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Summarizing Damion Stewart's Positive Approach
Jamaica Gleaner
"....Davis was one of nine overseas-based players who arrived in the island between Sunday and Monday that attended yesterday's session. The others were Omar Daley, Dane Richards, Jermaine Johnson, Ricardo Fuller, Ricardo Gardner, Shavar Thomas, Demar Phillips and Damion Stewart....
Davis, Johnson, Daley, Stewart and Richards were not selected for any of the games in the first leg of the qualifiers. Stewart, who last played for Jamaica against Costa Rica in February, said he always anticipated a recall to the squad. Now, the Queen's Park Rangers defender said his focus is getting on to the pitch and getting Jamaica to the final round of qualifiers.
Getting a good start
"No matter what I never count myself out of the programme," Stewart stated. "I always thought that no matter what I'm going to get back in and that's one of the things that motivate me to work even harder at my club and try to get a good start, which I've had so far." Jamaica Gleaner
Rodney Marsh Returning to TV:
Watch Rodney Marsh on Setanta by Ben Blackmore
The most famous Rodney since Del-boy’s brother is back on T.V, yes that’s right – Rodney Marsh is back on the box. Always outspoken and never dull, tune into Setanta Sports’ “Football Matters” show on Monday for the latest views of Rodney Marsh and Graham Poll.
Don't miss Football Matters from 10pm on Monday. Click here for details on how to subscribe to Setanta Sports.
Never one to shirk an opinion, Marsh always puts his proverbial conkers on the parapet. Bradford fans will remember the picture above all too well, with Marsh forced to swallow his pride after predicting The Bantams would be relegated back in 2000.
A former Fulham, QPR and Manchester City legend, Marsh was one of the most talented players to have ever donned the England jersey.
Bracketed with the late, great George Best, Marsh was one of the first men to pioneer ‘soccer’ in the US, and his influence over British football remains such that Oasis featured a picture of him on arguably their greatest album “Definitely Maybe”.
One of the greatest injustices in football is that he only ever won nine England caps, yet he almost returned those to The FA back when Fabio Capello was appointed, in sheer protest that an English manager was not appointed.
No doubt his views will make for explosive listening on Monday, make sure you don’t miss it from 10pm." Setanta
[Rodney Marsh on the Web: Rodney Marsh's blog and Rodney Marsh Official Site ]
Stefan Moore - Express and Star - Decision to be made on Moore
Kidderminster manager Mark Yates will make a decision this week on the future of former Premier League striker Stefan Moore.
The unattached 25-year-old has been training with the Harriers in he hope of securing a deal at Aggborough, after a summer in the footballing wilderness without a club.
He was released by Walsall at the end of last season, after a journeyman three years since leaving first club Villa which has also seen spells at Leicester, QPR and a loan spell at Port Vale.
Moore’s availability has come as a surprise to some. After all, this is a player with 22 Premier League appearances under his belt for Villa. His younger brother Luke is still in the top flight, a £3million signing for Albion in the summer.
Even up until the start of the year, the elder Moore was a Championship player until his release from Loftus Road at the end of January.
Now he could play outside of the Football League for the first time in a Harriers shirt - if Yates decides he is worth a gamble.
The Aggborough boss said: “At the moment, Stefan is just training with us. I have got to have a chat with him. Possibly I could have a bit more news on that a bit later in the week. We will just have to wait and see.”
It had been unclear who had approached who to get Moore on board, with the two having a link from a short time together at Cheltenham. Now Yates has confirmed he was the one who was contacted.
He said: “Stefan called me and asked me if he could come down and train with us. I was happy for him to do that and he has looked decent. He is obviously a little bit behind the other players in terms of match fitness, but he will catch up.
“His talent and pedigree are certainly not in question...”
.” Express and Staf
Gerry Francis First QPR Signing Gary Thompson Turns 49
Gerry Francis' first signings (along with Tony Witter), Thompson (born joined QPR from Crystal Palace in 1991. The former Coventry, Aston Villa, WBA (and a number of other clubs) player was at QPR a couple of years, playing less than two dozen games and scoring once, before joining Cardiff in 1993 - See Thompson/Wikipedia
Flashback One Year: QPR Managerial Search and The Media
- How little changes!: A year ago, QPR's managerial search (which ended in Luigi De Canio appointment) saw another name in the media mix: After Vialli, Costacurta, Barese, Roeder, Hoddle, Pearce, Keegan, Jewell, Warnock, Adams, Allen, Klinsman, Ferdinand, Terry Venables was "mentioned" as either being wanted by QPR or hoping QPR will be interested in them
October 7, 2007 - The People/Tom Hopkinson - Tel's QPR shocker! -EXCLUSIVE
Terry Venables last night emerged as a shock contender to become QPR's new manager.
People Sport understands England's No.2 has made Loftus Road bigwigs aware that he would be interested in a sensational return to the club he led in the early 80s.
Venables has put his name into the melting pot along with a staggering 192 other applicants - including another former England boss, Glenn Hoddle.
Andnew QPR owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, with chairman Gianni Paladini, must now decide whether the former club captain, shareholder and managing director is the man for the job.
Venables, who made 179 appearances for QPR, would be able to combine the role with his current duties as Steve McClaren's secondin-command within the England set-up.
And a return to club management would enable him to get back into the English game on a day-to-day basis for the first time since he was sacked by Leeds in 2003. The People
Sunday Mirror/Paul Smith, October 7 - Rangers to target Warnock
EXCLUSIVE -
Qpr will this week give Neil Warnock the chance to return to management as the successor to John Gregory, axed eight days ago.
Former Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has been interviewed and there have been suggestions Rangers will move for Chelsea assistant boss Steve Clarke.
But former Sheffield United boss Warnock has emerged as the club's No.1 target and plans are afoot to thrash out a deal with him in the next few days.
The one potential stumbling block for the appointment is growing interest from London and Championship rivals Crystal Palace.
Rumours are rife that Peter Taylor is on the brink of being fired by Palace chairman Simon Jordan and he has already earmarked Warnock to replace him.
Warnock stepped down as Sheffield United boss in the wake of their controversial relegation in May" Sunday Mirror
Or Tony Adams: October 7, 2007...!
Daily Mail on Fulham vs Portsmouth Match Report:
"... Rumours suggested Briatore wants Pompey coach Tony Adams as QPR manager but Redknapp was quick to quash them.
"I spoke to the QPR chairman last week," he said. "He was asking if I knew a good manager but Mick Harford is doing a good job at the moment and so it was difficult for me. He didn' t mention Tony Adams and I don't think that's true."
Instead he assumed Briatore had dashed round the globe in anticipation of a goal feast, but there was little to keep him awake in the first 40 minutes...." Mail
OTHER SNIPPETS
- Danny Nardiello Not Yet Fit for Blackpool
"...BLACKPOOL striker Daniel Nardiello is facing a race against time to be fit for the Seasiders' next match – even though it's 11 days away. The first indication that the striker's groin injury may not be as routine as first thought came when Blackpool manager Simon Grayson let slip that the 25-year-old's availability for the visit to Doncaster on Saturday week is uncertain.
Stephen McPhee's return to fitness, coupled with the impact of Alan Gow, has lessened the urgency for Nardiello to return. Nevertheless, it is hugely worrying for Grayson that the frontman is still not fit.
Signed from QPR in August as part of the deal which took Kaspars Gorkss to London, Nardiello was seen as a freescoring striker.
But he hasn't had a chance to get going, limping off just seven minutes into his pre-season debut at Tranmere.
Since then Nardiello has made only two substitute appearances before suffering another relapse in training.
He has been undergoing treatment for the last two weeks.
But when asked about Nardiello's prospects of playing at the Keepmoat Stadium on October 18, Grayson said: "You never know with Nards. We have not really managed to get him too close to being fit but he is working hard with Phil Horner.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he was fit for Doncaster, which would give me good options, but it's not a certainty..." Blackpool Gazette
- Steve Claridge/The Guardian - Profile of a Player QPR were (and maybe, continue to be) interested in signing: Ben Watson - Steve Claridge/The Guardian
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Monday, October 06, 2008
QPR Co-Owner, Bernie Ecclestone Subject of New Book
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As noted by a messageboard poster on the IndependentRs site, there is a new book out on QPR's Part owner, Bernice Ecclestone.
The book is: Bernie Ecclestone: King of Sport by Terry Lovell )
Amazon.uk Details
About the book [From the Book Flaps]
"He is the man who created modern-day Formula One. He is both feared and admired for the way in which he masterminded its transformation from an amateur sport of the fifties into a global billion dollar industry of the 21st century. And now, with his GBP 2.5bn fortune, influence and power, Bernie Ecclestone has moved into the world of soccer with Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore to turn Queen's Park Rangers, a struggling west London club, into a serious rival to the capital's glamour club, Chelsea.Overnight, QPR has access to more wealth than Real Madrid, able to compete with the cheque-book of Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's Russian billionaire owner.
But what makes Bernie run? What lies behind the grim, poker-face of this deal-maker extraordinaire, who, for nearly forty years, has ruthlessly exploited and dominated Formula One? To many he became the saviour of the sport, but there have also been many who have suffered at this hands - the weak and the gullible, the politically naive and unsuspecting. They have a different story to tell.
"Bernie's Game reveals the unbridled avarice, callousness and corruption behind the hype of Formula One - and the warts-and-all character of the man who is now setting his sights on a sport no less decadent. This is the true, astonishing story of the single most powerful man in world sport today." - TEsco
- Look Inside The Book
Note: There was another book on Bernie Ecclestone, by Susan Watkins, "Bernie: The Fully Authorised Biography of Bernie Ecclestone" originally scheduled for October 2007 publication; and then May 2008 Publication. Not sure that that book ever got published. - See QPR Report: "Biography Delayed:
As noted by a messageboard poster on the IndependentRs site, there is a new book out on QPR's Part owner, Bernice Ecclestone.
The book is: Bernie Ecclestone: King of Sport by Terry Lovell )
Amazon.uk Details
About the book [From the Book Flaps]
"He is the man who created modern-day Formula One. He is both feared and admired for the way in which he masterminded its transformation from an amateur sport of the fifties into a global billion dollar industry of the 21st century. And now, with his GBP 2.5bn fortune, influence and power, Bernie Ecclestone has moved into the world of soccer with Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore to turn Queen's Park Rangers, a struggling west London club, into a serious rival to the capital's glamour club, Chelsea.Overnight, QPR has access to more wealth than Real Madrid, able to compete with the cheque-book of Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's Russian billionaire owner.
But what makes Bernie run? What lies behind the grim, poker-face of this deal-maker extraordinaire, who, for nearly forty years, has ruthlessly exploited and dominated Formula One? To many he became the saviour of the sport, but there have also been many who have suffered at this hands - the weak and the gullible, the politically naive and unsuspecting. They have a different story to tell.
"Bernie's Game reveals the unbridled avarice, callousness and corruption behind the hype of Formula One - and the warts-and-all character of the man who is now setting his sights on a sport no less decadent. This is the true, astonishing story of the single most powerful man in world sport today." - TEsco
- Look Inside The Book
Note: There was another book on Bernie Ecclestone, by Susan Watkins, "Bernie: The Fully Authorised Biography of Bernie Ecclestone" originally scheduled for October 2007 publication; and then May 2008 Publication. Not sure that that book ever got published. - See QPR Report: "Biography Delayed:
QPR Snippets: Ferguson Dismisses QPR Managerial Report...QPR Reserve Squad vs Southampton
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[Of course he probaly would, even if it were true!]
Peterbrough Evening Telegraph
"...[Darren] Ferguson has dismissed reports in a Sunday newspaper linking him with the manager's job at QPR. Peterborough Today
QPR Official Site - IN RESERVE: CONNOLLY IN SQUAD
Matt Connolly joins experienced players Gareth Ainsworth and Adam Bolder in the Reserve squad to face Southampton at Loftus Road tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon.
Hogan Ephraim continues his second string duties as he regains match fitness, whilst Angelo Balanta and Samuel Di Carmine are also included in Ainsworth's squa
OPR Squad: Camp, Connolly, Oastler, Ainsworth, Bolder, Harris, Arthur, Di Carmine, Ilesanmi, Balanta, Ephraim, Flood, Rose, Crowther, Tommasi. QPR
[Of course he probaly would, even if it were true!]
Peterbrough Evening Telegraph
"...[Darren] Ferguson has dismissed reports in a Sunday newspaper linking him with the manager's job at QPR. Peterborough Today
QPR Official Site - IN RESERVE: CONNOLLY IN SQUAD
Matt Connolly joins experienced players Gareth Ainsworth and Adam Bolder in the Reserve squad to face Southampton at Loftus Road tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon.
Hogan Ephraim continues his second string duties as he regains match fitness, whilst Angelo Balanta and Samuel Di Carmine are also included in Ainsworth's squa
OPR Squad: Camp, Connolly, Oastler, Ainsworth, Bolder, Harris, Arthur, Di Carmine, Ilesanmi, Balanta, Ephraim, Flood, Rose, Crowther, Tommasi. QPR
QPR Loan Striker Signing?
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Of course many fans were screaming for a proven striker signing throughout the summer. But for whatever reason, didn't occur.
BBC - QPR may bring in striker on loan
- QPR are considering signing a striker on loan after drawing a blank in the 1-0 defeat at Birmingham.
Rangers have managed just one point and one goal from their last four league games and are now 11th in the table.
Coach Iain Dowie told BBC London 94.9: "I've said all along that there are one or two areas I'd like to strengthen.
"That's something we'll do when it's the right character. Anyone in this division looks enviously at Birmingham's squad."
Only Barnsley have scored fewer away goals than QPR in the Championship this season. BBC
Of course many fans were screaming for a proven striker signing throughout the summer. But for whatever reason, didn't occur.
BBC - QPR may bring in striker on loan
- QPR are considering signing a striker on loan after drawing a blank in the 1-0 defeat at Birmingham.
Rangers have managed just one point and one goal from their last four league games and are now 11th in the table.
Coach Iain Dowie told BBC London 94.9: "I've said all along that there are one or two areas I'd like to strengthen.
"That's something we'll do when it's the right character. Anyone in this division looks enviously at Birmingham's squad."
Only Barnsley have scored fewer away goals than QPR in the Championship this season. BBC
Needed: More Players and Points...QPR Youth Crash to Southend...Cranie and Slade Flashbacks....Gerry Francis Set to Decide
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The perspective of the ever-supportive/never-critical-of-QPR Daily Mail! QPR supporters will of course be most interested to see how - and how much of - any additional sponsorship money is actually spent on new players.
The Daily Mail/HATCHET MAN: QPR should be going for players and points not just stockpiling ultra-rich investors
- "QPR are collecting figures from the list of the world's richest people as fast as they are accumulating points, which makes you wonder what they are up to.
Vijay Mallya, known for his lavish parties and ownership of the brewery responsible for Kingfisher Beer, could become the latest of the super-rich to join the Loftus Road group with a sponsorship deal.
- Rangers already have Formula One figures Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal as their major stakeholders, but the lavish transfer tactics of Roman Abramovich or the Abu Dhabi United Group have been conspicuous by their absence.
Iain Dowie's side have drawn one and lost four of their last five games and the manager reckons he is three players short of mounting a serious push for automatic promotion.
- But there are doubts he will get them in January when the transfer window opens again and maybe Ecclestone wasn't joking when he said he bought into Rangers to keep himself busy in the F1 off-season." Daily Mail
Southend Official Site/Rob Craven - U18'S QUALIFY FOR KNOCKOUT STAGES - Queens Park Rangers U18's 3 Southend United U18's 5
"Craig Calver's four-goal salvo ensured that Southend United's Under-18 side qualified for the knockout stages of the Puma Youth Alliance Cup with a match to spare after a stunning 5-3 victory at Queens Park Rangers...."
Southend
Martin Cranie Flashback: One Year Ago Today, Martin Cranie Joined QPR on Loan.
http://qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/10/portsmouth-defender-martin-cranie-joins.html
Steve Slade Turns 33 -
Born October 6, 1975. Slade, then an England Under 21 forward was signed from Spurs by Ray Wilkins after QPR's relegation in 1996 [Edit!]. Unfortunately, his career at QPR never took off. Nor after QPR did his career takeoff! See Wikipedia/Slade Stats
The Journal/Mark Douglas - Francis offered United position
JOE Kinnear will hear today whether his attempt to coax Gerry Francis out of retirement and add him to his threadbare Newcastle United coaching staff has been successful.
Kinnear oversaw a hugely encouraging battling draw against Everton at Goodison Park in his first game in charge yesterday...It represented a successful start to a tenure which is growing in authority, and which may see long-time friend Francis added to a coaching set-up which currently consists of just Kinnear and Chris Hughton.
Kinnear – whose appearance at his post-match Press conference suggests that his earlier threat to boycott the national media may not be carried through – revealed that he has been putting his players through double training sessions all week as he tries to draw a major improvement during his limited tenure.
And that has led him to try and persuade Francis to join his set-up on a part-time basis. Kinnear will hear from the former Spurs and QPR manager this afternoon.
“I’ve known Gerry all my life – he’s a good coach. I know he’s got media commitments but I’ve put an offer to him to join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays and do some solid work for which we’d pay him accordingly,” he said.
“Gerry has no desire to be a manager or coach full-time and he won’t be involved on Saturdays but I believe we need someone with that kind of experience to help us out.
“There’s only me and Chris at the moment and we’ve got a lot of young members of the squad who we’re taking together. I think it would be much easier if we went into smaller groups – it would improve them more...” ?” Journal Live
The perspective of the ever-supportive/never-critical-of-QPR Daily Mail! QPR supporters will of course be most interested to see how - and how much of - any additional sponsorship money is actually spent on new players.
The Daily Mail/HATCHET MAN: QPR should be going for players and points not just stockpiling ultra-rich investors
- "QPR are collecting figures from the list of the world's richest people as fast as they are accumulating points, which makes you wonder what they are up to.
