Planet Swans ArchivesIn fact you could probably go as far as saying that if it were not for Garry Monk then Brendan Rodgers would probably not be anywhere near the Liverpool manager’s seat at this point in time.
It was the desperate challenge of Monk that deflected a Reading shot onto the post in the second half of our play off final win with the score at 3-2 to the Swans but with Reading very much in the ascendancy. Had that gone in then many will believe that Reading would have gone onto win the game and taken the place in the Premier League that the Swans eventually won. And without that Premier League place then it is difficult to believe that Liverpool would have moved for Rodgers when they did.
So whilst Monk believes that he owes Rodgers plenty then I am sure Rodgers is just as indebted to his former captain – a man who was a long serving captain of the club before being appointed as a successor to Michael Laudrup just 13 months ago.
He was overlooked for a second manager of the month award earlier this week but is well on course to lead the Swans to their best Premier League points tally – eclipsing that figure earned by Rodgers’ Swans in 2012.
His respect though for his former manager is plain for all to see and in an interview in today’s Independent he said of his former gaffer “My values are more old school – honesty which Brendan had. His professionalism, the discipline to do your job the best you can every single day. His man-management was brilliant. Then there’s the technical, tactical side of it. All those things Brendan did very well. And he was approachable, likeable and enthusiastic”
Wide praise for certain for the man who pulled the Swans into the Premier League and kept us there in the first season when we were heavily tipped to make the drop. Ironically Rodgers last game in charge was a 1-0 win over Liverpool at the Liberty and he is yet to taste a victory at the ground since with his two visits so far both ending in draws.
But whatever the result tomorrow you can guarantee that there will be the upmost respect from the two managers towards each other while we hope for a Swans win to wipe out the memory of the heavy defeat at Anfield just after Christmas.
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