Qpr Thread

[pattayarangers]

. I'm going to the game tomorrow against QPR and I reckon we will stuff them 5-0, I'm gona put some dosh on it so hopefully it will be a very good night.

Why We Hate Them. Robert Elms

January 02nd, 2008 | .

With that impending Cup game looming, it is perhaps an important time to remind ourselves and even more importantly, to our young hooped comrades, precisely why we hate Chelscum to the core of our W12 souls. I have no animosity towards Fulham or Brentford, but I truly detest Chelsea for a whole host of reasons that run very deep. It doesn’t matter one jot that we have not played them in more than a decade, or that they are now so wealthy and inflated and so far removed from real life that the sheep who file into Stamford Bridge probably don’t even know who we are.

I would hate Chelsea even if they were in the Ryman’s League (where they belong) because this is not a rivalry just based on football. It is about two opposing West London world views. Despite our new found wealth, we will stand for community and continuity, loyalty, inclusiveness, fairness and flair. We were the little side, representing the run-down neighbourhood, punching above its weight and just occasionally punching the stuck-up neighbours right on the nose. (Metaphorically of course, as in 6-0) Chelsea are the opposite of all that; arrogant, elitist, violent and fickle. It’s precisely the difference between the Uxbridge Road and the Kings Road, between Stanley Bowles and Chopper Harris, between us and them.

They have always been a repellent mix of Hooray Henry’s from the chic bits of West London (at least when they’re doing well), luvvie fops and a hard core of racists from deepest Surrey or somewhere. It’s a nauseating union of floppy haired boys with the collars of their rugby shirts turned up, fey actors and cropped Neanderthals. Where else in a stadium do you find such a high percentage of MP’s and racist supporters.That foul mix has always made Stamford Bridge one of the nastiest places to visit. Has there ever been a more sickening experience at a football ground than watching their morons shout racist abuse at their own black players as they regularly did back in the 80’s while the likes of Lord Coe and David Mellor sipped their champers.

Of course these days the yobs and the knobs have been joined by legions of Japanese tourists with their wavy flags and also a whole host of Jeremy come-lately “soccer” fans, who know nothing about the traditions and passions of this great game. We, by comparison, are real fans with a real fervour for the local team we love. No Glory Hunters or brainless goons here and long may it stay that way. Those of us with long memories know that not so long ago, Stamford Bridge wasn’t a glamorous place full of arrogant prawn sandwich eaters, but a rotting hulk of a ground, where just six or seven thousand knuckle draggers turned out to watch the likes of Doug Rougvie and Kerry Dixon play anything but the beautiful game in the Second Division. It speaks volumes about the true support of a team when they go through hard times.

Through ten long years of suffering, we’ve proved to be remarkably staunch, maintaining a strong, dedicated following, which on its day, can still make away ends ring with our joyous love for the R’s. While Chelsea showed that they have almost no real support as their crowds drifted away the moment they got relegated. Now that they are owned by a morally bankrupt Russian oligarch, (is he any more obnoxious than the charming Mr Bates ?) their ground is often full (even at those exalted prices) and so is their trophy cabinet. But their hearts are still empty. It is never a nice experience having to rub shoulders with those tainted by that terrible shirt but I am looking forward to our visit to Stamford Bridge. This is because I know I’ll be in the company of thousands of fantastic Rangers fans determined to show that we are the real soul of West London. It’s a good way to remind ourselves why we love the R’s so much.

Robert Elms

Edited January 5, 2008 by pattayarangers

[chavy]

Where's the QPR thread on TV ? Is there one ?

I really think the richest club in the world should have at the very least it's own thread

[pattayarangers]

No Rangers fan in their right mind expects to get anything from this game, most would just settle for a decent performance and bags of effort. With a host of players in line to make their debuts it might be a little disjointed and even though the home side are going to be missing a fair number of top class players they will still have more than enough to do it. 3-0 to Chelsea

If you need a link to the game try

http://www.free-football.tv/fixtures/Chelsea-QPR-Live.html

also commentary on GLR Radio London

Enjoy

[Jockstar]

As the title says. I was asked by a member to set this up just for those QPR fans on board. Please remember the rules when posting. Thanks.

[kopite]

QPRRRRRRRRRRRR

QPRRRRRRRRRRRR

QP, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA,

QPRRRRRRRRRRRR

QPRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Seapok]

You had your day and failed, lets see what happens next year!

Chelsea 1-0 QPR

Holders Chelsea edged past their west London neighbours but were helped by a Lee Camp own goal to seal their place in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Hoops's goalkeeper was helpless as Claudio Pizarro's low drive hit the post, rebounded off Camp's back and bobbled across the line.

Substitute Patrick Agyemang should have slotted past Hilario after the break as the well-organised visitors improved.

Rarely do Chelsea host a side richer than themselves but their class prevailed in this battle of the billionaires, despite a spirited performance from the team 35 places below them in the league standings.

This local rivalry that has simmered without engagement for 12 years stirred the Hoops into action early on and they denied their neighbours the time and space to create clear chances.

