"He could have been a contender"
Shame it didnt work out
ARRIVAL
Flashback: January 2012
GUARDIAN/Jamie Jackson
Lure of Mark Hughes attracts Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cissé to QPR
• Zamora rejoins manager he 'got on really well with at Fulham'
• 'I am finally here with him,' says long-term Hughes target Cissé
QPR have signed Bobby Zamora from Fulham, where he worked under Mark Hughes last season. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
Bobby Zamora moved to Queens Park Rangers from Fulham inside the final hour of the transfer window in a deal worth up to £7m, with the club also securing Djibril Cissé from Lazio for £4m.
QPR were the only club interested in buying Zamora, who worked under Mark Hughes at Craven Cottage when the latter was manager during the 2010‑11 season. An initial fee of £6m could rise when add‑ons based on appearances, goals and the club's finishing position this season are factored in.
The deal dragged on late into the night while the 31-year-old discussed personal terms. Sources at Fulham stated that Zamora had wanted to double his £45,000 weekly wage before he would agree to move.
However, it is thought Zamora finally settled for a wage of around £50,000, and signed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year deal. The striker has scored seven goals in 30 appearances this season for Fulham, although there have been rumours of a breakdown in relations with the manager, Martin Jol. He will wear the No52 shirt at QPR but is not eligible to feature against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
"QPR are certainly a club that are looking to go forward," Zamora said. "That's something that I'm looking forward to being a part of. I got on really well with the manager at Fulham. We all grew to like Mark. I think that will be the case here. He's looking to take the club forward.
"I think this was the right time for me to have a fresh challenge. I had some great experiences at Fulham. Going to a European final is special. But this is a new challenge for myself and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it.
"The ambition of the club was certainly a drawing factor as well. I've been lucky enough to speak to Tony [Fernandes, the owner], and Phil [Beard, the chief executive] relayed a lot of messages about where this club want to go. For me, it was quite an easy decision to be a part of this. The sky's the limit. We're looking to go forward and to grow and I want to be a part of that."
Hughes said: "Bobby is a guy that makes things happen on the pitch, be it scoring goals or creating chances for others. He's a great foil for any team. We needed a player of his ilk at the club and I couldn't be more delighted.
"He was the difference for us at Fulham last season. He came back from injury and he made such an impact in the second half of the campaign. He's got great power and pace and his technical ability is top class. He's got an excellent left foot."
With QPR just two points above the relegation zone having scored 22 league goals – more only than Wigan – Hughes further bolstered his attacking options with the recruitment of Cissé to partner Zamora.
"When I talked to the manager, he spoke highly of the club and where he wants to take it over the next few years," said Cissé. "He wanted to sign me at Manchester City and now I am finally here with him at QPR. He wants to achieve big things here – that was all I needed to hear from him."
The 30-year-old joined on a two-and-a-half‑year contract and he could feature at Aston Villa on Wednesday evening, with Hughes saying of him: "I rate Djibril very, very highly. I've watched him for many years and always been impressed by what he brings to the table. He's a huge threat to opposition's defences. He's got great pace, power and movement and that's something we will hopefully benefit from.
"His goal record is there for everyone to see. He's scored goals wherever he's played. His record speaks for itself. He was desperate to come here once we showed our interest in him and we can't wait to get the best out of him."
Cissé has scored 161 goals in 282 league appearances, the Frenchman scoring in the top flights of England, France, Italy and Greece. Guardian
With almost all the focus (naturally) on the signings, not to forget the departures, who in the case of Rowlands, Orr and Connolly played their part in putting us where we are today:
Cisse bids farewell to Lazio, joins QPR
(AFP) Tuesday 31 January 2012
France forward Djibril Cisse has said goodbye to Lazio after agreeing a deal to join Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee. The 30-year-old used the social networking site Twitter to confirm reports in the Italian press claiming the move was a done deal.
"I want to thank all the Lazio fans and everyone I've met in these months for their affection and support," he wrote in Italian. "I'm sorry if I've been a disappointment for some people but I want to say that I've always given 100 per cent."
Italian news agency Ansa had previously claimed that a €5m deal to take him to the Premier League had been agreed. It comes just six months after he moved to Italy from Greece's Panathinaikos for €5.8m.
"I rate Djibril very, very highly," Rangers manager Mark Hughes told the club's official website, qpr.co.uk. "I've watched him for many years and always been impressed by what he brings to the table. He's a huge threat to oppositions' defences. He's got great pace, power and movement and that's something we will hopefully benefit from."
His goal record is there for everyone to see. He's scored goals wherever he's played. His record speaks for itself.
QPR manager Mark Hughes on Djibril Cisse
www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1577152.html
DEPARTURE
QPR Official Site - CISSE DEPARTS
Frenchman moves on ...
Striker Djibril Cisse has left QPR by mutual consent.
The 31 year-old - who spent the second half of last season on loan at Qatari outfit Al-Gharafa - will become a free agent from July 1st.
Cisse joined QPR from Lazio in January 2012.
He went on to make 29 appearances in all competitions, scoring 10 goals.
The club would like to thank Djibril for his contribution and wish him all the best for the future.
998–2004 Auxerre 128 (70)
2004–2007 Liverpool 49 (13)
2006–2007 → Marseille (loan) 21 (8)
2007–2009 Marseille 37 (16)
2008–2009 → Sunderland (loan) 35 (10)
2009–2011 Panathinaikos 61 (47)
2011–2012 Lazio 18 (1)
2012–2013 Queens Park Rangers 26 (9)
2013 → Al-Gharafa (loan) 9 (1)
2013 Kuban Krasnodar 15 (4)
2014–2015 Bastia 23 (2)
2015 Saint-Pierroise 1 (0)
2017– Yverdon 28 (24)
National team
1998–2002 France U21 4 (6)
2002–2011 France 41 (9)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djibril_Ciss%C3%A9
