QPR Report Twitter Feed

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Transfer Deadline Day: A Day of "Wishing and Hoping and Thinking and Praying...."

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- For comprehensive and latest QPR news-related pieces and discussion, visit the football-only, somewhat-different QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR Perspectives genuinely welcomed! Or comment on any of the articles posted below - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
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QPR Judgement Day! Not going to post all the rumors and almost-signings which are known to almost every QPR supporter...In the next 12 hours, we'll know.

- Not quite clear/certainly not been announced whether Taye Taiwo has yet received his International Clearance/Visa or whatever he needs to be eligible to play for QPR.

- Updated QPR Transfer Gossip Articles (Go to last page and work back!)

- BBC Transfer Day Gossip
- Sky Sports Transfer Day News/Gossip
- BBC: Actually Completed Transfers


- Air Asia Will Continue Sponsoring QPR Shirts

- 11 Years Ago: Gerry Francis on QPR in Financial Crisis - as QPR crash at home to Fulham and Langley and Carlisle get Cruciate Injuries/Out for Season

- Six Years Ago Today: Ian Holloway's Last Home Game in Charge

- NEXT: Aston Villa: Flashback Results/Shared Players/Photos/Video



- Two Year Flashback: "Red Nose Day" Protest vs Briatore - as Mick Harford's QPR Crash at Home to Scunthorpe



- Ex-QPR Director, Kevin Steele (Under Caliendo-Paladini) Sentenced to 5 1/2 Prison - and Steele/QPR Flashbacks

Monday, January 30, 2012

QPR Report Monday Update: Signings & Departures?...Chelsea...Aston Villa...Flashback: "Red Nose Day" Protest

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- Bert Adinall (RIP): Would Have been 91 Today - Bert Addinall middle of the Front Row - (Back row: Left to Right: Lew Clayton John Poppitt Harry Brown George Powell Des Farrow Reg Chapman. Front Row Seated: Left to Right: Billy Waugh Conway Smith, Bert Addinall, Harry Gilberg Ernie Shepherd).
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- For comprehensive and latest QPR news-related pieces and discussion, visit the football-only, somewhat-different QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR Perspectives genuinely welcomed! Or comment on any of the articles posted below - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
_______________________________________________________________________________________

- NEXT: Aston Villa: Flashback Results/Shared Players/Photos/Video

- Updated QPR Transfer Gossip Articles (Go to last page and work back!)

- Two Year Flashback: "Red Nose Day" Protest vs Briatore - as Mick Harford's QPR Crash at Home to Scunthorpe

- Compilation of QPR vs Chelsea Match Reports

- Today's QPR Birthdays: Peter Crouch turns 31...Bert Adinall (RIP) would have been 91)

- SHOCK AS CHARITY REVEAL 122 FOOTBALLERS ARE IN JAIL

- Photo Compilation of QPR and Chelsea Fans and the Security/Police Measures
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- See Also: 130 Photos from QPR vs Chelsea

- Oliver Holt/The Mirror -Oliver Holt on bullets and boos - the cost of being black and standing your ground

- Ex-QPR Director, Kevin Steele (Under Caliendo-Paladini) Sentenced to 5 1/2 Prison - and Steele/QPR Flashbacks


PLAYERS OUT?

Dave McIntyre/West London Sport
QPR look to offload unwanted players

QPR are set to step up efforts to offload their unwanted players and reduce the size of their huge squad.

Norwegian misfit Petter Vaagan Moen is looking for a new club having failed to make an impact since his move to Loftus Road.

And the likes of Martin Rowlands, Patrick Agyemang, Lee Cook, Bruno Perone, Dan Shittu, Rowan Vine and Gary Borrowdale will all cut their ties with Rangers before their contracts expire if a financial agreement can be reached.

“We’re near to the transfer window closing and these decisions have got to be made.”

Discussions took place with some of those players prior to Mark Hughes’ recent appointment and the new manager intends to make a fresh effort to pay them up and move them on.

Hughes said: “It was an option discussed with a number prior to me getting the job here. We’ll have to revisit those conversations and see if they’re appropriate now.”

But Hughes also admitted he had sympathy for the likes of Hogan Ephraim and Rob Hulse, who have endured a period of uncertainty since his arrival.

They were set to leave after being told they would not feature under Warnock, but Hughes put a temporary block on outgoing transfers in order to assess all of the squad he inherited.

Hughes has no plans to hand them a reprieve, with confirmation of their availability alerting a number of clubs.

Ephraim is set to move on.
Ephraim is a target for a couple of Championship sides and League One leaders Charlton, where he spent a spell on loan this season, while Hulse last year snubbed a loan move to Doncaster because his family now live in the south.

Clint Hill’s future is also in some doubt following the arrival of Nigerian left-back Taye Taiwo, while Bradley Orr has been made available to other clubs.

Hughes told West London Sport: “I’ve been really impressed by Bradley to be fair. But we’re near to the transfer window closing and these decisions have got to be made.

“There are players who had been told that maybe their future lay elsewhere prior to me coming in and they made plans - then all of a sudden there’s been a change [of manager].

“That put a few guys in two minds over whether or not they might have a future here.

“It’s been difficult because we’re right in the middle of a transfer window. Ideally you would give everybody a real crack of the whip.

“We’ve tried to get an understanding of what we’ve got in the building while at the same time try to win matches, and that’s been difficult. West London Sport


Paul Warbutron/Fulham Chronicle - QPR ready to terminate six contracts


QPR are set to terminate the contracts of six players in an overcrowded training ground that could also herald surprise loan exits for Clint Hill and Bradley Orr.

The two full backs have been part of new boss Mark Hughes’s squads, with Hill starting the last eight games including Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea where he was unlucky to concede the match-winning penalty.

However, the imminent arrival of Taye Taiwo on loan from AC Milan and Armand Traore returning from the African Cup of Nations duty sees Hill (pic) down the pecking order. And the Liverpool-born defender already admitted he planned to sort out his Rs future this month.

Hughes revealed the option to pay up others was discussed before he arrived, and was ready to wield an axe sharpened by previous manager Neil Warnock.

The most likely to leave with some sort of settlement on their remaining deals are Martin Rowlands, Lee Cook, Petter Vaagan Moen, Gary Borrowdale, Bruno Andrade and Rowan Vine – none of whom have featured in Rangers Premier League campaign.

Patrick Agyemang and Hogan Ephraim are also thought be looking for new clubs either as loanees or as permanent signings.

Hughes said: “There are a few guys in two minds as to whether they have a future here. And we’ve tried to involve people in the training that wasn’t happening before. But there will come a moment when we’ve got to name a 25-man squad and that might affect players’ decisions.

“(Paying up contracts) was an option discussed with a number prior to me getting the job here.

“So we’ll have to revisit those conversations and see if they’re appropriate now.” Fulham Chronicle


Dave McIntyre/West London Sport - Defender Orr set for Loftus Road exit

Defender Bradley Orr has been made available by QPR ahead of the transfer deadline.

The 29-year-old was told prior to Neil Warnock’s sacking as manager that his future probably lay elsewhere.

And with the signing of Nedum Onuoha having pushed him further down the pecking order, Orr will be allowed to leave Loftus Road either on a permanent basis or on loan if an offer is made.

Warnock’s successor Mark Hughes placed a temporary block on players leaving the club in order to assess his squad, but has now paved the way for Orr to move on.

Two Championship clubs have shown an interest in the full-back, who joined Rangers from Bristol City in the summer of 2010 in what was effectively an exchange deal involving Damion Stewart.

He played over 250 times for City during six years at Ashton Gate and has made 39 league appearances for QPR, six of them coming this season. West London Sport


Guardian/Dominic Fifield

QPR co-owner calls for video challenge system for referee decisions
• Amit Bhatia unhappy at award of crucial Chelsea penalty
• QPR sign midfielder Samba Diakité on loan from Nancy


The Queens Park Rangers co-owner and vice-chairman, Amit Bhatia, has called for the introduction of a challenge system similar to that used in cricket and tennis after seeing the club eliminated from the FA Cup by Chelsea courtesy of a dubious penalty.

The referee, Mike Dean, awarded the visitors a spot-kick just after the hour on Saturday when Daniel Sturridge fell to the turf under challenge from Clint Hill. Contact appeared minimal, with QPR incensed at the decision as Juan Mata converted the resultant spot-kick.

The Rangers manager, Mark Hughes, said Sturridge had gone down "a little bit easily" and claimed Dean had told his goalkeeper, Paddy Kenny, that he had felt obliged to give the penalty "because the lad was about to head the ball in, which wasn't my take on it, to be perfectly honest".

"A very unfortunate penalty," said Bhatia via Twitter. "I'm convinced it's time to allow the challenge system in football. Almost all other sports around the world allow it now. We have to have some kind of video replay system so that harsh decisions can be reviewed. So much is at stake in every game. In a season when results count, every decision really does matter and I can already think of a few decisions that have cost us points [in the Premier League].

