QPR at Home in Round 2...

No, your not seeing things, QPR have been in a televised draw for the Carling Cup Second Round and have been drawn at home to Carlisle United.



The game will take place on the last Tuesday or Wednesday in August

QPR in Cup Win Shock...

Swindon 2-3 QPR

QPR secured a shock 3-2 cup win against Swindon Town in the first round of the Carling Cup on last night.



With Corp still on foreign soil and PK stuck at work, PK's bro, Steve joined myself for what should have been a relatively straight forward midweek journey to the County Ground. Which it was, until junction 13 of the M4 and the delays meant we missed the first 20 minutes of the game.

Walking to the ground, there were plenty of oooo's and aaar's coming from the home end, leading us to think we could be in for a tough night. Thankfully, we arrived in plenty of time to see Angelo Balanta give the R's the lead from close range on 33 minutes. But sadly, by the time I had written the texts to the gang not in attendance, I was quickly editing it to say that Swindon had levelled through Cox.



And, if the Swindon PA announcer wasn's annoying enough after the goal, he was even more so after 'Billlllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Payyyyyyyyyyyyynteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer' gave the home side the lead on 42 minutes and many R's fans were scratching their heads in wonder of just HOW, we were losing this match.

Well, myself and Steve thought we had done so well, getting to the ground when we did and NOT missing any goals. So at the very least, we thoroughly deserved a half time beer!! So that was eagerly consumed and enjoyed and a quick visit to the gents before the second half, then - 'YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES' is what is heard from above. We arrived back to our seats to find lots of smiling faces and Rangers level through Dexter Blackstock. After watching the Carling Cup highlights on ITV1, we saw it was hardly the 'goal of the season' contender that many had teased us with, but a fine goal all the same as the Cook/Blackstock partnership was back in force.



Nine minutes later and Rangers were ahead and yes, we saw this one!! Captain for the night, Damien Delaney fired home from ten yards with a cool finish after Ledesma's corner was only half cleared.



Despite plenty of pressure for the home side, Rangers looked the bigger threat coming forward and even after 5 minutes of time added on, the dreaded extra time didn't come and Rangers held on to amazingly, win a Cup game!!!

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Stewart, Leigertwood, Parejo, Blackstock (Di Carmine 69), Gorkss, Connolly, Cook, Balanta, Ledesma (Alberti 78). Subs: Cerny, Agyemang, Bolder, Ramage, Ainsworth.

Lofty's Man of the Match - a few contenders for this one with fine performances from Parejo and again, Ledesma. But last night's award goes to returning defender, Matt Connolly who did the work of two defenders last night following a poor performance from Damion Stewart.

So, after an easy enough journey home, I now sit here writing this, knowing I will be back on here later to report details of the 2nd Round draw, what a good feeling that is!!!

One Size Fitz Hall for QPR...

QPR 2-1 Barnsley

Fitz Hall scored twice and then missed a penalty as QPR came from behind to beat Barnsley, as the season started with a win at Loftus Road.



How good it is to be back!! Okay, well we had a sneak peek at the new look Loftus Road at last weeks friendly with Chievo, but gladly, things seemed a lot more organised today. For one reason or another, the gang all arrived at different times and at different places - with Corp in Majorca, but with persistant rain all afternoon, it seems he has made the right decision? But of course, he is missing football and we arrived at our seats eagerly awaiting the kick off and indeed, the new season.

Now, I will go back briefly to the increase in Season Ticket prices and with one of the so called sweeteners, being that our names would be put on our seats for the forthcoming season. Well, despite me requesting to the box office, not to do so, there was my name, gloriously standing out on a labelled piece of sticky tape. I along with many others will no doubt be rest assured, that the extra money was certainly put to good use...

Anyway, enough of that and onto the game and the expectant crowd were silenced when Iain Hume put Barnsley ahead after only four minutes. Rangers had started nervously, no more so than debutant keeper, Radek Cerny. But for a stupid minority of R's fans to start chanting 'there's only one Lee Camp' after only 12 minutes of the game was outrageous, if not disgraceful!!

