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TORONTO -- Harry Redknapp got a rude shock after taking over Queens Park Rangers in November 2012. Jabari Parker Jersey . The team was in last place in the English Premier League, its roster filled with bloated contracts and egos. "The attitude stank. Attitude towards the game, attitude towards training," he wrote in his autobiography "Always Managing." "I cant remember a worse one -- and behaviour like that cannot be altered overnight." Redknapp, however, found one kindred spirit. "Within weeks I had worked out that my best player was Ryan Nelsen, a 35-year-old New Zealand international -- and he couldnt wait to get out," Redknapp wrote. "`Youve got no chance, he told me. Not a prayer. This is the worst dressing room Ive ever been in in my life. You havent got a hope with this lot. I dont know how you solve it." Today, Nelsen is in his second season as manager of Toronto FC. He recalls his season with QPR -- his finale as a player -- as a ringside seat on what happens when a dressing room goes wrong. "It was an amazing learning experience for me," he said in an interview this week. Redknapp, whose team was relegated at the end of the 2012-13 season, is on the verge of taking QPR back to the Premier League after one season in the Championship. QPR faces Derby Country on Saturday at Wembley in a promotion playoff worth up to 120 million pounds (C$220.5 million), mostly from broadcast rights, according to a 2013 report by the Sports Business Group at Deloitte. With reported debts of 177 million pounds (C$325 million), Queens Park Rangers could do with hitting the promotion jackpot despite the deep pockets of millionaire owner Tony Fernandes. Among the things Nelsen learned at QPR was the need to get recruitment right, to watch wages and that a good football team needs chemistry off the field as well as organization in it. "It was an environment that probably players were getting paid too much for potentially their mentality to win," he said of QPR. "Young guys probably on too much before they had earned it." There were also older players who might have lost their fire. And second-tier Championship players who had the character desire but perhaps not the talent needed. "Everybody tried their best to get the mixture right, but it just didnt jell," said Nelsen. "It was just wrong." The ill-fated QPR spending spree was funded by Fernandes, a British-Malaysian businessman whose net worth as of February was valued at US$650 million according to Forbes magazine. He took over in August 2011, almost a year before Nelsen came on board. The New Zealand international didnt expect to play much at QPR, thinking his job would be to help then-manager Mark Hughes and successor Redknapp off the pitch. He ended up playing 21 league matches, becoming captain and turning into a fan favourite before leaving in January 2103 to take over Toronto FC. Nelsen points no fingers today, saying the intentions of Hughes and Fernandes "were so right for the club to do really well." The rot had set in too much by the time Redknapp took over. "There had to be a clearout before you could get it back again," he said. There are more fashionable soccer teams in London but Loftus Road, QPRs home in Shepherds Bush, has seen its share of players with flair in Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles and Gerry Francis in the 1960s and 70s. A blue-collar club, QPR won the League Cup in 1966-67 and was runner-up in 1985-86. It was also runner-up in the FA Cup in 1981-82 and was runner-up in the First Division, precursor to the Premier League, in 1975-76. Celebrity QPR fans included musicians Phil Collins, Pete Doherty and composer Michael Nyman. A no-nonsense defender at the end of his playing career, Nelsens work ethic appealed to the QPR fans tired of rental players on big salaries. "I think they just liked that I worked hard and tried to win games," said Nelsen. "People respected that." Nelsen loved the QPR supporters right back. "But it wasnt right off the field," he said of the team. "And that weighed heavily on me because I was kind of brought in to help that out." QPR was relegated several months after Nelsens departure to Canada. According to the Daily Mail, the clubs wage bill was higher than that of Spanish champion and Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid. Toronto benefited from the subsequent clearout, with Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar coming to MLS on a loan agreement. Loic Remy (Newcastle) and Adel Taarabt (AC Milan) were also sent out on loan. Cesar, whose attitude has earned nothing but praise from Toronto coaches and players, says QPR wants him back in August. The team will have to reload if it returns to the Premier League. Redknapp, a master wheeler and dealer, brought in hardened veterans of the Championship to help climb back up the mountain. "He invested really wisely," said Nelsen. "He moved guys that probably had big value. And in saying that, their value has probably increased." Nelsen will be watching closely this weekend. "Ive got a lot of friends on that QPR team," he said. In addition to the big-time Charlies, he remembers of group of honest players desperate to succeed. "And QPR had them. They probably got outnumbered bit a little at the end but those guys, you wish them the best so badly. and for Harry as well, because at his age (now 67) he probably could have gone off and retired somewhere. But he knuckled down in the Championship and you wish them all the success. "All of his coaching staff were fantastic when I was there. And theyve helped me since Ive been here, to tell you the truth." Michael Jordan Jersey . - The Oakland Athletics have finalized an agreement on a 10-year extension to play at the Coliseum through the 2024 season. Sean Kilpatrick Jersey . Warren made six birdies and a bogey for a 5-under total of 139 to sit one shot ahead of Felipe Aguilar of Chile, who carded a 69. David Horsey of England was also on 5 under through 15 holes to join Warren atop the leaderboard before play was stopped. http://www.officialbullsfanstore.com/kids-chandler-hutchison-bulls-jersey/ . 1. AMIR JOHNSON: Nice to see him back in the lineup Tuesday night in Washington DC. Played with great energy and purpose. Its amazing when a guy gets those few precious days to recover what it does to the bounce in their step and overall game/confidence.FRISCO, Texas -- Fabian Castillo scored in the 62nd minute and FC Dallas snapped an eight-game winless streak with a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night. Dallas (6-7-3) had failed to score more than one goal in a game during its skid. "Today, the result bounced our way. I thought we deserved it," FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja said. "We were smarter. We knew that we were going to have some chances on the counter." Castillo took possession of the ball near midfield and dribbled around Rapids defender Drew Moor before curling a left-footed volley from 15 yards and into the right corner of the net. "Its a play we try a lot during the game, sometimes it goes in. Luckily it worked for me and it was a nice goal," Castillo said through a translator. Colorados Jose Mari tied it 2-all in the 52nd minute when he angled a header into the left corner of the net from inside of 6 yards. Dillon Powers set up the goal with a corner kick from the left side. Zach Loyd scored in the second minute of first-half stoppage time to give Dallas a 2-1 lead. It was Loyds first goal since July 4, 2012 -- a span of 51 games. "Its been a long time," Loyd said. "I was following Fabian into the box, he was getting a lot of 1-on-1 matches. I was just trying to get (the ball) on frame and it went into the back of the net." Loyds shot from 19 yards grazed the right leg of Colorado deefender Chris Klute, causing Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin to misplay the shot and the ball bounced off Irwins right hand and into the left corner of the net. Antonio Blakeney Jersey. Dallas Andres Escobar tied the game 1-1 in the 33rd minute after Benitezs free kick bounced off of Escobars back and into the left corner of the net. Saturdays game was the first career start for Escobar, who did not realize he was credited with the goal until after the game. "The first two goals were a bit strange," Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "Its frustrating, thats why you dont get caught up in results or at least I dont. You have to look at the big picture and where we were four, five months ago and where we are today. You cant get too caught up in the excitement of wins and too much into the sorrow of losses." Deshorn Brown chipped a shot from the top of the penalty box over the head of Dallas defender Walker Zimmerman to give the Rapids (6-5-4) a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute. Mari started the scoring sequence when he sent a cross to Drew Moor. He headed the ball and Brown redirected the shot into the net for his third goal in the past three games. "We lost momentum," Brown said. "That last goal has us a little confused." Dallas outshot Colorado 12-10. Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez finished with two saves and picked up his first win of the year in his sixth start of the season. ' ' '