Lofty Heights... 'Ohhh Bobby Zamooooora!!!'

A look at Queens Park Rangers F.C. through the eyes of the fans - follow us on twitter @loftyheights70, @LoftyQPR and @qprleeroy








Tuesday, February 26, 2008

A Good Point...


Barnsley 0-0 QPR

Rangers picked up a decent away point against FA Cup Quarter Finalists, Barnsley at Oakwell this evening.

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It was due to the Tykes FA Cup heroics, that this game was rearranged for a Tuesday night and for one reason or another, none of the gang made this difficult midweek trip. The game was featured on London radio, and I have made no secret in the past that listening to this particular commentary, is often more painful than actually being there. So instead tonight, I will bring you 2 reports of the game - one brief rundown from the BBC website and the other, from Leeds based fan Vickie, who was at the game with Paul and Joe this evening, who gives us her honest and diplomatic view of the events at Oakwell...

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From the BBC -

FA Cup quarter-finalists Barnsley were brought down to earth by QPR who left the home side without a win in three league games.

The Tykes dominated the first half and Istvan Ferenczi went close when his headed effort rattled the post.

The Hoops fought back after the break with Martin Rowlands forcing Luke Steele into saving a 25-yard effort.

Akos Buzsaky's low cross should have been converted by a QPR team-mate while Lewin Nyatanga denied Angelo Balanta.


And from Vickie -


'We were Shite, was a crap and boring game - and was freezing!!'

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QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mancienne, Blackstock (Vine 78), Buzsaky (Stewart 94), Rowlands, Connolly, Agyemang, Hall, Leigertwood, Balanta (Ephraim 63). Subs: Pickens, Lee.


With not being there tonight, I can hardly summarise, but am happy enough with the point and certainly would have taken a draw before kick off!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

R's Held by Blunt Blades...


QPR 1-1 Sheffield Utd

Young starlet, Angelo Balanta scored his first goal for QPR and turned out to be the highlight of the day, in a very dull afternoon at Loftus Road.


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Firstly, an apology for the lateness of this report, but shortly after the final whistle, myself, PK, California Hoop and Darren, descended on Corp's house for his early birthday celebrations - which went on way onto the early hours of the morning! Happy Birthday Mate!

Onto the game and despite the Blades attempts to kick Rangers off the park, we finishsed the first half a goal to the good - On 19 minutes, Hogan Ephraim turned United defender Gary Naysmith inside out before playing in a dangerous low cross, where the Angelo Balanta was on hand to steer the ball home from close range to give the R's a deserved lead.

But after being pretty comfortable and certainly not for the first time in recent weeks, Rangers invited the visitors to come onto them and were drawn into battle rather than play our own game. Rangers created little in the second half and 12 minutes from time, the Blades were level - when the somewhat 'annoying' Morgan fired home a low shot from the edge of the penalty area through a mass of bodies to grab a point.


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QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mancienne, Rowlands, Connolly (Stewart 73), Agyemang, Ephraim, Vine, Hall, Leigertwood, Balanta (Blackstock 73). Subs: Pickens, Lee, Rehman.

Lofty's Man of the Match - Michael Mancienne

In summary, a very disappointing second half from the R's led to an equally disappointing, but fair result on the balance of play. As already mentioned, Rangers were drawn into playing Sheffield United's hussle and bussle game, which didn't make for good spectacle and frustrated Rangers for long periods. The suspended, Akos Buzsaky's creativity could well have made a difference...

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Best Blog????


When I first started Lofty Heights on the live journal format 4 years ago, it was inspired by a very dear friend of mine, who insisted that writing about following a football team and giving views etc through a fans eyes, would be a good idea. Back then, little did I know that I would be up for an award for doing so...

Lofty Heights has been nominated for 'Best Blog' in the New Football Pools Fanzine Awards 2007/08, powered by The Football Fans Census.

Congrats also go to my editor across at Loft for Words, Clive Whittingham who is up for 'Best Editor' award, as well as three other nominations for the site!

I must say, I am absolutely gobsmacked at this news and thanks to all that have nominated and voted, it has meant so much to me!!

The nominations are in and the following QPR Fanzines are up for the awards.


Best Championship Fanzine: Vital Queens Park Rangers, Loft For Words, A Kick Up The R's, QPRnet.com

Best Editor: Clive Whittingham (Loft For Words), Ron Norris (QPRnet), Dave Thomas (A Kick Up The R's), Peter Davies (We Are The Ragers Boys), Hoops aka Dave Hindle (Vital QPR).