But the visitors' early zest and work rate soon fizzled out and they fell behind on 28 minutes, albeit through a huge slice of fortune.

Pizarro swivelled on the edge of the box and crashed his low shot off the post, only for Camp to inadvertently knock it back in.

The goal settled the home side who wrestled control of the game in midfield with Steve Sidwell dictating the play.

Shaun Wright-Phillips went close when he fired over from the edge of the box, while Sidwell went even closer when he struck the post with a low drive from 25 yards that had Camp well beaten.

QPR, with five debutants in their starting line-up, failed to seriously trouble Hilario although Agyemang should have slotted past the keeper from close range. Instead, he scuffed his effort into the keeper's arms.

Akos Buzsaky, a former team-mate of Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira from their time at Porto, failed to make any impact and was reduced to speculative long shots.

Didier Drogba, bound for the African Cup of Nations on Sunday, made his return from the knee surgery he underwent in early December. But he, and those behind him, struggled to kill off a dogged QPR.

But despite a valiant effort in the last 15 minutes, the four-time winners held out to progress.

Chelsea: Hilario, Ferreira, Ben-Haim, Alex, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips (Joe Cole 79), Obi, Sidwell, Sinclair (Drogba 60), Kalou, Pizarro (Ballack 71).

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Belletti.

Goals: Camp 28 og.

QPR: Camp, Hall, Stewart, Barker, Ainsworth (Agyemang 46), Connolly, Mahon, Rowlands, Ephraim (Balanta 65), Blackstock, Buzsaky (Lee 50).

Subs Not Used: Bolder, Walton.

Booked: Hall.

Att: 41,289

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Chelsea's Michael Ballack 8.53 (on 90 minutes).

[chavy]

As the title says. I was asked by a member to set this up just for those QPR fans on board. Please remember the rules when posting. Thanks.

It's rumoured that the hoops are after Kris Commons & Nathan Tyson from us

Show us ya money !!!

[pattayarangers]

result we expected on and off the pitch.....Rangers all over the ground......and a massive firm of old faces up Nottting Hill before the game.....enjoy the rest of the season........see you in couple of years.........' Your just a small club in Fulham ' ......out of interest does anyone know when Chelsea TV re-runs the game ?

[pattayarangers]

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH/Clive White - QPR unsettle neighbours Chelsea

So in the end all that separated the haves and the have-soons was an own goal. Rangers' new billionaire owners could be excused for thinking that success in this football business could come wonderfully cheaply, if the laboured efforts of their supposedly upper class West London neighbours was anything to go by here.

Make no mistake, the FA Cup holders were hanging on at the finish against the lowly Championship side. They even had to bring on three of their biggest players, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole, to ensure that they were not subjected to the dubious pleasure of a replay at Loftus Road.

Back: Didier Drogba returned after injury for Chelsea

Rangers have been busy in the transfer market lately, but there was little that Messrs Ecclestone, Mittal and Briatore will have seen here to make them think they need to shop anywhere else but in the bargain basement, at least for a while. Had they been just a little bit bolder, a little bit more accurate in their finishing the Chelsea manager Avram Grant would have not have able to hide quite so smugly behind the defence that they had "done their job".

By their standards, Chelsea, because of injury, may be down to the bare bones but what bones! The fact that Grant could afford to start with the above trio on the bench said all that needed to be said about his side's squad strength and to be fair they have coped splendidly these past few weeks. But the centre-back pairing of Alex and Tel Ben Haim never looked comfortable yesterday and one wonders what might have happened had Steve Sidwell not got back to take the ball off the toes of Gareth Ainsworth after 11 minutes.

In an unfamiliar-looking 4-3-3 formation, with the wingers pushed on and Claudio Pizarro playing deep, one wondered from where this side would get their goals - or goal.

As it happened Pizarro got far enough forward in the 29th minute to work his way across the face of the Rangers goal before finding space for a shot. The ball struck the foot of Lee Camp's post, but unfortunately for Rangers the rebound went back in off the diving keeper.

Just once did we see the real Chelsea in one quick, slick move just before half-time when Shaun Wright-Phillips fed Salomon Kalou who in turn teed it up for Sidwell, but the former Reading midfielder's shot cannoned back into play off an upright. If anyone thought the loss of Rangers's influential new signing Akos Buzsaky just five minutes into the second half with a sprained ankle would unhinge the visitors they could not have been more wrong. It proved the prelude to Rangers's best passage of play in the game as Martin Rowlands, twice finding himself in space, unleashed drives dangerously close to the target.

The truth is for all the plaudits given by Grant to Henrique Hilario after the game his third-choice keeper didn't have a save worthy of the name to make throughout. Chelsea, for the part, had just one real chance to make the game safe, but Pizarro, for reasons known only to himself, took the ball far too wide before checking inside and firing over. With Drogba now off to African Cup of Nations, the arrival of Nicolas Anelka from Bolton cannot come soon enough.

Man of the match Martin Rowlands (QPR) • With a little more accuracy he might have been a hero

Sunday Telegraph

[harrydash]

You had your day and failed, lets see what happens next year!

