Neil Warnock needs a leader and makes Joey Barton the new QPR captain. Kevin Davies apologises to Tom Cleverley after a wayward tackle at the Reebok sidelined the Man United youngster. Andre Villas-Boas looks to ring the changes in Europe tonight, while an annoyed Rafael Van der Vaart expects to be ready for the weekend game with Liverpool. Here’s a few Scribbles this morning, folks:
QPR’s goalless draw at home to Newcastle last night saw Neil Warnock surprisingly hand the captain’s armband to Joey Barton, with previous skipper Adel Taarabt relinquishing duties. Warnock explained the reasoning behind the move:
“It was just a logical thing really. I had a chat with Adel last week. Adel was straight away right about it. He appreciates how far we have come now and that we need to drive on now. We need somebody as our leader.
Kevin Davies has apologised to Tom Cleverley for the tackle that has sidelined the Man United youngster for the next few weeks. Rumours circulated the internet that Cleverley had criticised the Trotters forward via Facebook after the challenge but Davies clarified the matter, revealing the pair have already spoken:
I didn’t realise after the game, so I put a call in to him and he was fine. I am pleased that there is no serious damage for him. By all accounts he had a fake [profile] saying I didn’t offer an apology.That’s why I got his number and put the call in. I actually texted him and he rang me back and said he had seen the tackle and didn’t think it was that bad.
Andre Villas-Boas admits he will have Sunday’s game at Man United when considering his Chelsea starting XI this evening. The Blues face Bayern Leverkusen and Ramires is suspended and while Didier Drogba continues to recover from concussion, Villas-Boas needs to decide whether to recall Fernando Torres or leave the out-of-sorts Spaniard on the bench:
You’ll see some changes. Then we’ll make wise decisions for Sunday.
Rafael Van der Vaart is not too happy with Harry Redknapp. The Dutchman has been left out of Spurs’ squad for the Europa League group stages and insists Redknapp’s decision came without any sort of warning . In a section under the headline “annoying” on his personal website Van der Vaart wrote:
I still think it’s a peculiar situation. Spurs could at least have consulted me. Anyway it’s up to the point of no return.
Van der Vaart also confirmed he expects to be available for this weekend’s match with Liverpool after intensive treatment on his problem hamstring.
Redknapp was dealt a bitter blow yesterday with the news that Michael Dawson is expected to be sidelined for two months with an Achilles injury picked up in training. Having released Jonathan Woodgate in the summer, the Spurs boss will be more reliant than ever on Ledley King right now; with William Gallas also injured, King and Younes Kaboul struck up a solid partnership in central defence last weekend in the 2-0 win at Wolves.
Liverpool look to be without Glen Johnson for at least another month. The right-back appeared late on in the game at Stoke but suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury that has already plagued his start to the season. Kenny Dalglish faces a selection dilemma ahead of his side’s trip to Tottenham- Martin Kelly is also injured, leaving John Flanagan or Martin Skrtel as an option.