"And it's not just us, but all the other clubs too. Mistakes are made. Decisions are difficult and that's fine, but why not allow those difficult decisions to be reviewed? One challenge per half per manager wouldn't slow the game down by any more than 30 seconds. I think it's got to happen. Every fan and player in the land would appreciate a fair review of a difficult decision. It's not rocket science. And my rant isn't about today's decision. It's a general observation about football and applies to us all who want fairer decisions."

Those sentiments were shared by the QPR captain, Joey Barton, who described the penalty award as "very, very soft" having seen footage of the incident. "Sturridge stepping on that landmine does not help the ref, either," he tweeted. "This is why referees should be allowed to look at penalty and red card decisions during the game. These things are happening every week now. Something needs to be done. [It's] ruining the game."

QPR hope to strengthen their squad ahead of the closure of the transfer window on Tuesday night, with attempts ongoing are to recruit the former Liverpool and Sunderland striker Djibril Cissé from Lazio, and have completed a loan move for Nancy's Mali midfielder Samba Diakité. The latter was granted permission on Sunday to fly from Gabon, where he is competing in the Africa Cup of Nations, to undergo a medical with the Londoners and finalise a move.The Nancy president, Jacques Rousselot, said there was "an option to make the move permanent for €4m [£3.5m] at the end of the season if QPR remain in the Premier League". Guardian


REUTERS
About Thomson Reuters
Soccer-Mali midfielder Diakite joins QPR on loan
Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:03pm GMT

NANCY, France Jan 29 (Reuters) - Mali midfielder Samba Diakite has joined Queens Park Rangers from Nancy on loan until the end of the season, the Ligue 1 club said on Sunday.

Diakite, 23, had been allowed by Mali coach Alain Giresse to fly from Gabon, where he is playing in the African Nations Cup, to London to sign his contract.

"It will become a permanent transfer if the London club stay in the Premier League," Nancy said in a statement.

QPR, who are two points above the Premier League relegation zone, will have to wait to see when Diakite can join them as it will depend on how far Mali get in the African Nations Cup which runs until Feb. 12.

Mali are third in their four-team group with three points from two games, level on points with second-placed Guinea with one Group D game to play. The top two teams in a group go through to the quarter-finals.

(Reporting by Dimitri Rahmelow; Writing by Julien Pretot; Editing by Sonia Oxley; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL4E8CT0NO20120129


29/01/2012 - Nancy Official Site
Diakité a signé à QPR

Samba Diakité est officiellement prêté au club anglais de Queens Park Rangers jusqu'à la fin de la saison. Ce prêt se transformera automatiquement en transfert définitif en cas de maintien du club londonien, actuellement 16e avec deux points d'avance sur le premier relégable. Actuellement au Gabon avec la sélection malienne pour y disputer la CAN, le joueur a bénéficié d’une permission du sélectionneur Alain Giresse pour effectuer l’aller-retour à Londres afin de passer la visite médicale puis de signer son contrat.

http://www.asnl.net/102/asnl_24_24/actualites/fiche/3249


Article re Icelandic Footballers - Including of Course Heidar Helguson
"...celand has by far the most English Premier League players per capita of all countries, four in total. In fact, Iceland has more EPL players than quite a few much more populous countries, such as Russia and Mexico to name but a couple.

One of them is QPR‘s Heiðar Helguson, who shouldn‘t need any introduction. The 34- year-old striker has been enjoying a marvellous season with Rangers and is their top goalscorer with seven league goals and one in the FA Cup. It will be interesting to see what impact Mark Hughes‘ arrival will have on his squad status, but it will be hard for the Welshman to ignore his contribution at Loftus Road....World Soccer

Soccerway - Taarabt furious over Morocco exit

Morocco forward Adel Taarabt has expressed his anger at seeing his country suffer a group stage exit from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Atlas Lions surprisingly bowed out of the competition on Friday after being defeated 3-2 by host nation Gabon, but the QPR star admits their elimination was justified following a couple of below-par performances in Group C.

"I am very angry about our early elimination from the cup - we played terrible and we disappointed our fans," Taarabt told Itasport.

As a result of Morocco's failings, Taarabt revealed he wants to bounce back as quickly as possible by resuming his Premier League sojourn with QPR, who have enjoyed a recent upturn in fortunes with the appointment of Mark Hughes.

"I want to return to QPR and help the team as soon as I can. I'm happy to go back to London, but to leave without even a victory is really disappointing," the former Lens man said.
Morocco play out their remaining group match against Niger on Tuesday Soccerway





The Sweeper understands that the approach, believed to have been made last autumn, received a lukewarm response because of Fulham’s plans to expand the club’s home since 1896.

A planning application to develop the Riverside Stand and increase Craven Cottage’s capacity to 30,000 from 25,700 was submitted to the council earlier this month. Fulham, who were tenants at Loftus Road between 2002 and 2004 while the Cottage was developed, will only reconsider the possibility of a ground share if the proposal is rejected by the council.

QPR’s first choice is to buy a parcel of land that belongs to the BBC at White City, which is next to the vast Westfield shopping development and adjacent to the A40.

However, the cost of building a 30,000-capacity stadium from scratch in an area where land and construction costs are so expensive is proving prohibitive and the plan to go it alone at the site has been put on ice.

Sources have told The Sweeper that one suggestion that has been aired is for QPR to move from Hammersmith and Fulham to the adjacent borough of Ealing and a site in Acton, which is close enough to the club’s current Shepherd’s Bush home not to anger the hardcore support.

QPR refused to comment on their stadium plans but it is understood that the club’s priority when the transfer window shuts is to source a site for a new training ground.

No stadium share would get off the ground without the approval of Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council, who insist they have not been pushing for the two clubs, who are 2.5 miles apart, to build a new stadium.

“There is always speculation and rumour about our premiership football clubs,” said a council spokesman. “However, suggestions that Fulham and QPR have held any discussions with the council about a possible ground share are wide of the mark." Goal.com

Sunday, January 29, 2012

QPR Report Sunday: Compilation of QPR-Chelsea Match Reports, Managerial Comments and Match Day Photos

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- Photo Compilation of QPR and Chelsea Fans and the Security/Police Measures
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- See Also: 130 Photos from QPR vs Chelsea
-
- For comprehensive and latest QPR news-related pieces and discussion, visit the football-only, somewhat-different QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR Perspectives genuinely welcomed! Or comment on any of the articles posted below - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
_______________________________________________________________________________________

- On This Day Flashback: QPR's League Cup Quarter Final Win at Chelsea (VIDEO)...Birthdays for Ex-QPR Mark Stein & Steve Yates


- Updated QPR Transfer Gossip Articles (Go to last page and work back!)

- Ex-QPR Director, Kevin Steele (Under Caliendo-Paladini) Sentenced to 5 1/2 Prison - and Steele/QPR Flashbacks

- Next: Aston Villa


Soccerway - Taarabt furious over Morocco exit

Morocco forward Adel Taarabt has expressed his anger at seeing his country suffer a group stage exit from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Atlas Lions surprisingly bowed out of the competition on Friday after being defeated 3-2 by host nation Gabon, but the QPR star admits their elimination was justified following a couple of below-par performances in Group C.

"I am very angry about our early elimination from the cup - we played terrible and we disappointed our fans," Taarabt told Itasport.

As a result of Morocco's failings, Taarabt revealed he wants to bounce back as quickly as possible by resuming his Premier League sojourn with QPR, who have enjoyed a recent upturn in fortunes with the appointment of Mark Hughes.

"I want to return to QPR and help the team as soon as I can. I'm happy to go back to London, but to leave without even a victory is really disappointing," the former Lens man said.
Morocco play out their remaining group match against Niger on Tuesday Soccerway



FA CUP FOURTH ROUND: QPR 0 CHELSEA 1



QPR Official Site


HUGHES: NOT A PENALTY
Posted on: Sat 28 Jan 2012

Mark Hughes believes QPR were unfortunate to concede what proved to be a match-deciding penalty as Chelsea edged through to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory at Loftus Road.

Referee Mike Dean awarded the spot-kick on 62 minutes, adjudging Clint Hill to have felled Daniel Sturridge at the far post.

"It wasn't a penalty, not at all," Hughes said after the final whistle.

"I think if Mike Dean looks at the incident again he'll see Daniel Sturridge has gone down very easily.

"He (Sturridge) knows in those circumstances he isn't going to win the header so he's looking for something in the box.

"Unfortunately the referee has seen that as a foul and we have paid the consequences of conceding the penalty.

"The referee will be disappointed with the decision because there is no way that it is a penalty.

"We are disappointed obviously and I felt that decision came during our best period when we were looking to affect the game in an attacking sense.

"That really took the wind out of our sails. It is disappointing but I am really proud of the effort the lads put in today."

Despite his understandable frustration, Hughes was able to take a number of positives from what was a tight affair against Andre Villas Boas's side.

"We have worked exceptionally hard today," said the R's boss. "We had good shape, good discipline, we understood what we needed to do.

"In key moments we needed to retain possession a little bit better than we did today but obviously we are playing an accomplished side in Chelsea.

