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Marking Three Years Since QPR's Last Fan Forum
- QPR's Last Fan Forum: April 26, 2007: Report of the last occasion QPR held a fan forum with then-Chairman Gianni Paladini, then-Manager John Gregory and then-captain Marcus Bignot
Dave McIntyre/Kilburn Times - Palace defender set for QPR switch
- QPR are close to agreeing the signing of Crystal Palace defender Clint Hill on a Bosman free transfer.
- The 31-year-old Liverpudlian had been expected to return north when his Palace contract ends this summer, and a number of clubs have shown an interest, but Rangers now look likely to secure his signature.
- Hill, who is primarily a central defender but can also play at left-back, started his career with Tranmere and had a spell at Oldham before signing for Stoke in 2003.
- He spent five years with the Potters before joining Palace, where he played under Neil Warnock.
- A number of Hill's Selhurst Park team-mates have been tipped to join Warnock at Loftus Road. Midfielder Neil Danns and goalkeeper Julian Speroni are among his top summer targets.
- But Warnock has so far shown no firm interest in signing highly-rated right-back Nathaniel Clyne, who has also been linked with a move to west London. Kilburn Times
- Two axed-by-QPR Managers are competing for that final Championship Playoff Spot. A QPR Report Poll: Vote Whether you'd prefer Swansea's Paulo Sousa or Blackpool's Ian Holloway to gain that place
Lee Camp Makes PFA Championship Team of the Year:
- Lee Camp (Forest), Chris Gunter (Forest), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Ashley Williams (Swansea), Jose Enrique (Newcastle), Graham Dorrans (West Brom), Peter Whittingham (Cardiff), Kevin Nolan (Newcastle), Charlie Adam (Blackpool), Andy Carroll (Newcastle), Michael Chopra (Cardiff)
PFA "PFA Lee Camp (Nottingham Forest) The former Derby keeper has been the key to Forest’s impressive collection of clean sheets this season – more than 20 – and his form led to him being touted as an outside bet for the England squad. His priority though is to get Forest into the Premier League." PFA Give Me Football
- The Other PFA Divisional Awards Winners
Lee Camp Talking: - Nottingham Evening Post
Forest keeper Camp has eyes on more silverware
- HAVING been handed the player of the season award by his manager on the pitch prior to kick-off on Saturday, goalkeeper Lee Camp admits to considering the prospect of lifting a rather more significant piece of silverware in a few weeks.
- A 19th clean sheet of the Championship season against Plymouth, provided further evidence as to why Camp was chosen for the accolade.
But, with club captain Paul McKenna battling a knee injury, Camp is dreaming of a climb up the famous Wembley steps to collect an even bigger prize in the play-off final.
"It would mean everything to me to lift another trophy in a few weeks," said Camp.
"I would hand everything over in exchange for that – all the clean sheets, this award, everything, because that is the ultimate goal.
"Hopefully if we do get that far, Paul will be back to lift the trophy himself.
"He is working very hard, I know that. But he is probably a long way off still. I have an opinion on a lot of things – but I am not going to try to be an expert on sports and medical science and injuries now.
"If he is back, fantastic, because he is a great leader and a great presence in the side.
"But, if he is not, we will go about our task in the same way and somebody will have to step up and be a hero.
"And, hopefully, at the end of the day, I'll have a chance to lift that trophy."
In a side that has been successful and, particularly at home, free-scoring this season, it is perhaps unusual for the goalkeeper to be selected for the player of the season award.
And, modestly, Camp admits he must have had some serious rivals for the title.
"It is really special for me. I am not sure there are many goalkeepers who would win player of the year in such a successful side," he said.
"There have been a lot of good performances and lots of consistent performances from other players....."To get it from among those players is a great achievement and something I am very proud of."
- For Camp, the award could be considered particularly significant.
- This time last season he was consigned to training with the youth team at Queen's Park Rangers and his future was more than uncertain.
Twelve months later he has the chance of Premiership football within touching distance – while some fans have been calling for his performances to be recognised with an England call-up.
- "You always believe in your ability. But it was a tough couple of months. For some reason, QPR seemed to hold it against me that another club had shown an interest in me, after I had been on loan at Forest," he said.
- "It was tough being made to train with the youth team and things like that. It was poor really.
- "But I went about my business and, in the long term, I always hoped that Forest would be my long-term future.
