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- Didn't know he'd Gone: QPR in the Community's Dave Robinson
Tony Fernandes Tweets
I really really belive in our players. Thy need to bit of luck no injuries. They have worn the badge with pride and have played like lionsRT @Scottwalker84 @tonyfernandes COME ON YOU R'SSSSS
I really really belive in our players. Thy need to bit of luck no injuries. They have worn the badge with pride and have played like lionsRT @Scottwalker84 @tonyfernandes COME ON YOU R'SSSSS
- UK Independent: Exclusive interview: Fabio Da Silva on leaving Manchester United and brother Rafael behind
Andy Brassell Life's a Pitch - Cesar completes his remarkable return to top form at QPR
When Harry Redknapp arrived at QPR, there were always likely to be big-name casualties among the Loftus Road playing staff. But having surged back to his best form in the past few months, goalkeeper Júlio César was only ever likely to be packing his bags in the January transfer window if speculation linking him to Manchester United or Arsenal came to fruition. QPR fans will be pleased it did not.
Redknapp has rightly been credited with the team’s big defensive improvement – even if it hasn’t led them out of the woods just yet – but the manager and team owe a huge debt to their Brazilian keeper, who has been outstanding of late. In the Hoops’ past five Premier League games, César has conceded only one goal.
The 33-year-old got his just reward for those displays this week, when he returned to the Brazil squad for the first time in little under a year for the game against England at Wembley. Many in Europe and Brazil thought César had had his chips at international level, but not him.
When I spoke to the player at Rangers’ training ground last year, it seemed necessary to ask if he still thought about the national team. “Always,” he replied, quick as a shot. As with most Brazilians, absence makes the heart grow fonder when it comes to the seleção.
César’s recent career trajectory is not dissimilar to that of Wesley Sneijder, his former team-mate at Inter and now of Galatasaray. César fell quickly from his playing pinnacle of spring 2010, when he completed a historic Serie A/Coppa Italia/Champions League treble with José Mourinho’s Inter. Just as Sneijder was a genuine contender for the Ballon d’Or that year, many made a persuasive case for César being the best keeper.
Ironically, Sneijder was to be complicit in the start of César’s fall from grace. The Dutchman sent over the free-kick in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final that, between them, César and Felipe Melo bungled to allow the Netherlands to equalise, en route to shunting Brazil out of the competition. The keeper cried bitter tears of disappointment on the pitch after the game and again on the squad’s return to Brazil.
César’s club form subsequently slipped and on several occasions when pivotal errors cost his team, he would leave his car at the San Siro and pensively walk back to his Milan home. Like Sneijder, he was all but forced out of Inter as the club sought to shed its biggest earners.
But his ability to turn things around has hinged on extraordinary belief and dedication. Like Paris Saint-Germain’s excellent Salvatore Sirigu (currently unbeaten in 868 Ligue 1 minutes), César grasped how important nailing the local language is for a goalkeeper. He is already giving media interviews in English and his command of his defence speaks volumes for his assertiveness.
Another significant change has been playing for a bottom-half side. In essence, César has been learning to play a different game over the past few months. Like Hugo Lloris at Spurs, he has had to adapt to a more physical game in England, but César has also had to get used to being busy during a match, rather than maintaining concentration while his team dominates. He has dealt with this admirably.
His re-adjustment to playing for a footballing giant at Wembley was fairly smooth, even though Brazil were without their world-best central defender Thiago Silva, who was injured and replaced by 29-year-old debutant Dante.
Few could have imagined a QPR player representing Brazil against England, but César has always shown a talent for making the highly unlikely possible. Whether he will be there next season is anyone’s guess, but he has been great for QPR – as they have been for him. Life's A Pitch
When Harry Redknapp arrived at QPR, there were always likely to be big-name casualties among the Loftus Road playing staff. But having surged back to his best form in the past few months, goalkeeper Júlio César was only ever likely to be packing his bags in the January transfer window if speculation linking him to Manchester United or Arsenal came to fruition. QPR fans will be pleased it did not.
