Following the first team’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Plymouth on Friday the second string laboured to a 2-1 win at Hampton and Richmond on Saturday. Elsewhere reports say Adel Taarabt has signed for QPR after a protracted chase.

Antonio German scored twice for the reserves as they came from behind to win at Hampton and Richmond on Saturday. German was joined by fellow first teamers Rowan Vine, Gary Borrowdale and the mythical figure of Alessandro Pellicori. Vine has already been told he has no future with Rangers, Pellicori is currently looking for an Italian club stupid enough to take him on and Borrowdale looks set for a season of covering for Clint Hill.

The Hampton game came a day after the new look QPR side took to the field at Loftus Road for the first time this summer. The R’;s were held to a 1-1 draw by League One Plymouth, who had previously lost a summer friendly 3-1 at Torquay, but manager Neil Warnock told the club’s official website he was satisfied with the night’s work after Jamie Mackie equalised eight minutes from time.

Warnock said: “Plymouth provided exactly the test I expected. That was just what we were after in terms of preparation for the opening day against Barnsley. It was a tough test against a very well organised side and it will stand us in great stead for next weekend. I still want to bring in one or two strikers and I'm confident I can do that over the next eight days. If we get the players I want, I'll be pleased with how we're set ahead of the season.”

Despite the disappointment of Friday night, and the somewhat lacklustre transfer activity by Rangers so far this summer, Neil Warnock insists promotion remains the aim for the coming season. Warnock told The People: “This season we have to be looking at promotion. I'm putting expectations on my own shoulders as I know I'm not in the youth of my career. Last season we played Newcastle on the final day and they were celebrating winning the title in front of all their fans. As I watched that I was thinking, 'I want that to be us this time next year'. And Blackpool getting promoted last season has given everyone a lift as it has shown that anyone can become a Premier League side and that is our target.

"I've never known a year like this, when everything is so open. There won't be two teams running away with it like last year, and everyone seems pretty strong going into the season. The three relegated teams (Portsmouth, Burnley and Hull) will be there or thereabouts. Middlesbrough are spending a lot to get back up and Sheffield United and Cardiff will always be near the top. I've been going through it in my head and I think there will be at least 15 or 16 teams thinking they have realistic hopes of getting into the play-offs at the very least. But QPR is a super club, and with the fans being right on top of you at Loftus Road I'm hoping we can be up there as well."

Akos Buzsaky meanwhile told the News of the World: “I joined QPR in 2007, and when I arrived everyone was talking about the new owners and when we were going to get promoted to the Premier League. Then I look at it and I have had seven or eight managers in three years. Stability is very important and because we now have that, we feel we have every reason to do really well."

Next stop for the R’s in the pre-season campaign is Ryman Premier League side Harrow Borough. This is becoming a regular feature on the QPR summer programme and is crucial to the survival of a famous non-league name in our area. Manager Dave Howell told LoftforWords he is keen to see as many R’s fans at the game on Monday as possible.

Howell said: “Our Vice Presidents and supporters have been working really hard trying to raise funds to keep football alive at Harrow Boro FC. The club are still in considerable financial difficulties but hopefully with the help of the support from the Super Hoops it will help us to survive another season. Last season towards the end of February we were lying just off a play off position but we paid the price for a disappointing end to the season and in the end finished around mid table. On a positive note I have managed to keep nearly all the players from last season and despite our financial worries I hope we can surprise a lot of people by pushing for a play off position.

“In the early to mid nineties while I was working as a player coach with Barry Fry at Birmingham City we won the Division Two Championship at Huddersfield’s Town’s McAlpine Stadium, where Neil Warnock was in charge. That same season Neil finished fifth but still managed to achieve promotion by beating Bristol Rovers at Wembley in the play offs final. I'm hoping along with many Super Hoop fans for promotion this season to the Premiership and wish Neil all the best in his efforts.

“I do have some new exciting and promising young players so it will be a great test for my team against a strong QPR XI. The following week on Tuesday, August 10, Birmingham City will also bring a team down to Harrow Boro. Both of these friendly matches are so crucial to the financial short term future of the club.”

Former Harrow player Albert Adomah moved from Barnet to Bristol City this summer, a ove that was predicted on LFW by Dave Howell 12 months ago. He said: “I'm confident that Albert Adomah will do well under Steve Coppell at Bristol City. Steve has been very impressed with Albert's performances and his attitude so far as they prepare for the start of the new season. I'm also pleased that Albert will be playing for such an experienced and respected manager. Steve was also an excellent right winger himself and he will be able to help develop Albert further by making him a better all round player.”

