- WOLVES 1 QPR 2: COMPILATION OF MATCH REPORTS & MANAGERIAL/OWNER COMMENTS
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- QPR vs Wolves: Live Messageboard Chat - Feel Free to Join In
- Ex-QPR Matteo Alberti Gets a New Club
- QPR'S Press Man, Ian Taylor Confirms GAME ON: "No problems with the pitch at Loftus Road. Undersoil heating works a treat. Game on!"
- Past QPR vs Wolves Matches, Match Reports, Photos & Shared Players
- Remaining Fixtures: Bottom Six Clubs
- Articles and Analysis on John Terry's Axing as England Captain
- Neil Warnock's Weekly Column
- Six Years Ago Today: Ian Holloway's Final Game as QPR Manager (Leeds Loss): Teams & Match Reports
- Yan Tear - Chelsea season was derailed by QPR - Villas-Boas
- On This Day in Football and for QPR: February 4
- David Lacey/The Guardian "Without will of the fans some football clubs would just fade away
- QPR and the Other 19 Premiership Clubs Sign Sports Charter Against Homophobia
- All Premiership Clubs 25 Submitted
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - HUGHES: 'FOCUS IS PARAMOUNT
Posted on: Fri 03 Feb 2012
Mark Hughes insists his new-look QPR side can ill-afford to look at what's going on around them in the Barclays Premier League - and instead focus on themselves over the coming weeks.
Rangers head into Saturday's all-important showdown against Wolverhampton Wanderers with a three point gap between themselves and the bottom three.
And whilst most QPR fans will be keeping one eye on what's going on elsewhere come 3.00pm tomorrow afternoon, Hughes insists the focus is very much upon what Rangers do when Wolves come to town.
"I think you've got to be a little conscious of what's going on around us, but we're just trying to get as many points as we can on board," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"We're aware of what's going around us, in terms of the fixtures, but you can't look too far away from your own camp.
"More so, from our point of view, it's of paramount importance that we focus on ourselves.
"If we get the job done, then we'll be fine.
"If you worry too much about what others are doing, you might come unstuck, so we'll focus on ourselves and get the points we need." QPR
London 24 - Ian Cooper - QPR boss gives his backing to Taarabt
Hughes insists midfielder can play a key role for Rangers this season
Mark Hughes insists Adel Taarabt can play a major part in helping QPR avoid relegation this season.
The Morocco international returned from the Africa Cup of Nations this week, and is in line to feature in the crucial Premier League match against Wolves at Loftus Road tomorrow afternoon.
Taarabt has endured a frustrating season so far, but has insisted he wants to stay at the club and is set to play a major role under Hughes, with the manager hinting he could at times be switched to a left-sided midfield position.
“I think he’ll enjoy the work and the chance to get games. He’ll have an impact on games between now and the end of the year,” Hughes told London24.com.
“He’s a talented boy and we’ve got to make sure we use the ability he has got to the best effect. If we can do that then he will help us win games.
“You can play him just off the front, or on the left of the three, or even on the left-hand side of a four and allow him that freedom to know when he can drift in between the lines.
“Then it’s up to the rest of the team to find him in good areas. That’s what we’ll work on from now until the end of the season.
London 24
Dave McIntyre/West London Sport - Rangers boss backs keeper Kenny
Mark Hughes says he has no doubts about Paddy Kenny’s long-term fitness.
The goalkeeper struggled with a mysterious hip problem prior to Hughes’ appointment as QPR manager but the injury appears to have healed.
Rangers were refused permission to take someone on loan while Kenny was sidelined with what Hughes’ predecessor Neil Warnock suggested was an ongoing condition.
But, despite being linked with the likes of Ben Foster and Tottenham’s Heurelho Gomes, Hughes showed no interest in signing a keeper during the transfer window and believes Kenny is 100% fit.
“There seemed to be a concern there before I came but it looks fine now,” Hughes told West London Sport.
