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- "QPR January Transfer Window Rumours 2013" - Metro UK Blog/QPR Report
- One Year Ago Today: QPR Axe Neil Warnock...Mark Hughes the reported/hoped-for Replacement!
- Four Year Flashback: Lee Cook Re-Signs for QPR (Had been on loan at QPR)
- Open ALL R's Podcast
- Updated: QPR's Warren Farm Training Ground Application
- "Asian Owners in The Spotlight" - Manchester City, Blackburn and QPR
- Nelsen to Toronto: Toronto Making "Major Announcement" Today.
PROPRIETY OF A QPR FAN ASKING A QUESTION AT A QPR PRESS CONFERENCE - INTENDED FOR THE PESS
[At Saturday's post-match press conference at Loftus Road, a QPR Fan, who appears on the QPR Official broadcasts got to ask a question. Clearly QPR Press conferences are not restricted to the Press!]
CBS SPorts - Toronto FC to name Ryan Nelsen head coach
Technical director de Klerk let go
The Canadian Press
Toronto FC's radical remake has cost Paul Mariner his job, while offering veteran defender Ryan Nelsen his first opportunity as head coach.Earlier Monday, the worst club in MLS announced that technical manager Bob de Klerk has left by mutual agreement. With Mariner joining him on the way out, Toronto FC has wiped out the remaining ties to the Aron Winter era.
Mariner took over from Winter last June, becoming Toronto's seventh coach in six years.
The signing of Nelsen is a bold move by recently appointed Toronto president and GM Kevin Payne who has wasted little time tearing down the struggling MLS franchise since taking control on Nov. 28.
Nelsen, a 35-year-old New Zealander, played for Payne at D.C. United. This season, Nelsen has been one of the few bright spots at Queens Park Rangers in the English Premier League.
QPR manager Harry Redknapp confirmed recently that his defender had been offered a coaching job in North America.
"He has been fantastic," Redknapp told reporters. "I took him to Tottenham last year from Blackburn. He's one of the best pros I've ever met in my life, a fantastic player, a great trainer, a leader.
"He is a massive part of your team (but) he wants to be a manager and it is a chance for him to manage a club."
Nelsen is wasting little time leaving the pitch for the sidelines. He played 71 minutes for QPR on Saturday in a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion in a third-round FA Cup match.
The Kiwi is undoubtedly a leader, having captained D.C. United, Blackburn Rovers and New Zealand.
A savvy, steady defender, he started his soccer career with Christchurch United in New Zealand before heading to the U.S. for stints at Greensboro College and Stanford University where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science.
Nelsen, then 24, signed with D.C. United in 2001 before moving to England in 2005 to join Blackburn Rovers, making more than 200 appearances for the Premier League club. He joined Tottenham last January, before moving on to QPR.
Writing on the wall
Nelsen has won 49 caps for New Zealand, captaining the All Whites at the 2010 World Cup and two Olympics.If Mariner, who doubled as head coach and director of soccer operations, saw the writing on the wall when Payne was introduced as his new boss in Toronto, he hid it well.
"I think it's probably THE best signing that we'll make," Mariner said after watching the news conference introducing Payne from the front row.
At that news conference, Payne confirmed Mariner as head coach, noting he had a year left on his contract. But with the 5-21-8 club under construction once again, it seemed a short-term endorsement.
Change has been on the cards, with 10 players exiting the club in recent weeks.
Toronto started the season with nine straight league losses and Winter stepped down with the team mired at 1-9-0. The team rebounded under Mariner, going 4-2-4 in all competition before injuries and lack of depth took their toll.
The team finished with the season on a dismal 0-10-4 run in league play.
Winter, de Klerk and Mariner were installed as a threesome in January 2011.
As Winter's top assistant, de Klerk was fire to Winter's ice. He was a fervent advocate of the 4-3-3 system, relishing an attempt to demonstrate its advantages whenever a whiteboard was near.
And while he had a ready smile under his bald dome, he could also exhibit volcanic emotions. His raised voice was commonplace on the practice field.
With Toronto reeling from eight straight losses at the start of last season, the fiery Dutchman was shifted sideways in May when he was named technical manager. Jim Brennan, TFC's first signing and captain, moved up from the academy to become first assistant coach and Mariner, then the team's director of player development, was given more leeway to help coach the team's strikers.
The shuffle was clearly an attempt to address the team's woeful start without firing Winter as manager — although Winter insisted it was just a bid to better use his resources.
New responsibilities
Some also suspected it was also a way to distance de Klerk from the first team. The previous game had seen de Klerk having to be separated from then Montreal manager Jesse Marsch after an altercation at the end of a 2-0 Toronto win at BMO Field.No longer on the TFC sideline, de Klerk's new responsibilities included advance and international scouting, as well as serving as the "technical conduit" between the first team and academy program.
