As the close of the summer transfer window draws near with QPR still yet to seriously add to their forward line, Neil Warnock has attempted to free up some money by transfer listing too high earning, low producing members of his squad.

News

Warnock’s latest attempt to rectify that situation has seen him transfer list Gary Borrowdale and Patrick Agyemang. The former was bought at an inflated transfer fee and wage at a time when he couldn’t even get in the Coventry City side and promptly handed a four year deal. Manager at the time Paulo Sousa didn’t want him and so Borrowdale had to spend time in the reserves and then on loan at Brighton before making his QPR debut. Since then he has been in and out of the side with little success.

Agyemang started life in W12 with a bang, scoring eight goals in his first six games with the club. However, as his Wikipedia entry confirms, this was later attributed to a “tear in the fabric of reality” and he quickly returned to the clogging, injury prone, almost entirely useless piece of nothing he had been for the whole of his career prior to QPR handing him a four year contract on more than £10,000 a week. Again the length and worth of the contract has immediately put off Leeds and other suitors.

Borrowdale had a reasonably impressive loan spell at Charlton at the end of last season and, you would think, is the more sellable asset but with just a week to the transfer deadline it looks increasingly likely that Vine, Pellicori, Agyemang and Borrowdale will all remain on board until at least January – sucking out wages and offering absolutely nothing in return.

After the weekend win against Scunthorpe at Loftus Road, that makes it three from three league games and QPR’s best start to a season since 1947, Warnock admitted his frustration with the transfer situation, but also his delight at performances so far.

In the post match press conference Warnock said: “Records are there to be beaten and I'm delighted we've beaten in, but I don't kid myself. We're far from the finished product. We've had three great results, but the three teams we've played against could have scored goals and we've managed to get away with it. I would say we are sixth to tenth at the minute in squads. When I look at Bellamy, Chopra, Bothroyd, no disrespect to our front three, but we're not in that level yet. If we get one or two injuries up front, we have to have a bit more quality.

“But if we can get a couple of forwards in, hopefully before the Middlesbrough game then we've got a decent squad. I've been unlucky this week. I had eight hours in my office on Monday and 14 on Tuesday and missed out on two players, but somebody else will get an opportunity.

"I thought Scunthorpe today were going to be very difficult to beat. It's so difficult because you're expected to win. We're delighted. I think the opportunities were there. We played some really good football and if their goalkeeper doesn't get ten out of ten in the newspapers tomorrow, there's something wrong isn't there? Adel's doing well at the moment, we play a system that suits him as well. It's all about teamwork and getting the best out of every individual."

After the Scunthorpe game Rangers continued their run of having a player named in every team of the week so far this season. Bradley Orr was the man chosen by the league this weekend, although again it does seem that they just run down the list of scorers ad pick the teams accordingly rather than actually paying attention to performances, assists or any other factors. Orr deserved his place without a shadow of a doubt after a fine display and first goal for the club against Scunthorpe at Loftus Road but there was no place for Adel Taarabt, Ali Faurlin or Shaun Derry who were all excellent against The Iron.

Orr scored his first goal for the R’s with his head, but agreed with his manager’s assessment after the game that it’s not really a strong point of his game. Orr told the Daily Star: “There were four or five that came off the side of my head, but one was the goal, so I’ll take that all day.”

Team of the Week: John Ruddy (Norwich), Bradley Orr (QPR), Stephen McManus (Middlesbrough), Ben Turner (Coventry), Daniel Fox (Burnley), Craig Bellamy (Cardiff), Graham Alexander (Burnley), Grant Leadbitter (Ipswich), Adam Hammill (Barnsley), Andy Gray (Barnsley), Jay Bothroyd (Cardiff)

Rumours

Talksport meanwhile is linking the R’s with a loan move for Stoke striker Dave Kitson, who has fallen further down the pecking order at the Britannia Stadium after the arrival of Kenwyne Jones from Sunderland.

Former R’s

Terrell Forbes got off the mark for his new club at the weekend – scoring for Leyton Orient as they snatched an impressive draw at title favourites Southampton in League One. Forbes signed for the O’s during the summer after a long stint with Yeovil Town.

Championship Shorts

- Bristol City manager Keith Millen has made his first two signings since taking over from Steve Coppell. Highly rated Bournemouth striker Brett Pittman, who turned down Premiership newcomers Blackpool last week, has signed for £800,000 after scoring 62 goals in 197 appearances for the Cherries. And persistent scourge of QPR Jon Stead has joined in a cut price £200,000 move from Ipswich Town.

- Ipswich have also moved to strengthen their forward line, finally concluding the protracted transfer of Jason Scotland from Wigan for £750,000.

- Derby midfielder Robbie Savage says his Welsh international team mate Craig Bellamy could stay with Cardiff City for the rest of his career if his high profile season long loan goes well. Bellamy scored a fine goal in City’s 4-0 weekend win against Doncaster. Cardiff and Sheff Wed have both moved to deny reports linking centre half Anthony Gerrard with a move to Hillsborough.

- Centre half Callum Davenport continues to look for a way back into the game after his high profile stabbing and subsequent court case. The former West Ham man is currently training with Leeds.

Photo: Action Images

18StoneOfHoop added 00:15 - Aug 24 Apologies for obsequiousness but how can you hold down a full-time newspaper job and come up with all these brilliant and comprehensive news,reviews,previews and above all,reports,week after week? Fingers crossed we get the ginger.
0

Rs4life added 10:57 - Aug 24 Dave Kitson would be great, and is today being linked with a 2m fully fledged transfer, which is even better. If we got Kitson, and maybe another forward, I firmly believe we can win the league!
0

YorkRanger added 11:46 - Aug 24 I agree re Kitson. I've always thought he is a very capable striker in the Championship and played well (and scored regularly) in an attacking Reading side that created lots of opportunities. He could thrive with the amount of chances we are currently creating game after game.
0

Myke added 23:20 - Aug 24 The thing about bringing in a striker of the calibre of Roberts or Kitson (or indeed Walters) is that they would expect to play every week. Warnock has already stated that if he would not change his front 3 at the moment no matter who he signed, so to me that means the likes of Varney are much more likely than the above. Inevitably Helguson will get injured sooner or later but to expect the likes of Roberts to kick his heels until he does is unrealistic

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Rochdale Polls