Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

This has been the longest time  in which I've failed to update the blog since starting it, through a mixture of post-season complacency, QPR fatigue (a very real and prevalent condition for thousands who go to Loftus Road on a fortnightly basis) and also my having gained some other freelance work, which while very welcome, is non-QPR related .

I've been keeping my eye on Rangers of course and as should be expected for a club which could be on the precipice of major change, the last month, since that final game against Newcastle, has not been lacking in important news.

There hasn't been the flurry of  transfer activity that some anticipated, though if you take many papers at face value that is not for a lack of interest on QPR's part. I recall Neil Warnock indicating he was keen to tie up as much business as possible prior to the World Cup which gives him another two weeks to add to the signings of strikers Jamie Mackie and Leon Clarke and in what is looking more and more like a done deal, Darren Ambrose from Crystal Palace. That's not to rule out further transfer activity after that point, with Warnock and chairman Ishan Saksena looking to forge a harmonious working relationship in which the manager can suggest any number of transfer targets to his boss. That process could carry on right up to the start of the season and possibly beyond.

Which suffice to say means I hope to update here on a much more regular basis between now and the start of next season. With one month of the close season already gone and the World Cup to come, plus pre-season fixtures from July 12, including a tour of Italy, the new season will be here sooner than you think and a lot could happen in that time. As ever with Rangers, it should be interesting. Below is a round-up of the last 30 days with the odd prediction on what this last month could mean for the rest of the summer.

May News Round-Up

The first player to come into the QPR squad this summer was one who was already with the club. Patrick Agyemang returned to Loftus Road following a loan spell at Bristol City during the second half of last season. It was a pretty dismal time away from the club for Agyemang, though his stay with City came as their season floundered, but it does call into question his future with Rangers.

The main tabloid game in May, when it came to QPR anyway, was who will Neil Warnock sign from Crystal Palace? Because of a) Warnock's clear affection for the club and its players and b) Palace's absolutely hopeless financial position, it is possible for any combination of players to be suggested as Rangers' transfer targets. Only a week into the close season and The Daily Mail was suggesting that Neil Danns would be making a short move for £1.5 million. By the middle of the month defender Clint Hill was being touted as the most likely candidate; by the end and over the last week, Darren Ambrose has jumped to the head of the queue and this one looks to have the most validity. Though some sites may have jumped the gun in announcing his signing, it appears that Palace's administrators need to off-load Ambrose just to pay their wage bill for the last month. Keeper Julian Speroni has also been repeatedly linked with a move to QPR, though he should really be discussed in a whole new section on Warnock's unsuccessful courting of goalkeepers. 

At the same time as Danns was being rumoured to be on his way, the Ealing Gazette was reporting that Barnsley defender Rob Kozluk had also been added to the shopping list. The exit door was open this month, though surprisingly not for any of the playing personnel but for three members of the back-room staff, with head physio Paul Hunter, assistant physio Shane Annun and reserve team manager Keith Ryan all getting the chop. Youngster Josh Parker, who made four appearances at the end of last season, will remain at the club though after signing a one-year extension to keep him with the Hoops until next summer.

Into the third week of the month and Rangers were finally ready to do some business, though if it was big-name signings you craved, there was bound to be a slight tinge of disappointment. On May 13 the club moved for Plymouth Argyle attacker Jamie Mackie; by the 18th he had signed a four-year deal, though his goal-rate while in the South-West suggests he will have a point to prove next season.

Gavin Mahon was auditioning to be included as well next season - his contract expires this summer and a long-term injury over the last campaign prevented him from having any opportunity to impress his new boss. He's been talking a good game in the press though and if any player fits the Warnock-type of hard-working, tough-challenging battlers, Mahon is surely the man.

One player who has not been synonymous with graft during his career is striker Leon Clarke, but Warnock clearly sees some potential in this very, very rough diamond. The 25-year-old former Wolves, former Sheffield Wednesday man became the second signing of what is still shaping up to be a busy summer.

Over the last week, it's been a return to the hunting ground of Palace and the never-ending quest for a new keeper. As part of the former search, Ambrose now looks nailed-on to be the third summer signing. In the latter quest, The Mail was reporting that a £750,000 move for Sheffield United's Paddy Kenny had been rebuffed, while Speroni was weighing up his options and Peterborough were laughing off any suggestion that they will let Joe Lewis jump back up to the Championship.