Redknapp has rightly been credited with the team’s big defensive improvement – even if it hasn’t led them out of the woods just yet – but the manager and team owe a huge debt to their Brazilian keeper, who has been outstanding of late. In the Hoops’ past five Premier League games, César has conceded only one goal.
The 33-year-old got his just reward for those displays this week, when he returned to the Brazil squad for the first time in little under a year for the game against England at Wembley. Many in Europe and Brazil thought César had had his chips at international level, but not him.
When I spoke to the player at Rangers’ training ground last year, it seemed necessary to ask if he still thought about the national team. “Always,” he replied, quick as a shot. As with most Brazilians, absence makes the heart grow fonder when it comes to the seleção.
César’s recent career trajectory is not dissimilar to that of Wesley Sneijder, his former team-mate at Inter and now of Galatasaray. César fell quickly from his playing pinnacle of spring 2010, when he completed a historic Serie A/Coppa Italia/Champions League treble with José Mourinho’s Inter. Just as Sneijder was a genuine contender for the Ballon d’Or that year, many made a persuasive case for César being the best keeper.
Ironically, Sneijder was to be complicit in the start of César’s fall from grace. The Dutchman sent over the free-kick in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final that, between them, César and Felipe Melo bungled to allow the Netherlands to equalise, en route to shunting Brazil out of the competition. The keeper cried bitter tears of disappointment on the pitch after the game and again on the squad’s return to Brazil.
César’s club form subsequently slipped and on several occasions when pivotal errors cost his team, he would leave his car at the San Siro and pensively walk back to his Milan home. Like Sneijder, he was all but forced out of Inter as the club sought to shed its biggest earners.
But his ability to turn things around has hinged on extraordinary belief and dedication. Like Paris Saint-Germain’s excellent Salvatore Sirigu (currently unbeaten in 868 Ligue 1 minutes), César grasped how important nailing the local language is for a goalkeeper. He is already giving media interviews in English and his command of his defence speaks volumes for his assertiveness.
Another significant change has been playing for a bottom-half side. In essence, César has been learning to play a different game over the past few months. Like Hugo Lloris at Spurs, he has had to adapt to a more physical game in England, but César has also had to get used to being busy during a match, rather than maintaining concentration while his team dominates. He has dealt with this admirably.
His re-adjustment to playing for a footballing giant at Wembley was fairly smooth, even though Brazil were without their world-best central defender Thiago Silva, who was injured and replaced by 29-year-old debutant Dante.
Few could have imagined a QPR player representing Brazil against England, but César has always shown a talent for making the highly unlikely possible. Whether he will be there next season is anyone’s guess, but he has been great for QPR – as they have been for him. Life's A Pitch
Life's A Pitch
08FEB
When QPR bought Christopher Samba for a truck-load of cash, they drew gasps of incredulity from football fans across the globe. That’s because most people think the signing is symptomatic of a club caught in a self-destructive battle to avoid relegation that will end in a debt-laden fall through the leagues. The Life’s A Pitch panel certainly think Rangers fans should be worried.
The Mirror’s John Cross puts the boot in first: “They are mortgaging themselves to the hilt in the hope they will stay up and benefit from next year’s TV money. Spending £12.5m on Samba is just an astonishing sum of money for, let’s be honest, a straight-up-and-down defensive warrior.” Despite manager Harry Redknapp’s spending spree, Cross says QPR have slipped into a worse position since the turn of the year. “The results have improved, but they’re not winning and are further cut adrift from sides who haven’t spent as much.”
“It’s bonkers. You look at them and fear they are the new Portsmouth, Leeds or Luton,” addsMartin Lipton, also of the Mirror, refusing to allay the QPR fans’ fears. “I know they’ve got money men such as [Lakshmi] Mittal in the background, but they don’t do it to support a team that is no good.” Which all sounds a bit ominous.
