Queens Park Rangers

[SeanR]

Great news about the new training ground. It's only 5 minute's walk from me, as well.

Sign him up, sign him up

Sparky, Sparky

Sign him up

[Jaybey]

Great news about the new training ground. It's only 5 minute's walk from me, as well.

Have to take the youngens down to see the r's train!

[Jaybey]

http://www.footymad....326/index.shtml

Mackies staying for a while. Great player!

[dogsout]

I'm looking forward to the mass clear-out. I reckon there will be a big change again this summer with so many players out of contract. It'll be interesting to see who Hughes can get in to replace a lot of the shit that will be shipped out.

[a big boy]

Who's out of contract? There's a few players I can't wait to see the back of (Agyemang, Fitz Hall), and one or two who should probably move on for their own sakes (Tommy Smith, Connolly).

Over the summer I'm thinking:

A keeper as competition for Kenny. Ideally to replace him with Kenny as his able deputy.

One CB to compete with Hill for the place alongside Anton, who I feel hasn't had the plaudits he's deserved since moving to us. Hill has been absolutely fantastic in the run-in, but he is 33 and I'm not sure who else I trust in that position. No full backs because in Taiwo, Traore, Onuoha and Young we have four I'm more than happy with.

Probably two, maybe three central midfielders. I love him but Derry's probably not going to have the legs to play all the time, Buzsaky's apparently thinking of leaving, and hopefully Barton's getting the sack. I'm in love with the idea of Faurlin and Diakitie playing together, but they can't be the only decent options we have.

We probably don't need another striker. With Zamora and Cisse at the club I think we'd be stupid not to play 4-4-2, as quite apart from being head and shoulders above most of the rest of the squad individually, there's the potential for a real partnership there. It's a shame DJ Campbell and Helguson had such injury problems this year, but I'm hoping they'll be fit to provide cover. Bothroyd can hopefully fuck off as I'm well and truly sick of his lazy, cowardly performances. But as with a few others he's probably on too much money for a move.

Also, this:

is an abomination.

[lewismistreated]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/18150824

The phrase "throwing good money after bad" comes to mind.

Hughes has also decided to release eight out-of-contract players at the end of their deals.

Patrick Agyemang, Gary Borrowdale, Lee Cook, Danny Gabbidon, Fitz Hall, Peter Ramage, Danny Shittu and Rowan Vine will all be leaving Loftus Road next month.

Shame to see some of them go, still consider quite a few of them to be a part of the team that got us promoted in the first place. Good to see Hill and Buzsaky getting new contracts though.

[dogsout]

Who's out of contract?

All of those guys that were released today. I wasn't expecting Dyer or Buzsaky to be offered new contracts.

[a big boy]

A few have been important players for us down the years, but from the promotion winning I think you could only really say that about Fitz Hall. And he's such an injury/form liability I honestly don't know if I could bear to see him at the heart of our defence again.

Dyer's contract is appearance based, so hopefully we shouldn't be throwing too much money at him if he's forced to sit this season out as well. Personally I'm more than happy to keep him on that basis. He's still a cut above most of the rest of the squad, and if the medical staff who are working with him every day think he's got a chance, I'm not going to argue with them.

[ManLikeColonel]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22052012/63/qpr-freeze-season-ticket-prices.html

[a big boy]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2155603/QPR-ambitious-bid-Olivier-Giroud.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

LOL

[dogsout]

Oh man. That's what I'm talking about. Silly season is finally here!

[ManLikeColonel]

A New Signing? http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/nelsen-confirms-qpr-switch-115824718.html

[a big boy]

I assume Nelsen'll come in as cover, and possibly with a view to joining the backroom staff when he retires. Should be a valuable addition if he can stay fit.

Fabio looks to be joining from United on loan. And Robert Green and Andy Johnson on frees as well. All potentially good signings, but I hope this isn't a sign that the board have suddenly decided to be stingy when by rights this should be the first summer transfer window we've gone into with some money since I don't even know when.

Regardless, the best news of the summer so far has been: http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/surgeon-happy-with6-qpr-mans32-recovery/

He's better than anyone we can hope to sign, I cannot wait to see him back.

[El Pibe]

Just seen that Alan McDonald died at the age of 48 last week. Gutted. A childhood hero and top Ranger. RIP

[dogsout]

R.I.P. Big Ally Mac.

Diakite finally signed up, Fabio in on loan, Park in for a reasonably low fee, Johnson, Nelsen and Green on free transfers. It's not looking too bad, so far. I'm still hoping for quality additions at centre-back and the wings. I saw Junior Hoilett was linked today but it was only in the Daily Mail. That Wanyama looks a right handful, and I'd like him to be brought in based solely on the video in which he is kicked in the shoulder, and simply watches the lad that kicked him plummet back down to earth in a heap.

[a big boy]

Just seen that Alan McDonald died at the age of 48 last week. Gutted. A childhood hero and top Ranger. RIP

Club captain when I was a boy. Can't say any more than that.

Delighted with Diakite and Park in particular. Diakite probably the better player, but there's something symbolic about bringing a player of Park's status in the game to Loftus Road. It's less than 2 years ago we were scrapping around for Championship rejects like Nardiello and Simon Walton for peanuts and frees. Now we've got a guy who won the Champions League in recent memory. For all we've been through in the last two seasons it's still barely believable.