[chavy]

I'm glad this thread has come out. Not sure if this has been brought up in past threads but....Like Chelsea, QPR have nothing money wise. The owners will not just be giving their money away so will be in loans, just as the dodgy Russian does down the road, just as the bloke who owns us & has just flogged his company ( Umbro ) for around the 300 mill mark & makes substantial transfer funds available. We have nothing. These people will be wanting their cash back in some return or another. Only the likes of Arsenal , Man U generate their own money so therefore the club is rich.

I for one worry how much our owner is loaning the club, like Thaksin at Man City, Fayed at Fulham I always think about when the generous sugar daddy has had enough & wants his cash back.....where will the money come from ???

[pattayarangers]

Rather take that chance mate but know what you are saying...........1 hour from going out of business was the alternative.......would have been the end of QPR...really dont want to turn into how Cheslea are now....no real support etc......load of jonnie come latelys and jap tourists ....but bound to happen.........anyway another day another signing

Queens Park Rangers Football Club are pleased to confirm the signing of Birmingham City front-man Rowan Vine.

The 25 year-old striker, who spent three months on loan in W12 earlier this season, has penned a four-and-a-half year contract with the R's, after the two Clubs agreed an undisclosed fee for his services.

"As soon as I was informed that a permanent deal could be on the cards, I was absolutely delighted," Vine told www.qpr.co.uk.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my loan spell here and in the first few days of the transfer window, the Club have made their intentions clear, with the quality they have already brought in.

"This is clearly the place to be and when you see six or seven new players come through the door so quickly, you know the people at the very top mean business.

"After my first month here, Flavio Briatore spoke to me and said they were keen to make the deal a permanent one. He told me that he wants to build a big project to get into the Premiership and he wanted me to be involved."

Vine warned against complacency though, adding: "The lads aren't talking about promotion just yet. We went through a very bad spell of luck, but hopefully we've come out of that now.

"We will always be positive and we've all seen what Crystal Palace and Sunderland have done in the past.

"People look at our squad now and they've every right to be fearful. Our mentality is to really kick on and go for it."

Vine, who scored three goals during his initial loan spell at Loftus Road, will wear the number 26 shirt. QPR

[chavy]

Yep, nobody wants to see clubs going out of business or into admin, all that suffer are the fans when the 10 points have been taken away. I can see that you'll get into the premiership probably next season unless there's a drastic run of form. Mind you, Palace managed it a year or two back. The signings seem to be sensible as well for championship level.

We were also very close to admin a few years back. We just managed to sell Jermain Jenas to Newcastle for 5 million before the creditors closed in. Now I worry that our chairman & owner will get fed up funding the loses each year to the tune of 4 - 5 million out of his own pocket.

[pattayarangers]

I agree..... and example is Rangers and Luton never been on the best of terms.....but really dont want to see them go under.....sad really when the game is all about how much money a team has to be honest......but like I said we have had so many years of s*&T football , being beaten at home by Vauxhall Motors takes some doing !!!.....the days of Stanley Bowles and that style of footabll will hopefully be back at the Bush soon.........

Mirror Columnist, Oliver Holt "BERNIE'S IN A HURRY

It Surprises me there are still people within the game who doubt the serious intentions of new QPR owners Bernie Ecclestone (left), Flavio Briatore and Lakshmi Mittal.

I sat with Ecclestone and Briatore at Chelsea on Saturday and, believe me, their enthusiasm and commitment are not in question.

I'd back QPR to win promot ion to the Premier League next season and then the rest better watch out. These are not the type of men who hang about. Mirror

[pattayarangers]

FROM DAILY MAIL :

There was mayhem on the streets of west London after Chelsea's FA Cup clash with old foes Queens Park Rangers.

Fans reported serious clashes involving the two sets of supporters and the police around several pubs, notably the Seven Stars on North End Road and Sofa So Bar on Fulham Road.

One Chelsea fan said: "I've never seen it like that outside the Bridge in recent years - not against Tottenham, West Ham or even Liverpool. There appeared to be a lot of scuffles, bottle and coin throwing."

There were 23 arrests .

The hostile atmosphere was not helped by a pre-match stunt organised by a group of QPR fans intent on marking the "death" of Chelsea as the richest club in London following the arrival of Rangers' mega-rich new investors.

They bought a coffin on ebay and daubed it with the slogan "Chelsea RIP".

The "pallbearers" then met up in Latimer Road prior to the match and attempted to carry the coffin to Stamford Bridge before police confiscated it.

A police spokesman said: "The coffin was taken into police possession as it could have been inflammatory to rival supporters

[tw25rw]

QPR have a firm??

They were my first team before my dad took me to West Ham aged 8.. They were also my grandfather's team. Hence I always had a soft spot for them.

[chavy]

QPR have a firm??

They were my first team before my dad took me to West Ham aged 8.. They were also my grandfather's team. Hence I always had a soft spot for them.

