_____________________________________________________
- ON THIS DAY: Seven Years Ago - Alan McDonald Returns to QPR as Gary Waddock's Assistant...12 Years Ago: Gerry Francis set to Leave QPR after Preston Disaster
- Three Years Ago: The Death was announced of Harold Winton
- Year Flashback: No New Contract for Clint Hill! Will be Leaving in the Summer.
- Ten Years ago Yesterday: QPR were playing at Terry Fenwick's Northampton. Also Yesterday: Birthdays for Martin Rowlands (34) and Tommy Langley (55)
- Year Flashback: No New Contract for Clint Hill! Will be Leaving in the Summer.
- Ten Years ago Yesterday: QPR were playing at Terry Fenwick's Northampton. Also Yesterday: 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.
SWANSEA RESPONSES
Tony Fernandes @tonyfernandesIn a strange way I felt second half was good. We had many chances. I'm not giving up. Enough games to go. Keep believing.
Amit Bhatia @Amit_Bhatia99
Feel sad tonight that we put on a weak performance today in an important match. But I #still#believe. We'll go on a run soon. #keepthefaith
| Club | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Man Utd | 25 | 62 |
| Man City | 26 | 53 |
| Chelsea | 26 | 49 |
| Tottenham | 26 | 48 |
| Arsenal | 26 | 44 |
| Everton | 25 | 42 |
| Swansea | 26 | 37 |
| Liverpool | 25 | 36 |
| West Brom | 25 | 34 |
| Stoke | 26 | 33 |
| West Ham | 25 | 30 |
| Fulham | 26 | 29 |
| Sunderland | 26 | 29 |
| Norwich | 26 | 29 |
| Southampton | 26 | 27 |
| Newcastle | 26 | 27 |
| Reading | 26 | 23 |
| Wigan | 26 | 21 |
| Aston Villa | 25 | 21 |
| QPR | 26 | 17 |
QPR Official Site
REDKNAPP RUES SLOPPY GOALS
PUBLISHED
19:00 9th February 2013
by @OfficialQPR
R's boss reflects on heavy Swansea defeat ...
We gave the football away for fun today and the goals were sloppy."
Harry Redknapp
HARRY REDKNAPP admitted blunders at the back proved QPR’s downfall following Saturday’s damaging 4-1 defeat at Swansea.
A brace from Swans striker Michu sealed the R’s fate either side of goals from Angel Rangel and Pablo Hernandez.
Bobby Zamora’s reply soon after the re-start reduced the half-time deficit but hopes of a comeback were short-lived as Rangers’ unbeaten league run in 2013 came to an abrupt end.
“I’m not pleased,” the R’s boss toldwww.qpr.co.uk.“We gave the football away for fun today and the goals were sloppy.
“We got back to 2-1 and you think we’ve got a chance.
“Then we conceded another which was a poor goal defensively.
“If you look at all four goals I wouldn’t say they were particularly good goals. They were bad errors.”
Zamora’s immediate impact off the bench was a rare plus on an otherwise disappointing afternoon for the west Londoners at the Liberty Stadium.
Redknapp admits the striker – who has only recently returned from a long-term hip injury – proved a major weapon for the R’s but is still struggling for full fitness.
“When we bought Bobby Zamora on we were a different team,” Redknapp said.
“He holds the ball, he can play and he brings other people into play.
“He can’t play 90 minutes, but when he comes on he makes a massive difference to the team.
“Unfortunately we can’t get him on the pitch [enough].”
At the other end, Redknapp refused to blame out-of-sorts goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
The Brazilian kept his place between the sticks despite nursing a groin injury, a decision which the R’s boss admitted ultimately backfired.
He added: “I’m not blaming the goalkeeper, he has saved us time and time again.
“Today he had one of those days. He played with a groin strain because he wanted to play and, looking at him, he’d be the first to say he shouldn’t have played.
“He just had a poor day which he doesn’t normally have.
“He is a fantastic professional and a top goalkeeper.”
Defeat means Rangers depart south Wales six points adrift at the bottom of the table with a fortnight to wait until their next outing.
The R’s have 12 games in which to turn things around and Redknapp remains intent on keeping their top flight status intact.
“I still think we can salvage it but it’s going to be hard,” he said.
“It will go down to the wire but I wouldn’t say it was impossible.”
http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/090213....w=full#anchored
The Observer
Swansea City's magical Michu leaves Queens Park Rangers at rock bottom
Joe Lovejoy at the Liberty Stadium
The Observer, Saturday 9 February 2013 12.07 EST
Swansea fly off to Dubai on Sunday for some well-earned warm-weather training, leaving behind another job well done. In contrast, QPR are probably heading for the Championship after a comprehensive defeat that saw the Harry Redknapp revival come to a halt.