“Obviously we were aware of the problem Paddy had and have had a good look at him, but there’s no sign of any issue at all now.
“We’ll keep an eye on him of course but he’s fully fit and I’m very pleased with the keepers I’ve got here.” West London Sport
Mirror - Blackburn new boy Orr: QPR begged me to stay
Published 21:59 03/02/12 By MirrorFootball
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Bradley Orr snubbed Mark Hughes’ plea to be part of his QPR revolution by joining Blackburn’s relegation battle.
The right-back, 29, headed north on deadline day having grown fed up of waiting in the wings at Loftus Road.
That was despite new Rangers boss Sparky’s best attempts to sweet-talk him into staying in west London.
Orr was a mainstay of the Hoops side which won promotion to the Premier League last season, but has been marginalised this term.
Now he is geared up for a survival scrap with Rovers – starting with Saturday's lunch-time kick-off at Arsenal.
He said: “Mark Hughes was brilliant and told me that he wanted me to stay. He tried to get me to stay at least until the end of the season as he felt I could play a big part under him.
“But my mind was made up once Blackburn were interested. I’ve missed the buzz of 3pm on a Saturday and establishing myself at Rovers really excites me.” MIRROR
Clubcall - Boss targets top ten finish
Queens Park Rangers, 14:55, February 3, 2012
QPR boss Mark Hughes is backing his new-look strike force to guide the team to Premier League safety and beyond.
Hughes is convinced his £10m investment on Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse will prove money well spent as he believes the duo are good enough to take the Londoners into the top-half of the table.
The Welshman knows Zamora particularly well from his time working with him at Fulham, and he is set to be unleashed for his R's debut in Saturday's crucial game against Wolves.
However, Hughes is just as excited about the man who the England international will be playing alongside, having watched the former Liverpool and Sunderland marksman score for his new club in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
He said: "I'm really looking forward to seeing them play together, they've got great qualities that will complement each other.
"I think Bobby enjoyed his time under me at Fulham. The type of work we gave him helped him and we supported him when he was out through injury.
- "When he came back in the second half of last season he was exceptional and was a big reason why we ended up eighth in the Premier League. If he can have a similar impact in the second half of this season that will augur well for us because we need to win games and score goals, that's why he is here."
Cisse, 30, is back in England after spells with Panathinaikos and Lazio and took just 12 minutes to get off the mark for his new club at Villa Park.
- Hughes added: "Djibril's style of play is made to measure for the Premier League. In Italy the style of play was too slow, he's very much a Premier League player in my opinion. If you look at his goalscoring record he has played just over 450 games and scored 220 goals, at top clubs, and not many strikers have that goals-to-game ratio. I'm very comfortable with the work we did in the window and the quality of strikers is now very good Clubcall
FULHAM CHRONICLE/Jacob Murtagh
QPR defender lifts the lid on Manchester City exit
NEDUM Onuoha admits it's nice to feel wanted again and intends to make his mark at QPR.
The January arrival from Manchester City made his first league start for more than six months in Wednesday night's draw at Aston Villa.
Chronicle Sport exclusively revealed QPR's latest interest in the defender back in November, with Neil Warnock keen on signing him before he got axed as manager.
Onuoha was left out in the cold at his hometown club under Roberto Mancini before eventually making the move south to hook up with former boss Mark Hughes at Loftus Road.
And now he is hellbent on becoming a regular in the starting XI rather than being stuck in the stands.
He said: “It was difficult not playing for so long. That was my hometown club and you always have a dream you want to stay at one club and be a part of that for your entire career.
“But after going to Sunderland you quickly realise that isn't necessarily going to be the case. It's disappointing not being available but it's good to see the club I've been at for so long be successful.
“At the end of the day, it's a short career and at my age I felt I needed to play. I could have sat there for two-and-a-half years and watch it all go on but I wouldn't have kicked many balls in that time.”
He added: “It's a good feeling to be wanted. I've not had a proper run in a side since last season at Sunderland and hopefully I can be a regular player in the Premier League.
