- Video - Winkball: QPR Fans Speak About Flavio Briatore
Helguson Injury Wait...Ecclestone Hope Briatore Remains in Football...The "Fit and Proper" Test and Briatore...Rowan Vine Q&A on Football Boot
-
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome! --- - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
Helguson Injury Update
Watford Observer "...[Watford] will have to wait until tomorrow morning to see if they will face Hornets legend Heidar Helguson.
- Mackay described the striker's chances of making the Championship clash as "touch and go" after the striker pulled his calf during his second 'debut' last weekend.
- Helguson left Vicarage Road on crutches on Saturday and despite having an MRI scan on Wednesday, Mackay says he will have to wait until tomorrow morning's fitness test to see if the 32-year-old will be able to play.
- Mackay said: "The scan showed that we need to look and see how he reacts to intense physio over the next two days before we make a decision. It will be Saturday before we make a decision on that.
- "He has had knocks and bruises throughout his career but he is a typical Viking – he just gets on with it..." Watford Observer
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
- Nice article from a QPR Fan, Nick Gordon Brown ("ngb_qpr") on the Chelsea QPR game "History, Hernias and Sibling Rivalry"
"The morning after the night before, and I’m still buzzing..."
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!) - Previews & Managerial Comments
- The two Managers: Martin Allen Recalls Gary Waddock when they were both QPR Players
- Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times: "Time to Go, Flavio"
- Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Sousa Considered
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- Renault Lose Big Sponsor (Effective Immediately) and Clash of Dates of British Grand Prix and the 2010 World Cup
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
Ecclestone on Briatore Staying in Football
Mirror - "...And Ecclestone believes it would be wrong for him to be deemed not "fit and proper" to run Queens Park Rangers. "I'd very much hope that Flavio does not get kicked out of football," he said..." Mirror
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
David Conn/The Guardian - Notts County case shows limits of League's 'fit and proper person' test• Football League standard is applied retrospectively
• Those subject to test left to certify themselves
- Revelations about Russell King's involvement at Notts County have prompted concern at Football League headquarters but the League may nevertheless pass the takeover of the world's oldest professional football club as "fit and proper" at its 8 October board meeting.
- The "fit and proper persons test", which the League introduced in June 2004, does not do what many fans probably think it should. It does not bar people from owning football clubs, or being involved in senior positions, if they are unsavoury or if they have business collapses and unpaid debts behind them.
- While the League is certain to seek more information from the club about King's dealings, it is bound by the tight wording of its own test and is coming underpressure from the club to ratify the takeover.
- The League's test itemises categories which bar somebody from being a director or "holding a majority interest" in a club. King is not a director and Notts County say he has no interest in Qadbak, the investment fund of "middle eastern and European families who wish to remain anonymous". Even if he were a director or major shareholder, there is no sign that his business record would make him fall foul of the test.
- People are barred if they have a recent, unspent conviction for fraud or dishonesty; have been imprisoned for 12 months or more; or are on the sex offenders register. Anybody who is bankrupt or disqualified from a professional body or from acting as a director of a UK company is also barred. Another stipulation, that a person cannot be a football club director or major shareholder if he or she has been banned by another sport's governing body, is now to be tested for the first time in the case of the Queens Park Rangers director Flavio Briatore. The league is to study closely last week's ban applied to Briatore by the governing body of Formula One, the FIA, in the Renault Crashgate scandal.
- A person whose past is littered with business collapses and debts unpaid to creditors is allowed to be a director or majority owner of a football club, if he or she is not barred on those other grounds. The only insolvencies which count against people are those of football clubs – if they have been directors of two clubs which have collapsed into insolvency, or of the same club which has been insolvent twice.
- The Notts County takeover is now under the spotlight almost three months after its completion but the process highlights general weaknesses in the fit and proper persons test.
- First and most obviously, the test begins only after a club is taken over and the new owners have become involved in a club's business. Lord Mawhinney, the League's chairman, told the government this summer that he would be "happy to work with the FA and Premier League" to see how the rules could be "strengthened appropriately, including how they might be applied prospectively". The Notts County takeover will increase the pressure for that to happen. The Premier League has already committed to applying its test before, not after, deals are done.
