Match Thread Versus Queens Park Rangers

Versus

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Sunday 23/09/12
Kick Off @ 1600hrs BST

RANGERS boss Mark Hughes has confirmed he could be without seven first-teamers for Sunday’s trip to face Tottenham Hotspur.

Andy Johnson was this week ruled out for the majority of the season after picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in our draw with Chelsea last weekend.

Fabio da Silva and Anton Ferdinand (both hamstring) are also out after suffering injuries in that stalemate against the Blues.

Samba Diakite, Stephane Mbia (groin) and Armand Traore (leg) are set to miss out too, while Hughes will make a late call on Adel Taarabt (hamstring).

“We’ve got a number of injuries at the back,” he told www.qpr.co.uk. “Anton Ferdinand is not going to be available. Fabio is going to be out for a number of weeks. Armand Traore is out too and Samba isn’t ready.

“We’re going to have to have a shuffle around at the back.

“Adel Taarabt didn’t complete the training session today (Friday), so we’re going to have to check on him tomorrow. He might not be available.

“Stephane Mbia is also not available. He’s still got a little bit of discomfort from an injury picked up on international duty. We’re not going to risk him. He might be available in midweek [against Reading in the Capital One Cup].”

QPR travel to White Hart Lane at the weekend looking for a first league win of the campaign – and Hughes added: “We discussed our away form at the beginning of the season. It’s an area we need to improve on.

“We got a point at Norwich, which was positive, and it’s always difficult going to Man City.

“Spurs is a tough game for us. They are an outstanding team. They've got winners throughout their side and great strength in depth.

“I watched Spurs against Reading and was very impressed. They controlled the game. [Jermain] Defoe is playing very well at the moment

“We know what they are capable of. But we're an improving side and we'll head there in confident mood.”

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is expected to recall Brad Friedel, despite Hugo Lloris keeping a clean sheet against Lazio.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Kyle Naughton face fitness tests, but Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Scott Parker are still out.

QPR striker Andy Johnson is likely to miss most of the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Chelsea.

Defenders Anton Ferdinand and Fabio both miss out with hamstring injuries.
MATCH PREVIEW

These are two teams who can't wait for the season to settle into a genuine rhythm after a summer of upheaval.

Tottenham, with their new manager and six major new signings, have seen 10 first-team squad members leave and, like the rest of the Premier League, the opening weeks of the campaign fragmented by international call-ups.

QPR have seen virtually a whole new team arrive. They simply haven't bedded in yet. It's no surprise they haven't managed a win in their opening four top-flight matches for the first time in 11 years. Their chronic away form (it's been 10 months since their last away league victory) would suggest they won't get their first victory of the season at White Hart Lane, where they haven't triumphed since May 1994.
Andre Villas-Boas has been under incredible pressure since the day he arrived - some of it vitriolic. But there were signs against Reading and Lazio, when they had goals unfairly ruled out, that his team is finding form.

I wonder if this is the time to start Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele together in the league for the first time. Dempsey scored in Fulham's 6-0 home romp against QPR last season when the Cottagers did the double over their west London rivals.

With Jermain Defoe needing just two goals to reach 200 in his club career, Spurs should have too much guile and pace for the Rangers defence. Last week the Hoops kept a clean sheet against Chelsea. I can't see that happening again.

I think there will be goals. It could be a high-scoring affair, especially if Adel Taraabt is unleashed against his old side. It's always 'Stingray time' with him. As they famously said at the start of that old TV show: "Anything can happen in the next half hour!"

The mercurial Moroccan scored the winner against the run of play when the two clubs last met in April but then got himself sent off.

On a weekend when the game needs to see a public show of football coming together at Anfield in support for the Hillsborough victims, I hope the game at White Hart Lane doesn't boil over and spoil things.
MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Both clubs have won four of their 10 previous Premier League games.
QPR have not won at White Hart Lane since a 2-1 win in the Premier League in May 1994 - the Hoops have since only taken one point from nine in three league trips.

