Planet Swans ArchivesAshley Williams says he is in the best form of his career as he continues his ever present record at West Brom this afternoon
This afternon will see Williams make his 33rd appearance of the campaign – 23 in the Premier League, 3 in the cups and 6 international appearances.
And that 33rd appearance will come at the Hawthorns – home of West Brom who turned down Williams as a youngster before he learned his trade in the lower divisions.
“I think I’m probably in the best form of my career,” Williams told the Western Mail
“I’ve never played at this level before and obviously I’m pleased I’ve been able to take what I was doing and the form I was showing in the Championship into a new division playing against some of the best players in the world.
“That was always my aim. My ambition was to get into the Premier League. Then it was about kicking on.
“As footballers we are a moaning bunch, I just try to be realistic as to where I am at and where I was a few years ago. It has always been a case of, ‘I never want to go back,’” he said.
“I use those hard times to motivate me. It’s a dream today, but I’ve had to do 12-hour shifts and I know what the real world is about.”
Williams does laugh when it’s put to him if he asked to play against Bolton in last week’s FA Cup tie, the £400,000 signing from Stockport being the only player not to have been rested by Rodgers.
“There wasn’t anyone else,” said Williams.“I had a problem with my neck and I couldn’t head the ball properly. It was a struggle but you get on with it.
“I’ve played every minute, but I enjoy playing and you want to make the most of these opportunities.”
The Swans line up against West Brom just four days after they were denied another famous victory against Chelsea thanks to an injury time own goal
“You could say it’s less glamorous but it’s just as important,” he said, the short trip to face Albion coming after a famous win over Chelsea was denied in midweek with a cruel injury-time goal from Jose Bosingwa.
“And we want to go there and do well and use the disappointment from Chelsea to drive us on.
“There was a lot of frustration in that dressing room on Tuesday, but it shows how far we’ve come when you see how different it was when we played them earlier this year.
“Things like that can floor you, but it’s not one like Wolves away where we threw it away, we weren’t too down and we can learn and drive on knowing what we can do at this level.
“Roy Hodgson is a wonderful coach who sets his teams up very well,” Rodgers says.
“They play a certain way and are very patient, and that means we may have to be very patient this weekend. They are tight in their lines, get very close and that’s the great challenge for us – that’s the tactical element I enjoy.”