- Secondly, football club directors declare themselves to be "fit and proper", filling the relevant forms in themselves. At Notts County the new directors – Peter Trembling, Peter Willett, Sir John Walker and Alex Clemence – are not yet registered at Companies House, which the club said yesterday was a matter only of procedure. There is no suggestion that any of those people fall into any of the categories which would bar them but being able to declare yourself to have passed a test does not seem the world's most robust application of that test.
- The other weaknesses are in the contents of the test itself. It was brought in so that football clubs, beloved community sporting institutions, could not be taken over by people with dubious records, no money and nasty plans. Yet although it is to the League's credit that it has such a test, it is a glaring omission to allow in people with a litany of business failures behind them and to bar them only if such insolvencies were at football clubs. The League also does not see or vet the plans for a club and check that real money is there.
- The four Notts County directors are understood to have certified themselves as not convicted fraudsters or people who have run two football clubs insolvent – under the League's rules that makes them fit and proper. It will be more difficult to pass those who "hold a majority interest" in Notts County, because the investors want to remain anonymous. In Switzerland, where Qadbak is administered, the law protects the identity of investors.
- The club have now said that Willett and his son Nathan are Qadbak's directors and the League is thought to have been seeking proof that they control Qadbak's decisions at the club. On that basis the League is likely to pass Notts County's ownership as fit and proper.
- The League has asked the government for help in getting behind anonymous offshore structures and the government has said it is willing to discuss it. Such powers, however, are a long way off.
- "We are very comfortable with the ownership of the club and the directors," said a spokesman for a club which, in its record-breaking 145 years, has now seen just about everything. Guardian
- Investigating Man Behind the Notts County Deal
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
- Gillingham's Manager on Simeon Jackson (touted by some as QPR having an interest in)
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- Chelsea vs QPR Match Reports
RANSACKER - Boot Room Banter with QPR’s Rowan Vine
Rowan Vine started out at Portsmouth, but failed to establish himself at Fratton park and impressed during season-long loan spells with Brentford, Colchester United and Luton Town – the latter signing him on a permanent deal before he joined Birmingham City in January 2007 for £2.5million.
However, he failed to progress at St. Andrews and joined QPR on-loan nine months later, securing a permanent move to Loftus Road before breaking his leg last year. He has since returned to action and his form is spearheading the Hoops’ promotion push.
Ransacker’s Chris Galea spoke to Vine about which boots let his feet do the talking…
Q. What boots do you wear?
A. I am wearing the Nike Tiempo Legend III at the moment.
Q. What’s the story behind you choosing the Nike Tiempo Legend III?
A. I’ve actually not long come back to them. Wearing the Nike Tiempo Legend III coincided with my best ever run of form, and maybe mistakenly I switched to Lotto Zhero Evolution boots instead. I think as a footballer it’s good to try new things, but ultimately you’re dealing with very fine margins of success and failure, so I’d always recommend that if you find the boot that you believe is the right one for you, why not stick with it?
Q. Why did you change to and from the Lotto Zhero Evolution boots?
A. When they first came out I just thought they were really comfortable. I also had a go in the lighter Nike Mercurial Vapors for a bit. As footballers there is often a lot of influence over club sponsorship deals, and obviously with the likes of Flavio Briatore at Rangers there is a strong Italian voice. That’s where the Lotto link came from and, to be fair to the boots, they ticked all the right boxes when I tried them on. However, I felt like a change a couple of week backs, so I went back to the Nike Tiempo Legend III.
Q. There are a range of different colours and styles available in football boots now, but are their any horror shows in the QPR dressing room when it comes to footwear?
A. That’s a tough one really because they all stand out these days. The black boots are pretty rare, it seems, with white, blue, yellow and even pink available now. So, it’s a pretty colourful mix and there isn’t really one in particular that I can pick out as a bad egg.
Q. You came through the ranks at Portsmouth; were you a boot boy there and if so who’s boots did you clean?
A. Yes I was a boot boy at Portsmouth and I was quite fortunate in that while I was a YTS because I was looking after another young pro, Luke Nightingale’s, boots. He didn’t complain too much because he knew how hard the job could be when you got a player who liked to make a fuss. However, I did Russell Hoult’s boots and he wasn’t very nice some times when he couldn’t kick the ball straight in them, so I got a bit of grief off him occasionally. To this day he’ll still say it was my fault but I think we both know different! Ransacker
From Winkball: QPR FANS SPEAKS ABOUT FLAVIO BRIATORE
">
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome! --- - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
Helguson Injury Update
Watford Observer "...[Watford] will have to wait until tomorrow morning to see if they will face Hornets legend Heidar Helguson.
