[jjamez]

Following towns weekend in the smog, which for me yielded mixed emotions as I was disappointed to lose, I was however pleased with the fight shown to come back from 3-0 down, to be leaving craven cottage with the sense that we could have got something out of the game, which with town over the last god knows how long has been, well, unheard of.

This weekend, the smog comes to Yorksha, in the form of the superhoops Queens Park Rangers. After starting the season fairly brightly, over the last few months they have gone back to what was largely expected of them, now sitting 16th in the table, 6 points ahead of town, 9 points ahead of the drop zone, so you'd like to say that they are sitting safe, but we know how football can suddenly turn on its head and form can disappear without a trace. With that being said, you'd imagine both sides will be targeting this game as a chance to notch another 3 points to the tally and edge further towards safety.

Currently still managed by former brentford manager Mark Hovis Warburton, his QPR side hold a much maligned statistic in being one of the few teams to give Jan Siewert a point during his tenure as town manager, thanks to a 1-1 draw at the start of the season. The R's come into this game on the back of a mixed bag of results its fair to say. A thrashing of Cardiff 5-1  on new years day standing out from the rest of the pack, and I guess one could highlight their last victory too, a 1-0 win over world club champions Leeds. Barring those two wins and an FA Cup victory, 2020 hasn't been too sparkling for them, not that it has been much better for us, defeats away at brentford and blackburn finished their league games for January, whilst they began February with a home defeat to Bristol City. Like I said, it wasn't better for us, we've picked up 4 points this year and have also had some really poor results in there too.



So with the transfer window closed, how was it for QPR? Well the standout issue is the recalling of former town striker Nahki Wells, the bermuda international was on loan at loftus road from burnley who decided it was time to cash in. A bit of an auction took place with promotion chasing nottingham forest rumoured to have been interested (they got diakhaby instead...) as well as bristol city, whilst QPR understandably wanted to garner his services full time, ultimately they were not able to compete financially and the striker went to sunny bristol with northerner Josh Brownhill making his way to the long grass of turf moor (find a better excuse arteta). The hoops weren't very busy in the january window, only managing to get former leeds winger Jack Clarke in on loan from tottingham, whilst the departure lounge at loftus road international seemed a little bit busier. German centre half Toni Leistner left to join Koln on loan until the end of the season, whilst dr who Matt Smith was recalled by man city and sent to charlton, Jan Mlakar was recalled by Brighton and sent to Wigan, whilst midfielder josh scowen dropped down a division to join Sunderland. Arguably the biggest bit of business for the r's is that Ebe Eze is still at the club after being linked with a move to the premier league.



On the other hand, towns january window was comparatively hectic, with a number of incomings and outgoings, with the bad eggs being shipped off to pastures new, with the hope that they do well enough to earn a move and a decent enough fee for us to not make a massive loss, unlikely on two of them I would guess. In terms of departures, Diakhaby went to find robin hood, he's stolen a living so far so he should fit in amongst the merry men, ironically in his first interview he mentioned being up for a fight or something, very unlike you adama. Mbenza went to Amiens eventually, I guess no one told him that they too were in a relegation battle, I hope he loses his passport whilst he is over there. TK got the best deal of the bunch going on loan to fulham, where he can spend a lot of money on nights out in london instead. Elsewhere Flo Hadergjonaj went to Turkey on loan with the aim of getting first team football to help his international career, he left with some praise from DC, so expect him to have a chance when he comes back. Josh Koroma went to promotion chasing Rotherham on loan to further his development, whilst Rarmani Edmonds-Green also joined a promotion battle down at Swindon. Fellow academy graduates Ryan Schofield and Kian Harratt also left on loan, joining livingston and harrogate respectively. Reece Brown's unhappy stay in yorkshire looks to be coming to a swift end, with the midfielder joining Peterborough on loan, with the posh hoping to strike some sort of deal with town for a permanent transfer come summer. The solitary permanent departure saw the pasty pirlo Aaron Mooy join Brighton full time following a successful loan deal.


still offers more than dia and mbenza combined

In terms of incomings, Richard Stearman hopped on the train from Meadowhell as he left Sheffield United to partner Christopher Schindler, Harry Toffolo jumped in the backseat with the Cowleys as he made the switch from Lincoln, whilst on the loan front Arsenal prodigy Emile Smith Rowe finally saw fields, I wonder if he was as surprised at seeing a cow as steve mounie was? former arsenal trainee chris willock finished his loan spell at WBA to try and get more football here on loan from benfica, whilst premier league winning midfielder Andy King joined former Leicester  team mate danny simpson in yorkshire following an unsuccessful loan spell north of the border. Finally former town keeper Jonas Lossl rejoined the club on loan, six months after leaving to have his wages reportedly trebled at Everton.



