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For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
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- A Missing QPR Fan: (Posted on various QPR Messageboards)
- Looking for Information about QPR Ladies from the 1968-1970 Period. Photos, articles, or anything else. Thanks
- Three September 11 QPR Birthdays (David Bardsley, Jake Cole and John Spencer)
- The QPR U-17 Team of a Decade Ago
- "What's Wrong With This Photo?"
- Additional Nostalgia Photos - Update
- Ex-QPR Youth Wins League One Player of The Month
- BBC's Chris Charles Weekly Football League Blog (His Daughter Makes Her QPR "Debut" as a Loftus Road Attendee)
- The latest figure listed for QPR Season Tickets Sold is now, 7,000 - - See Thread on ticket sales
Independent -Neil Warnock: The madness of deadline day - juggling calls to Portsmouth and America as the clock ticks down
- Saturday, 11 September 2010
- The transfer window shut nearly two weeks ago yet it took until Thursday for us to tie down our deals. It's been an absolute nightmare, worse than ever. In the end we have had to arrange a series of emergency loans to sign Tommy Smith, but at least we've got him, and Rob Hulse.
- But let me start at the beginning, Bank Holiday Monday. It was, you may recall, a beautiful day – unusual for a Bank Holiday. We did not have a match for a while so I had given the lads a few days off and I was looking forward to a day in Richmond Park with friends. A picnic, some football and cricket with the kids. Lovely.
- That was shattered early doors when I took a call. We had a chance to get Tommy, who I'd been chasing all summer. When you've not got a large squad people like Tommy, who can play left, right and in the hole, are worth their weight in gold.
- First, I had to meet Portsmouth's administrator in a hotel at Heathrow. We negotiated for quite a while. Then I had to rush off to see the chairman to see if we could afford the deal I'd discussed, and what else I might be able to do.
- I told him there were two or three players I was trying to get on loan from Premier League clubs, but none of the clubs could give me a definite yes. It was obvious they were trying to sell the players concerned, but I didn't want to buy. One club did not want to loan their player out for six months, just the odd month, in case they wanted him back. That's no good if you are trying to build a team.
- On Tuesday morning the loan deals fell though, one by one. Then another of my targets, Hulse, became available at a bargain price. Even though he has a minor injury at the moment we were talking about a transfer, not a loan, so I could take the long-term view. I knew from working with him at Sheffield he would do us a fabulous job over the course of the season, and was the type of person who would thrive in our dressing room.
- After negotiations with Derby were complete, Rob got in his car, arriving at our training ground just after two. Tommy was already there; he came in at 10 o'clock for a medical and to talk terms. That, however, was complicated by the fact that his agent, on deadline day, saw fit to be in America. Really convenient I have to say.
- I was constantly on the phone, to Portsmouth, to America, to our directors. I was going slightly mad. At one stage I went across to the office of my assistant, Mick Jones, and told him: "I just feel like saying 'let's not bother, we'll work with what we've got'." The hassle had got to me. I still don't understand why we have deadline days, what with freedom of movement laws.
- Mick calmed me down and I ploughed back into it. At about half-four I became concerned that there was only an hour-and-a-half left. It didn't help that we were at the training ground, near Heathrow, but our secretary, with the contracts, was at Loftus Road.
- Eventually we got it all done. Or so we thought, but the Football League soon came back to tell us they would make a decision in the morning as to whether we had beaten the deadline. The morning came and went and we were told the decision would be made by the evening. It wasn't until the following morning, Thursday, we were told Hulse was OK, but they still had queries on Smith. It was Friday night when I found out his transfer was not ratified. So it was back to Portsmouth to find a way around it. Finally we have arranged a series of loans with the permanent transfer going through when the window reopens in January. After all that it was a relief to get back to training.
2. Never mind the jinx, I'm delighted by my award
- I've been named Championship Manager of the Month (below), with Adel Taarabt player of month. I'm told these awards jinx a good run, but I'd rather win one for having 10 points at this stage of the season, than be at the other end of the table.
- Of course, if we don't get a result today people will blame the jinx, but it might just be because we're playing a very good side. Middlesbrough have started slowly but to me they are still favourites to go up. They also won 5-1 at Loftus Rd last season so I imagine they will fancy their chances.
- I'm looking forward to the game. No disrespect to Scunthorpe and other lower-profile teams, but as a manager I get more nervous playing them than the bigger clubs. It will be interesting to see how we cope with the quality they have got. It should be a good crowd and a cracking game.
3. JK Rowling's MS donation was a moving story
- I thought it was a fantastic gesture by JK Rowling to donate £10m to research into Multiple Sclerosis. A sum of money like that will really make a difference in the fight against what is a horrible disease. I can understand her motivation entirely. Her mum died of MS at 45, mine at 42. I appreciate there are a lot of good causes but when MS has affected someone in your own family it will always be something of a priority. Whenever I have some funds to give to charity, if players have been fined or something, I always give it to MS.