“It’s Redknapp’s job to get the best players he can to keep them up. It’s the owner’s job to say: ‘No, we can’t spend that money, get someone cheaper,’” says Rory Smith of the Times, laying the blame firmly at the door of chairman Tony Fernandes (pictured). “Six weeks ago, Redknapp was saying QPR had loads of players who were overpaid; now they’ve got more. But that doesn’t change the fact it’s Fernandes’ job to say: ‘No.’ And if they turn into a Leeds or Portsmouth, it’s Fernandes’ fault.”
CPR CEO PHILIP BEARD -
THANK YOU
A communication from the club to fans often involves statements on club affairs or a marketing campaign to encourage you to buy the latest top or purchase tickets for the next game. It shouldn’t always be like that.
As a Board, sometimes we need to contact you just to say how grateful we are for your support. No sales tactic. No marketing ploy. Just thank you.
In January, the most difficult month of the year when it comes to finances, we hosted three games at Loftus Road in the space of eight days. And yet, your support for those fixtures against MK Dons, Manchester City and Norwich City was just incredible.
The noise you generated when we battled to a deserved draw against the champions of England was amazing.
We, as a Board, are tremendously appreciative of the effort and cost involved for you to attend those matches in such numbers.
We are hugely grateful, and that level of support – particularly the vociferous backing you gave Tony Fernandes – merely reaffirmed his belief that becoming involved with QPR was a fantastic decision.
As I’m sure you noticed, there has been a lot of media coverage afforded to our activity in the January transfer window. Our intention is clear. To stay in the Premier League.
And we believe the acquisitions of Tal Ben Haim, Loic Remy, Yun Suk-Young , Chris Samba, Andros Townsend and Jermaine Jenas have improved our chances of doing that.
Tony and the rest of the Board are completely committed to the future of this club. Despite what you may have read in the papers, the club is not facing financial ruin if we suffer relegation this season. All possible outcomes have been considered.
But right now our focus is on staying in the best league in the world. We believe we can achieve it. And it’s what you deserve.
So, on behalf of the Board, thank you.
Philip Beard, CE0
QPR FAN FORUM
- After almost six years, QPR Held its long-awaited Fan Forum on Thursday Evening. Can watch a Video of the Fan Forum or read an extensive report/summary by Clive Whittingham at LoftforWords
- Three Years Ago: The Death was announced of Harold Winton
- Year Ago: No New Contract for Clint Hill! Will be Leaving in the Summer.
- Ten Years ago Today: QPR were playing at Terry Fenwick's Northampton. Also Today: Birthdays for Martin Rowlands (34) and Tommy Langley (55)
- Year Ago: No New Contract for Clint Hill! Will be Leaving in the Summer.
- Ten Years ago Today: QPR were playing at Terry Fenwick's Northampton. Also Today: Birthdays for Martin Rowlands (34) and Tommy Langley (55)
- QPR Team vs Northampton: Culkin, Forbes, Padula, Palmer, Shittu, Thomson, Daly, Bircham, Griffiths, Furlong, Gallen. Subs: Day, Doudou, Plummer, Bean, Angell.
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STILL WAITING FOR CLUB RESPONSE
A QPR REPORT PERSPECTIVE
A QPR REPORT PERSPECTIVE
The Club and its "Associations"
An ongoing matter of continued "regret" to at least this blogger: That Queen's Park Rangers FC continue to provide a forum on its Official Match Day broadcast show to "QBlockPete" - Pete Davies.
Ultimately, obviously the owners and senior management of Queen's Park Rangers Football determine who they want to employ or utilize. But equally, QPR supporters - quite a few of whom have been supporting QPR a lot longer than any of the current QPR owners, employees, or "Associates" - retain the freedom to express their views (whether supportive or critical) and concerns on matters pertaining to QPR.
If you want to express any views on this matter either privately or publicly, pm me on the QPR Report Messageboard or email at qprreport@hotmail.com