Chelsea v. QPR (5 January: FA Cup Round 3) [R]

[QPR Kevin H]

Nearly there - so excited! (despite the TV SNAFU)

Teams will follow, Chelsea are without a shedload of players (no pun intended), so we'll see who they run out with. Our team should be full of surprises as well, with so many new faces in the squad.

The major team news for us is that Leigertwood (suspended) and Mancienne (cup tied/injured) definitely won't play. After that... anyone's guess :)

UUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRss!

[QPR Kevin H]

Some interesting previews/articles today...

The Guardian
Chelsea v QPR, FA Cup third round
Seconds out for the world's richest derby
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2235688,00.html

Stamford Bridge hosts the richest club in English football this afternoon, a club whose fans plan to brandish £20 notes and gloat at their relatively impoverished opposition. The club is not Chelsea. Queens Park Rangers, from the wrong end of the Championship, travel the short distance across town to resume a local rivalry that has simmered without engagement for 12 years. These two teams have spent most of that time moving in opposite directions, yet many among the swaths sporting blue and white hoops in the away end will hope for not just an FA Cup giant-killing but perhaps a glimpse of the shape of things to come.

Guardian (Sports Blog)
Living in fear of the Chelsea syndrome
With Lakshmi Mittal's billions set to revolutionise the club, can QPR, who face their neighbours in the FA Cup today, hold on to their soul?
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/01/04/living_in_fear_of_the_chelsea.html

Then there is the Chelsea syndrome: we will buy our way to success, sell our soul, and everyone will hate us. Well, yes, that's a possibility. But what's the alternative? Be rubbish but liked, in a patronising, little-club manner? A team of cloggers scrapping around in the lower leagues might leave the soul of the club intact, but it's hardly the ideal legacy for the club that has boasted Stan Bowles, Rodney Marsh, Tony Currie and Dominic Iorfa (the last is an in-joke, I'm afraid). If the price of success, victory and champagne football is that the club becomes hated and soulless, I'll be the one at the front of the queue clutching a copy of Dr Faustus.

Evening Standard
'Paupers' Chelsea to host the jet set as QPR make the short trip to Stamford Bridge
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-23430838-details/'Paupers'+Chelsea+to+host+the+jet+set+as+QPR+make+the+short+trip+to+Stamford+Bridge/article.do

[QPR Kevin H]

Here are the teams!

Chelsea vs QPR

Chelsea: Hilario, Ferreira, Ben-Haim, Alex, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Obi, Sidwell, Sinclair, Kalou, Pizarro

Subs: Taylor, Joe Cole, Drogba, Ballack, Belletti

QPR: Camp, Hall, Stewart, Barker, Ainsworth, Connolly, Mahon, Rowlands, Ephraim, Blackstock, Buzsaky

Subs: Bolder, Agyemang, Walton, Lee, Balanta

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Not surprised that Hall, Connolly and Ephraim go straight in. Sinclair playing against us as expected.

How will it look?

-------------------Camp--------------------
Barker-----Stewart-----Connolly-----Hall
Ainsworth--Rowlands--Mahon--Ephraim
----------Buzsacky-------------------------
--------------------Blackstock--------------

Maybe

[QPR Kevin H]

Here's a pic from the away end as the teams warm-up (not sure if this link will work) - sent by Lloydy...

http://193.36.78.4:7001/usertempdir/H1VjCyKfHvn11yCGw7HvLhhFKH19wGSjIgdkNmqOm1JZpa73BV9f!-1999252984!1199543779427/-949488297/05012008024.jpg

[QPR Kevin H]

From the pic, looks like we'll be wearing the red-n-black hoops today (as you'd expect) with red shorts.

[QPR Kevin H]

Another shot of warm-ups (if the link works)

http://193.36.78.4:7001/usertempdir/H1YOlX78M3uFRtxxU0gsveYFYA3AnCkuaUnm2p9gxLt60QThxr18!-1999252984!1199544398267/-949462315/05012008026.jpg

[Atouk]

I couldn't see the first pic, but could see the second. Thanks to you and Rich for that.

We've got three debuts, plus Ephraim back in the side for the first time in a couple of months, Rowlands in a position he hasn't started in a long while, etc., so we've got to be terribly disjointed. With this lineup, in a month, I might hold out hope of a good performance. Today? :eek:

[MetroAnt]

Why isn't the game on matchlive?!?!?!

[Atouk]

Are you getting this on World? It looks like only the two League One matches ongoing today are showing up for me.

[Atouk]

Update -- there's a link on the Audio Commentary page, just not on the Match Live Console page.

[Atouk]

Just got audio, but it's news now. Hopefully just a final update before the match.

[MetroAnt]

Went from being able to watch this on tv to not even being able to listen to it. Un-frigging-beliveable

[QPR Kevin H]

I couldn't see the first pic, but could see the second. Thanks to you and Rich for that.

We've got three debuts, plus Ephraim back in the side for the first time in a couple of months, Rowlands in a position he hasn't started in a long while, etc., so we've got to be terribly disjointed. With this lineup, in a month, I might hold out hope of a good performance. Today? :eek:
Yeah, I suppose we'll see. I'd rather have Leigertwood as an option, but those are the breaks. I think Luigi has picked a smart side. Keeping Ainsworth in was a good move, experienced and a team leader.

Try the pic now...

http://193.36.78.4:7001/usertempdir/H1aT8dnb4MYFjQTB2ljUKFHSc6lYgAdET28QQZj5UlNwgJZL3pYt!-1999252984!1199545043098/-949488297/05012008024.jpg

[Atouk]

Update -- QPR @ Chelsea is on at the link from the Audio Commentary page on World.

[Atouk]

We're underway. UUUURRRRRs!

[QPR Kevin H]

Can hear the away end loud and clear!

COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!

[Atouk]

Ant, on the main page, under QPR World, go to the "Audio Commentary" link -- 6th one down, just below "Live" -- and there's a link there for the game.

[QPR Kevin H]

Just before kickoff pic...

http://193.36.78.4:7001/usertempdir/H1cDyYtcwQZarXth1fEGCpzauq5Pt1anJZ9akZdoiFhEmjsIUV8O!-1999252984!1199545411592/-949431440/05012008027.jpg

[Atouk]

[R] in this thread for all FA Cup games.

Yeah, I suppose we'll see. I'd rather have Leigertwood as an option, but those are the breaks. I think Luigi has picked a smart side. Keeping Ainsworth in was a good move, experienced and a team leader.

Try the pic now...

http://193.36.78.4:7001/usertempdir/H1aT8dnb4MYFjQTB2ljUKFHSc6lYgAdET28QQZj5UlNwgJZL3pYt!-1999252984!1199545043098/-949488297/05012008024.jpgI thought it started to load (thought I saw part of the roof), but now get Error 404-Not Found

Leigertwood, Vine, and Mancienne could all be first-choice players for us today, so... while we're not missing as many as Chelsea (Drogba, Cole, and Ballack on the bench! :eek:) we're not at full strength, either.

[MetroAnt]

Got it now. Wasn't working on the laptop. Had to switch to the pc.

Come on you Rs!