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- Next: Barnsley at Loftus Road: News and Previews
- Five Year Flashback: QPR's Season Starts at Hull with Chants: "You're Just a Town Full of Bombers" (QPR Drew 0-0)
- Three Year Flashback: Lee Cook GIVES QPR 250,000 Pounds
- UPDATED: PRE-SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEWS
- Current Championship Promotion Odds
- Ex-QPR Youngster at Spurs!
- Premiership Managerial Sack Race Odds (Including Ian Holloway)
- Season Ticket Sales Numbers: Up to 6,848
- QPR Offer Tenth Most Expensive Tickets in England
- The Chris Charles (QPR Supporter!) Blog Returns - But at a new location!
- Views of Marc Bircham and Clarke Carlisle: Click to Listen to Marc Bircham and Clarke Carlisle - Football League Podcast
- Highly-Touted Slough Town's Mo Sharif...Trialing at QPR
Fulham Chronice/Paul Warburton - QPR plan bid for Blackburn Rovers star Jason Roberts
- QPR are set to make an audacious bid for Premiership star Jason Roberts.
- The Blackburn Rovers forward has been earmarked as the last jigsaw piece in the Hoops’ picture as the club gets underway in the Championship against Barnsley at home tomorrow.
- Roberts is a born-and-bred west Londoner, and Rangers have discovered he would not be averse to a move back home as well as the chance to return to the top-flight with Neil Warnock’s new-look outfit next season.
- The sticking points may be the 32-year-old striker’s wages as well as how much Rovers want for a player in the last year of his contract.
- Roberts earns around £30,000-a-week, but a deal involving length of contract and bonuses in a successful Rs side would sort out potential problems.
- Warnock admitted that although he was happy with his backline and midfield, there were still issues over naming his front two in time to face the Tykes.
- He said: “It’s no secret I’m trying to bring in at least two new forwards ideally, but it’s a question of how much we can afford.” Fulham Chronicle
INDEPENDENT - Neil Warnock: Never mind the World Cup, our league will be much more fun
- You have to score goals to win anything and in Kris Boyd, Middlesbrough have a proven goalscorer
- believe this season the Championship will be the most wide open league of any for many years. One reason is I don't think we've ever had such a high calibre of managers at this level as now. Another is Blackpool's promotion. It was a remarkable feat which has every team hoping that this year they can get to the promised land. That should lead to more attacking football with sides copying Blackpool's attacking outlook. It should certainly be better to watch than the World Cup, which, let's be honest, was pretty boring at times. I know I'm much more inclined to work out how to win games rather than how to avoid defeat and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of the season.
Middlesbrough are the obvious favourites because of the millions Gordon Strachan has spent on new players from Scotland. You have to score goals to win anything and in Kris Boyd they have a proven goalscorer. Once again Steve Gibson deserves tremendous credit for supporting another manager in his quest to put what's really an unfashionable club among the big fish in the Premier League.
The three clubs coming down have all got possibilities even though they have had to sell players and worse in Portsmouth's case. Despite that, they do get the parachute payments and I am aware all three have offered top wages to bring players in, so I expect them all to be among the contenders.
I am pleased Burnley stood by Brian Laws; the others have got new managers in: Nigel Pearson at Hull City and Steve Cotterill at Portsmouth. Nigel was close to being Manager of the Year last season for what he did at Leicester City and I have big hopes for him.
Leicester will be looking to build on their appearance in the play-offs which means much will be expected of their new manager Paulo Sousa. I see Paulo has said he will make Leicester a Premier League club in two years. How I regret making a similar pledge at Burton, one of my first jobs. I promised we would win something in two years. Midway through our second season I was really feeling the pressure – fortunately we won the cup – but I learned a lesson and have never made such a pledge since.
Of the other teams to make the play-offs, Nottingham Forest have an excellent squad and will be looking to improve on the super season they had last year but Cardiff City might find it difficult to make the top six again with all the financial problems they have at the moment.
There will be big expectations at Ipswich Town where I am sure Roy Keane sets himself his own targets. He will be doing everything to be up there this year. Roy's old Forest team-mate, Nigel Clough, has been able to get his own squad together this season so Derby County should be stronger. So will Doncaster Rovers after spending all of £1m on Billy Sharp. I bet their supporters are still pinching themselves and thinking back to being in the non-League not so long ago. Then John Ryan rode in on his white charger saying things like, "I'll take us to the Premier League." What did everyone think then? That he had a few screws missing? But what great support he has provided the club, and what wonderful football Sean O'Driscoll has the team playing.
Elsewhere in South Yorkshire another excellent young manager Mark Robins has begun well at Barnsley. He has gone about his job in a quiet and calm way and they have some exciting players. I'll be seeing Mark tomorrow as his team are our first opponents.
My team, QPR, were supposed to be the big spenders. I have been trying but, at the time of writing I have signed as many players on a Bosman free transfer as I have paid money for. So far I've brought in eight. I'm trying to build a team spirit so I hope the lads can settle in quickly. That's why I've gone for permanent signings rather than look to loan players – of which we had eight last year – but I may have to dip into the loan market to top the squad up. In particular, like most managers, I'm still searching for another couple of strikers.
