Phil Sumbler
Almost every interview that you read or listen to with member of the Swans squad seems to talk about hard work and togetherness within the squad so it was no real surprise to read yesterday that Liam Cullen was the latest in line to make this point.
It is certainly part of an offensive by everyone included within the squad, and indeed the club, to try and dispel any last suggestions that we are not united as a playing staff and management team and given the fact that we have put in four excellent results on the pitch it is difficult to argue with that particular fact.
In the days that followed the disappointment of defeat at Cardiff the suggestions were rife that the players were revolting against the new manager with suggestions being that the dressing room had been lost and a change of management was at that point, according to many, inevitable.
Since then though it has been a case that everyone involved has been at pains to point out that this was far from the truth and that hard work and plans are now coming together with is being proven with the run of results that we are seeing on the pitch.
If you think right back to the early days of the summer when Michael Duff was first appointed he referenced in his very first interview as Swans manager that “We need that one team mentality; the players, staff, fans, and board. Everyone needs to pull in the same direction because that’s the only way you’re going to achieve success.”
It seems to be a mantra that has manifested itself throughout the squad and one that they seem keen to repeat on every possible occasion as the results become stronger on the pitch.
Speaking after the 3-1 win at Plymouth on Saturday, Cullen told the official website “I think we are showing we are starting to turn the corner. You are starting to see the sort of side we are and with four wins on the bounce we can go into the international break on a real high.
“To be where we are now from a few weeks ago shows the mentality and togetherness of the group.
“Jerry (Yates) said it a few weeks ago, the one thing you cannot question about this group is its character.
“Some of us have known what it is like to go through tough periods and come out the other side, and that has been a big part of how we have responded after a difficult start to the season.
“We knew it would come if we kept working for each other, and kept creating chances for each other and you can see that in the number of goals we are scoring. We have scored three goals in three of our last four games.
“We are starting to show what we are capable of, but we have to make sure it continues.”
