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- QPR Open at home to Bolton and finish at Manchester City: Complete Fixtures - Complete QPR Fixtures
- PARMA Statement re Non-QPR Game at Loftus Road
TALKSPORT - Exclusive – Warnock aiming to tie up new signings
By Alex Varney Friday, June 17
QPR boss Neil Warnock admits he’s missed out on some of his top targets this summer – but is hoping to thrash out a number of deals in the coming days.
The Hoops have yet to make a signing this summer and saw striker Danny Graham reject a move to Loftus Road last week in favour of joining fellow Premier League new boys Swansea.
- And Warnock told Saggers and Quinny: “It’s difficult for me at the minute. I’ve tried to bring a few in but unfortunately some have gone elsewhere and I’ve missed out on some.
“I’ve just got to keep going in. I want to bring in players who are going to improve the squad.
“I’ve spoke to a couple this week and I’m hoping the board will clarify that we can sign them. I’ve just got to wait and see if everything is given the go ahead. I’d like to sign a couple as quick as possible.”
- The Hoops will face Bolton at home on the opening day of the Premier League season on August 13 after the fixture was revealed on Friday morning and Warnock added: “It’s great to have a home game to start with.
"It will be a good atmosphere. There will be a full house and we’re playing against a club that all the clubs that have got promoted are going to try and emulate.” Talksport
Paul Warburton/Ealing Gazette - Warnock rules out defender swoop
- QPR boss Neil Warnock has so far rebuffed every Italian player put in front of him - and insists he will only sign someone he has seen for himself.
- The Rs manager made it plain last night that whether Rangers flounder or flourish in the Premier League next season - he alone intends to carry the can for the new recruits.
- The comment is a veiled hint to major shareholder Flavio Briatore that Warnock is looking for better players than ageing Serie A stalwarts looking for a final pay day in west London.
- Briatore is again pulling the strings behind the scenes at Loftus Road - and although 34-year-old AC Milan defender Nicola Legrottaglie claimed he spoke to Rs ‘executives’ this week, Warnock was not one of them.
- The manager added: "I’m not against foreign players as such. In fact there’s three on my list.
- "But some of the names we’ve been linked with over the past few weeks, I’ve either barely heard of - or I’m not interested. If I get a DVD sent to me and it’s only got the highlights of someone’s career - it goes straight in the bin.
- "If it’s got an entire game and that player’s part in it - then I’ll have a look, or one of my staff will, and then we’ll follow it up in person."
- Rangers have been linked with 37-year-old defender Marco Materazzi, infamous for his part in getting France legend Zinedine Zidane sent off in the 2006 World Cup final, as well as Legrottaglie, and 35-year-old right back Massimo Oddo, also from AC Milan. Gazette
SKYSPORTS - Warnock gearing up for season
QPR boss looking forward to kick-off and targeting signings
....Neil Warnock has expressed his excitement after learning Queens Park Rangers' Premier League fixture list but admits he still needs to make 'five or six' signings before the start of the season.
Having won the Championship title last term, QPR kick off their return to the top flight with a home game against Bolton on the opening weekend of the new campaign.
Warnock accepts that it will be vital to perform well at Loftus Road but is refusing to set a points target for survival following the unpredictability of the 2010/11 season.
He told Sky Sports News: "It's just fantastic. The Premier League is where we all want to be and I think it's a great achievement for all the clubs coming up.
"When you see the fixtures it's just so exciting. It doesn't matter who you play, it's just fabulous to be involved.
"I think last year proved you can win away from home. You have to have a decent home record but I think the thing is to try and play without fear.
"Our home record has always been good. I think it is an intimidating place and we have a great atmosphere for a football club."
Five or six
Warnock has a busy summer ahead before QPR return to Premier League action on 13th August, with a number of reinforcements required to ensure the squad is competitive.
He concedes it has been tough to find the right players so far but is confident he will get enough fresh faces in before the transfer window closes.
"We need five or six signings, which we are desperately trying to move on," Warnock explained.
"It is difficult at the moment but when the season starts we will be ready and Loftus Road will be buzzing at the rafters.
"We do need some signing but the lads that took us up deserve a chance as well.
"It's not just a matter of signings. I've got to get the right ones that I think will go in to the team and make the team better.
"I am going to persevere. Ian Holloway said to me that he thought where they (Blackpool) made a mistake was not getting the squad big enough before the end of August, and we don't want to make that mistake if we can help it."
Taarabt
Warnock reacted with humour to the latest speculation linking Adel Taarabt with a move away from QPR.
The talented Moroccan, who played such a key role in securing promotion, has revealed this week that he is tempted by the idea of playing for a top-four club.
Warnock is not paying too much attention to the stories but has challenged Taarabt to make himself an even more attractive proposition by taking the Premier League by storm.
"You take it with a pinch of salt. I read this morning he fancies Chelsea and Arsenal, so hopefully he will turn it on against these clubs and get himself a move," said Warnock.
"I'll probably have had enough of him by Christmas, so hopefully he'll score 10 or 15 goals by then and get himself a move." Skysports
THE SUN - Warnock happy with QPR start
- NEIL WARNOCK cannot wait for QPR's Premier League campaign to kick off against Bolton.
- The R's boss reacted with delight as his side's fixtures for the new season were revealed.
- Rangers have avoided facing any of the Premier League's big four clubs in their opening EIGHT matches.
- Warnock's side meet Wanderers on the opening day before trips to Everton and Wigan in August.
- The following month, Rangers entertain Newcastle at home, travel to Wolves away and then see Alex McLeish's Aston Villa come to Loftus Road.
- QPR's first test against one of the big boys is when Chelsea make the trip across west London on October 22nd.
