Planet Swans Archiveselow you are going to read some negativity, yes negative comments follow.
First some positives – the team have been exceptional, out of this world in fact. the numbers following the Swans have been amazing, both at home and away (we almost had 700 for a mickey mouse game against Reading). The vocal support given has indeed lifted the players tremendously and IS part of the reason why we are where we are – which some may think what they are about to read is a contradiction
It takes no genius to work out that the swans have an increased following (the Swansea and surrounding areas stand up and take a bow), and some fans may care about the swans more than others (personally I don’t care – the more the merrier – lets fill the rock every game). While the atmosphere has been brilliant there have been some alarming comments that I have heard from around me. For e.g “trundle is not good enough for this league”, “Ricketts you donkey”, “Austin you Wurzel t t” (correct on one front). These are not jokey comments that are sometimes made, these are fully meant.I have also heard from other fans that some people just go to moan. Now for me whoever dons that precious white shirt (sometimes black at away games), deserves nothing but encouragement and certainly no abuse.
(I can’t believe I’m writing this when we are top of the league”).
What has brought on this rant is simply what I witnessed at Bournemouth on Tuesday. What wason showfor the first 30mins was a footballing masterclass which would not be out of place at the Bernebau. Ricketts aka Roberto Carlos and Tate ala Michel Selgado were overlapping with every flowing movement and trundle’s chest control and holding the ball up you will not see in the Premiership. When Bournemouth got the ball the outstanding central defenders were ably assisted by Martinez and Marcus Bean who played the blocker aka makelele role. We should have been 10 up before we scored. Leon deserves a special mention as does the whole team. After scoring the mood changed. After all we were playing an established League One team whom despite injuries has a decent team sheet and had not lost at home this season.
As pressure seemed to mount without any great creation some fans seemed to round on Marcus Bean especially the gentleman behind me. When most fans were rallying behind him seeing him make some great blokes some analysed his every touch even under great pressure. The gentlemen in question when I enquired what has he done wrong and i pointed out his blocking abilities as being witnessed as we speak said ” I simply don’t like him”. Classic!
In the second half (we should have scored another 10 by the way), again the negative comments towards Bean such as “Get him off”, You are useless etc”. Some sung for Andy Robinson throughout the second half but i thought to myself who do we take off? – the ones singing wanted Bean, a natural defensive midfielder having a great game for Robbo an attacker, when we already had Bayo and Trundle 2 on 2 up front as they went to 2-6-2 formation, (that’s the tactics bit). Stats we had 27 chances to score – they had 4 meaningful ones. There would probably be a mutiny if an away team done to us what we did to Bournemouth, i certainly haven’t seen a team rip us apart like that.
The whole point of this article is to simply say everyone is entitled to their opinion, but negativity towards and rounding on one player during a game will do no one, especially that player any good, only encouragement will. (did you see how chuffed Bayo was that the fans were behind him after the Forest game). If you think someone has had a stinker discuss in the pub and on this messageboard (that’s what it is hear for).
This season has seen an amazing bond between the players, management and fans shown during the celebrations at the end of the game on Tuesday.
If we lose tomorrow or whenever we lose the recognition of what this team has done must be appreciated and shown. We are going to lose at home again. We will lose by more than2 goals away but we areall in this together.Iknow everyone is going to be gutted (I feel sick when we lose and it ruins my weekend), but please remember where we have come from to get here.
Let’s keep that special feeling and bond no matter what the score. The company that i am working for has its motto as “One (Company name)” the same can be applied here – we are “ONE SWANSEA”.
Mark. STID