Might be a SME

You seen "Footsoldiers" ?? Saw that last night about your old firm

[pattayarangers]

RANGERS TRAVEL TO SHEFFIELD UNITED

Friday 11th January 2008

by Ron Norris & Simon Skinner

After dipping our toe in big time waters last weekend it's back to reality on Saturday as Rangers travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United. If our season has been a struggle so far theirs has been nothing short of disastrous and a decent performance might see us earn another fantastic away win.

Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers

The Championship

Saturday 12th January 2008

Kick Off 15:00

TEAM NEWS

Our only real absentee this weekend is Mikele Leigertwood who sits out the last of his four game suspension and misses the chance to play against his old club. Michael Mancienne is back in training, he featured for the reserves on Wednesday and will be hopeful of a place on the bench whilst all the other aches and pains seem to have cleared up giving De Canio a near fully fit squad to choose from.

Beleaguered Bryan Robson gets a triple boost ahead of this one as he welcomes back three players that missed their FA Cup win over Bolton. On loan pair Gary Speed and Phil Bardsley weren't allowed to get cup tied but are available once again whilst Michael Tonge completed a one match suspension and should return to the starting eleven. New signing Lee Martin joined on loan from Manchester United this week but a one game ban will put his Blades debut off for another week. The big miss though is top scorer James Beattie, he suffered a knee injury on Boxing Day and faces a prolonged spell out of the side. Beattie might be little more than a fat scuffer in the top division but at this level he is lethal, he's already bagged 13 goals despite United's torrid season.

RON & SIMON'S

SELECT XI

Agyemang

Buzsaky

Vine Rowlands Mahon Lee

Barker Stewart Hall Connolly

Camp

A QUICK GUIDE TO OUR OPPONENTS

BLADES IN BRIEF: What a rum old season Sheffield United are having. After making a decent fist of keeping them up in the Premiership last season Neil Warnock opted to "retire" from his beloved Blades but would have felt he left them in a decent state to bounce straight back up. All that work was undone when United announced continual underachiever Bryan Robson as their new boss. How the man keeps getting decent jobs in football is beyond me, he was a little over rated as a player, he's ridiculously over rated as a manager and Sheffield United are paying the price for it.

LAST FIVE GAMES

Date Versus Venue F A

05/01/08 Bolton Away 0 1

01/01/08 Wolves Away 0 0

29/12/07 Palace Home 0 1

26/12/07 Blackpool Home 1 1

22/12/07 Cardiff Away 0 1

TOP SCORERS

Name League Cups Total

J. Beattie 13 0 13

D. Webber 3 1 4

J. Stead 2 2 4

C. Armstrong 3 0 3

B. Sharp 0 2 2

RANGERS VERSUS .....

LAST TIME OUT: “Cook launched yet another raid upfield and he once again fed the ball into the feet of Furlong. The ball looked perfect for the first time strike but he chose to take a touch. Morgan faced him so he shifted it and then slotted it across Kenny into the net. The travelling R’s fans exploded as it hit the net and took time out to give Kenny plenty of bird!” Sheffield United 2-3 Queens Park Rangers Saturday 25th February 2006

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall

Played QPR Sheff Utd Draws

40 15 11 14

At Sheff Utd

Played QPR Sheff Utd Draws

20 4 5 11

OTHER MEETINGS: Rangers edge the overall head to head but at Bramall Lane things are traditionally tight between the two sides. 11 of the 20 games have been drawn and The Blades are just in front with 5 wins to 4. Our last visit to their place saw us win a belting game 3-2 for Gary Waddock's finest hour as QPR boss.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Pos Team P GD Pts

16th Sheff United 25 -1 31

19th QPR 25 -10 27

GENERAL INFORMATION

THE REFEREE

Nigel Miller takes charge of only his fourth Rangers fixture in his five year career. Our most recent experience of him came at Hull last season when he made a right balls up of it. He seems to have been fairly restrained with the cards this campaign though, only dishing out 39 yellows in 21 games.

THE REF RECORD

Season Games Yellows Reds

2007-08 21 39 5

2006-07 40 108 10

2005-06 40 79 9

2004-05 37 109 7

2003-04 27 60 4

OPPONENTS LINKS

Official Website SUFC.co.uk

Fans Website Red & White Wizards

Message Board Blades Mad

Travel Info Football Ground Guide

MATCH DAY ODDS

Bookie Sheff Utd Draw QPR

11/10 11/5 2/1

evens 11/5 11/5

evens 9/4 9/4

SIX DEGREES OF SEP-R-ATION: Michael Tonge to Fitz Hall. Tonge has been a one club man, making his Blades debut in 2001 and scoring his first goal October that year. That came against Crewe in a 1-0 home win. Tonge was replaced in that game by Phil Jagielka. He is now at Everton after David Moyes paid four million pounds for his services last summer. Moyes was Preston boss before moving to Goodison Park, his last game in charge of North End was a 2-1 win over Rotherham in 2002 that saw Richard Creswell score both their goals. Creswell is now at Stoke where one of his team mates is Liam Lawrence. Lawrence's right foot has been like a magic wand this season but it was his other wand that forced his move from Sunderland January 2007. His wing man on that occasion was Ben Alnwick who seemed to get the better deal when he was "forced" to move to Spurs. Alnwick is now on loan at Leicester though, he become one of Ian Holloway's January signings and of course Olly was in charge of QPR when Paul Furlong burned off Fitz Hall to score the winning goal in the play off semi final against Oldham in 2003.

