We've signed an actual experienced Championship-quality left back! 27-year-old Cardiff City left back Chris Barker, who spent last season on loan to Colchester United, has signed with QPR on a free transfer. Barker signed a two-year deal. John Gregory said, "He excelled in a very successful Colchester side last year and he was a firm favourite at Cardiff before the arrival of Dave Jones. There were four or five other Clubs in this division pursuing him, so it's quite a coup for us.'' He was Cardiff Supporters' Player of the Year in 2004/05, but fell out of favor under new manager Dave Jones. A Cardiff site said this was the case because Jones preferred more attacking fullbacks than is Barker. He went on loan to Colchester for all of last year, making 39 appearances in all competitions for the U's. He missed the last game of the season serving the first of a four-game red-card ban, so he'll miss the first three games this season. He'll wear #3 for the Hoops. The story is also reported by the Cardiff City official site here.
Mick Harford, currently an assistant at Colchester United, has been granted permission to talk to QPR about an assistant's role at Loftus Road. John Gregory has been essentially without a #2 since Richard Hill's suspension after the incident with the Chinese U-23's. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/6740659.stm http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1034731,00.html
Marcus Bignot has signed a one-year contract with the club. This locks in the likely starting backline of Barker, Cullip, Stewart, and Bignot. Now let's get a keeper (preferably Lee Camp!).
Also of note, I believe the local West London press has indicated that Michael Mancienne and Jimmy Smith are likely to return to QPR on loan after spending the pre-season with Chelsea. Mancienne's preformances probably merit a place in the starting XI -- would Stewart or Bignot (or someone else) sit?
The official site reports that QPR has rejected a £200,000 offer from Colchester United for 19-year-old striker Ray Jones. Gianni Paladini said "There's no way we're going to sell our best players unless the price is right and Ray Jones has a very big part to play in our future.'' The Colchester official site also reports the story, saying "This may not be the end of the matter though, as the U's Board are now considering going back to QPR with an increased bid for the highly rated centre forward."
Former R's player Paul Parker has been appointed as Commercial and Communications Director. I would think that this move has a lot to do with him helping to attract investors and help with fan relations this season. Nice to have a legend back at HQ... http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1053474,00.html
The official site now reports that QPR has rejected an improved offer for Jones from Colchester. Slipped into the quote from Paladini is that QPR has rejected offers "for a few of our players in the last 24 hours." They don't mention who else they received an offer for, although an obvious question is whether an offer was received for Cook.
Colchester have made an improved bid for Ray Jones after they had a £200,000 offer rejected, didn't know if you had seen it.
It's hit a lot of media outlets - doesn't strike me as top level national sports news, but there you go...
I'm a little bored as I wait for 5pm, so how about some Championship transfer news/rumour... (most of this taken from PA/Sportinglife reports) - Hull announced the signing of striker Dean Windass on a two-year deal from Bradford - Lee Hendrie is confident he can resurrect his career after bringing an end to his lengthy spell at Aston Villa. Several Championship clubs are interested in Hendrie - including Stoke, Leicester, Coventry and Sheffield United. - Colchester forward Jamie Cureton is angling for a move back to former club Norwich. - Leicester boss Martin Allen has now made Charlton's Bulgaria international Radostin Kishishev his sixth summer signing. - Sheffield Wednesday are poised to make an improved offer for Scunthorpe hot-shot Billy Sharp. - West Ham are believed to have joined the race for Preston striker David Nugent.
Thought Nugent wanted Premiership football next season? Doncaster have signed Leeds keeper Neil Sullivan.
Ha - we shall see Apparently (but not really a surprise), Olly is interested in signing Kevin Gallen at Plymouth... http://www.sportinglife.com/footbal...ME=nonwire_soccer/07/06/17/manual_151951.html
Mick Harford has joined QPR as first team coach, coming over from Colchester United. Also, FYI, our official site, like all of the premium TV sights, has a new look.
Looks a little better - thanks for the heads up! And I really wonder what the "right price" for Cook is...
Fulham are thought to be looking at Reading's Seol Ki-Hyeon if they fail to agree on a price for Lee Cook... http://www.sportinglife.com/footbal...m&DIV=prem&TEAM=FULHAM&RH=Fulham&PREV_SEASON=
Breaking rumor/news (from Lloydy)... Looks like the Rs are set to sign striker Danny Nardiello from Barnsley. Nardiello has one cap for Wales and was on the books of Manchester United before moving to Barnsley. He has 34 goals in 108 appearances for the Tykes. Barnsley chairman Gordon Shepherd told his club's website: "We're desperately disappointed at Daniel's late decision especially as the paperwork was ready." edit - sorry there are no links to this as of yet, I'll post more when it's available.
Here's a bit more on the Nardiello developments. Sounds pretty controversial... http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/InsideOakwellDetail/0,,10309~1058716,00.html Wow - we'll see if this all goes through. If so, we're scheduled to visit Oakwell on Feb 16th. Could be a rough afternoon for Nardiello!
Interesting stuff. If this goes through, that's a nice pickup for the R's. 9 goals for Nardiello this past season in the Championship, including 7 from February 17th onward. He scored 8 for them the year before, including one in the play-off semifinals and one in the play-off final that got them up. He scored 7 for them in 04/05. Good to see his numbers actually improved slightly in the Championship. He seems a useful player and would be in the mix with Nygaard to partner Blackstock. Overall at Barnsley, he scored 28 league goals in 55 starts and 53 sub appearances. He also picked up 3 goals in FA Trophy play. His page at Soccerbase.com: http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=28934
24-year-old striker Daniel Nardiello has signed a two-year contract with QPR. He was apparently close to re-signing with Burnely when we talked him into coming to Loftus Road and the story on his signing on the official site says he was the subject of a "cheeky late approach" from Norwich City, but his mind was already made up.