|
They’re under starters’ orders.....and they’re off
07-08-2009 I get knocked down, but I get up again You're never gonna keep me down I get knocked down, but I get up again You're never gonna keep me down With thanks to Chumbawamba (the band not a Teletubbies character) these lyrics sum up how many Swans fans must be feeling as we enter the new season. To be fair I think a Guestbook reader had suggested this as our new song for the team to run out to if we ever dared to lose White Riot (please don’t though - running out to a Clash song is so cool). I was also struck by quotes from Leicester fans in Steve Griffiths’ away day preview for Saturday:- “There's never a dull moment with us. There's good times and there's bad times, but there isn't ever a time when there's nothing to talk about. The worse thing (again) is the ridiculous goal music played when we score, it's a bit embarrassing really. We don't need music to tell us when to celebrate. “ “The best thing is our away support. Fair play to the lads - they have followed our team through thick and thin, good games, bad games and our relegation year.” “The best thing is it's a roller coaster ride, and you never know what's going to happen next. The worst thing is it's a roller coaster ride, and you never know what's going to happen next.” “The worst is negative home fans who boo and shout abuse at every opportunity” Sound familiar? I thought Steve had actually written about us on their site rather than the reverse when I read this lot. So maybe we have more in common with the Foxes than we ever thought before... I was impressed but not surprised to read that we’d sold out our allocation of 3,200 for Saturday – those who slag off our support levels always amaze me when I think where we used to be and how that compares to the level of support teams bring to us – that’s more than any team has ever looked like bringing to us – let’s see who fills our away end this year as away support at the Liberty last year was way lower than I expected. Who’ll bring the most to us this year? the Geordies, Baggies or someone else? I haven’t been able to get to any friendly games this year after recently becoming a dad again so have relied on the observations of guestbook regulars like Dai Smith, Andrew and Richard of Warwick. Pre-season seems to have gone ok but does it tell you much – probably not much besides getting fit to hit the ground running, but if it sets Gower off on the goal front it’ll be well worthwhile. I don’t think we will really know where we stand until after 10 games so we shouldn’t rush to judge, and our first three games are tricky with Leicester away a tough first game against a team full of confidence in front of a big home crowd, and then games against Reading and Boro. Boro should be there or thereabouts for a return to the Premiership as they have retained most players, and I respect their chairman for sticking with Southgate, another guy I have a lot of time for. Reading may find it tough to get going after crashing away so badly in the second half of last year so playing them early might be good. Of the teams coming down, I think the Baggies are best placed though as they know the division so well and did so well last time at this level – I’m looking forward to them bringing more support than the Blues of Birmingham did last season to our place anyway. Newcastle I think may struggle given all their off field issues and dressing room attitude, but that’s the away trip I’m targeting! It shows how far we’ve come that we’ll be looking to win up there rather than sneak a draw when we lost 3-0 in the cup years ago to a Kitson hat-trick – the banter that day was great as we taunted them with “where’ve your ship yards gone, far far away” and they bounced back with “who ate all the pies, Harry Secombe, Harry Secombe, he ate all the pies”! Looking up to the Premiership of course many of us will be unable to stop ourselves watching Wigan’s results – I hope Jason Scotland does well and it will be interesting to see how he does get on..as for Roberto I’ll leave that there. Of the promoted teams, I hope Burnley do the best as I can’t stand Birmingham (if you’ve ever been to St Andrews you might agree) and they don’t have the funds of Wolves so are more like how we’d have been set up to cope – I fear for them though. How do I think we will do? I’m hoping that we retain most our attacking threat with a bit more bite in the form of shots and turning pressure into goals but it’s going to be tough in our second season after losing our entire management team and two key players. But I’m always an optimist and although some might see us being mid table or even lower, I am hoping we have enough to stay in that top 10 and push on from last year as there’s nothing to fear. Note to Ferrie – you owe us so repay us on the pitch. One thing you know, it won’t be boring..... let battle commence but please give Sousa a chance to develop his own brand of football and let’s make the Liberty a fortress again. Bring it on!!
Arrivals
A Christmas blog (get it?)