RON AND SIMON'S PREDICT-OFF

SIMON: Simon's laid up on his sick bed but he tells me we'll sneak a 1-1 draw from this one.

RON: Sheffield United's home form has been poor so far this season with a 1-0 win over Barnsley being the only victory in the last five. Rangers should be pumping with confidence following great wins over Leicester and Watford and the performance at Chelsea and I think we could do well in this one. We've a fully fit squad a team full of decent new signings so I'll take us for the win and Captain Marvel for the boot! 2-1 to Rangers.

Current score: Ron 14 Simon 13

[pattayarangers]

QPR Manager De Canio on His Way Out?

-

Sunday Mirror/Paul Smith - Rangers looking for Luca

EXCLUSIVE

Gianluca Vialli is being lined up to replace outgoing Queens Park Rangers boss Luigi De Canio.

De Canio's departure at the end of the current campaign has been rubberstamped by the board's three wealthy co-owners, Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal.

The Italian has been in charge for just over three months following John Gregory's departure from Loftus Road.

His arrival coincided with a massive upturn in fortunes and a huge injection of cash from the club's three new wealthy owners.

But De Canio has failed to settle in London and continues to struggle with the language.

That has led to complaints from several firstteam players who claim communication between them and the boss is problematic.

But the board had already decided to part company with the Italian and feel they require a far more high profile coach at the helm.

Former Italy international Vialli has already been sounded out about the post and has asked for time to consider the board's offer.

He made an impressive start to management with Rangers' West London neighbours Chelsea, winning the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in his first season in charge.

Vialli was sacked amid claims that he had fallen out with key players, but returned to management at Watford and had a disastrous reign at Vicarage Road which ended in 2002.

But that has not put off QPR from pressing hard to secure his signature in the summer. Sunday Mirror

And Snippet from the BBC Gossip:

"...QPR owner Flavio Briatore has presented each of the club's players with £3,000 watch as a special thank-you present for their recent good form. " BBC

[pattayarangers]

Performance Manager Joe Dunbar bemoaned referee Mr Miller's failure to award a late penalty kick for Rangers, as the R's succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at Bramall Lane.

Speaking on behalf of First Team Coach Luigi De Canio, Dunbar said: "I have seen the video and it's a penalty.

"Matt Kilgallon was laughing when the referee didn't give it, and that says everything you need to know.

"I thought we deserved a point. To coin a phrase, it was a game of two halves.

"We looked very comfortable in the first half and deservedly took the lead, but we allowed them far too much time and space in the second period.

"Credit to them, they took full advantage."

Dunbar reserved special praise for goalscorer Patrick Agyemang, commenting: "We're delighted for Pat.

"He worked tirelessly and it is always nice to see strikers open their accounts on their full debuts.

"He almost broke the net, he hit it that hard. QPR

[pattayarangers]

QPR Plot to Rule The World

-

OK not exactly! "Just" to be one of Europe's elite.

Daily Mail - QPR supremo Flavio: Within four years we will challenge Milan in Europe

Flavio Briatore today promised to take Queens Park Rangers from the Championship into the Champions League within four years. The club's multi-millionaire owner also revealed he had been part of Bernie Ecclestone's bid to buy Chelsea, only for them to lose out to Roman Abramovich.

Rangers are 20th in the table and just three points off the relegation zone but Briatore believes the club can achieve his dream thanks to their new-found financial muscle-power.

Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal, the fifth richest man in the world, are also on the board and

Briatore insisted: "Within four years we will challenge Milan in Europe. Our programme is to reach the Premier League within three years.

"I want to be in Europe within four years. It would be great to challenge Milan. Briatore against [Adrian] Galliani [Milan president].

"I love football. But buying a football club is not what the doctor ordered so you need to enjoy yourself.

"That's why I got Bernie Ecclestone involved emotionally. I don't think he even knew QPR existed.

"To be honest, Bernie and I tried to buy Chelsea three months before Abramovich.

"But Roman put in an offer that was far more interesting than ours."

Briatore joked about how, in London, billionaire Abramovich was considered "poorer".

"For sure,"he told Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera. "Ecclestone and I have 70 per cent of the shares but one of my good friends, Lakshmi Mittal, has 20 per cent and he has a fortune estimated at around 60billion euros (£42bn)." Daily Mail

Briatore's Interview - Briatore's interview (in Italian) with Corriere Della Ser

[chavy]

I think Briatore been sniffing the exhaust fumes in the F1 paddock ar too long.

Actually I saw this on another footy forum. One reply asked, quote "Has the Anglo - Italian cup been revived again"

[tw25rw]

QPR have a firm??

They were my first team before my dad took me to West Ham aged 8.. They were also my grandfather's team. Hence I always had a soft spot for them.