"But in terms of our discipline and shape I thought we were excellent."

In the lead up to the game, the focus of many was on the expected handshakes between the two teams.

However, both QPR and Chelsea - in consultation with the FA - took the decision to drop the normal pre-match protocol.

And Hughes explained: "It got to the point where everybody was talking about the handshake when they should have been talking about a football match to be perfectly honest.

"It was ridiculous. So we decided to take it out of the equation and that was exactly the right thing to do."

Now QPR head into a crucial Premier League fixture at Aston Villa on Wednesday evening, and Hughes is looking ahead with confidence.

"We have got players to come in," he said. "We've got Nedum Onuoha and Taye Taiwo who we have added to the squad and hopefully we can bring a couple more in which will help us.

"What I have been really pleased with is the effort and the aptitude of the players.

"They work exceptionally hard for each other and I can't emphasise that too much. If I have that in the group I'm happy because I know I have got something to work with."
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2591797,00.html


Chelsea Official Site

REACTION: BETTER AFTER THE BREAK
Posted on: Sat 28 Jan 2012

Andre Villas-Boas praised the team's discipline and was impressed by improvement shown after half-time in our FA Cup victory at QPR on Saturday.

Pre-match talk was dominated by the on-going John Terry and Anton Ferdinand saga, and this early kick-off did little to switch the focus back to football with neither side creating many goalscoring chances in an unremarkable and unmemorable encounter.

The goal this afternoon came from the penalty spot, Juan Mata finding the bottom corner after Daniel Sturridge had been nudged to the ground by Rangers defender Clint Hill in the second half. That we then went on to keep a clean sheet, with David Luiz and Terry exemplary, will also be food for thought with new signing Gary Cahill waiting on the bench.

'I think the excellent positive today was our change from the first half to the second,' the 34-year-old highlighted. 'We looked dominant for the whole game but in the first half we looked one-paced, slow in our possession, still creating danger but maybe with less incisiveness than in the second half and in the second half we were better and improved as a team.

'Because of that amount of attack we created in the second half we eventually got the penalty. It was a good solid display. QPR are difficult on the counter and create problems, mainly from our mistakes, but we move on with a good 1-0 and go through.'

The manager reserved praise for his defensive players, and in particular the captain who dealt admirably with a barrage of abuse from the home support.

'It was a good solid display defensively,' he said. 'To be fair this January we have shown we have organised ourselves a little better in defence, not conceding so many goals, and it is repaying us. We look more organised and solid and when we scored we managed to hang on to the match.

'Individually John had an excellent performance and was very focused, he managed to get the off-field events out of his mind and concentrate fully on his job.

'There was a tendency from the players to focus only on the game. To be fair the QPR players were also outstanding on that commitment. Emotions were kept low and both teams set out to play football and it worked as a spectacle.'

Villas-Boas felt the decision of referee Mike Dean to award us the penalty was justified, and pointed to the one given against us in October as justification.

'They reacted angrily of course, not satisfied with the penalty,' he said. 'Mike has given it and if you guys can recall it is very similar to the David Luiz and Helguson here, and nobody seemed to criticise anything, instead pointing the finger at David Luiz for his mistake.'

QPR boss Mark Hughes felt otherwise.

'I am pleased with the effort and performance but disappointed with
the penalty which I thought was very harsh,' said the Welshman.
'I think he said to Paddy Kenny that he had to give the penalty because the lad was going to head the ball in. I felt Daniel Sturridge went down a bit easily. It was one of our better periods in the game, where Cech made a good save.'

Hughes conceded QPR had not done enough to win but felt they were good for a replay.

'We're disappointed because we worked exceptionally hard today. In fairness we weren't able to retain possession higher up the field after defending so well, where our discipline was excellent,' the former Chelsea striker said.

'Along with that if you're working exceptionally hard you have to go the other way and we weren't able to do that as much as I would have liked, but we lost a number of players through injury during the week and Heidar Helguson had to come off at half-time.

'We didn't do enough to win but easily could have got a draw out of the game.'

Villas-Boas put out the strongest team available to him, but lost Ramires with what looks to be medial ligament damage in the second half.

'I think the team that we showed today was the team that has been competing extremely well in training. Everyone has been up a level on the winter trip [to Mallorca], and we had to make a decision for the starting 11 - it was strong,' the Portuguese said. 'Normally in cup competitions we see slight changes to the starting 11, not that I haven't done it in the past but bearing in mind our position in the league and the history and prestige of this trophy it sends a good sign for our commitment to the trophy and the people in our team competing for a place. It is still a competition for the players and today we set up with the best possible team.
'[Ramires] looks like a medial ligament injury, not so bad in terms of knee injuries. He will have an MRI tomorrow and we will know the full extent. Hopefully he will avoid an operation and be back soon. We could look at four weeks, but we have to know the extent of the injury to give a good assessment.'
It is possible Frank Lampard could return for Tuesday's Barclays Premier League game at Swansea.
'Frank we have to see how he comes back for training, he is still a doubt, a 50 percent chance, and Mikel shouldn't make it.
'We are within a five-point margin from the third-placed team and five points more than Arsenal in fifth. It's important to try and reach the top and go to Swansea fully motivated. They lost to Sunderland but are on a good run, plus they are one of the teams that play fantastic football. It should build up to an exciting game, and it's important for us to show consistency in the away games but do better than Norwich.'
Both managers discussed the decision, made jointly between Chelsea, QPR and the FA not to stage a pre-game handshake, given the attention that had been building.
'I think it was a wise decision bearing in mind the expectancy aroused from the fact a couple of events could happen in that handshake,' Villas-Boas said. 'Bearing that in mind it was wise not to do it because it could impact crowd behaviour straight after. Everything was clear and both teams got on. It was sensible.'
Hughes added: 'I thought it was the correct decision. There was so much attention shown to such a brief moment it was clouding the issue, which today was surely the FA Cup tie. It was exactly the right thing to do.
There were discussions yesterday, and we had a meeting last night and we gave our view on what should happen. We all came to the same decision.
'In the end it was about taking it out of the equation. I have a bit of history to do with handshakes myself and if they're not done with integrity why do it at all? They're an irritation and I don't know where they've come from. People think it is vitally important teams do this, I thought there was nothing wrong with the old days where you just run out and play a game of football.'

Finally, Villas-Boas had praise for the travelling Chelsea support.
'It was positive. We got more ticket allocation than the league game and filled out the stand,' he said. 'We had good support throughout the game, important for us. It is the environment we want to transfer to Stamford Bridge, which is much more anxious. Away it is more supportive and helps the players feel better.'
http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2591806,00.html


Dave McIntyre/West London Sport

Penalty decision angers QPR boss


Hughes believes QPR have a bright future.

QPR manager Mark Hughes insisted referee Mike Dean was wrong to award the penalty which led to Chelsea’s winner in the FA Cup clash at Loftus Road.

Dean pointed to the spot after Daniel Sturridge went down under a challenge from Clint Hill, who angrily argued that the Blues forward had dived.

Hill protested bitterly after a penalty was awarded against him.

Juan Mata made no mistake from 12 yards, sending his team into the fifth round and leaving Hughes furious.

“I think it was very harsh and Mike Dean will be disappointed when he sees the decision he’s made,” said Hughes.

“He told Paddy Kenny he had to give a penalty because he thought Sturridge would have scored with the header. I think he [Sturridge] went down a bit too easily.

“It’s disappointing for us because the goal came during one of our better periods in the game.”

Hughes praised Anton Ferdinand, who produced a solid performance despite the furore surrounding the R’s defender and John Terry.

“I think Anton has conducted himself really well, not just this week but over a number of weeks,” he said.

“The focus was on him, and for him to play as well as he did means he comes away with a lot of credit.”

Hughes added: “We’re disappointed, because we worked hard in terms of discipline and defensive shape but weren’t able to retain possession higher up the field after defending so well.

“If you’re working extremely hard you still need to be able to go the other way and affect the game. Unfortunately we didn’t do that as well as I’d have liked.

“It was understandable, because we lost players during the week and during the game.

“Heidar Helguson had to come off at half-time and Akos Buzsaky, who hasn’t trained all week, looked leggy towards the end.”

And Hughes revealed that Helguson, who has been nursing an ongoing groin problem, is “very unlikely” to play against Aston Villa in midweek

http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/penalty-decision-angers-qpr-boss/.


Dave McIntyre/West London Sport

Mata’s penalty gives Blues derby victory

Mata played a key role in Chelsea's first-half winner.

Juan Mata’s penalty settled the west London grudge match and sent Chelsea into the FA Cup fifth round.

The Spaniard showed great composure to score after Daniel Sturridge had gone down under a challenge from Clint Hill.

Terry played well after a nervous start.

But his team’s victory was somewhat marred by an injury to Ramires, who was stretchered off 12 minutes from time after falling awkwardly.

The spotlight was inevitably on Anton Ferdinand and John Terry given the furore surrounding the pair since the latter was accused of racially abusing the QPR centre-back when these teams met three month ago.

