Planet Swans ArchivesWelcome back to the Vetch Field for the first Friday night game of the new season – playing on a Friday because of a certain game at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon. Can’t quite think what all that is about but as far as I am concerned it can wait until tomorrow – concentrate on this game for now.
Few that were here last August will forget Mansfield’s last visit to the Vetch. Two red cards, five goals, four of them for the Swans and a very critical Keith Curle after the game. That was then and this is now. Exactly the same scenario two sides with ambitions of promotion this season and both probably playing football that should see them in the mix come next May and rightfully do.
Whilst our season went downhill about now last time around, Mansfield’s ended in the agony of a play off final defeat and they have done well to look as if they have bounced back from that – many sides have tried and failed but this lot look made of stern stuff.
It all points to what should be a great game of football here at the Vetch tonight and I suspect that there will be a big crowd here to witness it. The travelling support will no doubt be depleted tonight because of the Friday night kick off but there was little else that we could do and Friday football at the Vetch has a tradition of throwing up cracking matches and great atmospheres – let’s hope that tonight is no difference on that front.
Since we scraped the 1-0 win against Rushden a fortnight ago, we have deservedly beaten Luton here at the Vetch and gained a credible draw up at Chester. And to cap it all we have moved up a place in the table as a result of the latter meaning that we enter this game tonight just one point off the top and unbeaten in 5. A great turnaround from the form at the end of last season and maybe even the beginning of this and the way that we are playing everyone reading this should be optimistic about our chances of success this season.
I was lucky enough a couple of weeks back to get a tour around the new stadium and what a fantastic place it is starting to look. Walking into the West Stand I was greeted with the seats starting to be in place in the East and with the ‘SWAN’ of ‘Swansea’ already in place then it just made it look a little more complete. It does seem that everything has been thought of in the construction of the stadium and it was hard not to start imagining a match in there with a five figure crowd backing the Swans to fly. The Vetch is a great place to be but if we want it, the new stadium will be even better.
I mentioned earlier above tomorrow’s game at Old Trafford and I think it would be wrong of me tonight not to look ahead slightly to it. Eighteen months ago, Welsh fans would have been relishing this game and severely believing that it was our for the taking but recent set backs have probably seen pessimism descend into our minds and wonder if we are up for a big fall and a bit of stick forthcoming from our English cousins. I can safely say that I cannot see the Welsh producing a result there tomorrow but I try and think positive and wonder if the ‘cup tie’ effect may have some impact. The likes of Giggs, Speed, Hartson, Bellamy and all have no doubt had mickey taking in the past from their English team mates about our lack of success and surely they must want to give some of that back. That could be a deciding factor that maybe the game means more to us than the English? And if that is the case then an extra 10% from everyone and who knows. We can all live and dream can’t we?
Anyway, enough about tomorrow’s game the focus goes back onto tonight and we could wake up tomorrow as league leaders for the first time in over twelve months. Let’s hope so anyway.
Enjoy the game and this year let’s hope that the football is the main point of discussion after the game.
Who are we?
Phil Sumbler
You can keep updated on the views of the fans by visiting www.jackarmy.net – Supporting the Swans, All Day, Every Day.
