from nufc blog Newcastle United vs QPR match preview Toon entertain possibly revitalised QPR Newcastle United entertain QPR on Sunday and will be hoping to make it 3 wins in a row against a Rangers who could be revitalised following the appointment of Mark Hughes as manager. Venue: St Jamesâ Park. Date: Sun 15th Jan 2011. Kick-Off: 13:30. Referee: Chris Foy. QPR are in a bit of a pickle lately, having had a terrible string of results which ultimately led to the demise of Neil Warnock as manager and the inauguration of Mark Hughes as his replacement. Typically, Warnock has had things to say about being hoyed oot on his ear and there was more than a little bitterness when Warnock said: âWhile I accept the ownerâs decision, I do feel, if there were more people at the club in positions of power with experience in the game, they would have understood how well we have done in the circumstances. âAnd they would have realised that, once we brought in the players I had identified, there would have been no problem securing a Premier League future. But no doubt the chairman has had a string of agents in touch telling them their man could do a better job.â The question, though, is how the change in QPRâs management might affect us. It will make our research harder because with a new manager will come new ideas and new styles of play, and thereâs also often a bit of ânew manager syndromeâ where players can lift their performance for the new man in charge, whoever it may be. Nevertheless, with this being a home fixture on the back of our recent victory over Man Utd â and against a QPR thatâs been performing poorly recently â youâd have to say weâre favourites to come out winners in this one. Unfortunately I canât see Liverpool dropping points at home to Stoke on Saturday, so I think weâre unlikely to leapfrog them into 6th place if we win but it might at least put some more distance between us in 7th and Stoke in 8th. We have to win this game before we can think about leapfrogging anyone though and I suspect the QPR we get on Sunday will be a bit different to the one thatâs been playing the last few games. I think weâll edge it but Iâm expecting a close game, particularly without our top goalscorer. History Back in September we played out a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road but you have to go back to 1995/1996 to find the season before that when we played QPR in the Premier League, and that season we did the double over them, winning 2-1 at home (a brace from Beardsley) and 3-2 away (2 from Kieth Gillespie and 1 from Les Ferdinand). We played them when we were in the Championship in the 2009/2010 season of course, drawing 1-1 at home (Marlon Harewood) and winning 1-0 away (Peter Lovenkrands). The last time QPR beat us in the league was the 1994/1995 season when we went down 3-0 at Loftus Road. Played Newcastle Wins QPR Wins Draws All Premier League 7 4 2 1 PL At St Jamesâ Park 3 2 1 0 If you go beyond the meagre Premier League meetings, weâve played QPR 43 times, won 19, lost 18 and drawn 8, although they lead us in the goals stakes having scored 66 against us compared to our 62 against them. Recent Stats We of course come into this after giving Manchester United a 3-0 stuffing and on the back of a 2-1 win over Blackburn in the FA Cup. It certainly looks like weâre getting things together a bit more after our poor run and I hope our recovery continues this weekend. QPR are, as has been mentioned, not having a brilliant time at the moment. Theyâre still in the FA Cup though after scraping a replay from a 1-1 draw against MK Dons. Last 6 League Games Pts Newcastle L D L W L W 7/18 QPR L L L D L L 1/18 Some Random Stats Our average possession this season is 47.2%. After Demba Baâs 60 shots on goal, Yohan Cabaye and Ryan Taylor share second place with 29 shots on goal a piece. Dan Gosling has the highest percentage of shots on target with 75% but heâs only played 5 games (4 of those as a sub). Of those with a game count in double figures Demba Ba leads with 63%, Yohan Cabaye has 57% and Cheick Tiote has 44%. Mike Williamson and Davide Santon are the most accurate passers at 85% successful completion, but theyâve only played a few games each. Of those with a double figure game count, Coloccini leads the way at 84% successful pass completion. Team News NEWCASTLE Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote are of course away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Steve Taylor and Silvain Marveaux are both crocked by long-term injuries. The latest on the NUFC official site still