After much speculation about whether Ferdinand would shake Terry’s hand before kick-off, there were no handshakes at all – as the whole pre-match procedure was scrapped.

Back at Loftus Road for the first time since the alleged incident involving Ferdinand, Terry was predictably barracked by the home fans.

He looked nervous on the ball in the opening stages, but his team’s display with nine men against Rangers in October suggested the home side had reason to feel anxious.

QPR won that controversial clash courtesy of Heidar Helguson’s early penalty but spent much of the game chasing shadows despite the first-half dismissals of Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba.

That gave an indication of the gulf in class between these two neighbours and it was evident again for much of this encounter.

But for all Chelsea’s neat approach play, it took a hotly disputed penalty on the hour-mark for them to break the deadlock.

Referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot despite Hill’s furious insistence that Sturridge dived, and Mata coolly netted his eighth goal of the season.

It came barely a minute after QPR had almost scored against the run of play.

Shaun Wright-Phillips’ shot was parried by keeper Petr Cech towards an unmarked Jamie Mackie, who was unable to react quickly enough to make contact.

Nevertheless, Chelsea’s breakthrough was a deserved one as they had been well on top.

They dominated most of the first half and Mata brought a save from Paddy Kenny after a slip by R’s defender Luke Young.

And early in the second period, Fernando Torres cleverly turned away from Ferdinand and Hill to tee up Sturridge, who blazed over.

After Mata picked his spot, sending Kenny the wrong way, Rangers rarely looked like finding an equaliser – although Cech produced an injury-time save to deny Young.

And the loss of Ramires robbed Chelsea of the game’s most impressive player.

As sweet as this victory will taste for the Blues, the prospect of a long spell without the Brazilian midfielder will cause them real concern.

http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/matas-penalty-gives-blues-derby-victory/


INDPENDENT/Glenn Moore

Mata books Chelsea's passage as neighbours refuse to make a fuss
Not even a controversial penalty fans the flames as players avoid pre-match handshake and remain on best behaviour in wake of Terry-Ferdinand affair


There was no handshake, and precious little football either, at Loftus Road yesterday as a promising FA Cup tie was suffocated by the controversy surrounding it. So determined were both teams to avoidfurther inflaming the tension provoked by John Terry's alleged use of racist language towards Anton Ferdinand in their last meeting that QPR even accepted with only moderate anger the highly dubious penalty award which settled the match in Chelsea's favour.

The spot-kick, converted by Juan Mata on the hour, was given after Daniel Sturridge fell dramatically to the floor after Clint Hill made mild contact with his back. QPR, who beat Chelsea here in thrilling circumstances in October, never looked like levelling and can now return to their relegation battle. For Chelsea, the next items on the agenda are a Premier League match at Swansea on Tuesday, and an appearance at west London magistrates' court for Terry on Wednesday, where he will be formally charged.

If Terry is being affected by the affair it is not showing on the pitch. Yesterday he produced an assured performance, albeit rarely put under pressure by a QPR side overly focused on defence. Ferdinand, whose performances after the incidents faltered, also played well, which was all the more creditable given he was sent a bullet in the post last week.

"I thought Anton conducted himself really, really well, not only this week but for a number of weeks," said Mark Hughes, the QPR manager. "It was important he faced what he had to face, and I'm pleased for him. He was right to be concerned by the content of the letter. I read it and it wasn't particularly nice."

Andre Villas-Boas was equally complimentary about Terry, who was abused throughout by the home support. The Chelsea manager said: "He had an excellent performance, very, very focused. Off-field events were out of his mind and he concentrated on events on the pitch."

Only once did the verbal taunts threaten to spill over into something more sinister, a fan throwing the match ball into Ashley Cole's back as Chelsea prepared to take a throw-in. The refer-ee, Mike Dean, intervened, asking the nearest steward to speak to the man involved. There were no arrests, then or elsewhere in the ground, for which both clubs and the FA will be grateful.

It may have helped that there was not much to get excited about for the game was dire, especially in a lifeless first half. QPR, despite the small capacity of Loftus Road, failed to sell out this west London derby, and the fans who stayed away made the right decision. Hughes has made great play of the fact he has given his new team greater organisation and yesterday he praised his players' work-rate and defensive discipline.

Yet QPR have lost the attacking intent they had under Neil Warnock and only twice exercised Petr Cech. Once was in the seventh minute of injury time, when he parried Luke Young's shot, the other, after 59 minutes, led indirectly to Chelsea's goal.

Shaun Wright-Phillips beat Cole on the right and fired in a rasping shot, which Cech parried perilously close to Tommy Smith. It fell instead to Ramires, who run deep into QPR territory. The move broke down but was resuscitated, and Mata crossed towards Sturridge. Hill nudged the striker in the back and he tumbled to the deck with enthusiasm.

"It was very harsh," said Hughes. "Mike Dean will be disappointed when he sees the decision he's given. He told Paddy Kenny he had to give it as [Sturridge] was going to head the ball, but that was not my view." Chelsea lost to a similar, if more obvious, penalty in October and Villas-Boas said: "We were treated unfairly then, maybe QPR were treated unfairly [today]."

Chelsea fielded a full-strength team and Villas-Boas confirmed afterwards that, with the Premier League title looking out of reach, he was aiming to win the FA Cup. His team produced, as he said, "a good solid display" but lacked panache. Fernando Torres looked to have regressed, Mata only occasionally influenced play and Sturridge continually turned inside, on to his favoured foot but into trouble.

Worryingly, Ramires, who did provide energy, departed on a stretcher late on. The QPR fans suspended hostilities and clapped him off. He was diagnosed with medial ligament damage, but Chelsea hope the Brazilian will be back within a month.

There was one effort on goal in the opening half and that followed a mistake, Mata testing Kenny with a fierce shot. The second half offered little more, with Chelsea largely happy to knock the ball around the back four and QPR, even after falling behind, usually prepared to let them.

With Heidar Helguson suffering a muscle injury, Joey Barton quiet and Akos Buzsaky finding the game rather harder than he had against Wigan last week, QPR lacked firepower.

Hughes will doubtless renew his efforts to add to his squad in the closing days of the transfer window. "The disappointment was that we were unable to build on our defensive platform and attack," he said.

QPR (4-4-2): Kenny; Young, Hall, Ferdinand, Hill; Mackie, Buzsaky (Hulse, 80), Barton, Wright-Phillips; Smith, Helguson (Macheda, h/t).

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Ramires (Romeu, 79), Meireles, Malouda; Sturridge, Torres, Mata (Essien, 90).

Referee: Mike Dean.

Man of the match: Ramires (Chelsea)

Match rating: 3/10

Queens Park Rangers 0 Chelsea 1 (Mata, pen)

Spotlight on John Terry

So what happened to the handshake?

There was no formal handshake between the teams after QPR's players said they would refuse to shake hands with John Terry as a gesture of solidarity with AntonFerdinand. Terry did, however, shake the hand of Joey Barton the QPR captain at the coin toss, and those of the match officials. After the game, Barton (pictured) was again the only QPR player whose hand he shook.



How did the fans greet his first touch?

He was booed throughout by QPR fans, but as the match wore on the venom in the booing dropped. There was also a series of chants directed at Terry and his family, some too unsavoury to print. They included: 'John Terry, we know what you said'. The Chelsea fans cheered him.



Did he have any arguments with anybody on the pitch?

None whatsoever. The game was surprisingly bereft of confrontations between players.


How did he play?

Very well. If not quite flawless, Terry won the majority of his headers, tracked his man, won most of his tackles, generally distributed the ball well and made no serious errors. Independent



The Sweeper understands that the approach, believed to have been made last autumn, received a lukewarm response because of Fulham’s plans to expand the club’s home since 1896.

A planning application to develop the Riverside Stand and increase Craven Cottage’s capacity to 30,000 from 25,700 was submitted to the council earlier this month. Fulham, who were tenants at Loftus Road between 2002 and 2004 while the Cottage was developed, will only reconsider the possibility of a ground share if the proposal is rejected by the council.

QPR’s first choice is to buy a parcel of land that belongs to the BBC at White City, which is next to the vast Westfield shopping development and adjacent to the A40.

However, the cost of building a 30,000-capacity stadium from scratch in an area where land and construction costs are so expensive is proving prohibitive and the plan to go it alone at the site has been put on ice.

Sources have told The Sweeper that one suggestion that has been aired is for QPR to move from Hammersmith and Fulham to the adjacent borough of Ealing and a site in Acton, which is close enough to the club’s current Shepherd’s Bush home not to anger the hardcore support.

QPR refused to comment on their stadium plans but it is understood that the club’s priority when the transfer window shuts is to source a site for a new training ground.

No stadium share would get off the ground without the approval of Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council, who insist they have not been pushing for the two clubs, who are 2.5 miles apart, to build a new stadium.