Reading, according to my scouts, have picked up where they left off at the second half of last season and are playing well. I think they will be a force to be reckoned with. It is good to see their former manager Brendan Rodgers back in the game down the M4 at Swansea City. He'll love the challenge but Sousa's a difficult act to follow. Aidy Boothroyd, who is similar to Brendan in that he is an excellent coach and real enthusiast, is also back in the division and he'll be desperate to have a good season at Coventry City.
There's also a new manager at my old club, Crystal Palace. After their dramatic last-day escape from relegation, and the trauma of going into administration last season, I'm delighted that Palace have secured their immediate future with the 2010 Consortium confirmed as owners. I'm pleased for everyone at the club as the fans deserve some stability after the last six months. With George Burley having been able to hang on to most of the squad, especially Paddy McCarthy, Darren Ambrose and Julian Speroni, they have the nucleus of a very good side.
My other old club, Sheffield United, will also be looking to do well. Kevin Blackwell has brought in several new players including Leon Britton from Swansea on a free transfer which I think is a great move. At Preston North End. Darren Ferguson will be hoping to stabilise the club and use his contacts to make sure Deepdale will once again be a difficult place to go.
One of the things which will make this division tighter than ever is that the three clubs coming up will all have aspirations. Leeds United will have 30,000-plus gates every week, Norwich City have sold 20,000 season tickets, and Millwall have a tremendous team spirit, and fervent support at the New Den. I expect all three to make an impact.
Which brings us to the big move of the summer. David James's signing for Bristol City surprised everyone. He is still one of the best in the country and most people expected him to stay in the top flight, but with a house in the West Country myself I know more than anyone why David has put his family first. He'll enjoy playing for the top side in the West Country, it's a super city and only a relatively short drive from his house.
I have nothing but respect for such a decision. In the South-west it is difficult to get exactly what you want in a work situation without foregoing something. I've never met so many qualified people with degrees and the like working as a postman or similar in Cornwall just to live down there and enjoy the way of life. David will be thinking, "I can't put a price on what I have at home", and if I am honest you can't.
Neither Scunthorpe United nor Watford have been given a chance with the bookies, but they have excellent managers and I am sure both Nigel Adkins and Malky Mackay will pin a picture of Blackpool up on the dressing-room wall alongside their odds this time last year, to remind everyone of what can be done.
My promotion tip
Middlesbrough plus a couple of the teams that have come down.
Outside bet: Reading.
Neil Warnock is the manager of Championship side Queen's Park Rangers and writes a regular Saturday column for 'The Independent' which returns tomorrow - Independent
QPR vs Barnsley Previews
Barnsley Official Site -THE BIG KICK OFF: QPR V BARNSLEY: ALL ABOUT RANGERS
Posted on: Fri 06 Aug 2010
ALL about tomorrow's clash with Queens Park Rangers.
Barnsley team news
Reds manager Mark Robins has no injury problems heading into the season opener at QPR. Jim O'Brien returns to the squad following a slight thigh strain while there were no new concerns following last weekend's win at Chesterfield. The only worry for Barnsley is Jeronimo Neumann's international clearance and, while the Club have done everything by the book, his rate remains out of our hands.
QPR team news
QPR boss Neil Warnock has big choices to make ahead of Saturday's season opener at Loftus Road. It will be a very different Rangers side that takes to the field against the Reds with new signings Jamie Mackie, Leon Clarke, Paddy Kenny, Shaun Derry, Clint Hill, Bradley Orr and Adel Taarabt all vying for places in the starting eleven.
Striker Clarke is struggling with a thigh injury and may be on the bench while club captain Martin Rowlands is definitely out. Peter Ramage is suspended.
Head to Head
Barnsley
Draws
QPR wins
League
13
10
21
FA Cup
1
0
1
Total
14
10
22
QPR - The Manager
THE GAFFER - NEIL WARNOCK
Born in Sheffield on December 1 1948, Warnock spent most of his playing days as a winger at clubs in the north of England.
He began his career in 1967 at Chesterfield prior to spells at Rotherham United, Hartlepool United, Scunthorpe United, Aldershot and Barnsley.
In 1978 Neil had a taste of professional football management at York City, where he took charge for one game after joining as a player.
A year later he made his 326th and final career appearance having signed for Crewe Alexandra.
His first full managerial job was with Northern Premier League side Gainsborough Trinity in 1981, before taking charge of Burton Albion.
Neil's next assignment saw him manage Scarborough in August 1986. Within a year he he had led the North Yorkshire club into the Football League for the first time in their history.
This achievement, as well as stabilising Scarborough's position as a professional club, alerted Notts County, who made Neil their manager in January 1989.
Neil led County to promotion into the old Division Two at the end of his first full season at Meadow Lane, and he repeated the feat a year later as they made it into the top flight in the a season that also saw them reach the FA Cup Sixth Round.