The Premier League's bottom team were unbeaten in five before this, but remain in dire straits after a dreadful performance that wascharacterised by the fumbling hands of their goalkeeper Júlio César.
Redknapp believes Rangers need to win at least six of their 12 remaining matches to stay up. "It's going to be tight, but Wigan and Reading lost today and it's still all to play for. Yes, we can do it," he said.
César, playing with a groin injury, let two shots escape his from grasp in the first 18 minutes of the game, and the Swans punished him ruthlessly, scoring on both occasions.
Bobby Zamora, on as substitute, did pull one back early in the second half, but Swansea quickly reasserted themselves to score two more. Their only concern after a good win was the ankle-ligament injury sustained by Chico Flores, which threatens to put the Spanish centre-half out of the Capital One Cup final in two weeks' time. His replacement was Kyle Bartley, who cleared a shot from Stéphane Mbia off the line.
Injuries to Loïc Rémy (hamstring) and Zamora forced QPR to start without a conventional centre forward. Zamora needs surgery to remedy his hip condition, and is delaying it until the end of the season in the hope that cameos like today's might help the team to stay up. "Without those two we are short up front, That's why I tried to get [Peter] Odemwingie," Redknapp said.
Swansea were ahead after only eight minutes, when César failed to hold Nathan Dyer's shot from the edge of the penalty area and Michu forced the ball in at close range for his first goal in seven games.
For the second goal Wayne Routledge supplied Angel Rangel, who cut inside Jamie Mackie before letting fly. Again César saved the initial shot but allowed the ball to get away from him, enabling the full-back to make sure with his second attempt.
QPR were briefly back in contention three minutes into the second half, when Michel Vorm palmed Adel Taarabt's shot from the right straight to Zamora, leaving him with a simple tap-in.
Two minutes later, however, the Welsh team restored their two-goal advantage, with César again at fault. Pablo Hernández, supplied out on the left by Michu, cut inside two QPR defenders, then beat the Brazilian goalkeeper at his near post from what looked like an almost impossible angle near the byline.
Midway through the second half Michu added his 18th of the season, holding off Chris Samba before scoring with a sublime finish from near the penalty spot, one Spaniard's cool expertise doing full justice to a lovely through pass from another, Hernández. Shaun Wright-Phillips struck the crossbar in stoppage time at the end, but it was far too little, much too late.
Redknapp acknowledged that César had been at fault, but refused to criticise the man he described as "a world-class goalkeeper". "We gave bad goals away today," said Redknapp, "they were bad errors. Shots came back off the keeper. He [César] had been absolutely fantastic for us, as good as any goalie in the league. I wouldn't swap him for anybody, but he played with a groin strain today and it handicapped him. He told me he was all right to play but obviously he wasn't. I'm not going to have a go at him. In our previous five games, when we've done so well, he was our best player. It was a bad day for him today, but that's how it goes.
"When we bring Bobby Zamora on we're a different team. He holds the ball up and brings others into the play, but he's only 50% fit and can't play 90 minutes. It makes a massive difference to the team when he's fit."
The Swansea manager, Michael Laudrup, said: "Overall it was a good day for us, apart from Chico's injury. We're hoping that it's just a twisted ankle, but if the scan shows it's ligaments he'll miss the [Capital One] final."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/feb/09/swansea-city-qpr-premier-league
Swansea City's magical Michu leaves Queens Park Rangers at rock bottom
Joe Lovejoy at the Liberty Stadium
The Observer, Saturday 9 February 2013 12.07 EST
Swansea fly off to Dubai on Sunday for some well-earned warm-weather training, leaving behind another job well done. In contrast, QPR are probably heading for the Championship after a comprehensive defeat that saw the Harry Redknapp revival come to a halt.
The Premier League's bottom team were unbeaten in five before this, but remain in dire straits after a dreadful performance that wascharacterised by the fumbling hands of their goalkeeper Júlio César.
Redknapp believes Rangers need to win at least six of their 12 remaining matches to stay up. "It's going to be tight, but Wigan and Reading lost today and it's still all to play for. Yes, we can do it," he said.
César, playing with a groin injury, let two shots escape his from grasp in the first 18 minutes of the game, and the Swans punished him ruthlessly, scoring on both occasions.