“There is always speculation and rumour about our premiership football clubs,” said a council spokesman. “However, suggestions that Fulham and QPR have held any discussions with the council about a possible ground share are wide of the mark." Goal.com

Saturday, January 28, 2012

QPR Report: QPR & Chelsea Lineups...Fulham Stadium Share?...Prison for Former QPR Director...Warnock on So-Nearly Signing Bellamy and re Buzsaky

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- Courtesy of Haqpr1963!
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From Bushman Archives
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- For comprehensive and latest QPR news-related pieces and discussion, visit the football-only, somewhat-different QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR Perspectives genuinely welcomed! Or comment on any of the articles posted below - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
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- Ex-QPR Director, Kevin Steele (Under Caliendo-Paladini) Sentenced to 5 1/2 Prison - and Steele Flashbacks

INDEPENDENT - Three are sent to prison for defrauding Swiss bank of $22m
- Three conspirators, including the former owner of the no-win, no-fee firm Claims Direct and an ex-partner at the top-drawer law firm Mischon de Reya, have been jailed for defrauding a Swiss bank.
- The trio defrauded the Swiss bank EFG Private Bank of Zurich of $22m in 2008 by making a loan application supported by fake letters claiming that more £76m was held on deposit at Bank Julius Baer in Guernsey. The money was to be used to fund a Turkish resort where footballers including Wayne Rooney, pictured, had bought villas.
- Kevin Steele, who was a partner at Mischon de Reya in 2008 and was also on the board of Queens Park Rangers, was found guilty of forgery and fraud in December and was sentenced yesterday to five years and six months. Michael Shepherd, a former client of Steele, was sentenced to six years and three months and banned from acting as a director for 15 years. He, like his associate Mark Pattison, who has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, had pleaded guilty ahead of the trial. Independent


Goal.com - The Sweeper: Fulham approached by QPR about interest in sharing a new stadium


Goal.com can also reveal why Jose Mourinho will not be the next Manchester City manager, and offer an explanation for Blackburn Rovers' improvement under Steve Kean

SWEEPER - TIDYING UP ALL THE LOOSE STORIES IN FOOTBALL THIS WEEK

Fulham have been sounded out about their interest in sharing a new stadium with west London rivals QPR, The Sweeper can reveal.

But Fulham have told Rangers they would only consider the possibility of leaving Craven Cottage if their ground expansion plans are rejected by Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council.

Rangers have been openly scouring west London for a new site since Tony Fernandes’ takeover last August and one possibility that has been tentatively explored is linking up with Fulham to build a bespoke ground.

The Sweeper understands that the approach, believed to have been made last autumn, received a lukewarm response because of Fulham’s plans to expand the club’s home since 1896.

A planning application to develop the Riverside Stand and increase Craven Cottage’s capacity to 30,000 from 25,700 was submitted to the council earlier this month. Fulham, who were tenants at Loftus Road between 2002 and 2004 while the Cottage was developed, will only reconsider the possibility of a ground share if the proposal is rejected by the council.

QPR’s first choice is to buy a parcel of land that belongs to the BBC at White City, which is next to the vast Westfield shopping development and adjacent to the A40.

However, the cost of building a 30,000-capacity stadium from scratch in an area where land and construction costs are so expensive is proving prohibitive and the plan to go it alone at the site has been put on ice.

Sources have told The Sweeper that one suggestion that has been aired is for QPR to move from Hammersmith and Fulham to the adjacent borough of Ealing and a site in Acton, which is close enough to the club’s current Shepherd’s Bush home not to anger the hardcore support.

QPR refused to comment on their stadium plans but it is understood that the club’s priority when the transfer window shuts is to source a site for a new training ground.

No stadium share would get off the ground without the approval of Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council, who insist they have not been pushing for the two clubs, who are 2.5 miles apart, to build a new stadium.

“There is always speculation and rumour about our premiership football clubs,” said a council spokesman. “However, suggestions that Fulham and QPR have held any discussions with the council about a possible ground share are wide of the mark." Goal.com


- Telegraph/Henry Winters: For football's sake, dignity and respect must win the day

- Chelsea Previews

- Should Ferdinand Shake Terry's Hand: The Ongoing Discussion

- QPR Vs Chelsea Stats, Flashbacks, Photos, Videos

- Updated QPR Transfer Gossip Articles (Go to last page and work back!)

- On This Day in Football: January 28


NEIL WARNOCK/INDPENDENT COLUMN


- At six o'clock, the day before the transfer deadline shut in August, I had a telephone conversation with Craig Bellamy. He was leaving Manchester City and I was trying to persuade him to come to QPR. I'd almost done it, but he'd heard there was the possibility of returning to Liverpool. He told me: "If Liverpool don't come in for me, I'll come [to Rangers]."

He was determined to hang on to see if Liverpool came in for him at the death, and unfortunately for me, they did. I'll never forget that moment. It was about 10pm the following mad night, as I was trying to sign players right, left and centre. I saw one of those "breaking news" flashes on Sky Sports News: "Craig Bellamy signs for Liverpool." I'd heard from his agent about 6pm that Liverpool had been in touch, so I wasn't that surprised, but it was a blow. As he's shown since, he's still a very good player and he could have made a real difference for us.

An hour after the deadline shut I had a phone call from Craig, thanking me for my interest and telling me he always wanted to go back to Liverpool, which I knew. I wished him all the best. The memory came back to me on Wednesday when he scored the goal that sent Liverpool back to Wembley for the first time in 16 years. He was absolutely magnificent, he covered every blade of grass. I bet Roberto Mancini was sat there thinking, "Why on earth did I let him go?"

It'll be strange for Bellers playing against his old team, and his hometown team, Cardiff, but he's such a good pro that when the whistle goes he'll only think about one thing: winning the game. If Cardiff had gone up last season I'm convinced he would have signed for them permanently, but things haven't worked out too badly for him.

2. Palace pride despite pain of penalties

Football managers always watch matches involving other teams with a view to how it might affect your own club. If a player gets injured, or gets a card which will lead to a suspension you think, '"Which matches is he going to miss?" You hope games involving promotion or relegation rivals, or your next opponents, go into extra time. And you are always looking out for players who might be able to do a job for your own team, and looking at the tactics used by future opponents.

When you are not in work you can watch matches from a more detached perspective, but you never stop thinking about what the managers are going through, because on another day it could be you.

That was certainly the case as I watched the midweek Carling Cup semi-finals, which both showed what a fine line there is between winning and losing. Having been through a few penalty shoot-outs, I could empathise with Dougie Freedman (below) and Malky Mackay, two of the most promising managers in the game and two young men I have a lot of time for, when the Cardiff-Palace match went to spot-kicks.

I'm sure the disappointment for Dougie and the lads at Crystal Palace was immense, but they should all be proud of their achievements in getting that far. I've watched Malky from his early days at Watford and I love how he goes about his job with no frills. You can tell the enjoyment he gets out of being manager of a great club like Cardiff City.

The second semi was also decided by narrow margins, in this case two refereeing decisions. I thought it was a penalty when Charlie Adam fouled Edin Dzeko, but not when Daniel Agger's shot deflected on to Micah Richards' hands. Phil Dowd thought differently and I could see why. It was impossible to give the Dzeko penalty from his position, while the other happened so fast I'm convinced Phil never saw the ball come off Richards' foot before it hit his hands. I would imagine after the game he couldn't believe his eyes, but then it's too late.

Three days earlier, though, City got the breaks against Spurs. I still can't believe they won that game. Mario Balotelli should have been off for a stamp on Scott Parker, and I bet Jermain Defoe has made those last few inches to score what would have been Spurs' winner every night in his head when he's gone to bed. I had to smile when Balotelli's agent said he was being picked on. Just tell him not to stamp on people. It's not rocket science.

3. A week off, but my life is going down the Tube

So what have I been doing in my week of leisure? As well as the semi-finals I watched the cricket (I think the lack of spectators might explain why some England players found it hard to get going), the golf (it was great to see Tiger striking the ball well again) and the tennis (though if I watch those shriekers Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka this morning it'll be with the sound turned down).

Today I'm at the ITV studios to watch QPR v Chelsea for tonight's highlights show. I do fancy QPR repeating our Premier League win over Chelsea. Tomorrow I'm at the Emirates with ESPN for Arsenal v Aston Villa. Surely Arsène will go out to try and win the FA Cup? I think they have a great chance.

I've not just been watching television and appearing on it. I've had two more teeth out – with my mouth I've got to have major surgery on most things – and been out and about in London. I went on the Tube twice to London on my own. I try not to make eye contact, but as you can imagine, I get a few supporters giving me some gentle banter – fortunately, at the moment that's all it's been, but I'm sure that won't last.

There's all the world on the Tube. You look around and wonder what people do, where are they going? I think it does me a bit of good to see how everyone else lives in the capital. One night, to avoid the rush hour, I waited until 7pm to come back. Yet when the train came into the platform at Hyde Park Corner and the doors opened everyone was standing up, jammed in like sardines. I had to push my way on.

