The Unthinkable?

2005/2006 – The Unthinkable?

The Board, despite Huw Jenkins’ thinly veiled criticisms are unlikely to yet bite the bullet on this one, so there is presently little mileage in it.

I made my feelings regarding the quality of our management and squad well known during the period September to January, and see no point in reiterating them now, other than to say that from previously being ambivalent about Flynn’s position, I have gradually found my total frustration with his apparent lack of management skills, inflexibility, tactical naivety and dearth of motivational powers having driven me firmly into the “Flynn out” camp despite my desperate wish to retain the stability that the appointment of this establishment figure has brought.

Unfortunately, any criticism that I, and others, have made of Brian Flynn has been seen by many as anti-Swans and totally unjustified towards the man who is going to take us to the Promised Land.

Ultimately, my interest is this club, and this club only – I do not care who is Manager of this club, and I have absolutely nothing personal against Brian Flynn, I would just prefer not to have him as Manager of my football club.

This all brings me to my main short-term concern – next season.

My feelings are that it is absolutely imperative, in our last season at the Vetch and imminently moving into a brand new White Rock, that we gain promotion (comfortably) – the thought of not being promoted next season is unthinkable.

The Board and Management have made it abundantly clear that the intended aim was promotion this season (various quotes – both Huw Jenkins and Brian Flynn – December, January and February), and I’m sure that this season’s player budget was not set with a Division Three mid-table position in mind.

To achieve that expected top two finish we need to strengthen considerably – 6 or 7 players. We may have several players who are of superior skill levels in this division, but that counts for jack s t, if we do not have the mix, application and fitness.

We are so patently lacking in the areas of Fitness, Physical strength, Pace, Desire to win, Flexibility, Tactical nous (plus whatever else I haven’t thought of)

I have to be optimistic for next season – our last season at the Vetch should be one of celebration, emotion and euphoria – a special commemoration and goodbye to a huge 90 years of our lives (it seems, at times, like 90 years of my life). It should surpass, for me, the first regular, pre-teens innocent seasons of 1960-61-62, and the heady days of the late 1970’s/early 1980’s.

I just hope that the downside will not be another season of so much promise, but so little delivered – I feel at the moment that we are a long way off being able to sustain a full season’s physical and mental challenge against the likes of Brentford, Chesterfield, Lincoln, Mansfield, Notts County, Oxford, Peterborough, Stockport, Torquay and Yeovil.

I do not even feel that we need to be looking to recruit Martinez/Britton/Tate type players – surely we need a few fit, strong, Third division “bully-boys” to give us the mix to be able to compete with such rivals.

The huge challenge between now and August is to bring in the right players to make up the other half of a proper team, and even more important, and without which the whole thing falls apart, ensure that the Management team are up to the task in terms of motivational, tactical and man management skills.

One thing for certain – our farewell to the Vetch is unlikely to be with a whimper !!

Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?