Flashback 9 Years
- March 25, 2009
Sky/Chris Galea - Vine calls for patience QPR striker backs boss Sousa- Queens Park Rangers striker Rowan Vine believes manager Paulo Sousa should be given time to transform the Hoops into a side capable of competing in the Premier League.- The Hoops still have a chance of getting into the play-offs this season, as they currently sit seven points away from the top six and Vine believes that their recent victories over fellow play-off chasing Swansea and Bristol City have proved that Sousa is the right man for the job.
- "I think it is hugely important that Paolo is given time over the summer to form the foundations for a promotion push, as he was handed a tough task when he took over earlier this season," Vine told skysports.com.
- "He took over just before the Christmas period, which is always a tricky time of year, and he had to hit the ground running really.
- "He was trying to put his ideas across to the players, but it is difficult to do that quickly when there is a game every Saturday and Tuesday.
- "The summer will allow him to really put his ideas in motion and we have already seen the benefits that he has given the players with the recent results.
- "I really hope that Paolo is given the time that is needed for us to have a real good crack at getting into the Premier League next season."
- No stability
- The Hoops have had three different men at the helm this season, as Iain Dowie was replaced by Souza, with Gareth Ainsworth acting as caretaker in between, and Vine insists these changes may have cost them a play-off place this season.
- "There have been a lot of changes this season and we have had three different managers, including a caretaker, as well, and there are still new signings coming in nearly every week, so I don't think that sort of instability has helped our cause this season.
- "Success doesn't come over night and I think anything better than our 14th place finish last season should be seen as progress.
- "I think the manner in which we finish the season will judge whether we have done well this season, as a strong finish would give us a top ten place in the table and something to build on next season." SkySports
Dave McIntyre/Ealing Gazette - More doubts over Dexter's future- QPR have rejected an approach from Nottingham Forest for Dexter Blackstock – but his days at Loftus Road look numbered.
- Rangers will listen to offers for Blackstock, who is now effectively up for sale after being overlooked by coach Paulo Sousa.
- Rowan Vine’s return from a broken leg will push the former Southampton forward further down the pecking order. And with Sousa keen to sign at least one striker this summer, Blackstock’s future appears to lie elsewhere.
- Sousa’s own position will be assessed at the end of the season, but Blackstock is not a favourite of Rangers boss Flavio Briatore either - despite scoring 12 goals in a season in which he has not been a first-team regular.
- Terms for a new long-term contract for Blackstock were agreed in January, but the deal was called off without him putting pen to paper and his future has since been in doubt.
- Forest have expressed an interest in taking Blackstock on an initial loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer at the end of the season, but Rangers are not keen.
- Goalkeeper Lee Camp joined Forest in a similar arrangement ahead of the January transfer window, but a permanent move never materialised and he ended up back at Rangers when his loan expired.
- At least one other Championship club is believed to be considering making an offer for Blackstock, who has been a key player for QPR since his move from Southampton in 2006.
- He scored 14 goals in his first season at Rangers, several of them coming in the crucial end-of-season run-in to help the club avoid relegation. Last season he endured a bad spell but finished the campaign strongly, netting four goals in seven matches.
- Blackstock is Rangers’ top scorer again this season, but has been in and out of the side and has not been helped by his last three managers preferring to play with a lone striker. Sousa believes January signing Heidar Helguson is more suited to that role.
- And Sousa has recently indicated that he would like to sign a target man to give Rangers a stronger physical presence in attack and to link up with the likes of Vine, Akos Buzsaky and Wayne Routledge next season. Ealing Gazette
qprreport.blogspot.com/2009/03/vine-urges-patience-and-giving-sousa.html
Read more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/12343/blackstock-loan-briatore-sousa-select?page=1#ixzz3VNcxaacLAnd also OTD
9 Yrs Ago: Briatore on Sousa & Team Selection
March 25, 2009 Sporting Life
SOUSA HAS BRIATORE BACKINGQueens Park Rangers co-owner Flavio Briatore insists Paulo Sousa's job is not under imminent threat.
