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- Stuart Pierce "...If you change managers too often, you are not going to be better off in ten years time. I don't think Queens Park Rangers are better off for all the changes they have made..." Nottingham Evening Post
- "On This Day" - The Last time a QPR Player Scored four goals?
- PRime Minister Gordon Brown on Football Finances and Debts
- "Have agents made shady dealing easier?"
- When Saturday Comes (WSC)Ian Plenderleith - "The Dilemma of a Football Moralist"
- Football Fans in General "It's Time to Fight Back"
- The supposed "Red Nose Protest" at Loftus Road, January 30?
- Flashback: Routledge Joins QPR - And Reports of What Routledge Cost
- Decade Flashback: The "New" QPR Chatboard
- Video Flashback: QPR Under Holloway: Their promotion season
Routledge and Kitson -The Sun
GORDON STRACHAN is closing in on QPR's £1.75million winger Wayne Routledge.
Middlesbrough manager Strachan has been in talks with the Hoops about a deal for the former Crystal Palace, Spurs and Aston Villa wideman, 25. But Boro boss Strachan is keen to sign him as a probable replacement for Adam Johnson, who is being chased by a host of Premier League clubs....
- Stoke striker DAVE KITSON has snubbed QPR
The Sun
Nottingham Evening Post - Hill hoping to make big impact against Forest tonight
Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 07:00Comment on this story
MATT Hill is hoping to make a big impression when he makes his QPR debut against Forest tonight.
The defender has signed on loan from Wolves until the end of the season – and hopes to help the Hoops make as big an impact in the Championship as the West Midlands club did last season.
"Every footballer wants to be playing games and unfortunately I wasn't getting that at Wolves," he said.
"QPR have given me the opportunity to do that here, so I am delighted to join.
"We had a great team at Wolves last season and did well to get promoted.
"QPR are also a team that want to push on and go places, so hopefully I can be part of that."
Hill has promised a committed performance if he is given his chance at the City Ground.
"I always give everything when I play. I consider myself to be a good defender and a good organiser," he said.
"Defending is my main strength, but I'll also be looking to get forward when I can." This is Nottingham
Nottingham Evening Post Blackstock hopes Forest can fuel confidence levels against QPR Tuesday, January 26, 2010,
WHEN he swapped the glamorous surrounds of QPR – then regarded as being one of the richest clubs in the country – for a relegation dogfight with Nottingham Forest, there were more than a few eyebrows raised.
Not least those of Hoops manager Paulo Sousa, who was eventually sacked for revealing that Dexter Blackstock's loan move to the City Ground was sanctioned without his knowledge.
But, ten months down the line, the striker's judgment looks to have been profoundly astute.
While the expected revolution under the ownership of super-rich trio Fabio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal has never materialised at Loftus Road, the transformation at Forest has been nothing short of remarkable.
And, when the two sides clash at the City Ground tonight, striker Blackstock will be playing for a club with genuine aspirations.
"I am happy to be at Forest. It has worked out well for me at the moment, there is no question of that," he said.
"I am looking forward to every game at the moment because we are on such a great run.
"But yes, it is a game against my former club and I still know a few of the people there, so it would be nice to get one over on them.
"However, this is still only about three points, it is not about proving a point or anything. We would want to be beating whoever we were up against."
Blackstock says he was always convinced he was making the right move when he signed for Forest permanently in the summer.
But he admits it was not until the season was well underway that he began to feel they were capable of winning promotion.
"At the start, we did not think that we could challenge," said Blackstock. "But, as the season progressed, you quickly realised how good a team we have here.
"When we played teams that were supposed to be challenging and dominated the games, the belief only grew.
"It showed what we are capable of. I believe that, if we are on our game, we can beat anyone in the Championship. I have no doubt about that.
"The West Brom and Newcastle games were massive, but to go to West Brom recently and dominate, live on television, was arguably the biggest of the two.
"That showed what we can do, it was massive for us.
"Nothing changed within the dressing room after that, because we had always been confident in our ability.
"It was just a great stage on which to do it and show everyone else."
On the pitch, Blackstock is an energetic, urgent, physical figure.
Off it, when asked what has made Forest a success, he gets his message across in a quietly spoken, considered manner.
"Team spirit here is second to none. It is a very young squad and everyone gets on," he said.
"That helps. But we also have good players here, people with good ability and good pace throughout the whole side.
"We have a solid defence, an attack that will always nick goals and a balanced midfield to go with it.
