Flashback 13 Years: "The New QPR: Evolution Not Revolution"

[QPR Report]

From 13 years ago: August 1, 2008

The New QPR: Evolution Not Revolution - Views of Ian Dowie, Stan Bowles and Ali Russell
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PFA's Give Me Football/Ian Clarkson - It's not revolution, it's evolution, says Dowie as excitement grows at the Bush

These are heady times at Loftus Road and supporters are revelling in the feelgood factor. With Flavio Briatore recently voted as the most popular chairman in London in an Evening Standard poll and season ticket sales having to be capped because of a surge in interest, expectations are sky high in Shepherds Bush.

That optimism hasn't been deflated with the news that the Hoops have pulled of a major coup by sealing a two-year loan deal for Spanish starlet Dani Parejo.

Such is QPR's pulling power that they beat off competition from the likes of Deportivo La Coruna, Espanyol and Osasuna to secure the services of the Spanish youth international.

"This is a big chance and I hope I can profit from this opportunity," commented Parejo, who is currently in Austria at Real's pre-season training camp and he will travel to London this weekend with Madrid for the Emirates Cup, before he links up at Loftus Road.

The arrival of Kaspars Gorkss from Blackpool is also a major signing for new manager Iain Dowie as he completely revamps the West London side.

Briatore, co-owner Bernie Ecclestone and billionaire investor Laksmhi Mittal have big ambitions for Rangers, but at the moment they intend to stay at their spiritual Loftus Road home. "First, let us fill Loftus Road," Briatore said.

"If you have a small restaurant then you try and make sure all the tables are busy at night before you move on to the next restaurant."

Italian restaurants might be an apt analogy as Rangers are not limiting their ambitions to England in their pursuit of glory. Samuel Di Carmine has been recruited on a season-long loan from Fiorentina whilst Genoa's Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma is also on a year's loan deal.

Radek Cerny, Peter Ramage and Matteo Alberti are also on board with the Hoops and Dowie is still searching for more new blood as the big kick off against Barnsley looms ever closer.

"I've always said I'm very happy," said Dowie. "It's not revolution, it's evolution. I do think we need one or two areas strengthening. We may be in a situation where we can bring one or two in; that may change the picture."

With the club's wealthy owners talking about Champions League football within five years the landscape has certainly changed at Loftus Road. Rangers have not graced the top flight since 1996 and a 12-year hiatus from the games elite has been torturous for their supporters.

They finished eighth in the Premier League as recently as 1995 and fifth in 1994 so their fall from grace has been dramatic. They fell to the third tier of English football and have rarely threatened a return to the Premier League but there is genuine optimism now and that mood has been encapsulated by Hoops' legend

Stan Bowles."They're favourites to win the league this year but I've not had a bet on them anyway - they'll probably win it now," he said. "The feeling I get from the new owners, I think they will be a top-four side - maybe not here, but when they move on. Whoever's got the money are going to get the best sides obviously."

And supporters are buying into Bowles' theory that QPR will once again be competing for the title of best side in London. Season ticket sales are going well and deputy managing director Ali Russell admits they have been forced to make a sensible move regards season tickets in their 18,000 capacity ground. He said: "We've decided to cap it at 10,000.
"We've had fantastic demand for season-tickets, there's a huge feel good factor at QPR at the moment and we're absolutely delighted with that. I think we're very conscious that people are starting to talk about a recession, not everyone can afford a season-ticket so we certainly want to have tickets available for those people that potentially can't afford a season-ticket."

"I think it's the right thing to do. We're trying to grow the fan base and really grow the club from the really strong base that we've got."

Ecclestone is usually a man who gets what he wants on the F1 circuit so the pressure will be huge on Dowie but after his last spell at Coventry, who were on the brink of administration, this opportunity will be manna from heaven for the former Crystal Palace boss. Give Me Football




Flashback - QPR: QPR Monday Press Conference/Player Signing Unveiling
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"Queens Park Rangers Football Club will be holding a press conference at
Loftus Road on Monday 4th August at midday.
Chairman Flavio Briatore will be in attendance to unveil a new signing,
ahead of the R's opening Championship fixture against Barnsley on
Saturday.
Following the unveiling of the new signing, Mr Briatore and the R's
latest summer signing will take questions from the floor, prior to a
staged photo-call on the Loftus Road pitch.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, one-on-one interviews will be
limited, although we will do our best to accommodate your requests."