Rumours have been spreading for some time that the Portuguese coach will be relieved of his duties at the end of the season.
Rangers were expected to be pushing for promotion from the Championship this term, following the arrival of F1 magnates Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone on the board, but that has not proven to be the case.
They appear destined to miss out on the play-offs, with Sousa then expected to pay the price for failure.
However, Briatore claims that there are no plans at present to implement managerial changes over the summer.
"I don't think there is any problem at this moment," he said in the Daily Express.
"We support Paulo. In the last two or three months, I am not happy with results and the coach knows that. But we have had a lot of injuries to key players. I respect the fact the sport can be like that.
"It is disappointing but fans should be happy because we have done everything possible; we are there, especially at this moment when there are not so many people who want to buy a club. Everyone who gets their salary from QPR needs to respect who pays the salary.
"Because QPR is not a profitable business, you need to be very careful. You have to have respect for people who are doing everything for success."
While Briatore has left no-one in doubt as to who is charge at Loftus Road, he has again denied accusations suggesting he meddles too much in team affairs.
"Let's get this absolutely clear. I do not pick the team but I have an opinion on things because we have invested a lot of money," said the Italian businessman.
"I don't pick the team, no way. I go in the dressing room sometimes after the match but I don't know why this story is around. But this is our money and we want to be informed about what is going on. It is our investment. If the result is good, nobody puts their nose in."We want results and if the results are not coming, then you want to ask why. I think this is normal and not unreasonable."
www.sportinglife.com/football/nat....ual_090317.htmlRead more:
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=2498&page=1#245131#ixzz2OX7uv5BSwww.sportinglife.com/football/nat....ual_090317.htmlNottingham Evening Post - March 25, 2009
Davies: Blackstock is a Forest target
NOTTINGHAM Forest are targeting a £2m move for QPR striker Dexter Blackstock.
But the powerful front-man is unlikely to arrive at the City Ground before the summer.
Reds boss Billy Davies believes Blackstock can add some physical presence to his attacking arsenal at the City Ground.
But he may have to pursue other targets to bolster their fight against relegation, with the 22-year-old unwilling to commit himself to a move until Forest's fate is confirmed.
QPR's 12-goal striker is stalling on a new contract at Loftus Road and the London club are willing to do business – at a price.
, while they might be willing to allow Blackstock to move to the
City Ground on loan if a fee can be agreed for a permanent deal in the future, the player himself is understood to be concerned about the prospect of Forest being relegated.
www.thisisnottinghamforest.co.uk/news/Davies-Blackstock-Forest-target/article-840498-detail/article.htmlAnd manager Davies admits the former Oxford, Southampton, Plymouth and Derby player might have to be a target for the summer.
"We are looking to bring in one or two before Thursday, but we are also putting one or two things in place for the summer as well," said Davies.
"We are looking at several targets and making several enquiries and Dexter Blackstock is among one of those names we are asking about.
"He is one of several players we are looking at.
"We know we have a rebuilding job to do, we know we have to plan for the future.
"At this moment we are looking at possible targets and doing all we can to look at possible targets now.
"We do not want to get to the summer and then be scrambling for possible targets. We need to get ahead of the game now."
Davies admits that Forest are having to prepare a Plan A for a future in the Championship and a Plan B for if they are relegated.
"That is the situation, we have to prepare for both eventualities (League One or the Championship) but there is no doubt which one I am preparing for more," he said.
"I see the determination and spirit in that dressing room and it convinces me that we should be preparing for life in the Championship."
Davies accepts that Forest's fight against relegation will be a negative influence as they try to sign players.
"I am sure if you were the player, then you would like to wait to see what happens. You can understand that," he said.
"But we will continue to identify possible targets, we will continue to make enquiries. But it will depend on where we are.
"We just have to go and get the job done. Once we are through this season, we will not be too far away."
www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/Read more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/2430#ixzz5AkDOPc6Q