"Everything is going for us at the minute. But that is what it is about – everyone pulling together.
"And it is working for us. We all work together as a team.
"We are all ambitious as players, as individuals, but we know that the best way to achieve our ambitions is to pull together as a team.
"It has been a great 12 months for everyone at the club.
"When you get to this stage in the season, the league table tells you a story and we are sitting second in the league for a reason."
Blackstock admits one of the key factors in his move to Forest was the influence of Billy Davies and the ambitions he outlined back in March, when the striker first arrived on loan.
"The manager has to take a lot of credit for how the club has turned around," he said.
"When he came in a year ago, it was nothing like it is now.
"Even though I wasn't here at the start, you can see that things have changed dramatically and very quickly in the time that I have been here.
"We have gone from relegation battlers to promotion contenders and a lot of that is down to the Gaffer."
Forest go into tonight's game against QPR on the back of an 18-match unbeaten run in the Championship.
Meanwhile, the Hoops are in the midst of another period of turmoil – with caretaker-boss Mick Harford the third man to take the managerial reins this season – but do remain in touching distance of the play-off places.
And Blackstock is taking nothing for granted.
"Confidence couldn't be any higher, following our 18-match unbeaten run," he said.
"I can't even remember the last time we lost now and our record at home has been particularly good. It has become something of a fortress for us.
"We have to hang onto that record."
In the meantime, by 10 o'clock tonight, Blackstock will be hoping for another result to enhance his belief that he was right to make that move up the M1. Nottingham Evening Post
ESPN Star - English Championship Review
- Dexter Blackstock maintains he has nothing to prove when Nottingham Forest head to his former club QPR tonight at the start of a "massive week" for the Coca-Cola Championship promotion hopefuls.
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Reds striker Blackstock spent three seasons at Loftus Road, playing more than 100 games, before he was transferred to the City Ground in March 2009 after failing to agree new terms with the Hoops.
The 23-year-old, though, insists that is all water under the bridge as Forest look to extend an 18-match unbeaten run, when victory would put them level with leaders Newcastle, who are not in action until tomorrow night, ahead of a trip to local rivals Derby.
"It is a massive week for us," said Blackstock, "but it is not just about these next two games - we have to go into every match with a positive mind as we aim to take all three points.
"I do not feel I have anything to prove against QPR.
"I had three good years there and scored a lot of important goals for them.
"It will be just another game, and I wish them all the best, but after Tuesday night."
Blackstock told the club's official website, www.nottinghamforest.co.uk: "One thing we cannot do, though, is underestimate QPR because they have got some very good players and on their day are good enough to beat any team."
QPR, themselves still with hopes of gatecrashing the top six, are likely to have former Forest midfielder Nigel Quashie in the squad, along with defender Matt Hill, who has signed from Wolves on loan until the end of the season..." ESPN Star
Bristol Evening Post - Agyemang aims to supply goals for Bristol City
Tuesday, January 26, 2010,
Patrick Agyemang is looking forward to forging one of the Championship's most potent striking partnerships with Bristol City marksman Nicky Maynard.
Signed on loan from Queens Park Rangers until the end of the season, the Ghanaian international forward will go straight into City's team to face Cardiff in tonight's Severnside derby at Ashton Gate (7.45pm).
And he is confident he and 11-goal top scorer Maynard can fire the club's play-off ambitions.
Agyemang trained with his new team-mates for the first time yesterday and immediately hit it off with Maynard, who is expected to partner him in attack against the Bluebirds.
"Nicky is the kind of striker I like to play alongside," said Agyemang. "He is quick, has good movement and scores good goals from just about anywhere.
"I see my role as making goals as well as scoring them and I reckon Nicky and I will do well together.
"We've only trained together the once, but we've already built a good understanding. We seemed to be finding each other all of the time and things just clicked into place.
"Hopefully, we can take that onto the pitch, score goals and help the club get into the play-offs."
Relieved to have escaped a club which has gone through six managers in a little over two years, Agyemang hopes to make his move to Ashton Gate a permanent one.
He said: "It's been difficult at QPR with the managerial situation and me being in the team one week and not the next.
"I felt it was time for a fresh start and I was really pleased when I found out Bristol City wanted me. If the next few months goes well for me and the team, then I'd like to think I can earn a long-term deal."
City manager Gary Johnson hopes Agyemang will have a similar impact to that made by big Dele Adebola two years ago.