Vijay Mallya, known for his lavish parties and ownership of the brewery responsible for Kingfisher Beer, could become the latest of the super-rich to join the Loftus Road group with a sponsorship deal.
- Rangers already have Formula One figures Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal as their major stakeholders, but the lavish transfer tactics of Roman Abramovich or the Abu Dhabi United Group have been conspicuous by their absence.
Iain Dowie's side have drawn one and lost four of their last five games and the manager reckons he is three players short of mounting a serious push for automatic promotion.
- But there are doubts he will get them in January when the transfer window opens again and maybe Ecclestone wasn't joking when he said he bought into Rangers to keep himself busy in the F1 off-season." Daily Mail
Southend Official Site/Rob Craven - U18'S QUALIFY FOR KNOCKOUT STAGES - Queens Park Rangers U18's 3 Southend United U18's 5
"Craig Calver's four-goal salvo ensured that Southend United's Under-18 side qualified for the knockout stages of the Puma Youth Alliance Cup with a match to spare after a stunning 5-3 victory at Queens Park Rangers...."
Southend
Martin Cranie Flashback: One Year Ago Today, Martin Cranie Joined QPR on Loan.
http://qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/10/portsmouth-defender-martin-cranie-joins.html
Steve Slade Turns 33 -
Born October 6, 1975. Slade, then an England Under 21 forward was signed from Spurs by Ray Wilkins after QPR's relegation in 1996 [Edit!]. Unfortunately, his career at QPR never took off. Nor after QPR did his career takeoff! See Wikipedia/Slade Stats
The Journal/Mark Douglas - Francis offered United position
JOE Kinnear will hear today whether his attempt to coax Gerry Francis out of retirement and add him to his threadbare Newcastle United coaching staff has been successful.
Kinnear oversaw a hugely encouraging battling draw against Everton at Goodison Park in his first game in charge yesterday...It represented a successful start to a tenure which is growing in authority, and which may see long-time friend Francis added to a coaching set-up which currently consists of just Kinnear and Chris Hughton.
Kinnear – whose appearance at his post-match Press conference suggests that his earlier threat to boycott the national media may not be carried through – revealed that he has been putting his players through double training sessions all week as he tries to draw a major improvement during his limited tenure.
And that has led him to try and persuade Francis to join his set-up on a part-time basis. Kinnear will hear from the former Spurs and QPR manager this afternoon.
“I’ve known Gerry all my life – he’s a good coach. I know he’s got media commitments but I’ve put an offer to him to join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays and do some solid work for which we’d pay him accordingly,” he said.
“Gerry has no desire to be a manager or coach full-time and he won’t be involved on Saturdays but I believe we need someone with that kind of experience to help us out.
“There’s only me and Chris at the moment and we’ve got a lot of young members of the squad who we’re taking together. I think it would be much easier if we went into smaller groups – it would improve them more...” ?” Journal Live
QPR Weekend Overview - Birmingham...New Sponsors (New Stadium Name)?...New Manager?....Caliendo vs Briatore (Again)...Briatore & Players...Parejo Blog
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A few QPR-related items for the Fans who might have turned off their computers on Friday...!
- As if anyone missed the Birmingham result! QPR's Birmingham Loss - Reports and Managerial Comments --
- Also: Iain Dowie on New Sponsors, Limited Spending, Pressures - Additional Iain Dowie Comments re New Sponsorship, New Players, New Pressure
- New Billionaire Sponsor Set to Be Announced (Allegedly: Possibly, accompanied by New Name for Loftus Road?) -- Supposedly Additional Sponsorship/Loftus Road Name Change
-- "Queens Park Rangers are close to agreeing a new £20million shirt sponsorship deal that would bring a third major figure from Formula One into the club - and could result in Loftus Road being renamed the Kingfisher Stadium.
Sportsmail understands that Vijay Mallya, the Indian billionaire and co-owner of F1 team Force India, wants to join forces with Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone and advertise his Kingfisher beer on the team shirts.
- Possible New Manager, if no improvement (According to the perhaps not-always 100% accurate, News of The World) - News of the World: Peterborough's Darren Ferguson to Possibly Replace Dowie?
- Antonio Caliendo Replies to Flavio Briatore (From Caliendo's own Blog) Antonio Caliendo's Reply to Flavio Briatore
-- "Caliendo replies to Briatore - Regarding the article appeared on SportsPro of the month of August 2008 by Tom Rubython and Graham Fudger, where Mr Flavio Briatore express some appreciations not particularly pleasant on the former shareholders of Queens Park Rangers, that he recently bought.
- What said by Mr Briatore doesn’t correspond to the truth. On the right time we will expose publicly what really happened during the conveancy of the shares to this person and his partners, the question is now on the hands of my lawyers."
- Briatore's Role re Players Playing Alleged London Informer re Briatore's Role in Parejo Playing
- Parejo Takes up Blogging Danie Parejo's (English-language) Blog
- Downloadable QPR Wallpaper Photos (including of Stan Bowles) Downloadable Photos from the Official Site
- Various other Recent QPR Report-Posted Items - See Other other recent QPR-related Stories
See Also: - September 29 QPR Report "Weekend Overview: Derby Loss...Man Ut Draw...Bowles Criticizes...QPR Name Change Talk: Claim and Denial...Price Protest...One QPR Speaks" -
A few QPR-related items for the Fans who might have turned off their computers on Friday...!
- As if anyone missed the Birmingham result! QPR's Birmingham Loss - Reports and Managerial Comments --
- Also: Iain Dowie on New Sponsors, Limited Spending, Pressures - Additional Iain Dowie Comments re New Sponsorship, New Players, New Pressure
- New Billionaire Sponsor Set to Be Announced (Allegedly: Possibly, accompanied by New Name for Loftus Road?) -- Supposedly Additional Sponsorship/Loftus Road Name Change
-- "Queens Park Rangers are close to agreeing a new £20million shirt sponsorship deal that would bring a third major figure from Formula One into the club - and could result in Loftus Road being renamed the Kingfisher Stadium.
Sportsmail understands that Vijay Mallya, the Indian billionaire and co-owner of F1 team Force India, wants to join forces with Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone and advertise his Kingfisher beer on the team shirts.
- Possible New Manager, if no improvement (According to the perhaps not-always 100% accurate, News of The World) - News of the World: Peterborough's Darren Ferguson to Possibly Replace Dowie?
- Antonio Caliendo Replies to Flavio Briatore (From Caliendo's own Blog) Antonio Caliendo's Reply to Flavio Briatore
-- "Caliendo replies to Briatore - Regarding the article appeared on SportsPro of the month of August 2008 by Tom Rubython and Graham Fudger, where Mr Flavio Briatore express some appreciations not particularly pleasant on the former shareholders of Queens Park Rangers, that he recently bought.
- What said by Mr Briatore doesn’t correspond to the truth. On the right time we will expose publicly what really happened during the conveancy of the shares to this person and his partners, the question is now on the hands of my lawyers."
- Briatore's Role re Players Playing Alleged London Informer re Briatore's Role in Parejo Playing
- Parejo Takes up Blogging Danie Parejo's (English-language) Blog
- Downloadable QPR Wallpaper Photos (including of Stan Bowles) Downloadable Photos from the Official Site
- Various other Recent QPR Report-Posted Items - See Other other recent QPR-related Stories
See Also: - September 29 QPR Report "Weekend Overview: Derby Loss...Man Ut Draw...Bowles Criticizes...QPR Name Change Talk: Claim and Denial...Price Protest...One QPR Speaks" -
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Iain Dowie's On New QPR Sponsorship, Spending Hopes and Non-Concern With Pressure
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Daily Mail/By ARINDAM REJ
"... QPR manager Iain Dowie wants three new faces if Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya invests in the club this week. The boss of Formula One’s Force India team and Kingfisher beer is on the brink of completing a sponsorship deal which could see Loftus Road re-named Kingfisher Stadium.
Dowie said: ‘Kingfisher beer? Very good. I don’t mind a drop of that at all. I like that but I don’t know anything about the deal.
‘All I’m worried about is getting on the training ground and being a football coach. The deal is for people more erudite than me to do. We can compete with anyone but I think we are two or three people away from being a very, very competitive squad.’
The extra funds will put Dowie under pressure to earn promotion this season. But he said: ‘It doesn’t bother me at all. With the money, you get the expectation that comes with it. You know what modern football is like. You win three games in a row and you’re a hero. You lose three and you’re the devil incarnate. I don’t worry about that.’ - Daily Mail
The Sun/VIKKI ORVICE
"....QPR’s billionaire owners — Flavio Briatore, Lakshmi Mittal and Bernie Ecclestone — want a crack at the top flight too.
But, unless they part with some more loose change, it will remain a distant dream.
It is ironic that, despite their tag of the second-richest club in the league, they looked like paupers compared to Brum.
The Blues’ bench alone had a price tag of £12million compared to £1m for Rangers.
The visitors began well with Lee Cook and Gavin Mahon going close. But, lacking the cutting edge of a Phillips, their confidence ebbed away.
Boss Ian Dowie admitted: “Anyone in this division looks on enviously at Birmingham.
“The owners here are wealthy, successful businessmen and, as a result, expectation is high.
“The pressure’s on but we haven’t spent much. We are two or three people away from a very competitive squad.” Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, the man behind Kingfisher beer, is the latest to be linked with QPR as part of a £20m shirt sponsorship deal.
Dowie added: “I don’t know anything about it. Kingfisher beer? I could do with one now!” The Sun
The Guardian/Mark Tallentire
"....Enjoyment was in short supply for all parties on Saturday as QPR left their Latin contingent on the bench and stiffened the side with Britons for what Iain Dowie anticipated would be a physical battle. While his side were far from overwhelmed, once McLeish switched Quincy Owusu-Abeyie from the left wing to the right Rangers struggled to contain Birmingham's occasional forays but a Radhi Jaidi header apart, they never really looked like conceding another although they never looked likely to equalise either.
Quite what the watching Flavio Briatore made of it is anyone's guess but stories that the Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya, whose interests range from the Force India formula one team to Twenty20 cricket and Kingfisher beer, is being lined up for a £20m cash injection were news to Dowie, who would welcome it all the same. "We can compete with anyone right now but I think we are two or three people away from being a very, very competitive squad," the QPR manager said. "Kingfisher beer? I don't mind a drop of that at all." The Guardian
Mirror/Ian Bayley
"...McLeish, who relegated both James McFadden and Cameron Jerome to the substitutes bench to bring in Phillips and Garry O'Connor, reckons his system is working.
He said: "With five strikers here I need to keep them on their toes. The fact we can rotate means we can maintain our edge with those guys."
Rangers boss Iain Dowie admitted he was envious of the £12million worth of signings his rival had on the bench.
Despite QPR's tag as the Championship's richest club, Dowie has had little to spend, but said: "I don't need to shout that out. Anyone with an incisive view of the game knows we haven't spent much.
"The people running this club are successful businessmen, wealthy men, and the expectation that comes with that is high. I'm disappointed with the points return recently, but we have some young talent and will be a force this year." Mirror
Daily Mail/By ARINDAM REJ
"... QPR manager Iain Dowie wants three new faces if Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya invests in the club this week. The boss of Formula One’s Force India team and Kingfisher beer is on the brink of completing a sponsorship deal which could see Loftus Road re-named Kingfisher Stadium.
Dowie said: ‘Kingfisher beer? Very good. I don’t mind a drop of that at all. I like that but I don’t know anything about the deal.
‘All I’m worried about is getting on the training ground and being a football coach. The deal is for people more erudite than me to do. We can compete with anyone but I think we are two or three people away from being a very, very competitive squad.’
The extra funds will put Dowie under pressure to earn promotion this season. But he said: ‘It doesn’t bother me at all. With the money, you get the expectation that comes with it. You know what modern football is like. You win three games in a row and you’re a hero. You lose three and you’re the devil incarnate. I don’t worry about that.’ - Daily Mail
The Sun/VIKKI ORVICE
"....QPR’s billionaire owners — Flavio Briatore, Lakshmi Mittal and Bernie Ecclestone — want a crack at the top flight too.
But, unless they part with some more loose change, it will remain a distant dream.
It is ironic that, despite their tag of the second-richest club in the league, they looked like paupers compared to Brum.
The Blues’ bench alone had a price tag of £12million compared to £1m for Rangers.
The visitors began well with Lee Cook and Gavin Mahon going close. But, lacking the cutting edge of a Phillips, their confidence ebbed away.
Boss Ian Dowie admitted: “Anyone in this division looks on enviously at Birmingham.
“The owners here are wealthy, successful businessmen and, as a result, expectation is high.
“The pressure’s on but we haven’t spent much. We are two or three people away from a very competitive squad.” Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, the man behind Kingfisher beer, is the latest to be linked with QPR as part of a £20m shirt sponsorship deal.
Dowie added: “I don’t know anything about it. Kingfisher beer? I could do with one now!” The Sun
The Guardian/Mark Tallentire
"....Enjoyment was in short supply for all parties on Saturday as QPR left their Latin contingent on the bench and stiffened the side with Britons for what Iain Dowie anticipated would be a physical battle. While his side were far from overwhelmed, once McLeish switched Quincy Owusu-Abeyie from the left wing to the right Rangers struggled to contain Birmingham's occasional forays but a Radhi Jaidi header apart, they never really looked like conceding another although they never looked likely to equalise either.
Quite what the watching Flavio Briatore made of it is anyone's guess but stories that the Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya, whose interests range from the Force India formula one team to Twenty20 cricket and Kingfisher beer, is being lined up for a £20m cash injection were news to Dowie, who would welcome it all the same. "We can compete with anyone right now but I think we are two or three people away from being a very, very competitive squad," the QPR manager said. "Kingfisher beer? I don't mind a drop of that at all." The Guardian
Mirror/Ian Bayley
"...McLeish, who relegated both James McFadden and Cameron Jerome to the substitutes bench to bring in Phillips and Garry O'Connor, reckons his system is working.
He said: "With five strikers here I need to keep them on their toes. The fact we can rotate means we can maintain our edge with those guys."
Rangers boss Iain Dowie admitted he was envious of the £12million worth of signings his rival had on the bench.
Despite QPR's tag as the Championship's richest club, Dowie has had little to spend, but said: "I don't need to shout that out. Anyone with an incisive view of the game knows we haven't spent much.
"The people running this club are successful businessmen, wealthy men, and the expectation that comes with that is high. I'm disappointed with the points return recently, but we have some young talent and will be a force this year." Mirror
"Caliendo Replies to Briatore"
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From the Blog of Antonio Caleindo
Caliendo risponde a Briatore
Ottobre 1, 2008 · Nessun Commento
In relazione all’articolo comparso su SportsPro del mese di Agosto a cura di Tom Rubython e Graham Fudger, dove il Sig. Briatore esprime une serie di giudizi poco lusinghieri nei confronti dei precedenti azionisti del Queens Park Rangers, da lui recentemente acquistato.
Quanto detto dal Signor Briatore non corrisponde al vero. Al momento opportuno chiariremo pubblicamente l’effettiva transazione avvenuta durante il passaggio di proprietà delle azioni a questa persona ed ai suoi soci, la quale oggi è in mano ai miei avvocati.
Antonio Caliendo
Ex-Chairman del Queens Park Rangers
ENGLISH VERSION
Caliendo replies to Briatore
Regarding the article appeared on SportsPro of the month of August 2008 by Tom Rubython and Graham Fudger, where Mr Flavio Briatore express some appreciations not particularly pleasant on the former shareholders of Queens Park Rangers, that he recently bought.
- What said by Mr Briatore doesn’t correspond to the truth. On the right time we will expose publicly what really happened during the conveancy of the shares to this person and his partners, the question is now on the hands of my lawyers.
Antonio Caliendo
Ex-Chairman of QPR→ Nessun ComentoCategorie: Calcio estero Caliendo Blog
Interesting Excerpts re Owners' Reported Perspectives re Football - - Post on BBC606 offering Some Excerts from the SportsPro article in general which cites some of the reported views of Briatore and Ecclestone
- SportsPro Magazine (Not the specific article in question)
Also:
- July 2008 Statement on Antonio Caliendo's Blog,
- Past Caliendo Claims/Complaints
From the Blog of Antonio Caleindo
Caliendo risponde a Briatore
Ottobre 1, 2008 · Nessun Commento
In relazione all’articolo comparso su SportsPro del mese di Agosto a cura di Tom Rubython e Graham Fudger, dove il Sig. Briatore esprime une serie di giudizi poco lusinghieri nei confronti dei precedenti azionisti del Queens Park Rangers, da lui recentemente acquistato.
Quanto detto dal Signor Briatore non corrisponde al vero. Al momento opportuno chiariremo pubblicamente l’effettiva transazione avvenuta durante il passaggio di proprietà delle azioni a questa persona ed ai suoi soci, la quale oggi è in mano ai miei avvocati.
Antonio Caliendo
Ex-Chairman del Queens Park Rangers
ENGLISH VERSION
Caliendo replies to Briatore
Regarding the article appeared on SportsPro of the month of August 2008 by Tom Rubython and Graham Fudger, where Mr Flavio Briatore express some appreciations not particularly pleasant on the former shareholders of Queens Park Rangers, that he recently bought.
- What said by Mr Briatore doesn’t correspond to the truth. On the right time we will expose publicly what really happened during the conveancy of the shares to this person and his partners, the question is now on the hands of my lawyers.
Antonio Caliendo
Ex-Chairman of QPR→ Nessun ComentoCategorie: Calcio estero Caliendo Blog
Interesting Excerpts re Owners' Reported Perspectives re Football - - Post on BBC606 offering Some Excerts from the SportsPro article in general which cites some of the reported views of Briatore and Ecclestone
- SportsPro Magazine (Not the specific article in question)
Also:
- July 2008 Statement on Antonio Caliendo's Blog,
- Past Caliendo Claims/Complaints
Further QPR-Birmingham Reports, Journalistic Assessments of QPR and Dowie and Dowie's Own Post-Match Comments
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The Observer/Duncan Mackay
The leaves have barely started turning brown and already you fear problems lie ahead for both these clubs this season.