- Mackay described the striker's chances of making the Championship clash as "touch and go" after the striker pulled his calf during his second 'debut' last weekend.
- Helguson left Vicarage Road on crutches on Saturday and despite having an MRI scan on Wednesday, Mackay says he will have to wait until tomorrow morning's fitness test to see if the 32-year-old will be able to play.
- Mackay said: "The scan showed that we need to look and see how he reacts to intense physio over the next two days before we make a decision. It will be Saturday before we make a decision on that.
- "He has had knocks and bruises throughout his career but he is a typical Viking – he just gets on with it..." Watford Observer
- RIP: Ex-Peterborough's Terry Bly
- Nice article from a QPR Fan, Nick Gordon Brown ("ngb_qpr") on the Chelsea QPR game "History, Hernias and Sibling Rivalry"
"The morning after the night before, and I’m still buzzing..."
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!) - Previews & Managerial Comments
- The two Managers: Martin Allen Recalls Gary Waddock when they were both QPR Players
- Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times: "Time to Go, Flavio"
- Flashback: QPR vs AKUTRS
- Sousa Considered
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- Renault Lose Big Sponsor (Effective Immediately) and Clash of Dates of British Grand Prix and the 2010 World Cup
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
Ecclestone on Briatore Staying in Football
Mirror - "...And Ecclestone believes it would be wrong for him to be deemed not "fit and proper" to run Queens Park Rangers. "I'd very much hope that Flavio does not get kicked out of football," he said..." Mirror
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
David Conn/The Guardian - Notts County case shows limits of League's 'fit and proper person' test• Football League standard is applied retrospectively
• Those subject to test left to certify themselves
- Revelations about Russell King's involvement at Notts County have prompted concern at Football League headquarters but the League may nevertheless pass the takeover of the world's oldest professional football club as "fit and proper" at its 8 October board meeting.
- The "fit and proper persons test", which the League introduced in June 2004, does not do what many fans probably think it should. It does not bar people from owning football clubs, or being involved in senior positions, if they are unsavoury or if they have business collapses and unpaid debts behind them.
- While the League is certain to seek more information from the club about King's dealings, it is bound by the tight wording of its own test and is coming underpressure from the club to ratify the takeover.
- The League's test itemises categories which bar somebody from being a director or "holding a majority interest" in a club. King is not a director and Notts County say he has no interest in Qadbak, the investment fund of "middle eastern and European families who wish to remain anonymous". Even if he were a director or major shareholder, there is no sign that his business record would make him fall foul of the test.
- People are barred if they have a recent, unspent conviction for fraud or dishonesty; have been imprisoned for 12 months or more; or are on the sex offenders register. Anybody who is bankrupt or disqualified from a professional body or from acting as a director of a UK company is also barred. Another stipulation, that a person cannot be a football club director or major shareholder if he or she has been banned by another sport's governing body, is now to be tested for the first time in the case of the Queens Park Rangers director Flavio Briatore. The league is to study closely last week's ban applied to Briatore by the governing body of Formula One, the FIA, in the Renault Crashgate scandal.
- A person whose past is littered with business collapses and debts unpaid to creditors is allowed to be a director or majority owner of a football club, if he or she is not barred on those other grounds. The only insolvencies which count against people are those of football clubs – if they have been directors of two clubs which have collapsed into insolvency, or of the same club which has been insolvent twice.
- The Notts County takeover is now under the spotlight almost three months after its completion but the process highlights general weaknesses in the fit and proper persons test.
- First and most obviously, the test begins only after a club is taken over and the new owners have become involved in a club's business. Lord Mawhinney, the League's chairman, told the government this summer that he would be "happy to work with the FA and Premier League" to see how the rules could be "strengthened appropriately, including how they might be applied prospectively". The Notts County takeover will increase the pressure for that to happen. The Premier League has already committed to applying its test before, not after, deals are done.