After the shaky start, Rangers got themselves back on level terms on 29 minutes - Barnsley keeper Luke Steele parried Emmanuel Ledesma's free-kick into Hall's path and he bundled the ball home at the second attempt after his first effort came back off the bar.



Just two minutes later and Loftus Road erupted - after Barnsley failed to clear a Lee Cook corner, the ball dropped to Hall near the edge of the area and the centre-back brilliantly hooked it back over his shoulder and into the far corner of the net to give the R's the lead.





From there on in, it was pretty comfortable for Rangers and Agyemang spurred and opportunity to extend the lead early in the second half. This before Darren Moore brought down the hardworking Blackstock in the box to give the R's a penalty on 58 minutes. Now, whether or not it was a gesture from his team mates, to give Fitz Hall the chance to get his hat trick, remains to be seen. But Hall saw his penalty comfortably saved by Barnsley keeper, Luke Steele. Luckily, the miss didn't end up costing us...

QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Mahon, Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Agyemang (Parejo 71), Gorkss, Ramage, Cook, Ledesma (Alberti 83). Subs: Camp, Connolly, Balanta

Lofty's Man of the Match - despite two goals from Fitz Hall, today's award goes to Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma, who terrorised Barnsley all afternoon. It has nothing to do with the penalty miss, honest ;o)



So, the season starts with a win and a reasonably good performance. There were a good few negatives, especially in the first half but plenty of positives also, with Ledesma's performance, Hall's goals and a very solid display from Gavin Mahon in midfield. Daniel Parejo got a twenty minute run out, which is hard to judge any player, but enough was seen in that time to suggest he is a fantastic signing!!! It must also be remembered that the R's were starting the season without the injured Vine and Buzsaky, the suspended Stewart, Di Carmine and Captain, Martin Rowlands who was ridiculously sent off in the last game against West Brom last season. But I saw enough today to feel that this could be a very exciting season with a lot more to come from these players.

It's good to be back!!

QPR Sign Parejo from Real Madrid

Well, when I started all this, I never thought for a second I would be writing a story like this...

But, in a press conference today, QPR have announced the signing of Real Madrid starlet, Daniel Parejo on a season long loan.



Rangers have beaten off stiff competition from a number of Europe's top Clubs - including Arsenal, Deportivo La Coruna, Espanyol, Getafe and Villarreal - for the young starlet and with all due respect to the players signed so far, this is the first real example of our wealthy owners flexing their muscles in the transfer market.




Flavio Briatore said: "We are delighted to have agreed a deal to sign arguably the hottest prospect in European football. This is an incredible coup for Queens Park Rangers.

"I am eternally grateful to Ramon Calderon for giving QPR the opportunity to sign such a talented young player. Daniel is a great, young talent and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the QPR family.

Iain Dowie said: "Daniel is a special talent. He's one of the stars of their academy, he gets it and gives it and is the link man we've been looking for.

"It shows the benefit of having Flavio Briatore's contacts and we're indebted to him and his relationship with Ramon Calderon that we've managed to bring in one of the brightest young prospects in Spain."

Daniel Parejo said: "I am very happy to be coming to London to play for QPR. When Madrid told me I could come here on loan I and my family were very excited. I had a very nice meeting with Mr Briatore and he has great ambitions for this club."

GOOD LUCK DANIEL and WELCOME to QPR!!

QPR Beaten in Final Friendly...

QPR 1-2 AC Chievo Verona

QPR ended their pre season campaign with their 3rd succesive defeat against Serie A new boys, Chievo Verona, in what was largely a disappointing match at Loftus Road.



Although the prices for this friendly were not exactly over generous, myself and the gang were keen to get back to Loftus Road. If only, to see the many changes that we have heard so much about during the Summer. Overall, I have pretty much calmed down now about the season ticket price hike etc and cannot wait until next Saturday, where it all starts again against Barnsley at home. But, as mentioned, throughout the close season, fans have heard allsorts from the Club about improving the match day experience and many changes/improvements made at Loftus Road for us all to look forward too...

Well, on arrival, the first port of call was the Club Shop, or 'Superstore' as it's now called. It's basically, had a refit. It's the same shop, the layout is a bit better and now they have much welcomed air conditioning. It was also evident around the Stadium, that whoever has supplied QPR with blue and silver paint, has made a right killing!!