Signed from Coventry during the January transfer window in 2008, Adebola proved an instant success and helped City reach the Championship play-off final five months later.
Johnson said: "I'd like to think Patrick can do something similar for us. Dele came in at the same stage of the season and did very well for us and Patrick is another good player with Championship experience.
"Although he is big and tall, he is not exactly the same kind of player as Dele. But we're hoping he has the same effect on us.
"Patrick gives us two or three things we need. He's been there and done it in the Championship, he has great pace, he is a constant threat and he scores goals.
"He scored a couple of times against us when we played at QPR two seasons ago and we were shocked by his pace. But like Dele, he also has a presence, is very direct and good in the air."
Johnson is also expected to hand Jamal Campbell-Ryce a debut tonight and the Jamaica international, signed from Barnsley a week ago, is likely to start on the left wing in a 4-4-2 formation.
Bristol City's manager said: "Jamal and Patrick have every chance (of playing). I'm pleased with both the new signings and I feel they will strengthen us. They give us different options." Bristol Evening Post
Peterbrough Official Site
Statement From Chairman Darragh MacAnthony
Posted on: Tue 26 Jan 2010
Official statement from chairman Darragh MacAnthony reads as follows;
'I have to apologise to all Posh fans for this season up until now and all the events on and off the field. It has been nothing short of a disaster and I can of course understand their frustrations. I am done with defending the players, previous management, current management and everyone else at the football club top to bottom, Nobody has been good enough this season and we have failed our fans in the worst possible way and this has resulted in us being bottom of the league and heading for League One in a hurry. I promise the fans this will be the last time I speak in the press this season, but some home truths need to be told and as always I like to be honest with the fans and as open as possible.
At the moment its all doom and gloom with the following reasons listed inside and outside the club:
'We didn't sign the right players in the summer, we lack experience etc'
It was decided last April when we produced our budget for the Championship that we would keep loyal to the current team that had fought hard to get us promoted and not to bring in loads of players on massive wages that would have created big divisions within our camp. The previous manager made this decision 100% and was given all the players he asked for during the summer. At no point was he told he could not bring in a certain type of player. It was even suggested to him that should we sell one of our main assets, he would get all of those funds to bring in three or four more expensive players on larger wages to help the current squad. He declined this offer and at no point brought this up as an issue until long after he left the club.
'We keep making the same mistakes over and over'
I actually pushed in the summer and again in August for the manager to bring in a specialist Defensive Coach and also a Strikers Coach to help with the workload and for the challenge of the Championship, but again was told this was not needed and would only upset the balance of the coaching team. These are areas that we are looking to improve and recruit for at present.
'DF should never have left'
People need to move on as this was always going to happen and nearly did many times before including when he wanted to speak to other clubs on numerous occasions and I turned it down. I thought a new contract would stop all this in the summer but I was wrong.
'Barry Fry picks the team, I pick the team'
I will say it for the last time as I am tired of this nonsense rumour that keeps coming up, the only person who picks the team is Mark Cooper win or lose and that was same under DF. It is complete madness to suggest anyone else around the club picks the team. Neither me or Barry have been in the dressing room or on the training ground at any time over the last three years and have no desire to be.
'Mark Cooper is out of his depth and was a cheap recruitment'
Mark was given an identical contract to Darren Ferguson and money was never the issue when it came to his recruitment. He was given the job on merit and by me with no influence from anybody else. Nobody has given the bloke a chance since he was appointed 10 games ago and he has had to deal with one fiasco after another. I am of course unhappy that the results have not changed but at the same time I am not ready to throw the towel in as quick as others appear to be.
'Our squad is too big'
It's being addressed and by hook or crook it will be a 22 man squad by next July.
'We play the long ball now'
Blame the players for this and not the manager. They are not told to go out and panic and lump the ball 50 yards and many of our players are used to playing football on the ground so it is time they took responsibility for this criticism.
'The Referees are rubbish'
No argument from me on this, they are the worst standard of Refs I have ever seen in my life at this level and have given our club nothing for most of the season. Before they try and fine me for those comments, they should review the majority of our games by tape and ask themselves if I am actually right?
'We have had no luck'
We haven't but then again you have to make your own luck and we have enough one on ones missed this season to put us in the top ten.
