Planet Swans ArchivesAs a young kiddie of seven years of age I found myself drawn to Chelsea FC purely because they were the FA Cup winners, and I was privileged enough to watch the 1970 replay against Leeds Utd at Old Trafford. Chelsea won 2-1.
A year later I was the happiest young man in my school when Real Madrid were despatched by the same scoreline, as The Blues won the European Cup Winners Cup. I also remember that 13-0 result for Chelsea on their way to the final.
Overall a 21-0 two legged result against Jeunesse Hattacshe seemed fair. My favourite players at The Bridge were Peter Osgood, Ian Hutchinson, David Webb and one John Hollins. I still got a good fix of footy at The Vetch Field at the time but like all youngsters I also ” liked ” another club.
I liked John as a player because of his commitment and clear domination of the Chelsea midfield and defence. He was a member of the 1964 England Youth team that participated in Spain in the World Cup and it seemed that every time you read about Chelsea you read about John Hollins.
I even remember writing a piece on him for a school project at the age of six. But since his arrival at The Vetch I have been critical, and here are the reasons. The main factor was the season before last when we needed fresh blood at the club during the last few months of the season.
We could have gone up automatically if he had got in a few loan signings, and the loss of Roger Freestone and Martin Thomas was crucial. John Hollins just seemed incapable of doing anything. And I refuse to believe there were no players out there, if you recall he kept saying ” This squad is good enough ” It failed at Scunthorpe, and our hopes were dashed for twelve months.
It’s a hell of an investment on the promises of one man as a football fan. His failure to sign players has been a crucial factor too. Everyone, even the most blinkered Swans fan could see when we needed players in. Now, he was either stopped by Neil Mcclure, in which case Hollins should say so, or he as I believe is not brave enough to venture in to the transfer market himself.
And yes, in two and a half years he has not signed a British based professional footballer. Is this a man with contacts in the game ? His signings to date have been Walter Boyd, and I insist that Steve Hamer was instrumental here, Tommy Mutton ( Alan Curtis has to take the blame for Tommy ) Andrew Mumford ( Llanelli, and Leighton James made this happen ) David Romo and Gio. The last two from a video ! Clear now ? He hasn’t signed who we needed, has he ?
Okay, he’s a good manager, with young players. But Stu Roberts is not happy, and could be moving on very shortly if he has his way. Jason Price finds himself the pawn in a transfer game with Cardiff City, I am told that he could also go to West Brom or Sunderland, but both need convincing. Think about it, West Brom equals Frank Burrows.
If Jason doesn’t go to Cardiff, The Baggies are my bet. And then there’s Martin Thomas. He told me a few days back that he wants to stay at Swansea and play for his place. He is settled in the area and his partner, who is very supportive of Martin also has good employment in the area. But of course he needs decent money as a second division footballer. Hollins is quoted as saying ”
These opportunities to bring in new players have not been available to me before ” That’s the reason why Martin Thomas, Jason Price, Stu Roberts and even Steve Jones could all be surplus to requirements. I am told that you could see both Jonesy and Thommo in Cheltenham shirts next season. The question is has John Hollins the ability to bring in new players, his track record hardly convinces me, and thank god he didn’t sign Mark Stein.
The real question is – Can he sign players that are of better ability than those already mentioned ? Before I go I have to make mention of Nick Cusack. Now this man has to take a step backwards. I have NEVER had a go at the players of Swansea City before, and I challenge anyone to prove otherwise. Even potential England International Aidan Newhouse made good his escape before I had a go at him. So why Mr Cusack ? I am reliably told that he believes that some supporters of Swansea City FC want bad things for the club. Oh dear, and I thought he was an educated man.
We should support the team I agree, and I always have. But Cusack’s ignorant comments are too much to take on board. You see, he clearly is a very gullible charactor if he thinks we are going to see Mr Mcclure build a new stadium, I never believed he would, and still don’t. Jan Molby was dead right ” You can’t run about in Rolls Royce cars with out a tenner for petrol ”
And yes, I still believe that John Hollins should have gone last season, now as club captain Cusack was right to galvanise the players and spur us on last season. But since 1968 I have been going to Swansea City, I have spent my last pennies and gone serioulsy in to debt to watch the team play. I don’t need Cusack, a man who will be a mere memory in two years time having a go at intelligent supporters.
You see Mr Cusack, we care, we have no hidden agendas to make money out of the club and talk about stadiums that will never be built. We can see when things are wrong, the very staff who administrate the club tell us, because they care too. We now see the fruition of Swansea City policy with youngsters swelling the coffers of Ninth Floor PLC. Players leaving because they are not wanted, players who should be on contracts, and he wants the likes of me to keep quiet ?
You have no chance Mr Captain. All I can say is that I wish he too was on the list of outgoing players from The Vetch Field. We should not tolerate a man who slags off the very people who pay his wages, who support the team through thick and thin and gain no benefit from it. His ramblings about the internet supporters and other supporters groups who challenged the manager last season are ill conceived. He clearly is a footballer looking for a job as his playing years finish, and we should not be used to get him such a position because he is half way up the cavity of the manager.
Mr Cusack, be quiet and lead the team, understand us before you critisise us, and at least then make judgement when you know us. Until then, keep quiet. You have no right.
A Merry Christmas to all discerning Jacks wherever they may be, and I before I go may I say this. For all the years you have supported Swansea City just how many players have you seen in the white shirt ? And just how many can you really remember, and how many do you need reminding of ?
And on that point I wish Nicholas Cusack a Merry Christmas too.
May his turkey not be too hard to swallow.
