A couple of years ago Absolute Radio e-mailed to ask if I would appear on the first edition of
their new Saturday afternoon football show. It was new, exciting and interactive. Ian Wright in the
chair, he wanted a sparky show with comment and bite. Spurs were playing and they wanted to hear
from the fans.
After an non-intensive manhunt that began in September 2010, reports are coming out of Motspur
Park that Rafik Halliche has been found.
Former Fulham midfielder Julian Gray found Halliche in the same spot where he hid for two
seasons: sitting in the Riverside Stand.
"None of the Fulham fans or staff ever go near the Riverside Stand, so when I heard about
Fulham's small reward to help find the 'fella, I knew where he'd be," Gray said.
By Chris Wright
Not sure it was the job he had his sights set on landing when he walked out on Fulham six months
ago citing the club's abject failure to match/fund his ambitions, but it has just been announced
that Mark Hughes has been sworn in as QPR's new manager on a two-and-a-half year deal following
Neil Warnock's acrimonious sacking earlier in the week.
Mirror: Draws! Santa Cruz! Shouts of Leslie! Top 10 things QPR fans can expect under
Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes was at Loftus Road on Monday to discuss becoming QPR's new boss, apparently beating
off a bid for the job from my word! Ray Wilkins. Hughes arrives for QPR talks Wilkins wants QPR
job But what should fans expect if and Sparky is named Hoops gaffer?
By Alan Duffy
After blaming everyone and everything but himself, king of the passive-aggressive
faux-down-to-earth shtick, Neil Warnock, was given the boot at Loftus Road on the back of an
appalling run of form which saw QPR take just two points out of a possible 24.
Why Sparky is the right man to revive Sunderland
Mark Hughes would be my choice as the next Sunderland boss. It's a weird situation in that one
of my former bosses has just got the sack while two more are the hot favourites to replace him. I
feel sorry for Steve Bruce and, given time, I think he would have turned things round as his new
signings gelled.
Adam Johnson has signed a new four-year deal with Manchester City, putting an end to Kenny
Dalglish's alleged interest in capturing the England winger for Liverpool.
After arriving at Eastlands from Middlesbrough in January 2010, Johnson has impressed with some
very creative, sparky performances.
How often does an FA Youth Cup game get national coverage?
I'm not talking ages old clips of a young Wayne Rooney or David Beckham or John Terry replayed
in some 'before they were famous' programme while non-entity talking heads try to be witty, I mean
actual coverage of the events of a game.
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- See more from The Bushman Archives: QPR's 1947-1948 Championship Season
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Throughout the day, the QPR Report Messageboard has news updates,
comments and perspectives - even links to other board comments of interest re QPR matters (on and
off the field) along with football (and ONLY football) topics in general.
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- See more from The Bushman Archives: QPR's 1947-1948 Championship Season
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-
Throughout the day, the QPR Report Messageboard has news updates,
comments and perspectives - even links to other board comments of interest re QPR matters (on and
off the field) along with football (and ONLY football) topics in general.
Coyle's new signing, whoever that is, will be the star of the season
Top Scorer: Whichever striker Owen Coyle signs
I can't see any of our current attacking options (Kevin Davies, Ivan Klasnic, or Robbie Blake)
making a serious splash in the goals scored column. Coyle has said that he won't give up his bid to
sign a new attacking player and we know that our manager has the ability to turn whatever misfiring
young striker (cough Sturridge cough) he gets on the cheap into a goal scoring machine.
Our first View from the Enemy of the day is from Kris Balkin from Cottagers Confidential, who
has shed some light on that awful Michael Jackson statue and Mark Hughes' ridiculous departure.
Scott the Red: Were you happy with your Fulham's performance last season?
Kris Balkin: More than.
Here's part #2. Again, the cast is: Rob is Rob Griffin; Rich is Rich; Jamie is JamieR; Dave is
Chopper; Tim is me; Don is HatterDon; Nick is Nick Johnson; Colin is Colin Baker.
Enjoy.
After being just a point off bottom on New Year's Day, what do you think happened in the
locker room or training field that saw our fortunes change in 2011?
Reo-Coker not putting a foot wrong
The preseason started and ended with a murmur. Just like the 1-0 loss to FC Tampa Bay right at
the beginning, Bolton lost 1-0 to Levante UD at the Reebok. An uninteresting game that saw the only
goal come from Iborra after he tapped in a Ruben free kick that banged off the crossbar.
Pre-season training starts today, and I am sure that you, much like me, are overjoyed as this
brings us one step closer to the regular season. I imagine that the players and coaching staff are
even more excited to get back to it, if only because they can share the wild stories of their
summer holidays with the rest of the class.
By Chris Wright
Huzzah! Martin Jol's big lovely Dutch face will be back in the Premier League next season!
After Mark Hughes reneged on the option of extending his rolling contract and walked away from
the club with one eye on the Villa job last Thursday, Big Martin has been handed the reigns at
Fulham this morning signing up on a two-year deal with the option of a third.
Probable contenders for Villa Park hotseat - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Gerard Houllier's mutual departure from Aston Villa last week has left us all guessing as to who
will take over the reins at Villa Park. Normally we would have a fair idea as to who that will be,
but at the moment it is anyone's guess who will be implemented by Chairman Randy Lerner.
By Chris Wright
Shortly before close of play last night, Aston Villa released a statement to confirm that Gerard
Houllier had indeed left the club on health grounds after only nine months in charge at Villa
Park.
Houllier was forced to miss the last five games of the Premier League season after his dicky
ticker played up again in April, with assistant manager Gary McAllister overseeing Villa's late run
to 9th spot.
Fulham
Position: 8th, 11-15-11 (48 points, +6 goal differential)
Home Form: 8-6-4 (30 points, +7 goal differential)
Recent Form: DWWLW
Last Meeting: Arsenal 2 Fulham 1 (December 4, 2010)
Our nightmare of a spring mercifully comes to an end.
[Editor's note: We've been soliciting commentary from our resident Chelsea fan via back-channel
communications over the course of the season--here is his writeup of the scoreless draw between the
Blues and Fulham.]
Watching the Monday game in the EPL. On a dark cold night, very little shine on offer to dispel
the gloom.
Ah, the FA Cup Third Round. Where there's usually more talk about the proposed lineup than the
actual game.
When I played FIFA 07 and 08, I would often throw out a silly lineup that would include Lee Cook
or Ahmad Ehrlich, and then win 1-0 on a penalty or something like that.
This year, with the 25-man rosters, we can only see more youth than Seol Ki-Hyeon types.
