Here we go again as we return to the Vetch looking for our first win here in 2005 at the fourth attempt. Whilst home form hasn’t been great, it matters not as we sit in a very healthy position in 3rd place going into this game with a gap that is slowly widening between us and the chasing pack.
The win at Boston last weekend I have a feeling may be a turning point in our season where we go from a side that is ticking along nicely to a side that will go into overdrive, something which we all hope will start this afternoon. A win today and a win against the side currently one below us next Friday will see us much closer to the goal, which I think may be less than the generally acclaimed 82 points for this season.
Last time out here of course was the FA Cup tie against Reading and at this point I think I have to say what an enjoyable game to watch. Despite the goalless first 45 minutes it was one of the best halves of football we have played this season and on another day we would most definitely have found the net at least once in the game. Some of the comments that were posted on the message board of the site after the game from fans of various clubs backed this up and there is no disgrace in going out of the FA Cup in a performance like that. I’m glad in a way that it was the last FA Cup tie at the Vetch – it probably summed up so many of the great ones that have passed in the past.
Yet again though it was spoiled by another object being thrown on the pitch. How many times do we have to see this happen before we can rid the club of what I can only describe as scum. The people that do this are not supporters and the club most definitely does not need them. Sooner or later it is going to mean the club forking out money to pay off some fines and as we have seen in the past the FAW aren’t usually too slow to hand out punishment to the league side west of Bridgend. Yet again I urge real supporters to point these people out. I am told that the objects are thrown from waist height which makes it difficult to spot but all it will take is one arrest and I remain that the problem will stop immediately. Let’s rid the club of this problem, as we progress in one way we take numerous steps backwards in other ways.
Full credit as well at the moment to the board and management for not being held to ransom on some of their player targets. I have always been a firm believer that you have a maximum price that you are prepared to pay for something and you don’t go above that. It may mean that we miss out on some players that we would dearly love to have here but we have been down the road too often in the past of paying over the odds and look where that got us. Let’s be patient and get the right people at the right price and in the long term the club benefits. I have seen many comments previously along the lines of “We should break the bank to get him” but should we in reality?
I should add a welcome to the Vetch as well to a true Welsh football legend in Ian Rush. Few will forget what Rush did for us on the international scene and it remains a great sadness that he never got to show his talents on the biggest stage. He has done a good job in difficult circumstances at Chester and I am sure that their fans will hope that next season will see them building on that even further. Assisting Rushie is of course a man that Swans fans have talked about many times in the past and I have two simple words for Mr Aizelwood if he is reading – Giovanni Savarese! I’m sure both these Welsh players will have a reception this afternoon from the home crowd!!
Anyway, onwards and upwards, just 8 games and 13 weeks left at the Vetch after today – savour it while you can!