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Post by Macmoish on Jul 21, 2010 6:55:47 GMT
QPR Official Site
TOUR BLOG: DAY ONEPosted on: Wed 21 Jul 2010 It proved to be a straightforward flight out of London Gatwick, despite Keith Curle's best efforts to derail me personally, by attempting to nick my passport before we left Harlington. Thankfully, I'm an experienced pro at these pre-season tours nowadays, and managed to spot his so-called 'banter' before we'd even left the training ground. The flight departed on time and although Hogan Ephraim, Leon Clarke and Josh Parker all insisted on sitting together by plonking themselves on one single row midway back on the plane, the squad were pretty spread out. I - for the record - slept for the entire journey, as did the likes of Paddy Kenny, whose outrageously sized headphones ensured he wasn't being disturbed one bit. So, we landed safe and sound and despite a one hour coach journey - which extended to almost an hour and a half owing to traffic - we arrived at the Palace Hotel at around 8.00pm local time, with the temperature still in the mid 80's. A brief meeting with the gaffer followed, before our first meal of the tour. Now, when I say meal, I really mean banquet. This was an evening dinner designed for Kings - with everything and anything you could possibly wish for being catered for in the luxury surroundings of the impressive dining room. Fish, pasta, salad, meats - you name it, they've got it. Wednesday promises to be a long day, with breakfast at 8.00am followed by a light training session an hour later, before all attention turns to tonight's fixture against Equipe Romagna at lo Stadio dei Pini (9.00pm kick-off local time). I'll let you know how that went in the morning... (Blog entry by Ian Taylor) www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2097595,00.html
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Post by Macmoish on Jul 21, 2010 8:56:49 GMT
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Post by Macmoish on Jul 21, 2010 16:29:12 GMT
Day 2
QPR Official Site - TOUR BLOG: PART TWOPosted on: Wed 21 Jul 2010 Wednesday was a busy day for the R's First Team squad in red-hot Italy. It was an early 8.00am breakfast call, with all you could wish for yet again catered for. Cereals, muffins, meats, breads - the full works! Thereafter the squad made their way to our training complex some 25 minutes' drive from the teams headquarters in Milano Marittima. With temperatures soaring, a sun cream session was the first order of the day, with Head Physio Nigel Cox ensuring the lads were caked in Factor 30 before anyone could even think about having a kick about. Strength and Conditioning Coach Carl Serrant, as he always does, took the warm-up, with everyone - including Fitz Hall - taking part. The gaffer gave the lads a quick pep-talk, before Keith Curle oversaw the first 'football' session of the tour. Keep-ball drills and two-touch football took centre stage, with the lively Akos Buzsaky and vocal Ali Faurlin at the heart of it. After 45 minutes of hard graft, the session concluded with a defence versus attack drill, with Radek Cerny doing his best to prevent Clarke, Helguson, Mackie and co, from bursting the back of the net. A thunderbolt header from Buz (not exactly his trademark!) was arguably the pick of the goals. Rest and relaxation was on the agenda in the afternoon, as thoughts turned to our first fixture of the tour against Equipe Romagna, which is where I'll continue tomorrow... (Blog entry by Ian Taylor) www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2098246,00.html
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Jul 21, 2010 17:06:20 GMT
"Palace Hotel" Was that Warnock's choice?
