QPR News

The fifth richest man in the world, son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal has bought a 20% stake in the club.

Having beaten Colchester 2-1 on Saturaday QPR have moved out of the bottom 3 for the first time since September and the millionairre owners of QPR will be wanting to see some rapid improvements in the new year after seeing little improvement since De Canio took over from Mick Harford.

The club made the following statement after securing the huge financial backing:

“This investment is a great stepping stone towards the future development of the club,”
“It supports the ambition of the current shareholders to reach the Premier League in the near future.”

De Canio has warned QPR fans not to expect big signings in the new year. This however may not be so easy as other clubs may start to put the prices up for players if QPR show an interest.

Its been an incredible year for QPR, nearly out of business a few months ago with mounting debts, and now huge investment potential and being touted as potentially one of the richest clubs in the world

Filed under: QPR news | No Comments »

QPR sign Plymouth star Buzsaky on a two-month loan deal. New QPR manager Luigi De Canio has made his first signing with the capture of Plymouth midfielder Akos Buzsaky and rangers are reportedly ready to offer the Pilgrims £500,000 to sign the 25-year-old on a permanent deal in January.

Buzsaky’s contract at Home Park is due to expire in the summer.

“I am really looking forward to playing here,” Buzsaky told QPR’s website.

“The fans seem to be very appreciative. You know if you play well, they will really support you.”

According to the BBC story QPR are also hoping to complete the permanent signing of on-loan Birmingham striker Rowan Vine.

Ákos Buzsáky player profile

Buzsaky Video

Filed under: Transfer News | No Comments »

Queens Park Rangers have confirmed the appointment of Italian Luigi de Canio as first-team coach as caretaker Mick Harford leaves QPR.

“De Canio is fully aware of the high standards and objectives that the new management has set for the future of the club,” said chairman Gianni Paladini.

“He is ready and eager to take up the challenge.”

Paladini added: “We offered Mick Harford a role within the new set-up and we’re disappointed that he turned it down.

“He has done a fantastic job and his contribution will never be forgotten.

“The club is going through a phase of total restructuring and for us, the appointment of Luigi de Canio is the first important step ahead in our long-term strategy.”

BBC

Filed under: QPR news | 1 Comment »

Charlton 0 - 1 QPR

QPR defeat Charlton Athletic with a well deserved 1-0 victory at the valley stadium.

After Charlton had the better of the first half QPR would have been happy with the score 0-0 at halftime.

After the break QPR came out and played magnificently with Vine putting in a star performance.
Within minutes of the restart Vine one a penalty after a run into the box. To QPRs dismay Rowlands struck the post from the spot. Mikele Leigertwood then missed a glorious chance it looked like the luck was against QPR.

However it seemed to balance out after Nygaard looked to have fouled Charltons keeper Nicky Weaver before Bolder calmly placed the ball into the keeperless net.

Mick Harford will have done his chances off getting the full time job at loftus road as QPR extended their unbeaten run to four matches in front of Briatore.

Filed under: Match Report | No Comments »

QPR 1 v 0 Norwich City

QPR record their first win of the season with a 1-0 win over Norwich.

A star studded crowd including Naomi Campbell as a guest of Briatore watched QPR grind out a result against fellow struggler’s Norwich City. A dubious penalty decision was smashed home by Martin Rowland’s after Vine looked to have dived in the box. The decision was the least QPR deserved after two previous appeals had been turned down by the ref.

QPR failed to get the second goal to lift them off the bottom despite having the best of the chances. The game ended with a rally from Norwich City after over 5 minutes of injury time was added. It was an enjoyable sight to see Fabio Briatore gesturing in stereotypical Italian fashion whilst passionately abusing the referee with a classic English curse.

QPR caretaker-manager Mick Harford:

“All I can say is that I can affect what I can affect - the football side, the team and the players.

“I can’t affect whether they want to bring another manager in. If they offered it to me, I would accept it.

“I’m philosophical about it. If we play like we did tonight then maybe I’ll have an opportunity. If we don’t, someone else will.”

QPR: Camp, Rowlands, Stewart, Cranie, Barker, Ainsworth (Jarrett 86), Bolder, Leigertwood, Ephraim (Timoska 90), Sahar (Moore 68), Vine.
Subs Not Used: Cole, Bignot.
Booked: Vine.
Goals: Rowlands 67 pen.

Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Dublin (Murray 46), Drury, Croft, Russell, Jarvis, Lappin (Strihavka 63), Martin (Brown 76), Huckerby.
Subs Not Used: Gilks, Chadwick.
Booked: Dublin, Croft, Huckerby.

