Mikele Leigertwood’s time at QPR appears to be coming to a close after the midfielder was allowed to join Reading on a two month loan today.
Leigertwood has only just returned from international duty with Antigua and Barbuda, and was due to fly back there in the early part of December for the Digicel Cup but may now stay in this country to complete a month of action for the Royals. Leigertwood turned in a man of the match performance at the Madejski Stadium two seasons ago but has been on the periphery of the QPR team this season and played very poorly when called upon recently against Norwich.
Reading manager Brian McDermott told Reading’s official website: “We're delighted to get Mikele in on loan. He is a player who has earned promotion to the Premier League before, via the play-offs with Crystal Palace, and who has worn the captain's armband at QPR. Mikele brings a wealth of experience through the door and I am surprised QPR have allowed us to sign a player with such ability and experience."
Neil Warnock told the QPR official website: “I thought it was a good move for both parties. Mikele wants to be playing football and I can't guarantee him that at the moment. Reading were one of a number of Clubs interested in taking him on loan and he was quite happy to make the move there."
Leigertwood was the first signing of the Flavio Briatore era at QPR, joining from Sheffield United in August 2007 for a fee of £900,000. He has since made 141 appearances for the R’s scoring 12 goals in the process. He is set to make his Reading debut this Saturday against Leeds United.
Following Saturday's comfortable 3-1 win against Preston at Loftus Road manager Neil Warnock told the club's official website he was pleased to get the game out of the way, and rejected the idea that Rangers could remain unbeaten until the end of the season.
He said: "This is a good game to get out of the way. I wasn't really looking forward to this one, if I'm honest. Due to the internationals in the week, we didn't see a few of the players until Thursday, and even then we had to rest a couple from training. It's been disruptive but I've got a great bunch here. In the first half today I thought we were a little bit individual in our play. I had to have a word with one of two at the break, but the response in the second half was superb.
"Adel scored two super goals, but it wasn't just his goals that pleased me. I thought he was a super captain in the second half. His effort when he lost the ball was excellent. All the players know what I feel about Adel, and they're the same. It would be easy to bawl at him, but we see what he can do, and what he is capable of. We are all in this together and I think I've got five or six captains on the pitch, they don't need an armband. The only game where I could really criticise Adel for his performance was Bristol City, but I think he learnt a lot from that match. If you watch him, you can see he is trying his hardest to do what i want him to do when we lose the ball. I have nothing but praise for him. You'd pay just to watch him - my lad comes just to see him.
"Everyone that comes to see us now enjoys it. Yeah, we're going to lose at some point but so what? I don't think it is possible to go the season unbeaten. We're not Arsenal, are we? There are too many very similar teams in the Championship. It's a long season and there are still six or seven teams vying for automatic promotion. We've just got to keep our feet on the floor."
Warnock's opposite number Darren Ferguson seemed to believe his Preston team was in with a chance of taking something from the game for long periods, presumably because he attended a different match to me on Saturday. Ferguson told Preston's official website: "At 1-0 they were getting a little bit restless. The second goal, to be fair was hell of a goal from the lad, we knew he was capable of doing it. But individual errors are costing us games to be honest with you. You come here and it is hard enough as it is. After losing a goal after three minutes like we did, I thought that we responded okay, if we could have got the next goal then we would have thought that we can win this because they were getting a bit restless even at 1-0. The second goal though changes the game. The one thing that we didn't want to do was chase the game because we know that they have got players, in particular Taarabt that can hurt you. That is why we put Darel Russell on him, he can be frustrating but we know what sort of player he can be. I think that it is a league that is unpredictable, anybody can beat anybody in this league. But you give yourself hell of a challenge being 1-0 down after three minutes through a poor goal. We're just not doing the basics well enough and QPR deserved to win."
Taarabt's performance was enough to earn him a place in the Championship team of the week.
Full Team: David James (Bristol City), Angel Rangel (Swansea), Leon Barnett (Norwich), Jason Shackell (Barnsley), Tony Craig (Millwall), Max Gradel (Leeds), Robert Koren (Hull), Robbie Savage (Derby), Adel Taarabt (QPR), Ched Evans (Sheff Utd), Kris Commons (Derby)
But fellow goal scorer Rob Hulse told the Fulham Chronicle that the Moroccan had been sulking at half time before his fine performance in the second half. Hulse said: “Adel had a sulk about not getting enough of the ball. The manager had a word with him and told him it would open up, and he had a great pair of goals to show for it in the end. I played Premier League, but it was taken away when I broke my leg – and I’d like another go at it. I worked with the gaffer at Sheffield – he always brings the best out of me. But the reason I came here is because I think we have a better chance of going up. At Derby, I may have got in every week – but I wanted a bit more of a challenge. It’s not the easiest move I’ve had. The lads are great with you when you’ve got an injury. But you still don’t feel you’re part of it because you’ve got something to prove. I’m still a bit off full fitness – but I’m getting there."