Best Writer: Bosh Times (Loft For Words), Metallica_Hoop (Loft For Words), Hoops aka Dave Hindle (Vital QPR), Simon Skinner (QPRnet), Dave Thomas (A Kick Up The R's), Mike (QPR Report Blogspot), Clive Whittingham (Loft For Words), Boxer (Vital QPR).

Best Blog: Lofty Heights, QPR Report, Tonto's Tribulations on QPR.net.

Visit www.footballfanzineawards.com
use address - http://www.footballfanzineawards.com/the-nominees.php to get involved and support your favourite QPR Fanzines.

If you want to vote, follow the links above and once again, I thank you all for your continued support!!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Nothing To Report - part 2...


Yes, you guessed it, those lovely people at the FA would rather send fans travelling around the country midweek, rather than arrange a fixture for a blank Saturday. The QPR players are currently training in Portugal and we have another, FA Cup Day off...

See you all soon :o)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Rangers Caught Cole - d...


QPR 2-4 Burnley

Andy Cole showed that there is no substitute for quality with a hat trick, as Burnley came from two down to clinch the points and perhaps bring us all back down to earth a bit in what was, a very strange evening at Loftus Road.


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Even after the journey back and now, sitting here writing these notes, I am still completely confused of just what happened and just how Rangers managed to lose this one. On 30 minutes, the R's were 2-0 up, playing superbly and simply cruising. Gavin Mahon finished off a quality move on 14 minutes to give the R's the lead - Agyemang back heeled the ball into the path of Buzsaky, who crossed for Mahon to head home. Agyemang doubled the lead on 30 minutes, taking the ball round the keeper to cooly finish, following superb work from Delaney.


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The events in the 10 minutes that followed, ultimately changed the game, namely, Martin Rowlands leaving the field injured. Minutes later, Andy Cole was the subject of a bit of banter from the home crowd, which looked as though it was starting to wind him up - the next minute, although looking suspiciously offside, the former England striker had turned in Gudjonnson's free kick into the back of the net to reduce the deficit.

Although Rangers had started the second half reasonably well, Burnley were level on 55 minutes through Cole again, who fired home Akinbiyi's cross from close range. The game then went from end to end and it looked like the next goal would surely win the game for either side. Sadly, it went to Burnley as Akinbiyi scored his customary goal against us with a free header.

Rangers now had no answers and the game was made safe on 86 minutes as Cole completed a fine hat-trick, beating Camp at the near post.

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Buzsaky, Rowlands (Leigertwood 39), Connolly (Mancienne 90), Agyemang, Ephraim (Blackstock 69), Vine, Rehman. Subs: Pickens, Lee.

Lofty's Man of the Match - Not often this goes to a player from the opposition, but as mentioned previously, there is no substutute for quality - Andy Cole

In summary, I think this was basically a massive reality check for us all tonight and that definitely isn't a bad thing by any means. At 2-0, we were cruising, and perhaps, even largeing it up a bit... and why not indeed? But overall, Andy Cole was ultimately the difference between the sides in one of the weirdest games I have seen in a long while. His movement off the ball and finishing were a joy to watch and it was nice to see him get a standing ovation from both sets of fans, following his 'job done' substitution on 89 minutes.

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Rangers Shine in St Marys Sun...


Southampton 2-3 QPR

Goals from Martin Rowlands and another two from 'goal machine', Patrick Agyemang, ensured that Rangers came away with a deserved three points and I think that a vast majority of the 3,200 R's fans in the ground, will agree that the 3-2 scoreline was in no way a reflection of Rangers dominance - well, albeit after an early wobble anyway...


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Southampton away, is always one I look forward to for many reasons and after last year, the gang(which included myself, PK, Corp, Lee, Sam and Justin) decided we would follow the same pre match ritual. But, despite STILL very much being advertised over the internet, we found 'Coopers' closed and in a very sorry state on our arrival. It was at this point, I realised that I had forgotten my camera, something that I would end up very much regretting, but more on that later...

Following our revised pre match, we left the Chapel Arms and headed for the Stadium and Rangers found themselves behind after just 57 seconds. A mix up between Lee Camp and Connolly saw the R's stopper skid out of his penalty area with the ball firmly in his grasp. Some may argue for a sending off?? - however, from the free kick, Powell poked the ball home.

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Rangers soon started creating chances, including a cracking volley from Rowlands that flew just inches wide. But it could have been so much worse for the R's on about 25 minutes as Stern John, quite unbelievably skied one over, unmarked from about 8 yards out - and from there on in, it was goodnight Southampton.