[Macmoish]

Flashback 13 Years - Lee Cook Returns to QPR on a loan from Fulham


The Return of Lee Cook

Fulham Official Site - Lee Cook to QPR
Fulham Football Club can confirm that midfielder, Lee Cook, has joined Queen's Park Rangers on a season-long loan today with a view to a permanent transfer.
The Club would like to thank Lee for his services and wish him the best for the future. Fulham


QPR Official Site - COOK RETURNS TO W12
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce that Fulham midfielder Lee Cook has returned to the Club on a season long loan, with a view to a permanent transfer.
Just over 12 months on from his move across West London to Craven Cottage, the former fans favourite - who has enjoyed two memorable spells in W12 - has returned to his boyhood Club.
"I'm absolutely delighted to be back," Cook told www.qpr.co.uk.
"Once it became clear I could leave Fulham there was only one Club I wanted to move to.
"I had a great rapport with the supporters here in my previous spells and I'm looking forward to playing in front of the Loftus Road faithful again."
Cook added: "I've spoken to a few of the lads recently and there's a great belief that we can achieve something this season.
"The gaffer has made some astute signings over the summer and as a QPR player and a QPR fan, I'm absolutely buzzing ahead of the new season."
The left sided midfielder, who joined the R's from Watford in July 2004 for £150,000, was named both Player's Player and Supporter's Player of the Year in his final season with the R's.
In his two spells with the Club - he initially joined on loan during the 2002/03 season - Cook made 140 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals.
Speaking about Cook's return to W12, First Team Coach, Iain Dowie, expressed his delight: "Lee is a class act and will add to the already healthy options we've got in the attacking third.
"He's a player I've admired for quite some time and I've actually tried to sign him on a couple of occasions in the past.
"He's proven at this level, has great quality and he'll certainly have some fire in his belly after a very frustrating season with Fulham."
Gianni Paladini said: "This is a truly special day for the Football Club.
"We were forced to sell Lee 12 months or so ago due to our financial position at the time, but I'm delighted to have him back here.
"He's a fantastic man, a great professional and an exceptional footballer. We're really excited about his return and can't wait to see him back in the famous Blue and White Hoops." QPR


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - COOKIE'S HOMECOMING
Lee Cook will be reunited with the R's faithful before kick off against AC Chievo Verona on Saturday following today's announcement that he has returned to the Club on a season-long loan from Fulham.
QPR were forced to sell Rangers fan Cook to the Cottagers in the summer of 2007, after he had scooped the Players' Player and Supporters' Player of the Year awards.
An upturn in the fortunes of the Club owing to the arrival of Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal, however, has seen the R's bring him home." QPR

BBC - Cook leaves Fulham to rejoin QPR

Winger Cook was keen to return to Loftus Road
Queens Park Rangers have re-signed Lee Cook from Fulham on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move.

QPR also hope to pay a club-record fee to sign Daniel Parejo, 19, from Real Madrid but look likely to capture the midfielder on an initial loan deal.

Winger Cook, 25, left Loftus Road last summer but his season was wrecked by a knee problem and he did not play in a competitive match for Fulham.

"I am absolutely delighted to be back," Cook told Rangers' website.

"Once it was clear I could leave Fulham there was only one club I wanted to move to."

Cook joined Watford rather than QPR from non-League Aylesbury in 1999 but signed for the west London club on loan during the 2002-03 season.

He became a fans' favourite and left the Hornets to join Rangers when his contract expired in 2004, with a tribunal setting the fee at £150,000.

Cook secured a move to Fulham after a string of outstanding performances but did not get the chance to play in the Premier League.

606: DEBATE
Your views on Cook's return to QPR

QPR boss Iain Dowie said: "Lee is a class act and will add to the already healthy options we've got in the attacking third.

"He's proven at this level, has great quality and he'll certainly have some fire in his belly after a very frustrating season with Fulham."
QPR sporting director Gianni Paladini had been trying to secure Cook's return for several months.
Successive attempts to agree a deal with Fulham failed and Charlton pounced to sign Cook on loan before the transfer window closed in January.
Rangers remained desperate to capture him but wanted an initial loan deal, allowing Cook to prove his long-term fitness before a transfer fee, believed to be around £2.5m, was paid to Fulham.
"This is a truly special day for the football club," said Paladini.
"I'm delighted to have him back here. We're really excited about his return and can't wait to see him back in the famous blue and white hoops." BBC


Sky Sports Cook returns to QPR - Fulham midfielder joins on season-long loan
Queens Park Rangers have re-signed Lee Cook on a season-long loan from Fulham.
The midfielder left Loftus Road last summer but he failed to make a breakthrough with Fulham in the Premier League.
Cook spent the second half of last season on loan at Charlton and Roy Hodgson has now sent him out again for the forthcoming campaign.
The 25-year-old is delighted to be back with QPR and looking forward to the next 12 months.
"I am a happy man. I am glad to be back at Queens Park Rangers," Cook told Sky Sports News. Sky Sports

[Macmoish]

Bump a couple of years!

Flavio:

"If you have a small restaurant then you try and make sure all the tables are busy at night before you move on to the next restaurant."

- Guess we're full now!

[Macmoish]

Flashback 9 Years

[Macmoish]

Flashback 9 years