4. Trying to book concert tickets is Sheer torture

Amy asked me to get some tickets for an Ed Sheeran concert in Plymouth. They went on sale at midday on Wednesday. Come the time, we logged on to be told we could not book online but had to ring the box office. I think the website had crashed. We rang for an hour and 10 minutes. First we got a recorded man's voice telling us to "press one for tickets for today's concert" and so on. The next voice, a woman, gave us more options. Finally, we had another recorded voice telling us "all lines to the ticket office are busy, please call back". Each call took 75 seconds. We eventually got through to hear another recorded voice that said "sorry, all tickets have been sold". All this time, while I was on the phone, on the internet you could buy £22 tickets for £70 from every ticket agency you could imagine. It really is a disgrace that you waste all that time and find the majority seem to have been sold off to ticket agencies. I felt really stitched up.

At least there's been compensation in sport. Amy won at netball while Will scored a fabulous try for his rugby team and a cracking goal in five-a-side football.

5. Time for a tong lashing over Sharon's curlers

Sharon asked me to pop into Boots to pick up gas refills for her Braun curling tongs. I tried four shops, all said they didn't have any. I went to Kingston and tried five more shops. Same response. It looks like they might even have stopped selling them. But there is obviously demand because on the Internet I can buy two for £40 – it's normally £5 a pair. So Sharon now has these useless tongs. I'm told Twitter is good for making complaints like this, but you know what I think about Twitter, so I'm using my column. If anyone from Braun is reading, please get in touch.

6. Akos was left out due to Faurlin being a hero

I had to smile when I read the comments from Akos Buzsaky after his fabulous goal for QPR last weekend. I can imagine the press asking him: "Why haven't you been playing?" The answer is simple, Ali Faurlin plays in his position and he has been QPR's best player this season. However, in my last match as manager Ali was badly injured, enabling Akos to get back in the side.

Akos told the press "at Christmas I wasn't even in the squad, I wasn't even travelling with the team. It was really testing me." I thought to myself: "I wonder if this is the same player that asked for five days' compassionate leave at Christmas?" Independent



QPR OFFICIAL SITE - YOUR BEHAVIOUR - A REMINDER

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Queens Park Rangers Football Club is committed to confronting and eliminating discrimination, whether by reason of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ethnic and national origin, disability, nationality, religion or belief or gender reassignment.
- The Club is proud of the atmosphere we have at Loftus Road and by working together we can stop any discrimination or behavior that has no place in football.
Loftus Road is governed by Ground Regulations and we would like to remind all visitors that by entering the ground they are agreeing to abide by these rules.
Entry to the Ground is expressly subject to acceptance by the visitor of these Ground Regulations and the rules and regulations of FIFA, UEFA, The Football Association, The Premier League and The Football League in respect of the relevant competition. The Ground Regulations incorporate the Club's Customer Charter (if any). Entry to the Ground shall constitute acceptance of the Ground Regulations.
- Racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and / or ejection from the Ground, and in addition the Club will impose a ban for one or more matches.
QPR will not tolerate sexual or racially based harassment, or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal and where required we will work in full co-operation with the Metropolitan Police to provide CCTV footage and staff statements to ensure prosecution.
- Any actions that lead to prosecution or removal from the ground will result in a ban.
No supporter needs to tolerate discrimination of any kind at Loftus Road, on the pitch or in the stands. If you experience any form of discrimination, help us to eliminate it from football. Please report this to the Club by texting the Matchday Control Room on 07557 435421. We will treat your correspondence in strictest confidence.


GUARDIAN/DOMINIC FIFIELD

Police investigate death threat against Anton Ferdinand

• Spent gun cartridge sent to Queens Park Rangers
• Ferdinand to face John Terry for first time since league meeting


Anton Ferdinand was the target of a death threat on the eve of Saturday's potentially explosive west London derby against Chelsea. Hammersmith and Fulham police are investigating a letter, containing a spent gun cartridge, which was received by Queens Park Rangers and is understood to have been addressed to the defender.

The buildup to the FA Cup fourth-round tie has been dominated by the first meeting of Ferdinand and John Terry on the pitch since the England captain was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence relating to an altercation with the QPR defender during the fractious league meeting at Loftus Road in October.

Terry's case is due to be heard at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, though he will not be in attendance, with his legal team to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.

It is not clear whether Ferdinandwas made immediately aware of the letter but a Metropolitan police spokesman said: "I can confirm we are investigating an allegation of malicious communication received today at Queens Park Rangers Football Club. Officers from Hammersmith and Fulham are investigating."

QPR and Chelsea subsequently stated that "full searches" would be carried out on all spectators before entry and advised fans to arrive early. "Entry to the stadium will be permitted from 10.30am for the midday kick-off," the clubs said.

Confirmation of the threat to Ferdinand will dismay both clubs, who had been hoping to ease the tension before the tie. The two chairmen issued a joint statement this week appealing for calm.

Immediately before kick-off the focus will inevitably be drawn to whether Ferdinand will accept Terry's offer of a handshake. André Villas-Boas, the Chelsea manager, believes it is "extremely important" that the pair shake hands to set an example, though it is understood Ferdinand is minded not to do so. QPR officials have spoken to their player and suggested shaking hands may help defuse what is expected to be a tense occasion but the centre-half is concerned it may appear hypocritical to make the gesture given the gravity of the charges faced by Terry.

"It is extremely important [they shake hands]," Villas-Boas said. "Firstly, it's a question of respect for the opponent and everybody should do it. When it reaches that moment, the players should set out an example and do it. A lot of the situation has been spoken about but it's good for the players to show that, whatever is happening off the pitch, they are playing against each other on it. It's important they shake hands. This game is based on good values more than anything else. These two players should continue to promote those good values."

The QPR manager, Mark Hughes, has said the decision should rest with Ferdinand alone and, with his squad severely depleted by injury, has no qualms about selecting the player. "It could change from one day to the next – Anton could wake up in the morning, think: 'What's the big deal?' and shake hands," Hughes said. "Or he might feel strongly about it and decide he definitely won't. I don't know if he will shake hands. I'm not Anton.

"I like to think I can judge if a player is ready to play on a Saturday and he's given me no sign that anything is weighing heavily on him. He wants to play and his team-mates want him to play. He'll get support from them and from me so that will be enough and, obviously, our fans will back him wholeheartedly."

Terry will enter the arena braced for a hostile reception from the home supporters even if Chelsea's manager is confident he will thrive in the volatile atmosphere. "The top players have this ability to concentrate fully on the task they have in a game," said Villas-Boas. "I have no doubts about him.

"John is one of the greatest central defenders in the world, maybe one of the best ever. His progression has been outstanding, his qualities are amazing. He's a player who almost guarantees you success, in terms of his individual performance helping our collective, and a player we hold in the highest esteem. All these players went through performances in their lives that make them ready to play in any circumstance, but Chelsea players get stick from every opposition crowd. No opposition crowd loves you or 'incentivates' you. It's a London derby fuelled by emotion, and the fact Chelsea lost there in dramatic circumstances [in October] makes it an even more emotional game.

"You have to value the player and the person. The player, John Terry, has been extremely successful in the world game, with high individual success. John Terry, the person, is someone I have great empathy with, and great respect for. A player who was involved in my knowledge-making and my process of gaining experience as a manager, and a person I will always hold as a friend whichever route our lives take."

Chelsea, who have sold their centre-half Alex to Paris St-Germain for £4.2m, are unlikely to pursue the Shakhtar Donetsk forward Willian, aware that the Brazilian may struggle to gain a work permit and with their valuation of the player a considerable distance from that of the Ukrainian club. Talks continue with Genk in an effort to secure Kevin De Bruyne, who would stay in Belgium on loan until the summer. The youngster is considered a "club signing" rather than a player the manager has targeted.

"He's a good bet for the future, a player the club have scouted for some time, and I'm a manager who respects club policy," added Villas-Boas. "I'll do everything in my power for him to reach maximum potential. But it's down to the club in decision-making."

A similar arrangement could be struck with the Brazilian club São Paulo for their highly rated 19-year-old midfielder Lucas Moura. Chelsea will renew their interest in the summer if no deal can be agreed before Tuesday night. Guardian


QPR Official Site - SHARIFF JOINS WOKING

Posted on: Fri 27 Jan 2012

Mo Shariff has joined Blue Square Bet South table toppers Woking on a month's loan.

The 18 year-old penned a two-year contract extension with the R's in February 2011 to keep him at the Club until the summer of 2013.
Shariff will remain at the Kingfield Stadium until Saturday 25th February 2012.
QPR

Woking Official Site - Mo Shariff Joins on Loan

John Moore - 27th January 2012
- Woking Football Club are pleased to announce the signing of striker Mo Shariff from QPR on a one month loan deal. Mo will go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s match at Boreham Wood.
- The 18 year-old penned a two-year contract extension with the R's in February 2011 to keep him at the Club until the summer of 2013. Woking


Independent Ireland

Driven Murphy makes netting QPR spot his No 1 priority


By Ruaidhri O'Connor
Saturday January 28 2012

ALL eyes will be on FA Cup clash at Loftus Road this afternoon when John Terry and Anton Ferdinand come face-to-face for the first time since their hostile clash in the league earlier in the season.

While all this is going on, though, Brian Murphy will be slipping into his seat in the stand and watching his club play in yet another big game without him involved.

