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Standard - Excerpts from Neil Warnock's Book
Neil Warnock: No one else would score the goals to take QPR [up]. If the players wanted to have a verbal with Adel Taarabt we’d all lose’
12 June 2013
As a former manager of Queens Park Rangers, Neil Warnock has first-hand experience of just how inspiring and infuriating Adel Taarabt can be.
Warnock knew the midfielder was the key to QPR reaching the Premier League but also that the Moroccan could implode at any minute. In his new book, Warnock tells a story highlighting just why Taarabt divides opinion.
It’s January 2011 and QPR, leading the Championship but feeling the pressure after one win in four matches, are playing at Hull City . . .
Ten minutes before the break Adel completely lost it. He was unhappy the ref hadn’t given him a foul and then he thought a couple of players didn’t pass to him quickly enough. He argued with Dezza [Shaun Derry], then he signalled he wanted to be subbed. I ignored him. Curly [coach Keith Curle] was watching. “He wants to come off, gaffer.”
“Just ignore him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ignore him. If he wants to come off, let him come over here and ask.”
At half-time I told Curly to get onto the pitch and escort Adel off to avoid him arguing with the ref, his team-mates or the Hull fans who were on his back. I didn’t want him sent off.
In the dressing room, I tried to calm him down. I told him: “You’re captain, you can’t come off just because their fans are giving you stick.” Then I told the lads to give him the ball earlier. I knew some were unhappy with him but I’d already explained to a number of them we needed to keep him on board to get us where we wanted to be. No one else would score the goals to take us to the Promised Land. If they wanted to have a verbal with Adel we’d all lose.
In the second half Adel did okay but we had to settle for a draw. Next day I was doing a radio show when my phone flashed. It was a text from Adel.
“Gaffer. I’m very sorry for what I did yesterday. It was just because I feel we can win the game in the first half. I know I have to control myself. I am working on it.” That summed him up. It wasn’t like an English player having a strop, this is how he reacts. People forgot he was only 21 and every team was going to try and kick lumps out of him. We had to take the rough with the smooth.
On Monday, before training, I showed Dezza and Clint [Hill] the text. Dezza had been fretting about how Adel had let the team down. I had to reiterate to them that while it would be easy to fall out with Adel, they couldn’t afford to if they wanted to play in the Premier League.
Then I told Adel how disrespectful to me the incident was. I said I classed myself as part of his family. “Would you treat your father like you did me?”
“No, gaffer. I’m sorry.”
“The answer I want, and the way to apologise to the team, is to get us all three points tomorrow against Portsmouth.”
Needless to say, he scored the first in our 2–0 victory and made the second. Clint scored that goal and as he ran back after celebrating he gave me a wink and a nod. We both knew neither of us would ever come across another player like Adel in our careers.
Another extract from the book reveals how Taarabt stepped in to break a fight during training . . .
The daft thing was the two players who got involved, Shaun Derry and Jay Bothroyd, were playing on the same team. Dezza had a go at Bothroyd and Bothroyd had a go back. The lads separated them but they went straight back at each other. I sent them both off. They were still at it in the dressing room.
After a while we brought them back and Joey Barton got involved.
“Why is it always you, Jay?”
“What are you talking about, what’s it to do with you?”
So those two start and guess who got in between them? Adel Taarabt! He was holding Joey saying: “No, calm down, calm down.”
It was so funny. I spoke to Dezza and Jay: “I don’t mind a fracas but if anyone throws a punch or head-butts somebody they’re sacked.”
And with the spirit of good will to all men flowing through the club, we all went home to celebrate Christmas.
The Gaffer by Neil Warnock is published by Headline, RRP £16.99. Standard
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC
עברית
Paulo Sousa Appointed as Head Coach
11/06/2013
Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club have agreed a 2-year deal with Paulo Sousa (42) to coach the senior side
Sousa enjoyed an illustrious football career as a holding midfielder for Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Parma, Panathinaikos and Espanyol, and was part of the 'Golden generation' of the Portuguese national side for which he made 51 international appearances.