Might be a SME

You seen "Footsoldiers" ?? Saw that last night about your old firm

Not my firm.. Lowlife all of them..

[ThaiPauly]

I am genuinly pleased for QPR.

They have been through ten very hard lean years, its difficult to remember that they were in the EPL when it started , but they were.

I was born and raised in W.12, so I grew up supporting Rangers in the days of Rodney Marsh, who was idolised by QPR fans and vividly recall them winning the 1967 League Cup Final coming from 2 goals down to beat first division WBA while QPR were still in the old 3rd division. I remember the fans carried a coffin with WBA inscibed on the lid all the way from Shepherds Bush to Wembley

But they will always be the SECOND BEST team to wear the blue and white hoops, but I wish them well, I always look out for their results in the same way Mr.T looks out for Torquay

[pattayarangers]

RANGERS WELCOME BARNSLEY

Friday 18th January 2008

by Ron Norris & Simon Skinner

The first home game since the transfer window opened will be watched by a bumper crowd as the R’s fans flock to W12 to have a gawp at what new money brings as Barnsley come to town. Hopefully the team will turn in a performance that gets a few of them back through the doors next time round.

Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley

The Championship

Saturday 19th January 2008

Kick Off 15:00

TEAM NEWS

Gigi has the chance to hand the 84th debut of his short reign following the signing of Damien Delaney from Hull City on Thursday. He may displace HMS Barker at left back. There are no injury worries and with Leigertwood back from a four game ban and Mancienne fit after his hamstring problem De Canio has a huge squad to pick from. There should be home debuts for Hall, Connolly, Lee and Agyemang whilst Mahon and Ephraim should also play some part.

Barnsley gaffer Simon Davey should hand West Brom loanee Miguel Tininho his debut at left back. Spaniard Diego Leon may get a trot out up top and there will be an enforced change in the middle of the park after Grant McCann upped sticks and went to Scunthorpe.

RON & SIMON'S

SELECT XI

Agyemang

Buzsaky

Vine Rowlands Mahon Lee

Delaney Stewart Hall Connolly

Camp

A QUICK GUIDE TO OUR OPPONENTS

BARNSLEY IN BRIEF: The Tykes are a classic Jekyll and Hyde side, superb at Oakwell and there for the taking on the road. They have won seven games at home and just one away, as a result they only sit four points above Rangers going into this one. They are almost as leaky at the back as the R’s having shipped 39 goals in their 27 games so far this term. Their last five away games have yielded three defeats and two draws, an injury time Brian Howard penalty rescued a point at Scunny last time away from Oakwell.

LAST FIVE GAMES

Date Versus Venue F A

12/01/08 Norwich Home 1 3

05/01/08 Blackpool Home 2 1

01/01/08 Scunthorpe Away 2 2

29/12/07 Southampton Home 2 2

26/12/07 Stoke Home 3 3

TOP SCORERS

Name League Cups Total

B. Howard 10 0 10

I. Ferenczi 4 1 5

M. Devaney 4 0 4

J. Macken 3 0 3

G. McCann 3 0 3

CLASH OF THE DAY: Akos Buzsaky v. Brian Howard. This game is likely to rest on which of the teams playmakers gets the upper hand. At Loftus Road Buzsaky is sensational and has picked several teams to bits in his short time at the club. Howard has been in great scoring form for The Tykes this season with ten goals. Mind you, six of these have come from the spot so if there is a lesson there it is don’t give away a pen as this fella is deadly!

RANGERS VERSUS .....

LAST TIME OUT: “Brian Howard broke from midfield and ran into the massive space in front of the back three. He shaped to blast one but instead floated a delicate chip over the stranded Royce into the far corner. It was a brilliant goal and signalled the exodus of the majority of the beleaguered R’s fans behind the opposite goal.” Barnsley 2-0 Queens Park Rangers Tuesday 30th January 2007

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall

Played QPR Barnsley Draws

40 18 13 9

At QPR

Played QPR Barnsley Draws

20 15 1 4

OTHER MEETINGS: Rangers are five clear of their opponents in the league head to head with seventeen wins versus twelve. There have been a further nine draws. We have won the last three games at Loftus Road and you have to go back to January 1950 for the last away win. Last seasons game was settled by a solitary Martin Rowlands strike.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Pos Team P GD Pts

15th Barnsley 27 -5 34

20th QPR 27 -9 30

GENERAL INFORMATION

THE REFEREE

Richard Beeby is on duty for this one having already taken charge of a Rangers game this season, the pulsating home draw with Sheffield Wednesday. He has yet to ref The Tykes this season. His twenty two games have seen him flash forty yellow cards and two reds which isn’t too bad at all. His most prolific game came when he showed six yellows in the Saints/Stoke game.