Tottenham

Spurs have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past four Premier League matches, conceding in the final 10 minutes in each of these games.
The recent 3-1 win at Reading was Andre Villas-Boas' first win as a manager in five Premier League matches.
Goalkeeper Brad Friedel has started 308 consecutive Premier League matches.

QPR

QPR have not won any of their past 15 away games in the Premier League, losing 12 and drawing three.
The club have also failed to win in their opening four matches of a top-flight season for the first time since 1991-92.
They have only once scored more than one goal in any of their past nine Premier League games - a 3-2 defeat away at Manchester City.

2nd weekend in a row we're playing a hooped shirted team . Ive never liked stripes and hoops on a football shirt and if both Reading and QPR are both relegated at the end of the season, IMO it would be deservedly so for their naff kits.

I expect both Gallas and Friedel to return and we will see Caulker and Lloris in the cup game up at Carlilse next Wednesday.

MOTD's Jonathan Pearce at White Hart LaneTOTTENHAM v QPR (16:00 BST)

"These are two teams who can't wait for the season to settle into a genuine rhythm after a summer of upheaval. Tottenham have a new manager and six new signings while QPR have seen virtually a whole new team arrive and they simply haven't bedded in yet.

"I think there will be goals and with Jermain Defoe needing just two goals to reach 200 in his club career, Spurs should have too much guile and pace for Rangers."

TOTTENHAM v QPR (16:00 BST)

Clint Dempsey makes his first Premier League start for Tottenham. The summer signing from Fulham came off the bench in last weekend's 3-1 win at Reading before starting the goalless draw with Lazio in the Europa League. Andre Villas-Boas brings Brad Friedel back in goal, despite Hugo Lloris keeping a clean sheet against Lazio, while in-form Jermain Defoe starts, with the striker two goals away from 200 career club goals.

For QPR, Former Spurs man Adel Taarabt failed a fitness test so misses out, but there is a place in the side for Ryan Nelsen, who had a six-month spell at White Hart Lane last season.

LOL Lought will be disappointed . . . . .

nah im happy. we need to win. then pressur better be on the bin dippers

Not a bad looking starting 11 at all.

Any links yet peeps?
I'm on this one at the mo (sopcast)

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/6816


but not sure if they showing us or Citeh . . . .

should be live here >> CLICK HERE

i got both games on
come on city smash them

Subs: Lloris, Caulker, Dawson, Huddlestone, Faque, Mason & Townsend

Ade no show again .

http://nutjob.eu/njtv1.html

on here in english

phill dowd looks huge
my fav ref though

its on sopcast aswell in english

Channel - 6816

AVB is testing my paitence this is the biggest load of crap i have ever seen even Arrys team wasnt this bad

why do they go on about brad. he made a save he had to make, yet not a bloody word on how he went down so quick making it easy for bobby to lift it over him

defoe and stig have been awfull

defoe always offside
push bale up and bring hudd on so we can controll the game

We have been a disgrace its embarassing watching QPRS keeper could of got the deckchair out and put his feet up i think lew is going to be right AVB gone by Christmas he f*cked up should of played Vertonghen left back and brought Caulker in .Im fuming at that 1st half performance people who say fans should not boo i think they would if u paid 50 quid for a ticket and got that bunch of sh*t

the bunch of sh*t who lost to wolves at home with vdv ade and modric in the team under harry

theres still another 45 mins to go.

I think we need to move the ball a lot quicker , more one and two touch football. This requires players finding space to receive the pass which we're not doing well at all.

Maybe Dempsey or Siggy off with Caulker coming on and put Bale out on the left wing with either Gallas or Verts going left back.

Thudd for Sandro could be a good shout Vis ...

least we had a shot against Wolves and Arrys teams had chances if this was Redknapp u would of slagged them off till the cows come home Lought but no not blaming the manager now and i thought u said we would have Mourinho as manager now