Post by QPR Report on Mar 22, 2009 8:50:56 GMT
From the reports at the time: What a waste of a talent
QPR Official Site - March 1, 1999 - BOSS PRAISES JEANNE DEBUT
R’S BOSS Gerry Francis was pleased with the performance of 18 year old debutant Leon Jeanne at Stockport.
Gerry said:" I thought Leon had a very good debut. I was quite pleased with him. He gives us something extra. He can go past people either side. He’s got great pace and he’s two footed. Like Richard Langley, who did ever so well for me before Christmas before he got injured and had to have a cartilage operation, Leon may be the inspiration behind another winning run.
"Leon started off with a free role at Stockport, playing just behind the front two. But I felt that when he got wide, he gave us an outlet and also caused them a problem. So basically, Leon was told to stay wide on the left or right for the second half. And when he got the ball, he ran the at the full-backs on both sides - particularly down the left hand side - and caused them all sorts of problems. Leon created a lot of our chances.
"Once he has perhaps learned the game a little bit more, and knows when to pull the ball back and when to cross it, I think he’ll be a very good asset for us."
QPR Official Site - March 2, 1999 LEON'S DELIGHT AT DEBUT
LEON JEANNE was unlucky not to mark his full debut at Stockport with a goal. The nippy 18 year old had three good efforts on the target and was only foiled by some brilliant goalkeeping by Carlo Nash.
Leon said:" It was brilliant for me to get a full 90 minutes. The team did really well and perhaps we should have won. I started off with a free role behind Iain Dowie and Kevin Gallen but I kept to the flanks in the second half. I got a lot of encouragement from the senior players during the game.
"At one point, I thought I had scored. But the keeper made an unbelievable save. I was sure the ball was in! Hopefully goals will come for me if I can continue to play in the first team."
QPR Official Site - March 17 1999
JEANNE IS R'S SUCCESS STORY
LEON JEANNE’S recent elevation from the Academy into the first team has been one of the Rangers success stories of the season.
The 18 year old Welsh starlet made his debut as a substitute against Watford last month at Loftus Road and has started every game since then. He has bags of pace and skill, playing wide and behind the front two.
Leon’s latest appearance was at Bolton on Saturday. He was saddened by the 2-1 defeat for Rangers.
" We had some great chances early on, but we just couldn’t put them away," says Leon. "That was the difference between winning and losing the match.
"I was disappointed with my own game. It was a hard match and Bolton are a strong side, so we didn’t have the ball all the time. If I had got more of the ball, then I could have done more things. But it is all part of the learning process for me."
Nevertheless, Leon is making his mark in the Rangers team. And he’s determined to build on the good start he has made to his R’s career.
He says:" It was a dream come true for me to make my QPR debut. Now that I’m in there, I’ve got to stay there. Overall, I’ve been quite pleased with my form, although I felt I could have played better at Bolton.
"My game is floating around and running at defenders. I’ve been out on the wing, on the left and right, and in the hole behind the front two. I put other people in.
"I’m enjoying being part of the side. We have a great manager in Gerry Francis and we’ve just got to produce the goods for him. Gerry gave me my chance and I’m really pleased. He likes to encourage young players like myself and he’s been telling me to work on crosses and different things."
Leon’s next ambition is to score his first goal for Rangers. He’s been very close to finding the net on a number of occasions so far, although he unselfishly says that the welfare of the team is more important.
"Hopefully I’ll get my first goal against Swindon on Saturday! I’ll make sure I will. But I’m more concerned with three points for Rangers. I have a lot of faith in the lads here and I’m sure we can win the game and go on to climb the table."
With youngsters like Leon Jeanne, Richard Langley and Richard Graham doing so well for Rangers this season, the future of the club looks very bright indeed.
QPR Official Site - March 1, 1999 - BOSS PRAISES JEANNE DEBUT
R’S BOSS Gerry Francis was pleased with the performance of 18 year old debutant Leon Jeanne at Stockport.
Gerry said:" I thought Leon had a very good debut. I was quite pleased with him. He gives us something extra. He can go past people either side. He’s got great pace and he’s two footed. Like Richard Langley, who did ever so well for me before Christmas before he got injured and had to have a cartilage operation, Leon may be the inspiration behind another winning run.
"Leon started off with a free role at Stockport, playing just behind the front two. But I felt that when he got wide, he gave us an outlet and also caused them a problem. So basically, Leon was told to stay wide on the left or right for the second half. And when he got the ball, he ran the at the full-backs on both sides - particularly down the left hand side - and caused them all sorts of problems. Leon created a lot of our chances.
"Once he has perhaps learned the game a little bit more, and knows when to pull the ball back and when to cross it, I think he’ll be a very good asset for us."
QPR Official Site - March 2, 1999 LEON'S DELIGHT AT DEBUT
LEON JEANNE was unlucky not to mark his full debut at Stockport with a goal. The nippy 18 year old had three good efforts on the target and was only foiled by some brilliant goalkeeping by Carlo Nash.
Leon said:" It was brilliant for me to get a full 90 minutes. The team did really well and perhaps we should have won. I started off with a free role behind Iain Dowie and Kevin Gallen but I kept to the flanks in the second half. I got a lot of encouragement from the senior players during the game.
"At one point, I thought I had scored. But the keeper made an unbelievable save. I was sure the ball was in! Hopefully goals will come for me if I can continue to play in the first team."
QPR Official Site - March 17 1999
JEANNE IS R'S SUCCESS STORY
LEON JEANNE’S recent elevation from the Academy into the first team has been one of the Rangers success stories of the season.
The 18 year old Welsh starlet made his debut as a substitute against Watford last month at Loftus Road and has started every game since then. He has bags of pace and skill, playing wide and behind the front two.
Leon’s latest appearance was at Bolton on Saturday. He was saddened by the 2-1 defeat for Rangers.
" We had some great chances early on, but we just couldn’t put them away," says Leon. "That was the difference between winning and losing the match.
"I was disappointed with my own game. It was a hard match and Bolton are a strong side, so we didn’t have the ball all the time. If I had got more of the ball, then I could have done more things. But it is all part of the learning process for me."
Nevertheless, Leon is making his mark in the Rangers team. And he’s determined to build on the good start he has made to his R’s career.
He says:" It was a dream come true for me to make my QPR debut. Now that I’m in there, I’ve got to stay there. Overall, I’ve been quite pleased with my form, although I felt I could have played better at Bolton.
"My game is floating around and running at defenders. I’ve been out on the wing, on the left and right, and in the hole behind the front two. I put other people in.
"I’m enjoying being part of the side. We have a great manager in Gerry Francis and we’ve just got to produce the goods for him. Gerry gave me my chance and I’m really pleased. He likes to encourage young players like myself and he’s been telling me to work on crosses and different things."
Leon’s next ambition is to score his first goal for Rangers. He’s been very close to finding the net on a number of occasions so far, although he unselfishly says that the welfare of the team is more important.
"Hopefully I’ll get my first goal against Swindon on Saturday! I’ll make sure I will. But I’m more concerned with three points for Rangers. I have a lot of faith in the lads here and I’m sure we can win the game and go on to climb the table."
With youngsters like Leon Jeanne, Richard Langley and Richard Graham doing so well for Rangers this season, the future of the club looks very bright indeed.