The result means QPR lead the league going into this weekend’s mouth watering clash against Cardiff City. The Bluebirds were beaten by Nottingham Forest on Saturday but midfielder Peter Whittingham has vowed they will hit back at Loftus Road. He told Wales Online: “We can end that run. Our job is to bounce back in what is a massive match against QPR. We did that after our defeat against Swansea City by going to Scunthorpe United and earning the points. Now we have to do the same again. It would be a massive concern if we weren’t creating chances. We had chances to score. There wasn’t much between the teams. Matches come thick and fast in the championship and we have the chance to get back to winning ways at QPR next Saturday.”
Mixed news for a trio of former QPR strikers this weekend. Dexter Blackstock hit the headlines for the right and wrong reasons on Saturday as Nottingham Forest did QPR a big favour by winning 2-0 at Cardiff City, a result that opened the way for Rangers to return to the top of the league. It seemed apt that it was Blackstock who sealed the win with a tidy finish eight minutes from time but he sadly didn't make it through to the end of the game after rupturing his cruciate ligaments in an awkward fall after a challenge from Seyi Olofinjana. The Cardiff players immediately showed concern for the player's welfare and the worst case scenario has been confirmed today with Blackstock likely to be out for the rest of the season.
Manager Billy Davies told the BBC: "I am very disappointed for the lad, the whole club wishes him well. The fans and everybody wish him well and it's a very big blow for us. We will have a look at it of course and see what's available and if the right one is there we will certainly try and get something done. We don't want to bring players in who are not the right type, they have got to do the right thing."
There was better news on Saturday for one of Blackstock's former partners at Loftus Road Paul Furlong, who scored his second goal in as many games for Conference outfit Kettering Town. Furlong's second half strike against AFC Wimbeldon formed part of a dramatic comeback from the Poppies that saw them take a 3-0 half time deficit and quickly haul it back to 3-2 before eventually falling to a defeat. This is becoming something of a Kettering trait, Furlong was also on target against Cambridge United last week as Kettering recovered from two goals down at half time to draw. Furlong, a 42-year-old player coach at Rockingham Road, said: "I feel I can start a game and I can also come off the bench as well. Whatever is needed I will try to do all I can to help. I look after my body on a week to week basis and I train as much as I can. There are times when I have to come out of it and just let my legs freshen up but whatever is asked of me I will do."
And one of Furlong's former partners at Loftus Road Richard Pacquette also scored on Saturday, bagging the consolation goal for Eastbourne in their 2-1 defeat at Kidderminster. It was Pacquette's first goal since mid September but the defeat leaves Eastbourne hovering just three points above the relegation zone.
- Norwich have strengthened their hand ahead of the December loan deadline by bringing in Arsenal's England Under 21 international Henri Lansbury on loan. Lansbury previously enjoyed successful loan spells with Scunthorpe in League One and Watford in the Championship.
- Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill will be allowed to sign up to four new players during the January transfer window, the club's board has confirmed. Portsmouth remain riddled with debt despite a recent exit from administration but have so far avoided points deductions and transfer embargoes that have been placed on other clubs in the same position. Their starting 11 has been described by Neil Warnock as the best in the league but they have a squad of just 19 professionals so the Fratton Park Board has given the green light to four new faces, within a tight budget, when the window opens in five weeks.
- Sheffield United have offered a contract to 21-year-old Irish midfielder David McAllister who has been on trial at Bramall Lane pending the end of his contract with St Patrick's.
- In form Barnsley winger Adam Hammill is playing it cool ahead of the January transfer window, with a host of clubs said to be monitoring his progress. He said: "I just take each game as it comes. I'm enjoying my football and looking forward to the next match. The main aim is to play well and score goals. To play in the Premier League is an ambition I've always had. For every young lad to reach the highest level is the ambition. But there's no rushing - it has to be the right time. I'm learning my trade at Barnsley. Whatever happens, I'm enjoying myself here."
- Leicester's bid to sign West Brom striker Ishmael Miller on loan has hit the rocks after the injury prone striker suffered a thigh strain in training.