Neil left County in 1993 and took charge of Huddersfield Town. After getting the club to Wembley in the Autoglass Trophy in his first season, Neil took the Terriers to the second tier a year later. He then joined Plymouth and, once again, within a year he had spearheaded a promotion campaign, hauling Argyle out of the bottom flight via the play offs.
Spells at Oldham and Bury followed, before Neil was appointed manager of Sheffield United in December 1999. In his seven years at Bramall Lane, Neil led United to FA Cup and League Cup Semi-Finals, the First Division Play-off Final and then, in May 2006, promotion to the Premier League. After leaving the club the following summer, Neil released his autobiography, 'Made in Sheffield'.
He joined Crystal Palace in 2007 before making the move across London earlier this season.
ONES TO WATCH
AKOS BUZSAKY
A player with outstanding individual ability, Akos Buzsaky made an immediate impact following his move to W12 from fellow Championship outfit Plymouth Argyle.
The Hungarian international, who initially joined on loan prior to making the deal permanent in January 2008, scored six goals in his first 13 appearances, and ended the campaign with ten goals to his name.
Buzsaky's taste for the spectacular also saw him scoop the Kiyan Prince Goal of the Season award, but his first full season in W12 proved to be a frustrating one, with the talented ace notching just a solitary goal in his five league starts.
The midfielder suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury in the R's Carling Cup tie against Manchester United in November, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
FITZ HALL
Fitz Hall penned a four-and-a-half year deal with Rangers at the start of the 2008 January transfer window.
The defender, who gained vast Premiership experience during spells at Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace, suffered his fair share of injuries last term, and coupled with the emergence of Kaspars Gorkss, was restricted to just 27 appearances in all competitions.
THE OFFICIALS
Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley
Referee
James Linington (Isle of Whte)
Assistant Referees
Andy Davies (Hampshire) and Rob Whitton (Essex)
Fourth Official
Carl Berry (Surrey) Barnsley
QPR Official Site - THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: TYKES
Posted on: Fri 06 Aug 2010
So here we are again - a new season and with it fresh optimism from the R's faithful for the campaign ahead.
Neil Warnock's charges kick-off their season against Barnsley tomorrow (Saturday), and will look to get off to a flying start on home soil against a side that they completed a league double over last season.
The R's are much changed from the side that ended last term, with no less than seven new faces putting pen-to-paper in W12.
Barnsley are sure to provide Warnock's side with a tough test, however, in what promises to be an enthralling season opener at Loftus Road.
Team News
Rangers will have to make do without Martin Rowlands for the visit of the Tykes, with the midfielder still recovering from a long-term knee injury picked up last season.
Lee Cook - sidelined until October - also misses the clash with Barnsley, while Peter Ramage serves the first of a two-match suspension.
Meanwhile, Barnsley boss Mark Robins has a fully fit squad wiith no suspensions for the trip to West London.
Star Man
Hugo Colace - Midfielder
Hugo Colace penned a new contract at Oakwell in the summer of 2010, just weeks after it appeared as though the Argentine star had played his last match for the Reds.
The midfielder signed a new two-year deal in mid-July on the back of a stunning second season at Oakwell.
The 26 year-old started his career with Argentinos Juniors in his homeland before moving to Newell's Old Boys in 2006. He made 32 appearances for the Old Boys and spent a year on loan with Estudiantes before joining up with Flamengo in 2007, helping the Brazilian side win the title.
He joined up with the Reds in 2008 and has gone on to make 80 first team appearances, netting eight goals.
Colace has represented Argentina at all levels up to Under-21 and is very highly rated in his homeland. He skippered the Argentinean squad that finished fourth in the 2003 Under-20 World Cup, featuring in all six matches for his country. Manchester United superstar Carlos Tevez and Liverpool's Javier Mascherano were part of the same squad.
He enjoyed an outstanding 2009/2010 as he relished the new freedom given to him by Manager Mark Robins. Colace's eight goals from midfield were testament to his fine campaign as he ended the season picking up just about every award.
Numbers Up
1887 - The year Barnsley Football Club was formed, as Barnsley St. Peter's.
23, 009 - The capacity of the Tykes' Oakwell stadium home.
1898 - The year Barnsley joined The Football League.
1912 - The year Barnsley won the FA Cup, defeating West Bromwich Albion 1-0.
15 years & 45 days - The age of Barnsley youngster Reuben Noble-Lazarus when he became the youngest ever player in the history of The Football League.
35 - The number of Northern Ireland caps won by former Barnsley defender Gerry Taggart.
£4,500,000 - The record transfer fee paid to Blackburn Rovers for striker Ashley Ward in December 1998.
Classic Encounter
QPR 5, Barnsley 2
Coca Cola Championship - Saturday 26th September 2009
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.
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 his lengthy lay-off with a knee injury, and just before the interval, he got a second goal of the match with a stunning effort from fully 30-yards out.
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, Andy Gray 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 clinch a first home league win of the campaign.
Match odds with Coral
QPR win - 4/6
Draw - 12/5
Barnsley win - 10/3
Match Coverage
QPR Player will be providing live commentary of this fixture. Click here to join QPR Player. QPR
- From Barnsley
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