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.

Tuesday 21 October 2008

West London Millionaires?

It's one of those days when you know that you're blessed.A typical crisp,sunny late Autumn when you can't yet see your breath condense but you know that it can't be long before a heavy overcoat becomes not so much a comfort as a necessity.Whatever.

In just over 5 hours time Swansea City v Queens Park Rangers will kick off and Roberto's collection of footballing dreamers get to take on what I've seen regularly described as "the richest club in the world" until very recently.Having had that title snatched from them by Manchester City,acquired,as these rich men's playthings are, by the Abu Dhabi Investment Group, I guess Lakshmi Mittal,Flavio Briattore and Bernie Ecclestone will have to settle for charging £50 for a Category A battle against mighty Derby County.I wonder what they'll make of the Liberty? What on earth would they have made of the Vetch?I shall definitely be trying to get a view of them both pre-game and in our Director's box.Will they even deign to grace us with their presence, or is that particular treat reserved for their retro-chic haven at Loftus Rd.?Such is Championship football in 2008.

I remember well their blue and white hoops in the old Division 1. Gerry Francis,mullet streaming,captaining a side of real talent. One that included , at various times, players as talented as Rodney Marsh,Stan Bowles,Dave Thomas(google them if need be). A team that was good enough to challenge for the title(and all but win it) in an age that seems fairly recent but is as far removed from the reality of football today as white horses at Wembley. Now there's another thing- is today's corporate "home of football", with it's swathes of empty red plastic seats 10 minutes into the second half a real improvement on the twin towers?Discuss
.
Gerry,incidentally,was in the flesh last weekend prior to Stoke v Tottenham.....nowadays,apparently,coaching Stoke for 2 days a week. Those of an unkind bent might be tempted to think that's reflected in the way Stoke play.......a sort of muscular version of the sorts of team we played regularly last year in Division 1.Perhaps he ought to think of a third day.And then there's Tottenham. Whereas Stoke seem to be looking for ways to breed the seven foot footballer(have they considered Usain Bolt?), Tottenham,with Modric,Bentley,Lennon et al seemed to think they could sneak between their legs.Anyway.

So it's 7.45 tonight.Can we continue to play the successful,posession based game that Roberto favours before that troglodyte section of our own fans start not only muttering but actually booing some of OWN players. Some of us can remember when Mamady Sidibe played for us, and we,like Stoke, seemed to think that the long ball launched from centre back into the opposition's penalty box was de rigeur.

Come on you Swans!!