Right just finishing work early so reading up on the guestbook and thought I’d do what it says on the tin ie a quick blog rather than an article. Can't believe no-one's mentioned Parker doing criminal damage in a massage parlour, if it was Andrew or Dai I'd understand as the tables can give way allegedly under stress.... lol Make no mistake our biggest challenge in H1 2008 will be managing injuries and suspensions as per the last couple of years - a team of our stadium and finances should be well placed to cope but you need a big dose of luck - I have a funny feeling RM will get more of it than KJ but the more you work the luckier you get they say. Way coming back must be helpful as Feeney is a big loss for me, shame he's not a striker. I agree with Haydn that we need a Feeney type which we haven't got, someone who can (god forbid for us) head a goal and not from a set-piece. Parker would be good but isn't that type, I'd still take him though. I am still hoping to make the Leeds game as no sign of a junior Captain Scarlet but may need to trade off Cheltenham instead - great to hear we are honouring John Charles, let's hope both sets of fans act suitably, I'm sure they will. Interesting to see another young lad leaving Cardiff, has to be good for the national team, it would be great if we could develop a production line again on the back of success on and off the field, but academies are a big investment. Anyway, it just leaves me to wish all those linked to the Swans, whether fans, the players or staff “Nadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda” Scarlet
Whisper it quietly but could it be our year at last…
I don’t want to get too excited but I’m just starting to feel like this could be our year to become the bride after two years as bridesmaid. On what grounds of logic I hear you say? Forget logic, it’s over-rated, (don’t tell Spock) this is based on pure superstition and tea leaves. What grounds do I have for this? I give you the following convincing arguments m’lud…
The Northampton game did give me grounds for optimism as reading the guestbook and watching the crowd at the Liberty would not give any missing canoeists the faintest inkling that we are top of League One – I wish some fans would just stop for a second and consider that we do not have the God-given right to win every home game 3-0 and be 2 up after 20 while passing it Brazilian style (the type of fans that we used to hate at "big" clubs") – even if we do, some moan that the other team were crap so it doesn’t mean much – well Northampton have done us a favour by drawing 2-2 at home to Carlisle yesterday so can’t be that bad and as most managers would say you can only beat what’s in front of you. I know you could say most teams look good when 2 up so soon, but I really think it applies to us more than most as we have the skills to knock the ball around but you need to earn the right to do that through effort first – if management can drill that in to the players I am convinced we can go up. We are top yet you could argue we have hit the heights we all know the boys are capable of only on a few occasions – if we can turn the home form into an asset, we are halfway there as our game suits an away formation at present. As others have said we have some huge league games coming up – I would be happy to go out in round 4 of the Cup away to Man Utd (as long as we do not get side-tracked and enjoy the chance to play against the best) and go out of the JP and FAW as Leeds have – some real six pointers where a scrappy 1-0 would do me fine. It would be great if we could open up a gap on the pack as it is so bunched there now. Talking of Man Utd, I don’t often watch Match of the Day but will cast an eye over Derby given Leacock and Moore’s presence – it’s hard to tell from highlights but they are obviously having a very hard time at the moment. Not many have mentioned the crowd v Northampton but I don’t read too much into it – less than 11k for a top of the table Swans might seem low (oh how we have changed!) but I take part of the blame working for the Bank of England so gave them a nudge last week when they lowered rates. Early December fans are feeling the pinch financially and we have had so many home midweek games in poor weather recently – a Saturday game would add 2k to the crowd at least I think at the moment. It’s important that the fans stay behind the team in coming weeks and give the Liberty that bounce and noise of sound we know it is capable of and what seems to turn refs against us ie they don’t want to look intimidated. And I know it may not be to everyone’s liking but I personally hope Cardiff sort their problems out – I know lots of their fans up here and believe it or not they are just like us in their passion for their club, it’s just misplaced that’s all, and they share the same feelings towards us. We are a small nation and I wish sometimes we’d stick together more on big issues like this and set aside rivalries – I’d rather have them there to beat than see them disappear as we need more Welsh youngsters coming through like Ched Evans, Gunter, Ledley and Ramsey, and they are doing a far better job of it than we are the moment if you look at the Welsh team and big money rumours about their players. I’d rather us finish top of the Premiership, then Wrexham and Cardiff third than see us as the only Welsh league team left. As for the game v Horsham, their striker is out but their keeper gets his chance after missing the first game for a red, which is what the Cup is all about – to be fair they will probably bring more fans than most teams we play anyway so deserve our respect, and not just because of the Sky money. With a little one on the way I am picking my games more carefully now so will skip this one and come down for Southend, skipping Cheltenham for Leeds too – hear’s hoping for the home run to turn into a roll by the time Scarlet junior surfaces, hopefully to a life of us being in the Championship in front of big crowds ….
