Rochdale Programme

In The Programme – Rochdale

It’s been a pretty good few days for the Swans. Two league wins and a draw in our last three games have revamped hopes of a play off spot come the end of the season. By all accounts (I didn’t see it!) it was a cracking game here at the Vetch last Friday against Doncaster and a draw against the league leaders must always be classed as a good result. We now have the chance to build on that with what must seem, on paper at least, as a run of games that we have every chance of winning. With all due respect to Rochdale, Southend, Scunthorpe and Macclesfield we have to be looking to take somewhere near maximum points from these games if we are to be in there in the final shake up come May.

It’s also great to see Stuart Roberts back at the Vetch and of course back in the scoring habit so early on as well. I was shocked to read some of his comments in the press over the weekend about how he was treated at Wycombe. I’m not sure where Lawrie Sanchez was coming from in some of his comments towards Stu but from my own experience it certainly isn’t the way to motivate people or make them perform better. Maybe it was a carry over from Sanchez’s days in the crazy gang which must make you wonder what Mr Hammam is coming out with at Ninian Park eh? Still, Stu is ‘back home’ now amongst the people who appreciate what he is capable of and soon we will have him back at his best and taking on and beating defenders for fun.

I couldn’t help but watch the FA Cup quarter finals with a touch of envy over the weekend. After narrowly missing out to Tranmere in the last round they got their draw at Millwall and, just after I write this, will enter the draw for the semi finals of the competition. That could so easily have been us but hopefully we will have our own trip to the Millennium Stadium in May to look forward to. Play off glory or cup semi final – I know which one I would choose.

Due to the cancellation of this match previously, I have not had chance in these notes to mention the passing of John Charles. There was no doubt that Wales’ lost it’s finest ever footballer when his death was announced and I also believe that there will never be another one like him. It is great to see the Evening Post pushing so hard for a permanent memorial to the great man inside the city and I guess that Swans fans everywhere will be backing this over the coming weeks. Talk of naming the new stadium after him is going to end as just that – talk – but there certainly has to be a memorial to him inside the city so that his legend lives on well past his generation. I’m not old enough to have seen him play but I can safely say I wish I had been. Only now and again does a real legend pass before your eyes and John was without a doubt just that.

Anyway, that is it from me for this particular game. Sadly, once again circumstance does dictate that I cannot be there tonight but I shall be there in spirit so C’MON THE JACKS.

Phil Sumbler (phil@sumbler.freeserve.co.uk)

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