Vital QPR recaps the week in words from all the issues in W12.
From the Lee Camp saga, to the management style of Paulo Sousa it has been an eventful week at Loftus Road – here we take a look at some of the quotes emanating from W12.
Saturday February 7
Lee Camp pledged his desire to join Nottingham Forest to BBC Nottingham following his crucial mistake in the R`s 2-2 draw at the City Ground.
He said: ‘If Forest want to do something, fantastic. I’m under the impression that they know what to do.
‘It would certainly interest me, but the ball is in Forest’s court.’
‘Me and Billy never had a crossed word, a disagreement, or anything at Derby. He was always very honest with me, looked me in the eye and told me how it was.’
Rangers boss Paulo Sousa was pleased with the R`s performance in the fixture if not the overall result.
He said: ‘It was a good performance, especially in the second half. The first half I was not happy with, but we built opportunities throughout.
‘We made some mistakes, and I am not so happy with that that, but overall – in the second half – we showed good personality, playing positive football.
‘The referee made one big mistake, for their second goal, but these things can happen. Other than that he did very well, so I can’t complain too much.
‘But there was a foul on Lee Camp – he was blocked. The linesman could have helped him but he didn’t today.
‘Like us, he made mistakes, but I’m quite happy with a point.’
Sunday February 8
Want-away stopper Lee Camp spoke to Nottingham Forests website citing unfair competition for the goalkeepers jersey at Rangers.
He said: ‘The bigger picture is that I played today, but the reason why I played is because Radek Cerny`s injured.
‘If Radek Cerny would have been fit I would have been in the stand today as a spectator. I probably wouldn`t have travelled with the squad.
‘I think the fact that I`ve played the last three games in my eyes it kind of papers over the cracks.’
Monday February 9
Youth coach Steve Brown remains upbeat despite his side losing out to reigning champions of the Viareggio Tournament – Internazionale.
He said: ‘This is a highly creditable result,
‘Paulo Sousa came to the match, and he said to me afterwards that many people will have come here today expecting to see Inter win 4-0 or 5-0. But they have left talking about QPR, which is great.’
‘We really challenged the holders, and took the game to them. That makes me immensely proud.
‘In my opinion, a draw would have been a fair result. We definitely deserved something from it, but football can be a cruel game.”
Tuesday February 10
QPR`s combative midfielder Mikele Leigertwood had some positive words for Paulo Sousa and Rangers playoff aspirations as he spoke to the BBC.
He said: ‘He’s been good. Since he’s come in, he’s said what he wants,
‘He wants our total attention, concentration, both in training and in games, and he says we have given him that so he’s been full of praise.
‘Hopefully he’ll be here for a long time and we can kick on with him because he’s really good.’
‘We have all the ingredients to go on and really push for a play-off position with the solid base that we’ve got.
‘We have good team spirit and have a lot of ingredients to kick on and hopefully we will.’
Wednesday February 11
Player-coach Gareth Ainsworth told the London Informer that the two goal hero, Matteo Alberti still has a lot to learn despite his goalscoring exploits.
He said: ‘Matti will keep his feet on the ground, despite the goals. But everyone was just so pleased to see his beaming face as he celebrated, it says a lot.
‘He’s got a lot to learn, but like all of us under Paulo Sousa, we’re making excellent strides. This is the most intense training of my career.’
While QPR defender Matthew Connolly told QPR.co.uk that he sees similarities between his current boss and his old boss at Arsenal Arsène Wenger.
He said: “I think they`ve both got the same philosophy in football to pass and move and to play good exciting football and become similar to abroad. Obviously ten years ago they were a bit ahead of us in terms of diets and he`s brought things like that to us as well.
I think they`re very similar and I think they speak to each other with information and so yes they`re very similar.’
R`s youth coach Steve Brown urged his side on for the final fixture against Palermo after a crushing victory over A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers in the Viareggio Tournament.
He said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted with this result.
‘The recovery time is very short between the games here, so the players are being pushed very hard, but they’re responding brilliantly to the demands we’re putting on them.
‘We want to stay in this competition for as long as possible, and I think this performance underlined our desire to do well.’
Friday February 13
Sporting Director Gianni Paladini told the BBC that they are yet to receive any offers for Lee Camp, with Nottingham Forest not taking up their option to sign him.
He said: ‘If Forest were to make an offer for Lee we would consider it, but we haven`t heard anything from them,
‘Forest know what they need to do if they want to sign him, because it was agreed when he went there on loan.’
‘We`re talking about a player who has been back in our team recently and has two-and-a-half years left on his contract here. We`re not looking to give him away.’
Youth Coach Steve Brown lamented his side`s defeat at the hands of Palermo which saw them exit the Viareggio Tournament at the first stage.
He said: ‘It’s very, very disappointing.
‘We gave ourselves a great opportunity to progress with that mid-week win, but I think the pressure of the occasion got to a few of the lads.
‘Palermo got their third just before half-time, and that made it ever-so difficult for us.
‘If we’d have played to the standard we’re capable of, we could have won this match, I’ve got no doubts about that whatsoever.
‘Our big players didn’t perform as well as they can, which is a pity.’
That was the week in words
We want to know YOUR thoughts!
To have your say you can comment in the space provided below, or chat about it on the forum.
TOP STORIES
Palermo Send Young R`s Out.
Paladini Refutes Forest Bid.
Vital QPR Nominated.
