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Sunday, February 24, 2013

QPR Report Sunday: Tony Fernandes and QPR...Manchester United...500% Increase Official QPR Twitter Followship...QPR Flashbacks: Gerry Francis Steps Down, New Directors, Bhatia on Prices

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- Zimbio Photos from QPR vs Manchester United
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OBSERVATIONS: 

QPR Need around 20 points from final 11 Games.A look back at what 2012/13 Premier League looked like after 11 Games


To those running QPR: Don't try to Spin us, Bs us or utter platitudes. Don't believe Fans "can't handle the truth" or will cease supporting

One Stat: QPR  have never immediately "Bounced Back" from a Relegation. Took 3 Yrs, 4 Yrs twice, and about 15 Yrs twice













CHAIRMAN FERNANDES TWEETING POST-MANCHESTER UNITED GAME

Tony Fernandes ‏@tonyfernandes
I am optimistic as ever. I'm still smiling. Its the next 8 games. Lots of good things.

Read more:http://qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=35221&page=1#315816#ixzz2LoWMRMj4

@tonyfernandes: Good chat with Harry on the future come what may. We know what we have to do. Many points to play for.”

“@tonyfernandes: No. RT @Tiote_in_Toon: @tonyfernandes do you regret firing Neil Warnock? It appears that was when it started to go wrong.”


“@tonyfernandes: I'm sure he will. RT @reecetop10: @tonyfernandes will harry be staying come what may? That's what we all won't to know #RTID”


Not sure how many times I can pledge. Hahaha. But I'm pledging. Aint going anywhere as long as the fans want me. RT @C14R4N: @tonyfernandes can you, right now, pledge that you'll be sticking with us for many seasons to come ? It really would settle our nerves tony!

“@tonyfernandes: I will. I'm responsible for this mess ultimately. I have heard the fans and I will stay and fix it. I really love ...http://t.co/SUDNy3IlIl

Read more:http://qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=35221&page=1#315816#ixzz2LoWAm6cS


QPR OFFICIAL SITE

HARRY: ALL TO PLAY FOR
R's boss upbeat despite United defeat ...


Everybody else has written us off but I haven’t. I still feel we’ve got a chance."
Harry Redknapp
HARRY REDKNAPP insists there is still ‘all to play for’ in QPR’s fight for survival after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Rangers began well at Loftus Road against the league leaders but Rafael’s stunning strike midway through the first-half broke the R’s resistance.

Redknapp’s men battled bravely for a leveller before Ryan Giggs sealed maximum points for the visitors in the closing stages.

“Today was always going to be a tough game,” the R’s boss told www.qpr.co.uk. “I thought we were bang in it and there wasn’t a lot going on.

“Suddenly the right-back hits a worldy; he’ll never probably score a goal like that for as long as he plays football. He’s hit one out of the clouds that’s gone right in the top corner.”

Saturday also saw the return of R's frontman Loic Remy from injury, replacing strike partner Bobby Zamora on the hour-mark.

Despite defeat leaving Rangers seven points adrift of safety, Redknapp remains confident the pair can still hold the key to safety.

“I still feel we’ll get out of it,” he said.

“It [defeat] leaves us bottom today but we won’t be bottom at the end of the season.

“With Bobby Zamora and [Loic] Remy coming back from injury I see two forwards that can start scoring some goals between now and the end of the season for us.

“That’s been our problem, we don’t score enough goals.

“Between them I can see them doing some damage to teams.”

Rangers face a trip to Southampton next in the first of five matches against challengers in the bottom half.

Redknapp knows the odds are firmly stacked against his side but the R’s boss hasn’t given up faith of beating the drop.

He added: “Every game is important now. With 11 games to go there’s still all to play for.

“They’re going to be tough games but I think there’s enough there [in the squad] to give us a chance.

“Everybody else has written us off but I haven’t. I still feel we’ve got a chance.”
http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/230213-harry-man-utd-673824.aspx

OBSERVER - Ryan Giggs completes Manchester United win at Queens Park Rangers

Jacob Steinberg at Loftus Road

The Observer, Saturday 23 February 2013 11.57 EST

Unless there is a collapse to rival the one that gifted Manchester City the title last season, surely nothing is going to stop Manchester United now.

