Wednesday 22 October 2008

Boutique football,retro-chic or just cloggers?

Walking from the car to the Liberty last night a QPR's supporter's bus pulled up right next to me and I soon got talking to several fans as we crossed the road. Their opinion was that thus far in the season their team had played half-decent football in most of their games and given my retort that we can certainly pass the ball with the best of teams we looked forward to a decent game.Whatever.

Early minutes confirmed for me at least that we would be successful because as is our wont, we retained the ball well,passing fluently and gradually buiding the pressure through a series of well constructed attacks, illuminated by the stunning Ferrie Bodde, raking balls to the wide men at will.
Similarly, Jordi Gomez and Mark Gower, Pratley,Britton and Scotland all played their part in a comprehensive display that pleased the eye.Worringly,QPR's only response was to " leave the foot in", a phrase coined by the mealy-mouthed sort of football apologist who deems it okay to "go down" a la Ronaldo or Droghba. This culminated in Dorus de Vries taking a late foot to the throat as he dived at the feet of one of QPR's only attacks in the 26th minute and having been knocked unconscious, being replaced in goal by Alan Tate, our not having a replacement keeper on the bench.

When I say that it took almost 10mins before Tate even touched the ball and that for the remainder of the match that they didn't even get a legitimate shot in at him it will give you an idea of the control exerted by the Swans.

For the complete pummelling handed out by Roberto's team I have nothing but the highest praise. That we weren't able to score belies the effort put in by all the team, defence included. Well done Swansea, I'm proud.

And QPR? Boutique football? Designer-led retro chic?

Bollocks.

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