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- Throughout the day, the QPR Report Messageboard has news updates, comments and perspectives - even links to other board comments of interest re QPR matters (on and off the field) along with football (and ONLY football) topics in general....Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER
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Swansea vs QPR
Swans: Michel Vorm, Angel Rangel, Steven Caulker, Ashley Williams (capt), Jazz Richards, Kemy Agustien, Leon Britton, Joe Allen, Wayne Routledge, Scott Sinclair, Danny Graham.
Subs: Gerhard Tremmel, Garry Monk, Mark Gower, Stephen Dobbie, Nathan Dyer, Luke Moore, Leroy Lita.
QPR: Paddy Kenny, Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Fitz Hall, Adel Taarabt, Alejandro Faurlin, Jamie Mackie, Armond Traore, Joey Barton (capt), Luke Young, Heidar Helguson.
Subs: Radek Cerny, Bradley Orr, Danny Gabbidon, Jay Bothroyd, Matt Connelly, Tommy Smith, Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Some Recent Christmas Greetings to QPR Fans From Loftus Road
- The QPR Chaplain Reflects
- Birthday for Richard Langley
- Eight Year Flashback: The Gianni Paladini Takeover of Port Vale is blocked
- Warnock on Graham Chosing Swansea over QPR
- Next Swansea: Past Games/Teams/Photos/Shared Players
- Flashback: Boxing Day 2010: QPR vs Swansea
- Year Flashback: 2010 Q&A Offering Swansea Fan Perspective I and Swansea Perspective II
- Past QPR Boxing Day Games and Team Lineups
- (NonQPR) Bernie Ecclestone's Payments Deemed a Bribe
QPR-Indian Connection Continues
Sportz Power - 370 schools in 3rd edition of South Mumbai Junior Soccer Challenger
Posted : Mon, 10/10/2011 -
MUMBAI: The third edition of South Mumbai Junior Soccer Challenger 2011, a community soccer championship and talent hunt initiative by Milind Deora, was inaugurated here over the weekend by AIFF president Praful Patel.
Over 3,000 participants have registered from 370 schools of which 270 schools are government aided, for the event - a 5-A-Side format for South Mumbai schools for boys and girls between the ages of 8-10 years, 10-12 years and 12-14 years.
The championship was played out Saturday and Sunday at University Stadium, Marine Lines & the finals will be held on 15 October at Western Railways football ground at Lower Parel.
SMJSC will also serve as a talent hunt programme for Queens Park Rangers as 30 talented youngsters will be shortlisted for a coaching clinic that will be conducted by the club's coaching teams from UK. From this training camp, two youngsters will be selected for further training as part of the Queens Park Rangers Youth training programme in UK.
Speaking on this initiative Milind Deora, who is a Member of Parliament from South Mumbai constituency, said, “It is overwhelming to see the response to my initiative of building community soccer. Through this championship I aim at providing children an opportunity to showcase their skills and learn from experts.
"Be it a student from a municipal school or private school, talent and skill should be the only parameter to judge their potential. Inculcating sportsman spirit at a young age will help develop a healthy India. Kids need the right exposure and training in football to be able to compete with international challenges or represent India globally. With this championship we hope to give students an equal opportunity that they truly deserve.”
A brainchild of Milind Deora, the annual Milind Deora South Mumbai Junior Soccer Challenger was conceptualized with a view to unearthing talent at the grassroots level.
The tournament is being sponsored by Coca Cola India, Nirmal Lifestyle and is being partnered by Queens Park Rangers (QPR), part owned by NRI business tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. The event is organized by Saran Sports. SportzPower
- Flashback: Another Ad-Hoc Documentary
AD HOC FILMS - FOOTBALL'S LAST FRONTIER
Format: Documentary. . Client: Swordfish Investments [which is Amit Bhatia and Ishan Saksensa] Date: April 2011
- We were lucky enough to uncover this story very late in the day, raise and receive full funding and have been shooting this film for the last 18 months. A fascinating account of a re-emerging interest in Indian football (considered by all the major clubs to be the last frontier of untapped talent) and the journey of two children plucked from the streets of Mumbai and flown to the UK to train with Premiership club QPR. We will be shooting the epilogue in Mumbai and Delhi very soon and the film will premiere on the festival circuit before a UK and Indian terrestrial TV broadcast.
- Click to See six minute Video Trailer AdHoc Films
- Two Year Flashback: QPR-India
Western Mail/Tim Lewis -
Swans’ Danny Graham aims to hit goal trail
DANNY Graham believes he was right to choose Swansea City over big-spending Queens Park Rangers – and he’s ready to repay the club with goals.
