So we officially today welcome in 2022 at the end of another eventful twelve months for the Swans that started with football behind closed doors and ended with football behind closed doors in Wales but the football that was cancelled due to an increase in Covid cases.
A look at many forms of social media will tell you that one of the most common pictures of the past two weeks has been of a positive lateral flow test showing that it is all aspects of life that has been impacted by the increased cases and a reason why the Swans have not kicked a competitive ball in anger since December 11.
Life was not dull as a Swans fan in the last twelve months (even if at times the football was very dull!) A run to the 5th Round of the FA Cup saw us lock horns with Manchester City once again but this time around there was no dodgy penalties or goals and we went out without a whimper.
Our league season ended the same way at Wembley in the play off final where we simply failed to turn up and were second best to a Brentford side who eventually reached their goal of the Premier League after several attempts at trying. Quite simply on the day we were not up to the challenge and had to settle for the summer of transition that defeat got with the manager effectively saying at the end of the game that his time at Swansea, for him, was up.
Speculation throughout the summer was rife that he was off with links to several jobs but it was “without a club” for Cooper when he departed at the end of July giving us minimal time to recruit a replacement. We know Russell Martin arrived pretty much on the ease of the season but the management above him must take some responsibility for the way the events of the summer were handled and how that set us off on the back foot this season.
As it stands we are (just) in the middle third of the table this time around after a disappointing end to the year results wise but there are some good signs in the squad and we should remember the form of October rather than December when we look at what we are capable of.
Looking ahead to 2022 we have the obvious start that opens with the transfer window. As is ever the case optimism is high that we can deliver the signature of some good players. There is plenty of speculation already and there is a good chance of some early movement based on some of the reports that we have read. It will be interesting to see what – if any – impact the increased Covid cases will have on the loan market with rumours already suggesting that some players who may have been available for loan are no longer available.
There will of course be departures – Jay Fulton, Steven Benda, Yan Dhanda and Morgan Whittaker amongst those names already mentioned as being on their way out of the exit door. These departures are essential to make room for new players as we still feel the financial impact that football at this level can have. That could mean – Julian Winter has hinted enough at it – of future loans into the club from the ownership group to top up the ones that have already been made. We await to see developments of this front.
Talking of the ownership group a progression/conclusion of the legal case between the Supporters Trust and the sellers/buyers would be a good conclusion. Things have been very quiet on that front since the last change at the top of the Trust and you hope that public quietness is not an indication of the work behind the scenes especially when you consider that almost six months have passed since that change of Trust leadership. An update must surely be imminent.
On the pitch, this has to be a year of progression. We know that the football remains in transition at the moment with Russell Martin true to his belief of the way he wants his sides to play. He should have two transfer windows ahead of him this year which allow him to get in the players that can play the game he wants it played. Once he is establishing his own squad then we can see the work he is undertaking hopefully paying fruition and consistency and progression on the pitch will hopefully follow. He needs to be supported through this both on and off the pitch and there are enough early signs to suggest that something could work on the back of it. Time will, of course, tell.
Outside of that the biggest hope is that the Jack Army can remain at all times safe and well. The last two years will have tested most of us and Covid has impacted us all in some way, shape or form. All that therefore remains is from all of us at Planet Swans to wish you all a very Happy New Year and a prosperous, safe and healthy 12 months ahead.