Maccabi's owner, Mitch Goldhar, who met with Sousa two weeks ago together with Jack Angelides, told the club's official website: "I am delighted that the next coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv will be Paulo Sousa. As a coach I believe Paulo embodies the qualities we strive for at Maccabi Tel Aviv - namely discipline, work ethic and respect. I was immediately impressed with Paulo upon our meeting together. I know our fans and the club at large will give him a warm welcome".
Maccabi's Sports Director Jordi Cruyff told the official website: "I am happy Paulo is joining Maccabi and we are certain he can help Maccabi Tel Aviv progress in the path that began 4 years ago and take this club to a different level".
Paulo Sousa told the official website: “I want to begin by thanking the club owner, Mitch Goldhar, his representative Jack Angelides and sports director, Jordi Cruyff, for showing trust in me and for giving me this opportunity to become the head coach of this magnificent football club. Their belief in me, and in my vision for the team, gives me great heart and motivation for the many challenges we will face. Maccabi is a club with a strong tradition, passionate support, and I hope that with everyone working together, we can achieve success".
Sousa began his coaching career for the Portuguese Federation when he was appointed in 2008 as the assistant to National team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, in addition to coaching the Portuguese young national sides. In November 2008 Sousa was appointed as manager of Queens Park Rangers, and after stabilising the side, he left in April 2009 before being appointed the following summer as manager of the Welsh side Swansea City. Sousa guided the "Swans" to their highest position in 27 years, when they finished 7th in the English second tier Championship. Four days after leaving Swansea, he was signed as Leicester City's manager.
After three years in the British Isles, Sousa was appointed in May 2011 as coach of Hungarian side Videoton FC whom he guided to the Hungarian Supercup and Hungarian League Cup, along with the second spot in the league table in his first season at the club. Notably, he achieved a club record points total in that first year.
In his second season in charge, he again lifted the Hungarian SuperCup, and arguably the club’s best achievement in the last 25 years - Sousa led Videoton to the group stages of the Europa League after beating Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava, Belgian outfit Gent and Trabzonspor of Turkey. Victories over Sporting Lisbon and FC Basel awarded Videoton the third position in Group G. Sousa left the Hungarian club in January of this year.
Sousa began his playing career as a winger and playmaker in the youth academy of Benfica Lisbon, before moving to the position of holding midfielder when he became a professional. After winning three championships with Benfica's youth team, as well as lifting the FIFA Under-20 World Cup with his nation, he made his senior debut in the 1990/91 season before winning the Portuguese Championship and the Portuguese Cup two years later. Sousa then moved to arch city-rivals Sporting Lisbon for one season, at the end of which he joined Italian side Juventus in the summer of 1994. During Sousa's two seasons in Juventus he won the League and Cup double and the Italian Super-Cup, but recorded his greatest achievement in May 1996 when he lifted the Champions League Cup after his side beat Ajax in the final in a penalty shoot-out.
As a European champion, Sousa joined German side Borussia Dortmund and lifted the Champions League Cup for the second time in succession after his team beat no less than his previous club Juventus in the final. To his already packed trophy cabinet the Portuguese midfielder added the German Super-Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup trophy the following season. Two years later Sousa returned to Italy and played for three years with Inter Milan. After one more season in Parma and two years with Panathinaikos, Sousa then joined Espanyol in the summer of 2001 for one season, at the end of which he finally hung up his boots foor good. In all, Sousa made 51 appearances for Portugal on the international stage.
www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/en/news/news-articles/paulo-sousa-appointed-as-head-coach/
ON THIS DAY: GERRY FRANCIS' FINAL GAME FOR ENGLAND
Thirty-seven years ago: June 13, 1976: Gerry Francis Captain England for the last time as England won 4-1 in Finland..
This was Gerry Francis' 12th and final game for England, and his 8th as captain. Unfortunately, for himself, for England, and for QPR, Francis underwent bad back injuries which ended his internatioal career.
