Monday, March 24, 2008

Ex-QPR's Gino Padula Signs For Columbus Crew

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Gino Padula signs with Columbus Crew. If he plays, Columbus Crew's first game of the season on Saturday is against Danny Dichio's Toronto FC!

Press Release - Crew Signs Argentine Defender Gino Padula
03/24/08 - Major League Soccer (MLS) Columbus Crew


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew announced today that it has signed Argentine left back Gino Padula. Per club and league policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed. Padula will join the Crew upon approval of his P-1 visa work permit.

The 31-year-old Padula trained with the Crew during its recent preseason trip to England and appeared in the club's exhibition match vs. Everton FC on March 7.

"We have been looking for an experienced left back are were able to find one in Gino Padula," said Crew head coach Sigi Schmid. "He is a good technical player with a great deal of experience in the English and French leagues and he adds another veteran presence to our back line."

Padula began his career with Argentine club Atl鴩co River Plate in 1996, before moving to Club Atl鴩co Huracᮠin 1997. In 1998, he moved to Europe to play for Xerez CD in Spain. Following his time with Xerez, Padula played in English football between 1999 and 2006.

His first club in England was Bristol Rovers, and after a short spell there, he went on to Walsall FC where he appeared in 25 games before joining Wigan Athletic in 2000. Padula saw action in six games, scoring one goal for the Latics, before heading to Queen's Park Rangers in 2002. Padula became a cult figure during his time at Loftus Road, where he scored five goals in 90 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops. After his time with QPR, Padula joined Nottingham Forest in 2005, where he made five appearances with the Reds. He most recently played with Montpellier HSC of the French Ligue 2, where he made seven appearances.
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

QPR's Two American Goalies Featured in QPR's Reserve 16

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QPR Reserves drew 1-1 at home to Southampton. In goal, was QPR's American goalie, Matt Pickens, making his QPR debut at the Reserve level. On the subs bench: QPR's other American goalie, Reece Crowther .

QPR Official Site: - ALL SQUARE FOR RESERVES
Rangers Reserves drew 1-1 with Southampton in a thoroughly entertaining Pontin's Holidays Combination League fixture at Loftus Road this evening (Tuesday).
The hosts took the lead early in the first half through Angelo Balanta, but the Saints drew level shortly after when Cedric Baseya headed home from six yards.
The R's can be grateful to debut-boy Matt Pickens for ensuring a share of the spoils, as the Rangers keeper pulled off three stunning point-blank saves after the break to keep the visitors at bay.
Pickens, yet to feature for the First Team following his recent arrival on a short-term contract until the end of the season, frustrated Southampton with some excellent stops, most notably in the closing minutes to deny Matthew Paterson who looked to have scored on the half-volley from 12 yards.
The Rangers keeper was equal to it, however, and brought rapturous applause for his stop from the South Africa Road Stand.
QPR took the lead on seven minutes when Terry Smith - who worked tirelessly in the middle of the park alongside Matt O'Brien - slid a perfect through ball for the on-rushing Balanta.
The Colombian forward made no mistake with just Saints keeper Matej Rondos to beat, as he coolly found the bottom corner from 16 yards.
Unfortunately the hosts' lead was short-lived. Southampton worked an excellent opening with some slick one-touch football before Josh Dutton-Black picked out Cedric Baseya with a pin-point delivery from the left wing.
The latter gave Pickens no chance, as he stooped to head home the equaliser from close range.
As the half wore on, it was the visitors who looked the more likely to add to their tally, and on 33 minutes they would have done so but for an excellent stop from Pickens to deny Baseya from distance.
After the break, it was end-to-end action as both sides, to their credit, looked for the winner.
Balanta went close twice, but pulled his efforts wide, while substitute Aaron Morgan saw his shot from a tight angle deflected away for a corner.
At the other end, Pickens was the star of the show as he did his best to keep the Saints out. And when he was beaten from eight yards following a goal-mouth scramble, Billy Coyne was on hand to clear off the line.
Romone Rose nearly won it in the closing stages with what would have been a stunning solo effort.
After picking the ball up in the right-back position, Rose raced the length of the field before firing his effort just wide of the far post.
QPR: Matt Pickens, Billy Coyne, Chris Barker, Matt O'Brien, Josh Ford, Zesh Rehman, Angelo Balanta, Terry Smith, Antonio German, Romone Rose, Chris Arthur.
Subs: Reece Crowther, Lee Brown, Michael Wright, Aaron Morgan

Southampton: Matej Rondos, Jamie Hatch, Oscar Gobern, Lloyd James, Oliver Lancashire, Jake Thomson, Adam Lallana, Matthew Paterson, Cedric Baseya, Andrew Giallombardo, Josh Dutton-Black
Subs: Kayne McLaggon, Liam Hogan, Ian Jones, Lukas Stiklakis QPR

Friday, March 14, 2008

Another Former QPR Player Coming to America: Gino Padula

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Fomer QPR favourite, Gino Padula, is reportedly joining Columbus Crew.

Sports Network - Crew to sign left back Pedula [sic]
Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - The Columbus Crew are in the process of signing Argentine left back Gino Padula, according to head coach Sigi Schmid.
"We are bringing in a guy named Gino Pedula, we are trying to get that transfer done," he told sportsnetwork.com.
Padula is a 31-year-old defender who most recently played for Montpellier of the French Second Division. Pedula has played domestically in Argentina for River Plate as well as stints with Wigan, Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest in England during his career.
"I was trying to find a left back, we feel that plugs a hole that we had a little bit back there," Schmid said. Sports Network

See Also:

Padula Playing Career

Padula/Wikipedia


Also: QPRNet Interview with Gino Padula about QPR