Queens Park Rangers F.C. season 2008-09

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Queens Park Rangers

Season 2008–09
Manager	Paulo Sousa
Football League Championship	season in progress
FA Cup	Last 64
League Cup	season in progress

During the 2008–09 season, Queens Park Rangers will be playing in the Football League Championship, their fifth season of their current spell at this level.

Contents 1 Pre-season 1.1 New managerial team 1.2 Sponsorship 1.3 Matches 2 Events 3 Current squad 3.1 Out on loan 3.2 Transfers 4 Results 4.1 Football League Championship 4.2 FA Cup 4.3 League Cup 5 Competitions 5.1 League Championship Results summary 5.2 League Championship Results by round 5.3 Table 6 References

[edit] Pre-season

[edit] New managerial team

Ian Dowie was announced as the replacement for Luigi De Canio as manager on 14 May 2008.^[1] Tim Flowers was later named Dowie's assistant, reprising his former role with Dowie at Coventry City.^[2]

[edit] Sponsorship

Following the termination of the club's sponsorship deals with Car Giant, Le Coq Sportif and Sellotape at the end of the previous season, in July it was announced that Gulf Air would be the new shirt sponsors.^[3] Further sponsorship packages were also announced including Abbey Financial Services, Chronotech and Lotto Sport Italia.^[4]

[edit] Matches

All but one of QPR's pre-season fixtures were held away from Loftus Road while the ground underwent upgrading work ahead of the new season. Despite the optimism surrounding the club on the back of the investment and player transfers, Rangers suffered defeats in 3 out of 5 of their warm-up fixtures. The club started positively, winning 3–1 against Conference National side Stevenage Borough followed by a 1–0 win over Football League One side Northampton Town. However a pre-season tour to Scotland saw Rangers lose 2–0 and 1–0 (respectively) to Scottish Premier League sides Falkirk and Kilmarnock. The pre-season fixtures culminated in a 2–1 defeat at the hands of Serie A side A.C. ChievoVerona in front of just 3,540 at Loftus Road.

[edit] Events

Queens Park Rangers started the season against Barnsley at Loftus Road. Fitz Hall scored twice in as many minutes after Iain Hume put the Yorkshire side 1-0 up in the fifth minute. Hall also missed a penalty in the second half, but Rangers held on to win the game 2-1. A win at Swindon in the League Cup followed before the first defeat of the season to Sheffield United, 3–0 at Bramall Lane. Comprehensive home wins against Doncaster Rovers, Carlisle (in the League Cup) and Southampton followed before a win away against Norwich City saw Rangers put together a five game unbeaten streak.

Defeat at Coventry was swiftly followed by the highlight of the season so far, an impressive 1-0 win away to Aston Villa in the 3rd round of the League Cup with Damion Stewart getting the decisive goal. The result meant that QPR entered the 4th round of the competition, for the first time since the 1995-96 season, where they were drawn away to Premier League giants Manchester United. The euphoria of the Villa result was short-lived and Rangers returned to losing ways at home to Derby County just 3 days later. By early October, QPR had slipped to 11th in the Championship league table following defeat to leaders Birmingham at St Andrew's and former manager Terry Venables was speculatively linked with a return to Loftus Road to replace Ian Dowie if no improvement was seen in the club's form^[5]. Meanwhile Dexter Blackstock stood out as an early contender for the club's top scorer for the season with 5 goals in 13 games in all competitions.

On 23 October reports in the British press announced that the club would cap the maximum ticket price at the Category 'C' (£35) level as a response to the worsening economic situation. This led commentators to speculate that the club was damaged by negative press surrounding earlier proposed ticket price increases^[6]. The following day, 24 October, Iain Dowie was sacked after just fifteen games in charge of the club.^[7] While the press continued to speculate on Dowie's replacament touting Roberto Mancini and Kenny Jackett among several others as potential candidates,^[8] existing player/coach Gareth Ainsworth was appointed caretaker manager in the interim and, in his first game in charge, ended Reading's 100% record at the Madejski Stadium, grinding out a 0–0 draw.