So, moving onto tomorrows game, Town will be hoping to have the vast majority of the squad to select from, with Grabara and Elphick the long term absentees, whilst super col is very much unlikely to be returning. Jonas Lossl is expected to take his place between the sticks, whilst international clearance has been received for Willock, who will probably have to make do with a spot on the bench. Alex Pritchard has been training with the first team but it remains to be seen if he is ready to join the matchday squad. It is hoped that Jonny Hogg and danny simpson will be available after what has been described as minor knocks has kept them out for longer than minor knocks keep players out for   Matty daly is also likely to miss out with a hip injury. That being said, I'd be surprised if there was major changes to the side with the likely changes being on the bench, maybe kachunga being the most under threat with bacuna an option to take the wide berth should simpson be fit enough to start.

As for QPR they lined up as follows, and I wouldnt expect many changes to the lineup, maybe just the one with Clarke getting a starting role on the wing, maybe barbet to come in to battle against mounie
32 Kelly
2 Kane
4 Hall
23 Masterson
3 Wallace
12 Ball Substituted for Shodipo at 88'minutes
8 Amos Substituted for Pugh at 63'minutes
20 Osayi-Samuel
19 Chair Substituted for Clarke at 81'minutes
10 Eze
9 Hugill

Substitutes
1 Lumley
7 Pugh
14 Manning
17 Shodipo
22 Rangel
29 Barbet
47 Clarke

So who to look out for?

well firstly Ebe Eze, an attacking midfielder with the flair and spark to unlock defences and draw fouls. the 21 year old has been linked with moves to the top flight and will probably depart loftus road come the summer. He has scored 10 goals and notched 6 assists so far this season.



Jordan Hugill- the target man made his name at preston north end and is known for bullying defences with his power house performances, very similar to chris wood in playing style. He is currently on loan at QPR from west ham and has at times been rumoured to be on towns radar. He is now the top scorer at QPR following the departure of Wells with 11 goals and 1 assist



Played for both.

now i dont think the list is going to be very vast on this one, but there is a few for you to guess

1- striker that has been mentioned a few times already, its a freebie for you

2- welsh centre half that joined qpr upon leaving town

3- came through towns academy and moved to qpr, became a bit of a favorite for them but left to go to the premier league, is now playing in the championship

4- a defender that had a loan spell at town, prone to injuries and has since left qpr for a couple of clubs. recently made the move to a yorkshire club

5- goalkeeper who made a grand total of 0 appearances for town in his short stay, he left to finish his career back down south. he spent 4 years at qpr before moving to a powerhouse of northern football

6- a midfielder more famous for a karate style tackle he made prior to joining town. always looked like bambi on ice during his time here and never delivered what was promised. made no appearances for the qpr 1st team whilst he was there. hes still playing...somewhere

7- A current town player, had a year in london before moving on to far better things elsewhere, including european football.

8- striker who spent a season at town and scored on his return to qpr and missed a penalty, left to join barnsley after his contract at town wasnt renewed. had two spells at the r's

9- A nomadic striker who had a loan spell at both qpr and town, found his spell at town to be more successful but ultimately shot his career in the foot with his off field antics

10- Another nomad, but this time of the managerial variety. managed town last century, managed qpr in the premier league and championship.

i've surprised myself with 10!

[theo_luddite]

Well, all's Wells that starts Wells but hmm, not sure if there's maybe a Lynch mob in there just after Nicki-Nahki-Noo?

Nice one jjamez

I see the Met Office are warning of yellow snow, yellow rain and yellow wind this weekend. Let's see if they follow through on all that.

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This site is performing properly on my phone. Has Bob the builder been in and fixed it?

[jjamez]

Don't eat yellow snow

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And there is a lynchpin in there theo

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Well, all's Wells that starts Wells but hmm, not sure if there's maybe a Lynch mob in there just after Nicki-Nahki-Noo?

Nice one jjamez

I see the Met Office are warning of yellow snow, yellow rain and yellow wind this weekend. Let's see if they follow through on all that.

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This site is performing properly on my phone. Has Bob the builder been in and fixed it?

Mark on line the other day so possibly.

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one, jjamez.

5 Rob Green
6 Oscar Gobwash

[jjamez]

Correctamundo snoots

[theo_luddite]

Well, all's Wells that starts Wells but hmm, not sure if there's maybe a Lynch mob in there just after Nicki-Nahki-Noo?

Nice one jjamez

I see the Met Office are warning of yellow snow, yellow rain and yellow wind this weekend. Let's see if they follow through on all that.

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This site is performing properly on my phone. Has Bob the builder been in and fixed it?

Mark on line the other day so possibly.

It worked for the first response, back to "normal" straight after.

[Lord Snooty]

4. Jack Robinson
7. Andy King
8. Kevin Gallen
9. Leon Knight
10. Colin Wanker

[jjamez]

7 is wrong

[Lord Snooty]

49. Jonas Lössl
3. Harry Toffolo
6. Jonathan Hogg
7. Juninho Bacuna
9. Elias Kachunga
12. Richard Stearman
17. Danny Simpson
24. Steve Mounié
26. Christopher Schindler ©
32. Emile Smith Rowe
39. Lewis O’Brien

Substitutes
Joel Coleman; Trevoh Chalobah, Chris Willock, Fraizer Campbell, Rekeil Pyke, Jon Gorenc Stanković, Andy King

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Grant injured