Planet Swans ArchivesKeith Haynes – author of Walking on Sunshine – continues his regular monthly view on all things Swansea City
I think last seasons managerial excuses for being totally outplayed by a superb Swansea City side have been put in to the shade somewhat by some of this seasons offerings as little old Swansea deliver a few footballing lessons to so called established premier league teams. Last season the general explanation for being on the end of a few Swansea slappings was that the opposition ‘ didn’t play well ‘ or were ‘ depleted ‘ due to injury or in one case the absolute stunning reply after a certain hammering ‘ We are looking more towards next season ‘ Fantastic news for the travelling supporters who had spent a whole day travelling and spending their hard earned on a relegated football teams last throws of life in the championship.
Now this season – it all started off with the excuses of Roy Hodgson his ‘ I thought we played poorly ‘ routine was a text book excuse but he followed it up with ‘ the referee lent a hand in some of the big game decisions ‘So, nothing to do with you then Roy boy. Tony Pulis was better on all levels stating it was Stoke’s inability to get in to the game that set up a Swansea win. ‘ We played well , even better than they did, but we were poor at the start ‘ is almost a classic response, but he improved his lot with the ‘ we played better than them ‘ statement. But how could they ? Swansea destroyed them. Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle blamed everybody but his team and his tactics when they lost at The Liberty. He blamed the referee Mark Clattenburg, he blamed Neil Taylor for fouling his players, he blamed two soft yellow cards and then he blamed Swansea for their style of play. Now who would you rather watch ? Bolton or Swansea ? Now let me think that one through ……..
I will leave the best until last though. Daniel Agger, after being totally outplayed on the football field when The Swans flew in to Liverpool stated ‘ We ran around like headless chickens in the first half, we were so poor ‘Lets analyse this statement. It wont take long. Why would Liverpool players be running around like headless chickens ? Is it the fact they are actually poultry based footballers or maybe, and excuse me folks for this total football revelation, they were outplayed for most of the game ? And why was this ? Well, I am going to yet again astound you, It had something to do with the fact that Swansea had the ball, and those so called better Liverpool players were getting so frustrated ( and tactically inept Kenny ) they could do nothing more than run around trying to get it back. Like herds of kids in a fifty a side game at school, shouting and screaming with no co-ordination and tactic to respond to our total domination of the game. The only way Daniel Agger and his outclassed team would have been happy would have been to give them their own ball to play with.
Yes, Swansea City have had compliments this season, but none if any of the managers who have provided our opposition have once stated after a defeat that they were outplayed, or outclassed or indeed out thought. For that we have to smile, and for that we really should draw the positives. No manager would state a positive in our favour because it reflects so badly on their team, style of play and awareness that they would be one step further towards the precipice that is the sack. A 50 million pound team being run ragged and outplayed by cheap signings ( a back four that cost less than 850k ) and free transfers ( a midfield that at times cost less than a million ) is the last thing they need exposing, because it exposes their own frailty and inability to scout, sign and deliver the goods for their own established football clubs. And lets be honest if you were on a million smackers a year you wouldn’t want that taken away
either – would you ? Only a dafty would do that.
We are forever the pain in the footballing backside of the illustrious premier league manager, who live a lifestyle not fitting the product they deliver, the hopeless Coyle’s and Hodgson’s, the ineffective Pulis’s and Jol’s and the haphazard Dalglish’s just have to accept it, we are better than they are, be it overall or on the day. And if that acceptance is made in the glare of the media or indeed in the privacy of their own gold tapped, under floor heated en suite bathroom, they have to accept it. For me – and you I know, it leaves that smile and that knowing look, that the opposition that we play and the excuses they continue to make are merely hidden compliments to a manager, his staff and team, that has so much more to achieve, and so much more to prove.
Continue reading between the lines folks, the excuses say more in our favour than any compliment I could think of.
Onwards Jacks.
Keith haynes.
Keith will be signing copies of ‘ Walking on Sunshine ‘ in Waterstones Swansea at 11am – 1pm on Saturday 17th December 2011
http://www.list.co.uk/place/20004207-waterstones/
And then at WH Smith Swansea Quadrant from 1.30pm until 3.30pm.
Come along and have a Swansea City chat.