Winter said at the time the move would allow the team "to benefit more from his technical expertise and have him play a more active role in the day-to-day operations of the club off-the-pitch."
De Klerk worked with Winter at Ajax where he was a coach in the Dutch club's youth academy.
De Klerk spent nine years at Ajax and also worked with Ajax Cape Town of the South African league. Before moving into coaching, de Klerk played for KSV Waregem in Belgium and De Graafschap in the Netherlands.
Mariner was assisted by Brennan, Jason Bent and goalkeeping coach Stewart Kerr last season. CBC Sports
QPR Official Site - BEN HAIM RECEIVES CALL-UP
13:00 7th January 2013
- Defender set for Israel appearances...
-NEW signing Tal Ben Haim has today received international call-ups to represent Israel. Ben Haim, 30, has been called-up for his national teams’ matches in February and March this year.
Israel face Finland in a friendly match next month on 6th February in Netanya.
That match will be followed by two 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, the first at home to Portugal (22nd March) before travelling to Northern Ireland four days later (26th March).
Defender Ben Haim has collected 63 caps for his country - scoring one goal. QPR
QPR Say No To Anti-Semitism
- QPR's Israeli International, Tal Ben-Haim was the subject of some anti-Semitic abuse on the QPR Official "Social Media." on Saturday. Those comments were subsequently (and commendably) removed by the club. (And there were many comments on that same QPR Facebook page, by QPR Fans responding to and denouncing those comments)
Today, QPR Media Head, Ian Taylor Tweeted: IanJTaylor
[QPR Report Comment: Good to hear from QPR. Would be nice also for the club to also issue an official statement or official tweet saying no place for anti-Semitism at Loftus Road. ]
MIRROR - No deal! QPR fail to land Loic Remy despite offering to throw in Shaun Wright-Phillips
Harry's powers of persuasion couldn't convince the Frenchman that Newcastle isn't a better place to be
Harry Redknapp has failed in an attempt to hijack Newcastle's move for Loic Remy - even after offering Shaun Wright-Phillips as part of the deal.
QPR boss Redknapp tried to sign Marseille striker Remy when he was in charge at Tottenham and believes he is the striker to save QPR.
But Newcastle already have a deal in place for Remy and it is understood the versatile French international - who can play wide or through the middle - is reluctant to go to Loftus Road.
QPR are actually offering better terms - which include a player-plus-cash deal involving England winger Wright-Phillips - than Newcastle which has thrown a spanner in the works.
Pocket rocket: Wright-Phillips was offered in part exchanged But Remy is still set on Newcastle which would give Pardew a massive boost having lost Demba Ba to Chelsea and crashed out of the FA Cup.
QPR have made loan enquiries for Tottenham midfielders Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore. But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has knocked them back.
Fulham have also enquired after taking Huddlestone on loan and may now come back with a permanent deal. QPR may focus on Livermore, having missed out on Huddlestone. MIRROR
QPR boss Redknapp tried to sign Marseille striker Remy when he was in charge at Tottenham and believes he is the striker to save QPR.
But Newcastle already have a deal in place for Remy and it is understood the versatile French international - who can play wide or through the middle - is reluctant to go to Loftus Road.
QPR are actually offering better terms - which include a player-plus-cash deal involving England winger Wright-Phillips - than Newcastle which has thrown a spanner in the works.
Pocket rocket: Wright-Phillips was offered in part exchanged But Remy is still set on Newcastle which would give Pardew a massive boost having lost Demba Ba to Chelsea and crashed out of the FA Cup.
QPR have made loan enquiries for Tottenham midfielders Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore. But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has knocked them back.
Fulham have also enquired after taking Huddlestone on loan and may now come back with a permanent deal. QPR may focus on Livermore, having missed out on Huddlestone. MIRROR
- GUARDIAN - ESPN apologises after commentator calls Liverpool's Luis Suárez a 'cheat'• Jon Champion made remark during FA Cup tie at Mansfield• 'We have spoken to our commentator about this incidet"
- 15 Years ago Yesterday: Win for Warren Neil's QPR Youth Team (which included Richard Langley and Leon Jeanne)...and Trevor Sinclair Happy in his new QPR Role.
- Next: Tottenham - Preview and Played for Both Teams/ Nice preview from Tottenham Fan
- Ex-QPR Manager, Paulo Sousa to Coach the New York Red Bulls?
- Wonderful and Remarkable Gesture by Mansfield Town vs Liverpool to Honour the Hillsborough 96
masses
- Next Tottenham
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