My first was a 'Guinness'. Got quite a few now - though not the most recent offering. Also got easily their worst attempt (which ironically comes from their best season in 'recent' years), the awful 'Classic fm' monstrosity. Made of polyester so uncomfortable that it could only have been crafted by some sadistic Chelsea fan - and with the sponsor's logo on so much of that iron on felt stuff that the front of the shirt was almost solid. Back on the topic of transfers - what a bonkers week! So nice to turn on SkySports News and without fail get told of someone else making the trip to West London.
I had one of those...wore it three times and it ended up in a box in the bottom of a closet, then in a barn, now I don't know where it is, I doubt even the moths would bother eating it. Ugly and uncomfortable are not strong enough adjectives. My first was "Brooks".
I have a red & black one of those 'Classic fm' retro jerseys. You got it right -- uncomfortable and with a bad felt logo patch. Ugh. As for the kiddie, if they want to rebel, it better be for Brentford, not for Chelsea.
Could be close to signing GK Stefan Postma from Den Haag (The Hague)... http://www.sportinglife.com/footbal...8/01/04/manual_223449.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1 But the Dutch club are not being very cooperative... http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_3029034,00.html
The BBC reports that Shabazz Baidoo has returned to Loftus Road, ending a six-week loan at Gillingham. He played in friendlies for the Gills, but didn't get any first-team action. "He wanted regular first-team football and I couldn't offer him that," boss Mark Stimson told Gillingham's website. "We have some players ahead of him at the moment, and I can understand his frustration. I wish him well."
Sky Sports claim that we're close to signing Argentine winger Sebastian Rusculleda from Primera side Tigre http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3030006,00.html
Rowan Vine has signed a 4 1/2 year contract with QPR. Vine moves to W12 from Birmingham for an undisclosed fee. The 25-year-old striker scored 3 goals for the R's in a loan period that ended after our New Year's Day game.
The Birmingham site says we paid £1m for Vine. Reports indicate Birmingham bought him from Luton in January '07 for £2.5m.
You hate to wish ill on a club like Luton who's going through much the same thing QPR was up until just a few months ago. But, yeah. I think pretty much everyone hates Luton.
I think I was served right for being so nasty this morning, when I heard an interview with a supporters leader and former board member from Luton. She laid out their struggles in a way that even made me feel for them. Their players have only been paid a small portion of their wages in the last couple months. And they only received that amount because of the TV coverage last weekend. Not the nicest supporters I've ever met, but I certainly don't want them to go bust. Something that could actually happen on Monday, if bids for the club don't go through.
It sounds like they've got some hope, assuming this bid is what they say it is: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/7177839.stm
So is this new owner of your going to put some of his funds into the transfer kitty? I've just heard about Lakshmi Mittal and his fortune and how he bought into QPR. IMHO I would think that he wouldn't of bought in unless he had designs of getting QPR into the Premiership to take advantage of the massive money flowing in the top flight these days. What kind of talk do you guys hear about?
They plan to get the club to the Premier League within the next 3 or 4 seasons. We've spent over £4 million thus far in the January transfer window to bring in Vine, Buzsaky, Hall, Connolly, Agyemang, Ephraim, and Mahon. Plus they've brought Lee on loan from Manchester United. Rumors indicate we'll sign Argentinian winger Sebastian Rusculleda as early as today. We may add one or two more in January, including a backup keeper. So, it looks to me like they're beginning to build a club capable of moving up the table this season and maybe pushing for promotion next season if they add a few more in the summer. And they're doing it with enough young talent (Connolly, Ephraim) and guys entering their prime (Buzsaky, Vine) that some may be good enough if we do earn promotion in the next few years. They've also indicated they'll be funding improvements at Loftus Road.
My mind is still stuck in what we were going through for most of the last decade. Thinking about having money to buy players plus money for ground improvement. I'm still not used to it. The next 18 months or so will be a fun thing to watch.
I just hope its done more of the "Arsenal" way rather than the "Chelsea" way, meaning slower, sensible building rather than buy everything in sight now now now...and I've no doubt that it will, the current QPR owners are experienced in sports and all very successful, where as the current owner of that little club down the road is really just a criminal. I'll take more time in the championship if it means that QPR will be able to stay in the Prem and not yo yo like West Brom or Sunderland or soon to be Derby. Among other things Loftus Road really isn't a premiership ground anymore.
Heck, I'm okay if it's done the Charlton way. Solid club with a 27,000 seat stadium that can get and stay in the Premier League if it runs things the right way. That said, I think you're right, Art. To me, the current purchases indicate they're going to do this the right way. They aren't really paying out of the nose or buying total has-beens.
I agree with all of you. I'm excited, my friend in Chicago is excited, and our cabbie buddy (replete with club and country QPR/England tattoo) in W12 is... ...quite a bit less cynical than he usually is. Slow and steady. Let the current side gel. If that means another year in the Champs, OK. Of utmost concern is staying out of the rel zone THIS year. And I completely agree with art that promo followed by immediate rel is not a fun idea. Let's go up, and stay up. I can wait... ...even though I can't wait!
Here's a ess than friendly view of our club and situation from the Daily Express. (of course, consider the source).
If there is one thing F1 guys are great at...it's raising money. $500 million per year budgets for a 2 car team. They will be able to bring plenty of money into the team. Without needing a 40,000 seat stadium. QPR will end up with loads of sponsors and turn Loftus Road into a Premiership caliber stadium that still only seats in the neighborhood of 20,000.