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Monday Diary — Warnock on Man Utd, plus which loans are QPR extending?
Monday Diary — Warnock on Man Utd, plus which loans are QPR extending?
Monday, 19th Dec 2011 18:13 by Clive Whittingham

Neil Warnock held his hands up to being beaten by a better team as Man Utd won 2-0 against QPR at Loftus Road on Sunday but admitted he was disappointed with aspects of his team’s performance.

News

Warnock told the club’s official website: “It was disappointing. Both goals came from sloppy midfield passing. We said about being careful before the game and we reiterated it at half-time. But overall, I can't complain. Yes, they were better than us - but you'd expect that from the Champions. We kept going and we kept creating chances - I think Heidar could have done better from a corner and had DJ have scored with 15 minutes to go, you never know.

“There are a lot of pluses to come from the game. Matt Connolly had his first game back for four months and I thought he looked good. And Radek did well again in goal. I can't fault the lads - I'm just disappointed with the way we conceded the goals. One or two of the lads were disappointed with their own performances, but they'll bounce back. We should have collected more points than we have done this season - but all of the bottom half are in the same boat, looking over their shoulders. I'm sure we'll be doing that for the next couple of months."

One of those players disappointed with his individual performance is probably Joey Barton, who turned in his worst display in a QPR shirt and inadvertently set up United’s second goal with a wayward pass. In a series of Tweets after the game he said: “Second goal was my mistake. It happens. It’s gone. Time to move forward again. Have a wonderful night, enjoy the rest of today’s sport. Whilst I go home, sit in a darkened room and go over that bad pass 80 times in tears. Don't worry, I can take my share of stick. So all the haters enjoy today. I’ll be back next week to make you eat your words. It’s what I do best. You've got to be on it against reigning champions and today we feel short. Wasn't for lack of effort. Roll on Sunderland wed night. Cannot effect what's already happened but can effect what's about to happen. Hard work is the best remedy.”

DJ Campbell came off the bench and missed a late sitter that would have halved the deficit. He told the Fulham Chronicle: ““I was scoring those goals last year and would have put my house on it, “said Campbell. “But for whatever reason I didn’t connect properly – maybe I was a bit rusty. Thought if the chance had gone it would have been an interesting finish. I get a bit down after missing those, but I was reading what Ruud Van Nistelrooy said about been getting a chance and then scoring the next one, and that’s what I’ll be trying to do.”

Warnock’s opposite number Alex Ferguson was pleased with the way his side coped on a ground where fellow title challengers Man City and Chelsea have struggled this season. He told West London Sport: “Queens Park Rangers in their home games have been a real problem to a lot of teams. But we kept them quiet for most of the game and we played some terrific football at times, and I’m pleased with that.”

Rangers are increasingly keen for the January transfer window to swing open as a difficult run of fixtures has seen them slip down the Premiership table. Whether Peterborough keeper Joe Lewis will be one of the new arrivals remains to be seen though. The England youth keeper has been training with Rangers since Paddy Kenny and Brian Murphy were injured but the form of Radek Cerny has cooled QPR’s interest.

Neil Warnock told Fulham Chronicle: “We’re looking at a few keepers, and I’m having a look at Joe. But when we agreed that with Barry Fry at Peterborough - we didn’t expect Raddy to play like he has done. You need a certain type to come and play as number two – although I do like Joe, but we’ll know more in the next week.”It’s a certain type that’s willing to come as a back-up. Most keepers want to come as number one. I like Joe but we’ll have to see what develops over the next week or so. We’re looking at a few keepers.”

Warnock was due to meet with Tony Fernandes and Amit Bhatia today to discuss January transfer targets. He told West London Sport: “On Monday we’ve got a good meeting. We’ve actually got everybody together from all over the globe; Tony, Amit Bhatia and a couple of others. It’s what I wanted before Christmas. It’s nice to get them all together rather than via these computer links. It’s difficult on the telephone and stuff, with time gaps and all sorts, so I’m pleased. I’m not silly. I’ll go with propositions to them. I think we need to use whatever finance we have in two areas and I’m going to look to bring in some loan players to supplement that. The best business is always done in the summer, so I don’t want to pay stupid prices in January.”

Cerny was in fine form again on Sunday, making a string of saves to keep the score down against Man Utd. Prior to the game he told the Independent that his upbringing under a communist regime in Prague has shaped his outlook on football.

Cerny said: “When I was at Tottenham, players said I should see the manager because the goalkeeper was not in good form. But I have never done that. I came from a different place. In communism you cannot do that. My thinking is, if I can do my work properly they have to pick this up. If not, someone else should. It's my idea how it works in life and football, everywhere. Maybe the reason why I'm here still is that I'm nice. No manager wants a player who gives them lots of problems. If I was a manager I wouldn't want a player like that. I really enjoy playing but know it is shorter and shorter every year for a player of my age. Of course it's not easy just having training sessions but only one goalkeeper can be in goal."

In other news in form target man Heidar Helguson has been named Iceland’s Player of the Year for 2011 at the age of 34. Helguson has six Premiership goals from eight starts this season and was a key figure in QPR’s promotion into the top flight last season. The award is judged by 100 former internationals, managers and officials in Iceland.

Worse news for Kieron Dyer though whose season is over after just four minutes of action. The foot injury he picked up in the early stages of the first game of the season against Bolton now requires an operation and he will not play again this term. Dyer has a break clause in his one year contract allowing QPR to terminate it in January if such a set of circumstances arises but manager Neil Warnock says he would like the player to stay and has even spoken about giving him a contract extension in the summer.