THE REF RECORD

Season Games Yellows Reds

2007-08 22 40 2

2006-07 40 116 9

2005-06 30 84 9

2004-05 40 104 8

2003-04 35 100 10

OPPONENTS LINKS

Official Website BarnsleyFC.co.uk

Fans Website Total Tykes

Fans Website Tykes Mad

Message Board BarnsleyFC.org.uk

MATCH DAY ODDS

Bookie QPR Draw Barnsley

4/6 12/5 10/3

N/A N/A N/A

4/5 9/4 3/1

SIX DEGREES OF SEP-R-ATION: Damien Delaney to Sam Togwell. Delaney made his English league debut for Leicester City against Manchester United, a game in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored. The Baby Faced Assassin scored his last ever United goal past Brad Friedel. Friedel recently kept a clean sheet against Sunderland, a game in which Dwight Yorke was sent off. Yorke helped The Mackems secure a vital home win over Derby County last season on their way to the title. Steven Bywater was in goal for The Rams that day and he was also in sticks the day Togwell bagged his first Barnsley goal in a 2-1 home defeat to the promotion bound County.

RON AND SIMON'S PREDICT-OFF

SIMON: Having been denied by some poor defending and refereeing incompetence at Sheffield United the R’s will be keen to get back to winning ways. Barnsley are certainly there for the taking on the road and with several new signings looking to impress the home crowd I think they will come out on top. 2-1 to Rangers.

RON: After disappointing at Bramall Lane Rangers will need to bounce back against a bumper crowd at Loftus Road. Barnsley are no great shakes on the road and hopefully we can take advantage of that and grab all three points. 2-0 to QPR.

Current score: Ron 14 Simon 13

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QPR's "First Tentative Steps Towards World Domination..."

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["World Domination" a phrase employed by this blogger a couple of days ago!]

The Sunday Times/Rob Maul Queen's Park Rangers shine with Rowan Vine

NOT short of money or, it would seem, ambition following the bold declaration from co-owner Flavio Briatore that the club would be playing in the Champions League in the next four years, Queens Park Rangers took their first, tentative steps towards world domination yesterday with one of their most efficient victories at home this season, giving them a six-point safety net from the Championship relegation zone.

Hopefully for the F1 magnate those surprising words, which were printed in the Italian press last week, do not look foolish come the London Olympics. Yet, every journey has its beginning. The Rangers crowd were certainly convinced – this was the biggest attendance of the campaign thus far – and the performance, while not necessarily memorable, was enough to see off Barnsley and stretch their vanquished opponents’ unwanted record without a win to eight league matches.

Manager Luigi De Canio agreed with the plan, explaining that the attitude of the club needed to change first. “We can’t change it overnight. We need to play and grow together,” he said, speaking through an interpreter. “What I want is players who, when they score, pick the ball out of the net and place it on the centre circle, who strive for a third and fourth. Once we do that we have a winning mentality. We don’t have a crystal ball but (Champions League football) is what we are working for. If not four years then maybe five.”

Confident words indeed. Of the nine signings made in January, six were in the starting lineup, making their full home debuts – which included the permanent captures of Akos Buz-saky and Rowan Vine – with two more on the substitutes’ bench.

Remodelled and clearly revitalised, Rangers took the lead with barely five minutes gone through one of their exciting new talents, Patrick Agyemang, signed from Preston earlier this month. The goal came from his opportunism and bravery, when he intelligently chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Heinz Muller, and then fearlessly nodded the ball into the net from six yards when Dennis Souza tried to clear.

Having scored one, the 27-year-old turned provider in first-half stoppage time. The Barnsley defence, which appealed for an offside flag that never came, were carved open as Agyemang and Vine played two one-twos inside the penalty area and Vine slotted the ball in for probably his easiest goal of the season. Having had reasonable amounts of possession and territory, Barnsley needed to be more lethal in attack. Away from Oakwell, they have scored just 10 goals in 14 league matches. “We got punished for two lapses in concentration,” was manager Simon Davey’s assessment as for the 19th time since January 1950, Barnsley returned to South Yorkshire from this fixture without a victory.

Star man: Patrick Agyemang(QPR) Player ratings. QPR:Camp 8, Connolly 7, Stewart 7 (Lee 84min), Hall 7 (Mancienne 79min), Delaney 7, Vine 7, Rowlands 8, Liegertwood 7, Buzsaky 8, Blackstock 7 (Ephraim 89min), Agyemang 8 Barnsley:Muller 6, Van Homoet 6, Foster 6, Souza 6, Tininho 6, Hassell 7, Campbell-Ryce 7, Leon 6 (Ferenczi 55min 6), Howard 6, Devaney 6 (Ricketts 70min), Coulson 6 (Odejayi 55min 6) Scorers: QPR:Agyemang 5, Vine 45 Referee:R Beeby Attendance:16,197 The Times

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QPR's Hall on Manager De Canio: "He's definitely the most tactical manager I've played under"

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Telegraph/Sam Green - QPR magnates net instant on-field return Queens Park Rangers (2) 2 Barnsley (0) 0

Talk of Champions League football and challenging Chelsea has made Loftus Road a giddy place of late. But while the directors' box has welcomed supermodels, an all-together less glamorous cast of footballers have been hired for the more prosaic job of keeping Queens Park Rangers out of League One.