Graham could have been lining up against Swansea tomorrow if Brendan Rodgers hadn’t smashed the club record to bring the striker to the Liberty Stadium in June.
After 24 goals in the Championship last season, Graham was one of the most sought-after players outside the Premier League in the summer.
A host of clubs bid for the 26-year-old, including Neil Warnock’s QPR who had a £3m offer accepted, but Rodgers persuaded Graham he would be best suited to life in South Wales.
Graham was Swansea’s marquee signing of the summer at £3.5m, more than three times the £800,000 fee the club had paid for its previous record transfer Craig Beattie.
His former club Watford had given him permission to speak to QPR and Graham admits after talks with Warnock he thought hard about moving to the west London club.
Graham said: “I went to speak to QPR and I was tempted by them. They are obviously a club on the up and they have a lot of money to back that up.
“But, in terms of the football sense, I thought Swansea was better suited for me. I am a centre forward and can be a target man, but I like to play football as well.
“The way Swansea play football, they pass and move, and I thought it was better for my development as a player.
“I’m glad I joined Swansea City.”
QPR raided Swansea’s rivals Cardiff for striker Jay Bothroyd after missing out on Graham, but while the Swans’ striker has five goals in the Premier League, former City man Bothroyd has just two.
Graham says he is enjoying leading the line for Rodgers’ side, despite having to do a lot of hard graft on his own up front in the club’s last two away games at Newcastle and Everton.
Rodgers was the man who sorted the deal to take Graham to Watford back in 2009, but he left to take over as manager of Reading before ever working with the striker.
He also tried to sign Graham last January, but had to wait until the summer to finally get his man.
“Brendan was on the phone to me the morning after the play-off final,” revealed Graham, who started his career in the Premier League with Middlesbrough.
“He also tried to sign me before the window closed in January and he was also the person who set up the deal for me to go to Watford so he has shown how much he rates me as a player and how much he believes that I can come in and score goals.
“I have finally got the chance to work with him which is great. I’m loving every minute of it.
“I need to repay the faith that the gaffer has shown in me.
“To spend £3.5m is a heck of a lot of money for a club of the size of Swansea City. It’s no mean feat and smashed the club record by a couple of million pounds so I want to score goals to repay him.”
After a difficult start to the season, Graham now looks every inch a Premier League player as he leads the line for Swansea.
High-profile misses in the opening few games of the season, particularly ones against Sunderland and Arsenal, led some pundits to question whether he would be able to recreate his goal-scoring form from the Championship in the top flight.
But, once he broke his duck in the 2-0 win over Stoke at the start of October, he’s gone on to score four more goals for the Swans.
Graham has made his name as a striker who goes through hot streaks and he proved that once again with four in four games for Swansea.
His role in Rodgers’ 4-3-3 formation is not always the easiest, especially away from home when he can look isolated at times, but it is part and parcel of Swansea’s commitment to try and play passing, attractive, football despite being in their first season in the Premier League.
Graham added: “I was always confident I would score goals in this league. That’s not being arrogant or big-headed, it’s just about having belief in my ability. I’m sure every footballer has the same attitude. You need that.
“Most of my career I have played as the main striker. I played in a two and a one at Watford, and we played the same formation as here at Carlisle when we got to the play-offs. It worked and the 4-3-3 formation has always been one I’ve been fond of.
“Don’t get me wrong that at some points in a game as a striker you could do with the extra man up front, but the way that we pass and move and the fact the wingers are so quick means that some times you don’t need that.
“The style of football was the main factor for me coming here.”
Graham and Swansea will hope to get back among the goals tomorrow having gone two games without finding the net and they face a QPR side who are without a win in five games.
In contrast to Swansea’s fortunes, QPR’s best form has come away from home this season, as they’ve only won once at Loftus Road but have notched up three wins on the road.
That form will be tested against a Swansea side who have the best home record in the Premier League, with only one defeat and having conceded just two goals. Walesonline
Soccernet - Warnock targeting leaders
December 24, 2011
QPR manager Neil Warnock has highlighted a need to bring "leaders" to Loftus Road during the January transfer window.1
The club have endured a tumultuous campaign since their return to the Premier League, winning three times on the road but just once at home.
QPR currently lie two points above the relegation zone, in 16th spot, and Warnock has been vociferous in his need for new players, especially those that can shine during tough times.
"I don't think we have enough leaders," he said. "That is one department I am looking to bring players in. You can get leaders on the pitch and you can see certain players [which make you envious].
