Routledge knows all about the former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Denmark attacking midfielder. “I didn’t need to YouTube him,’’ added Routledge. “I used to watch his games when I was growing up.”
There is an excitement in the Swansea ranks at being managed by such a celebrated footballing figure. Routledge was particularly delighted when he and Nathan Dyer were described as like “poison for defenders” by Laudrup. “It’s a big compliment coming from him,’’ said Routledge.
It helped Routledge and company that West Ham’s defence was so toxic on Saturday. The visitors were poor, lacking the requisite resistance when Swansea attacked through Routledge and Dyer, the scheming Spaniard Michu and the raiding full-backs Neil Taylor and Angel Rangel.
Swansea played more triangles than a school orchestra, including one 44-pass move, but there was always a purpose, always a sense of urgency. “I love the way Swansea play. respect," tweeted Cesc Fàbregas, tuning in from Barcelona.
Routledge was arguably man of the match, cutting in from the flank, working closely with Michu and Danny Graham. “Wayne has everything for that position,’’ said Laudrup. “He has a good pass, he is quick, he has good vision, he turns fast with the ball.” Routledge’s re-emergence is well-timed with Scott Sinclair heading to Manchester City.
“To play with the freedom we do in this team with the way we keep the ball and make chances is a pleasure to play in,’’ said Routledge. “I came here last year to play. As it turned out Nathan and Scotty both had a brilliant season last year so it was hard for me to get my neck in and play a lot.” Although some of last season’s Swans are flying the nest, others wing in.
Ki Sung-yueng, the central midfielder brought in from Celtic for £6 million, outplayed the Liverpool-bound Joe Allen when South Korea defeated Team GB along the M4 in Cardiff. “He is a dynamic midfielder,’’ said Laudrup. “It also gives us more competition, depth.’’ Laudrup had encouraged his wide players to tuck in, helping stifle Mark Noble in the centre.
“They started with four midfield players so we had to have our wide players inside so we had five,’’ Laudrup explained afterwards. “That leaves our full-backs to go.” They certainly went, the right-back Rangel scoring the first after a slick 20th-minute build-up involving Ashley Williams, Michu and Dyer. Jussi Jaaskelainen’s handling error also helped.
Nine minutes later, another West Ham mistake gifted Swansea their second. James Collins underhit a back-pass, Michu was alert and the ball was duly flicked low past Jaaskelainen.
West Ham briefly stirred. Matt Jarvis, swivelling sharply, was denied by Michel Vorm, Carlton Cole went close, but Swansea were dominant. Routledge dinked the ball over for Graham to make it 3-0, sending Swansea top of the table for a few hours.
Laudrup is not the type to get carried away on the wave of euphoria sweeping the Liberty Stadium. “There are things we need to improve,’’ he added. “We gave away too many free-kicks and corners and one day that will cost us. Nearly all the teams are stronger than us so we have to remember to keep the ball in certain moments.”
West Ham returned east with pain, drawing comfort only from Jarvis’ promising debut. “Their full-backs, right or left, just couldn’t stop him crossing the ball when he did that little trick, dropping the shoulder, because he is so good with both feet,’’ said the West Ham manager Sam Allardyce. “It’s about us giving him the service to show that ability.’’
Allardyce said he would give some of his new signings an outing in the Capital One Cup against Crewe Alexandra. “We have new signings, like [Modibo ]Maiga, like [Alou] Diarra, that we can give a game to. Nicky Maynard too, [Ricardo] Vaz Te, Matt Taylor.
"We’ll have an experienced squad with a couple of younger players and it should be enough to beat Crewe and get us into the next round.”
Collins’ slight groin strain precludes his involvement.
Allardyce added that his spending was complete. “No activity planned but I will keep my phone on until 1101 on Aug 31,’’ he said.
Essex Police announced on Sunday that they have “arrested a 22-year-old man from Southend on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence” following tweets sent to Cole.
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