Oh, and a former Rangers manager took a club on a much smaller budget than QPR's into the Premiership while supporters learned they would have another London derby next season, though probably not one they will look forward to with any great relish. On to June...

It has been a long and trying season for QPR. One that promised much in the early autumn but which also threatened unthinkable lows as spring came around. Now, with the first hint of stability which they've craved for so long seemingly in place, all eyes are already on next season.

In the meantime, the R's had a tricky final game against the champions Newcastle United, a side in need of just one further point to finish on 100 for the season. It provided the Hoops with an opportunity to show they can compete with the best teams in the league; conversely, it also threatened to mark up how far the gap is between the home side and that going into the Premiership.

The packed away end was suitably boisterous from the first minute, though they had little to cheer on the pitch in the opening exchanges. It was Rangers that forged the first clear-cut sight on goal after neat interplay between Akos Buzsaky and Jay Simpson left Tamas Priskin with the freedom to shoot just outside the area, but he ballooned his effort well over the bar.

Buzsaky wasted an even better chance not long after. The ball broke to him in the area but on the turn he too could only lift his effort high into the arms of the Geordies behind the goal. It was certainly the home side crafting the better opportunities inside the first twenty minutes though.

Alejandro Faurlin, a player with a very realistic chance of being awarded the club's Player of the Year award tonight, has brought much to the team, not least greater composure on the ball then many of his teammates can muster, but goalscoring is not a noted feature of his game. With just one strike to his name so far, he too went close, stinging a long-range drive at the palms of reserve keeper Tim Krul and Jay Simpson wasn't far off connecting with the rebound. Dusko Tosic could also have opened his account for QPR, cutting in from the left before curling a rather tame shot into Krul's arms.

Their fans weren't overly worried, singing through a roll-call of their team and past legends, including Bobby Robson throughout the half. The topless Northerner at a cold football game has been seen enough to border on stereotype, but one Magpies fan took it a step further, wearing a green "Borat" body-thong, which verged on the obscence. The sight below will not hopefully become too commonplace at football grounds around the country:

Up front, Shola Ameboi struggled to make any impact on the game, except for one shot on the turn which went comfortably over Radek Cerny's goal and he at one point so over hit his pass that he was taunted with "You're getting sold in the summer" by the Rangers fans.

Surprisingly, it was Rangers' top scorer who made the most wasteful intervention on the verge of half-time. Played through on goal, he had ages to compose himself and even take it round the goalie, but he chose to over-reach for the ball and shoot first-time, allowing his strike to limply land to Krul. You could tell this game wasn't to be taken too seriously when both sets of footballers stopped playing at the sound of a whistle which actually came from the Newcastle fans. The referee had to reconvene them to play a few more seconds.

One player will have wished the game could have ended there.

Few, if any, players have improved as much as Peter Ramage in the last few weeks as he has been shifted to his natural position at centre-back and few players will have had a greater emotional investment in this game, as a former Newcastle player. The switch in position meant it was Ramage who had to contend with Ameobi when he broke on goal straight after the break and in bringing him down on the edge of the area, he conceded a free-kick but most damagingly, was sent from the field of play. He looked distraught at the turn of events; some of the Newcastle fans sportingly sang his name.

It forced Neil Warnock into an earlier switch then he would have liked, bringing on youngster Josh Parker for Lee Cook. He went in at right-back, with Mikele Leigertwood moving to partner Gorkss at the back.

Amazingly, it was still QPR creating the better chances and a surging run and pass from Jay Simpson set up Tamas Priskin to lift the ball into the net, only to be judged offside.

Newcastle threw Peter Lovenkrands on but were still unable to make any advantage over the depleted Rangers side.

Simpson was threatening on the break but his decision-making had deserted him. Played into space on the wing by Hogan Ephraim, he chose to cut in and run at three players rather then attempt to find strike partner Priskin who was free in the centre of the box.

The lack of bite up front finally told when Lovenkrands opened the scoring. His ability in the top tier is still to be proven, but he produced a finish worthy of a higher stage, calmly clipping the ball over Cerny from a tight angle.

Simpson too could move up to a higher division, though it's unlikely to be with his own club Arsenal, but if this was his QPR swansong, he seemed determined to not mark it with goal. Within minutes of Lovenkrands' strike, he caught Fabricio Coloccini flat-footed and had a clear line to the net again, but struck the ball at Krul who was quick off his line.

