Stoke City v QPR - Match Thread

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QPR boss reveals plan to beat Stoke


QPR players will be told to ask for towels in the same way Rory Delap does every time the Stoke player shapes to take a huge throw.

Rs boss Neil Warnock intends to fight fire with fire, as well as taking the same amount of time Delap takes to dry the ball before he launches it into the box.

The manager also reckons he has a couple of long-throw merchants at his disposal as well – even though best thrower Fitz Hall is sidelined.

He added: “We will be using the towels – that’s the rules at the Britannia, and we’ll be no different and get the same clean towels they get.

“Fitz Hall is the longest here, but he’s out so we have other irons in the fire.”


Expect Luke Young and Anton Ferdinand (pic) to get purchase on the ball as they aim for the heads of Heidar Helguson and Jay Bothroyd – although Warnock is worried he faces a backlash from the caning Stoke got last time out when they were thrashed 5-0 by Bolton.

“Stoke having to travel as they did in the Europa League – and then play on a Sunday after being in Israel on the Thursday? It’s almost like kicking them in the teeth for doing well. Now, they’ll be fighting twice as hard because of the Bolton result.”

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http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/lo...10/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
 
@Joey7Barton
Joseph Barton
Looking forward to running the gauntlet at the Brittania today, always a tough game at Stoke. Need to be at r best to win today. #movember
 
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/story-13894665-detail/story.html?

THERE will be one Scouser in a QPR shirt enjoying a rapturous reception at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon.

While Joey Barton will be about as popular as a FIFA boss at an anti-racism convention, Clint Hill can rightly expect a warm welcome back to his old stamping ground today.

The Liverpool-born defender, a Stoke favourite between 2003 and 2008, returns for only the second time ... and the first since he and Crystal Palace almost derailed City's promotion push with a win at the Brit in April 2008.

Hill admits the prospect of him returning to these parts in a Premier League fixture – at the grand old age of 33 – was a long shot back then.

"Yes, it's been a great time for me since then," he acknowledged. "I've played well over 150 games in that space of time and I don't think I played half that at Stoke because of injuries.

"It was hard leaving after so long there and with Stoke being such a great club to be at, but it was the right step for me."

Hooking up with Neil Warnock at Palace, then following him to QPR in June last year, was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Warnock may not be everyone's cup of tea, but you suspect his number will stay in Hill's mobile long after he retires.

"He's put my career back on track," he said. "He had a lot of faith in me, played me every game at Crystal Palace and that gave me the desire to push on.

"I've got a lot to thank him for. He's a great man manager. He comes into the training ground in the morning and he'll crack jokes to make you feel a part of the team.

"He's an eccentric character and you want to give him 110 per cent."

Hill is not only delighted to have witnessed Stoke's progress since leaving, but feels justifiably proud of the part he and other less-celebrated colleagues played in laying the foundations for the club's subsequent promotion.

"It was survival more than anything during my time," he recalled, "and we were only getting crowds of about 14,000 at the best of times.

"But we stayed in the league when the funds weren't there and we can be proud of that.

"Now they are reaching the heights and it's a great place to be.

"I think my highlight was the second season I was there when we had one of the best defences in the league.

"There were some great characters in that dressing room, people like Gerry Taggart, Wayne Thomas, John Eustace and Dave Brammer.

"It was a horrible team to look at and I don't think many teams liked playing us."

The architect was Tony Pulis, of course, a man still plotting a rather less ugly course for the club.

"You can't knock him because he's worked his socks off," said Hill.

"He does love the club and he has a rapport with the chairman and with the fans. The potential was always there to do well, it just needed the investment

"They should build a statue outside the stadium for him."

Hill reckons his present club could do a lot worse than pursue the blueprint laid down by his old one.

"They've got to use Stoke as an example because they have done it the right way by building over the last five years.

"They haven't gone mad with their expenditure and that is a great template."

Hill is likely to start on the bench this afternoon after losing out by and large to Armand Traore at left-back this season.

He admires the start Rangers have made since winning promotion, but admitted:"We are still young, so you're going to have highs and lows.

"Going to Stoke, if you are playing well or not, is always tough.

"We will try to play the football we have been playing and, with luck, we might get a result."

Can't help but love Clint. Great player when he was with us and a great bloke to go with it as well. I'll be most definitely giving him a round of applause when his name is read out.
 
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/story-13894676-detail/story.html?

CASE FOR DEFENCE

ASMIR Begovic or Thomas Sorensen is the biggest call of all for Tony Pulis.

Does he keep faith with the talented Begovic, despite conceding 11 in his last three games for club and country, or plump for Sorensen's steady hand and much greater experience?

Begovic has shown he has the character to come through any crisis of form and confidence after 12 months as number one.

But is now the time to do him a favour by giving him a break?

