It's been a while since I've had a general rant about football tactics in these pages, so herewith a lengthy and mildly topical ramble.
Brian Glanville, that dean of British football writing, recently commented at length on the pros and cons of zonal marking/defending. It's a topic worth considering, especially given that the zonal v.

What were UEFA hoping for when they awarded tomorrow's Champions League final to Rome?
Alfresco pasta and vino in the Italian sun, no doubt, as Puccini wafts through the ancient walls of the Centro Storico and evening strollers pause beside the Trevi Fountain to contemplate 'La Dolce Vita' over a gelato and espresso.

Each day, I have a 45 minute commute, which means I have one hour and 30 minutes of 'me time' to listen to the radio, take phone calls, listen to podcasts, or, like I've been doing for the past 12 months, listening to audio versions of some incredible books.

I've been able to make that commute time zoom by and enrich it with top quality books.

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- For additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, mixed in with "retro" lookbacks at QPR; along with some items of general football interest: Visit the combination blog and messageboard, QPR Report Messageboard. If you want to offer your own perspective: It's always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!

We're back. I'll post some pictures in due course. While I was gone:

Sir Bobby Robson

Sad news indeed. When I was growing up it seemed like everyone associated with football was called Bobby, but Robson was the best of them, the England manager. If the England football team was the pinnacle of all things good, then to be in charge of it.

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- For additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, mixed in with "retro" lookbacks at QPR; along with some items of general football interest: Visit the combination blog and messageboard, QPR Report Messageboard. If you want to offer your own perspective: It's always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!

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Try it! For cutting-edge, updated-throughout-the-day, football-only news about QPR: Visit the QPR Report Messageboard (and quasi blog)! All views genuinely welcomed! [You can follow QPR Report on Twitter and QPR Report Facebook]
- A Dave Clement Memory
- Bob Malcolm Settling in Australia
- Next: Plymouth vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on the New QPR (and also re Chelsea)
London Informer - Goalkeeper Marshall rejects QPR to join Premiership side
- QPR are back to square one in their search for a second keeper after Andy Marshall rejected a one-year contract last night.

Quite some time ago I reviewed Brian Glanville's enjoyable novella Target Man. I've just finished reading his most well-known football novel, The Dying of the Light, and it is a very different book. Longer, far more intense, and of a much darker hue.
This time, the setting is Glanville's native England, and the book's protagonist is Len Rawlings, a celebrated international goalkeeper who has found it impossible to adapt to life beyond football.

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- For additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, mixed in with "retro" lookbacks at QPR; along with some items of general football interest: Visit the combination blog and messageboard, QPR Report Messageboard. If you want to offer your own perspective: It's always welcome!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!

After a hectic weekend in European competition which didn't go particularly well for some of the Premiership teams, we're back to the bread and butter (or should that be the champagne and caviar) stuff. No doubt about this weekend's biggest game: Liverpool v Manchester United on Sunday.

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-For a different, genuinely-cutting-edge, continually-updated, football-only - and obsessively-comprehensive! - news about QPR: Visit the QPR Report Messageboard (and quasi blog)! You're welcome to just read. But you're invited to also post! All QPR perspectives genuinely welcomed!
QPR Report Updated throughout the Day
- Reading Interest in Fitz Hall?

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- Try it! For cutting-edge, updated-throughout-the-day, football-only news about QPR: Visit the QPR Report Messageboard (and quasi blog)! All views genuinely welcomed! [You can follow QPR Report on Twitter and QPR Report Facebook]
- Video: Exeter vs QPR
- Ex-QPR Stuart Wardley Scores on His Debut
- Ex-QPR Micky Walsh Turns 55
- Flashback: Four Years Ago - Sheffield United at Loftus Road: On and Off The Field Events
- Marc Bircham (and others) League Podcast
- Football Chant Award Goes to Southend United
- Sousa Reflecting
- Martin Ling Back again at Cambridge!

- Try it! For cutting-edge, updated-throughout-the-day, football-only news about QPR: Visit the QPR Report Messageboard (and quasi blog)! All views genuinely welcomed! [You can follow QPR Report on Twitter and QPR Report Facebook]
- Brian Glanville on the New QPR (and re Chelsea)
- QPR vs Accrington: The Mike Ferguson Connection
- Video: Exeter vs QPR
- Ex-QPR Stuart Wardley Scores on His Debut
- Ex-QPR Micky Walsh Turns 55
- Flashback: Four Years Ago - Sheffield United at Loftus Road: On and Off The Field Events
- Marc Bircham (and others) League Podcast
- Football Chant Award Goes to Southend United
- Sousa Reflecting
- Martin Ling Back again at Cambridge!

As Brian Glanville opined in his book on England managers, it is perhaps the toughest job in football. As the founders of the modern day association rules football, the English national team has a prestige and it is the manager's job to protect this; to ensure that England remains at the top (or at least near to it) of the world game.

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QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
QPR Official Site - WILLIAMS RETURNS TO POSH
Posted on: Wed 30 Dec 2009
Tommy Williams has been recalled from his loan spell with QPR by parent Club Peterborough.

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QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
QPR Official Site
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QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- A QPR/Tampa Bay Rowdies Fan on Rodney Marsh: More to come
- Helping QPR Market Members
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
BBC - Cardiff target midfielder Watson
- Wigan Athletic's Ben Watson has emerged as a January transfer target for Dave Jones as he bids to ease Cardiff City's central midfield injury crisis.