Rangers were level on 39 minutes when the impressive Rowan Vine beat three players on the edge of the area to set up Martin Rowlands who finished cooly.


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Rangers then went ahead on the stroke of half time - Ephraim crossed from the left to find Agyemang at the far post, who applied a classy finish.


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Rangers got their third and what turned out to be the match winner, in bizarre fashion. Lee Camp saw Agyemang's run and pumped a long ball forward. Wright got there first and kneed the ball past his keeper, leaving the R's new goal machine to tap home his 7th goal in 5 games!!

As the R's began to coast to victory, chants of 'there's only one Ray Jones' reverberated around the ground in recognition of the late striker's winner at the same stadium last season, and despite John pulling a goal back in the dying moments, Rangers held on for a thoroughly deserved three points.

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Mancienne, Rowlands, Connolly, Agyemang (Blackstock 79), Lee (Buzsaky 46), Ephraim (Leigertwood 83), Vine, Rehman. Subs: Stewart, Pickens

Lofty's Man of the Match - Rowan Vine - an outstanding performance!

In summary, another fantastic result and performance from the R's and at last, we can confidently look up the table rather than down as the win leaves us incredibly, just 6 points off the play offs!! Of course, I am trying not to get too carried away, but it certainly feels damn good being a QPR fan at the moment!!

And finally, going back to the issue of forgetting my camera, well, it had to happen on the day when we come face to face with one of Rangers saviours, Flavio Briatore - as he walked past the burger van that had JUST given us a 'double up for an extra 50p offer'! Well, the gang and I mananged to shake hands and have a brief word. But sadly, for legal reasons, I will be unable to post the exclusive interview without the permission from Mr Briatore's layers


With thanks to Samantha Brown and Joe Dennison for the photos.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Rich Pickens for the R's...


QPR's search for a back up goalkeeper to Lee Camp has ended with American Matt Pickens signing today.



The 25 year old's contract ended at MLS side, Chicago Fire at the end of December and he has today signed a short term deal with the R's until June 2008.

Good Luck Matt and Welcome to QPR!!

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Awesome...


QPR 3-0 Bristol City

The midweek defeat at Cardiff was made a distant memory, as goals from Patrick Agyemang(2) and Akos Buzsaky's seventh screamer of the season gave Rangers victory in what was one of their best performances of the season.


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Well before I continue, our thoughts and condolences are with QPR Manager, Gigi De Canio following the death of his Father.


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Gigi left Loftus Road at midday today to return to Italy and after already picking the team, Joe Dunbar and Gareth Ainsworth took over team matters and everyone to a man, did their Manager proud...

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Just as we did at Ahston Gate on the opening day of the season, Rangers dominated and following almost constant pressure, we deservedly took the lead on 18 minutes. Patrick Agyemang continued his superb form since joining Rangers at the beginning of January - Rowan Vine split the City defence with an inch perfect through ball and Agyemang coolly rolled his shot past Adriano Basso and into the bottom corner.

It was 2-0 on 32 minutes as Rangers flowing football brought their just rewards - Akos Buszaky collected the ball on the edge of the area and crossed for Agyemang to slot home from close range for his fifth in four games for the R's.

Onto the second half and Rangers made the game safe on 63 minutes in spectacular fashion - Buzsaky played a one two with Agyemang, before crashing a typically unstoppable drive past the keeper for, as already mentioned, his 7th screamer of the season.


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New City signing, Adebola fired against the far post and, when the ball came back to him, he saw his first-time effort hit Lee Camp and bounce away to safety, which just about convinced everyone that it was not going to be City's day.

Rangers played out the last 20 minutes with ease as they paid tribute to their absent manager in the best possible way.

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Mancienne, Buzsaky, Rowlands, Agyemang, Ephraim (Lee 75), Vine (Leigertwood 88), Rehman (Connolly 75). Subs: Crowther, Blackstock.

Lofty's Man of the Match - not for the first time, there are so many contenders. Rowlands, Mahon, Vine, Rehman (yes, Rehman!) and Stewart to name a few, all had fine games. But for his two goals today and for being a constant menace all afternoon, not to mention the fact that once again, the contents of Lofty's wallet was yet again increased, by Patrick Agyemang.

In summary, there isn't much more I can add about a simply, awesome performance from the new look Rangers. We went at the joint leaders of the Championship from the off and after we scored, there was only going to be one winner! Also, how refreshing it is to see a subs bench full of quality players such as Dexter Blackstock, Mikele Liegertwood, Keiron Lee and Matthew Connolly!! Happy Days :-)