- Secondly, football club directors declare themselves to be "fit and proper", filling the relevant forms in themselves. At Notts County the new directors – Peter Trembling, Peter Willett, Sir John Walker and Alex Clemence – are not yet registered at Companies House, which the club said yesterday was a matter only of procedure. There is no suggestion that any of those people fall into any of the categories which would bar them but being able to declare yourself to have passed a test does not seem the world's most robust application of that test.
- The other weaknesses are in the contents of the test itself. It was brought in so that football clubs, beloved community sporting institutions, could not be taken over by people with dubious records, no money and nasty plans. Yet although it is to the League's credit that it has such a test, it is a glaring omission to allow in people with a litany of business failures behind them and to bar them only if such insolvencies were at football clubs. The League also does not see or vet the plans for a club and check that real money is there.
- The four Notts County directors are understood to have certified themselves as not convicted fraudsters or people who have run two football clubs insolvent – under the League's rules that makes them fit and proper. It will be more difficult to pass those who "hold a majority interest" in Notts County, because the investors want to remain anonymous. In Switzerland, where Qadbak is administered, the law protects the identity of investors.
- The club have now said that Willett and his son Nathan are Qadbak's directors and the League is thought to have been seeking proof that they control Qadbak's decisions at the club. On that basis the League is likely to pass Notts County's ownership as fit and proper.
- The League has asked the government for help in getting behind anonymous offshore structures and the government has said it is willing to discuss it. Such powers, however, are a long way off.
- "We are very comfortable with the ownership of the club and the directors," said a spokesman for a club which, in its record-breaking 145 years, has now seen just about everything. Guardian
- Investigating Man Behind the Notts County Deal
- Flashback: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days over a Decade ago
- Gillingham's Manager on Simeon Jackson (touted by some as QPR having an interest in)
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- Chelsea vs QPR Match Reports
RANSACKER - Boot Room Banter with QPR’s Rowan Vine
Rowan Vine started out at Portsmouth, but failed to establish himself at Fratton park and impressed during season-long loan spells with Brentford, Colchester United and Luton Town – the latter signing him on a permanent deal before he joined Birmingham City in January 2007 for £2.5million.
However, he failed to progress at St. Andrews and joined QPR on-loan nine months later, securing a permanent move to Loftus Road before breaking his leg last year. He has since returned to action and his form is spearheading the Hoops’ promotion push.
Ransacker’s Chris Galea spoke to Vine about which boots let his feet do the talking…
Q. What boots do you wear?
A. I am wearing the Nike Tiempo Legend III at the moment.
Q. What’s the story behind you choosing the Nike Tiempo Legend III?
A. I’ve actually not long come back to them. Wearing the Nike Tiempo Legend III coincided with my best ever run of form, and maybe mistakenly I switched to Lotto Zhero Evolution boots instead. I think as a footballer it’s good to try new things, but ultimately you’re dealing with very fine margins of success and failure, so I’d always recommend that if you find the boot that you believe is the right one for you, why not stick with it?
Q. Why did you change to and from the Lotto Zhero Evolution boots?
A. When they first came out I just thought they were really comfortable. I also had a go in the lighter Nike Mercurial Vapors for a bit. As footballers there is often a lot of influence over club sponsorship deals, and obviously with the likes of Flavio Briatore at Rangers there is a strong Italian voice. That’s where the Lotto link came from and, to be fair to the boots, they ticked all the right boxes when I tried them on. However, I felt like a change a couple of week backs, so I went back to the Nike Tiempo Legend III.
Q. There are a range of different colours and styles available in football boots now, but are their any horror shows in the QPR dressing room when it comes to footwear?
A. That’s a tough one really because they all stand out these days. The black boots are pretty rare, it seems, with white, blue, yellow and even pink available now. So, it’s a pretty colourful mix and there isn’t really one in particular that I can pick out as a bad egg.
Q. You came through the ranks at Portsmouth; were you a boot boy there and if so who’s boots did you clean?
A. Yes I was a boot boy at Portsmouth and I was quite fortunate in that while I was a YTS because I was looking after another young pro, Luke Nightingale’s, boots. He didn’t complain too much because he knew how hard the job could be when you got a player who liked to make a fuss. However, I did Russell Hoult’s boots and he wasn’t very nice some times when he couldn’t kick the ball straight in them, so I got a bit of grief off him occasionally. To this day he’ll still say it was my fault but I think we both know different! Ransacker
From Winkball: QPR FANS SPEAKS ABOUT FLAVIO BRIATORE
">
"Time to Go Flavio"
-
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Time to go, Flavio
September 23, 2009
- SINCE Flavio Briatore took control of QPR two years ago, this newspaper has never baulked at offering advice that we felt was in the club's best interests.