'Barry Fry is the Devil and behind every issue our club has ever had'
If people really think I am the type of person who allows that type of person to be employed in one of my companies, then I shall throw the towel in myself. Our fans need to get over the whole Barry Fry issue as the buck stops with me when things are going wrong and I only try and do what's best for the club. Barry is no different then any other person at the club and will be the first to admit that even he needs to up his game over the last few months of the season. He is not immune to criticism from me or indeed from being asked to leave the club if I felt it would be the right move to make.
'I have not put enough money in this season'
There aren't many other Chairmen in the Championship who has broken his back, to back his managers or his club and I have always paid my staff on time and looked after them and I have never put our club at risk of going bust or into administration and never will do.
'Our football policy is wrong'
Total nonsense, as shown with the 200 goals, entertaining football and back to back promotions over the last two years. We don't always get it right but overall our policy is unrivalled and makes sense for our club for years to come. I asked people to judge me over the seven years I set in motion when I bought the club, and so far we have had more ups than downs.
Truth is that none of this rubbish above matters come kick off as we all expect whichever 11 players are blessed to be chosen to compete for Peterborough United to go out and give it their all, play with passion, endeavour and total commitment to win a football game. The team spirit from the last two years has nearly been destroyed by greed, skullduggery, tapping up and disloyalty from within and this has all occurred over the last 120 days or so, non stop and is eating away at our inner core.
Every week brings another drama and it usually involves an ex-manager, a current team member and the promise of bigger wages followed by a derisory £100k bid and all this after the player has been unsettled and offered terms behind our back.
Our club took chances on many of our players when nobody else did and rewarded them all with good long term contracts that included the promotion bonuses and wage rises. They in turn repay the club with below par performances, temper tantrums off the field and making it clear they no longer want to play for our club when the going gets tough. Well it's time for all of these players to grow up and act like professionals and stop letting themselves down and to stop blaming everyone bar themselves and most importantly to stop letting the Club and our fans down. I have never lied to the Posh fans about anything and have always called it the way I see it and this will always continue. I told the fans the kind of policy our club would have and would use during our seven year plan for success and at the same time promised we wouldn't sell the family jewels to which I have not.
I always respected Darren Ferguson before and thank him and Kevin Russell for the success they delivered whilst here, but the nonsense that has gone on since they have gone has left me fuming with him and very sad as well. Ask him why he would take most of our first team out drinking during an important Christmas period when a new manager is trying to establish his own mark on the team. Ask him why in the last seven days he has offered terms to some of our players without agreeing terms with our club for them and of course totally unsettling these players.
Ask him to name all these players we allegedly couldn't bring in to the club in the summer with experience that he wanted and agreed to come to us. Ask him about the five other clubs his representatives have contacted in the last 12 months of his Posh career to engineer a move away from us. Hopefully in time he will be honest and admit to the mistakes he has made recently and start showing some respect for those who gave him his chance when nobody else did . Our football club and its fans deserved better after the the wonderful times we had with him and his staff but they have made their choices and have to live with them.
Tuesday's game gives our club the chance to put the ghost of Darren Ferguson to bed and allow us to move on once and for all. It also gives our players a chance to show some character and most importantly some balls for the challenge ahead. What the club, me and our fans need is to see our football team showing that they care as much as we all do and that they aren't going to lie down and accept relegation with 20 games to go.
Let me say this to our fans for the record, should our players give up and throw the towel in and get us relegated, I will back our football manager with the funds to start again in the summer and rebuild our squad so we can go and deliver some silverware next season and with players who care about wearing the shirt and will break their backs to play for this great club. I promised our fans success when I took over and mapped out where we wanted to go and I shall not let those that matter the most down, I only wish everyone else employed by Peterborough United felt the same.
Everybody thinks we are as good as down and have given up on us already, well I am ready to go down fighting tooth and nail to the final game and if the last two years has taught me anything, maybe its best not to write off this team just yet. Just maybe they will rediscover the team spirit we have had for so long, just maybe they will perform like they are capable of, just maybe they will play with pride and passion, just maybe they will repeat the previous two years Jan - May form and win over 60% of their last 20 games, just maybe our loyal die hard fans will push our team to 10 home wins from 10 before the season is over, just maybe our players will show some guts and play with no fear and some pride, just maybe it all starts again against Preston when DF and his players will feel our pain and our fans will make London Road sound like the nosiest football stadium in England come Tuesday evening.
Just maybe everybody who works for my Football Club has 20 games left to show me and our fans that they are worth keeping here for next season! Peterborough
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