The former Bohemians man joined QPR on a free transfer last summer, but, at the moment, he has to be content with the third-choice goalkeeping spot.

In context, that's not so bad. He gets all of the trappings of being a professional footballer without the stress of having to perform.

But you don't get to where Murphy has in the game without striving for improvement and, while he is certain he made the right move by joining Neil Warnock's side -- after endorsements from Roy Keane among others -- he wants to keep his progress going and get into the first team, even if it means a loan move after the transfer window ends.

"You're not at a club like this without ability," he told the Irish Independent. "You're depending on one person's view of you and I was under no illusions when I came here. I turned down an offer from Ipswich to stay; took a risk not knowing if I had anything concrete, but I was delighted to get the offer from QPR.

"I wasn't expecting straight away to come in and challenge for No 1, I was hoping to be No 2, which I was after I worked hard in pre-season, but I was unfortunate to get an injury at the wrong time."

He was second choice on arrival, but tore his groin in the warm-up before the Stoke City match. During the game Paddy Kenny tore his gluteal muscle and it was Radek Cerny, rather than Murphy, who stepped in and subsequently produced a host of man-of-the-match performances.

When Kenny came back, Cerny dropped to the bench, meaning Murphy -- who has only played once against Rochdale in the League Cup this season -- has been out of the match-day 18 since. Rather than dwelling on his frustration, the former Ipswich No 1 is remarkably positive.

"I didn't come into the Premier League with hundreds of games under my belt. Paddy Kenny's here and he's had hundreds of clean sheets at this club," he said.

"You have to earn your right to be No 1. I just come in and work hard and see who is in the match-day squad; things can change very quickly in football."

Since Warnock's departure and Mark Hughes' appointment, the Waterford native has been getting positive noises from the Welshman's new goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock and is hoping that his chance will come soon.

That will have to come first before his mind starts to wander towards reclaiming his place in the Ireland set-up.

"It's going to be difficult because there are good 'keepers here, there's good competition," he said. "That's what you want, I suppose, you want to prove yourself, that you're good enough and as far as I know, so far, I've done enough to impress the new goalkeeping coach and some of his staff.

"I've been told that if I keep training at the level I am, then I'll get a chance sooner rather than later."

Something that separates Murphy from his Premier League team-mates is his summer pursuits.

While the others are hot-footing it to warmer climes, the 28-year-old has been part of the Kildare Gaelic football set-up, coaching the goalkeepers in Kieran McGeeney's panel.

"I've done a couple of sessions with them. I have a Gaelic background," he explains.

"It's still the same idea, despite being a different sport. Unless they have a soccer background, the Gaelic 'keepers didn't really get goalkeeping coaching until recently.

"I've worked with the lads over a couple of seasons and seen vast improvements. Down the road somewhere, there is definitely something there to improve Gaelic goalkeepers. If you ask the boys that I worked with, they picked up tips."

That can wait, of course, with Murphy's mind firmly getting back into the match-day squads at Loftus Road and taking centre stage again.

QPR v Chelsea,

Live, Setanta Sports 1, 12.0

- Ruaidhri O'Connor - Independent/Ireland

Friday, January 27, 2012

QPR Report Friday Snippets

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- Courtesy of Haqpr1963!
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-- From Bushman Archives: QPR Team of 1897
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- For comprehensive and latest QPR news-related pieces and discussion, visit the football-only, somewhat-different QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR Perspectives genuinely welcomed! Or comment on any of the articles posted below - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
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- On This Day in Football (January 27): 11 Years Ago: QPR Crushed by Arsenal...Get Knock out of the Cup by Preston....Re-Sign Danny Shittu...Have Taarabt Talking about the Great Neil Warnock...and Priskin Set to join on Loan + 30 Years Ago, Yesterday: Last time a QPR player Scored four in a game

- Football Academies: Brentford Opening One...The Changes in Youth Football means every club will have academies, graded from one to four.

- Ex-QPR Antonio German Joins Brentford

- One-Time QPR Target, Richard Eckersley, released by Burnley

- Interesting Piece re the Process of Football Transfer Registrations: The "nuts and bolts" involved


Taye Taiwo in gay chant rap
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/taye-taiwo-in-gay-chant-rap/?

QPR have issued a warning to fans about offensive chanting this weekend — just hours after signing a player who was banned for singing a homophobic song last year.

AC Milan left-back Taye Taiwo agreed to join the Hoops on loan for the rest of the season.
QPR hope the Nigerian will receive international clearance in time to make his debut in the FA Cup showdown with rivals Chelsea on Saturday. Both clubs yesterday appealed for fans to watch what they chant during the fourth-round tie.

The match takes place just four days before Blues skipper John Terry appears in court to answer a charge he allegedly racially abused QPR’s Anton Ferdinand during October’s fiery Prem clash — a claim JT denies.

If Taiwo plays, he will have to behave better than he did after scoring the winner to help Marseille beat Montpellier 1-0 in the French League Cup final last April.

Following the final whistle he grabbed a microphone and led fans in an expletive-ridden homophobic song about their bitter rivals Paris St Germain.

French chiefs fined him £17,000 and banned Taiwo, 26, for one game.
The FA Cup tie will be the first time the sides have met since the Terry-Ferdinand row broke.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/taye-taiwo-in-gay-chant-rap/?


QPR OFFICIAL SITE
YOUR BEHAVIOUR - A REMINDER


Posted on: Thu 26 Jan 2012
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is committed to confronting and eliminating discrimination, whether by reason of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ethnic and national origin, disability, nationality, religion or belief or gender reassignment.
The Club is proud of the atmosphere we have at Loftus Road and by working together we can stop any discrimination or behavior that has no place in football.
Loftus Road is governed by Ground Regulations and we would like to remind all visitors that by entering the ground they are agreeing to abide by these rules.
Entry to the Ground is expressly subject to acceptance by the visitor of these Ground Regulations and the rules and regulations of FIFA, UEFA, The Football Association, The Premier League and The Football League in respect of the relevant competition. The Ground Regulations incorporate the Club's Customer Charter (if any). Entry to the Ground shall constitute acceptance of the Ground Regulations.
Racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and / or ejection from the Ground, and in addition the Club will impose a ban for one or more matches.
QPR will not tolerate sexual or racially based harassment, or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal and where required we will work in full co-operation with the Metropolitan Police to provide CCTV footage and staff statements to ensure prosecution.
Any actions that lead to prosecution or removal from the ground will result in a ban.
No supporter needs to tolerate discrimination of any kind at Loftus Road, on the pitch or in the stands. If you experience any form of discrimination, help us to eliminate it from football. Please report this to the Club by texting the Matchday Control Room on 07557 435421. We will treat your correspondence in strictest confidence.



- Flashback: Two 1923 Videos of QPR vs Sheffield United and additional 1923 video of QPR vs Sheffield United

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"On This Day in Football: January 26..."


- Video: Three Ultra-brief snippets; Three QPR Goals from early 1970s

- UEFA Warns Clubs about Financial Fair Play Rules...and Consequences of Breaking

- Five Year Flashback: A look at QPR Signings and Releases

- Ex-QPR Chairman Flavio Briatore Scheduled to Testify at Silvio Berlusconi Trial

- 1,000 Children Getting in Free for the Aston Villa-QPR Game

- David Conn/The Guardian: "Onus on clubs to prevent ugly spectre of racism rearing its head again
Liverpool host Manchester United in the FA Cup with the clubs' bitter rivalry soured by the Luis Suárez affair


- The Current Bottom Six Premiership Clubs: Their Remaining Fixtures

- Latest QPR Player Signing Reports/Gossip

- Recent QPR Transfer Gossip: Player-by-Player

- Tony Fernandes and Lakshmi Mittal Receive Asian Football Award


- NEXT: Chelsea (And New Statement re Chelsea Fans/Racism!)

- African Cup Updates

- Two interesting recent articles: re Managers and Agents (including Mark Hughes) and re Malaysia and Football (including re QPR)

- QPR will Play Newcastle United (Away) in the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup

Thursday, January 26, 2012

QPR Report Thursday Updates and Flashbacks: Onuoah Joins QPR

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- For comprehensive and latest QPR news-related pieces and discussion, visit the football-only, somewhat-different QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR Perspectives genuinely welcomed! Or comment on any of the articles posted below - QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
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UPDATE: ONUOAH JOINS QPR ON A 4 1/2 YEAR DEAL


- Two Year Flashback: Mick Harford's (relegation-bound) QPR Crushed 5-0 by Nottingham Forest!
Ikeme, Stewart (Ramage 46), Leigertwood, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Quashie, Connolly, Faurlin (Ephraim 46), Hill, Simpson (Vine 70), Taarabt. Subs not used: Cerny, Hall, Cook, German.

- The QPR Player " London Call-In LIVE tonight at 7pm: Guests Tommy Smith, CEO Philip Beard and Kevin Gallen

- Flashback: Two 1923 Videos of QPR vs Sheffield United and additional 1923 video of QPR vs Sheffield United

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"On This Day in Football: January 26..."