- Even though that advice has tended to fall on deaf ears, this is the right time to deliver another message to Mr Briatore - a simple, but essential one.
- Don't wait for the Football League to analyse Monday's ruling from the World Motorsport Council and act accordingly.
- If you have even the slightest interest in the well-being of QPR and a shred of decency, go NOW.
- There may yet turn out to be some loophole that could protect Briatore, disgraced and effectively expelled from Formula One, from a breach of the League's regulations regarding club ownership.
- Frankly, it makes no difference. The events that led to his 'indefinite' ban from Formula One on Monday have already heaped shame on a football club that means a great deal to thousands of people.
- The majority of Rangers fans have remained silent throughout the last two years, seemingly blind to the distasteful transformation of their club into Briatore's personal fiefdom.
- They have largely turned a blind eye to the outrageous ticket price hikes, the appalling treatment of loyal, long-serving staff and almost ceaseless interference in team affairs.
- The constant changes of manager without good reason, the squandering of substantial funds on players like Daniel Parejo and Damiano Tommasi, signed to benefit Briatore's ego rather than the team.
- The ruthless way players like Lee Camp and Dexter Blackstock have been cast aside at Briatore's whim, while whichever unfortunate happens to be occupying the manager's office takes the rap.
- The lack of any attempt to invest in a youth system for which Rangers were once renowned.
- The fact that, despite spin and selective statistics emanating from QPR's public relations department, the team are in no better shape than they were after an initial surge under Luigi De Canio 18 months ago.
- All this has passed without protest because, unfortunately, many fans have swallowed the fallacy that, without Briatore, there would be no QPR.
- The club would have survived without Briatore. And it will survive after his purple loafers strut through the refurbished Loftus Road lobby for the last time.
- Supporters seem fearful that the club could collapse if Briatore leaves - and it would be naïve to pretend that the road ahead might not be bumpy.
- Of course the spectre of financial bankruptcy would be an alarming one. But shouldn't we also be concerned about the moral bankruptcy that the status quo signifies?
- As a QPR fan, do you feel comfortable with a man who flouts the rules to fix the outcome of a sporting event, with potentially dangerous consequences, in charge of your club?
- For those clinging stubbornly to the hope that all the wrongs could yet be cancelled out by what we all crave - success on the pitch - it's time to face the cold, unforgiving truth.
- Briatore will NEVER bring success to QPR because he will not change in any way that might diminish his authority and, as the Renault scandal has shown, he will never admit to making mistakes.
- We have heard not a single word of remorse from Briatore for his actions at the Singapore Grand Prix. But it would be a relief to hear him say now that he intends to sell his majority stake in QPR Holdings.
- It may fall to his fellow board members to tell Briatore his time is up. But the fans can play a part, by joining our campaign, by voicing their disapproval at matches, or even staying away from matches altogether.
- Briatore may not care. But do you? Kilburn Times
From Winkball: QPR FANS SPEAKS ABOUT FLAVIO BRIATORE
">
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!)
- Flashback to 1997: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- VIDEO OF CHELSEA's GOAL VS QPR
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- The Financial Cost to Briatore from a Ban
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Time to go, Flavio
September 23, 2009
- SINCE Flavio Briatore took control of QPR two years ago, this newspaper has never baulked at offering advice that we felt was in the club's best interests.
- Even though that advice has tended to fall on deaf ears, this is the right time to deliver another message to Mr Briatore - a simple, but essential one.
- Don't wait for the Football League to analyse Monday's ruling from the World Motorsport Council and act accordingly.
- If you have even the slightest interest in the well-being of QPR and a shred of decency, go NOW.
- There may yet turn out to be some loophole that could protect Briatore, disgraced and effectively expelled from Formula One, from a breach of the League's regulations regarding club ownership.
- Frankly, it makes no difference. The events that led to his 'indefinite' ban from Formula One on Monday have already heaped shame on a football club that means a great deal to thousands of people.