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Post by Macmoish on Jul 22, 2010 8:55:52 GMT
QPR Official Site - TOUR BLOG: PART THREEPosted on: Thu 22 Jul 2010 Hogan Ephraim's in a rich vein of form isn't he? The attacker bagged the opener and shone once again, as the R's eased to a 4-1 victory over Equipe Romagna over here in Italy last night. Ephraim was arguably the star-turn, as Neil Warnock's side put the difficulties of the searing evening heat to one side, to totally orchestrate proceedings against the Serie A trialists. But for me, it was the pre-match build-up that provided my particular highlight of day three. Now, the likes of Jay Z, Oasis and Kanye West are always firm favorites on the boom box at Loftus Road, but the sound of The Proclaimers' 'I Would Walk 5000 Miles' bellowing out of the away dressing room was a new one on me. Not that you could actually hear the words from the Scottish duo, thanks in part to Clint Hill and Shaun Derry's insistence on singing (or should I say shouting!) every single word at the top of their voice. It's amazing the impact those two have had on this group of players in such a short space of time. Their leadership skills and camaraderie are second to none and you sense they'll have a massive part to play - both on and off the pitch - next season. The match itself was a fairly straightforward, yet useful, affair for the R's. Josh Parker impressed once again, whilst Leon Clarke deservedly bagged a brace - his first goals in QPR colours. I caught up with Akos Buzsaky, Hogan and the gaffer afterwards to get their thoughts and you can watch all three videos on QPR Player in the coming days. The general feeling was that it was another step up the ladder for the squad, as the start of the npower Championship season draws ever closer. The bus pulled back into the hotel at around midnight and after a quick bite to eat, the lads retired to their rooms, after another long, but successful day. (Blog entry by Ian Taylor) www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2098842,00.html?
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Post by Macmoish on Jul 23, 2010 7:53:08 GMT
QPR Official Site
TOUR BLOG: PART FOUR Posted on: Fri 23 Jul 2010Rest and relaxation was the order of the day on Thursday, as the R's squad and backroom staff (including me, albeit a bit later than most) were given a deserved day off by gaffer Neil Warnock following the previous nights 4-1 friendly victory against Equipe Romagna. Most took the opportunity for a lay-in, with Akos Buzsaky the first to stir, joining the backroom staff at the breakfast table at 9.00am. Thereafter, the majority of the touring party headed for the beach, with Antonio German particularly keen to get on the banana boat. Lunch followed at 12.30pm, with Dezza, Radek, Gorkssy, Ali and Buz quietly discussing Championship football, amongst other things, over a salad and a bowl of pasta. Kit Man Gary Doyle was summoned to get a ball for the lads after lunch and that meant only one thing - keepy uppy on the beach. After a 30 minute kick around involving just about everyone, including goalkeeping coach David Rouse who threw himself around in the sea like a lunatic, suddenly the stakes were upped. Ledge, Buz, Ali and the in-form Josh Parker got in a square and a game of two-touch keepy uppy ensued. The rules were simple. Two touches each and the first person to mess up three times then had to sit back and watch, as another of the lads punted the ball as far into the ocean as possible - before the 'loser' had to go and retrieve it. Ali - whose English seemingly improves by the day - had a lucky escape when one of Josh's punts arrived in the hands of a swimmer, who opted to throw it back, saving the Argentine a further 25 metre swim! The inevitable groans from Buz and Ledge followed, but - like everything on the tour so far - it was all taken in good spirits. Another evening feast fit for Kings followed, before the players retired to their rooms ahead of another 9.00am training session in the morning. (Blog entry by Ian Taylor) www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2099521,00.html
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Post by Macmoish on Jul 24, 2010 7:22:17 GMT
QPR Official Site
TOUR BLOG: PART FIVEPosted on: Sat 24 Jul 2010 I didn't think it was possible after the first three days on tour, but the weather hit new heights on Friday in Milano Marittima. Temperatures were touching 85 degrees - in the shade - at the R's 9.00am training session, with little or no breeze making it an extremely sweaty affair all round (even for me taking photos in the shade!). Undeterred, the lads once again gave it absolutely everything, with the countdown to the big kick-off edging ever closer. Making session's fun in this heat seems to be the key and Curley certainly did that, with plenty of laughs and giggles - as well as the odd accusation from H, Ledge and co. that the former Manchester City defender tended to favour his team with just about every 50/50 decision. Kit Man Gary Coyle and Masseur Paul Roberts even got involved in the role as 'feeder' in a keep-ball game, only to be ridiculed by their peers for their poor passing! The 90 minute session concluded with a 10 v 10 small sided game, in which Macca scored one of the best goals I've ever seen from a QPR player (albeit it in training!), smashing the ball in off the underside of the bar from fully 25-yards. With the heat continuing to rise come lunchtime, the gaffer made it clear that no players were allowed out in the sun before 4.30pm - cue a mad rush to the beach at exactly that time, as the lads attempted to catch some rays and chill out ahead of the evening get-together at dinner. (Blog entry by Ian Taylor) www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2100666,00.html?