Top of the table after this lunchtime fixture, at least until the other contenders played, with a victory over a club who had knocked Aston Villa out of the Carling Cup the last time they played in this city, everything looks rosy for Birmingham City.
This, however, was an unconvincing performance against a side that, for all the billions allegedly behind them, are making their status as the pre-season favourites to get promoted look ridiculous.
They say that bookmakers do not often get things wrong but, with one point gained from the past four games, Queens Park Rangers are hardly fulfilling the expectations of their wealthy backers and it surely will not be long before manager Iain Dowie is looking nervously over his shoulder.
Indeed, he had to fend off a series of questions after this match about his future. 'This is the nature of modern football,' Dowie said. 'If you lose, people want to be negative. Speculation is what feeds people and all I want to say is that I get on very well with the owners.'
Dowie was not given the cash to splash in the summer that he was predicted to receive and his side, a combination of seasoned Championship performers and promising youngsters, are clearly struggling, creating nothing of note.
'The character is there but we are disappointed with our return in the last three games,' he said. 'It's a case of toughing it out so we get us out of this sticky patch.'
City could also have problems brewing very shortly in their own boardroom. It is nothing to do with Alex McLeish, who has the full backing of owners and fans alike, but you sense David Sullivan is beginning to wind himself up again about the disappointing attendances here.
It is a subject he regularly complains about in the local press - usually leading disaffected fans to 'hit back' about ticket prices and lack of ambition - and he returned to the subject in his programme notes about other clubs in the division enjoying higher attendances and more vociferous support. The crowd for this match was nearly 2,500 down on their last home match, a defeat against Blackpool.
The club even gave away thousands of clapperboards to generate more atmosphere. The only effect they had during the first half was to litter the pitch as the wrappers were blown around in the wind.
It was not until the 45th minute that Birmingham came to life, when Garry O'Connor scampered down the left and pulled the ball back for Kevin Phillips, aged 35 but who could still give Usain Bolt a good race over half a yard, to react first and poke in his fourth goal of the season.
McLeish has been at Birmingham long enough to know how easy it is to alienate the supporters here, so refused to join in any criticism of how muted they had been up until then. 'It [the stadium] wasn't full but we had a good response,' he said. 'Whichever team you support, you need to get them going and we took a while to do that. It's up to us to get them going.'
They were more animated in the second half, although in truth they had as little to cheer. McLeish was nevertheless pleased. 'It was much better than the last two home games,' he said. 'I was nervous after those.'
St Andrew's 18,498 - Referee Andy D'Urso Observer
The Sunday Times/Paul Rowan - Kevin Phillips strikes to lift Birmingham into top spot
- THE top of the Championship is like an old friend whom Birmingham City visit regularly even though they would prefer to be keeping far more refined company. When they arrived there yesterday after beating QPR, it was with a tough, unspectacular display, which strongly suggested they had the resolve to mix it with anything this roughhouse of a league had to throw at them and find themselves dining at the top table again.
- They also have so many attacking riches that they could start with James McFadden on the bench and Marcus Bent at home, allowing Kevin Phillips to add to a tally of league goals that now stands at more than 200. The goal came just before half-time after Birmingham had met and withstood Rangers’ physical approach. Other than that, the failure of Iain Dowie’s QPR side to attempt any sort of respectable comeback in the second half spoke volumes about a side lacking in confidence and ideas. The club’s billionaire owners won’t have seen a run of three defeats and a draw as part of their three-year plan.
- “I did warn the players it would not be pretty for the first 20 minutes and we would have to work to retain the ball, and that was the way it turned out,” said Birmingham’s manager Alex McLeish.
- QPR and Gavin Mahon in particular had been putting themselves about in the first 15 minutes. Mahon’s challenge on Lee Carsley eventually led to the Birmingham captain leaving the field but the visitors weren’t the only culprits. Liam Ridgewell had the ball in the net courtesy of “the hand of God”. The centre-back would have been celebrating a goal were it not for the sharp eyes of a linesman. Instead, he was booked for his reenactment of Diego Maradona’s infamous goal. However, once McLeish pitted the fleet-footed Quincy Owusu-Abeyie against QPR left-back Damien Delaney, Rangers were pegged back.
Multimedia
- Still chances were few and far between and it looked ominous for Phillips and Garry O’Connor up front with so much strike power on the bench but Phillips was deadly with the one that came his way on the stroke of half-time.
- David Murphy sent a long ball forward from the left-back position to the edge of the QPR box that centre-back Fitz Hall should have cut out. Instead, he allowed O’Connor to get in behind him and cross from the dead-ball line to Phillips, who stabbed the ball past Radek Cerny. Muscle cancelled out might in the second half, with centre-back Radhi Jaidi unlucky not to increase Birmingham’s lead on 72 minutes.
- First, Ridgewell appeared to be tugged back in the penalty area as he sought to get his head on to a long pass from Murphy, only for the ball to drop to Jaidi, who forced a good low save from Cerny. All QPR managed in response was a lame header from Mikele Leigertwood into the arms of Maik Taylor as they crashed to their third defeat in four league games. The watching club chairman, Flavio Briatore, cannot have been impressed, though Dowie was putting on a typically brave face. “We are not firing on all cylinders but we have enough character to get us out of a difficult little run of points.”
Star man:David Murphy (Birmingham)
Birmingham City:Taylor 6, Parnaby 6, Jaidi 8, Ridgewell 6, Murphy 8, Augustien 7, Carsley 7 (Nafti 50min, 6), Larsson 6, Quincy 7 (McFadden 75min, 5), Phillips 7, O’Connor 7.
Queens Park Rangers:Cerny 6, Ramage 6 (Connelly 87min), Hall 5, Stewart 6, Delaney 5, Rowlands 5 (Ledesma 80min), Mahon 6 (Buzsaky 68min) Leigertwood 6, Cook 5, Blackstock 5, Agyemang 5
Referee:A D’Urso Attendance:18,498 The Times
SUNDAY PEOPLE/Chris Davies - Hoops boss on skid row with F1 chiefs
Iain Dowie didn't last long in his previous two jobs at Coventry and Charlton - and unless QPR's results improve quickly he will be making it a hat-trick of early exits.
Formula One billionaires and Rangers powerbrokers Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone are not used to failure, and one point from the last 12 could see the chequered flag come down on Dowie's time at Loftus Road.
It would be kind to say Rangers were poor. In fact, they were awful. Dowie's assortment were ponderous in defence, predictable in midfield, and lacking a cutting edge in attack.
Even though Birmingham were far from their best, Rangers created next to nothing in 90minutes. Blues keeper Maik Taylor saw more action during the pre-match warm-up.
Rangers huffed and puffed, but apart from Lee Cook they had no-one who looked like causing Birmingham problems.
Patience Dowie knows the Rangers money-men will demand an improvement.
"I've had no inclination," was his response - he meant indication - when asked whether the owners would show patience.
"You lose and always people want to be negative. I'm not a negative person.
We'll keep going and I'll do my job until someone tells me otherwise. I don't want to get caught up in speculation.
"The result was disappointing, as is our return from the last four games. It's a sticky run and if you don't take chances you're in trouble. "But the character is there, I have no problem with that. I think we have enough to get us out of this run." Even so, Dowie is also painfully aware that Rangers are powderpuff up front.
"We need more firepower. We're not doing it in the final third and that's hurting us," he confessed.
"In the end we didn't have enough to win the game."
Qpr arrived at St Andrew's having kept only two clean sheets in their previous 10 games this season, and that prompted Dowie to leave out his two most creative midfielders - Daniel Parejo and Emmanuel Ledesma. In came the more defensive Mikele Leigertwood in a midfield where, Cook apart, the emphasis was on strength rather than skill.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish knew it would be a battle.
"The way QPR lined up, they made it a scrap," he said. "It was never going to be silky football. They had almost an all-British team. I warned my players it might not be pretty and we needed a sleeves-rolled-up performance.
"As the game progressed I was happy with our possession. I felt really secure and confident. It was better than the last two home games when I was uneasy. In the second half we did well.
"We took a gamble by leaving people like James McFadden out but it worked.
"We don't want to flog people to death and we need to keep everyone on their toes."
Rangers' tactics were working until Kevin Phillips struck at the end of a first half marginall ymore exciting than root-canal dental treatment. Garry O'Connor got the better of Fitz Hall down the left and Phillips, timing his run to perfection, beat Leigertwood to tap home his fourth of the season.
The second half was better - it could hardly have been worse - and two minutes after the restart Phillips set up a chance for David Murphy, whose rising shot was only marginally wide.
Then Radek Cerny needed two attempts to save a header from Radhi Jaidi.
Dowie brought on Ledesma with 10 minutes remaining, but by then Birmingham were comfortably in control and cruising - despite the slenderest of leads.
Birmingham: Taylor 6 - Parnaby 6, Jaidi 7, Ridgewell 6, Murphy 7 - Larsson 7, Carsley 6 (Nafti, 50mins, 6), Agustien 6, Owusu-Abeyie 6 (McFadden, 75mins) - O'Connor 6, *PHILLIPS 8 (Jerome, 80mins).
Qpr: Cerny 6 - Ramage 6 (Connolly, 87mins), Stewart 6, Hall 5, Delaney 6 - Rowlands 7 (Ledesma, 80mins), Mahon 6 (Buzsaky, 68mins, 6), Leigertwood 5, *COOK 8 - Agyemang 5, Blackstock 5. - Sunday People
News of The World/Aidan Magee - BIRMINGHAM 1, QPR 0 Hand of Rid lacks Phillips' punch
LIAM RIDGEWELL tried a Hand of God goal — but this clash was more like the Land of Nod.
The Birmingham defender evoked painful memories of Diego Maradona’s handball goal against England at Mexico ’86 when he fisted the ball over the line.
Comparing Ridgewell to the Argy genius might seem far-fetched. But his second-minute effort had QPR players resembling Butcher, Sansom, Fenwick and Shilton in the Azteca as they surrounded ref Andy D’Urso in the hope that he would restart the game with a Rangers free-kick.
D’Urso saw sense and chalked off the strike before giving Ridgewell a booking for his outrageous cheek.
Then Kevin Phillips scored for real to win it for Brum — and that was as interesting as it got.
Not that St Andrew’s boss Alex McLeish cares. His side has been struggling for goals despite being near the top of the league.
And he would gladly have taken anything that came his way.
The Scotsman recalled: “I remember Maradona’s Hand of God goal very well. When we saw the incident in this game I thought the keeper had fumbled the ball.
“Then we saw the reaction of the referee and his assistants.
“Liam didn’t argue and it was then we realised he had handled it.”
Rangers, chasing their first win over Birmingham since 1985, were holding their own until they were undone by Phillips’ strike moments before the break.
Garry O’Connor escaped down the left, his cross was deflected into the path of the in-rushing Phillips and the former England striker beat Radek Cerny from six yards.
Earlier, Rangers’ Lee Cook had fired an effort straight at Maik Taylor from the edge of the area.
Coma
Cerny caught well from Kemy Agustien’s header before QPR’s Gavin Mahon drilled wide.
After the interval the crowd was momentarily awoken from its coma when the public address announcer called for Denise Agustien, wife of Blues midfielder Kemy, to make her way to the club creche to tend to a child. It really was that dull.
Birmingham left-back David Murphy blitzed a great effort narrowly over the bar before Cerny had to dive low to keep out Radhi Jaidi’s header.
Date
More seriously for manager Iain Dowie, Rangers have now taken just a point from their past four games.
The former Coventry boss has led his side to a mouthwatering Carling Cup date with Manchester United later this month but he knows that even a memorable victory at Old Trafford in the same competition last season was not enough to save his skin at the Ricoh Arena.
Dowie is confident his over- expectant board will give him time to lift QPR out of their current rut as he attempts to manage a side he has little control over when it comes to team selection.
He said: “This has been our best start to a season in 16 years.
“Last season this team won four times away from home and this year we’ve already won at Norwich and Aston Villa.
“I thought we dominated the first half but the goal came at a crucial time. I am confident I can pull the team out of this sticky patch.” News of The World
(Repost)
Iain Dowie's Perspective on Today -- QPR Official Site - DOWIE'S GOT THE BLUES
Iain Dowie bemoaned the one piece of 'lacklustre defending' that led to Kevin Phillips scoring the only goal of the game at St Andrews.
The former West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland hit-man was in the right place at the right time to convert Garry O'Connor's cross on the stroke of half-time, as Rangers' poor form in the Championship continued.
"It's a bitter pill to swallow," Dowie told www.qpr.co.uk.
"The last thing we deserved after the first half showing was to get beaten.
"They got behind us once all game and Kevin Phillips does what Kevin Phillips does best. That sums up our luck at the moment.
"Other than that, it looked like a 0-0 all day.
"The timing of the goal couldn't have been any worse. It's a straight ball and we failed to deal with it and O'Connor got in behind.
"The cross took a slight deflection off Fitz (Hall) and Phillips did the rest."
Dowie, who saw his side only test Maik Taylor once throughout the 90 minutes when the excellent Lee Cook let fly from range, added: "It was a blow conceding then and thereafter we lacked the incisiveness you need in this division.
"The second half was far more even, but I felt we were by far the better side in the first period and they didn't threaten us at all up until Phillips popped up.
"Our final ball in the attacking third has been killing us lately and it did again today." QPR
SPORTING LIFE - DOWIE'S PERSPECTIVE
"...QPR boss Iain Dowie denied he is under any pressure, despite the fact his side have picked up just one point from their last four games.
Dowie admitted he needs more of a cutting edge in attack to enable Rangers to get out of their current poor run.
He said: "We are not firing off enough cylinders but saying that it could be a very different picture with a couple of good results against Swansea and Nottingham Forest.
"The character is in the side. I have no problem. I'm disappointed with the points return in the last four games but that is what this league is all about.
"I was happy with the first half but not the second half.
"I am confident that I will get time to do the job at Rangers. I was reading the other day that we have recently had our best start for 11 years.
"I have seen enough character around the dressing room to get get us out of a difficult run of points.
"You lose games and there always people who want to be negative. I'm not negative. I will just do my job as best I can until I am told otherwise.
"I have a very good relationship with the owners. We have targets and winning performances against Swansea and Nottingham Forest and the whole picture changes."
Dowie had to admit that it was not a game for purists as neither side hit the high notes. Sporting Life
The Observer/Duncan Mackay
The leaves have barely started turning brown and already you fear problems lie ahead for both these clubs this season.
Top of the table after this lunchtime fixture, at least until the other contenders played, with a victory over a club who had knocked Aston Villa out of the Carling Cup the last time they played in this city, everything looks rosy for Birmingham City.
This, however, was an unconvincing performance against a side that, for all the billions allegedly behind them, are making their status as the pre-season favourites to get promoted look ridiculous.
They say that bookmakers do not often get things wrong but, with one point gained from the past four games, Queens Park Rangers are hardly fulfilling the expectations of their wealthy backers and it surely will not be long before manager Iain Dowie is looking nervously over his shoulder.
Indeed, he had to fend off a series of questions after this match about his future. 'This is the nature of modern football,' Dowie said. 'If you lose, people want to be negative. Speculation is what feeds people and all I want to say is that I get on very well with the owners.'
Dowie was not given the cash to splash in the summer that he was predicted to receive and his side, a combination of seasoned Championship performers and promising youngsters, are clearly struggling, creating nothing of note.
'The character is there but we are disappointed with our return in the last three games,' he said. 'It's a case of toughing it out so we get us out of this sticky patch.'
City could also have problems brewing very shortly in their own boardroom. It is nothing to do with Alex McLeish, who has the full backing of owners and fans alike, but you sense David Sullivan is beginning to wind himself up again about the disappointing attendances here.
It is a subject he regularly complains about in the local press - usually leading disaffected fans to 'hit back' about ticket prices and lack of ambition - and he returned to the subject in his programme notes about other clubs in the division enjoying higher attendances and more vociferous support. The crowd for this match was nearly 2,500 down on their last home match, a defeat against Blackpool.
The club even gave away thousands of clapperboards to generate more atmosphere. The only effect they had during the first half was to litter the pitch as the wrappers were blown around in the wind.
It was not until the 45th minute that Birmingham came to life, when Garry O'Connor scampered down the left and pulled the ball back for Kevin Phillips, aged 35 but who could still give Usain Bolt a good race over half a yard, to react first and poke in his fourth goal of the season.
McLeish has been at Birmingham long enough to know how easy it is to alienate the supporters here, so refused to join in any criticism of how muted they had been up until then. 'It [the stadium] wasn't full but we had a good response,' he said. 'Whichever team you support, you need to get them going and we took a while to do that. It's up to us to get them going.'
They were more animated in the second half, although in truth they had as little to cheer. McLeish was nevertheless pleased. 'It was much better than the last two home games,' he said. 'I was nervous after those.'
St Andrew's 18,498 - Referee Andy D'Urso Observer
The Sunday Times/Paul Rowan - Kevin Phillips strikes to lift Birmingham into top spot
- THE top of the Championship is like an old friend whom Birmingham City visit regularly even though they would prefer to be keeping far more refined company. When they arrived there yesterday after beating QPR, it was with a tough, unspectacular display, which strongly suggested they had the resolve to mix it with anything this roughhouse of a league had to throw at them and find themselves dining at the top table again.
- They also have so many attacking riches that they could start with James McFadden on the bench and Marcus Bent at home, allowing Kevin Phillips to add to a tally of league goals that now stands at more than 200. The goal came just before half-time after Birmingham had met and withstood Rangers’ physical approach. Other than that, the failure of Iain Dowie’s QPR side to attempt any sort of respectable comeback in the second half spoke volumes about a side lacking in confidence and ideas. The club’s billionaire owners won’t have seen a run of three defeats and a draw as part of their three-year plan.