- The majority of Rangers fans have remained silent throughout the last two years, seemingly blind to the distasteful transformation of their club into Briatore's personal fiefdom.
- They have largely turned a blind eye to the outrageous ticket price hikes, the appalling treatment of loyal, long-serving staff and almost ceaseless interference in team affairs.
- The constant changes of manager without good reason, the squandering of substantial funds on players like Daniel Parejo and Damiano Tommasi, signed to benefit Briatore's ego rather than the team.
- The ruthless way players like Lee Camp and Dexter Blackstock have been cast aside at Briatore's whim, while whichever unfortunate happens to be occupying the manager's office takes the rap.
- The lack of any attempt to invest in a youth system for which Rangers were once renowned.
- The fact that, despite spin and selective statistics emanating from QPR's public relations department, the team are in no better shape than they were after an initial surge under Luigi De Canio 18 months ago.
- All this has passed without protest because, unfortunately, many fans have swallowed the fallacy that, without Briatore, there would be no QPR.
- The club would have survived without Briatore. And it will survive after his purple loafers strut through the refurbished Loftus Road lobby for the last time.
- Supporters seem fearful that the club could collapse if Briatore leaves - and it would be naïve to pretend that the road ahead might not be bumpy.
- Of course the spectre of financial bankruptcy would be an alarming one. But shouldn't we also be concerned about the moral bankruptcy that the status quo signifies?
- As a QPR fan, do you feel comfortable with a man who flouts the rules to fix the outcome of a sporting event, with potentially dangerous consequences, in charge of your club?
- For those clinging stubbornly to the hope that all the wrongs could yet be cancelled out by what we all crave - success on the pitch - it's time to face the cold, unforgiving truth.
- Briatore will NEVER bring success to QPR because he will not change in any way that might diminish his authority and, as the Renault scandal has shown, he will never admit to making mistakes.
- We have heard not a single word of remorse from Briatore for his actions at the Singapore Grand Prix. But it would be a relief to hear him say now that he intends to sell his majority stake in QPR Holdings.
- It may fall to his fellow board members to tell Briatore his time is up. But the fans can play a part, by joining our campaign, by voicing their disapproval at matches, or even staying away from matches altogether.
- Briatore may not care. But do you? Kilburn Times
From Winkball: QPR FANS SPEAKS ABOUT FLAVIO BRIATORE
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- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!)
- Flashback to 1997: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days
- Hyde United Wound Up in Court
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- Football League Clubs Met Yesterday
- VIDEO OF CHELSEA's GOAL VS QPR
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Video - Some QPR Fans Speak About Briatore
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- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
From Winkball: QPR Fans Speak about Flavio Briatore
">
- Flashback to 1997: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days
- Football League Clubs Meeting Today
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- VIDEO OF CHELSEA's GOAL VS QPR
- Compilation of Chelsea-QPR Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- Three QPR Birthdays Today (Connolly, Rose & Brevett)
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!)
- Year Flashback: Iain Dowie's QPR great win at Aston Villa
- Football League Clubs Meeting Today (previously Scheduled)
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Mirror Columnist, Ian Winwood - Why I no longer have a soft spot for Queens Park Rangers
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
From Winkball: QPR Fans Speak about Flavio Briatore
">
- Flashback to 1997: The Launch of the QPR Official Site: What QPR Were Saying On Those First Few Days
- Football League Clubs Meeting Today
- Stoke City Offer Apology to Blackpool's Jason Euell
- VIDEO OF CHELSEA's GOAL VS QPR
- Compilation of Chelsea-QPR Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- Three QPR Birthdays Today (Connolly, Rose & Brevett)
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!)
- Year Flashback: Iain Dowie's QPR great win at Aston Villa
- Football League Clubs Meeting Today (previously Scheduled)
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
- Mirror Columnist, Ian Winwood - Why I no longer have a soft spot for Queens Park Rangers
Why I No Longer Have a Soft Spot for Queens Park Rangers...Barnsley Manager on QPR Game
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- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- VIDEO OF CHELSEA's GOAL VS QPR
- Compilation of Chelsea-QPR Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- Three QPR Birthdays Today (Connolly, Rose & Brevett)
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!)
