please log in to view this image [video=youtube;d907RjKvUao]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d907RjKvUao[/video] Match Preview Derby meet QPR at Wembley on Saturday to decide who will join Leicester and Burnley in the Premier League next season. The Sky Bet Championship play-off final is widely regarded to be the richest game in football, with a potential prize fund of over £100million awaiting the winning team. Most bookies have made Steve McClaren's Rams favourites to win promotion after they finished in third place, five points ahead of Harry Redknapp's experienced Rangers outfit. Derby finished the season strongly, winning five of their last six league games including two victories (2-1 and 4-1) over Brighton in the two-legged Championship play-off semi-final. QPR booked their trip to Wembley after seeing off Wigan 2-1 over two legs, when they got the job done on home soil after holding Uwe Rosler's Latics to a 0-0 draw at the DW Stadium. Rangers won three of their last six games, drawing two and losing at Leicester - but there was not much between the two teams when they met earlier in the season, with Derby winning 1-0 at home on February 10 and QPR triumphing 2-1 at Loftus Road on November 2. Derby's success has been galvanised by stars such as Jake Buxton, Will Hughes and Chris Martin, while QPR's line-up will be brimming with experience in the shape of Richard Dunne, Joey Barton and Niko Kranjcar. please log in to view this image Sky Sports pundit Tony Gale feels the clash is tilted in QPR's favour and said: "I'm leaning towards QPR just because of their experience. "I just hope the Derby kids give a good account of themselves because sometimes younger players freeze on the big occasion. "Hopefully it will go the other way and they'll show everyone how good they are." Redknapp, however, sees things differently, saying: "It's a massive game: obviously we want to get back in the Premier League and there's an awful lot at stake. "It's an important game but it's a game of football and we want to make sure we win that game. "Both teams have got pros and cons but I think they're the favourites and the bookmakers make them the favourites. "They've been in good form and Steve McClaren has done a fantastic job with them, they're a young side and full of energy." McClaren started the season on the coaching staff at Loftus Road but has been eager to play down his side's status as favourites to reach England's top tier. The former England coach said: "Just because we finished third and quite a few points in front of the other teams it doesn't mean we will go up, football isn't like that. "In football you don't always get what you deserve. We're just pleased for the club - for the likes of (chief executive) Sam Rush, the supporters and the city as a whole. We've developed very quickly and got into the play-offs and finished third with a record points total and as top goalscorers. "So in that respect I think the right two teams have made it through. "Leicester and Burnley were the top two teams in this division and it's good to see that ourselves and QPR, who finished third and fourth, have reached the final. You could say we both deserve to be there and we'll see how the cards fall on Saturday." please log in to view this image The Managers please log in to view this image - v - please log in to view this image Kirsty McClaren v Louise Redknapp Possible Starting XI's please log in to view this image - v - please log in to view this image QPR 'Special Edition' Playoff Final Kit please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image ''COME ON YOU SOOPER...................................''
...................................hoopsaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa As I (and Thousands of others) will be there, this is my only contribution to the matchday thread. Just want to say, I will be thinking of everybody who can't be in the stadium. Enjoy the game lads.
Cheers Rich brilliant as always Have a great day lads I am praying I can get a phone signal tomorrow Shout the boys Col
Well done 9'sey, brilliant work throughout the season, the MD thread made Saturday afternoons more tolerable in the abscence of any live streams etc.....Also well done Norway for doing these threads whilst 9'sey was off sunning himself.... Anyway it's almost 20:00 and I have an early start tomorrow morning, Inky is picking me up at 3:30am for the drive to Dublin and the early morning flight to Gatwick.......so this is probably going to be my only post on the MD thread before ko so to all of you who can't make it to Wembley we know you are with us in spirit and we'll do you proud..... To the rest of the brethren, we'll see you all in Hennessy's, safe journey...... C'mon U R'sssssssssssssss
Cheers for another quality thread 9's. To all you lucky R's who will be there tomorrow, I hope you all have a great time and most of all I hope we WIN WIN WIN! U RRRRRs!
