Neil Warnock has backed Anton Ferdinand to return to form at Stoke this weekend as the John Terry race row rumbles on, and on, and on. Elsewhere Hogan Ephraim is settling into life at The Valley after completing a loan move to Charlton.
The John Terry-Anton Ferdinand race row shows no signs of abating. Terry captained England to a 1-0 win against Sweden on Tuesday despite facing police and FA investigations into the allegation that he racially abused Ferdinand during QPR's 1-0 win over Chelsea last month. Prior to the game he was selected as the England player to face the press at a media conference and made a big deal of his own bravery in "fronting it up" – a claim soured slightly by the overzealous FA PR who refused to allow any questions on the subject.
Neil Warnock told the Evening Standard: "There have been so many upheavals it has been difficult for him to concentrate. He really defended poorly for the first goal against Manchester City but I wasn't surprised because the days before that, with all that was going on, was a nightmare for him. It has affected him more than anybody. The international break came at a good time for him. He has had a chance to put it to the back of his mind, get it out the way and get on with things."
Shaun Derry told the Daily Star: " Everyone has an opinion, that is what makes it so interesting. What we do is come together as a team when we play. For that situation alone, somebody might have a different view than the person sat right next to them in the changing room. But automatically we’re a team, he’s our player and we’re together.He’s our team-mate. What we can’t do is voice opinions in the media because you’re on a loser in that situation. But, for us, Anton is our player and we’re right behind him, just as John Terry is a Chelsea player and his team-mates are right behind him. That’s how it’s got to be in that dressing room.”
The FA does rather appear to have made a rod for its own back this week by charging Liverpool striker Luis Suarez with racially abusing Man Utd defender Patrice Evra. Unlike the Terry incident, no video footage to back up Evra's allegations was ever found by Sky who covered the game. Joey Barton and others took to Twitter to point out that charging a player with no physical evidence would make it very hard not to do the same with Terry who was caught on camera.
Barton told the Sunday Mirror: "It is ignorance or a fear of what ¬people don’t know and don’t understand. There was a lot of prejudice when I was growing up, but through football you are very ¬fortunate to have some different people as your best mates with different ¬philosophies. Through intelligence and being open-minded, you ¬really ¬become aware of different races or creeds and embrace them for what they are.
“I ¬remember playing with Shaun Wright-Phillips when we went to ¬Montenegro to play for ¬England Under-21s. I’d never heard any racist chants before. While Shaun and Jermain Defoe were warming up, there was virtually a whole stand doing monkey chants. It was the first time that I had ever come across it as a professional ¬footballer.
“I think that’s a human trait. At school, kids have that in them — to pick out something ¬different about someone. It is something that is in all of us and I think it comes from a defensive stand or insecurity.If you’re making fun of someone else and laughing at them or pointing out their weaknesses, then you are shying away from you as a person.”
Anyway ahead of this Saturday's trip to Stoke QPR legend and current Stoke first team coach Gerry Francis has been reflecting on the meeting of the two clubs.
Francis told Stoke's official website: "It's a club close to my heart for sure, but I will undoubtedly be committed to doing whatever I can to help Tony Pulis and the players pick up three points on Saturday. As much as I look for QPR's results, this game is for real, so we're going to be looking to bounce back from the Bolton defeat with a win. You can probably count on one hand the really poor performances that we've had since I've been here. We let ourselves and the fans down a bit against Bolton . I think there are circumstances that didn't help us, obviously before the game and leading up to the game, but you can't use them as excuses. You have to learn to handle the European fixtures and then come back and play well in the Premier League. I think we needed the international break."
Another man with a connection to both clubs is QPR's Clint Hill, who may get the nod in defence this weekend should Neil Warnock opt for an increased aerial presense against Stoke's notorious set piece prowess. Hill told the club's official website: "It's a tight pitch at Stoke and a great atmosphere. They set out to get in your face, and I am sure corners and set-pieces will be very, very difficult for us. It will be tough, but we will be heading there looking to get something from the match.
"Tony Pulis is someone who looks for all his players to give 100 per cent. If you do that, he is great with you. He wants to see people go out there and do a job for him and the team. He is very tactical in the way he trains. He works people very hard and he likes his team to be fit, and to give everything. I have got the highest respect for him."
Heidar Helguson added: " "They have got some really good footballers there and they know how to play. They have not got into Europe and finished consistently in the top half of the Premier League just by being physical."
Pulis himself meanwhile told the BBC that he tried to sign both Joey Barton and Shaun Wright Phillips in the summer. He said: " "We spoke to Joey and we spoke to Shaun. We were speaking to a lot of players at the time. There are always lots of different scenarios that get you a deal done or cause you not to get it done.
"From what people tell me, they'll be having a go again in January. All three clubs that have been promoted have enjoyed a really good start."