The numerical advantage soon threatened to widen the gap between the two teams even further, Newcastle sub Harris Vuckic going close with a curled shot to the far post. Lovenkrands too could have doubled his tally with minutes to go, volleying on the turn but without enough power to trouble Cerny. A free header for Priskin at the other end should have levelled the game were it not for the commanding Krul, who was making a definite claim for more playing time.

A line of police prevented the pitch invasion that the Newcastle fans so dearly wanted on the final whistle but they could already turn their minds to a quick return to the Premiership. QPR too couldn't be downhearted about this result and a performance which showed that if they build on the early promise under Neil Warnock, they could yet follow Newcastle's path one day.

Both Neil Warnock and Peter Ramage said recently that they couldn't wait to get this season over and done with and they are unlikely to be the only members of the QPR dressing room to hold such opinions. That said, if any final day match could invigorate the squad, it would be the visit of champions Newcastle United.

In fairness, Rangers have maintained a professional approach to their games since learning they would definitely be in the Championship next season. Back-to-back victories followed that news, both by the same scoreline of a solitary goal which showed that at least in the back four, no-one is taking anything for granted between now and tomorrow night.

If ever there was a game to test that new-found resolve its tomorrow's fixture. Newcastle have pretty much been a revelation this season, which seems an odd thing to say when you consider their resources, massive fan-base and strong reputation, especially at Championship level.

Anyone witnessing their freefall from the Premiership though would have seen a club in crisis; horrendously mismanaged off the pitch and lacking in spirit and belief on it. I can't have been the only person who suspected their slide could continue and that a repeat of Leeds United's experience could have been on the cards. The togetherness of their season then was a surprise and off the back of their home record, they've been worthy and comfortable champions. They will be in full celebratory mood tomorrow and only the Hoops can put a small dent in their party.

QPR Team News

QPR will almost certainly be unchanged in defence, a consequence of injuries to other players (with Damion Stewart who suffered a fractured skull recently and Matt Connolly with an ankle injury both out) but also of the upturn in the backline's form. Ramage in particular has excelled in his natural position at centre-back and he has an extra motivation on Sunday of playing against his former side.

In the rest of the team, it could be time for the Loftus Road crowd to say a few goodbyes to the loan players in the squad. Though no-one's fate is sealed, Adel Taarabt could sign off on a mixed relationship with the home crowd, that's if he's fit after missing Rangers' last game against Barnsley. Jay Simpson was also left on the bench for that one and he could be given a place in the side for the last time to round off a successful season under very trying circumstances.

Newcastle Team News

QPR will welcome back Wayne Routledge tomorrow after the winger joined the North-east club during the January transfer window. It was a sale which raised a few eyebrows as though his form had been intermittent, he remained one of the few players offering pace and attacking intent in the side. Freed from some of the strains of working at QPR, he has improved at Newcastle, with three goals already in 14 starts.

Another player with an even closer connection right now to QPR is Fitz Hall, as his move to Newcastle was purely on a loan basis, although as with Rangers' own loan signings, it is far from certain what the next move for Hall will be. He is unlikely to take to the field though as he has a hamstring injury.

Fellow absentees could be striker Nile Ranger who has an ankle problem and Jonas Gutierrez has already departed the UK to join up with the Argentina squad ahead of the World Cup. Defender Steven Taylor could return though following a knee injury.

Form

Pretty peerless for Newcastle. They haven't lost since the start of February when they were on the wrong side of a surprise 3-0 defeat at Derby County. Of the subsequent 16 games, they've won all but four. Their successful and immediate return to the Premiership has been built on the back of a phenomenal unbeaten home record, with just 13 goals conceded at St James' Park but they're no slouches on the road either, with just four defeats on their travels - a record only bettered by fellow promotion side West Bromwich Albion.

QPR dream of such consistency but under Neil Warnock, there are a couple of signs that it could be achieved in the not too distant future. Firstly, compared with their form at the start of the year, they have undoubtedly become a much harder team to beat, with three defeats in 13 games, compared to eight in the 13 before that. Warnock's initial brief was to keep the team in this league and he should be commended for doing it. Secondly, they're much harder to score against with a solitary goal against in their last four outings.

Prediction

As the Geordies need just a draw to hit 100 points, I'd be stunned if they didn't achieve it. A final indicator that Rangers should be improved next season though has been their performance against the top-placed sides over the last two months. Starting off with their giddy trouncing of West Brom, they've also faired reasonably well against Swansea and Sheffield United and were unlucky to lose to Cardiff. As a result, I think both sides could end the season relatively happy with a share of the points.

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