World Cup 2022 Anagram Competition

Well done to all who entered anagrams of this year’s phrase that pays:

“Which fool thinks Southgate’s boys are a good Qatar expectorant?”

Answers in chronological order below.

No.	Anagrammatical Offering	Guilty Party
1	Gag? A phat Scottish cowboy hoofed Quorn steak is no real foody threat x	Lee Henderson
2	I question host on loot; tax; tragedy of cheap workers. Hashtag: cab!	Michael Frain
3	Boro Gareth quit soon, as expected footy’s shit, ha, watch rank goal	Lee Henderson
4	Flashback! Six - Two, in the heat, crap or good? Quotes a snooty Gareth	Lee Henderson
5	Albert Quack, wealthy expat actor, forgot boots, got sand in his toes	Michael Frain
6	A. Quack wrote, “Holy shit Ted! Hot-shot Arabs fox Argie Tango Ponces	Michael Frain
7	Ok to go? Oh if a taboo closed queer sex rights, shan't watch any part	Malcolm Clayton
8	O Do Cry Argentina. Quit hash teacakes, pot, XL whores, footbaths	Michael Frain
9	Gotcha! Herr Flick squashed owing to expert Asano shot. Oo attaboy!	Michael Frain
10	Those daft Welsh quake. Iran ghost into box, gatecrash party. Coo!	Michael Frain
11	What's that exciting footy quake? A bold Shah Scorer goes top! Nora...!	Andrew Burgess
12	Gail Bond asks Q for the secret weapon to X Ray high atac shootout	Claire Woodland
13	Beatrix Potter drank cocoa quota while Fang ghosts hate Sooshy	Claire Woodland
14	C Rooney requests Agatha Christie books that flog tax and whoop	Claire Woodland
15	Doctor Who lent his history book page on squash extra fat-cat age	Claire Woodland
16	Fogie has who’s bedsocks at garish Torquay apartotel? (No context)	Michael Frain
17	Police cadet fought gay Qatar striker who sent hoax to boss Noah	Claire Woodland
18	Aghast h-hot rarebit woolyhats (apt) go in excess of red conk quota	Michael Frain
19	Ranting Gareth quits today. Reposts “black hoax afoot”. Chose Howe	Steve Berry
20	Foody Albert Quack’s Nag Hotpot ache gastroenteritis whoosh! Ax!	Martin Foster
21	Q. Who’s he? A. Albert, a stocky stoutish octogenarian ex-drag pooftah	Michael Frain

A fantastic 21 entries from 7 different lexicographers!. All were equally brilliant of course but alas the unreformed competition charter still forces me to make a choice of winner (please rest assured that steps are underway to make this is a non-competitive, non-judgemental safe space in future). Thus, with a heavy heart, the following reckoning is made:

· Malcom Clayton’s searing political protest (No.7) was one in the eye for the Qatari Government (if not himself).

· Lee Henderson’s (No.4) examination of England’s 6-2 opening Iranian high-spot was received with amusement.

· Claire Woodland’s surreal yet topical output was well appreciated.

· The solo efforts from Steve Berry and Martin Foster were I’m sure a mere taster of their respective skills.

But Michael Frain’s prolific output, mixing the introduction of his long-term “friend” Albert Quack with topical match-day reportage, took the amusement biscuit with the competition politburo saying that No.9 was just pipped by this year’s winner No.6, a celebration of Saudi Arabia’s 2‑1 group stage victory over eventual champions Argentina. Well done Michael, the cheque is in the post.