And if he doesn't pick Sorensen now, you have to ask when will he after so long on the Premier League sidelines?

The composition of Stoke's shellshocked back four today revolves around the fitness of skipper Ryan Shawcross after that recent groin injury.

Pulis will surely want at least one of Shawcross or Robert Huth in central defence to provide the kind of physical presence evidently missing when Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson were paired together for the 5-0 at Bolton.

Particularly as QPR have aerial power to die for if Jay Bothroyd and Heidar Helguson get the nod in a 4-4-2 for QPR.

Another reason for supposing Danny Higginbotham might get the chance at left-back for his first league start since April.

MIDFIELD BATTLE

THERE has to be fireworks with Joey Barton in the mix, whether it's his feet or his mouth doing the talking.

He could be a valuable cheerleader for the Stoke faithful, however, and ease any tension around the place if things aren't going to plan for the home side.

Barton has been deployed in central midfield and on the right this season.

With Shaun Derry expected to be recalled to provide some midfield steel, don't be surprised to see Barton on the right and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the left this afternoon.

The latter clearly possesses the speed and cutting edge to threaten the biggest danger in the final third, particularly to anything early knocked over the top of an advancing or dozing full-back.

Glenn Whelan's international exertions with Ireland leave Tony Pulis with a decision in central midfield, while Dean Whitehead would feel aggrieved not to get only his second league start at HQ this term.

CUTTING EDGE

WOULD anyone be brave enough to drop Peter Crouch?

Not Pulis, in all likelihood, but the former England striker could use an effective performance in front of goal.

Two goals in eight league starts is no disaster, but we could certainly do with a truly fluid performance reminiscent of Crouch near his very best.

Those unconvinced by Anton Ferdinand's apparent renaissance at QPR will be hoping to see Crouch and Jon Walters given decent ammunition from the flanks to test that Rangers back line.

Paddy Kenny's reactions in goal have rarely been questioned, but his lack of aerial supremacy could be exposed if Stoke's set-pieces are on the ball.

Jermaine Pennant's joy against Armand Traore, not the best defensive left-back in the country, could be key to the tide of events today.

Especially if Wright-Phillips is playing that flank and preferring to concentrate more on getting forward than getting back.

And Pennant knows he owes a performance, particularly to those Stokies travelling to Bolton.

Not that he's the only one.
 
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We're now more than half-way into Movember and boy does it show: QPR defender Bradley Orr posted this snap of himself posing with team-mates on their way to Stoke, for tomorrow's Premier League clash at the Britannia Stadium.

Follow Bradley Orr on Twitter here and visit the Movember charity page to learn more about the great cause behind the QPR squad's new found facial fuzz.
 
I bet a fiver Bothroyd and Barton score against us - just like Demba Ba tore us apart!
 
sgtpotterslonelyheartsclubband said:
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/story-13894676-detail/story.html?

CASE FOR DEFENCE

ASMIR Begovic or Thomas Sorensen is the biggest call of all for Tony Pulis.

Does he keep faith with the talented Begovic, despite conceding 11 in his last three games for club and country, or plump for Sorensen's steady hand and much greater experience?

Begovic has shown he has the character to come through any crisis of form and confidence after 12 months as number one.

But is now the time to do him a favour by giving him a break?

And if he doesn't pick Sorensen now, you have to ask when will he after so long on the Premier League sidelines?

The composition of Stoke's shellshocked back four today revolves around the fitness of skipper Ryan Shawcross after that recent groin injury.

Pulis will surely want at least one of Shawcross or Robert Huth in central defence to provide the kind of physical presence evidently missing when Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson were paired together for the 5-0 at Bolton.

Particularly as QPR have aerial power to die for if Jay Bothroyd and Heidar Helguson get the nod in a 4-4-2 for QPR.

Another reason for supposing Danny Higginbotham might get the chance at left-back for his first league start since April.
Click to expand...

Sgt - not long now before we know which way TP will go re: goalkeeper today. I think it could be Tommy but I am not the manager. Either way it's a dilema for him as it is re: the back 4. Here's my prediction for the starting XI:

Sorensen

Huth/Wilko
ShawX
Upson
Higgy/Wilson

Pennant
Delap
Whitehead
Etherington

Walters
Crouch

He is bound to play Delap, WP will be on the bench again, and I can't see him playing Huth in the centre unfortunately. I hope I'm wrong but that's Pulis for you.
 
QPR
01 Kenny
03 Hill
06 Gabbidon
18 Young
35 Ferdinand
11 Faurlin
13 Traore
17 Barton
32 Wright-Phillips
12 Mackie
22 Helguson

Strange looking line up!! Traore in midfield? Bothroyd not even on the bench? WTF!!?
 
If you haven't seen the Young goal, check it out. Top drawer well worked goal.

Must be a contender for goal of the week.
 
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