Bobby Zamora, on as substitute, did pull one back early in the second half, but Swansea quickly reasserted themselves to score two more. Their only concern after a good win was the ankle-ligament injury sustained by Chico Flores, which threatens to put the Spanish centre-half out of the Capital One Cup final in two weeks' time. His replacement was Kyle Bartley, who cleared a shot from Stéphane Mbia off the line.
Injuries to Loïc Rémy (hamstring) and Zamora forced QPR to start without a conventional centre forward. Zamora needs surgery to remedy his hip condition, and is delaying it until the end of the season in the hope that cameos like today's might help the team to stay up. "Without those two we are short up front, That's why I tried to get [Peter] Odemwingie," Redknapp said.
Swansea were ahead after only eight minutes, when César failed to hold Nathan Dyer's shot from the edge of the penalty area and Michu forced the ball in at close range for his first goal in seven games.
For the second goal Wayne Routledge supplied Angel Rangel, who cut inside Jamie Mackie before letting fly. Again César saved the initial shot but allowed the ball to get away from him, enabling the full-back to make sure with his second attempt.
QPR were briefly back in contention three minutes into the second half, when Michel Vorm palmed Adel Taarabt's shot from the right straight to Zamora, leaving him with a simple tap-in.
Two minutes later, however, the Welsh team restored their two-goal advantage, with César again at fault. Pablo Hernández, supplied out on the left by Michu, cut inside two QPR defenders, then beat the Brazilian goalkeeper at his near post from what looked like an almost impossible angle near the byline.
Midway through the second half Michu added his 18th of the season, holding off Chris Samba before scoring with a sublime finish from near the penalty spot, one Spaniard's cool expertise doing full justice to a lovely through pass from another, Hernández. Shaun Wright-Phillips struck the crossbar in stoppage time at the end, but it was far too little, much too late.
Redknapp acknowledged that César had been at fault, but refused to criticise the man he described as "a world-class goalkeeper". "We gave bad goals away today," said Redknapp, "they were bad errors. Shots came back off the keeper. He [César] had been absolutely fantastic for us, as good as any goalie in the league. I wouldn't swap him for anybody, but he played with a groin strain today and it handicapped him. He told me he was all right to play but obviously he wasn't. I'm not going to have a go at him. In our previous five games, when we've done so well, he was our best player. It was a bad day for him today, but that's how it goes.
"When we bring Bobby Zamora on we're a different team. He holds the ball up and brings others into the play, but he's only 50% fit and can't play 90 minutes. It makes a massive difference to the team when he's fit."
The Swansea manager, Michael Laudrup, said: "Overall it was a good day for us, apart from Chico's injury. We're hoping that it's just a twisted ankle, but if the scan shows it's ligaments he'll miss the [Capital One] final."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/feb/09/swansea-city-qpr-premier-league
Express has in its headline
Swansea 4 - QPR 1: Harry Redknapp sunk by the three amigos
SWANSEA are off for some sunshine in Dubai this week. So, too, Queens Park Rangers.
By: Harry Pratt
But while the Wembley-bound Welsh club deserve a holiday, the same most certainly cannot be said of Harry Redknapp’s rock-bottom outfit.
After this inept display, the expensively assembled Londoners might as well make it a one-way ticket.
Still six points adrift from safety after this 13th loss of a shambolic season, the only thing left for Harry’s Hoops between now and May is to say a long goodbye to the top flight.
It was an excellent performance and it was good to score four goals and for Michu to get two of them.
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup
Sure, their manager, famous for lifting doom and gloom at troubled clubs, stubbornly refuses to concede defeat in the relegation fight. There are, after all, 36 points to play for.
Yet deep down Redknapp must realise QPR’s fate is sealed and they are heading for the drop.
What a contrasting picture for Swansea who picked up their first victory in four games at a canter – thanks to a sizzling record-breaking Spanish quadruple of goals.
Top scorer Michu was back on the scoresheet with a double and in between were efforts from Angel Rangel and Pablo Hernandez. That was the first time in Premier League history three Spaniards have scored for the same team in the same game.
That might be good for a pub quiz, but the sight of Michu hitting the back of the net after a six-game drought was the most significant stat for the Capital One Cup finalists.
While he had gone off the boil, so too had the Swans – going three games without a goal.
Boss Michael Laudrup said: “It was an excellent performance and it was good to score four goals and for Michu to get two of them.
“He hadn’t scored for a while but that happens to all strikers and, remember, he’s not just a goalscorer because he does so much work in other areas for the team.”
Bargain buy of the season – at £2million – he may be, but no way did Michu mean to beat Julio Cesar the way he did after nine minutes.
When Nathan Dyer’s shot was only parried by QPR’s Brazilian stopper, Michu seemed certain to score – until he sliced his effort from four yards.