This routine victory against an abject Queens Park Rangers, who possessed neither the quality nor the desire to make life remotely complicated for United, moved Sir Alex Ferguson's side 15 points clear of City, who simply must beat Chelsea tomorrow if they are to retain any hope of clinging on to their title.

The only worry for United, with the second leg of their Champions League tie against Real Madrid to come next week, was the sight of Robin van Persie clutching his hip as he limped off in the first half after an accidental collision with an unwitting cameraman in the buildup to their first goal. His substitution looked precautionary though, and that Van Persie played on for another 18 minutes before being replaced by Danny Welbeck suggests it was not a serious injury.

"Robin has collided with the cameraman in the dugout and has hurt his hip," said Ferguson, who expects the striker to be available against Real. "He seems to have hit the base of it and has a very bruised hip. He will be assessed tomorrow."

Against a more accomplished side, Van Persie's departure might have been the turning point. Yet QPR, bottom of the table and seven points behind Wigan Athletic in 17th place, were as clueless as ever and, although Harry Redknapp tried to search for the positives afterwards, time is running out for them. Redknapp is pinning QPR's hopes of survival on Bobby Zamora and Loïc Rémy forming a deadly partnership up front, but the former's body has taken such a battering in the last few months that he was barely able to break into a light jog here.

When Rémy was introduced after 61 minutes, it was for Zamora, who limped off with an ankle injury. QPR are clutching at straws.

Their desperate plight was summed up the presence of José Bosingwa in the lineup for the first time since 8 December. Redknapp had aimed fierce criticism at the Portuguese right-back after his refusal to sit on the bench against Fulham in December and fined him £130,000 – two week's wages – and yet here he was, back in the side, a forgiven man.

Bosingwa, to be fair, did not do a lot wrong; instead it was United's right-back who stole the show in the first half. After a fairly even start, United were firmly in control by the time they took the lead on 23 minutes with a stunning goal by Rafael da Silva. The danger looked to be over when Júlio César had beaten out a drive from Van Persie, who fell into a cameraman behind the goal as he shot, but the ball dropped to Da Silva 25 yards from goal and, with barely a moment's hesitation, the Brazilian unleashed a vicious, swerving volley into the top-right corner with his right foot. Redknapp sighed that Da Silva had "hit one out of the clouds" and Ferguson's verdict was equally glowing. "I said to him he must have closed his eyes," United's manager said.

United should have been out of sight by half-time. Shortly after his goal, Da Silva, having an eventful afternoon, charged up the right flank and sent over a delicious crossfield pass that dropped on to Van Persie's left boot, only for Júlio César to tip his cushioned finish wide. The Brazilian goalkeeper had earlier pushed over a looping header from Javier Hernández, Nemanja Vidic had headed inches wide, but all QPR had to offer was a Christopher Samba header that Da Silva cleared off the line.

It was too easy for United and the danger for them was their own complacency. They were given a warning when David de Gea had to make his one save, beating out a fierce drive from Rémy after his introduction as a substitute, and, sensing that his side had slightly lost their way, Ferguson brought on Wayne Rooney to restore focus.

With 10 minutes left, Ryan Giggs, making his 999th senior appearance, wrapped up the points, running on to Nani's fine pass and sweeping a shot past the helpless Júlio César. Giggs likes Loftus Road; one of the most memorable goals of the 39-year-old's career came at the end of a winding, breathtaking run 19 years ago.

There was still time for a curious chip from Giggs to hit the bar, but two goals were more than enough to beat QPR, who have not scored at home in the league since Boxing Day.

"We won't be bottom at the end of the season," said a defiant Redknapp, whose assertion that United will be top at the end of the season seemed rather less fanciful. This is United's title to lose and they are in no mood to throw it away.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/....-premier-league










FORTHCOMING: CLUB-FAN WEBSITE MEET
 IanJTaylor ‏@IJTaylor81
Meeting reps from the #QPR fan websites next week in a bid to improve communications across my department. Good feedback so far #QPR




Hogan Ephraim þ@HoganEphraim

#Toronto