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Post by Macmoish on Jul 25, 2010 7:21:39 GMT
QPR Official Site TOUR BLOG: PART SIX Posted on: Sun 25 Jul 2010 I've worked for this Club for nearly five years now and I can honestly say I've never known a team spirit like it within the camp. I spoke earlier in the week about the impact the five new signings have made - both on and off the pitch - but Messrs Kenny, Hill, Derry and Mackie took it to a whole new level on Saturday night. The singing initiation has always been part and parcel when new players arrive at the Club - I even had to sing on my first away trip with the team up at Blackburn Rovers in 2006, busting out a version of Vanilla Ice's 'Ice, Ice Baby.' However, I've never known anyone deliver like these guys did.n anyone deliver like these guys did. Matching outfits is one thing, but throwing dance moves into the equation is something else. The lads were first class from the first vocal and as the singing unfolded, residents in the hotel suddenly emerged from their rooms to join in with the fun. A standing ovation was the least they deserved and the general feeling within the squad was that their rendition of JLS's 'Everybody In Love' was the best ever heard at QPR. We shouldn't be at all surprised though. The four new lads, as well as Leon Clarke (who informed www.qpr.co.uk that he did his initiation when he was on loan here a few years ago - although his team-mates weren't having it!), have settled into the group remarkably well. They really are the heartbeat of the squad already and you sense they will all play a major role next season. Simon Cowell would probably say otherwise, but they definitely get a big thumbs up from me! (Blog entry by Ian Taylor) www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2101424,00.html? [This was the Singing post "Everybody in Love) (I didn't bother with - www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2101406,00.html
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Post by Macmoish on Jul 25, 2010 10:17:26 GMT
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Post by cpr on Jul 25, 2010 10:27:40 GMT
"Palace Hotel" Was that Warnock's choice? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D *Adopt slight geordie accent* It's day six in the big palace hotel
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Post by Macmoish on Jul 26, 2010 10:24:19 GMT
QPR Official Site
TOUR BLOG: FINAL PARTPosted on: Mon 26 Jul 2010 I'm writing this final blog entry as we prepare to the board the plane back to London at the end of a successful and at the same time thoroughly enjoyable pre-season tour to Milano Marittima. Two wins in five days and more importantly, another 180 minutes game time under the belts of the majority of the squad, sets us up nicely for the countdown to the big Championship kick-off, which is remarkably just under two weeks away now. There were a variety of highlights on the final full day; none more so than the R's performance in a convincing win against Ravenna Calcio. But, as I have done so on this blog throughout the trip, I'm going to focus for one final time on something that happened off the pitch here in Italy. After one made up story after another in an attempt to get out of his inititation, Leon Clarke finally did his sing-song on Sunday night - and what a show he put on too. Despite admittedly being nervous in the hours prior to his rendition of Craig David's 'Seven Days,' Clarkey delivered the goods, just as Messrs Kenny, Hill, Derry and Mackie had done so 24 hours earlier. A rapturous applause said everything you need to know, and once again served to reiterate the excellent spirit that exists within the R's camp. That team spirit, for me, will be the abiding memory of the tour. Well, that and the food, which has seen me and a few other members of the backroom team pile on one or two pounds over the last week. See you at Crawley on Wednesday night ... I'll be the slightly bulky press officer in the media seats! (Blog entry by Ian Taylor) www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2101801,00.html
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