Michu definitely thought it was going wide yet somehow he had miscued perfectly as it flew over Cesar and spun inside the post.
Swansea’s second seven minutes later was lucky too. Wayne Routledge, arguably the most improved Premier League star of 2012-13, sliced the Hoops defence in two, finding the overlapping Rangel.
The Spanish defender’s first effort was blocked by Cesar only for the rebound to fall perfectly for him and he slotted home.
After a Redknapp half-time rollicking and the introduction of half-fit Bobby Zamora, QPR scored in the 48th minute – with their first attempt of the afternoon.
Adel Taarabt was the creator, slipping in Zamora, who, bad hip or not, demonstrated he can still finish by drilling in hard and low.
Two minutes later Hernandez waltzed through QPR’s defence and fired home. The look of disgust on Redknapp’s face said everything. Even £13.5m buy Christopher Samba appeared a total waste of money – especially in the 67th minute as Michu left him for dead and hammered in his 15th league goal.
Still Redknapp refused to put the boot into his flops. He said: “It’s still very tight down the bottom and we’ve still got a chance. But I thought we gave away bad, sloppy goals.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/....he-three-amigos
SKY
Harry Redknapp criticises defence after QPR lose at Swansea
Redknapp frustrated by sloppy QPR
QPR manager Harry Redknapp was left to bemoan poor defending after his struggling side were beaten 4-1 at Swansea.
The Rs' back-line had been a major positive of late, conceding just two goals in five matches to aid their battle against relegation from the Premier League.
But they were easily picked apart by a rampant Swansea side, for whom Michu scored twice either side of goals from Angel Rangel and Pablo Hernandez.
"We made mistakes today. They were blatant, almost schoolboy errors to give the goals away," said Redknapp, whose side remain bottom of the table and six points from safety.
"Swansea are a good side and I love the way they play but I felt they didn't have to work hard for their goals. For the first goal we let Michu run inside and have a shot and when it comes back he has all the time in the world to scoop it back in.
"We get back to 2-1 and I'm thinking we'll get something out of this game and then suddenly we go and give another couple of poor goals away that should never have been conceded.
"Defensively we've been strong lately but today we weren't and it made it difficult."
Redknapp was pleased by the contribution of striker Bobby Zamora, who scored QPR's goal, but he admitted he was worried about relying on the former Fulham man, who has only just returned after three months out with a hip injury.
"He is what a Premier League player should be," added Redknapp. "He holds the ball, doesn't give it away and brings players into play. When he doesn't play we haven't got a focal point to our play.
"Jay Bothroyd has come back from loan and he is the only other one who could do that so maybe he needs to be given a chance."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11711/8487525
Swansea 4 - QPR 1: Harry Redknapp sunk by the three amigos
SWANSEA are off for some sunshine in Dubai this week. So, too, Queens Park Rangers.
By: Harry Pratt
But while the Wembley-bound Welsh club deserve a holiday, the same most certainly cannot be said of Harry Redknapp’s rock-bottom outfit.
After this inept display, the expensively assembled Londoners might as well make it a one-way ticket.
Still six points adrift from safety after this 13th loss of a shambolic season, the only thing left for Harry’s Hoops between now and May is to say a long goodbye to the top flight.
It was an excellent performance and it was good to score four goals and for Michu to get two of them.
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup
Sure, their manager, famous for lifting doom and gloom at troubled clubs, stubbornly refuses to concede defeat in the relegation fight. There are, after all, 36 points to play for.
Yet deep down Redknapp must realise QPR’s fate is sealed and they are heading for the drop.
What a contrasting picture for Swansea who picked up their first victory in four games at a canter – thanks to a sizzling record-breaking Spanish quadruple of goals.
Top scorer Michu was back on the scoresheet with a double and in between were efforts from Angel Rangel and Pablo Hernandez. That was the first time in Premier League history three Spaniards have scored for the same team in the same game.
That might be good for a pub quiz, but the sight of Michu hitting the back of the net after a six-game drought was the most significant stat for the Capital One Cup finalists.
While he had gone off the boil, so too had the Swans – going three games without a goal.
Boss Michael Laudrup said: “It was an excellent performance and it was good to score four goals and for Michu to get two of them.
“He hadn’t scored for a while but that happens to all strikers and, remember, he’s not just a goalscorer because he does so much work in other areas for the team.”
Bargain buy of the season – at £2million – he may be, but no way did Michu mean to beat Julio Cesar the way he did after nine minutes.
When Nathan Dyer’s shot was only parried by QPR’s Brazilian stopper, Michu seemed certain to score – until he sliced his effort from four yards.