So I've been thinking about the starting XI from the current crop and came up with:

......................Cisse...Zamora

Park/Fabio...Diakite...Faurlin...Taarabt

Traore/Fabio...Hill.....Anton.......Onuoha

...........................Green

I don't actually like 4-4-2. But Cisse, Diakite and Faurlin should be the first names on the team sheet. Cisse probably needs a strike partner, and Zamora plays that role perfectly so he's in. Then you've just got to try and fit the rest in to something reasonably coherent. I like Taarabt on the left, but at the same time playing like this we'll always have a balance of at least one attacking and one defensive player wide, and if that means Fabio giving us some creativity from full-back, covered by Park then so be it.

I have no idea who Wanyama is? Bircham was on Talk Sport saying two or three more 'marquee signings', so maybe he's one. Hopefully if we do bring anyone else in they'll be a little younger than the other guys. As exciting as it is to see established talent coming through the door, we don't want to start resembling a retirement home.

Also as much as or squad is ridiculously massive and needs trimming of all its dead wood, I hope Kenny stays. He was unlucky to have to play through injury last season, and we can't ask for a better back-up keeper.

Rob Hulse, on the other hand, just cannot be serious about wanting stay and 'fight' for his place... I do wonder how many players still on big contracts we'll have at the end of the summer 'fighting for their places' a million miles from the 24 man squad.

More positively, I reckon with that squad we should be aiming for about mid-table? Finishing above Fulham would be nice

[dogsout]

Press conference at 3pm: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/qpr-live

[PaB]

Id' like to see...

......................................CIsse.......

........................Taraabt.....Park......Mackie/SWP

...............................Diakate.....Faurlin

Young/Traore.....Ferdinand....Onuha....Da Silva

.....................Green

Or.....

..........................Cisse...Zamora.....

...........Taraabt...........Park............SWP/Mackie

................................Faurlin/Diakate.

Young/Traore.....Ferdinand....Onuha....Da Silva

.....................Green

[a big boy]

Apparently I forgot Djib is also a CL winner. We're such a team of winners.

So only the mail but OMG I hope this is true

http://www.dailymail...or-Hoilett.html

Winning the race for Hoilett. Also mentions that Wanyama chap. We're so finishing above Fulham.

Edit: There's also an interview with Adel here after signing his new contract

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2172111/Adel-Taarabt-signs-new-QPR-deal.html

I love him. Even with all the new signings still potentially our best player in my eyes, and it sounds like he's got his head screwed on at last. Hopefully he can hit the ground running next season and really light up this league.

[dogsout]

Fuck it, I'm doing one:

-------------Cisse

-Hoilett--Taarabt--Park

-------Faurlin--Diakite

Traore--Hill--Ferdinand--Onuoha

------------Green

With Mackie plugging any gaps across the 'three', and Zamora coming in for Cisse in games that Hughes values hold-up play over penalty area threat. I'd love to see that because I reckon Taarabt would thrive in that system but I think it's more likely to be 4-3-2-1 again, with Park in the centre, Hoilett right and Taraabt left. If Hoilett signs, obviously. Hughes is going to have a job picking a team!

[a big boy]

I like that team a lot. You're right no matter who we sign Mackie forgotten either. I see him coming off the bench when we're holding on to a lead a lot this season.

This is getting ridiculous: http://www.heraldsco...switch.18131420

Looks like Fernandes is gambling on our ever increasing wage bill being subsidised by the entire population of South Korea suddenly supporting us. I like it.

[a big boy]

I thought we had a new R until I realised that must be you, Dogs. What's with the makeover?

Anyway 'Sky Sports understands' Hoilett's on his way. So we actually just saw off competition for a player from a Bundesliga club in the CL (lol). He's going to be fantastic. Zamora is now dropped from my starting XI, obviously.

[dogsout]

'Tis I! I just got sick of that username (people always thought it was about that shit song, when it was actually about another shit song).

Hoilett!

I empaphise with Hughes; I've got a very similar problem on my hands at the club I manage. We've got a lot of depth, particularly upfront and wide. It's going to be so tough to pick a starting 11.

[El Pibe]

Rumours abound on Mackie to Blackburn. I hope not!

[a big boy]

Yeah we've got practically a squad's worth of strikers that may not be looking at many minutes now. Someone like Helguson, who was awesome last season, is probably now only 4th choice. And that's before you even think about the likes of Bothroyd and Hulse. Mackie's different a) because we all love him so much, and b) because he's so versatile. But with such a ridiculous glut of strikers you can understand why Hughes might be tempted to off-load one he's offered actual money for.

[dogsout]

I really hope that doesn't happen. Mackie's extremely valuable to the squad; he's easily worth more than anything Blackburn will offer for him. Do we need some extra bite and workrate today? Throw Mackie on. The fullbacks being left too exposed... Throw Mackie on. The striker is being left too isolated... Throw Mackie on. So and so is injured/out of form/sitting at a bus stop in a huff... Throw Mackie on.

Pretend Mackie's been sold to Blackburn and replace his name in all of those scenarios with SWP. How do you feel?

[a big boy]

I do agree. Fortunately we've got nothing to worry about

http://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/status/226330790961758208

[a big boy]

Chubby cheeks.

[ManLikeColonel]

Swansea has been sold out already

[a big boy]

Bosingwa just signed. We've got such an attacking team right now with proper wingers and overlapping full-backs on both sides, Faurlin and Samba in the middle feeding Taarabt, and Cisse up top doing the damage. It seems inevitable this is going to be the best football we've witnessed since 92-93. I cannot wait.