Just over three weeks after their defeat at St Andrew's, Rangers took on league leaders Birmingham again, in a mid-week fixture at Loftus Road. In Ainsworth's second game in charge a 10-man Rangers won 1–0 courtesy of a 25 yard goal from Samuel Di Carmine.^[9] At the start of November Rangers travelled to Ipswich losing 2–0 before picking up a 1–0 win over Cardiff at Loftus Road a week later. The mid-week League Cup tie at Old Trafford saw QPR defeated 1–0 missing out on the last eight of the competition courtesy of a Carlos Tévez penalty. The woes continued 4 days later with only the club's second home defeat of the season, this time at the hands of Burnley. By mid-November the side's average of less than 1 goal-per-game led to them being ranked 21st in terms of the attacking statistics of the 24 Championship clubs despite sitting 10th in the league table.^[10]

On 19 November Paulo Sousa, a former Portugal midfielder and previously assistant coach of the Portugese national side, was announced as the first team coach ending Gareth Ainsworth's six game run as caretaker.^[11] The following day Tim Flowers stepped down as assistant coach and news sources (including the club's official website) reported Rangers had signed Bolton striker Heiðar Helguson on an emergency loan deal.^[12] Signed to a two-and-a-half year contract, Paulo Sousa became the sixth first team coach of the club in 13 months. Just three days into his appointment, Sousa's first game in charge saw a ten-man QPR comprehensively beaten 3–0 away at Watford leaving them firmly in mid-table, 9 points above the relegation zone and 3 points from the play-offs.^[13] Purported new signing Helguson did not appear for the club at Vicarage Road with rumours later surfacing that the deal had not completed.^[14] On 24 November QPR announced that long-serving club secretary Sheila Marson's contract had been terminated. She had been with QPR since 1973.^[15] A mid-week fixture against struggling Charlton saw Sousa's first victory (2–1) with Dexter Blackstock (who returned from suspension) scoring twice. Four days later Rangers travelled across London to Selhurst Park, drawing 0–0 with Crystal Palace, a match which featured Premier League striker, Heiðar Helguson, who had completed his loan move from Bolton earlier in the week.^[16]

QPR took on league-leaders Wolves in the first game of December. Played in a late kick-off at Loftus Road and in front of the Sky Sports cameras, Rangers put on a fine performance despatching their high-flying opponents with a 1–0 win courtesy of a 20 yard effort from skipper Martin Rowlands in his first full appearance since returning from injury.^[17] Despite dominating their next game, away to Sheffield Wednesday, QPR were beaten 1–0. The game marked Rangers' sixth defeat from eleven away fixtures, and in which they had only scored twice.^[18] A week later Rangers scored their first goal in 9 'away' fixtures, managing a 1–1 draw with Plymouth. Loan-signing Heiðar Helguson put QPR into an early lead before Plymouth equalised late in the second half.^[19] On 20 December, Helguson was again on the scoresheet, netting twice alongside Dexter Blackstock's winner in Rangers' 3–2 victory over Preston North End.^[20]

The Christmas period saw Rangers draw 2–2, twice surrendering the lead, away from home at Charlton on Boxing Day.^[21] Two days later they played host to Watford, holding them to a 0–0 draw.^[22] As the January transfer window opened, QPR signed former England U21 international Wayne Routledge from Aston Villa. The club also made recent loan signings Borrowdale and Helguson's moves permanent.^[23][24] A small crowd of under 9,000 spectators saw Rangers start their FA Cup campaign with a goal-less draw with fellow Championship side Burnley, in the Third Round Proper.

[edit] Current squad

As of 02 January 2009.^[25]

No. Position Player 1 GK Lee Camp 2 DF Damien Delaney 3 DF Damion Stewart 4 MF Gavin Mahon 5 DF Fitz Hall 6 MF Mikele Leigertwood 7 MF Wayne Routledge 8 FW Rowan Vine 9 FW Dexter Blackstock 10 MF Ákos Buzsáky 11 FW Patrick Agyemang 13 DF Kaspars Gorkšs 14 MF Martin Rowlands (captain) 15 DF Peter Ramage 16 DF Matthew Connolly 17 MF Lee Cook (on loan from Fulham)

No. Position Player 18 MF Damiano Tommasi 20 MF Emmanuel Ledesma (on loan from Genoa) 21 MF Matteo Alberti 22 FW Samuel Di Carmine (on loan from Fiorentina) 23 GK Jake Cole 24 GK Radek Černý 25 MF Hogan Ephraim 26 MF Gareth Ainsworth 27 FW Heiðar Helguson 28 DF Joe Oastler 29 DF Gary Borrowdale 33 GK Reece Crowther - MF Danny Maguire – FW Romone Rose – MF Chris Arthur

