Planet Swans ArchivesWell folks, here we are again looking to make this eight straight home league wins in the league and nine in all competitions. A run that started back on August 30 when Lincoln were beaten at the Vetch is still running.
Back then the Swans were in the lower reaches of the division so much has changed as we come into this game with a five point cushion separating us from the non promotion spots and a position that we can consolidate and then build on starting from today. I have been unlucky enough to miss the last couple of matches through other commitments so for me it’s my first league game in over a month, I’d like to see a win if we can please.
Last Saturday saw a couple of minutes of madness end another unbeaten run that we had pieced together. Having watched the incidents on the television it’s pretty safe to say that Garry Monk was hard done by with his red card and if that had not have been produced would it have sprung the same reaction out of Andy Robinson? We will never know on that front but it was alarming to read earlier on in the week that only Chester have a worse disciplinary record than us at this stage of the season. While our squad holds a decent number in comparison to others, we cannot afford suspensions and problems like this afternoon which sees us without five first team regulars for the visit of Bury. Luckily we have built a strong squad and now will be the time for the likes of Leon Britton, Gary Fisken and Alan Tate to show what they are capable of and that they deserve a regular place in the starting line up.
Whilst the madness was going on at Shrewsbury, I was sat at the County Ground in Swindon watching the home side defeat their visitors, Hull by 4 goals to 2 (remember a scoreline like that against Hull?) The good news for us is that I cannot say that I saw a fantastic increase in standard between football in league one and league two although the rain, sleet and snow that was falling in Swindon did not help the game flow in possibly the way that maybe it could have done. However, if we do achieve our goal of promotion this term then we should also look forward to next season with some optimism that we are much better equipped then we were last time around and only a few additions will be needed and not wholesale changes to the playing squad.
This time next week as well will see us looking to progress to the third round of the FA Cup once more with an away tie at Stockport County. I’m sure that Mr Cutler will be kept busy on the afternoon but am I the only one who hopes we get through and then just simply draw a big club away in the third round to put some money in the bank but leaving us to concentrate on the league. I don’t buy the theory that the FA Cup run last season was a huge distraction but this time around I would rather not take the chance. Man Utd, Newcastle or Liverpool away will do nicely with a big crowd, plenty of money and then from January 8 onwards, league football is all that counts. But as I say I could be alone in that way of thinking?
Congratulations must also go this week to John Toshack on his appointment as manager of the Welsh national team. Common sense prevails at the Welsh FA in making the only real decision that they could have made. However, Toshack we know has not got an easy job ahead of him – I may be the merchant of doom and gloom here but I fear that Wales have another bleak period ahead of us in the next few years. Many of our better players have retired, or will soon retire, from the international scene and sadly there is not the same calibre of players coming through to replace them. You can have the best manager in the world in charge of a team but if they have not got the players then the job becomes very difficult. Toshack though believes that he will take us to a major championship finals – I sincerely hope he is right. Good luck Tosh.
Anyhow, that is about it from me – here’s to three points for the Swans again this afternoon and who knows, top of the league again tonight??
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