- Warnock said: "It's just fabulous to be involved.
- "When you see the fixtures it's so exciting. It doesn't matter who you play, the Premier League is where we all want to be. It's just fabulous to be involved."
- On his team's own prospects, the QPR boss added: "I think the thing is to try to play without fear.
- "We know we're going to have one or two defeats but it's how you bounce back — and our home record's always been good.
- "I'm really glad I'm in the Premier League and I've got to make sure whoever plays us it's difficult for them."
- On his squad, he explained: "The lads that took us up deserve a chance — but I've got to get the right players to make the team better.
- "It's difficult at the moment but I'm going to persevere.
- "I've spoken to Ian Holloway and he thought where he made a mistake was not getting a squad big enough by the end of August and we don't want to make that mistake if we can help it."
- On the top flight, Warnock added: "For West Ham to go down with the team they had I find incredible. "The league is the tightest it's ever been and for Manchester United to only win five games away from home...you know everyone's in with a shout.
- "It's great when teams don't walk away with it. It's going to be very close and very exciting." The Sun
Snippet in The Mail/Charles Sale - Money talks for Mittal
- Lakshmi Mittal is understood to have offered £50million to buy out BernIe Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore and restore his son-in-law Amit Bhatia in overall command at QPR.
- But the Formula One pair, who bought their stake in the now Premier League club for £20m, are holding out for £100m despite Ecclestone’s admitted lack of interest in football." Daily Mail
- Marking Six Years of QPR Report
- QPR's Gianni Di Marzio on Materazzi and Ranieri
- Flasback to Formation of "Our QPR"
Goal.com - EXCLUSIVE By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent
QPR line up moves to sign Tottenham defender Kyle Naughton and Chelsea's Ryan Bertrand
Newly promoted Premier League club also target free agent Jay Bothroyd, Blackpool’s DJ Campbell and Hull’s Jimmy Bullard as Neil Warnock begins summer shopping spree
17 Jun 2011 08:07:00
Queens Park Rangers are in talks to sign Tottenham and Chelsea’s youthful full-backs Kyle Naughton and Ryan Bertrand, Goal.com can reveal.
Manager Neil Warnock has identified the England Under-21 internationals as two of his principal targets as he prepares to beef up his squad ahead of QPR’s return to the Premier League.
Warnock is also lining up moves for free agent Jay Bothroyd, Blackpool’s DJ Campbell and Hull City midfielder Jimmy Bullard.
Goal.com understands that the QPR manager will have a summer kitty of between £10 million and £15m to bring in new blood.
He has identified right-back, left-back, central midfield and centre forward as the key positions that require improving.
Rangers have enquired about taking Naughton, who came through the ranks at Sheffield United and was on the verge of making the first team when Warnock was manager, on a season-long loan. The newly promoted club also want first option on a £4m deal to sign the right-back if they stay up in the Premier League.
Spurs are willing to allow Naughton to go out on loan again following spells at Middlesbrough and Leicester City as there will be fierce competition for the right-back position at White Hart Lane next season, with Kyle Walker strongly tipped to establish himself as first choice ahead of Vedran Corluka and Younes Kaboul. Alan Hutton, who is a target for Aston Villa, Fulham and Sunderland, is expected to leave the club.
Bertrand, who has figured in England’s two Under-21 matches in the European Championships in Denmark, is highly regarded at Stamford Bridge but is behind Ashley Cole and Yuri Zhirkov in the pecking order.
QPR would rather buy the left-back than loan him as Premier League clubs are allowed to loan only two UK-based players per season. The Loftus Road club are preparing a £1.5m move for Bertrand, who has admitted he could be forced to leave Chelsea to get first-team football.
Rangers face a battle with Everton to land recently-capped England striker Bothroyd, who is available for free following his departure from Cardiff City.
Warnock is a long-time admirer of the 28-year-old and believes that the carrot of leading the line every week for a Premier League club and the attraction of returning to London will outweigh the possibility of marginally higher wages at Goodison Park.
DJ Campbell is also a target – in addition to and not instead of Bothroyd – and Rangers believe they can snare the Blackpool man for £1m. West Ham are interested but the striker has let potential suitors know that he would rather stay in the top flight.
Bullard, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich Town, is also highly regarded by Warnock and available for free even though he cost Hull a club-record £5m and has two years left on his contract.
The Tigers are keen to get Bullard, who is said to earn £45,000-a-week, off their wage bill and are willing to forsake a transfer fee to do so.
Rangers would only be able to afford half of what Bullard earns at Hull but want to make him a pivotal member of their midfield.
Follow Wayne Veysey on Twitter http://twitter.com/wayneveysey Goal.com
- (Once linked in the Tabloids to QPR), Moggi and Giraudo Banned for Life
Who's In Charge of Transfers at Loftus Road?
Simple question: With no Chairman and CEO Ishan Sakensa; no Deputy Chairman, Amit Bhatia; No Deputy Managing Director, Ali Russell. No Club Secretary such as Sheila Marson. Who's in charge of Contract negotiations; making transfer deals and ensuring all paperwork in absolute, pristine order?
- "Brand New" Video Snippet Flashback: Rodney Marsh Magic
- Couple of Other "New" QPR Video Snippets: Dave Clement Scoring for QPR vs Spurs...Ian Gillard Making His QPR Return to the team
- Any Views of the QPR Player Pre-Game Show?
- A club-by-club Look at Premiership Finances
- The Premiership League Rules
- QPR Ladies Seek Financial Support
- Prestige International Youth Tournament: Again No QPR Involvement
- Message From Don Masson
- See Further Bushman's Photo Memories of QPR's 1960/61