The England Team for this final game, captained (and played in) by Francis vs Finland Game
1. Ray Clemence Liverpool
2. Colin Todd Derby County
3. Mick Mills Ipswich Town
4. Phil Thompson Liverpool
5. Paul Madeley Leeds United
6. Trevor Cherry Leeds United
7. Kevin Keegan Liverpool
8. Mick Channon Southampton
9. Stuart Pearson Manchester United
10. Trevor Brooking West Ham United
11. Gerry Francis Queens Park Rangers
Courtesy of the Bushman Archives
   From The Football League Review. 1969 |
Last Edit: 12 hours ago by Bushman
They say the lights are always bright on Broadway.
They say theres always magic in the air. |
World's Best-Paying Teams - QPR at #91
The ESPN Magazine/SportingIntelligence global salary survey Lists "Best-Paying Teams in the World" - Soccer, Baseball, Football, Basketball, etc (Listing the average wage on almost 300 teams, worldwide.) "The survey included 278 teams in 14 leagues and seven sports across 10 countries." Queen's Park Rangers are #91 on this list (with an average wage according to this finding of $2,604,997 - for the 2011-2012 season.)
The complete List
13 Years Ago
QPR Official Site June 13, 2000
LOFTUS ROAD PLC ANNOUNCEMENT
This afternoon the following announcement was made by Loftus Road Plc, parent company of QPR:
LOFTUS ROAD PLC BOARD CHANGE
Loftus Road PLC, the AIM listed Queens Park Rangers and London Wasps sports Group, announces that chief executive Simon Crane has resigned from the Board to take up a new position as Head of Marketing of Jaguar Racing, the Formula One arm of the Ford Motor Company.
Simon will be replaced by David Davies, who joins Loftus Road from Ogden Entertainment, one of the world's largest venue management groups where he has been director of European operations since April 1998. He moved to Ogden from Contemporary Leisure Plc in 1994. Ogden was recently acquired by SMG Management Group.
David had day to day responsibility for all Ogden Entertainment Services interests in the UK and Europe including the management and financial development of :- the Manchester Evening News Arena, the largest and busiest indoor arena in Europe, the Telewest Arena, Newcastle, the Oberhausen Arena in Germany, Bridgwater Hall, the Manchester Storm Ice Hockey team, and numerous high profile sporting and musical concerts and events.
It is expected that Simon will leave on the 2nd July and David will start on 1 August 2000.
Chairman, Chris Wright, commented:
"We thank Simon for his commitment and hard work at Loftus Road and hope that he has a successful future career. We are delighted that David has agreed to join us, he has an impressive record of success with Ogden as a manager of leading national and international leisure facilities and brands. We look forward to benefiting from his experience, enthusiasm and ideas."
And a few days later on the Official Site
QPR Official Site - CRANE SAD TO BE LEAVING
CHIEF EXECUTIVE Simon Crane is leaving Loftus Road Plc this week to take up a new post. Simon has enjoyed his two years with the company and looks back on his involvement with fond affection.
He says: "I was offered a job by Jaguar Racing - the Formula One arm of the Ford Motor Company - about two months ago. So I went to see Chris Wright and had a conversation with him, and I've decided to take up that opportunity in terms of my own career development. But I'm very sad to be leaving Loftus Road.
"Business highlights have obviously been the sale of the Wasps ground at Sudbury, and just reconfiguring the way Loftus Road PLC behaves in terms of its customer and fan relationships.
"The sporting highlights clearly for me were the highs and lows of avoiding relegation and that wonderful game against Crystal Palace last year, Wasps winning two Tetley Bitter Cups and of course the marvellous work that Gerry has been doing with all his staff in turning around the fortunes of Queens Park Rangers.
"I feel very strongly that we have made a lot of difference over the last two years in terms of halting the downward decline. We've established a really good base to build on. So I wish my successor David Davies, who starts on Monday, a tremendous amount of luck in taking the club forward."