Planet Swans ArchivesSo that will be top of the league then. A position we occupied for a decent time at the start of last season but around this time we lost it and never returned to the summit again – slipping gradually away to mid table. Surely we are better equipped this time around?
Last night’s victory over Mansfield was a good one – not least because they are one of the sides likely to challenge us for those promotion places come May. A late goal was enough but it only needed that late goal thanks to two goal line clearances in the first half from Sam Ricketts and Paul Connor. Add to that some poor finishing and some good goalkeeping and the scoreline could have been more but it’s the three points that count.
There are several things that prove to me that we are a better side this time around, each of which was evident in last night’s game. And it is the reason why at this moment in time I see nothing but promotion for this team and I become more convinced than I ever have been that we made the right decision in appointing Kenny Jackett.
1. Togetherness
At the start of the season most of us believed that there was some form of split in the camp. We all knew that certain players didn’t want to see Brian Flynn leave and added with what appeared to be a bad handling of the ‘Martinez affair’ and it appeared that we had problems. It was a problem that we highlighted with the article at this link – and there remains no doubt in my mind that a divided club will always fail. However, move forward just six weeks from that article and it now appears pretty clear that we now have a united front within the players and management. For evidence just look at the reaction of the team to last night’s goal. To a man – even those that were substituted they celebrated it together. There didn’t appear to be any thoughts of favouritism for certain players just a team spirit that has been built up within the camp. A recipe for success surely?
2. Fitness
How many times last season did we point the finger to a squad that appeared unfit and unable to compete in the later stages of games? Far too many for my liking. Late goals against Luton (twice) and Mansfield have shown a side that will compete now until the end of the game and not appear two or three (or even more) yards off the pace at that stage. We don’t seem to tire as a unit and we still chase the 50/50 ball and more often than not we seem to win it. Full credit here to Kenny Jackett and is coaching staff but also to the players for working at it.
3. Strength In Depth
I am sure I was not the only fan to be talking about this last night. Last season when struggling we called on the likes of Coates, Connolly and Durkan when the chips were down and it had no effect. I look at the starting line up last night, then I look at the bench and then I look at those that are missing and think what a good squad we have built. Jackett has taken the foundations laid by Brian Flynn and added good players in the right positions. Ask a Swans fan who our best central pairing is in defence and many will say Monk and Izzy. Neither made last night’s squad due to injury so we have the more than capable pairing of Tate and Austin. And we can still call on Gurney and Ricketts to take the full back slots. It’s a luxury I don’t recall too often in my time as a Swans fan and again credit to the management for getting us to this position.
4. The Back Line
I cannot say too much about this. As a unit they are immense and our goals against column is superb. But think about it again and the changes we have been forced to make across this back line and it just makes the achievement even better. And full credit for the signing of Gueret. Roger is a hard act to follow – Willy has more than ably filled those boots and has it in him to become as much of a legend as Roger was at the Vetch. It’s hard to see sides scoring against us and remember only Northampton have managed more than one against us in the league and one of them was an own goal
5. The Fans
We all know that a winning team will bring people through the gates and more and more games will see 9000 people in them as the Swans continue this vain. The atmosphere was up again last night and it does help – many players have told me that and it rings true.
5 good reasons why the Swans are at the top of the league again tonight and I firmly believe 5 good reasons why we will stay there. It may have only been 1-0 again but I do believe that someone will get a hammering soon enough and then the goals will really start to flow again.
What a great time yet again to be a Swans fan.