I’m a Swans player, get me out of here… After being forced to watch you know what by the missus, I hit on the foolproof idea to turn the tables on our recent dichotomy (get that scrabble score up!) in form – no I’m not advocating Biggins and Rodney March up front, although that Gemma certainly might feature, but given our team’s view that the Liberty is a bit like the jungle at the moment, we obviously need to adopt some reverse psychology…. Luckily RM has bought into it so we are actually sharing a flight down from Newcastle airport with the Hartlepool lads – RM accepted my theory that the boys need to think they are playing away, so they travelled across from Birkenhead (they were gutted to leave their four star refinery sorry hotel) on Saturday for the Lake District and agreed to split the cost as long as the oppo lads bailed out first if it was a bumpy ride. All Swans fans are asked to gather in the North Stand, and ignore police requests to circle the stadium to the left when leaving the Asda Stand as you will only be trying to fight yourselves – that shouldn’t be too hard as we do that pretty well on the guestbook already. You are not allowed in Rossi’s and you can’t have a pint before the match as they don’t take away fans. The “real” away fans will also be given blow up sheep so they can pretend they are original as if they are at home. Swans fans will be expected to be pleased with a draw or defeat most matches and sing their hearts throughout with prizes for longest continuous Martinez barmy army and Men of Harlech chants ie you must act as a hardcore away fan who has travelled for many years to watch us play at the arse end of nowhere and be pleased with a scrappy 1-0 win. RM is going to play 3-5-2 from the off and the players will change in the away dressing room. A bit far fetched maybe but is there anything to stop us doing something along these lines – the referee might give us more decisions too on this basis? Each time we say it after the last decent away game, and each time we sit back, wait for them to score and the ref give some crass decisions before we get going. I have really admired the offensive substitutions RM has made during games but 3-5-2 seems to be a step too far for him and I don’t understand why to be honest. If we are playing four at the back they each have to be good passing footballers so that rules Kev out. It also encourages us to use our wide-men, an area where we can really hurt teams, and I don’t see why we can’t try it for one match when 4-4-2 has patently not worked at home. It only works if we score first but we don’t show enough up and at ‘em for my liking to do that – our up and at ‘em seems to have already upped and left the building as we seem drained, nervous and stilted. Having watched some of the Euro games, maybe we need take a hint from Feeney’s team, At least at last we maybe have signs for optimism from the boys in red via the under 21s and a good battling away draw in Anyway back to the
Thank God it's Friday
Nice blog by Cazza, and a nice hint by Dai that I've not done one so I thought I'd post random thoughts in my lunch hour - Cazza cool down on this work rate or you'll never make it as a respected journo - maybe Sky don't want to be seen favouring us as RM is a La Liga pundit, but then again we weren't favoured that much before that. Maybe it's the old London thinking that Swansea is actually much further than it is - most there seem to think it's at least ooh 300 miles to the land of caves and no radio, and we all watch One Man and his dog - well we do but that's no way to talk about a night out in Cardiff. So another match tonight, they seem to be coming at a rate of knots at the moment, but that's our own fault for not getting knocked out of the Paint Pot Cup. I think we have approached it reasonably sensibly as it's given RM the chance to ease some player back from injury and others into first team action given our squad size. It's also given me the chance to cram as many games in as I can before I become a dad for the first time (due date December 30 so hope to make the Leeds game on the 29th but it may be wishful thinking given we live in Cardiff - don't be surprised to hear an announcement calling me back during the game though if I manage to sneak off for some milk and don't come back for 5 hours...). It's interesting to see RM make use of loans of fringe players out to other teams such as Craney and Way, probably more than other Swans managers, as well as to Port Talbot. Way's move to Yeovil as a rival rather than a League Two team like Accrington was a bit of a surprise, implying maybe it's the start of a move back there for him - it would be a shame but understandable as his luck has been terrible here and may be he just needs some familiar scenery to help him along. The results in the JPT implied others at our level fielded weakened teams but is was interesting to see Leeds had 18k there against Bury - our JPT crowds have been very strong at 5-6k and must be