Planet Swans ArchivesFriday's 2-1 defeat to Millwall was the Swans first league defeat in 19 games stretching back to November and it reduced their lead at the top from 11 to 8 with wins for both Doncaster and Carlisle. But whilst there was the usual over-reaction to a defeat, Roberto is remaining calm and appreciative that a team that goes 18 games unbeaten does not become a bad team overnight – or in this case over a weekend.
As PC World geared up for a spate of sales this weekend on the exclusive Planet Swans keyboard (above) there were calls for immediate moves into the loan market to provide cover for players currently out injured although the current injured list is getting shorter day by day with Garry Monk quite possibly another returnee on Tuesday night. A defence that kept a clean sheet at Huddersfield in shocking weather conditions is now considered not good enough and we should be out there demanding new centre halves totally blind to the fact that maybe, just maybe, our manager may have already been doing that but been unable to secure the moves that he wanted back in January? And there is every chance that new players can affect the balance of the team and it takes time to build up understandings that clearly some of our squad have with each other.
Friday's defeat for the Swans was only their fifth in the league this season and their second since September echoing the managers word's that there is no need to panic and bring in extra reinforcements. Roberto tells the Western Mail today “We’ve had this before and it’s always a test of character and how you bounce back,” he said. “These things happen and the result we had on Friday doesn’t affect our form at all. The boys are obviously disappointed, but they can’t wait to get on the pitch tomorrow. That’s the mentality we need at Swansea City.”
He added, “If we had given a poor performance and got away with a win, then I would be more disappointed than I am now.
“You are going to win and lose games over the course of the season. But, if we are going to lose, that’s the way to do it.”
For some Tuesday becomes a must win game but in reality nothing has changed other than we have one game less to achieve our goal then we had on Friday morning. Most claim that four wins will be enough and with twelve games to go I have seen nothing in the last 10 games or so to suggest that it will not happen and I still believe it will happen well before the final ball is kicked at Brighton on May 3.
Whatever you do, don't press the red button – there is no need.