“I would like to get a run of games under my belt. The manager has showed confidence in me to put me in the team, so I need to repay him Fulham Chronicle
QPR vs WOLVES
- Past QPR vs Wolves Matches, Match Reports, Photos & Shared Players
WOLVES OFFICIAL SITE - Win Would Make All The Difference
Posted on: Sat 04 Feb 2012
Boss Mick McCarthy says Wolves will travel to QPR today seeking the win which would provide a crucial confidence boost and breathe fresh impetus into their Barclays Premier League survival fight.
Wolves are without a win since beating Sunderland on the first weekend of December, but the boss admits there is no magic formula to turning things around apart from continuing to give their best and show the necessary quality on the pitch.
Today promises to be another stern test against a QPR side complete with several new signings at a ground where their fans always create a partisan atmosphere.
"We'll go down there and try and get a result like we do all the time," said the boss.
"If I had an instant remedy for it, it would all be done and sorted out.
"I need a response from the players and the club need a response from me and the team.
"We're just going to go there and try and win the game as we've done all season - do our level best, which is all we can do.
"But there is no magic formula and it's not something you can just change by clicking your fingers.
"It demands hard work and performances and not making any mistakes.
"We are capable of going on a decent run, no question, it's just getting that first one that's the problem.
"There isn't a switch for confidence, you can only get that by going down there and playing well.
"It is amazing the difference a win can make if you can nick one from somewhere.
"That's what gives you the confidence.
"The knowledge that we have done it before based on our away performances does give you a little bit of heart."
Wolves have produced four successive draws on the road, including at Arsenal and Tottenham, lending weight to hopes they may not be too far away from a first away success since the opening day of the season.
"We've had good performances away from home and have played well," Mick added.
"The onus is on the opposition to attach which possibly helps but we need another performance tomorrow.
"I'm going there full of optimism as I always do although it is going to be difficult.
"QPR played well at Villa on Wednesday and they have signed new players and got a new manager.
"There will be a great atmosphere and the place will be jumping tomorrow because they are full of optimism.
"I do like spoiling parties though I have to be honest and we do have the capability to upset the applecart."
Jamie O'Hara returns to the squad for tomorrow's game but Ronald Zubar is still not quite ready having missed out on a potential comeback for the reserves earlier this week due to illness.
Wolves
QPR REPORT OPPOSING FAN PERSPECTIVE: WOLVES BLOG's THOMAS BAUGHhttp://www.wolvesblog.com
Many thanks to Thomas Baugh of http://www.wolvesblog.com/ :-* good luck for the rest of the season, but only after saturday!
And thanks as always to QPR REPORT's MaudesFishnChips
How long have you supported Wolves?
20 years give or take.
How did you get to your blog? Has it evolved how you would of expected?
Sort of by accident actually. The summer after we won the Championship I saw a picture taken from our 5-1 win over Notts Forrest and thought 'that would look really good as a banner on a Wolves blog'. So I did a search and saw that no such blog existed, so I created one myself. Almost immediately I met another Wolves-supporting blogger and between us, we've made the blog what it is today. It's everything I expected and much more. I'm tremendously proud of it.
Who are Wolves’s biggest Rival (or Rivals) and why?
West Brom.
The normal reasons - near-neighbours, lots of banter, general very annoying supporters.
Are you happy with your team and how things are to date? – What are your opinions on your manager ? His spending/selling so far?
Not really.
We're in the bottom 3, again. It's going to be a mighty struggle to stay up from here.
We haven't progressed as we should done in our third season in the Prem and the blame in my opinion falls at the feet of the manager.
I like Mick McCarthy as a bloke but his tactics at times have been baffling and he doesn't seem able to get the best out of the players he has.
What do you think of your current Owner? WHY is he involved? What do you expect from him?
Steve Morgan seems to have his head screwed on straight, so the one plus point is that the club will never overspend or go to financial rack and ruin.
