Blackstock As Sub...Cook Loving Sousa...Borrowdale

[QPR Report]

Rereading some of the blog posts...Oh and it wasn't under Sousa -

From November Blackstock Blog
I´m no Scapegoat

There was a lot of talk about me being left on the bench the game after Iain Dowie got sacked. People said it was because Flavio [Briatore] wanted more of the new lads to play. To be honest it didn´t bother me at all. I´ve played some part in every game this season, whether it´s been starting or from the bench. It´s a squad game and you have to know that you´re not going to play every minute of every match.

Flavio´s been really involved with the players since day one. He´s always been in and around the dressing room and nothing´s changed now that Gareth Ainsworth´s in charge. Iain Dowie did well for us and I don´t know the reason for him going but managers come and go. It´s part of the game now and you just have to get on with it.

As long as we keep winning I really don´t mind not scoringI´m pleased with my own form so far this season. I got some goals early on and although they dried a bit before I scored at the weekend, I still think I´m playing well. As long as we keep winning I really don´t mind. ...

I´ll be back with more news soon,
Dex


www.dexterblackstockofficialwebsite.com/blog/20180.I_m%20no%20scapegoat

[QPR Report]

And what's this? Lee Cook raving about Sousa

Lee Cook Blog - End of December
Relishing my new role at QPR

I absolutely love playing in the new system under Paulo Sousa at QPR. He called me into the office on the first day that he was here and talked me through what he expected of me and how important he thought I would be to the team.

Coming from someone like him that means a lot. He was a player I watched a lot when he was at Inter and for Portugal. He was my kind of footballer, a skilful ball player. Even now when he gets involved in training you can see he´s still got the touch, the geezer oozes class.

He´s given me a lot of confidence and I´m relishing the chance to play at the tip of the diamond. It´s a position I used to play in when I was 17 or 18 years old so it´s not a strange role for me. I think it really suits me and hopefully I can make that spot my own.
I used to play in the same position when I was 17 or 18 years old so it´s not a strange role for meThere´s plenty of competition at the minute though. If you look at the bench for Saturday´s game we had Fitz Hall, Mikele Leigertwood, Dexter Blackstock, Emmanuel Ledesma and Samuel Di Carmine all ready to come on. That´s a lot of quality to have in reserve and Dex came on and got the winner against Preston just to show that. Everyone´s fighting for their place and that´s what you need if you´re going to challenge for promotion.

It was a bit sad to see Danny [Parejo] called back to Real Madrid. He´s a nice lad. He came over here and didn´t speak much English but he settled in well. I think he´s got a really big future ahead of him, whether that´s at Real Madrid or another top flight Spanish club. Maybe he found it life in the Championship a bit difficult but you can see he has a lot of quality. People forget how young he is and he´ll only get better.

This is just a quick update as I haven´t put a blog up in a while but hopefully I should be back with some good news in the New Year.

I hope you all have a good Christmas, Cookie.
www.leecook.co.uk/blog/21555.Relishing%20my%20new%20role%20at%20QPR

[QPR Report]

And Gary Borrowdale's last blog post (from few months ago)

Garry Borrowdale - I´m just waiting for my Chance

I haven’t been playing recently. It is a bit frustrating. I am just waiting for the season to wind down now. You just have to get your head down and work hard in training and that’s what I have been doing. If I´m called upon I am here to do the job.

A lot has changed at the club since my last diary. We have a new manager for a start. It was a bit weird for me when Ian Dowie went, because he brought me here and he knew me so well. But in football you learn anything is possible so you don’t get shocked with comings and goings. It´s not nice to see anyone lose their job, but you get used to it happening.

Things have settled down with the new manager. He has had time now to implement his own ideas. I´m not in the gaffer´s plans at the moment, but I hope to be.

It was a great win last weekend against Colchester, a much needed one as well. It has given us a bit of breathing space. I think we have done enough now to stay up. One more point should seal it for us.

With two hard games coming up it was just the sort of win we needed – we went a goal behind but ended up winning 5-1. Hopefully we´ll take that form into the game

We have a tough run-in. Wolves this weekend, followed by Charlton. Wolves is a ferocious derby but this one has even more meaning. Both teams need to get something from the game so it should be a good one. I´m sure the fans would like to derail Wolves´ promotion campaign and they´ll be in full voice.

I played in the game at Molineux earlier this season. It was 1-0 and they scored in the last minute, so we need to avenge that one.