- “I did warn the players it would not be pretty for the first 20 minutes and we would have to work to retain the ball, and that was the way it turned out,” said Birmingham’s manager Alex McLeish.
- QPR and Gavin Mahon in particular had been putting themselves about in the first 15 minutes. Mahon’s challenge on Lee Carsley eventually led to the Birmingham captain leaving the field but the visitors weren’t the only culprits. Liam Ridgewell had the ball in the net courtesy of “the hand of God”. The centre-back would have been celebrating a goal were it not for the sharp eyes of a linesman. Instead, he was booked for his reenactment of Diego Maradona’s infamous goal. However, once McLeish pitted the fleet-footed Quincy Owusu-Abeyie against QPR left-back Damien Delaney, Rangers were pegged back.
Multimedia
- Still chances were few and far between and it looked ominous for Phillips and Garry O’Connor up front with so much strike power on the bench but Phillips was deadly with the one that came his way on the stroke of half-time.
- David Murphy sent a long ball forward from the left-back position to the edge of the QPR box that centre-back Fitz Hall should have cut out. Instead, he allowed O’Connor to get in behind him and cross from the dead-ball line to Phillips, who stabbed the ball past Radek Cerny. Muscle cancelled out might in the second half, with centre-back Radhi Jaidi unlucky not to increase Birmingham’s lead on 72 minutes.
- First, Ridgewell appeared to be tugged back in the penalty area as he sought to get his head on to a long pass from Murphy, only for the ball to drop to Jaidi, who forced a good low save from Cerny. All QPR managed in response was a lame header from Mikele Leigertwood into the arms of Maik Taylor as they crashed to their third defeat in four league games. The watching club chairman, Flavio Briatore, cannot have been impressed, though Dowie was putting on a typically brave face. “We are not firing on all cylinders but we have enough character to get us out of a difficult little run of points.”
Star man:David Murphy (Birmingham)
Birmingham City:Taylor 6, Parnaby 6, Jaidi 8, Ridgewell 6, Murphy 8, Augustien 7, Carsley 7 (Nafti 50min, 6), Larsson 6, Quincy 7 (McFadden 75min, 5), Phillips 7, O’Connor 7.
Queens Park Rangers:Cerny 6, Ramage 6 (Connelly 87min), Hall 5, Stewart 6, Delaney 5, Rowlands 5 (Ledesma 80min), Mahon 6 (Buzsaky 68min) Leigertwood 6, Cook 5, Blackstock 5, Agyemang 5
Referee:A D’Urso Attendance:18,498 The Times
SUNDAY PEOPLE/Chris Davies - Hoops boss on skid row with F1 chiefs
Iain Dowie didn't last long in his previous two jobs at Coventry and Charlton - and unless QPR's results improve quickly he will be making it a hat-trick of early exits.
Formula One billionaires and Rangers powerbrokers Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone are not used to failure, and one point from the last 12 could see the chequered flag come down on Dowie's time at Loftus Road.
It would be kind to say Rangers were poor. In fact, they were awful. Dowie's assortment were ponderous in defence, predictable in midfield, and lacking a cutting edge in attack.
Even though Birmingham were far from their best, Rangers created next to nothing in 90minutes. Blues keeper Maik Taylor saw more action during the pre-match warm-up.
Rangers huffed and puffed, but apart from Lee Cook they had no-one who looked like causing Birmingham problems.
Patience Dowie knows the Rangers money-men will demand an improvement.
"I've had no inclination," was his response - he meant indication - when asked whether the owners would show patience.
"You lose and always people want to be negative. I'm not a negative person.
We'll keep going and I'll do my job until someone tells me otherwise. I don't want to get caught up in speculation.
"The result was disappointing, as is our return from the last four games. It's a sticky run and if you don't take chances you're in trouble. "But the character is there, I have no problem with that. I think we have enough to get us out of this run." Even so, Dowie is also painfully aware that Rangers are powderpuff up front.
"We need more firepower. We're not doing it in the final third and that's hurting us," he confessed.
"In the end we didn't have enough to win the game."
Qpr arrived at St Andrew's having kept only two clean sheets in their previous 10 games this season, and that prompted Dowie to leave out his two most creative midfielders - Daniel Parejo and Emmanuel Ledesma. In came the more defensive Mikele Leigertwood in a midfield where, Cook apart, the emphasis was on strength rather than skill.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish knew it would be a battle.
"The way QPR lined up, they made it a scrap," he said. "It was never going to be silky football. They had almost an all-British team. I warned my players it might not be pretty and we needed a sleeves-rolled-up performance.
"As the game progressed I was happy with our possession. I felt really secure and confident. It was better than the last two home games when I was uneasy. In the second half we did well.
"We took a gamble by leaving people like James McFadden out but it worked.
"We don't want to flog people to death and we need to keep everyone on their toes."
Rangers' tactics were working until Kevin Phillips struck at the end of a first half marginall ymore exciting than root-canal dental treatment. Garry O'Connor got the better of Fitz Hall down the left and Phillips, timing his run to perfection, beat Leigertwood to tap home his fourth of the season.
The second half was better - it could hardly have been worse - and two minutes after the restart Phillips set up a chance for David Murphy, whose rising shot was only marginally wide.
Then Radek Cerny needed two attempts to save a header from Radhi Jaidi.
Dowie brought on Ledesma with 10 minutes remaining, but by then Birmingham were comfortably in control and cruising - despite the slenderest of leads.
Birmingham: Taylor 6 - Parnaby 6, Jaidi 7, Ridgewell 6, Murphy 7 - Larsson 7, Carsley 6 (Nafti, 50mins, 6), Agustien 6, Owusu-Abeyie 6 (McFadden, 75mins) - O'Connor 6, *PHILLIPS 8 (Jerome, 80mins).
Qpr: Cerny 6 - Ramage 6 (Connolly, 87mins), Stewart 6, Hall 5, Delaney 6 - Rowlands 7 (Ledesma, 80mins), Mahon 6 (Buzsaky, 68mins, 6), Leigertwood 5, *COOK 8 - Agyemang 5, Blackstock 5. - Sunday People
News of The World/Aidan Magee - BIRMINGHAM 1, QPR 0 Hand of Rid lacks Phillips' punch
LIAM RIDGEWELL tried a Hand of God goal — but this clash was more like the Land of Nod.
The Birmingham defender evoked painful memories of Diego Maradona’s handball goal against England at Mexico ’86 when he fisted the ball over the line.
Comparing Ridgewell to the Argy genius might seem far-fetched. But his second-minute effort had QPR players resembling Butcher, Sansom, Fenwick and Shilton in the Azteca as they surrounded ref Andy D’Urso in the hope that he would restart the game with a Rangers free-kick.
D’Urso saw sense and chalked off the strike before giving Ridgewell a booking for his outrageous cheek.
Then Kevin Phillips scored for real to win it for Brum — and that was as interesting as it got.
Not that St Andrew’s boss Alex McLeish cares. His side has been struggling for goals despite being near the top of the league.
And he would gladly have taken anything that came his way.
The Scotsman recalled: “I remember Maradona’s Hand of God goal very well. When we saw the incident in this game I thought the keeper had fumbled the ball.
“Then we saw the reaction of the referee and his assistants.
“Liam didn’t argue and it was then we realised he had handled it.”
Rangers, chasing their first win over Birmingham since 1985, were holding their own until they were undone by Phillips’ strike moments before the break.
Garry O’Connor escaped down the left, his cross was deflected into the path of the in-rushing Phillips and the former England striker beat Radek Cerny from six yards.
Earlier, Rangers’ Lee Cook had fired an effort straight at Maik Taylor from the edge of the area.
Coma
Cerny caught well from Kemy Agustien’s header before QPR’s Gavin Mahon drilled wide.
After the interval the crowd was momentarily awoken from its coma when the public address announcer called for Denise Agustien, wife of Blues midfielder Kemy, to make her way to the club creche to tend to a child. It really was that dull.
Birmingham left-back David Murphy blitzed a great effort narrowly over the bar before Cerny had to dive low to keep out Radhi Jaidi’s header.
Date
More seriously for manager Iain Dowie, Rangers have now taken just a point from their past four games.
The former Coventry boss has led his side to a mouthwatering Carling Cup date with Manchester United later this month but he knows that even a memorable victory at Old Trafford in the same competition last season was not enough to save his skin at the Ricoh Arena.
Dowie is confident his over- expectant board will give him time to lift QPR out of their current rut as he attempts to manage a side he has little control over when it comes to team selection.
He said: “This has been our best start to a season in 16 years.
“Last season this team won four times away from home and this year we’ve already won at Norwich and Aston Villa.
“I thought we dominated the first half but the goal came at a crucial time. I am confident I can pull the team out of this sticky patch.” News of The World
(Repost)
Iain Dowie's Perspective on Today -- QPR Official Site - DOWIE'S GOT THE BLUES
Iain Dowie bemoaned the one piece of 'lacklustre defending' that led to Kevin Phillips scoring the only goal of the game at St Andrews.
The former West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland hit-man was in the right place at the right time to convert Garry O'Connor's cross on the stroke of half-time, as Rangers' poor form in the Championship continued.
"It's a bitter pill to swallow," Dowie told www.qpr.co.uk.
"The last thing we deserved after the first half showing was to get beaten.
"They got behind us once all game and Kevin Phillips does what Kevin Phillips does best. That sums up our luck at the moment.
"Other than that, it looked like a 0-0 all day.
"The timing of the goal couldn't have been any worse. It's a straight ball and we failed to deal with it and O'Connor got in behind.
"The cross took a slight deflection off Fitz (Hall) and Phillips did the rest."
Dowie, who saw his side only test Maik Taylor once throughout the 90 minutes when the excellent Lee Cook let fly from range, added: "It was a blow conceding then and thereafter we lacked the incisiveness you need in this division.
"The second half was far more even, but I felt we were by far the better side in the first period and they didn't threaten us at all up until Phillips popped up.
"Our final ball in the attacking third has been killing us lately and it did again today." QPR
SPORTING LIFE - DOWIE'S PERSPECTIVE
"...QPR boss Iain Dowie denied he is under any pressure, despite the fact his side have picked up just one point from their last four games.
Dowie admitted he needs more of a cutting edge in attack to enable Rangers to get out of their current poor run.
He said: "We are not firing off enough cylinders but saying that it could be a very different picture with a couple of good results against Swansea and Nottingham Forest.
"The character is in the side. I have no problem. I'm disappointed with the points return in the last four games but that is what this league is all about.
"I was happy with the first half but not the second half.
"I am confident that I will get time to do the job at Rangers. I was reading the other day that we have recently had our best start for 11 years.
"I have seen enough character around the dressing room to get get us out of a difficult run of points.
"You lose games and there always people who want to be negative. I'm not negative. I will just do my job as best I can until I am told otherwise.
"I have a very good relationship with the owners. We have targets and winning performances against Swansea and Nottingham Forest and the whole picture changes."
Dowie had to admit that it was not a game for purists as neither side hit the high notes. Sporting Life
Tabloid Alleges QPR Interest in Peterborough's Manager Darren Ferguson
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Sounds somewhat unlikely. One would imagine if there was a QPR vacancy, QPR might look a little bit more high profile - and possibly abroad again.
News of The World - QPR EYE YOUNG FERGIE
Posh boss Darren in the frame for Rangers
QPR are again eyeing Peterborough’s young boss Darren Ferguson.
Sir Alex’s son, 36, was in the frame for the job in the summer but the club’s new owners opted for Iain Dowie.
Rangers boast just one point from four games and a source close to Ferguson said: “We know they have kept an eye on him. The next few weeks could be interesting.” News of The World
Sounds somewhat unlikely. One would imagine if there was a QPR vacancy, QPR might look a little bit more high profile - and possibly abroad again.
News of The World - QPR EYE YOUNG FERGIE
Posh boss Darren in the frame for Rangers
QPR are again eyeing Peterborough’s young boss Darren Ferguson.
Sir Alex’s son, 36, was in the frame for the job in the summer but the club’s new owners opted for Iain Dowie.
Rangers boast just one point from four games and a source close to Ferguson said: “We know they have kept an eye on him. The next few weeks could be interesting.” News of The World
QPR's Part Owner Loses £16 Billion....Ex-QPR's Gerry Francis Rejecting Newcastle?...Dave Thomas Turns 58...Premiership Ticket Prices
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Times/Steven Swinford - Mittal drops £16bn as crunch bites
"The plummeting stock markets have hit Britain’s richest man and his fellow billionaires hard
Britain's richest man, the steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, has also emerged as the country’s biggest loser from the credit crunch with more than £16 billion wiped off his fortune by plummeting stock markets in just four months....
Tim Bouquet, author of a book on Lakshmi Mittal, said the tycoon’s lifestyle was well suited to less ostentatious times. “He’s very careful with money,” Bouquet said. “He likes to joke that on his plane he serves pizza rather than champagne. Mittal’s idea of a good time is to order Chinese takeaway from Zen Central in Mayfair.”
Mittal is also joint owner of Queens Park Rangers with Bernie Ecclestone, head of Formula One, and Flavio Briatore, managing director of the Renault F1 team. They sparked protests from fans last weekend after raising prices for some games to £50, the most expensive tickets in the Championship...." The Times
Football Shorts: Gerry Francis ponders Newcastle coaching job
FRANCIS PONDERS NEWCASTLE COACHING JOB
Gerry Francis, the former Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers manager, was last night offered a two-day-a-week coaching role at crisis club Newcastle. The 56-year-old Francis, whose most recent management job was at QPR in 2001, would work alongside interim coach Joe Kinnear. Francis has been helping Stoke City manager Tony Pulis and it is understood that the Potteries club also want to offer him a coaching position. A gifted midfielder, Francis became captain of England in the 1970s under Don Revie but won only 12 caps. His first coaching role was at Exeter before he became player-manager at Bristol Rovers, where he put £20,000 of his own money into the club. He moved to QPR in 1991 but resigned three years later and became boss at Tottenham. He returned to Loftus Road in 1998, taking on the twin role of director of football and manager, but left the post in 2001 - The Times
Telegraph/Duncan White - Gerry Francis set to reject Newcastle coaching offer
In another bizarre twist at Newcastle, interim manager Joe Kinnear has approached Gerry Francis to take a coaching role with the club.
However, Francis is understood to be unhappy at the news leaking out and is likely to turn down the chance to work with Kinnear.
Francis, the former Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham manager, has been out of the game since 2001. He has worked extensively as a television pundit but is understood to be seeking a return to coaching.
He has begun working with Tony Pulis at Stoke City and is expected to extend his relationship with them rather than join up with Newcastle.
Kinnear had revealed earlier in the week, albeit cryptically, that he had approached someone. Francis’s name leaked out yesterday. “I’ve got plans to bring in other people around me but I daren’t even mention it because I know he’d probably be in serious trouble before he got here,” he said.
Kinnear was adamant that Chris Hughton, his assistant, and the rest of the staff at the club were not under threat. Telegraph
Dave Thomas Turns 58
Born October 5, 1950 Gordon Jago signed 21-year old/England U-21 International, Dave Thomas almost exactly thirty-five years ago, (late October 1972) from Burnley for what was then a record fee for a Second Division Club: 165,000 pounds (and a time when the biggest transfer fee paid by an English club was around 250,000 pounds!)
(Thomas had been described as "the best young player in Europe" and seemed a bargain signing. Known for not wearing shin pads/socks down to the ankles)
Thomas was signed to replace QPR midfielder, Martyn Busby who very sadly broke his leg in a game at Fulham. Originally played in midfield, was switched to the wing and was a key player for QPR in their "Championship" season in 1975-1976. Thomas also played 8 times for England. Was crazily transferred to Everton in August 1977 for around 200,000 pounds. Played approaching 200 league games, scoring 28 goals.
See Thomas/Wikipedia - Also a nice Dave Barton QPR profile of Thomas - Also Burnley profile of Thomas - Burnley MAD
Also: Ex-QPR Birthdays: Alan Wilks Turns 62-
Alan Wilks - Born October 5, 1946. Wilks was known as Rodney Marsh's "understudy" which was a big burden to bear. Signed from Chelsea on a free in May 1965. Joined Gillingham in July 1971. Played his most QPR games in 1967/68 and 1968/69. His most famous QPR game was his scoring 5 goals (a QPR record) in QPR's League Cup game vs Oxford Unted almost exactly 40 years ago. (October 10 1967/68) QPR won 5-1. Wilks played in QPR's first ever game in the First Division (home to Leicester). That season, Wilks played 17+3 games, scoring 5 goals.
The Independent/Steve Tongue - Outside the Box: Time for a kick up the Arsenal as £100 ticket looms large
After the unwelcome landmark of the Championship's first £50 ticket, for Queen's Park Rangers' home game with Derby County last weekend, how long before the £100 Premier League match? It will certainly happen in London, where prices have always been highest, and the Emirates Stadium will almost certainly be the venue. Arsenal currently charge £94 for best seats at their biggest games, leaving Tottenham Hotspur (£75) and Chelsea (£65) looking cheap at the price. QPR, incidentally, had designated as "category A" opposition a Derby team that were in the bottom six in the table and had not won an away game for 18 months – until travelling to Loftus Road for a 2-0 success. Their manager Paul Jewell may not have gained many points but he will have won friends with his observation: "We can't keep bleeding fans dry."
Independent
Times/Steven Swinford - Mittal drops £16bn as crunch bites
"The plummeting stock markets have hit Britain’s richest man and his fellow billionaires hard
Britain's richest man, the steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, has also emerged as the country’s biggest loser from the credit crunch with more than £16 billion wiped off his fortune by plummeting stock markets in just four months....
Tim Bouquet, author of a book on Lakshmi Mittal, said the tycoon’s lifestyle was well suited to less ostentatious times. “He’s very careful with money,” Bouquet said. “He likes to joke that on his plane he serves pizza rather than champagne. Mittal’s idea of a good time is to order Chinese takeaway from Zen Central in Mayfair.”
