I figured it would be good to have one thread for pre-season fixture announcements and, eventually, results. Last week, the QPR official site reported that a planned August 4th friendly against Brentford had been cancelled noting that Brentford "having taken police advice, and in consideration of the subsequent police costs applied, . . . have made a decision not to go ahead with this fixture." Now, The Celtic official website has confirmed a pre-season friendly at Loftus Road: Sunday, July 15, 2007 – Queen's Park Rangers v Celtic (Loftus Road, 3pm KO) It's Celtic's last match before they come to the US for matches against the MLS All-Stars and Chicago Fire: Thursday, July 19, 2007 – MLS All-Stars v Celtic (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver, 7pm KO) Sunday, July 22, 2007 – Chicago Fire v Celtic FC (Toyota Park, Bridgeview IL, 2pm KO)
This is kind of a shame for both clubs. I'm guessing that Brentford crunched the numbers and the police costs would have made a profit impossible. And the Celtic friendly should be a nice money spinner for the Rs. Good to see the Hoops v Hoops match back at Loftus Rd.
New date added: Saturday, July 28th, at Wycombe Wanderers. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1028895,00.html Announced Pre-Season Friendly Schedule: Sunday, July 15 -- Celtic -- Home Saturday, July 28 -- Wycombe -- Away
The Kilburn Times (in an otherwise grim article about the ABC loan) indicates that we may play Fulham at Loftus Road in the pre-season: http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/conte...efaultQPR&itemid=WeED29 May 2007 17:21:58:340
The Fulham game has been confirmed on the official site for Friday, August 3rd, at 8 p.m. at Loftus Road: http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1030977,00.html
The new kits have been unveiled: http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1033353,00.html
The fixture list comes out on Thursday, 6/14, but the draw for the first round of the League Cup happens tomorrow, 6/13! http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1035105,00.html
QPR will face Leyton Orient at Loftus Road in the first round of the League Cup. The fixture will take place during the week commencing Monday, August 13th. If QPR is at home on the 11th, I might have to take a look at airfares for that weekend. The R's haven't faced the O's since we lost away in the League Cup in the first round in 2002 -- both teams were one division below their current location at that time. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1036997,00.html
The fixtures are out. We open at Bristol City. We have Plymouth away on Boxing Day -- I'm sure the supporters will love that. Again, our two games against Palace are less than a month apart (away Nov. 10th, home Dec. 4th). Story and fixture list here: http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1046738,00.html Gregory's comments here: http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1052333,00.html
Well, crap! I have tickets to "Spamlot" that evening! Oh, wait, that's "evening" US CDT! I can still listen in! I'd kill for a trial with Orient. So would I. And I don't even like Orient. Neither do I. Here ends the extent to which I ever give props to Arsenal fans. Congrats, Kevin!
This isn't really "pre-season" news, but probably doesn't deserve its own thread, either. The schedule for televised Football League games for the first four months has been released -- QPR has just one during that period. Our home game against Norwich has been moved from Saturday, October 6th, to Monday, October 8th, and will be televised.
Kind of surprised that we'll only have one match on TV in that first quarter of the season, but I suppose it makes sense since there'll be plenty more chances to get on Sky. So has the 5:20 Saturday match replaced the Sky Extra Premiership one? Are they still playing a late Saturday Prem match? Time to hit the Google button
Pat Kanyuka has torn a thigh muscle and will miss the beginning of pre-season training. No word on when he's expected back in training. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1058627,00.html
QPR has added a pre-season friendly at League Two Shrewsbury Town on July 31st. It will be one of the first games in their new ground. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1060863,00.html
The pre-season is underway! The players reported to Harlington this morning for fitness testing "ahead of the real work beginning next Wednesday." http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1058210,00.html
So what did they get??? Like 5 weeks off??? Although I have to say, I am feeling ready for the season to begin.
Yeah, it wasn't long, but I'm ready for the season, too! The official site has some photos from today: http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Gallery/0,,10373~1061823,00.html
Same here - I'm really looking forward to this season (which makes me nervous, they'll probably come out flat because expectations are slightly higher).
The friendly at Shrewsbury's new ground has now been cancelled. The Shrews struck up a deal with Man City instead... http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1069567,00.html
The R's have replaced the Shrewsbury match... now they'll face Harrow Borough of the Ryman Premier Division at Earlsmead on July 31st. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1072318,00.html
Celtic 5, QPR 1 We were down 0-2 at the half, gave up two more in the second half before youngster Kieron St. Aimie scored for the R's to make it 1-4. Celtic added one more before they were done for the final 1-5 defeat. The surprising combo of Marc Nygaard and Stefan Moore started up top, with both Blackstock and Nardiello coming off the bench. Danny Cullip didn't enter until the last half hour, when Zesh Rehman also entered. Nick Ward was given a chance to impress Gregory, who handed him a start. New signings John Curtis and Chris Barker also started. Jake Cole saved a penalty given on a disputed call for a handball in the box against surprise starter Dominic Shimmin. All-in-all, an odd lineup for the R's with Shimmin, Ward, Moore, and Stefan Bailey getting starts, although none is likely to be in the starting lineup on opening day (along with Jake Cole, assuming the deal for Lee Camp goes through). I guess Gregory either wanted to get a look at them before deciding whether to keep them or loan them out (or sell them) and/or he was putting them in the shop window. Marcus Bignot and Lee Cook didn't play at all, although I hadn't previously read anything about an injury for them. I just watched Gregory's pre-match comments and he said that due to minor injuries, he didn't know if Bignot, Cook, or Cullip would be available. Youngster Chris Arthur also made an appearance with the first team. QPR: Cole, Curtis, Barker, Shimmin, Stewart, Bailey, Bolder, Ward, Rowlands, Nygaard, Moore. Subs: Thomas, Blackstock (46), Timoska (46), Nardiello (46), Cullip (59), Howell (69), Cochrane (69), Arthur (59), St Aimie (46), Rehman (59), O'Brien, Rose, Baidoo (69). Scorers: St Aimie 65 http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1072723,00.html
John Gregory reports that the reason Dexter Blackstock was subbed after just 23 minutes of action was that he picked up a dead leg and that, while he could have continued during a regular season game, it simply wasn't worth taking any risk in the pre-season. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1073469,00.html