Att: 10,514; Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Filed under: Match Report | No Comments »

Live on Sky Sports tonight QPR will be looking for their first win of the season against fellow struggler’s Norwich.

On-loan trio Martin Cranie, Rowan Vine and Jason Jarrett could all make their home debuts, but defender Pat Kanyuka (groin) remains sidelined.

Norwich skipper Jason Shackell is available after suspension.

But Canaries defenders Gary Doherty (groin), Ian Murray (foot) and Adam Drury (back), and striker Jamie Cureton (foot) are all doubtful.

Filed under: Team News | No Comments »

Queens Park Rangers Football Club have completed the three month loan signing of highly-rated Portsmouth England Under-21 international defender Martin Cranie.

Cranie has put pen to paper on a 3 month loan deal taking it up to, and including, January 1st 2008.

“He’s a good signing for this Football Club,” said Harford.

“I’ve looked at him for a very long while and I’m just delighted we’ve been able to get him here for three months.

“He’s played at the highest level already this season and he’s an England Under-21 international, so he’s got great pedigree.

“He’s versatile, but he prefers to play at centre half and that’s where we’ll use him.

“It gives me a decision or two to make in that department, but we needed to freshen it up to improve on all aspects of our defending.”

Cranie joins onlaon from Portsmouth after making the move from rivals Southampton in the summer.

Filed under: Player News | No Comments »

QPR have signed Preston North End midfielder Jason Jarrett on loan until January 2008.

Player profile

Filed under: Player News | No Comments »

Queens Park Rangers have sacked John Gregory as manager of the club.

Yesterdays 5-1 defeat at West Brom has been the final straw, bottom of the table without a win the club stated how they had to act swiftly.

“The club would like to thank John for everything he has done during a difficult period as manager,” chairman Gianni Paladini told the QPR website.

“In particular, (we would like to thank him) for saving us from relegation last season,” added Paladini.

“However, the performances and results this season have not met with our expectations. The league table does not lie.

“The club have decided to act swiftly in time to turn things around for the remainder of the season.”

Mick Harford will take temporary charge of QPR ahead of their game against Colchester on Wednesday.

Now the questions moves to who should replace Gregory?

Martin Allen, and Vialli are all rumoured to be in line and could emerge as a candidate for the job. It looks as though a replacement may already be waiting in the wings as Paladini stated

“A further announcement about the post will be made after that (the Colchester game).”

Filed under: QPR news | No Comments »

QPR 1 v 1 Watford

QPR came from behind and held on to draw 1 - 1 after Mikele Leigertwood’s dismissal on 81 minutes. The match could have gone either way after QPR more than matched top of the table Watford. Watford took the lead after Adam Johnson’s 49th-minute goal before QPRs Stefan Moore fired in Dexter Blackstock’s rebounded shot 10 minutes later to hand Rangers their first home point of the season.

With Vialli watching from the stand and rumoured to be waiiting to replace Gregory, this result and performance should go some way to keeping Gregory in charge for a little longer.

QPR boss John Gregory:

“I’m extremely proud of my players. They gave me everything, which they always have done.

“People not connected with QPR cannot understand how the death of Ray Jones affected my players. They’ve had to overcome that and focus on their job.

“They dealt with a very strong Watford side and you couldn’t see much difference between the teams. I think we should have won the game.”

Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd:

“It was a very open game - too open for my liking. I was disappointed by the way we defended while we were attacking at times.

“I’m also very disappointed with the chances we missed in the first half and I think QPR will feel the same about the chances they missed.

“Loftus Road is always a difficult place to come and I’m sure QPR will turn the corner and that John Gregory will get them organised.”

QPR: Camp, Timoska, Stewart, Cullip, Barker, Ainsworth (Moore 46), Leigertwood, Bolder, Rowlands, Blackstock, Nardiello (Ephraim 41).
Subs Not Used: Cole, Bignot, Curtis.

Sent Off: Leigertwood (81).

Booked: Bolder, Leigertwood, Cullip.

Goals: Moore 59.

Watford: Poom, Doyley, Shittu, DeMerit (Mariappa 46), Stewart, Smith (McAnuff 73), Williamson, Mahon, Johnson, King, Darius Henderson (Ellington 73).
Subs Not Used: Lee, Priskin.

Booked: Mahon, McAnuff.

Goals: Johnson 49.

Att: 14,240

Ref: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire).

Filed under: Match Report | No Comments »