Mittal is also joint owner of Queens Park Rangers with Bernie Ecclestone, head of Formula One, and Flavio Briatore, managing director of the Renault F1 team. They sparked protests from fans last weekend after raising prices for some games to £50, the most expensive tickets in the Championship...." The Times
Football Shorts: Gerry Francis ponders Newcastle coaching job
FRANCIS PONDERS NEWCASTLE COACHING JOB
Gerry Francis, the former Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers manager, was last night offered a two-day-a-week coaching role at crisis club Newcastle. The 56-year-old Francis, whose most recent management job was at QPR in 2001, would work alongside interim coach Joe Kinnear. Francis has been helping Stoke City manager Tony Pulis and it is understood that the Potteries club also want to offer him a coaching position. A gifted midfielder, Francis became captain of England in the 1970s under Don Revie but won only 12 caps. His first coaching role was at Exeter before he became player-manager at Bristol Rovers, where he put £20,000 of his own money into the club. He moved to QPR in 1991 but resigned three years later and became boss at Tottenham. He returned to Loftus Road in 1998, taking on the twin role of director of football and manager, but left the post in 2001 - The Times
Telegraph/Duncan White - Gerry Francis set to reject Newcastle coaching offer
In another bizarre twist at Newcastle, interim manager Joe Kinnear has approached Gerry Francis to take a coaching role with the club.
However, Francis is understood to be unhappy at the news leaking out and is likely to turn down the chance to work with Kinnear.
Francis, the former Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham manager, has been out of the game since 2001. He has worked extensively as a television pundit but is understood to be seeking a return to coaching.
He has begun working with Tony Pulis at Stoke City and is expected to extend his relationship with them rather than join up with Newcastle.
Kinnear had revealed earlier in the week, albeit cryptically, that he had approached someone. Francis’s name leaked out yesterday. “I’ve got plans to bring in other people around me but I daren’t even mention it because I know he’d probably be in serious trouble before he got here,” he said.
Kinnear was adamant that Chris Hughton, his assistant, and the rest of the staff at the club were not under threat. Telegraph
Dave Thomas Turns 58
Born October 5, 1950 Gordon Jago signed 21-year old/England U-21 International, Dave Thomas almost exactly thirty-five years ago, (late October 1972) from Burnley for what was then a record fee for a Second Division Club: 165,000 pounds (and a time when the biggest transfer fee paid by an English club was around 250,000 pounds!)
(Thomas had been described as "the best young player in Europe" and seemed a bargain signing. Known for not wearing shin pads/socks down to the ankles)
Thomas was signed to replace QPR midfielder, Martyn Busby who very sadly broke his leg in a game at Fulham. Originally played in midfield, was switched to the wing and was a key player for QPR in their "Championship" season in 1975-1976. Thomas also played 8 times for England. Was crazily transferred to Everton in August 1977 for around 200,000 pounds. Played approaching 200 league games, scoring 28 goals.
See Thomas/Wikipedia - Also a nice Dave Barton QPR profile of Thomas - Also Burnley profile of Thomas - Burnley MAD
Also: Ex-QPR Birthdays: Alan Wilks Turns 62-
Alan Wilks - Born October 5, 1946. Wilks was known as Rodney Marsh's "understudy" which was a big burden to bear. Signed from Chelsea on a free in May 1965. Joined Gillingham in July 1971. Played his most QPR games in 1967/68 and 1968/69. His most famous QPR game was his scoring 5 goals (a QPR record) in QPR's League Cup game vs Oxford Unted almost exactly 40 years ago. (October 10 1967/68) QPR won 5-1. Wilks played in QPR's first ever game in the First Division (home to Leicester). That season, Wilks played 17+3 games, scoring 5 goals.
The Independent/Steve Tongue - Outside the Box: Time for a kick up the Arsenal as £100 ticket looms large
After the unwelcome landmark of the Championship's first £50 ticket, for Queen's Park Rangers' home game with Derby County last weekend, how long before the £100 Premier League match? It will certainly happen in London, where prices have always been highest, and the Emirates Stadium will almost certainly be the venue. Arsenal currently charge £94 for best seats at their biggest games, leaving Tottenham Hotspur (£75) and Chelsea (£65) looking cheap at the price. QPR, incidentally, had designated as "category A" opposition a Derby team that were in the bottom six in the table and had not won an away game for 18 months – until travelling to Loftus Road for a 2-0 success. Their manager Paul Jewell may not have gained many points but he will have won friends with his observation: "We can't keep bleeding fans dry."
Independent
Saturday, October 04, 2008
One Point Out of Possible Twelve...QPR Lose to Birmingham - Reports and Comment
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Birmingham 1 QPR 0 - Championship League Table First half, all was ok...Till a minute from half time, when Phillips scored. Second half, Birmingham were much better. Briatore was at the game!
Iain Dowie's Perspective on Today -- QPR Official Site - DOWIE'S GOT THE BLUES
Iain Dowie bemoaned the one piece of 'lacklustre defending' that led to Kevin Phillips scoring the only goal of the game at St Andrews.
The former West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland hit-man was in the right place at the right time to convert Garry O'Connor's cross on the stroke of half-time, as Rangers' poor form in the Championship continued.
"It's a bitter pill to swallow," Dowie told www.qpr.co.uk.
"The last thing we deserved after the first half showing was to get beaten.
"They got behind us once all game and Kevin Phillips does what Kevin Phillips does best. That sums up our luck at the moment.
"Other than that, it looked like a 0-0 all day.
"The timing of the goal couldn't have been any worse. It's a straight ball and we failed to deal with it and O'Connor got in behind.
"The cross took a slight deflection off Fitz (Hall) and Phillips did the rest."
Dowie, who saw his side only test Maik Taylor once throughout the 90 minutes when the excellent Lee Cook let fly from range, added: "It was a blow conceding then and thereafter we lacked the incisiveness you need in this division.
"The second half was far more even, but I felt we were by far the better side in the first period and they didn't threaten us at all up until Phillips popped up.
"Our final ball in the attacking third has been killing us lately and it did again today." QPR
SPORTING LIFE - DOWIE'S PERSPECTIVE
"...QPR boss Iain Dowie denied he is under any pressure, despite the fact his side have picked up just one point from their last four games.
Dowie admitted he needs more of a cutting edge in attack to enable Rangers to get out of their current poor run.
He said: "We are not firing off enough cylinders but saying that it could be a very different picture with a couple of good results against Swansea and Nottingham Forest.
"The character is in the side. I have no problem. I'm disappointed with the points return in the last four games but that is what this league is all about.
"I was happy with the first half but not the second half.
"I am confident that I will get time to do the job at Rangers. I was reading the other day that we have recently had our best start for 11 years.
"I have seen enough character around the dressing room to get get us out of a difficult run of points.
"You lose games and there always people who want to be negative. I'm not negative. I will just do my job as best I can until I am told otherwise.
"I have a very good relationship with the owners. We have targets and winning performances against Swansea and Nottingham Forest and the whole picture changes."
Dowie had to admit that it was not a game for purists as neither side hit the high notes. Sporting Life
BBC - Birmingham 1-0 QPR
Kevin Phillips grabbed his fourth goal of the season as Birmingham eased to a win over a disappointing QPR.
The first half had lacked any serious goal threat until Phillips prodded in from close range just before the break.
QPR failed to muster any signs of being able to get an equaliser as the Blues defence comfortably held them at bay.
Birmingham were not at their best but the lack of ideas and urgency from QPR rarely troubled them as they secured a seventh win in 10 league games BBC
SKY SPORTS - Phillips fires Blues to summit
Birmingham back on top as QPR slip up again
Kevin Phillips fired Birmingham back to the summit of the Championship table with the only goal of the game against QPR.
The veteran striker bundled home from close range in first-half injury time after Garry O'Connor had been released down the left and cut the ball back across the six-yard box.
Liam Ridgewell had the ball in the net in the opening moments after a deep cross into the area, but was rightly booked for a blatant Diego Maradona impression as he punched the ball beyond Radek Cerny.
QPR, tipped to be among the promotion contenders due to their financial muscle, have now taken just one points from their last four matches after a bright start to the season and remain outside the play-off places.
The visitors failed to really get going and, despite having a wealth of possession, did not force Blues keeper Maik Taylor into any save of note.
The home side's resilience, which has dominated their displays so far this term, was enough to see them through and leave them one point ahead of Wolves prior to their trip to Swansea later on Saturday afternoon.
Sebastian Larsson returned for Birmingham after missing the midweek draw at Derby because of concerns over his hamstring, while Phillips and O'Connor led the forward line.
Iain Dowie opted for the same side that started the second half of Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Blackpool, Mikele Leigertwood and Patrick Agyemang taking their place in the XI from the off.
An ordinary opening half an hour followed Ridgewell's indiscretion with neither team creating anything in the way of goalscoring opportunities.
Frustrating
Lee Cook fired an effort straight at Taylor from the edge of the area with Birmingham struggling to string a series of passes together and the away side looking comfortable in possession without threatening.
Cerny was forced into his first save of the match after a frustrating 31 minutes - catching well from Kemy Agustien's header.
Gavin Mahon drilled wide after good work from Leigertwood before Phillips prodded home with virtually the last kick of the opening 45 minutes to set up a more promising second half.
And so it proved as Blues posed more attacking questions in the opening stages of the second half than they had in the entire first 45 minutes.
Left-back David Murphy blitzed a great effort narrowly over the bar in the 48th minute before Cerny had to dive low to his left to keep out Radhi Jaidi's downward header as Alex McLeish's side looked to double their lead.
Birmingham's determined play brought a previously dormant home crowd to life and even when QPR started to enjoy some moments of possession, they failed to do anything with it.
Yet a similar pattern to the first half soon followed as Birmingham lacked the crucial cutting edge needed to kill the game off, despite knocking the ball around with ease.
The visitors were starting to disappear from the encounter as the clash entered the final 10 minutes and were subsequently left to taste defeat for the fourth time this season - leaving them without a league win at St Andrews since 1984. Skysports
QPR Official Site
Birmingham City striker Kevin Phillips gave a master-class in forward play, as his goal saw off an out-of-sorts QPR.
Sporting the new red away kit for the very first time, the R's never really looked like scoring and fell behind to Phillips's strike on the stroke of half-time from Garry O'Connor's pass.
Despite Lee Cook trying his hardest to ignite a limp Rangers side, it was the home side that took the points on a bitingly cold afternoon in the Midlands
Manager Iain Dowie responded to a dip in form and reverted to 4-4-2, reinforcing his attacking line with Patrick Agyemang alongside Dexter Blackstock, whist moving Martin Rowlands out to the right and recalling Mikele Leigertwood to hold the midfield alongside Gavin Mahon.
The bench was awe-inspiring, with the attacking talents of Akos Buzsaky, Daniel Parejo and Emmanuel Ledesma all taking up residence in the dugout.
Birmingham Manager Alex McLeish handed a rare start to Scottish international striker O'Connor, towering defender Radhi Jaidi, and kept faith with on-loan midfielders Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Kemy Agustien.
The game opened in bizarre fashion as not two minutes had elapsed when a Quincy cross was 'headed' in by Liam Ridgewell. The 'goal' was chalked off, however, as the defender had performed a carbon-copy of Diego Maradona's infamous Hand of God, although this time, the culprit received a yellow card.
Despite the early scare, Rangers were by no means second best.
Cook and Agyemang saw plenty of ball down the left channel, as the R's competed well with the home side.
Indeed it was Cook who registered the first effort on target in the 20th minute. Leigertwood found Damien Delaney down the left and the Irishman crossed for the onrushing Blackstock, who was beaten to the ball by Ridgewell.
The defender's clearance was controlled by Cook before the winger fired off a snap-shot straight into the grateful arms of Maik Taylor.
Rangers threatened again moments later as Delaney once again got forward and picked up Agyemang's neat lay-off. As he strode forward, he sent the ball out wide to Rowlands on the right, who cracked a shot off first time that skimmed narrowly over.
Back came the Blues, as Quincy crossed from the right this time and found Agustien, who out-jumped Ramage and sent a header straight at Radek Cerny in the Rangers goal.
Moments later it was Leigertwood who tried his luck from the edge of the box but his effort went well wide.
Rangers continued to pose a greater attacking threat, with Mahon fizzing a 25-yard drive wide in the 35th minute.
Both sides were finding the ball in effective areas but the final bit of quality needed for a breakthrough was nowhere to be seen, much to the frustration of the large turnout at St Andrews.
However, on the stroke of half-time, Birmingham took the lead. A long ball forward was picked up by O'Connor, who'd drifted out to the left. The Scot ran at Fitz Hall and slipped a pass across goal that was touched home by Phillips to send the home side in at the break one up.
Birmingham, buoyed by their late first half goal, went in search of another early in the second period as Lee Carsley's long, high ball was chested into the path of David Murphy by Phillips. The fullback, on his weaker right foot, crashed a drive marginally wide.
The Blues threatened again seconds later as Jaidi, who'd stayed up front after an earlier free-kick, powered a header that Cerny did very well to smother and hold.
After 65 minutes, Dowie played the first ace in his pack as Buzsaky replaced the hard-working Mahon.
Cerny was almost caught out however, as a City free-kick found Jaidi just inside the box. The giant Tunisian sent a looping header towards the goal and the Czech stopper had to tip it over to save his and QPR's blushes.
With ten minutes to go, Ledesma replaced Rowlands in a last ditch attempt to rescue a point but it was not to be as Birmingham held on.
Birmingham City: Taylor, Murphy, Ridgewell, Larsson, O'Connor, Phillips (Jerome 80), Agustien, Jaidi, Owusu-Abeyie (McFadden 75), Carsley (Nafti 50).
Subs: Doyle, Taylor, Jerome. Scorers: Phillips (45)
Bookings: Ridgewell (2)
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon (Buzsaky 68), Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Agyemang, Rowlands (Ledesma 80), Ramage (Connolly 87), Cook.
Subs: Camp, Parejo.. Bookings: Leigertwood (71) Referee: Mr A D'Urso
Attendance: 18,498 QPR
BIRMINGHAM OFFICIAL SITE
Blues returned to winning ways against QPR at St. Andrew's this afternoon thanks to first half strike from goalpoacher supreme Kevin Phillips.
Once again Super Kev was in the right place at the right time to force home a close range shot right on the stroke of half time and earn Blues a deserved1-0 win.
Blues were somewhat disappointing in the first half, but they emerged as a completely different outfit in the second period of the game and dominated throughout with some first class play in which they could have easily added to their goal tally.
Alex McLeish made no less than three changes to his starting line-up with Garry O'Connor and Kevin Phillips returning up front in place of James McFadden and Cameron Jerome and Sebastian Larsson coming in for Mehdi Nafti.
On a bitterly cold lunchtime kick off Blues began the game kicking towards the Railway End.
Within two minutes of the start Blues had a goal disallowed and at the same time saw defender Liam Ridgewell booked for a deliberate handball.
Quincy crossed the ball into the QPR box and Ridgewell jumped with the goalkeeper and bundled the ball into the net, but the assistant referee had spotted that he had used his hand and immediately flagged for the infringement.
Blues were fortunate not to fall behind on 20 minutes.
The ball was fired into the Blues box and as Liam Ridgewell went to head it away he was knocked to the ground where he lay prostrate and it fell nicely to Lee Cook.
But from just 15 yards out the QPR man could only send his well struck effort straight at Maik Taylor.
Just a minute later Martin Rowlands blasted the ball less than a foot over the Blues keeper's bar after he found himself free on the right hand side of the Blues box.
Blues' first effort on target finally arrived on the half hour mark courtesy of Kemy Agustien.
Quincy sent a ball in to far post, where Agustien rose above his marker and headed the ball backwards, but R's keeper Radek Cerny was able to save it comfortably above his head.
Alex McLeish's side were struggling to impose themselves on the game against a well organised opposition it was the visitors who were creating the better opportunities.
Next to try his luck was defender Gavin Mahon who hit a fearsome 20 yard effort, but thankfully it drifted away from the top corner of Taylor's goal at the last moment.
But right on the stroke of half time and somewhat against the run of play Blues finally broke the deadlock through Kevin Phillips.
David Murphy pinged a 40 yard ball from the half way line to the left of the QPR goal where Garry O'Connor expertly brought in under control.
He ran forward past his marker before cutting it back for Super Kev to stab it home from just four yards out.
Half time: Blues 1 QPR 0
Blues arrived back on the pitch several minutes before their opponents where they undertook a warm up in the centre of the pitch.
This extra session paid immediate dividends as Blues started the second half with a renewed vigour.
David Murphy saw a great curling shot whistle just wide of the station and then Radhi Jaidi's header was well saved low to his left by Cerny.
In between the two chances Lee Carsley was substituted after 50 minutes to be replaced by Mehdi Nafti.
Carsley had appeared to be struggling with a knock towards the end of the first half.
Whatever Alex McLeish had said in the confines of the dressing room had spurred his players on and they were looking like a completely different side to the one that had begun the game.
Every time Blues went forward they were looking confident and dangerous.
In an attempt to change his side's fortunes around Ian Dowie made his first substitution of the game on 68 minutes when Akos Buzsaky replaced Gavin Mahon.
On 76 minutes Mikele Leigertwood was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card after catching Agustien's head with his elbow as they both jumped for the ball.
From the resultant free kick by Nafti, Jaidi forced Cerny to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
McLeish made his second substitution on 75 minutes when James McFadden was introduced to proceedings in place of Quincy
And then just five minutes later he made his final change when a tiring Kevin Phillips was taken on off and Cameron Jerome brought on.
Ian Dowie responded immediately by bringing on Emmanuel Ledesma for Martin Rowlands.
As the game went into its final ten minutes Blues were beginning to look slightly nervous as they sought to hold on to their advantage and Rangers were looking more of a threat without creating any clearcut openings.
Deep into the four minutes of injury time Blues almost made it 2-0 when they broke forward as the R's pressed on and James McFadden slid the ball into the path of Cameron Jerome.
