Planet Swans ArchivesThis was a repeat of the opening game of the season which the Swans won 5-0 and QPR haven’t really improved since that game despite the spending of the best part of a zillion pounds and paying wages that even make some Chelsea players look underpaid.
For 45 minutes in the first half they looked like a side that was devoid of ideas, passion or even an ounce of anything to show they cared as the Swans knocked the ball about with ease and reached the halfway mark of the game with a massively impressive 71.7% possession and 90% pass completion.
The only real surprise of the first half was I guess that the Swans reached it with just a two goal lead thanks to Michu and Angel Rangel who both capitalised on parries from a hugely unimpressive Cesar in the QPR goal.
As expected Michael Laudrup played all three wingers in an attacking line up that also included Jonathan De Guzman whilst Michel Vorm returned to the side in goal as Gerhard Tremmel dropped back to the bench highlighting the top quality options available to the manager at this point in time.
And the signs were good early on as space was available almost everywhere to the Swans as De Guzman and Ki looked in control in midfield and the benefit of having three wingers in the side was obvious as all three interchanged positions on a requent basis which would have confused a much better defender than QPR could offer up.
The Swans were one up on eight minutes as Cesar could only parry Dyer’s shot from outside the area and Michu was on hand to stroke home his 14th Premier League goal of the season although I am sure he will admit he will have many more cleaner strikes before the season is out.
Nine minutes later it was 2-0 as a perfect ball split the QPR defence and left Rangel through on goal and despite his first effort being saved, the right back struck home the rebound to double the Swans advantage.
If it was going to be a Spanish afternoon, there was little doubt for a while that Chico was probably going to find himself on the score sheet as he bossed the defence and found himself on several occasions pushing forward. But it wasn’t to be and his afternoon ended early with him on a stretcher with what looked like an ankle injury and he was replaced by Kyle Bartley with most in the Liberty hoping the injury was not too serious.
Cries of ‘Harry Harry what’s the score’ bought no response from the QPR manager who must have wondered if he could spend enough money to buy a whole new team with toys slowly coming out of the pram all around the pitch as QPR struggled to adapt to anything in particular.
Half time came and went and Mr Redknapp made two changes to the side and immediately gained a quick dividend as Tarrabt pounced on a sloppy Ben Davies pass and despite seeing his shot saved by Vorm it was hammered home by one of those subs in Bobby Zamora in what was QPR’s first attack of any note during the game.
The hope (and noise) of a poor away support didn’t last long as Pablo weaved one way then another and then back again to restore the Swans two goal advantage from close range and a tight angle and the game was probably effectively over.
QPR were looking more dangerous at this point but it was much through poor Swansea passes for a period than anything else and they were much restricted to long balls for Zamora with Swansea playing by far the better football.
Space was opening up more and more and if anything the Swans were guilty of squandering some good opportunities to break before Hernandez set up Michu for the 4th of the afternoon which was the cue for a mass exods from the away end with 20 minutes of the game to go.
They do say that there are no easy games in the Premier League but QPR must come close to being just that as the Swans went in search of their 10th league goal against their visitors this season. It wasn’t to come but it did give Laudrup the chance to take off the impressive Muchu and equally impressive Routledge to save their legs for tougher challenges to come.
Time was played out without too much incident to note and this was yet another win for the Swans that lifts them one place in the table – at least for 24 hours – and to the 37 point barrier, a figure that will be more than enough to secure anotehr season in the top flight (although in reality that has never really been in any doubt since we demolished today’s opponents back in August)
To give you an indication of the gulf between these two sides the Swans completed 514 of 599 passes whilst QPR completed a little over half of that level with 272 of 354 and a 62.5% possession from the Swans says much about how this game flowed and 4-1 was probably a fair reflection of the superiority of the Swans.
Michu will get many mentions for his two goals and therefore nomonations for man of the match but for me the star man today was Jonathan De Guzman who seemed to be everywhere on the pitch and involved in most that was good about Swansea today.
Onwards towards Anfield next week with confidence high and the Swans looking every inch one of the best teams in the Premier League.
Happy Days!
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