Michu definitely thought it was going wide yet somehow he had miscued perfectly as it flew over Cesar and spun inside the post.
Swansea’s second seven minutes later was lucky too. Wayne Routledge, arguably the most improved Premier League star of 2012-13, sliced the Hoops defence in two, finding the overlapping Rangel.
The Spanish defender’s first effort was blocked by Cesar only for the rebound to fall perfectly for him and he slotted home.
After a Redknapp half-time rollicking and the introduction of half-fit Bobby Zamora, QPR scored in the 48th minute – with their first attempt of the afternoon.
Adel Taarabt was the creator, slipping in Zamora, who, bad hip or not, demonstrated he can still finish by drilling in hard and low.
Two minutes later Hernandez waltzed through QPR’s defence and fired home. The look of disgust on Redknapp’s face said everything. Even £13.5m buy Christopher Samba appeared a total waste of money – especially in the 67th minute as Michu left him for dead and hammered in his 15th league goal.
Still Redknapp refused to put the boot into his flops. He said: “It’s still very tight down the bottom and we’ve still got a chance. But I thought we gave away bad, sloppy goals.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/....he-three-amigos
SKY
Harry Redknapp criticises defence after QPR lose at Swansea
Redknapp frustrated by sloppy QPR
QPR manager Harry Redknapp was left to bemoan poor defending after his struggling side were beaten 4-1 at Swansea.
The Rs' back-line had been a major positive of late, conceding just two goals in five matches to aid their battle against relegation from the Premier League.
But they were easily picked apart by a rampant Swansea side, for whom Michu scored twice either side of goals from Angel Rangel and Pablo Hernandez.
"We made mistakes today. They were blatant, almost schoolboy errors to give the goals away," said Redknapp, whose side remain bottom of the table and six points from safety.
"Swansea are a good side and I love the way they play but I felt they didn't have to work hard for their goals. For the first goal we let Michu run inside and have a shot and when it comes back he has all the time in the world to scoop it back in.
"We get back to 2-1 and I'm thinking we'll get something out of this game and then suddenly we go and give another couple of poor goals away that should never have been conceded.
"Defensively we've been strong lately but today we weren't and it made it difficult."
Redknapp was pleased by the contribution of striker Bobby Zamora, who scored QPR's goal, but he admitted he was worried about relying on the former Fulham man, who has only just returned after three months out with a hip injury.
"He is what a Premier League player should be," added Redknapp. "He holds the ball, doesn't give it away and brings players into play. When he doesn't play we haven't got a focal point to our play.
"Jay Bothroyd has come back from loan and he is the only other one who could do that so maybe he needs to be given a chance."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11711/8487525
West London Sport
Thrashing leaves QPR in deeper trouble
09/02/2013
by Gareth Reeves
Swansea City 4 QPR 1
QPR suffered their first league defeat of 2013 – and a major blow to their survival hopes.
Bobby Zamora scored for them after first-half goals from Michu and Angel Rangel had put Swansea in command.
Pablo Hernandez added the third and Michu netted again to complete yet another miserable day for the Premier League’s bottom side.
Rangers, minus injured striker Loic Remy and with Jermaine Jenas making his full debut, were two down after only 18 minutes.
Michu was on hand to score the opener after keeper Julio Cesar had been unable to hold Nathan Dyer’s long-range effort.
And when Rangel burst into the danger area and had a shot palmed back to him by Cesar, the full-back was able to double City’s lead.
R’s boss Harry Redknapp made a double substitution at half-time, replacing Jamie Mackie and Shaun Derry with Zamora and Esteban Granero.
Zamora made an instant impact, pouncing to score after keeper Michel Vorm spilled Adel Taraabt’s shot.
But Swansea’s two-goal cushion was restored only a couple of minutes later.
Hernandez was given time and space to shoot low past Cesar, who once again ought to have done better.
Rangers tried to hit back and were denied a penalty despite Ashley Williams appearing to handle the ball in the area, and Stephane Mbia had an effort cleared off the line by Kyle Bartley.
However, any hope of a comeback was crushed when Michu finished well after being set up by Hernandez.
Shaun Wright-Phillips, on as a substitute, fired against the bar in injury time after being found by Zamora.
QPR: Cesar, Onuoha, Samba, Hill, Traore, Derry (Granero 45), Mackie (Zamora 45), Jenas (Wright-Phillips 68), Mbia, Townsend, Taarabt.
Subs not used: Green, Park, Ben Haim, Bothroyd.
http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/thrashing-leaves-qpr-in-deeper-trouble