- Video: Three Ultra-brief snippets; Three QPR Goals from early 1970s

- UEFA Warns Clubs about Financial Fair Play Rules...and Consequences of Breaking

- Five Year Flashback: A look at QPR Signings and Releases

- Ex-QPR Chairman Flavio Briatore Scheduled to Testify at Silvio Berlusconi Trial

- 1,000 Children Getting in Free for the Aston Villa-QPR Game

- David Conn/The Guardian: "Onus on clubs to prevent ugly spectre of racism rearing its head again
Liverpool host Manchester United in the FA Cup with the clubs' bitter rivalry soured by the Luis Suárez affair


- The Current Bottom Six Premiership Clubs: Their Remaining Fixtures

- Latest QPR Player Signing Reports/Gossip

- Recent QPR Transfer Gossip: Player-by-Player

- Tony Fernandes and Lakshmi Mittal Receive Asian Football Award


QPR OFFICIAL SITE

EXCLUSIVE: R'S SWOOP FOR ONUOHA
Posted on: Thu 26 Jan 2012

Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to confirm the signing of versatile defender Nedum Onuoha.

The 25 year-old has penned a four-and-a-half year deal, after Rangers agreed an undisclosed fee with Manchester City for his services.

Onuoha - who has made 21 starts for England Under-21's - becomes Mark Hughes's second signing as QPR boss, following the recent addition of Taye Taiwo from AC Milan.

Hughes - who worked with Onuoha in his spell as City Manager - told www.qpr.co.uk: "Nedum is a player I know very well.
Article continues
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"He did very well for me at Manchester City and played a number of games, probably more than under any other Manager.

"He is very versatile. He can play centre back or right back, and has good pace. He is a very good addition to the squad."

Hughes added: "It's important that we are able to attract good players here.

"Nedum had other options but his experience with myself and the other guys here was a big factor in why he has come to us. I am pleased about that."

Onuoha has clocked up 148 professional appearances to date, scoring six goals, including a memorable goal of the season contender against Chelsea whilst on loan at Sunderland last season.

He said: "This was the right time for me to join a Club like QPR.

"The Manager obviously played a massive factor in my decision to come here. I've worked with him before and he always wants players around him who are open and honest.

"He wouldn't have come here if he didn't believe that there was a squad of players here that can achieve the goals he has.

"The ambition of the owners was really appealing.

"This is my Club now and I'll give everything to help us succeed."

Onuoha could be in line to make his QPR debut in our FA Cup fourth round tie against Chelsea on Saturday.'
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2589341,00.html


PR OFFICIAL SITE

HUGHES: 'NEDUM'S VERSATILITY KEY'
Posted on: Thu 26 Jan 2012

Mark Hughes says that new signing Nedum Onuoha's versatility played a big part in bringing the defender to Loftus Road.

The 25 year-old put pen-to-paper on a four-and-a-half year deal from Manchester City this morning (Thursday), after QPR agreed an undisclosed fee with the Barclays Premier League leaders for his services.

Hughes knows the Nigerian-born ace only too well, having managed Onuoha during his reign as City boss.

And, speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, the now-R's gaffer said: "Nedum is a player I know well.

"He did very well for me at Man City and played a number of games, probably more than under any other Manager.

"He is very versatile. He can play centre-back or right-back, and has good pace. He is a very good addition to the squad.

"I think he is more than competent in both positions. As a centre-back, he is strong and quick, and he can attack the ball. In the full-back position, he can get forward and use his pace in wider areas, so he's a great player for us to have. He offers versatility, which I like."

Hughes also added that Onuoha has an eye for the spectacular, but insists he brought the stopper to W12 for his ability to defend, first and foremost.

"On occasions he will shock you and go on a mazy and score - like he did for Sunderland against Chelsea (last season)," he continued.

"But first and foremost he is here for his defensive capabilities.

"It's important that we are able to attract good players. Nedum had other options but his experience with myself and the other guys here was a big factor in why he has come to us. I am pleased about that."

The Rangers boss also said that the prospect of First Team football was another key factor in bringing the defender to QPR.

"He is a young man who needs to get back on track and start playing games," said Hughes.

"We will reap the benefits of that because he is a determined individual who wants to be a fixture in the side if he can.

"Both he and Taye (Taiwo) are similar in that they have come here because they want to play regular football. And I think that's important.

"When you bring players into the squad you want them to be hungry and ready to make an impact.

"Both these players are good guys who are desperate to do well."
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2589409,00.html

QPR Official Site


NEDUM ONUOHA: IN PROFILE
Posted on: Thu 26 Jan 2012

A graduate of the Manchester City Academy, Nedum Onuoha signed his first professional contract with the Blues in November 2004.

Then 18, the teenager signed a pro-deal just weeks after making his full debut in the 2-1 Carling Cup defeat at the hands of Arsenal.

Onuoha made his first start in the top-flight in the win over Portsmouth in November of that year playing at right-back in place of the suspended Danny Mills.

He earned an international call up to the England Under-20s for their friendly against Russia at the Valley and scored in the opening five minutes of the game.
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Onuoha was called into England Under-21 squad in the 2005/06 season and made his debut as a substitute against Poland.

Thereafter, he was a regular fixture in City's First Team squad and at Under-21 level for England.

Thigh and knee injuries restricted the defender's availability at the start of Mark Hughes' reign in 2008/09, but after regaining full fitness he established himself as first choice clocking up 20 Premier League starts.

His reward for an excellent season was a new, five-year contract, signed in July 2009. However, despite signing that new deal, Onuoha's opportunities were restricted upon Roberto Mancini's arrival in Manchester, with the defender starting just seven matches in the 2009/10 season.

With appearances few and far between, Onuoha was sent out on loan to Sunderland last season and made 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring arguably one of the goals of the season against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, in a 3-0 victory for the Mackems.

Onuoha returned to the Etihad Stadium this term, but again found opportunities limited, making just two Carling Cup appearances and one substitute's appearance in the Premier League.
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2588314,00.html



Telegraph/Jason Burt

QPR Anton Ferdinand asks owner Tony Fernandes for advice over handshake with Chelsea's John Terry


Anton Ferdinand will consult Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes on Thursday before deciding whether to shake hands with John Terry before Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Chelsea.

Ferdinand is acutely aware of the potentially incendiary nature of the FA Cup fourth-round tie and the clubs issued a joint statement on Wednesday warning fans they will take action against anyone using discriminatory language. It will be the first time the clubs have met since Terry was charged with racially abusing Ferdinand during October’s Premier League derby.

The QPR defender is in a quandary as to what to do on Saturday. He does not want to inflame the situation, but neither does he feel he can easily shake Terry’s hand given the nature of the allegations even if the Chelsea captain vehemently denies wrongdoing.

Ferdinand has not made up his mind and there is no pressure, despite suggestions otherwise, from QPR for him to be reconciled with Terry during the now traditional pre-match handshake between two teams in FA Cup and league matches.

Fernandes’ opinion could be key but the Malaysian entrepreneur is unlikely to put any pressure on the defender either way although he will want to try to ensure that the match takes place without incident. It may, therefore, be deemed that a handshake could be the best solution.

In the statement QPR and Chelsea said: “Discrimination has no place in football or society.” They added: “Both clubs enjoy fantastic support. However we would remind fans that, while we want to hear their passion, hatred and abuse is not what being a fan of QPR or Chelsea is about.

“The clubs will work together with the police to ensure that anyone using discriminatory or inflammatory language is identified and that the strongest possible action is taken against them.”
Ferdinand should have a new central defensive partner for the tie after QPR on Wednesday agreed a £3 million fee for Manchester City’s Nedum Onuoha, who is set to become manager Mark Hughes’s second signing following the arrival on loan of the AC Milan left-back Taye Taiwo.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Terry will not appear in court in person next week for the preliminary hearing of his case after being charged with a racially aggravated public order offence following the allegations that he directed a racist comment at Ferdinand. It is understood that Terry’s legal team will enter a not guilty plea on his behalf at the hearing, the case will be heard by a magistrate and not a jury, and it will then be adjourned for several weeks.

Nine men have been arrested by police investigating suspected racist chanting by Charlton Athletic fans. Police received reports of supporters singing racist songs on a train following the FA Cup tie against Fulham on Jan 7. Telegraph



- Fifteen Years:: THE Trevor Sinclair Goal for QPR vs Barnsley in the FA Cup

- 12 Years Ago: QPR Inaugurate the New QPR Messageboard


- Also Five Years Ago: Ben Kosky Article Assessing QPR's Signings over an 18 Month Period (Holloway/Waddock/Gregory - and Paladini!)

- INDEPENDENT JAMES LAWTON - It may be legal, but should managers earn sell-on fees?


- NEXT: Chelsea (And New Statement re Chelsea Fans/Racism!)

- African Cup Updates

- Two interesting recent articles: re Managers and Agents (including Mark Hughes) and re Malaysia and Football (including re QPR)

- QPR will Play Newcastle United (Away) in the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup

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