Eight new signings featured on Saturday and two of them - Patrick Agyemang and Rowan Vine - scored the goals that put six points between QPR and the drop zone. Not a bad return for the £5.75 million new owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have committed on players this month.

While the Formula One magnates are associated with Monte Carlo and Monza, Agyemang and Vine cut their teeth at Gillingham, Brentford and Luton. But that does not stop them sharing Briatore's aim of Champions League qualification within four years. "Something big is happening here and I wanted to be part of it," said Agyemang, a £350,000 signing from Preston. "The owners want Champions League football and the players go along with that. With the money they've got, anything is possible."

With Lakshmi Mittal, the fifth richest man in the world, also on the board, QPR have serious clout, yet the manager they have installed is hardly A-list. Luigi de Canio looks more like an Italian Gary Mabbutt than Gianluca Vialli, but the charming former Udinese and Napoli manager is clearly making an impression. "He's definitely the most tactical manager I've played under," said Fitz Hall.

Agyemang put Rangers ahead, exchanging passes with Dexter Blackstock before lobbing goalkeeper Heinz Muller, and though Barnsley responded with some neat passing, they were 2-0 down by half-time. This time Agyemang provided the link-up as Vine slotted home.

Match details:

Queens Park Rangers (4-4-2): Camp; Connolly, Stewart (Lee 84), Hall (Mancienne 80), Delaney; Vine, Leigertwood, Rowlands, Buzsaky; Blackstock (Ephraim 89), Agyemang.

Subs: Crowther (g), Balanta.

Goals: Agyemang (5), Vine (45).

Barnsley (4-1-4-1): Muller; Van Homoet, Foster, Souza, Tininho; Hassell; Campbell-Ryce, Leon (Ferenczi 55), Howard, Devaney (Ricketts 70); Coulson (Odejayi 55).

Subs: Kozluk, Togwell.

Ref: R Beeby (Northants). Telegraph

[pattayarangers]

another signing on the way

And with an offer for David Connolly on the table from QPR, there is a feeling that Keane needs to act quickly to strengthen his squad, something he disagrees with.

"I'm not panicking," said Keane, whose side head to White Hart Lane today looking to claim their first win on their travels this season

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101 goals in 230 starts. The sort of player you don't want to see on the opposition's team sheet

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QPR Interest in Genoa's Marco Di Vaio?

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From the Italian Press re Genoa's 31 year old Italian International forward, Marco Di Vaio

Calcimercato - Genoa Qpr insiste per Di Vaio

18:38 del 20 gennaio

Sembrava destinato al Bologna, ma in realtà il destino di Marco Di Vaio sembra diverso, l'ex bomber della Lazio è nel mirino del Qpr allenato da De Canio . Calcimercato

Web Translation

It seemed destined to Bologna, but in fact the fate of Marco Di Vaio seems different, the former Lazio bomber is under attack, Qpr trained by De Canio - Web Translation

Also from "TransferMarket - QPR, Interest for Di Vaio

20.01.2008 - Source: mercato365.fr "According to french sources, many english clubs are interested in Genoa striker Marco Di Vaio. One of them is Briatore's QPR." Transfermarket

Marco Di Vaio (born July 15, 1976) is an Italian football (soccer) striker, who currently plays for Genoa C.F.C.

Born in Rome, Di Vaio has played for Lazio (1994-95), Hellas Verona (1996), Bari (1996-97), Salernitana (1997-99), Parma (1999-2002), Juventus (2002-04), Valencia (2004-05) and Monaco (2005-2007).

He was a revelation at Salernitana, leading them to their second promotion to the Serie A in 1997-98 as the top scorer in Serie B for that season. Despite Salernitana's relegation the following season, Di Vaio remained in Serie A, after being purchased by Parma. He scored an impressive number of goals for the Gialloblu and he went on to become the 2nd highest scorer of the league in his third season for the team. Juventus won the race to sign him during the following summer (2002), but Di Vaio never really reproduced the form he showed at Parma, mainly because of the immense competition for a first-team place at Juventus. Still, he managed to win one scudetto with Juventus. Di Vaio then moved to Valencia on a 5-year contract, where he became the top scorer for the Spanish side, despite managing a mere eleven goals in La Liga. However, his presence in the first team line-up of Valencia became constricted by the arrivals of Patrick Kluivert and David Villa. In January 2006, Di Vaio was loaned out to French side Monaco. At the end of the season, he transferred to the club permanently and signed a 2 year-deal. On the 21st of January 2007 however, after an unsuccessful spell in France, Di Vaio surprisingly returned to Italy by signing with Serie A club Genoa on a two-year contract....WIkipedia

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QPR vs Chelsea Land Battle?

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Charles Sale/Daily Mail

"An intriguing billionaire property battle could break out in West London between Roman Abramovich's Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers, bought by Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and Lakshmi Mittal, over the BBC Television Centre in Shepherds Bush, which the Corporation have announced they will sell. Advisors for the clubs have recommended that the Beeb site, close to both clubs, is seriously worth considering as a new stadium venue"- Daily Mail