Excellent Nines. Having trouble sleeping at the moment. Must get up in about five hours See you at the pub Nines, can't wait!
I will be there tomorrow and feel for all the fans (especially Stan) that can't make it. I was hoping to make it to the pub to finally meet all the great posters on this board, however, it doesn't look like I will be able to. I found myself with an extra ticket and had a choice of whether to take a non-QPR supporting friend or after seeing how everyone rallied round helping others out, offering it up on here? I finally went with a third option, I saw my Mum this week and she mentioned (having watched the FA Cup Final) for umpteenth time that she'd like to see a game at the New Wembley. It dawned on me that taking her would be perfect, she took me to Loftus Road as a young kid at the end of he 80's and because of that I'm still a fan today. Watching QPR play at Wembley for the first (possibly only) time in my life will be something I'm sure will stay with me forever. If in 10, 15 or 20 years time my Mum is no longer with me, I can look back on tomorrow, whatever the score, and remember we watched it together. Thinking about it, she should have been my first choice!! See you all on the other side.....
Like it! Hope you and your mum have a great day tomorrow - I hope we all do, and yes, I think it will be memorable
Can't sleep. I want to, I want it to be tomorrow morning now. This is a rare event for us. I was at the play off final in Cardiff and at Wembley in 86, but I was a kid then and didn't understand what it meant. Tomorrow is our time at Wembley, our chance to go up the best way possible, with 40,000 voices shouting for the same result. I know what it means now and I'm nervous and excited like we all are, but whatever happens, I want to soak it all up and make a memory. What a chance we have, 100% from everyone, players and fans. Let's leave there tomorrow with no doubt that we could have done any more. COY soooooooperrrrrrrrrrr........
Perhaps a good omen for us, ex-R Bradley Orr playing for Toronto FC just scored an injury time equalizer against Kansas City to tie the match 2-2, TFC twice coming back from a goal down after Stephen Caldwell was sent off for TFC for a Zamora like high boot. Jermaine Defoe had a quiet game with not much service. Luke Moore scored the other TFC goal after coming on as a sub. Ryan Nelsen was quite irate at the Caldwell red card, then again when a penalty was awarded to KC with the TFC player just standing his ground in the box - was seen by the ref as a block. Keeping my fingers crossed for Wembley - COYRS. Let's hope the ref, Lee Mason, officiates the match in a fair and impartial manner, with none of those Shaun Derry @ Man Utd sending off antics after cheat Ashley Young conned him, even though he was in an offside position. I'm going to try and follow the match @ 11am (AST) ko on the Bet365 live stream away from home attending my oldest daughter's university graduation ceremony.
Right, just gone midday here in Japan, just about to board my flight home, transferring at Frankfurt at 5 pm Blighty time. By when we will be back in the Premiership, carried there by a wall of sound and passion created by all of you lot going to Wembley. Have a great day one and all, enjoy a rare and special occasion. I have no doubt that the team will deliver for us. COME ON YOU R's!!!!!!!!
Great post nines.. Im sitting here fully sober, no chance of sleep and just shaking !! Cannot wait to get there. Godd luck to you guys ath henneseys, but im gonna be a tourist in a few hours. Im gonna get to Wembley early, buy silly cheap ****, drink warm beer and soak up ever moment of this.... Im confident i wont ever see this again in my life time, so im going alll out to enjoy every minute
Good luck from a fellow R based in Bangkok during our crazy week. Cannot go out to watch the game cos of the curfew but will be cheering whilst struggling to find a stream that works. Wish I could be there with you all. Do the business Rangers! Hope to visit home to see us in the top league next year. Coley
I decided I can't be bothered to go today......just not in the mood.........have a good one lads and sorry to let you all down........... Only kidding !!!! I'm so excited my head might just explode !!!! Come on you RRRRRR'sssssss!!!!!!