- Year Flashback: Iain Dowie's QPR great win at Aston Villa
- Flashback to 1997: The Launch of the QPR Official Site
- Football League Clubs Meeting Today (previously Scheduled)
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
Mirror Columnist, Ian Winwood - Why I no longer have a soft spot for Queens Park Rangers
- This coming Saturday I shall make my now annual schlep to Loftus Road, where I will pay £30 to sit in a stadium that looks as if it is made out of Mechano and Sellotape. Despite the inconvenience Queens Park Rangers have caused me during the years I have lived in London – and Barnsley haven’t won in this part of West London since well before the Beatles recorded their first album – it used to be that I always had a soft spot for the Super Hoops.
- Not any longer, and I’m sure you understand just why. It is very difficult to look at a club owned by Bernie “Hitler was alright, really” Ecclestone, steel magnate Lakshi Mittal and disgraced Formula 1 race fixer Flavio Briatore and not wonder what exactly has happened to one of the city’s most traditionally overlooked and quietly loveable clubs.
- As if the sight of rich men watching mediocre football inside a rubbish stadium weren’t disconcerting enough, the Football League have asked Formula 1’s governing body to supply them with details of Briatore’s indefinite suspension from the sport after the ex Renault team boss was found guilty in the recent F1 race-fixing scandal.
- The Football League has said that it will consider its position once the FIA (F1’s ruling body) has replied to its request.
- Personally, I can’t see why the league should wait even this long. The rules are quite clear: nobody can be a director of a football club or hold a majority interest in a club if they are banned from another sport by that sport’s governing body.
- Along with being a director of Queens Park Rangers, Flavio Briatore, 59, is also chairman of the holding company that owns the club.
- Could this be any more simple?
- It could, of course, be that the Football League will survey the evidence they receive and chuck the Italian out on his ear. Wouldn’t that be nice? Or this could merely be another example of the game’s authorities being scared to death of people with money and power and thus kicking this issue into the long grass.
- Me, I’m hoping it’s the former while suspecting it might be the latter.
- Either way, can anybody help with a word that rhymes with Briatore so I can get a chant going on Saturday? Mirror
Barnsley Official Site - WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND PERFORM AGAIN
- REDS boss Mark Robins gave his thoughts ahead of the trip to QPR.
- Mark told Barnsley Player: "I thought we were really good value for the win against Burnley on Tuesday night. Burnley came here to attack us and tried to get through down the middle but we coped with that really well for the most part. The effort, commitment, desire and confidence was there and that was pleasing to see.
- "Winning games builds confidence and we have picked up a couple of victories in the last week now. I thought our team spirit was excellent on Tuesday and they were congratulating each other and applauding the crowd at the end. We know we have to give our supporters something to get behind on the pitch but they can also spark us off as well. That is how we are going to build something here.
- "We have brought in the two lads from Stoke City and I am delighted to have Ryan (Shotton) and Carl (Dickinson) in with us. Ryan can play at right back or in the middle and will give us more options as Darren (Moore) is struggling and Stephen (Foster) one booking away from suspension. Carl is a tough tackling left back and I have to thank Tony Pulis at Stoke for allowing them both to come to us until Boxing Day. There were a lot of other teams interested in them and I also have to thank Patrick Cryne for backing me in the transfer market again. They are the right sort of players we need here".
- ark added: "I think we will get better when we have everybody available and back in with us. We have only just started here.
- "QPR are a good side and I am sure that Jim Magilton will be trying to get them to play in the same manner as the Ipswich sides he was involved with. They will have pace down the flanks and be solid in the middle of the park.
- "We are away from home and our history suggests that we normally do not do well at Loftus Road. We rid ourselves of a money on our backs on Tuesday night so we will be looking to do the same at QPR on Saturday.
- "We have to go out, push on and put on a performance again. It is all about us and how we perform on the pitch. We want to get all three points to make it a better journey home.
- "Darren is rated at 50/50 for the game by the medical staff but probably 80/20 by himself. Emil (Hallfredsson) has been ill this week although his knee injury is fine. He will have more of a chance for next week. Jamal (Campbell-Ryce) has trained and also improves our options for the weekend". Barnsley
- More re QPR vs Barnsley
- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- VIDEO OF CHELSEA's GOAL VS QPR
- Compilation of Chelsea-QPR Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- Three QPR Birthdays Today (Connolly, Rose & Brevett)
- Next for QPR: Barnsley at Loftus Road (Barnsley have just signed three defenders!)