I think he's a genuine football fan and does care about the club. However, he's a shrewd businessman above all else and has already used his position at the club to secure land for development.
It will be intriguing to see where we are as a club in a few years time, and determine whether all the things he's promised have come to fruition.
How do you think Wolves treats its fans? Appreciates them? Listens to them? Screws them?
Badly in my opinion.
This season in particular has been a PR disaster for the club, as players, managers and even our CEO have been finger pointing at their own supporters.
We pay the money and it's simply not on.
They need to do better in understanding the frustrations of fans and dealing with the consequences of that.
Who are you Dangermen/Most valued/most overrated/most underrated players?
Important players:
Steven Fletcher - the man we rely on to do the most important job of all, put the ball in the onion bag.
Matt Jarvis - chief supplier to the above.
Wayne Hennessey - Has let soft goals in recently but overall has had a tremendous season. We'd be even worse off without him between the sticks.
I think our most underrated player is probably Stephen Ward. Has improved a great deal this season and his link-up play with Jarvis down the left is often our most potent attacking outlet. Overrated I'd say Adam Hammill. The fans seem to love him but I've yet to see him do much in a gold shirt.
Are you happy with your youth set up? Is your club doing enough to bring young/local talent through the ranks?
Well, none of our young players get a look in so something obviously isn't right.
Even the highly rated ones tend to be loaned out and then sold without being given any sort of opportunity. This must change sooner rather than later.
Who would you say was the greatest Wolves player that you yourself personally saw? And past player? (You can name more than one if it's that close!)
Steve Bull - hands down.
Not the most talented footballer but a great finisher and so often the hero. A crying shame he never graced the Premier League.
What is your prediction for Wolves this season?
Sadly, I think our time has run out in the top flight.
I look at the players we have and genuinely believe we should be closer to midtable than the bottom three. The manager just doesn't seem to have what it takes to get them playing a higher standard of football though.
Who do you predict to be in the bottom three at the end of this season
Wolves, Wigan and Bolton.
Are you aware of any player or manager links between our two clubs past and present?
Can't think of too many actually, it's a difficult one.
Andy Sinton, he was still top quality when he came to Wolves in the twilight of his career. Loved how he cross with both feet. Seemed unstoppable in his pomp.
Hmm...Simon Osborn? Clutching at straws.
What is your view and the general Wolves view of QPR?
First off, a little bitterness after you tonked us at Molineux earlier in the season. I can't lie - revenge would be very sweet indeed.
But I think overall we're currently a bit jealous because you changed your manager and invested heavily in January, thus showing greater ambition to survive.
Maybe our two very different approaches will both work out, but right now I'd back you to stay up over us everyday of the week.
Who(if any) is your most memorable/favourite QPR Player over the years?
Always liked Les Ferdinand - good old fashioned striker.
Trevor Sinclair for 'that' goal too.
Any memorable matches between our two clubs that stand out for you? And the reasons why?
Easy peasy.
The 1-0 at Molineux a few years back, which saw our promotion confirmed.
Not a great match but the result was all that mattered for us.
I also recall a 1-1 about 15 years ago when Daniele Dicchio scored a screamer to equalise.
Your score prediction for QPR v Wolves?
I reckon it will be a draw - 2-2.
That result wouldn't do much for either team. Obviously I'd love a Wolves win and we're definitely capable of it. However, we're just as likely to implode and lose convincingly - hence why I'm sitting on the fence.
What, realistically, do you think Wolves are capable of achieving in the next five years?
The best we can probably do in that time frame is become a Stoke-like team - never really in danger of going down, floating around midtable and having the occasional cup-run.
Depressing when you think of it like that.
Of course if we go down this year, we'll be incredibly lucky to get anywhere near that.
Thanks for having me on. All the best.
Many thanks to: WOLVES BLOG's THOMAS BAUGHhttp://www.wolvesblog.com and profound thanks as always to MaudesFishnChips!