But as Jerome looked odds on to get to the ball first Cerny came rushing out and got to it leaving the Blues front man injured in a heap on the floor.
Fortunately after several minutes Jerome returned to the action for the final 30 seconds of the game and Blues held on, to temporarily at least, go top of the Championship. Birmingham
Birmingham 1 QPR 0 - Championship League Table First half, all was ok...Till a minute from half time, when Phillips scored. Second half, Birmingham were much better. Briatore was at the game!
Iain Dowie's Perspective on Today -- QPR Official Site - DOWIE'S GOT THE BLUES
Iain Dowie bemoaned the one piece of 'lacklustre defending' that led to Kevin Phillips scoring the only goal of the game at St Andrews.
The former West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland hit-man was in the right place at the right time to convert Garry O'Connor's cross on the stroke of half-time, as Rangers' poor form in the Championship continued.
"It's a bitter pill to swallow," Dowie told www.qpr.co.uk.
"The last thing we deserved after the first half showing was to get beaten.
"They got behind us once all game and Kevin Phillips does what Kevin Phillips does best. That sums up our luck at the moment.
"Other than that, it looked like a 0-0 all day.
"The timing of the goal couldn't have been any worse. It's a straight ball and we failed to deal with it and O'Connor got in behind.
"The cross took a slight deflection off Fitz (Hall) and Phillips did the rest."
Dowie, who saw his side only test Maik Taylor once throughout the 90 minutes when the excellent Lee Cook let fly from range, added: "It was a blow conceding then and thereafter we lacked the incisiveness you need in this division.
"The second half was far more even, but I felt we were by far the better side in the first period and they didn't threaten us at all up until Phillips popped up.
"Our final ball in the attacking third has been killing us lately and it did again today." QPR
SPORTING LIFE - DOWIE'S PERSPECTIVE
"...QPR boss Iain Dowie denied he is under any pressure, despite the fact his side have picked up just one point from their last four games.
Dowie admitted he needs more of a cutting edge in attack to enable Rangers to get out of their current poor run.
He said: "We are not firing off enough cylinders but saying that it could be a very different picture with a couple of good results against Swansea and Nottingham Forest.
"The character is in the side. I have no problem. I'm disappointed with the points return in the last four games but that is what this league is all about.
"I was happy with the first half but not the second half.
"I am confident that I will get time to do the job at Rangers. I was reading the other day that we have recently had our best start for 11 years.
"I have seen enough character around the dressing room to get get us out of a difficult run of points.
"You lose games and there always people who want to be negative. I'm not negative. I will just do my job as best I can until I am told otherwise.
"I have a very good relationship with the owners. We have targets and winning performances against Swansea and Nottingham Forest and the whole picture changes."
Dowie had to admit that it was not a game for purists as neither side hit the high notes. Sporting Life
BBC - Birmingham 1-0 QPR
Kevin Phillips grabbed his fourth goal of the season as Birmingham eased to a win over a disappointing QPR.
The first half had lacked any serious goal threat until Phillips prodded in from close range just before the break.
QPR failed to muster any signs of being able to get an equaliser as the Blues defence comfortably held them at bay.
Birmingham were not at their best but the lack of ideas and urgency from QPR rarely troubled them as they secured a seventh win in 10 league games BBC
SKY SPORTS - Phillips fires Blues to summit
Birmingham back on top as QPR slip up again
Kevin Phillips fired Birmingham back to the summit of the Championship table with the only goal of the game against QPR.
The veteran striker bundled home from close range in first-half injury time after Garry O'Connor had been released down the left and cut the ball back across the six-yard box.
Liam Ridgewell had the ball in the net in the opening moments after a deep cross into the area, but was rightly booked for a blatant Diego Maradona impression as he punched the ball beyond Radek Cerny.
QPR, tipped to be among the promotion contenders due to their financial muscle, have now taken just one points from their last four matches after a bright start to the season and remain outside the play-off places.
The visitors failed to really get going and, despite having a wealth of possession, did not force Blues keeper Maik Taylor into any save of note.
The home side's resilience, which has dominated their displays so far this term, was enough to see them through and leave them one point ahead of Wolves prior to their trip to Swansea later on Saturday afternoon.
Sebastian Larsson returned for Birmingham after missing the midweek draw at Derby because of concerns over his hamstring, while Phillips and O'Connor led the forward line.
Iain Dowie opted for the same side that started the second half of Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Blackpool, Mikele Leigertwood and Patrick Agyemang taking their place in the XI from the off.
An ordinary opening half an hour followed Ridgewell's indiscretion with neither team creating anything in the way of goalscoring opportunities.
Frustrating
Lee Cook fired an effort straight at Taylor from the edge of the area with Birmingham struggling to string a series of passes together and the away side looking comfortable in possession without threatening.
Cerny was forced into his first save of the match after a frustrating 31 minutes - catching well from Kemy Agustien's header.
Gavin Mahon drilled wide after good work from Leigertwood before Phillips prodded home with virtually the last kick of the opening 45 minutes to set up a more promising second half.
And so it proved as Blues posed more attacking questions in the opening stages of the second half than they had in the entire first 45 minutes.
Left-back David Murphy blitzed a great effort narrowly over the bar in the 48th minute before Cerny had to dive low to his left to keep out Radhi Jaidi's downward header as Alex McLeish's side looked to double their lead.
Birmingham's determined play brought a previously dormant home crowd to life and even when QPR started to enjoy some moments of possession, they failed to do anything with it.
Yet a similar pattern to the first half soon followed as Birmingham lacked the crucial cutting edge needed to kill the game off, despite knocking the ball around with ease.
The visitors were starting to disappear from the encounter as the clash entered the final 10 minutes and were subsequently left to taste defeat for the fourth time this season - leaving them without a league win at St Andrews since 1984. Skysports
QPR Official Site
Birmingham City striker Kevin Phillips gave a master-class in forward play, as his goal saw off an out-of-sorts QPR.
Sporting the new red away kit for the very first time, the R's never really looked like scoring and fell behind to Phillips's strike on the stroke of half-time from Garry O'Connor's pass.
Despite Lee Cook trying his hardest to ignite a limp Rangers side, it was the home side that took the points on a bitingly cold afternoon in the Midlands
Manager Iain Dowie responded to a dip in form and reverted to 4-4-2, reinforcing his attacking line with Patrick Agyemang alongside Dexter Blackstock, whist moving Martin Rowlands out to the right and recalling Mikele Leigertwood to hold the midfield alongside Gavin Mahon.
The bench was awe-inspiring, with the attacking talents of Akos Buzsaky, Daniel Parejo and Emmanuel Ledesma all taking up residence in the dugout.
Birmingham Manager Alex McLeish handed a rare start to Scottish international striker O'Connor, towering defender Radhi Jaidi, and kept faith with on-loan midfielders Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Kemy Agustien.
The game opened in bizarre fashion as not two minutes had elapsed when a Quincy cross was 'headed' in by Liam Ridgewell. The 'goal' was chalked off, however, as the defender had performed a carbon-copy of Diego Maradona's infamous Hand of God, although this time, the culprit received a yellow card.
Despite the early scare, Rangers were by no means second best.
Cook and Agyemang saw plenty of ball down the left channel, as the R's competed well with the home side.
Indeed it was Cook who registered the first effort on target in the 20th minute. Leigertwood found Damien Delaney down the left and the Irishman crossed for the onrushing Blackstock, who was beaten to the ball by Ridgewell.
The defender's clearance was controlled by Cook before the winger fired off a snap-shot straight into the grateful arms of Maik Taylor.
Rangers threatened again moments later as Delaney once again got forward and picked up Agyemang's neat lay-off. As he strode forward, he sent the ball out wide to Rowlands on the right, who cracked a shot off first time that skimmed narrowly over.
Back came the Blues, as Quincy crossed from the right this time and found Agustien, who out-jumped Ramage and sent a header straight at Radek Cerny in the Rangers goal.
Moments later it was Leigertwood who tried his luck from the edge of the box but his effort went well wide.
Rangers continued to pose a greater attacking threat, with Mahon fizzing a 25-yard drive wide in the 35th minute.
Both sides were finding the ball in effective areas but the final bit of quality needed for a breakthrough was nowhere to be seen, much to the frustration of the large turnout at St Andrews.
However, on the stroke of half-time, Birmingham took the lead. A long ball forward was picked up by O'Connor, who'd drifted out to the left. The Scot ran at Fitz Hall and slipped a pass across goal that was touched home by Phillips to send the home side in at the break one up.
Birmingham, buoyed by their late first half goal, went in search of another early in the second period as Lee Carsley's long, high ball was chested into the path of David Murphy by Phillips. The fullback, on his weaker right foot, crashed a drive marginally wide.
The Blues threatened again seconds later as Jaidi, who'd stayed up front after an earlier free-kick, powered a header that Cerny did very well to smother and hold.
After 65 minutes, Dowie played the first ace in his pack as Buzsaky replaced the hard-working Mahon.
Cerny was almost caught out however, as a City free-kick found Jaidi just inside the box. The giant Tunisian sent a looping header towards the goal and the Czech stopper had to tip it over to save his and QPR's blushes.
With ten minutes to go, Ledesma replaced Rowlands in a last ditch attempt to rescue a point but it was not to be as Birmingham held on.
Birmingham City: Taylor, Murphy, Ridgewell, Larsson, O'Connor, Phillips (Jerome 80), Agustien, Jaidi, Owusu-Abeyie (McFadden 75), Carsley (Nafti 50).
Subs: Doyle, Taylor, Jerome. Scorers: Phillips (45)
Bookings: Ridgewell (2)
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon (Buzsaky 68), Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Agyemang, Rowlands (Ledesma 80), Ramage (Connolly 87), Cook.
Subs: Camp, Parejo.. Bookings: Leigertwood (71) Referee: Mr A D'Urso
Attendance: 18,498 QPR
BIRMINGHAM OFFICIAL SITE
Blues returned to winning ways against QPR at St. Andrew's this afternoon thanks to first half strike from goalpoacher supreme Kevin Phillips.
Once again Super Kev was in the right place at the right time to force home a close range shot right on the stroke of half time and earn Blues a deserved1-0 win.
Blues were somewhat disappointing in the first half, but they emerged as a completely different outfit in the second period of the game and dominated throughout with some first class play in which they could have easily added to their goal tally.
Alex McLeish made no less than three changes to his starting line-up with Garry O'Connor and Kevin Phillips returning up front in place of James McFadden and Cameron Jerome and Sebastian Larsson coming in for Mehdi Nafti.
On a bitterly cold lunchtime kick off Blues began the game kicking towards the Railway End.
Within two minutes of the start Blues had a goal disallowed and at the same time saw defender Liam Ridgewell booked for a deliberate handball.
Quincy crossed the ball into the QPR box and Ridgewell jumped with the goalkeeper and bundled the ball into the net, but the assistant referee had spotted that he had used his hand and immediately flagged for the infringement.
Blues were fortunate not to fall behind on 20 minutes.
The ball was fired into the Blues box and as Liam Ridgewell went to head it away he was knocked to the ground where he lay prostrate and it fell nicely to Lee Cook.
But from just 15 yards out the QPR man could only send his well struck effort straight at Maik Taylor.
Just a minute later Martin Rowlands blasted the ball less than a foot over the Blues keeper's bar after he found himself free on the right hand side of the Blues box.
Blues' first effort on target finally arrived on the half hour mark courtesy of Kemy Agustien.
Quincy sent a ball in to far post, where Agustien rose above his marker and headed the ball backwards, but R's keeper Radek Cerny was able to save it comfortably above his head.
Alex McLeish's side were struggling to impose themselves on the game against a well organised opposition it was the visitors who were creating the better opportunities.
Next to try his luck was defender Gavin Mahon who hit a fearsome 20 yard effort, but thankfully it drifted away from the top corner of Taylor's goal at the last moment.
But right on the stroke of half time and somewhat against the run of play Blues finally broke the deadlock through Kevin Phillips.
David Murphy pinged a 40 yard ball from the half way line to the left of the QPR goal where Garry O'Connor expertly brought in under control.
He ran forward past his marker before cutting it back for Super Kev to stab it home from just four yards out.
Half time: Blues 1 QPR 0
Blues arrived back on the pitch several minutes before their opponents where they undertook a warm up in the centre of the pitch.
This extra session paid immediate dividends as Blues started the second half with a renewed vigour.
David Murphy saw a great curling shot whistle just wide of the station and then Radhi Jaidi's header was well saved low to his left by Cerny.
In between the two chances Lee Carsley was substituted after 50 minutes to be replaced by Mehdi Nafti.
Carsley had appeared to be struggling with a knock towards the end of the first half.
Whatever Alex McLeish had said in the confines of the dressing room had spurred his players on and they were looking like a completely different side to the one that had begun the game.
Every time Blues went forward they were looking confident and dangerous.
In an attempt to change his side's fortunes around Ian Dowie made his first substitution of the game on 68 minutes when Akos Buzsaky replaced Gavin Mahon.
On 76 minutes Mikele Leigertwood was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card after catching Agustien's head with his elbow as they both jumped for the ball.
From the resultant free kick by Nafti, Jaidi forced Cerny to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
McLeish made his second substitution on 75 minutes when James McFadden was introduced to proceedings in place of Quincy
And then just five minutes later he made his final change when a tiring Kevin Phillips was taken on off and Cameron Jerome brought on.
Ian Dowie responded immediately by bringing on Emmanuel Ledesma for Martin Rowlands.
As the game went into its final ten minutes Blues were beginning to look slightly nervous as they sought to hold on to their advantage and Rangers were looking more of a threat without creating any clearcut openings.
Deep into the four minutes of injury time Blues almost made it 2-0 when they broke forward as the R's pressed on and James McFadden slid the ball into the path of Cameron Jerome.
But as Jerome looked odds on to get to the ball first Cerny came rushing out and got to it leaving the Blues front man injured in a heap on the floor.
Fortunately after several minutes Jerome returned to the action for the final 30 seconds of the game and Blues held on, to temporarily at least, go top of the Championship. Birmingham
Today's Teams - Birmingham vs QPR - Couple of changes
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Watch online on Computer
Today's Teams:
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Agyemang, Rowlands, Ramage, Cook. - Subs: Camp, Parejo, Buzsaky, Connolly, Ledesma.
Birmingham: Taylor, Murphy, Ridgewell, Larsson, O'Connor, Phillips, Agustien, Jaidi, Owusu-Abeyie, Carsley. - Subs: Doyle, Taylor, Jerome, Nafti, McFadden.
Teams and Live Minute-to-Minute Updates
Also: Birmingham Preview -- Birmingham Official Site
"....FORM GUIDE
Blues have collected five wins and two draws from their opening nine League fixtures. Alex McLeish's side are just two points behind Championship pace setters Wolves, who occupy top spot. Blues have lost just once at home since March. That 1-0 defeat came at the hands of Blackpool last month.
QPR
The R's are without a League win in their last three outings and they have scored just three times in their last five matches. Their most recent game was earlier this week when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road by Blackpool.
MANAGERS' COMMENTS
ALEX McLEISH
At home the onus is on you to go and attack and entertain your own fans but we have to try and get the right formula to keep the door shut at the back and to give the fans what they want.
There have been signs of a better system over the last couple of games albeit they were away games.
Against Blackpool I pointed out to the players the difference between tempo and kicking the ball up field all the time.
We've tried to work on playing to our strengths in recent weeks.
This is a test of our character and guile that we try and do it at home.
Ian Dowie has done a good job and he knows all about the game and he's a pretty shrewd guy.
But it's not about Ian and I it's about what the players do when they cross the line. We can only prepare them.
IAN DOWIE
We're a win away from fourth spot and that's where we want to be.
With the exception of the Sheffield United match, we've really risen to the challenge so far this season on our travels.
If we get it right again on Saturday, it will be a very interesting match. I'm looking forward to it and I've seen enough heart and desire from my players to know we'll go there and give a good account of ourselves.
We've gone to Norwich and played for over an hour with ten men and won - and we got a great point against Bristol City with ten men too.
We've gone to Coventry and totally dominated the game, only to get done with a dubious penalty, so there are lots of positives to take from our recent away form.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Blues have a good league record against today's visitors having lost just nine of the 42 meetings. In contrast, Rangers hold something of a voodoo sign over the blue side of Birmingham in cup competitions with five straight wins in the only knockout games played between the clubs. That sequence included defeats in both legs of the 1967 League Cup semi-final when remarkably the London club went on to win the trophy with victory over West Brom at Wembley despite then playing in the third tier of English football. However, Blues are undefeated in their last 13 games against Rangers and have lost just once in 21 home matches overall....
BETTING
Blues are strong favourites with bet365 to win tomorrow's game at St. Andrew's at 5/6. The draw is available at 5/2 and for a QPR victory you can get 7/2
A 2-0 win to Blues is on offer at 7/1 and the same scoreline with James McFadden scoring the opener is available at 35/1
Birmingham
Watch online on Computer
Today's Teams:
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Agyemang, Rowlands, Ramage, Cook. - Subs: Camp, Parejo, Buzsaky, Connolly, Ledesma.
Birmingham: Taylor, Murphy, Ridgewell, Larsson, O'Connor, Phillips, Agustien, Jaidi, Owusu-Abeyie, Carsley. - Subs: Doyle, Taylor, Jerome, Nafti, McFadden.
Teams and Live Minute-to-Minute Updates
Also: Birmingham Preview -- Birmingham Official Site
"....FORM GUIDE
Blues have collected five wins and two draws from their opening nine League fixtures. Alex McLeish's side are just two points behind Championship pace setters Wolves, who occupy top spot. Blues have lost just once at home since March. That 1-0 defeat came at the hands of Blackpool last month.
QPR
The R's are without a League win in their last three outings and they have scored just three times in their last five matches. Their most recent game was earlier this week when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road by Blackpool.