Warnock told the club’s official website: “This is a devastating blow for Kieron. I have never met a more determined pro in my career, and he really doesn't deserve this. The specialist said he thought Kieron could return before Christmas without the need for an operation and is disappointed that this is not the case, and he has no alternative now but to operate. I have absolutely no doubt that he will recover after the operation. We are going to support him as best we can because he has got such a contribution to make, both on and off the field. And even though he has not featured for us, he has made a vital contribution at the training ground and has been very important to have around the place."

Finally the QPR Youth Team’s reward for knocking Huddersfield’s Academy out of the FA Youth Cup is a fourth round tie against Everton. Jack Rodwell, Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley have all graduated into the Toffee’s first team from their youth set up in recent times and the draw promises to be a massive test for QPR’s youngsters. It will be played at Loftus Road on a date to be confirmed before Saturday January 21.

Loan Watch

Rangers have agreed to extend defender Max Ehmer’s loan at Yeovil through until the end of the season. The German born teenager played a full 90 minutes for the Glovers on Saturday as they drew 0-0 with fellow League One strugglers Rochdale, who subsequently sacked manager Steve Eyre after five months in the job. Ehmer impressed at Huish Park sufficiently last season for QPR to extend his contract at Loftus Road through to 2013.

Peter Ramage on the other hand is still unsure what the rest of the season holds for him. He’s due to play for Palace tonight against Birmingham live on Sky but his loan spell ends in january and he is due to return to Loftus Road.

He told Sky: “I've really enjoyed my time here and they are a great bunch of lads to train and work with on a daily basis. The manager and his staff have been great with me as well and it has been great to be playing first-team games in a very good side. I haven't given January much thought to be honest and as far as I know I'll be going back to QPR then, but what happens from then on I don't know. I'm just taking each week as it comes and if I play on a Saturday then I hope to impress whoever is watching, whether it be Neil Warnock at QPR or Dougie here at Palace.

"I'm just trying to do the best I can on a personal note and everything else will hopefully take care of itself. The purpose of this loan spell initially was to come and play some games, increase my fitness and enjoy my football again whilst helping Palace progress up the league table. Last season was a nightmare for me injury-wise, so it is just good to be back playing and amongst the matchday squads."

Uncertainty too for Angelo Balanta at MK Dons whose loan deal expires in 14 days time. Balanta was a second half sub in their televised 1-0 home defeat by Preston at the weekend and manager Karl Robinson is eager to keep him and Sheff Wed’s Mark Beevers beyond January. He told the BBC: “We'd love to keep the two of them. But it's down to the parent clubs to determine what happens with them. It's going to be difficult to make those happen because they've done so well. We've got to make sure we get them for the right reasons."

Elsewhere in League One Hogan Ephraim played for 86 minutes as Charlton were held 1-1 at home by Oldham and Martin Rowlands recovered from his persistent hamstring injury sufficiently to play two minutes for lowly Wycombe as they drew 2-2 at Carlisle. And Lee Cook, who has been earning good reviews for his performances at Leyton Orient, played 77 minutes as the O’s won 2-1 at Notts County. Manager Russell Slade told the local Guardian newspaper that QPR had given the greenlight for that deal to be extended.

In League Two Michael Doughty was a late sub for Crawley as they were held 1-1 by a Crewe side reduced to ten men in controversial circumstances by our old friend Stewart Attwell who home player David Artell accused of “trying to be the centre of attention” after the match. Gary Borrowdale played 90 minutes for Barnet as they battled to a 2-2 home draw against high flying Cheltenham.

Premiership Shorts

- Blackburn boss Steve Kean continues to cling to his job despite another damaging defeat at the weekend. Kean was heavily barracked at the end of their 2-1 defeat to West Brom at the weekend and is tipped for the sack if they lose a massive relegation six pointer against Bolton on Tuesday. Kean said: “I'm not trying to pretend I don't understand the magnitude of this game but, when I go into the changing room and get out on the training ground, players are behind what were trying to do. I'd ask the fans to stick with us for a game as important as this.”

- Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says he would like to keep Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko at White Hart Lane despite speculation that he would be sold in january. Pavlyuchenko scored the winner against Sunderland on Sunday and afterwards Redknapp said: “I'd like to keep him. People say Pav is going and we're looking for a striker but it is difficult to find anyone better."

- Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga says he still wants to move to the Premiership despite failing a medical at Newcastle. The Mali international said: “I wanted that move to Newcastle badly. However it did not happen as they said my knee has a problem, but I feel better than anything. There is a player at Newcastle now, Demba Ba - he was told at a Premier League medical that he had a knee problem, he then went to another and started scoring goals before his move to Newcastle."

- Chelsea could be facing a defensive injury crisis ahead of the busy Christmas period. The Blues conceded a late equaliser at Wigan on Saturday night and both David Luiz and Ramires sat out training on Monday. John Terry was also carried off the training field with an ankle injury that make him a doubt for Thursday night’s match with Spurs.

- Liverpool have joined the race to sign highly rated Cliftonville striker Rory Donnelly. Swansea have already had a £100,000 bid accepted for the 19-year-old who has scored 17 goals this season and Everton have also made their interest known. Kenny Dalglish spoke with Cliftonville club officials about the player on Sunday evening.

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Photo: Action Images



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