"We do have one or two here, but I probably have to look at using them a little more than I do. In the past it has always been a priority to check a player's character, but when you look at players at home and abroad it is impossible to do all your checks on every aspect of them. You go with your gut feeling really."
QPR's need for new blood and increased transfer funds have seen them linked to a host of players ahead of the window reopening.
Warnock does not expect any incoming players before the trip to Newcastle on January 15 and on Friday quashed speculation linking QPR with moves for Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard, Barcelona's Alexander Hleb and Fulham frontman Bobby Zamora.
When asked about the latter, Warnock said: "Are we not after Fulham striker Andy Johnson as well? I saw that one last week. It is not for me to talk about other people's players. I have got enough on my own plate trying to get players in.
"We are actively looking at bringing players in and we will bring players in, but it is not easy in January. You probably don't get your number one choice and you go onto your number two choice, etc.
"I don't know what choice I will get but I hope to bring one or even two forwards in and a couple of defenders. I don't know the specific numbers I am looking to sign because you don't know who becomes available.
"You can have your targets but they might be unrealistic so you have to have players as back-up that can do just as good a job if you can. We do need certain players for definite in certain areas."
While admitting he wants new players, Warnock was less forthcoming when asked about Adel Taarabt. The Morocco international has failed to shine since QPR's promotion and has been involved in a number of off-field incidents.
Taarabt has also been heavily linked with a move away from West London, with big-spending Paris St Germain mooted as a possible destination.
"I am just thinking whatever will be will be with Adel," Warnock said. "If we get an offer we can't turn down then I can use that money elsewhere, but if he continues how he has done the last two weeks it would be lovely for me.
"I like Adel. He has got to conform a little bit if he wants to stay and he has done the past couple of weeks so you never say never."
Asked what he was referring to, Warnock added: "In all walks of life you should turn up on time, shouldn't you? Whether you are a good player or a bad player, [you turn up on time].
"I don't have many issues with him. He is never going to be a trainer like Jamie Mackie, but Jamie is never going to be able to do things Adel can do, so that doesn't bother me, but you just have to be professional.
"Adel has let himself down a little bit this year but he is not on his own." Soccernet
DAILY MAIL/Laura Williamson
My wife picks my signings... but Swansea striker Graham got away, reveals Warnock
There's only one person prospective QPR signings need to impress in January – Neil Warnock's wife, Sharon.
The QPR boss says he always invites transfer targets round to his home in Richmond, south west London, so his other half can cast her eye over them.
Warnock said: 'I like my missus to see them. Women have got more idea about people.
'She gives them the once over and says: “I like him” or “I don't like him”. Or “Watch him, he didn't look you in the eyes.” She does all that.
Family man: Warnock takes prospective signings to meet his wife, Sharon (right)
'If I don't get the player I say: “That was down to you, love.”
'There have been a couple she's not liked - and she was right about them as well. It's woman's intuition.'
Striker Danny Graham passed Sharon's test last summer but QPR missed out on the 26-year-old as he opted to join Swansea City, Rangers' opponents on Monday.
Warnock said: 'She approved of Danny. She thought he was a nice lad.
'Everything was agreed, but he went to Swansea the next day because we couldn't buy him. It was disappointing but I wished him all the best. He's gone to a good club - he couldn't hang about for us any longer.
So near yet so far: Danny Graham came close to joining QPR
'We wanted so many (new players) and it didn't look like we were going to get any. I've never been so down.
'When you get promoted to the Premier League you should be on a high, but it was a disappointing time for me.
'Then (new majority shareholder) Tony (Fernandes) came in, but we're still playing catch-up really. Hopefully things will go well in January and that's what I should be judged on.'
The QPR manager's approach may seem slightly old-fashioned for a club buoyed by a new owner with money to spend in January, but Warnock insists he will stick to his tried and tested method.
In charge: Majority shareholder Tony Fernandes
'I will still speak to the players at my house,' he said. 'I would rather show them views of Richmond than our training ground! I've got more chance of selling the club that way.
'It’s an exciting time with all the plans for a new stadium, academy and the direction the board are taking and the commitment to the club. To come on board when we are just establishing ourselves is a great opportunity.
'The lure of London is also significant. At the moment it’s an exciting place to be.' Daily Mail
- The 2011 Bernie Ecclestone Christmas Card (and Previous Years' Cards)
- QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC) AGM & EGM Scheduled
Some Recent Christmas Greetings to QPR Fans From Loftus Road