MANAGERS' COMMENTS
ALEX McLEISH
At home the onus is on you to go and attack and entertain your own fans but we have to try and get the right formula to keep the door shut at the back and to give the fans what they want.
There have been signs of a better system over the last couple of games albeit they were away games.
Against Blackpool I pointed out to the players the difference between tempo and kicking the ball up field all the time.
We've tried to work on playing to our strengths in recent weeks.
This is a test of our character and guile that we try and do it at home.
Ian Dowie has done a good job and he knows all about the game and he's a pretty shrewd guy.
But it's not about Ian and I it's about what the players do when they cross the line. We can only prepare them.
IAN DOWIE
We're a win away from fourth spot and that's where we want to be.
With the exception of the Sheffield United match, we've really risen to the challenge so far this season on our travels.
If we get it right again on Saturday, it will be a very interesting match. I'm looking forward to it and I've seen enough heart and desire from my players to know we'll go there and give a good account of ourselves.
We've gone to Norwich and played for over an hour with ten men and won - and we got a great point against Bristol City with ten men too.
We've gone to Coventry and totally dominated the game, only to get done with a dubious penalty, so there are lots of positives to take from our recent away form.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Blues have a good league record against today's visitors having lost just nine of the 42 meetings. In contrast, Rangers hold something of a voodoo sign over the blue side of Birmingham in cup competitions with five straight wins in the only knockout games played between the clubs. That sequence included defeats in both legs of the 1967 League Cup semi-final when remarkably the London club went on to win the trophy with victory over West Brom at Wembley despite then playing in the third tier of English football. However, Blues are undefeated in their last 13 games against Rangers and have lost just once in 21 home matches overall....
BETTING
Blues are strong favourites with bet365 to win tomorrow's game at St. Andrew's at 5/6. The draw is available at 5/2 and for a QPR victory you can get 7/2
A 2-0 win to Blues is on offer at 7/1 and the same scoreline with James McFadden scoring the opener is available at 35/1
Birmingham
Briatore's Role in Parejo Continuing to Play?
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London Informer - He's par for the course
Dani Parejo is in the QPR team even when he's out of form - because chairman Flavio Briatore says so.
That's the growing feeling among a number of Rangers players, who were upset that chairman Briatore made a bee-line for the 18-year-old midfielder to congratulate him after the Carling Cup triumph at Aston Villa last week rather than the more obvious heroes of the night.
One anonymous player was surprised Parejo had been retained in the starting XI for the games against Derby last Saturday and Blackpool on Tuesday night, which yielded just a single point.
The second match also saw Parejo subbed at half-time with Rangers losing 1-0.
The source said: "Dani's a great prospect, but he's not had the best of weeks. The chairman has done wonders for the club, but at Villa it was plain to see just how much he thinks of him."
Boss Iain Dowie has made no secret that he had nothing to do with the loan deal for the Real Madrid youngster brokered by Briatore and pal Ramon Calderon, president of the Galacticos, but denied he's been leaned on from upstairs.
Dowie said: "Dani's a very good young player who's had a lot of games. You've got to take it on the chin when you're playing a passing game and it doesn't quite work. But I'm not under pressure to play him, and I'll be amazed if he's not a top, top player." For all that, Parejo was nowhere near his best in the last twogames, and gave way after 45 minutes against Blackpool, along with winger Emmanuel Ledesma, as fans screamed for Dowie to revert to a 4-4-2 system and abandon his policy of a lone striker.
This he did, and Rangers' revival saw a goal chalked off, as well as a first for Dexter Blackstock's in four games, to claim a 1-1 draw.
However, Dowie is ready to revert to his more favoured and continental 4-5-1 look when Hoops face Birmingham today.
He said: "There's an obsession about systems rather than the people who play them.
"We've scored a lot of goals with this system. And it didn't harm Spain to play this way when they won the European Championship in the summer." London Informer
London Informer - He's par for the course
Dani Parejo is in the QPR team even when he's out of form - because chairman Flavio Briatore says so.
That's the growing feeling among a number of Rangers players, who were upset that chairman Briatore made a bee-line for the 18-year-old midfielder to congratulate him after the Carling Cup triumph at Aston Villa last week rather than the more obvious heroes of the night.
One anonymous player was surprised Parejo had been retained in the starting XI for the games against Derby last Saturday and Blackpool on Tuesday night, which yielded just a single point.
The second match also saw Parejo subbed at half-time with Rangers losing 1-0.
The source said: "Dani's a great prospect, but he's not had the best of weeks. The chairman has done wonders for the club, but at Villa it was plain to see just how much he thinks of him."
Boss Iain Dowie has made no secret that he had nothing to do with the loan deal for the Real Madrid youngster brokered by Briatore and pal Ramon Calderon, president of the Galacticos, but denied he's been leaned on from upstairs.
Dowie said: "Dani's a very good young player who's had a lot of games. You've got to take it on the chin when you're playing a passing game and it doesn't quite work. But I'm not under pressure to play him, and I'll be amazed if he's not a top, top player." For all that, Parejo was nowhere near his best in the last twogames, and gave way after 45 minutes against Blackpool, along with winger Emmanuel Ledesma, as fans screamed for Dowie to revert to a 4-4-2 system and abandon his policy of a lone striker.
This he did, and Rangers' revival saw a goal chalked off, as well as a first for Dexter Blackstock's in four games, to claim a 1-1 draw.
However, Dowie is ready to revert to his more favoured and continental 4-5-1 look when Hoops face Birmingham today.
He said: "There's an obsession about systems rather than the people who play them.
"We've scored a lot of goals with this system. And it didn't harm Spain to play this way when they won the European Championship in the summer." London Informer
QPR's Kit...Matt Connolly on QPR and Arsenal...Ex-QPR Terry Mancini ...Year Flashback: QPR Bottom and Winless After Harford Debut... Welcoming Hill
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Presume just talking about our new away strip as opposed to the black strip for this season
Mirror "...Qpr boss Iain Dowie hopes a new red away kit will lift his players. "It's a big game and it's important we make the fans proud," he said." Mirror
The Sun - Marking Thierry did me good
MATT'LL DO NICELY ... QPR are reaping rewards for Connolly¿s grounding
MATTHEW CONNOLLY is ready to Gun down the Championship’s long-ball merchants.
The QPR centre-back grew up through the ranks at Arsenal.
He made a £1million switch to Loftus Road this summer. And despite being one of the many young talents that failed to make the Gunners grade, Connolly insists marking the likes of Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie in training has been the best education he could have hoped for.
The Rangers star, 21, has the somewhat easier task today of dealing with Birmingham’s Kevin Phillips and James McFadden.
He said: “The Championship is a different test to what I was used to.
“In the Premier League there is a lot more passing and movement. But here there are a lot more long balls and it’s much more physical.
“It’s a different challenge for a centre-back and took getting used to. But I’m learning the ropes now.
“It was strange leaving Arsenal as I’d been there since I was eight-years-old.
“But as a young player at Arsenal, it’s so difficult breaking into that first team. Leaving was the right thing to do and it was the right time.
“Rangers matched my ambition too, which is to play in the top flight.
“So hopefully we can achieve that and I’ll be back at the Emirates sooner than I thought — playing for QPR next year.
“I learnt so much there and have nothing but praise for the club. I could have stayed and been patient but I’m at the age where I want to push on.
“I had to mark the likes of Thierry Henry and more recently Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.
“It was a great experience to play against those guys and it will only help me. You learn so much from the little things they do, the movement and bits of skills are amazing.
“I couldn’t have got a sharper learning curve.
“Hopefully that will stand me in good stead in this new challenge with Rangers.”
Eighth-placed QPR have managed only one league win in the last four outings.
Connolly says Iain Dowie’s side must get back on track at St Andrew’s today.
He added: “We’ve made a good start to the season, especially at home. But we’ve had a bit of a blip recently and now we need to get back to winning ways.
“We’ve got a young squad but also a good mix of experienced players too. We’ll be up there at the end of the season.” The Sun
Former QPR center half, Terry Mancini, turns sixty-Six.
Born October 4, 1942 - QPR manager Gordon Jago signed Orient's 29 year-old captain and Center-half, Terry Mancini, in November 1971 to bolster QPR promotion hopes. It didn't work, and initially, Mancini was not a great success and was initially replaced by QPR's own 'home grown" Ian Evans.
But Mancini "worked his way up/back" and QPR were promoted the following season, and Mancini became a firm fan favourite, even if not the world's greatest. And to the amazement of many, he was a major success in QPR's first season back in the First Division and was even capped by the Republic of Ireland.
Mancini was sold to struggling Arsenal in October 1974, shortly before Gordon Jago himself left QPR. Mancini had been replaced by David Webb in the QPR Defense. Record
A Brief Bio - About Terry Mancini
"I started my career at Watford FC in 1960 and spent the next 6 year's in and out of Watfords 1st team, progressing at a very slow rate. In 1966, after being given a free transfer by the club I decided to see if I would progress my career by playing abroad.
After a very quick decision, once I had received an offer from PE City in South Africa, I moved 7000 miles from home. Probably the best decision I ever made as once I was away from the comfort and trappings of home, I had to look after myself and integrate with my team mates, on and off the field. It creates a team bond that stays with you forever. It’s amazing how quickly you mature as a person and a player, once you have to look after yourself if you don't give in. The standard of football was probably equivalent to the English 4th division in those days and I quickly adapted to the training and the wonderful SA people and country. In a short space of time and with the help of a large contingent of ex-English players in the side, I was made captain and we went on during the next 20 months and 2 seasons, to win the SA League and Cup.
I then felt I had matured enough as a player and person to come back to England in late 1967 and try my luck in the English league once again. This time, with a much more physical and professional approach and a total feeling of personal confidence, I managed to secure a contract with Leyton Orient and went on to captain them to the 3rd division championship in 1969/70.
In 1971 they transferred me to QPR for a very small amount of £25,000. During my time at QPR I played with some very fine players indeed, in a wonderful side with a great team spirit. Some who are still household names like: Venables, Marsh, Bowles, Parkes, Francis and McLintock. I also gained my first International cap with the Republic of Ireland whilst I was at QPR and went onto win another 5. In 1974 after gaining promotion from the 2nd division into the 1st divison and finally achieving what the manager at Watford at the time he gave me a free transfer, thought I would never do, I played in the 1st Division of the English League. We had gained promotion to the 1st division at QPR and took the 1st division by storm.
During the following season and much to my surprise, I was transferred from QPR to Arsenal for the same amount £25,000 and went on to play for the Gunners at Highbury until 1977. I really felt I had arrived when I stepped out at Highbury and spent the next 3 seasons with Arsenal, playing with some of the greatest names in the game, Ball, Brady, O'Leary, Stapleton etc.
In 1977 I went to play in Los Angeles for the final season of my career and retired in early 1978. I felt I had worked hard enough and achieved more than most would have thought, with the limited ability I had. But the things that always pushed me further was a belief in my own ability, which is very important to any sportsman or individual, work hard at the qualities you have and an attitude that never gives up. It worked for me!! BarwellEvents/Mancini
Also: QPRNet.com Interview with Terry Mancini QPRnet Q&A Mancini
Flashback: One Year Ago today: Mick Harford's debut game as Acting Manager: 2-4 Loss to Colchester and QPR Bottom
After Colchester's first home league win of the season against QPR, QPR were bottom of the Championship and the only club in the country yet without a win.
Leicester 8 8
Norwich 9 8
Sheff Wed 9 6
QPR 8 3
QPR: Camp, Barker, Cullip, Bolder, Blackstock, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Jarrett, Ephraim, Vine, Leigertwood. -- Subs: Cole, Bignot, Stewart, Sahar, Moore.
- Match Reports
And Two Years Ago Flashback: Staff Departures and Arrivals - Richard Hill Joins QPR
QPR Official Site - All Change"
In the wake of John Gregory's arrival as QPR manager, the Club have parted company with four of their backroom team.
Reserve Team Manager Justin Skinner, Head of Recruitment John O'Brien, Assistant Physiotherapist Bobby Bacic and Team Masseur Graham Staddon have all left the Club, with two new staff members set to be announced in the next 24 hours.
The Club wishes to thank the quartet for their services to QPR, while also wishing them all the best for the future.
Official Site - NEW ADDITIONS
Queens Park Rangers Football Club are delighted to welcome Richard Hill and Joe Dunbar to the Club.
Hill joins John Gregory's backroom staff as a coach, while Dunbar is employed as a Sports Performance Coach.
The pair will work closely alongside the new gaffer, who was understandably pleased with their appointments: "Joe was Lennox Lewis' personal trainer. When Lennox was getting ready for a fight, he had a ten week period where Joe was the guy who had to get him up to speed.
"Since Lennox has retired, Joe has had a bit more time on his hands and has been working for me here at the Club on a semi-part-time basis.
"Hilly worked with me at Wycombe between 1996 and 1998. When I went to Aston Villa he went to Gillingham, so he knows this division very well and knows how to survive in it. He will be working alongside me.''
Stay tuned to www.qpr.co.uk for further news and interviews regarding the appointments.Official Site
http://qprreport.blogspot.com/2006/10/four-backroom-departures-from-qpr.html
Presume just talking about our new away strip as opposed to the black strip for this season
Mirror "...Qpr boss Iain Dowie hopes a new red away kit will lift his players. "It's a big game and it's important we make the fans proud," he said." Mirror
The Sun - Marking Thierry did me good
MATT'LL DO NICELY ... QPR are reaping rewards for Connolly¿s grounding
MATTHEW CONNOLLY is ready to Gun down the Championship’s long-ball merchants.
The QPR centre-back grew up through the ranks at Arsenal.
He made a £1million switch to Loftus Road this summer. And despite being one of the many young talents that failed to make the Gunners grade, Connolly insists marking the likes of Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie in training has been the best education he could have hoped for.
The Rangers star, 21, has the somewhat easier task today of dealing with Birmingham’s Kevin Phillips and James McFadden.
He said: “The Championship is a different test to what I was used to.
“In the Premier League there is a lot more passing and movement. But here there are a lot more long balls and it’s much more physical.
“It’s a different challenge for a centre-back and took getting used to. But I’m learning the ropes now.
“It was strange leaving Arsenal as I’d been there since I was eight-years-old.
“But as a young player at Arsenal, it’s so difficult breaking into that first team. Leaving was the right thing to do and it was the right time.
“Rangers matched my ambition too, which is to play in the top flight.
“So hopefully we can achieve that and I’ll be back at the Emirates sooner than I thought — playing for QPR next year.
“I learnt so much there and have nothing but praise for the club. I could have stayed and been patient but I’m at the age where I want to push on.
“I had to mark the likes of Thierry Henry and more recently Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.
“It was a great experience to play against those guys and it will only help me. You learn so much from the little things they do, the movement and bits of skills are amazing.
“I couldn’t have got a sharper learning curve.
“Hopefully that will stand me in good stead in this new challenge with Rangers.”
Eighth-placed QPR have managed only one league win in the last four outings.
Connolly says Iain Dowie’s side must get back on track at St Andrew’s today.
He added: “We’ve made a good start to the season, especially at home. But we’ve had a bit of a blip recently and now we need to get back to winning ways.
“We’ve got a young squad but also a good mix of experienced players too. We’ll be up there at the end of the season.” The Sun
Former QPR center half, Terry Mancini, turns sixty-Six.
Born October 4, 1942 - QPR manager Gordon Jago signed Orient's 29 year-old captain and Center-half, Terry Mancini, in November 1971 to bolster QPR promotion hopes. It didn't work, and initially, Mancini was not a great success and was initially replaced by QPR's own 'home grown" Ian Evans.
But Mancini "worked his way up/back" and QPR were promoted the following season, and Mancini became a firm fan favourite, even if not the world's greatest. And to the amazement of many, he was a major success in QPR's first season back in the First Division and was even capped by the Republic of Ireland.
Mancini was sold to struggling Arsenal in October 1974, shortly before Gordon Jago himself left QPR. Mancini had been replaced by David Webb in the QPR Defense. Record
A Brief Bio - About Terry Mancini
"I started my career at Watford FC in 1960 and spent the next 6 year's in and out of Watfords 1st team, progressing at a very slow rate. In 1966, after being given a free transfer by the club I decided to see if I would progress my career by playing abroad.
After a very quick decision, once I had received an offer from PE City in South Africa, I moved 7000 miles from home. Probably the best decision I ever made as once I was away from the comfort and trappings of home, I had to look after myself and integrate with my team mates, on and off the field. It creates a team bond that stays with you forever. It’s amazing how quickly you mature as a person and a player, once you have to look after yourself if you don't give in. The standard of football was probably equivalent to the English 4th division in those days and I quickly adapted to the training and the wonderful SA people and country. In a short space of time and with the help of a large contingent of ex-English players in the side, I was made captain and we went on during the next 20 months and 2 seasons, to win the SA League and Cup.
I then felt I had matured enough as a player and person to come back to England in late 1967 and try my luck in the English league once again. This time, with a much more physical and professional approach and a total feeling of personal confidence, I managed to secure a contract with Leyton Orient and went on to captain them to the 3rd division championship in 1969/70.
In 1971 they transferred me to QPR for a very small amount of £25,000. During my time at QPR I played with some very fine players indeed, in a wonderful side with a great team spirit. Some who are still household names like: Venables, Marsh, Bowles, Parkes, Francis and McLintock. I also gained my first International cap with the Republic of Ireland whilst I was at QPR and went onto win another 5. In 1974 after gaining promotion from the 2nd division into the 1st divison and finally achieving what the manager at Watford at the time he gave me a free transfer, thought I would never do, I played in the 1st Division of the English League. We had gained promotion to the 1st division at QPR and took the 1st division by storm.
During the following season and much to my surprise, I was transferred from QPR to Arsenal for the same amount £25,000 and went on to play for the Gunners at Highbury until 1977. I really felt I had arrived when I stepped out at Highbury and spent the next 3 seasons with Arsenal, playing with some of the greatest names in the game, Ball, Brady, O'Leary, Stapleton etc.