second after Leeds as Forest had 3k odd for a one game. This shows the family friendly time of 7pm, although a pain for many, worked well - it was ok for me as I could get away from work in Cardiff on time those days, but I wouldn't wish for it to become the norm. I know I am biased given my family position, but I just feel this is our year for going up. I've already christened the cat Jack so, as someone suggested should opt for first scorer v Leeds as the new addition's name if it's a boy - some would suggest I could still use it for a few of the team if it's a girl given some performances - and Darren Duffy Derrick does have a nice rhythm to it... Debate continues to rage about our centre half pairing - Tate played better as the game went on as make no mistake our defence was awful in the first ten minutes as were most of the team - but I do feel a bit for Lawrence as errors by the likes of Monk and Dorus are far more likely to be overlooked, although to be fair they get away with them either through very quick recovery or just luck, something Dennis doesn't. It was good to see Bodde back but he needs to calm his tackling down or he'll be off more than on, while Duffy just needs a goal any way. I would be tempted to give Bauza and Tate a start as it's important that they see good games will be rewarded and RM doesn't have favourites, leaving Duffy on the bench. As for tonight, as Cazza said, we owe the Terriers a big one, and it would be poetic justice if it were to take us back to the top if only temporarily. Another Friday night game with hopefully a repeat of the good bouncing crowd from the Gills game, let's just hope we don't get another shocker of a ref to match too..... Scarlet
After you, no after you, no I insist after you
Are we the politest or most shy team in football? A daft question given our number of sendings off and the publicity Mr Trundle attracts I hear you say. The reason I ask is that the current promotion situation reminds me of a group of very polite blokes on a night out insisting the other one goes first in asking the pair of nice girls to dance while the others are too shy and say "no after you I insist – I just need one more pint to get some Dutch courage and then I’ll go for it, honest". Southend obviously got fed up of this and thought "sod it we'll just go for it by ourselves" and now they have done the chat, got the girl to laugh at their jokes, have been on a few dates and are about to consummate the relationship so to speak. They keep wondering why no-one has followed them though? Do the others know something they don't, maybe we haven’t followed suit as she’ll be expensive next year, she’ll want to change everything about them and they’ll never see their mates again. On the other hand they think, we wanted to get better quality mates now as we’ve outgrown Hartlepool and MK Dons, and he who dares wins. At the moment Brentford seem painfully shy to go up and are just hanging back for someone to take that second place - they thought we'd only be too happy to do so but now we've gone all coy too. Barnsley and Oldham seemed to be more pushy but they have now become shy and retiring aswell. In the meantime Forest, who were standing by the bar watching all this and daydreaming about the one that got away have suddenly thought “hang on, that girl left dancing by herself just looks so forlorn now with her mate off with Southend, she just wants a bit of company – what have I got to lose?” so they dumped their missus as she kept changing her outfits once too often and never wanted to go out. Now I am hoping that we will react to the latecomer and go for it ourselves now – that girl won’t stay by herself all night will she? To be fair we have been distracted a little recently – there were some younger girls dancing nearby and we got swayed a little but we knew they weren’t the real thing, they were just a bit of fun but it was nice to get our hands on their two cups for a bit! But you know if you go for it, her parents will want you to settle down – we bought that nice new house but the neighbours aren’t very nice in League One Road, let’s see if we can step up the ladder and get that four bedroom detached place on Championship Road – yes it will cost more but you need to move on in life, you can’t stand still as someone else will go for it instead. There’s only six records left for the DJ to play, I just hope our boys make sure it’s us sprinting up to that girl and grabbing the last dance before the free for all when the lights come up. If we don’t, let’s hope we can still stumble over the dance floor, miss the big lad Forest who’s now started to feel the effects of his Dutch courage, and sneak a snog outside on the way home to our new pad, the Championship! Dylan Thomas once said about Swansea that it was the graveyard of ambition – Kenny just needs to pin that to the wall and ask the players what they make of that statement. Cheers Captain Scarlet
Click here to go back to main page
|
Captain Scarlet
|