4. Rio should stay as captain - if he can win his place back
- For a change I enjoyed watching England this week. It was great to see Wayne Rooney on the mark after all he has had to put up with. Some were speculating he might not play, or even travel. I thought to myself 'the one thing he does want to do is get away and play football'.
- The other issue was the captaincy with a clamour for Steven Gerrard to keep the armband. I don't think for one moment he will, if Rio Ferdinand gets back in the team. Once you decide on a captain you stick with him. However, I'm not convinced Rio will get straight back in with Phil Jagielka playing like he is. I was asked where Jags' best position is, knowing he has been full-back, centre-back and midfield. I told him the best match he played for me was in goal, when we beat Arsenal 1-0 on one of the best nights we had at Bramall Lane.
5. Back to school nerves made it a difficult week for us
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6. Adkins' move the right one, but be wary of Saints
- Nigel Adkins seems to have been in a similar situation as I was at Crystal Palace when QPR made an approach for me, in that he has refused to move clubs without compensation being paid. I think it is right for managers to look after the clubs that have helped them.
- He has done a fantastic job at Scunthorpe. We played them a couple of weeks ago and although he had again lost his best strikers, Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper, he seemed to have pulled a couple more rabbits out of the hat. But there is only so long you can do that and he has been there nearly four years.
- Assuming he goes he will find Southampton an entirely different ball game because they have expectations, and that is a significant change from being at a club which is happy to survive. It is a fantastic club, and a great opportunity, but after what in managerial terms has been a bit of a farce with Alan Pardew's abrupt sacking my advice to Nigel is, "make sure your lawyers have a good look at the contract".
Baby Bentley? I'm happy with my free bus pass
- The highlight of my last two weeks came with the arrival of my bus Freedom Pass. I was desperate to use it with the kids so we walked up the road and got on a bus going into Richmond. I showed the driver my pass and he waved me on without a glance at it. I said: "Would you look at it please? I only got on the bus to show it to you."
- I will use it a lot, it's often easier to get the bus as parking is difficult in Richmond. I like being on a bus, it reminds me of when I was a kid. I can still remember my dad clipping me round the ear when I wouldn't stand up for a woman who had got on. As a kid you soon learnt in those days. Independent
The Star/Ben Hunt - STAR FITZ HALL SHOCKED TO BE NAMED CAPTAIN
By Ben Hunt
FITZ HALL admits that he was gobsmacked when Neil Warnock made him QPR’s captain for the season – just months after he was shipped off to Newcastle.
The defender thought his career at Loftus Road had hit the buffers when Rangers allowed him to join the Toon on loan last season.
But after helping Newcastle win promotion to the Premier League, Hall, 29, was hot-footing it back down to London to rejoin Rangers.
And he was made captain for QPR’s pre-season match with Plymouth.
Hall said: “When the manager first told me that I was captain, I misunderstood. I thought it was just for that one game. So I was surprised and delighted when I found out the following week I’d been named captain for the season.
“In fact, to tell you the truth I was shocked.
"I was sent on loan for the second half of last season and when that happens you naturally think you’re not wanted at the club and you’ll be on your way.
“But it wasn’t Neil Warnock who sent me on loan and to come back to QPR and be handed the captaincy was a complete turnaround and a proud moment for me.”
Meanwhile, Rangers boss Warnock has admitted he is delighted with the way QPR have started the season.
They sit top of the table with three wins and a draw from their opening four games.
Manager of the month Warnock said: “I didn’t expect us to get the results we did in the opening month of the season.
“We had a very good pre-season. We did a lot of the hard work then and it’s given us a great chance to start the season in style.” The Star
A new QPR Feature. It will be extremely interesting to see who is or are involved!
QPR Official Site - LIVE MATCHDAY SHOW
- This weekend QPR Player will be trialling a live radio show from 2pm, building up to our match against Middlesbrough at Loftus Road.
- Needless to say, we will be providing live commentary of the match itself and will also continue the show after the final whistle, discussing the key points from the game as well as looking at other results in the npower Championship.
- Our intention is to have phone-ins from supporters, giving YOU the chance to air your views to fellow fans. - For this weekend, however, you can share your comments with the studio from 2pm by e-mailing qprplayer@qpr.co.uk
- In order to listen, all you have to do is look out for the 'LIVE MATCHDAY SHOW' article which will appear here on the official website on Saturday.
- Please note, this is a trial show. We anticipate teething problems but welcome your feedback to qprplayer@qpr.co.uk. To subscribe to QPR Player for just £3.99 a month, click here. QPR
- Pettyness at West Ham
- Q&A With Ken Bates
- Alcohol and Football
- Ex-QPR Liam O'Brien Goes Out on Loan