has Sammy Ameobi out for months, although some press reports suggest the injury is nowhere near as bad as it looked and he could be back within days. Either way, he wonât be in contention this weekend and Peter Lovenkrands is definitely out with a calf problem. Newcastleâs official site reports that Danny Simpson should be available but stops short of saying that he will, so weâll have to wait and see on that one. Danny Guthrie is reported to be back in contention after his groin injury though. Newcastle (from): Krul, Elliot, Harper, Simpson, R Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Kadar, Cabaye, Guthrie, Obertan, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Gosling, Abeid, Vuckic, Smith, Best, Shola Ameobi. QPR We wonât be facing ex-Toon Joey Barton as heâs serving a ban (details on Twitty, no doubt) and Alejandro Faurlin is likely to be out with a knee injury for the rest of the season. Kieron Dyer is also out with an injury, and Armand Traore and Adel Taarabt are at the Africa Cup of Nations. QPR (from): Cerny, Young, Gabbidon, Hall, Hill, Mackie, Derry, Buzsaky, Ferdinand, Smith, Macheda, Bothroyd, Campbell, Helguson, Wright-Phillips, Murphy, Connolly, Orr, Andrade. What The Managers Say Alan Pardew: âWinning three successive matches against Premier League opposition in no easy task, and QPR will make it hard for us as they will be eager to impress their new manager and clamber clear of the relegation zone. Results are all-important whatever level you are working at, and our aim is to make sure we continue to move in an upward curve, and cement our position in the upper echelons of the Premier League.â With Mark Hughes still getting his feet under the table, Shaun Derry provides the match quote from QPR: âItâs a difficult place to go. Newcastle have had a fantastic start to the season. They have probably exceeded their own expectations. Itâs going to be a difficult game for us, but we are hoping that our new manager can have the same impact that Martin OâNeill has had on Newcastleâs near-neighbours Sunderland.â Mark Hughes did talk about his appointment though, saying: âIâm looking to stay in this position for an amount of time where I can really make an impression. Weâve got a really fantastic opportunity to build something here from the ground up. In my last couple of positions Iâve not stayed as long as I would have liked to. So Iâm looking for longevity. Itâs been frustrating putting things in place and not seeing the conclusion of them. I donât want that to happen here.â Final Reminder About The Prediction CompetitionFootball accumulator tips Free Bets Transfer Window Transfer Window Opens for 12 days Avatars by Sterling Adventures
Loftforwords - History: The day Les Ferdinand made QPR fans rich on Tyneside http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=15556&title=the_day_les_ferdinand_made_qpr_fans_rich_on_tyneside_%E2%80%93_history – Opposition preview: Pardew’s Newcastle makes for unlikely success story http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=15573&title=pardew%E2%80%99s_newcastle_makes_for_unlikely_success_story_%E2%80%93_opposition_preview - Full match preview: Hughes begins reign with televised Newcastle trip http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=15576&title=hughes_begins_reign_with_televised_newcastle_trip_%E2%80%93_full_match_preview
Ferdinand also out injured according to Ugly Dowie on telly his team on the blackboard was kenny young hall gabbidon hill swp derry buzacky smith helguson bothroyd
Ferdinand injured?!! ****...we're really in the mire!! Smith was terrible against MK, so I would have thought Mackie should start ahead of him, whilst Macheda should probably start too. If that's the team against Toon, we are going to be on the receiving end of one hell of a hammering!!
We look pretty thin and slow in midfield other than SWP. Think we need to be 4 2 3 1 as well, especially now we are so stretched with players out and no new ones in yet. Liked your idea of playing Gabbi in defensive midfield Col, but without Ferdinand that would mean Connolly playing CB I suppose, which I don't like.
I do feel that this will be a very similar game to the everton game at the start of the season, a game that we aren't expected to get anything out of and a few key players out for us, but certainly a few players that will see this as a chance to show what they can do, so i'm not ruling out an upset.
my head is telling me to stay in bed. 2am start first day back after hols but who knows what i could miss..swp or bothroyd might score