Kick off at Earlsmead, in South Harrow, is 7.30pm on Monday night and tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. On a personal note I think it’s a dire shame that so many good, historical, local football clubs are struggling to survive while football fans sit at home or in pubs watching Manchester United and Chelsea, If you get a chance on Monday, next Tuesday or at any point this season to get down to Harrow and support one of our local teams then please do.

Rangers will of course tackle the new season without Damion Stewart who moved to Bristol City on Friday. The big Jamaican thanked QPR fans for their support on his Facebook page over the weekend saying it wasn’t his decision to leave and told the Bristol Evening Post: “I'm really excited about the new challenge. I've been in London with QPR for the past four years but I'm looking for a new start and new challenge. City have been in and around the top six in recent season so hopefully we can go all the way this time around."

Stewart played the entire match on Saturday as City beat Premiership newcomers Blackpool 2-0 at Ashton Gate.

Rumours:

Day 563 of the Adel Taarabt saga and there are conflicting reports from the family fun day staged earlier today at Loftus Road. Neil Warnock remained tight lipped when speaking to some supporters about his attempts to sign Taarabt from Spurs, but other fans claim that the Moroccan was at Loftus Road today and was telling people he has signed a two year deal at Loftus Road.

Earlier this week Taarabt told the Fulham Chronicle: “I know QPR want me – there has been contact this week. But I think Spurs want too much money for me and at the moment, I’m as lost as anyone else. And I won’t lie to you – I want to play in the Premiership. So. If a club from there was interested, I would have to take that seriously. I had a great season at QPR – and sometimes it’s better to go where you are really wanted. I’ve spoken to Harry about leaving. He told me to go on tour with the team to America, and I did, and he’s asked me to wait a while and see what happens. They are my club, so what choice do I have?”

Rangers have also been tentatively linked with a loan deal for Spurs’ former Palace youngster John Bostock who spent time on loan at Brentford last season.

Former R’s

Fulham are taking legal action against Dave Richards, the chairman of the Premier League, over his involvement in the transfer of Peter Crouch to Spurs last summer. Richards, who is chairman of the top flight despite his chronic financial mismanagement of Sheffield Wednesday that led them to relegation from the Premiership and administration, is accused of intervening in a deal to take Crouch to Fulham last summer and forcing the deal in Spurs’ favour instead despite the north London side bidding £2m less than Fulham’s initial £11m offer.

Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League, has confirmed Richards’ involvement in the deal, which offered Portsmouth more money up front than Fulham were offering, but denied it was inappropriate having been requested by one of the clubs involved. Fulham are going to the High Court to have Richards removed, or banned from interfering in transfers.

Championship Shorts:

- Things are not going according to plan for Ipswich boss Roy Keane. Having said he needed five quality players this summer to improve his team he has only been able to sign Mark Kennedy from Cardiff. He continues to be frustrated in his pursuit of Martin Fulop from Sunderland, and Cardiff have told him they will not be accepting his current bid for Michael Chopra. Meanwhile Jon Walters may be about to request a transfer with Stoke and QPR waiting in the wings.

- Cardiff may not be in a position to refuse any offers for players for much longer. The PFA has been called in to deal with a dispute between the club, Kennedy, Tony Capadli, Warren Feeney, Peter Enckelman and others who are owed severance pay from City. The Welsh outfit remain under a transfer embargo over unpaid transfer instalments to Motherwell and outstanding debts with HMRC.

- David James says he still wants to be first choice for the England team despite turning 40 and moving to Championship side Bristol City on Friday.

- Goalkeeper Paul Smith has requested a transfer from Nottingham Forest after falling behind Lee Camp in the pecking order.

Photo: Action Images

Swedish_Hoop added 04:58 - Aug 2 Superb read, Clive, and good on you giving a shout for Harrow Borough and other local teams! And as always, to the likes of Chelsea FC: SHAME ON YOU!
0

Swedish_Hoop added 18:25 - Aug 2 A class act up front is Swedish starlet John Guidetti, currently at Man City, without any hope of seeing much first team action. I have seen him play four or five times this season while he was on loan to a Swedish premier division side. He was absolutely outstanding. Hard working, strong on the ball, technically gifted AND with an eye for goal. A season-long loan contract with a view to tie him up would be ideal for Rangers. He's a striker who would score 15-20 goals at Championship level, definately. He is merely 18 years old, but he is very mature and composed. In Sweden he is considered to be the most promising young striker since Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Does Neil Warnock know about Guidetti? Unfortunately, I don't think so.

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Colchester United Polls