[edit] Out on loan

No. Position Player 12 MF Adam Bolder (at Millwall) 19 FW Angelo Balanta (at Wycombe Wanderers) 28 DF Zesh Rehman (at Blackpool)

[edit] Transfers

In

Name	Nationality	Position	From	Fee
Radek Cerny		GK	Slavia Prague	Free
Peter Ramage		DF	Newcastle United	Free
Kaspars Gorkšs		DF	Blackpool	£250,000
Joe Oastler		DF	Portsmouth	Free
Emmanuel Ledesma		MF	Genoa C.F.C.	Loan
Matteo Alberti		MF	Chievo Verona	£200 000
Lee Cook		MF	Fulham	Loan
Daniel Parejo Muñoz		MF	Real Madrid	Loan
Damiano Tommasi		MF	Levante UD	Free
Samuel Di Carmine		FW	Fiorentina	Loan
Heiðar Helguson		FW	Bolton Wanderers	Loan
Gary Borrowdale		DF	Coventry City	Loan
Wayne Routledge		MF	Aston Villa	£300000

Out

Name	Nationality	Position	To	Fee
Jake Cole		GK	Oxford United	Loan
Matt Pickens		GK		Released
Sean Thomas		GK	Wealdstone	Released
Chris Goodchild		GK		Released
Chris Barker		DF	Plymouth Argyle	Undisclosed
Zeshan Rehman		DF	Blackpool	Loan
Andrew Howell		DF		Released
Aaron Goode		DF		Released
Stefan Bailey		MF	Grays Athletic	Released
Simon Walton		MF	Plymouth Argyle	£750,000
Daniel Nardiello		FW	Blackpool	Part Exchange

[edit] Results

[edit] Football League Championship

Kick Off	Opponents	H / A	Result	Scorers	Referee	Attendance	Position
2008-08-09 15:00	Barnsley	H	2–1	Fitz Hall 29, 31	Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)	14,694	6
2008-08-16 15:00	Sheffield United	A	0–3		Graham Laws (Tyne and Wear)	25,273	15
2008-08-23 15:00	Doncaster Rovers	H	2–0	Dexter Blackstock 5, Emmanuel Ledesma 28	Mike Thorpe (Suffolk)	15,536	8
2008-08-30 15:00	Bristol City	A	1–1	Dexter Blackstock 18	Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)	17543	8
2008-09-14 16:00	Southampton	H	4–1	Dexter Blackstock 1, 77 Damion Stewart 63, Patrick Agyemang 90	Kevin Friend (Lancashire)	13,770	4
2008-09-17 19:45	Norwich	A	1–0	Martin Rowlands 33	Rob Shoebridge (Derbyshire)	24,249	4
2008-09-20 15:00	Coventry	A	0–1		Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)	16,718	4
2008-09-27 15:00	Derby	H	0–2		Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester)	14,311	5
2008-09-30 20:00	Blackpool	H	1–1	Dexter Blackstock 79	Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire)	12,500	8
2008-10-04 12:45	Birmingham	A	0–1		Andy D'Urso (Essex)	18,498	11
2008-10-18 15:00	Nottingham Forest	H	2–1	Angelo Balanta 48, Ákos Buzsáky 60	Fred Graham (Essex)	15,122	7
2008-10-21 19:45	Swansea City	A	0–0		Tony Bates (Staffordshire)	13,475	9
2008-10-25 17:20	Reading	A	0–0		Chris Foy (Merseyside)	20,571	9
2008-10-28 20:00	Birmingham	H	1–0	Samuel Di Carmine 54	Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)	13,594	7
2008-11-01 15:00	Ipswich Town	A	0–2		Trevor Kettle (Rutland)	20,966	7
2008-11-08 15:00	Cardiff	H	1–0	Gavin Mahon 80	Lee Probert (Gloucestershire)	13,247	7
2008-11-15 15:00	Burnley	H	1–2	Dexter Blackstock 14	Keith Woolmer (Northamptonshire)	13,226	10
2008-11-22 15:00	Watford	A	0–3		Andy Penn (West Midlands)	16,201	12
2008-11-25 20:00	Charlton Athletic	H	2–1	Dexter Blackstock 17, 80	Keith Stroud (Hampshire)	12,286	10
2008-11-29 15:00	Crystal Palace	A	0–0		Rob Styles (Hampshire)	16,411	10
2008-12-06 17:20	Wolves	H	1–0	Martin Rowlands 63	Iain Williamson (Berkshire)	13,416	7
2008-12-09 19:45	Sheff Wed	A	0–1		Nigel Miller (Durham)	14,792	9
2008-12-13 15:00	Plymouth	A	1–1	Heiðar Helguson 16	Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)	10,747	9
2008-12-20 15:00	Preston	H	3–2	Heiðar Helguson 16, 34, Dexter Blackstock 86	Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)	14,103	9
2008-12-26 13:00	Charlton Athletic	A	2–2	Lee Cook 18 Dexter Blackstock 68	Paul Taylor (Luton)	21,023	9
2008-12-28 15:00	Watford	H	0–0		Clive Penton (Sussex)	16,196	9