So far, so reasonably good, but we were then eager to enter the Stadium and see our now 'Gold' seats in the Upper Loft. Apart from more splashes of silver paint, nothing much has changed. The Stadium as a whole, looked good with a new coat of paint and a big screen has been put up on top of the away end. Now, it was only a matter of time before we got one of these as our old scoreboard is not only a bit dated, but is really on it's last legs. The thing is, where our seats are, at the back of the stand, means that the long wait and excitement means nothing at all as that we will be able to see absolutely nothing of the new addition.



Anyway, moan over and onto the game, which as a whole was a typical friendly and a bit of a disappointment. However, Chievo looked very good and passed the ball around very nicely and the R's, playing a weird looking system with a lone striker, struggled to keep up with them. However, Rangers were denied a lead midway through the half when referee Howard Webb, ruled out Damien Delaney's header for a foul by Fitz Hall. Cheivo then went down the other end and scored through Bogdani following some neat passing.



Onto the second half and just as Iain Dowie changed Rangers back to a more conventionall 4-4-2 system, Chievo doubled their lead through Bentivoglion who fired home from the edge of the box as Rangers were caught napping by a reasonably simple, set piece. With 20 minutes to go, Rangers got back into the game. Alberti was bundled over in the box and the referee, quite generously I must say, pointed to the spot. Following a tangle with Ledesma to get the chance to take the kick, Dexter Blackstock sent the keeper the wrong way - at the second time of asking as Howard Webb had ordered a retake after the first penalty was saved.

QPR: Cerny (Camp 85), Ramage, Delaney, Mahon (Bolder 76), Hall, Gorkss (Stewart 77), Agyemang, Leigertwood (Ainsworth 77), Blackstock (Di Carmine 73), Balanta (Alberti 59), Ledesma (Rose 83).

Despite the defeat, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance. Kaspers Gorkks had a decent game and certainly looks a good signing for us and when Connolly is fit, a back four of Delaney, Gorkks, Hall and Connolly looks a good choice. Good performances again came from Ledesma and sunstitute, Alberti. There was also a fair slice of negatives too, but with the season just one week away and reports of big news coming from Loftus Road this coming Monday, I won't dwell on that for now...

See you next week!!

Welcome Home Cookie!!!!

QPR have today signed former winger, Lee Cook on a season long loan from Fulham, with a view to a permanent transfer.



Rangers were forced to sell Cook a year ago due to the financial position at the Club, but have been trying to get him back ever since - this despite the continued obstacles put in the way by Fulham. It must never be forgotten that Cook donated his signing on fee to help QPR's once precarious position.



Cook told the QPR Official Website;

“I’m absolutely delighted to be back. Once it became clear I could leave Fulham there was only one club I wanted to move to. I had a great rapport with the supporters here in my previous spells and I’m looking forward to playing in front of the Loftus Road faithful again.

I’ve spoken to a few of the lads recently and there’s a great belief that we can achieve something this season. The gaffer has made some astute signings over the summer and as a QPR player and a QPR fan I’m absolutely buzzing ahead of the new season"

WELCOME HOME COOKIE!!!!

Finally... Welcome Kaspers Gorkks

The transfer saga is finally over, as today, QPR clinched the signing of Latvian International defender, Kaspers Gorkks from Blackpool for an undisclosed fee.



With a £250k release clause in his contract, Rangers moved quickly to try and snap him up once the transfer window opened but things turned sour when Blackpool reported QPR to the Football League for making an illegal approach to the player - and when Blackpool Chairman, Karl Oyston said he would do everything in his power to stop the player moving to QPR, the deal looked all but dead in the water. But today, finally, the 26 year old defender has penned a 3 year deal with the R's.

Good Luck Kaspers and WELCOME to QPR!!

Going the other way is Zesh Rehman, who has joined Blackpool on a 6 month loan deal. Striker, Daniel Nardiello is also likely to be a Blackpool player following his contract at QPR being terminated by mutual consent. We wish both players well in their future careers!