"I came in and hit the ground running, because I was raring to go. The fans took to me very quickly, which I appreciate. I honestly could not ask for a lot more.
"Then, this season, people even started jumping on the bandwagon and calling for me to be included in the England reckoning.
"It is remarkable when you consider that, 12 months ago, I was in relative obscurity really, as people talked about me coming here but I was frozen out at QPR.
"It is always nice to have your name mentioned about representing your country, but I have not changed my opinion on it.
"I still feel that there will be three Premiership goalkeepers there in the summer."
It is at this point, Camp smiles as he is reminded he could himself be a Premiership keeper by the summer.
"Sorry, yes, I mean proven Premiership goalkeepers. Players who have performed at the highest level," he says.
"I think that has to be the standard. To take a rookie keeper would be a massive risk, when you are looking to win a tournament. Why would they take that risk?"
In the meantime, before the World Cup gets underway, Camp could well be involved in the most valuable fixture in world club football towards the end of May.
And he is delighted at the prospect.
"I experienced the play-off final from the sidelines at Derby and it was an amazing thing. If you can't win the league then the best way to do it is through the play-offs," he said.
"Although, if you had asked me, I would have accepted second place and the opportunity to sneak up to the Premiership through the back door.
"But if there is a way to do it, it is at Wembley. It will be a great few weeks for the club.
"As long as the players can enjoy it and not get too wrapped up in the pressure of it all, it will hopefully be a hell of a chance for us."
And, if McKenna does not win his fight for fitness, then, after the transformation in fortunes Camp has produced, then nobody would deserve to lift that all-important trophy at Wembley more than him.
Nottingham Evening Post
Gorkss & Warnock on QPR Next Season
Mirror - Barnsley 0-1 QPR:
- Kaspars Gorkss believes Neil Warnock can give QPR the confidence they need to claim promotion next season.
- Mikele Leigertwood struck a stunning first-half goal to give QPR the three points against Barnsley and give them their third win in four games to continue a strong finish to a poor season.
- At the start of the season QPR were one of the favourites to make the play-offs, but they failed to deliver with a number of problems on and off the field.
- Warnock is the third manager to be in charge at Loftus Road this season and it hasn’t been easy on the players but Gorkss hopes the former Crystal Palace boss will help them achieve promotion.
- He said: "I think we are now looking at the future, it has been a hard season, we have to look to the future and hopefully get some good stability and good results for next season.
- "Promotion will obviously be our goal but I don’t think we are pressured. The only pressure we are under is from ourselves and our disappointment when we don’t perform.
- "Since Warnock arrived we have started to keep clean sheets, get results and show a lot more character.
- "He is very charismatic and he has brought a lot of confidence back into the players and you can see that on the pitch."
- However, Warnock will be looking to make some changes to his squad as he looks to bolster his attacking options in a bid to reach the Premier League.
- He said: "I can’t wait for the summer to bring some of my players in as we have too many loan players here at the moment.
-"We are just a bit missing up front and I want to spend most of my summer trying to find a striker and forward.
- The QPR boss also believes next season will be a much closer season at the top without the two big clubs of Newcastle and West Brom who have comfortable gained promotion.
- "I think it is going to be a very exciting season. It’s not very often that you’re on an equal playing field and next year it will decide who is the best manager too."
- In a game of few chances and both teams having nothing to play for, Leigertwood’s 27th minute strike adding something special to the occasion.
- Hogan Ephraim slid the ball inside to the defender who smashed the ball off the underside of the bar and into the goal to make the trip worthwhile for the travelling support.
- "I think after having a frustrating season like we have had then you want to finish on a high and win as many games as possible," explained Gorkss.
- "I think it showed the character in the team that we have to have the ability to get motivated for a game like this..." .’ Mirror
- Updated Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments re QPR's Barnsley Win
- Jay Simpson's Scoring Stats This Season
- QPR's Season Stats and Managers/Stats Over Past Six Years
- Two Year Flashback: "Cristal and Caviar at QPR"
- Flashback tp 2001: QPR Show How to Lose 27 Million Pounds in Four Years
- Marking Six Years ago, Gianni Paladini Buys Into QPR
- Hull in a Mess But Can Be Fixed
- Lakshmi Mittal again #1 on Sunday Times "Rich List"
- Updated Table BBC