[edit] FA Cup

Round	Kick Off	Opponents	H / A	Result	Scorers	Referee	Attendance
R3	2009-01-03 15:00	Burnley	H	0-0		Anthony Bates (Staffordhsire)	8,896
R3 Replay	2009-01-13 TBC	Burnley	A			TBC

[edit] League Cup

Round	Kick Off	Opponents	H / A	Result	Scorers	Referee	Attendance
R1	2008-08-12 19:45	Swindon Town	A	3-2	Balanta (32), Blackstock (46), Delaney (54)	Richard Beeby	7,230
R2	2008-08-26 19:45	Carlisle United	H	4-0	Stewart (48), Ledesma (56, 63, 85)	Keith Hill	8,021
R3	2008-09-24 19:45	Aston Villa	A	1-0	Stewart (58)	Lee Mason	21,541
R4	2008-11-11 20:00	Manchester United	A	0-1		Phil Dowd	62,539

[edit] Competitions

[edit] League Championship Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
26	38	10	8	8	25	26	-1	9	2	2	20	11	+9	1	6	6	5	15	-10

Last updated: 5 January 2009
Source: Football League
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

[edit] League Championship Results by round

Round	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A
Result	W	L	W	D	W	W	L	L	D	L	W	D	D	W	L	W	L	L	W	D	W	L	D	W	D	D

Last updated: 5 January 2009.
Source: Competitive Matches (League Championship)
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Lose; W = Win.

[edit] Table

Main article: Football League Championship 2008–09

P	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	26	18	4	4	54	30	+24	58	Promotion to Premier League
2	Reading	26	15	6	5	53	24	+29	51
3	Birmingham City	26	15	6	5	34	23	+11	51	Qualification to League Championship playoffs
4	Cardiff City	26	11	11	4	36	25	+11	44
5	Burnley	26	12	7	7	40	35	+5	43
6	Sheffield United	26	11	8	7	37	25	+12	41
7	Preston North End	26	12	5	9	36	32	+4	41
8	Crystal Palace	26	11	7	8	38	28	+10	40
9	Queens Park Rangers	26	10	8	8	25	26	−1	38
10	Ipswich Town	26	9	8	9	35	28	+7	35
11	Swansea City	26	7	14	5	33	30	+3	35
12	Bristol City	26	8	10	8	30	32	−2	34
13	Sheffield Wednesday	26	9	7	10	25	37	−12	34
14	Coventry City	26	8	9	9	29	31	−2	33
15	Plymouth Argyle	26	9	6	11	27	29	−2	33
16	Barnsley	26	9	5	12	28	32	−4	32
17	Blackpool	26	7	10	9	26	33	−7	31
18	Derby County	26	7	8	11	28	37	−9	29
19	Watford	26	7	6	13	38	44	−6	27
20	Norwich City	26	7	5	14	32	42	−10	26
21	Nottingham Forest	26	5	9	12	26	38	−12	24
22	Doncaster Rovers	26	6	6	14	17	31	−14	24	Relegation to League One
23	Southampton	26	5	8	13	21	39	−18	23
24	Charlton Athletic	26	4	7	15	28	45	−17	19

Last updated: 29 December 2008
Source: The Football League
Rules for classification: 1^st points; 2^nd goal difference; 3^rd goals scored.
P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points; (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted.

[edit] References