I´d love to play. If I get picked – great. If not, I´ll just keep working hard and hope that my chance comes soon.

www.garyborrowdale.com/blog/13240.I_m%20just%20waiting%20for%20my%20chance

[QPR Report]

And Ben Watson - oh wait he's not QPR

Ben Watson - Can´t wait to get involved at Wigan

I am flattered that there were quite a few clubs interested in me over the transfer period but everything about Wigan really impressed me. I sat down with the gaffer and he couldn’t speak highly enough of the club. I also looked at the league position they were in and obviously they have been doing really well. Also, there is such a buzz about the place at the moment so, all-round, I thought it was the best club to join.

Wigan have been on a good run recently. In the last ten league games they have won six, drawn one and lost three. The only ones they have lost have been to Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City. I am looking forward to being involved.

I´ve trained with the boys since Monday and they have all been great - they all seem as good as gold. Training is very lively and there is a real buzz about the place. Already you can tell the difference in quality between the Championship and the Premiership. I´ve enjoyed it.Already you can tell the difference in quality between the Championship and the PremiershipIt helps that I already knew Boycey (Emerson Boyce), we played in the Premiership together at Crystal Palace. I also knew Cats (Lee Cattermole) from England. I spoke to Cats before I came here and he spoke really highly of the place. I also know the physio, Dave Galley, from the England Under-21s. It is always nice to know a couple of people – it makes things easier.

I haven’t had to have any initiations into the squad yet. There´s been no getting up to sing in front of the boys or anything like that. I am hoping that it doesn’t come...

I can´t wait to play against the ´big four´ teams but I am looking forward to playing against every team. In my opinion this is the best league in the world and every team has got quality players. I´ve had a taste of the Premier League in the past, when I was here with Crystal Palace and I´m delighted to be back.

Wilson Palacios had a move to Spurs and, although we are totally different types of player, that opens up a space for me to go into midfield. I think Wilson is a great footballer and I´m sure the team will miss him but I feel like I have got lots to offer as well. It´s down to me to show the manager what I can do and win the shirt.

Aston Villa are up there with the ´big four´ though and we´ve got a trip to Villa Park on Saturday. They´ve had a fantastic season and with the way they are playing at the moment you can´t rule them out of finishing higher than Liverpool. It´s great to see them up there in the mix and the fact they have got so many talented, young, English players is fantastic.

www.benwatsonofficialwebsite.com/blog/23395.Can_t%20wait%20to%20get%20involved%20at%20Wigan


Steve Bruce was key in Wigan move

January has been a bit of a whirlwind month for me. I´ve done a fair bit of travelling around the country and I´ve spoken to a few of the clubs that were interested in buying me from Crystal Palace.

After speaking to Steve Bruce I knew that Wigan was the right move for me. I signed for them on Monday and I´m delighted to be here. It´s been a crazy few days though – my phone has been ringing non-stop, I´ve been doing a few interviews and I went straight into training with the rest of the lads after signing. I´m loving it though. This is what it´s all about.

Things have calmed down a little bit now though and I´ve got more of a chance to reflect on my move up north. I am staying in a hotel in Wigan at the moment and it´s only about five or ten minutes away from the training ground. I´ve got my laptop with me, so I can watch films and go on the internet when I get back. I haven’t had chance to look around Wigan yet but so far, everyone I´ve met has been lovely. They´ve all been really welcoming. I´m just really excited to be here. I know it’s a cliché but, really, I´m over the moon!!
I won´t go straight into the team for the Liverpool game tonightI won´t go straight into the team for the Liverpool game tonight. After having the groin tear Monday was my first day´s training for six weeks, so I doubt I´ll start against Liverpool and against Aston Villa on Saturday. I´m in the squad though, so maybe I´ll get chance to come on. Hopefully I will make my starting debut next week against Fulham.

Last and not least I´d like to give a mention to everyone at Crystal Palace. I was there for 13 years, which is more than half of my life and I owe the club so much. I played 170 games for Palace and I have made some great friends there over the years. In some ways it was sad to leave Selhurst Park but everyone wants to play on the biggest stage that they can. As I said, I think that the Premier League is the best league in the world and I had to grab the opportunity to play there with both hands. I have got a lot of good memories of Palace and I would like to thank everyone, from the playing staff, to the club, to the fans. Thanks to you all for having me and making the last 13 year so memorable.

I´ll be back a little later in the week with more…

Thanks, Ben
www.benwatsonofficialwebsite.com/blog/23266.Steve%20Bruce%20was%20key%20in%20Wigan%20move