In 1977 I went to play in Los Angeles for the final season of my career and retired in early 1978. I felt I had worked hard enough and achieved more than most would have thought, with the limited ability I had. But the things that always pushed me further was a belief in my own ability, which is very important to any sportsman or individual, work hard at the qualities you have and an attitude that never gives up. It worked for me!! BarwellEvents/Mancini
Also: QPRNet.com Interview with Terry Mancini QPRnet Q&A Mancini
Flashback: One Year Ago today: Mick Harford's debut game as Acting Manager: 2-4 Loss to Colchester and QPR Bottom
After Colchester's first home league win of the season against QPR, QPR were bottom of the Championship and the only club in the country yet without a win.
Leicester 8 8
Norwich 9 8
Sheff Wed 9 6
QPR 8 3
QPR: Camp, Barker, Cullip, Bolder, Blackstock, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Jarrett, Ephraim, Vine, Leigertwood. -- Subs: Cole, Bignot, Stewart, Sahar, Moore.
- Match Reports
And Two Years Ago Flashback: Staff Departures and Arrivals - Richard Hill Joins QPR
QPR Official Site - All Change"
In the wake of John Gregory's arrival as QPR manager, the Club have parted company with four of their backroom team.
Reserve Team Manager Justin Skinner, Head of Recruitment John O'Brien, Assistant Physiotherapist Bobby Bacic and Team Masseur Graham Staddon have all left the Club, with two new staff members set to be announced in the next 24 hours.
The Club wishes to thank the quartet for their services to QPR, while also wishing them all the best for the future.
Official Site - NEW ADDITIONS
Queens Park Rangers Football Club are delighted to welcome Richard Hill and Joe Dunbar to the Club.
Hill joins John Gregory's backroom staff as a coach, while Dunbar is employed as a Sports Performance Coach.
The pair will work closely alongside the new gaffer, who was understandably pleased with their appointments: "Joe was Lennox Lewis' personal trainer. When Lennox was getting ready for a fight, he had a ten week period where Joe was the guy who had to get him up to speed.
"Since Lennox has retired, Joe has had a bit more time on his hands and has been working for me here at the Club on a semi-part-time basis.
"Hilly worked with me at Wycombe between 1996 and 1998. When I went to Aston Villa he went to Gillingham, so he knows this division very well and knows how to survive in it. He will be working alongside me.''
Stay tuned to www.qpr.co.uk for further news and interviews regarding the appointments.Official Site
http://qprreport.blogspot.com/2006/10/four-backroom-departures-from-qpr.html
Friday, October 03, 2008
Goodbye to "Loftus Road?" - Additional Sponsorship Millions and Stadium Renaming for QPR?
-
Something that's been rumoured about for quite a few months...
-
Daily Mail/Matt Lawton - Beer tycoon Mallya pumps in his millions to swell the QPR coffers
Queens Park Rangers are close to agreeing a new £20million shirt sponsorship deal that would bring a third major figure from Formula One into the club - and could result in Loftus Road being renamed the Kingfisher Stadium.
Sportsmail understands that Vijay Mallya, the Indian billionaire and co-owner of F1 team Force India, wants to join forces with Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone and advertise his Kingfisher beer on the team shirts.
A deal is said to be close to completion and could be announced as early as next week. But the five-year agreement could also include the naming rights of a stadium where QPR first played in 1917.
It was only recently that Briatore is even said to have considered renaming the club - to Queens Park City - in order to emphasise its position in the capital.
Mallya's involvement would significantly boost the financial muscle of a club already boasting the considerable backing of Briatore, Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal and enhance their chances of making a rapid rise to the Barclays Premier League.
After Manchester City, QPR are already the second richest club in England and Mallya's cash injection will make them even wealthier.
qpr
As well as F1, Mallya has a keen interest in a number of sports. He sponsors two football clubs in Kolkata - East Bengal and Mohun Bagan - and owns the Royal Challengers Bangalore cricket team in the Indian Premier League. He purchased the team at auction, paying more than £50million.
He also has a major interest in horseracing, and owns the United Racing and Bloodstock Breeders company that runs the Kunigal Stud Farm.
But he made huge headlines around the world when he combined forces with the Mol family and bought the Spyker F1 team for around £75million, changing the team to Force India for the current F1 season.
Mallya is ranked one of the richest men in the world. He owns the United Breweries Group, which paid £595m for Whyte and Mackay whisky in May last year. He is also the owner of Kingfisher Airlines.
On the field, QPR will have a chance to show that they can compete with the top teams in the Championship this season when they face Birmingham City this afternoon at St Andrew's.
Birmingham are second in the table, having taken 20 points from their opening nine matches. But eighth-placed QPR can move to within three points of City if they manage a surprise victory.
QPR manager Iain Dowie said: 'We enjoyed our last trip to the Midlands earlier this season (defeating Aston Villa 1-0 in the Carling Cup) and I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I've seen enough heart from my players to know we'll go there and give a good account of ourselves.
'We have gone to Norwich City and we played for over an hour with 10 men and won - and we got a great point against Bristol City with 10 men.
'We've also gone to Coventry and totally dominated the game, only to get done with a dubious penalty, so there are lots of positives to take from our recent away form.'
ONLY HERE FOR THE BEER?
So QPR have another mega-rich owner?
That's right. You can now add Vijay Mallya to the powerful Flavio, Bernie and Lakshmi triumvirate.
So who is Mallya?
The 'Branson of Bangalore' is India's most flamboyant entrepreneur and believed to be one of the world's 500 richest men.
Great hair. Any other similarities to our own Richard Branson?
He's the founder and chairman of Kingfisher Airlines, which he described last month as 'the Harrods of the sky'. The 52-year-old has also selected all 1,200 air hostesses employed by the airline.
Nice work if you can get it. Anything else?
Mallya is also chairman of United Breweries Group, co-owns F1 racing team Force India, sponsors two Indian football clubs and owns the IPL's Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise. Daily Mail
- CHART: YOUR GUIDE TO THE QPR RICH LIST
Something that's been rumoured about for quite a few months...
-
Daily Mail/Matt Lawton - Beer tycoon Mallya pumps in his millions to swell the QPR coffers
Queens Park Rangers are close to agreeing a new £20million shirt sponsorship deal that would bring a third major figure from Formula One into the club - and could result in Loftus Road being renamed the Kingfisher Stadium.
Sportsmail understands that Vijay Mallya, the Indian billionaire and co-owner of F1 team Force India, wants to join forces with Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone and advertise his Kingfisher beer on the team shirts.
A deal is said to be close to completion and could be announced as early as next week. But the five-year agreement could also include the naming rights of a stadium where QPR first played in 1917.
It was only recently that Briatore is even said to have considered renaming the club - to Queens Park City - in order to emphasise its position in the capital.
Mallya's involvement would significantly boost the financial muscle of a club already boasting the considerable backing of Briatore, Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal and enhance their chances of making a rapid rise to the Barclays Premier League.
After Manchester City, QPR are already the second richest club in England and Mallya's cash injection will make them even wealthier.
qpr
As well as F1, Mallya has a keen interest in a number of sports. He sponsors two football clubs in Kolkata - East Bengal and Mohun Bagan - and owns the Royal Challengers Bangalore cricket team in the Indian Premier League. He purchased the team at auction, paying more than £50million.
He also has a major interest in horseracing, and owns the United Racing and Bloodstock Breeders company that runs the Kunigal Stud Farm.
But he made huge headlines around the world when he combined forces with the Mol family and bought the Spyker F1 team for around £75million, changing the team to Force India for the current F1 season.
Mallya is ranked one of the richest men in the world. He owns the United Breweries Group, which paid £595m for Whyte and Mackay whisky in May last year. He is also the owner of Kingfisher Airlines.
On the field, QPR will have a chance to show that they can compete with the top teams in the Championship this season when they face Birmingham City this afternoon at St Andrew's.
Birmingham are second in the table, having taken 20 points from their opening nine matches. But eighth-placed QPR can move to within three points of City if they manage a surprise victory.
QPR manager Iain Dowie said: 'We enjoyed our last trip to the Midlands earlier this season (defeating Aston Villa 1-0 in the Carling Cup) and I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I've seen enough heart from my players to know we'll go there and give a good account of ourselves.
'We have gone to Norwich City and we played for over an hour with 10 men and won - and we got a great point against Bristol City with 10 men.
'We've also gone to Coventry and totally dominated the game, only to get done with a dubious penalty, so there are lots of positives to take from our recent away form.'
ONLY HERE FOR THE BEER?
So QPR have another mega-rich owner?
That's right. You can now add Vijay Mallya to the powerful Flavio, Bernie and Lakshmi triumvirate.
So who is Mallya?
The 'Branson of Bangalore' is India's most flamboyant entrepreneur and believed to be one of the world's 500 richest men.
Great hair. Any other similarities to our own Richard Branson?
He's the founder and chairman of Kingfisher Airlines, which he described last month as 'the Harrods of the sky'. The 52-year-old has also selected all 1,200 air hostesses employed by the airline.
Nice work if you can get it. Anything else?
Mallya is also chairman of United Breweries Group, co-owns F1 racing team Force India, sponsors two Indian football clubs and owns the IPL's Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise. Daily Mail
- CHART: YOUR GUIDE TO THE QPR RICH LIST
Might-Have-Been-QPR Sylvan Ebanks-Blake....Ex-QPR Matt Pickens Trialing
-
Daily Mail/Neil Moxley - Goals come at a gallop for Wolves hitman Sylvan -Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
There is, and only ever will be, one Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
‘My dad Maurice chose my name,’ said the Wolves striker.
‘I think he backed a horse that won close to when I was born.
'He named me after that.
‘Look, Sylvan’s not bad. It could have been a lot worse!’
It is not a label that anyone could forget in a hurry.
And yes, the leading scorer in the Championship last season is certainly making a name for himself at Molineux.
His prolific form saw him called up by England Under 21s for the forthcoming European Championship qualifying play-off against Wales.
‘It’s his goal record that attracts you,’ said Stuart Pearce, the England Under 21 boss.
‘He has the knack of always being in the box and getting a shot away, even with his back to goal.
‘I always thought he was about 28 — just because of the way he played.
'Every time I watched him, he played well, more often than not scoring.
'We needed to have a look at him.’
There are a select group of players who have quit Manchester United and gone on to scale the heights.
Despite anger from Plymouth fans after his £1.5million move to Wolves in January, there are not many players who credit Home Park with being the making of them.
Ebanks-Blake does.
‘United are the best club in the world,’ he said.
‘To play at that club at any level you have to be doing something very good.
'The facilities are top class, you’re around the best of the best.
'Everyone is focused on it. When you’re a young player, all you want to do is come through the system like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, who you are around every day, and become a part of that.
Pearce
England Under 21 boss Stuart Pearce has been impressed with Ebanks-Blake
‘Sir Alex Ferguson said to me: “In three years you’ll be a very good player.
'Unfortunately, I haven’t got time here but Plymouth is a great opportunity for you to play football'.
The biggest compliment was that he put a buy-back clause in the deal.
‘I never felt I failed at United. People will say you are taking a step down, but the move was on a par because I was playing at a very good level and in games that mattered after coming from reserve team football.’
Certainly one Argyle fan did well out of his move.
‘Yeah,’ added Ebanks-Blake.
‘I used to see him all the time and he told me he had a tenner on me finishing top scorer in the Championship.
'He didn’t do badly, did he? He got odds of 75-1.’
And how does Mick McCarthy compare to Ian Holloway and the managerial legend at Old Trafford?
‘I’ve got loads of time for Ian Holloway,’ said the 22-year- old.
‘He wanted me when he was at QPR and always followed my career.
'It’s not an act, he’s a character.‘As for Mick, he didn’t tell me any great stories or talk about his big plans.
'He simply said that if I signed, I’d play on Saturday. And I did.’
After a spell at the world’s biggest club, stints in Belgium with Antwerp, the West Country and the Black Country, Ebanks-Blake has earned his moment in the sun.
‘My career has gone the right way,’ he said.
‘I wouldn’t change it. As long as I stay fit, I can’t ask for much more.’
Mail
Goal.com - Pickens Gets Trial With Brighton
Matt Pickens, the Chicago Fire's regular goalkeeper in 2007 is currently on trial with Brighton of England's League One, according to sources close to Goal.com
Former Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens decided to leave the MLS with hopes of playing abroad, and after a short setback, he might get his chance with Brighton and Hove Albion FC of England’s League One.
Pickens left the MLS at the end of last season to go on trial with Championship side Queens Park Rangers, and was able to sign a deal for the last half of the season. He wasn’t able to crack the first team line-up, and his contract wasn’t renewed. The player has been looking for work ever since.
A source told Goal.com that following his disappointing trial with QPR, Pickens has turned his attentions to Brighton and is currently on trial in the south of England with the Seagulls.
The 26-year-old Missouri native made 40 appearances for the Fire from 2004 to 2008 after being drafted 19th overall out of Southwest Missouri State. Goal.com
Daily Mail/Neil Moxley - Goals come at a gallop for Wolves hitman Sylvan -Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
There is, and only ever will be, one Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
‘My dad Maurice chose my name,’ said the Wolves striker.
‘I think he backed a horse that won close to when I was born.
'He named me after that.
‘Look, Sylvan’s not bad. It could have been a lot worse!’
It is not a label that anyone could forget in a hurry.
And yes, the leading scorer in the Championship last season is certainly making a name for himself at Molineux.
His prolific form saw him called up by England Under 21s for the forthcoming European Championship qualifying play-off against Wales.
‘It’s his goal record that attracts you,’ said Stuart Pearce, the England Under 21 boss.
‘He has the knack of always being in the box and getting a shot away, even with his back to goal.
‘I always thought he was about 28 — just because of the way he played.
'Every time I watched him, he played well, more often than not scoring.
'We needed to have a look at him.’
There are a select group of players who have quit Manchester United and gone on to scale the heights.
Despite anger from Plymouth fans after his £1.5million move to Wolves in January, there are not many players who credit Home Park with being the making of them.
Ebanks-Blake does.
‘United are the best club in the world,’ he said.
‘To play at that club at any level you have to be doing something very good.
'The facilities are top class, you’re around the best of the best.
'Everyone is focused on it. When you’re a young player, all you want to do is come through the system like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, who you are around every day, and become a part of that.
Pearce
England Under 21 boss Stuart Pearce has been impressed with Ebanks-Blake
‘Sir Alex Ferguson said to me: “In three years you’ll be a very good player.
'Unfortunately, I haven’t got time here but Plymouth is a great opportunity for you to play football'.
The biggest compliment was that he put a buy-back clause in the deal.
‘I never felt I failed at United. People will say you are taking a step down, but the move was on a par because I was playing at a very good level and in games that mattered after coming from reserve team football.’
Certainly one Argyle fan did well out of his move.
‘Yeah,’ added Ebanks-Blake.
‘I used to see him all the time and he told me he had a tenner on me finishing top scorer in the Championship.
'He didn’t do badly, did he? He got odds of 75-1.’
And how does Mick McCarthy compare to Ian Holloway and the managerial legend at Old Trafford?
‘I’ve got loads of time for Ian Holloway,’ said the 22-year- old.
‘He wanted me when he was at QPR and always followed my career.
'It’s not an act, he’s a character.‘As for Mick, he didn’t tell me any great stories or talk about his big plans.
'He simply said that if I signed, I’d play on Saturday. And I did.’
After a spell at the world’s biggest club, stints in Belgium with Antwerp, the West Country and the Black Country, Ebanks-Blake has earned his moment in the sun.
‘My career has gone the right way,’ he said.
‘I wouldn’t change it. As long as I stay fit, I can’t ask for much more.’
Goal.com - Pickens Gets Trial With Brighton
Matt Pickens, the Chicago Fire's regular goalkeeper in 2007 is currently on trial with Brighton of England's League One, according to sources close to Goal.com
Former Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens decided to leave the MLS with hopes of playing abroad, and after a short setback, he might get his chance with Brighton and Hove Albion FC of England’s League One.
Pickens left the MLS at the end of last season to go on trial with Championship side Queens Park Rangers, and was able to sign a deal for the last half of the season. He wasn’t able to crack the first team line-up, and his contract wasn’t renewed. The player has been looking for work ever since.
A source told Goal.com that following his disappointing trial with QPR, Pickens has turned his attentions to Brighton and is currently on trial in the south of England with the Seagulls.
The 26-year-old Missouri native made 40 appearances for the Fire from 2004 to 2008 after being drafted 19th overall out of Southwest Missouri State. Goal.com
Non QPR: A Few General Football/Soccer Snippets -
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A few items of general interest
- AP- Former Juventus executive Luciano Moggi -"Moggi to stand trial in Italian soccer scandal"
- Michael Mancienne Makes a Super Quick Loan to Bristol City/Return to Chelsea (if he actually ever moved)
- Watford Respond to Elton John re Finances
- Watford Manager Stays Away from the Financial Debate
- The Times/George Caulkin - Joe Kinnear confronts his Newcastle United critics head on
The Joy of Six: manager/media spats
A selection of the most volcanic managerial funks, featuring Big Ron, Fergie and Baron Greenback's sibling
- Transcript of Joe Kinnear Press Conference
- The Times - Sol Campbell abuse cannot be tolerated, says Arsene Wenger
A few items of general interest
- AP- Former Juventus executive Luciano Moggi -"Moggi to stand trial in Italian soccer scandal"
- Michael Mancienne Makes a Super Quick Loan to Bristol City/Return to Chelsea (if he actually ever moved)
- Watford Respond to Elton John re Finances
- Watford Manager Stays Away from the Financial Debate
- The Times/George Caulkin - Joe Kinnear confronts his Newcastle United critics head on
The Joy of Six: manager/media spats
A selection of the most volcanic managerial funks, featuring Big Ron, Fergie and Baron Greenback's sibling
- Transcript of Joe Kinnear Press Conference
- The Times - Sol Campbell abuse cannot be tolerated, says Arsene Wenger
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