- Year Flashback: Iain Dowie's QPR great win at Aston Villa
- Flashback to 1997: The Launch of the QPR Official Site
- Football League Clubs Meeting Today (previously Scheduled)
- Bernie Ecclestone Comments on Flavio Briatore
Mirror Columnist, Ian Winwood - Why I no longer have a soft spot for Queens Park Rangers
- This coming Saturday I shall make my now annual schlep to Loftus Road, where I will pay £30 to sit in a stadium that looks as if it is made out of Mechano and Sellotape. Despite the inconvenience Queens Park Rangers have caused me during the years I have lived in London – and Barnsley haven’t won in this part of West London since well before the Beatles recorded their first album – it used to be that I always had a soft spot for the Super Hoops.
- Not any longer, and I’m sure you understand just why. It is very difficult to look at a club owned by Bernie “Hitler was alright, really” Ecclestone, steel magnate Lakshi Mittal and disgraced Formula 1 race fixer Flavio Briatore and not wonder what exactly has happened to one of the city’s most traditionally overlooked and quietly loveable clubs.
- As if the sight of rich men watching mediocre football inside a rubbish stadium weren’t disconcerting enough, the Football League have asked Formula 1’s governing body to supply them with details of Briatore’s indefinite suspension from the sport after the ex Renault team boss was found guilty in the recent F1 race-fixing scandal.
- The Football League has said that it will consider its position once the FIA (F1’s ruling body) has replied to its request.
- Personally, I can’t see why the league should wait even this long. The rules are quite clear: nobody can be a director of a football club or hold a majority interest in a club if they are banned from another sport by that sport’s governing body.
- Along with being a director of Queens Park Rangers, Flavio Briatore, 59, is also chairman of the holding company that owns the club.
- Could this be any more simple?
- It could, of course, be that the Football League will survey the evidence they receive and chuck the Italian out on his ear. Wouldn’t that be nice? Or this could merely be another example of the game’s authorities being scared to death of people with money and power and thus kicking this issue into the long grass.
- Me, I’m hoping it’s the former while suspecting it might be the latter.
- Either way, can anybody help with a word that rhymes with Briatore so I can get a chant going on Saturday? Mirror
Barnsley Official Site - WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND PERFORM AGAIN
- REDS boss Mark Robins gave his thoughts ahead of the trip to QPR.
- Mark told Barnsley Player: "I thought we were really good value for the win against Burnley on Tuesday night. Burnley came here to attack us and tried to get through down the middle but we coped with that really well for the most part. The effort, commitment, desire and confidence was there and that was pleasing to see.
- "Winning games builds confidence and we have picked up a couple of victories in the last week now. I thought our team spirit was excellent on Tuesday and they were congratulating each other and applauding the crowd at the end. We know we have to give our supporters something to get behind on the pitch but they can also spark us off as well. That is how we are going to build something here.
- "We have brought in the two lads from Stoke City and I am delighted to have Ryan (Shotton) and Carl (Dickinson) in with us. Ryan can play at right back or in the middle and will give us more options as Darren (Moore) is struggling and Stephen (Foster) one booking away from suspension. Carl is a tough tackling left back and I have to thank Tony Pulis at Stoke for allowing them both to come to us until Boxing Day. There were a lot of other teams interested in them and I also have to thank Patrick Cryne for backing me in the transfer market again. They are the right sort of players we need here".
- ark added: "I think we will get better when we have everybody available and back in with us. We have only just started here.
- "QPR are a good side and I am sure that Jim Magilton will be trying to get them to play in the same manner as the Ipswich sides he was involved with. They will have pace down the flanks and be solid in the middle of the park.
- "We are away from home and our history suggests that we normally do not do well at Loftus Road. We rid ourselves of a money on our backs on Tuesday night so we will be looking to do the same at QPR on Saturday.
- "We have to go out, push on and put on a performance again. It is all about us and how we perform on the pitch. We want to get all three points to make it a better journey home.
- "Darren is rated at 50/50 for the game by the medical staff but probably 80/20 by himself. Emil (Hallfredsson) has been ill this week although his knee injury is fine. He will have more of a chance for next week. Jamal (Campbell-Ryce) has trained and also improves our options for the weekend". Barnsley
- More re QPR vs Barnsley
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