Planet Swans ArchivesEight days and not one, not two, but three new players have arrived at the Vetch Field lifting the mood around the supporters and getting everyone in the mood for what looks, on paper, to be one of our toughest runs of the season between now and the end of March.
People were starting to get a bit down after no win in three games and people started to doubt whether we had the ability to strengthen the squad. Lee Thorpe arrived last week and could do nothing to prevent the Swans losing two games on the trot but this week the arrival of the a QPR duo has lifted the mood and everyone is looking forward to the challenges ahead.
OK, so one is on loan and Thorpe was a free transfer but we have spent some money (reported to be in the £60,000 bracket) on one player and picked up a good left winger for that money by all account if QPR fans are to believed.
What it has shown is that we are serious about promotion and that the problems that have been highlighted in the past are to be actioned even if some do point the finger and say it is too late. I do have to add at this moment that, as stated before, I would rather wait for the right player at the right price then get an average player because they are there or pay over the odds for another player. Let’s remember we could have had Goodfellow for the same money that has been reported – McLeod by all accounts is a better player? Have we done better by waiting?
These three additions (and believe it or not there are rumours of more) could be the spur that we need to kick start our position and take it through the last fourteen games to what we all want to see at the end of the season and if that happens then I will be happy in particular for three groups of players
1. The club owners – and within that many of us can include ourselves as trust members. They have rebuilt this club from it’s knees back in early 2002. Let’s not forget that. Slowly and surely they have moved us on with careful spending. Yes they have made mistakes on the way and yes they still have their knockers (and probably always will do) but we are getting there and if they take us up then everyone involved as a right to feel proud of the achievement.
2. The fans – over the three years I mentioned above they have backed the club. Crowds have increased (five figure attendances back at the Vetch) and the fans are looking for the club to move on. I don’t buy the theory at the moment that the last season at the Vetch is having that much of an impact just yet and we are the best supported club in the division. That kind of loyalty deserves a reward and promotion would be the best one
3. Kenny Jackett – Quite simply Kenny deserves promotion and I am sure that he feels it would repay the faith that we have shown in him. Back last March the fans were demanding a big name to replace Flynn and we got Kenny. Many raised eyebrows and the like for a period of time but slowly he has got us there and to this position where, with less than three months to go, we have a great chance to finish what we started. Kenny has been given a generous budget but he has pretty much used it to good effect and this week’s additions could just be the icing on the cake for us?
I haven’t forgotten the players and I will be just as happy for them when (and yes I did say when not if!) we reach the land that we want for next season but the three groups above have worked hard with them to get us where we are – let’s all get together for three months and back the Swans to promotion?
That’s noise down the Vetch as well. Many people have commented that the atmosphere used to be better when we had crowds of 3,000 or so and to be honest I agree. I remember crowds of that level and yet you could swear there was twice as many inside the Vetch. That just doesn’t seem to happen any more. I like to think it’s because I’m not on the bank any more but then I wake up and realise that is just a dream!! Let’s back not barrack the players no matter how things are turning out – it can be done just ask the people from the mid 80s!
Swansea City needs promotion and the way we will get it is to all stand together – what was it we said earlier in the season?
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall”
Forget the back biting, the nit picking and the personal abuse – we’re Swansea fans and we’re above that. Onwards.
