Planet Swans ArchivesThere is no doubting that at the very top of the football ladder it can. You only have to watch sides like Real Madrid and realise that the game can be played the way it was meant to be and that it doesn’t have to be at the cost of success.
As every Swans fan reading will know we won the championship of this division in 1999/2000 playing what many will tell you the worst kind of football to watch in living memory. We based a championship side around a rock solid defence based on the principle that one goal would most of the time give us three points. And it worked. We won the championship but did you really enjoy it? Compare it to some of the football this season and tell me what you have preferred? A look at the attendances suggest it is the football of this season – gates are higher now than they were then – surely that is more than a co-incidence.
Oxford have drawn much criticism for the way that they played last night but it was effective. They got the point – the bare minimum that they wanted – from a solid defence. Much the same as we did. And I admit they weren’t interesting to watch but several Oxford fans have been kind enough to point out that they have scored more goals than us this season. And of course they have only been beaten once. Former Swan Julian Alsop is under no illusions as to who can be credited for this tight defence “Boundy” he says without hesitation “he wins everything and he has made the defence watertight” and you can’t argue – despite the heckling from the crowd he was outstanding last night.
But Swans fans are adamant that they would rather watch the football that we have played this season and the tricks of Lee Trundle. He was quiet last night – the Oxford defence had him pretty much in their pockets – but he is exciting to watch. You get that buzz when he gets the ball and you are just waiting for him to produce something. That is what Swans fans want to see.
But can entertainment and success go hand in hand at this level. I believe they probably can. Oxford are reasonably entertaining at home even if their number one priority is not to concede whereas us and other sides try and ensure that we score. It’s just a different mentality. Mansfield, Huddersfield, Yeovil and us I would say are entertaining to watch and we will all be close in the shake up at the end although I believe that all will finish behind Oxford. Hull can be a good side but seem inconsistent and liable to a real bad run.
I don’t think we have to sacrifice the entertainment factor for success and I would hate to think that we would even consider it. I firmly believe that if we lost the entertainment factor but moved three places up the league we would see smaller crowds. It’s a fact of life – for £11 you want value for money and as we proved in 2000 if it isn’t there then people are reluctant to part with that hard earned cash.
Time will tell this season which is the most successful method but I believe Oxford will go up – I think we have a good chance but I am not convinced we will go up. But I prefer our way and if it means another season in this division then so be it? I don’t think we can knock Oxford as they want promotion and if they get it then their fans don’t seem bothered on the entertainment but I can’t knock them for that. Many Swans fans were content at the time of the championship despite the poor football because the team was winning week in week out – they are no different now.
You don’t have to sacrifice one for the other and let’s hope that the entertainers prove that come May?
