Snippets: QPR's Axed Sheila Marson WAS Football's Longest Club Secretary....Ephraim's New Role...Cerny Reappraised...Sheff Wed Preview

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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard --- Powerade November Divisional Players of the Month Named


Telegraph and Argus/Simon Parker - Bantams secretary turns thirty!
Valley Parade has a record-breaker under its roof.
Jon Pollard is now the longest- serving club secretary in the Football League and Premier League after notching up 30 years in the post.
He assumed the senior mantle after QPR’s long-serving employee Sheila Marson left Loftus Road.
Pollard has been at City since 1996... !” TelegraphandArguss


BBC - QPR's Ephraim relishing new role
Hogan Ephraim says he is happy with his new position in the QPR side.
Ephraim has been used in a right-sided role in boss Paulo Sousa's 'diamond' midfield and said: "I'm enjoying it.
"I’ve got more responsibility defensively, but that’s good. The manager is teaching me different aspects of it and it’s going well.
“The new manager has played at the top level and knows the game, so for him to show faith in me is something I’m proud of. Hopefully I’ll repay him for that."
Ephraim, 20, hoped to re-establish himself in the R's first team following his recovery from a shin problem in September.
But he was on the fringes of the side before his recent run under Sousa.
Ephraim added: “Every time he (Sousa) puts me on the team-sheet – and I’ve played in every game since he took over – it gives me great confidence. There’s not a better confidence-booster than that.
“I'm part of it all now so I’m really pleased. Long may it continue." BBC


Dave McIntyre BBC606 - Credit where it's due
- Fair play to Radek Cerny. His performance against Wolves on Saturday was excellent.
- Cerny seems to have won over the majority of QPR fans in recent weeks and has certainly produced some eye-catching saves.
- I remained unimpressed, still regarding him as a poor signing (a view I held when he was brought to Rangers) and a much inferior keeper to Lee Camp.
- Cerny remains the master of the Hollywood save and often stands out because he makes the straightforward look spectacular.
- In terms of overall goalkeeping, I was never impressed with him at Tottenham.
- And at QPR, I still feel he has sometimes won people over by diving around like a schoolboy in typical Cerny fashion.
- But his display against Wolves was very good. No arguments.
- He produced a couple of genuinely fine saves with minimum fuss rather than theatrics and more importantly, his all-round game was impressive.
- His positioning and command of his area was the best I’ve seen it and he claimed or punched the ball with real conviction.
- It also shows the difference a bit of confidence makes. His has clearly doubled with the applause he’s enjoyed of late and this has affected his decision-making and overall game for the better.
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- Overall, there were lots of encouraging signs for Rangers ahead of two important games.
- Hogan Ephraim is adjusting well to a new role in Paulo Sousa’s midfield ‘diamond’ and deserves his recent run in the sied.
- Ephraim was was very bullish about his chances of holding down a first-team place when he returned from injury earlier in the season – even with the likes of Cook, Ledesma and Buzsaky in contention.
- It didn’t happen for him initially, but Buzsaky’s injury has
given Ephraim a chance to impress and he has done well.
Rowlands was also excellent and despite Sousa suggesting Cook would get a place on the left flank when he returns to full fitness, he made the most of an unexpected opportunity to come on and play behind the front two when Dexter Blackstock limped off.
That gives Sousa food for thought and some useful options once Cook is fully up to speed.
At the back, Rangers looked solid again and up front they are much more of a threat with Heidar Helguson on board.
But everyone knows the key to Rangers sustaining a promotion bid is improving their away form.
Sousa gave me the impression last week that he will relish tough away matches in the Championship and wants to prove he can produce a team that wins them.
The games at Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth will tell us a lot. BBC606


SKY SPORTS PREVIEW OF SHEFF WED VS QPR
Sheffield Wednesday face a tough task on Tuesday as they welcome Queens Park Rangers to Hillsborough.
The Owls remains frustratingly inconsistent, although three games without defeat has kept them in touch with the play-off race.
Rangers currently sit just outside the top six but a morale-boosting victory over table-topping Wolves at the weekend should have Paulo Sousa's side flying.
Wednesday team news
Steve Watson is back in contention for Sheffield Wednesday as they prepare for midweek action.
The veteran midfielder has been nursing a hip injury in recent weeks and missed Saturday's 1-1 draw at Southampton.
Owls manager Brian Laws has no new injury or suspension problems, but is still without long-term absentees Jermaine Johnson, who damaged medial knee ligaments last week, Akpo Sodje (knee) and Richard Hinds (broken leg).
Laws also faces a dilemma regarding defender Frank Simek, who came through unscathed at Southampton following his first 90 minutes in over a year after a serious ankle injury.
The Wednesday manager is concerned the American could struggle with two full games in the space of four days, so Tommy Spurr is on stand-by after shaking off a dead-leg.
Rangers team news
Fitz Hall and Mikele Leigertwood return to the QPR squad for their trip to Yorkshire.
Hall has completed a three-match ban following his recent red card at Watford while Leigertwood sat out the weekend win over Wolves with a one-game suspension.
Sousa will have a selection dilemma at Hillsborough with recalled centre-half Kaspars Gorkss performing well at the back alongside Damion Stewart in Hall's absence.
Striker Dexter Blackstock faces a late fitness test after coming off on Saturday with a back injury.
Lee Cook (knee) and Martin Rowlands (thigh) proved their fitness against Wolves - the latter hitting a superb winner to sink the leaders.
Matthew Connolly remains a doubt with a back injury while Rowan Vine (leg) and Akos Buzsaky (knee) are long-term absentees. Sky Sports