Off the field, in case you hadn't heard, Gianni Paladini has left the club after eight tumultuous years. He told the club's official website: "QPR will always be very close to my heart and I am extremely proud to see the team playing in the Premier League. I wish the club, players, staff and fans all the very best for the future."
QPR CEO Philip Beard said: "On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank Gianni for his contribution to Queens Park Rangers over the years. He has gone beyond the call of duty in his time here and in more recent times, played an integral role in our return to the Premier League, as well as assisting the football management team with the acquisition of some key players. He will always be welcome back here to support the team and we wish him every success for the future."
The FA Youth Cup draw has paired QPR with either Huddersfield, or the legendary youth academy at Crewe in the the next round.
Hogan Ephraim says he can't wait to get started at League One high flyers Charlton after signing on loan at the Valley until January. Ephraim told the Mirror: " After working so hard to get to the Premier League with QPR, I wanted to stay and it came as a bit of a surprise when the manager made the decision he did. When that happened, I knew I had to move on and I chose Charlton because I knew some of the staff from my days at West Ham. I enjoy training here like I haven't done for a long time and I have a smile on my face again. Hopefully that can continue for the next six or seven weeks and I can play a big part for Charlton. I am concentrating on having a great time until January 3 and we'll see what happens from there."
Charlton manager Chris Powell told the News Shopper: " Neil Warnock has just said he comes to you and you do whatever you want to do with him. The team has been doing exceptionally well so it is hard for him just to walk in because the form the players have been in, the goals we’ve been scoring, the wins we’ve got in the league and the cup win as well, we’ve been going well. They’ve set themselves a standard and Hogan comes into that. He needs to buy into that. I’ve spoken to him and he is fully aware of where we are at and he doesn’t expect anything, he just wants to impress everyone and try and get involved. There is no ruling where QPR say he has to play, they’ve been very fair to us and obviously very fair to him by letting him come out and be part of a team which is going OK at the moment.”
Charlton face Brentford this weekend.
Ephraim could soon be joined out on loan on the other side of London by Lee Cook who Sky report is set to join League One strugglers Leyton Orient as he tries to kick start his injury decimated career. Cook recently spent time on trial at Nottingham Forest but a move fell through when Steve McLaren left the managerial position there.
Youngsters Michael Harriman and Mo Shariff got off to winning starts in their loan spells at St Albans last weekend. Shariff scored once and Harriman assisted former QPR fan's favourite Paul Furlong, still playing aged 43, in a 4-1 home win against Evesham in the Southern League Premier Division.
Former QPR full back and coach Warren Neill has backed Rangers to succeed in the Premiership, even hinting that European qualification may not be beyond them. In a lengthy interview with London 24 he said: " “The top four are the same old faces, but that doesn’t mean a well-run club, even one that’s just come up, can’t have a good spell and qualify for Europe. With the finance Rangers have got, they can buy another three or four players to come in and inspire the others, and they’d have the potential to be a good mid-table team. Hopefully the manager will get the players he wants and, if they’re around that mid-table mark at Christmas, there’s no reason why they can’t get up there. This is such a big year for the club, but if they can stabilise in the Premier League, things can only move forward.”
- Hairy Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has signed a new five year contract at Goodison Park . The 23-year-old Belgian cost £15m when the Toffees signed him from Standard Liege in 2008. Everton fans are planning another protest against the club's board of directors prior to this weekend's home match with Wolves.
- Wigan winger Victor Moses could still play for Nigeria in the future despite failing to show up for their latest set of matches. Moses was called up for friendlies with Botswana and Zambia last week but failed to attend, saying he was moving house – the Nigerian FA labelled this as "ridiculous". Moses' agent Tony Finnigan said: "If he had come back on Wednesday and then had to move and prepare for a Premier League match on Saturday it would have been tough for him."
- Young Arsenal striker Luke Freeman has joined League One Stevenage on loan until January. The 19 year old scored twice in 13 games at League One side Yeovil last season.
- Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan has been charged with drink driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and driving without due care and attention by Nottinghamshire Police. Bannan's car collided with the central reservation of the M1 in the early hours of the morning last month. He will appear at Nottingham Magistrates on November 25.
LoftforWords has received the following e-mail from Keith Stanton, general manager of Wardle Transport in Stoke ahead of our game there this weekend:
Just a quick email to welcome you and your supporters to Stoke on Saturday, and to explain some help for away supporters travelling by train to the Britannia Stadium. When they get off the train the Police will direct them to the University across the road so they can have a drink, and from there we supply dedicated away fans buses to the Britannia, the buses are manned with Police officers for your safety and comfort, which will drop off within the away end of the ground and collect from within the coach park again behind the away after the match and return to railway station.
The cost is £3 per person. I hope you and your supporters enjoy your visit and if you need any help please do not hesitate to contact me.
@loftforwords will be Tweeting live from the Britannia Stadium this Saturday – usual mix of team news, running match report, goal alerts and sarcasm. Join our growing band of followers and be part of it.