Planet Swans ArchivesAh, Friday night football at the Vetch. It’s got a kind of tradition to it don’t you think and let’s hope that Friday night football in the new stadium brings the same kind of atmosphere when it happens next season.
Of course tonight also has the added bonus of being a big game because of what is at stake. A win for us and we move 9 points ahead of our visitors, a win for them and we start to look nervously over our shoulders as they start to breath down on us. And of course a win tonight will also see us return to the top of the league even if it may be briefly with Yeovil not in action until tomorrow afternoon.
One thing I will confidently predict is that we will not see the kind of game that we did last time Southend were here in the league when they had 3 men sent off and still managed to win the game, indeed they scored a goal against us when they had 8 men on the pitch. Sorry to our visitors but we are a different team now and if you want to play 3 men light then please do! We will also be looking, I am sure, for revenge for that defeat at Roots Hall earlier this season and when you look at all the factors it really does promise to be a cracking game tonight.
Away from the Vetch this last couple of weeks I have watched with interest the activities of a certain Mr Bellamy up North. Here we have a talented footballer who has clearly no ideas on how to conduct himself nor how lucky he is to be plying his trade at the level he is. This season we have seen the likes of Robinson, Ricketts, Gurney and Tate played out of position here at the Vetch without so much of a whimper but dare to suggest the same thing to Bellamy and he is running to the press like nothing more than a spoilt child. It’s a sad indictment of the player himself and I am so glad that Newcastle showed him the door mainly because no one footballer is ever bigger than the club itself. Bellamy’s comments of ‘ I will be back once Souness has gone’ are even more laughable and if Newcastle United have any dignity they would never take him back. Most of you reading this have to work for whichever manager your employer deems fit and if you don’t like it then you leave but if you made the same comments that Bellamy had then you could fully expect to be shown the door as well. Maybe all of this is a case of money spoiling the game at the very highest level I don’t know but certainly Craig has come out of this with no credit at all.
Last weekend’s win against Chester was a strange one as I never really believed that we got into top gear and yet we brushed them aside with some ease. The Chester fans that made the trip were very critical of their side after the game and possibly with due cause. Great at the moment to see Trunds and Connor amongst the goals so regularly – long may that continue and no doubt tomorrow morning we will see Lee’s goals on Soccer AM as they highlight two great finishes once again.
The loss of Adrian Forbes for at least a month is a blow to us but we have a decent squad and I would hope that we can cover that. Brad Maylett surely must be frustrated at not getting a regular place in the side, well this should be his opportunity to win one. Much like Leon did a few weeks back, some decent performances from Brad in the coming weeks will give Kenny what I am sure will be a nice headache when Forbes is back fit again.
I’m sure everyone here tonight will also join me in wishing Sam Ricketts all the best as he heads off after this game to join his Welsh international colleagues. It’s been a crazy ride to get this far this quick but his performances warrant the call up and good luck to you Sam, we’re all behind you. Fair play as well to John Toshack for looking at all possibilities as he builds his side for the future and long may that continue as well.
Anyway, that’s about all the space I have been allocated for this week so let’s get behind the lads and let’s hope that come 9.40 tonight the words “We are top of the league” are ringing around the Vetch.
JACK ARMY!
