Graham – QPR Tempted Me

Danny Graham will line up against QPR tomorrow admitting that they tempted him over a possible move in the summer

Graham – Swansea’s record signing – was being lined up for a move to QPR before turning them down and electing instead to join the Swans.

“I went to speak to QPR and I was tempted by them. They are obviously a club on the up and they have a lot of money to back that up” said Graham.

“But, in terms of the football sense, I thought Swansea was better suited for me. I am a centre forward and can be a target man, but I like to play football as well.

“The way Swansea play football, they pass and move, and I thought it was better for my development as a player.

“I’m glad I joined Swansea City.

“Brendan was on the phone to me the morning after the play-off final,” revealed Graham, who started his career in the Premier League with Middlesbrough.

“He also tried to sign me before the window closed in January and he was also the person who set up the deal for me to go to Watford so he has shown how much he rates me as a player and how much he believes that I can come in and score goals.

“I have finally got the chance to work with him which is great. I’m loving every minute of it.

“I need to repay the faith that the gaffer has shown in me.

“To spend £3.5m is a heck of a lot of money for a club of the size of Swansea City. It’s no mean feat and smashed the club record by a couple of million pounds so I want to score goals to repay him.

“I was always confident I would score goals in this league. That’s not being arrogant or big-headed, it’s just about having belief in my ability. I’m sure every footballer has the same attitude. You need that.

“Most of my career I have played as the main striker. I played in a two and a one at Watford, and we played the same formation as here at Carlisle when we got to the play-offs. It worked and the 4-3-3 formation has always been one I’ve been fond of.

“Don’t get me wrong that at some points in a game as a striker you could do with the extra man up front, but the way that we pass and move and the fact the wingers are so quick means that some times you don’t need that.

“The style of football was the main factor for me coming here.”