S.W.X + S.W.I = Success.Trust in me......
I remember being immensely proud earlier this season when the Guardian's Barney Ronay described Leon Britton, our talented midfield maestro as a ball-hog, a sort of South Wales Xavi.
I would like to propound that he continues to do it, and, moreover, he's been joined by the South Wales Iniesta -Joe Allen - and the Masterclass delivered by these two diminutive players at Fulham this past weekend was an absolute revelation. We've all seen both play well this year, but this really was at a different level.
Whilst the whole of the Swansea team played more than well, and Gylfi Sigurdsson displayed class enough to earn him a MoM approbation from some, his two partners-in-midfield-crime set up, and controlled the victory.
But before we go to the match, let's wander down Experience Lane.
In looking forward to this game I'd written of my plan to travel to it with my eldest son in tow, and of our good fortune to be able to stay with my younger for the weekend, who happens to live in Battersea. You will be pleased to know, I'm sure, that all came to fruition, with our much admired Swansea City team provided a fitting climax to what for me, and many more, was a perfect weekend.
To start off things in a grand fashion, when we arrived at my younger son's (Joe) place , we parked up etc and with the elder sibling (Ben) having very courteously done the driving, the three Thomas boys set off, Oyster Cards in wallet, for The London Welsh Centre in Gray's Inn Rd, where the Swansea City Trust had put on another Fans Evening with Brendan Rodgers, Huw Jenkins, and Chris Coleman as the guests for a very enjoyable and frank Q & A session, which was both interesting and entertaining.
Huge thanks to our very own Jim White, who turns out to be a masterful Auctioneer at the Charity Auction stage, and to Daf, Chris and Darbo for hosting. Greetings too to Paul and Tom (they know who they are) for excellent company and fellowship and to all Swans fans we met at the evening, all top class company.
Whilst the whole of the Swansea team played more than well, and Gylfi Sigurdsson displayed class enough to earn him a MoM approbation from some, his two partners-in-midfield-crime set up, and controlled the victory.
But before we go to the match, let's wander down Experience Lane.
In looking forward to this game I'd written of my plan to travel to it with my eldest son in tow, and of our good fortune to be able to stay with my younger for the weekend, who happens to live in Battersea. You will be pleased to know, I'm sure, that all came to fruition, with our much admired Swansea City team provided a fitting climax to what for me, and many more, was a perfect weekend.
To start off things in a grand fashion, when we arrived at my younger son's (Joe) place , we parked up etc and with the elder sibling (Ben) having very courteously done the driving, the three Thomas boys set off, Oyster Cards in wallet, for The London Welsh Centre in Gray's Inn Rd, where the Swansea City Trust had put on another Fans Evening with Brendan Rodgers, Huw Jenkins, and Chris Coleman as the guests for a very enjoyable and frank Q & A session, which was both interesting and entertaining.
Huge thanks to our very own Jim White, who turns out to be a masterful Auctioneer at the Charity Auction stage, and to Daf, Chris and Darbo for hosting. Greetings too to Paul and Tom (they know who they are) for excellent company and fellowship and to all Swans fans we met at the evening, all top class company.
Anyway, back to the football, since this was the primary attraction and which, the following day, proved to be the icing on top of the cake.
We Swans had gone into the game with that fantastic victory over Man City immediately preceding - a stark contrast to Fulham's 1-0 reverse at Villa, but as I've written previously, Fulham at the Cottage are much more difficult to overcome, and we all knew that it was never going to be easy.
Some might say that it surely turned out to be exactly that - easy- but I beg to differ. Just as we've seen Managers throughout the season (particularly at the Lib) say that their team has seemed to have something of "an off day", and as Martin Jol again gruffly suggested in his post match interview this weekend, I'd point out a recurring theme. It is that they're playing against a Swansea City team that has not only played well enough to beat them, but has genuinely dominated.
We Swans had gone into the game with that fantastic victory over Man City immediately preceding - a stark contrast to Fulham's 1-0 reverse at Villa, but as I've written previously, Fulham at the Cottage are much more difficult to overcome, and we all knew that it was never going to be easy.
Some might say that it surely turned out to be exactly that - easy- but I beg to differ. Just as we've seen Managers throughout the season (particularly at the Lib) say that their team has seemed to have something of "an off day", and as Martin Jol again gruffly suggested in his post match interview this weekend, I'd point out a recurring theme. It is that they're playing against a Swansea City team that has not only played well enough to beat them, but has genuinely dominated.
And that, my friends, is a very straightforward explanation for their lack of success on the day. It was, yet again, the case at this game, and it gives me immense pleasure to say so.
The Teams lined up as below.....
The Teams lined up as below.....
Fulham
01 Schwarzer,02 Kelly,03 JA Riise,05 Hangeland,14 Senderos,19 Diarra (Murphy - 72' ),23 Dempsey,07 Pogrebniak,08 Johnson (Frei - 68' ),11 Ruiz (Duff - 54' ),30 Dembele
Substitutes
12 Stockdale,06 Baird,18 Hughes,13 Murphy,16 Duff,20 Etuhu,21 Frei
01 Schwarzer,02 Kelly,03 JA Riise,05 Hangeland,14 Senderos,19 Diarra (Murphy - 72' ),23 Dempsey,07 Pogrebniak,08 Johnson (Frei - 68' ),11 Ruiz (Duff - 54' ),30 Dembele
Substitutes
12 Stockdale,06 Baird,18 Hughes,13 Murphy,16 Duff,20 Etuhu,21 Frei
Swansea City
01 Vorm,03 Taylor (Tate - 90' ),04 Caulker,16 Monk,22 Rangel,07 Britton,11 Sinclair,15 Routledge,24 Allen,42 Sigurdsson (Gower - 90' ),10 Graham (Moore - 90' )
Substitutes
25 Tremmel,05 Tate,17 McEachran,27 Gower,29 Richards,18 Lita,19 Moore
Ref: Halsey
Att: 25,690
For Fulham, Jol had indeed gone for a more attacking set up by including Bryan Ruiz, the Costa Rican forward and set up in a 4-1-3-2 with Diarra holding in front of the back 4, Ruiz on the right, Dempsey the left, and Dembele central of the 3, with Pogrebnyak and Johnson the advanced 2.
For the Swans, the only change from last week saw Ash Williams unable to carry on his unbroken run of 169 competitive games having succumbed to a virus, so Club skipper Gary Monk stepped in, rather well as it turned out.
The early part of the game saw some opportunities for both sides, with Jol's initial tactic being to compete for possession in advanced areas as he later confirmed, a tactic that was gradually bettered by City, and which led to a later change. Swansea were content to trade blows by gaining and maintaining possession meanwhile, and building from there.
For Fulham, Dempsey got off a shot which Michel Vorm palmed over, and that other good footballer Dembele hit a low drive to Vorm's left which the keeper comfortably gathered from a controlled dive.
Meanwhile the Swans first chance came from a decent inside right channel ball from Rangel which matched Danny Graham's run, and he hit it nicely only to see Schwarzer well positioned at the near post.
What was becoming evident after about 20-25 m of this to-ing and fro-ing was that both Leon Britton and Joe Allen particularly were having an increasing influence on the outcome, with Britton doing what we've seen so often - sitting deeper- and Allen in a more advanced pocket, linking with Sigurdsson on the Barcelona-press type aggression bearing better and better result in re-gaining the ball.
At the back, both Monk and Caulker, with Vorm's assistance, had worked out how to negate Johnson and Pogrebnyak's attempts at harassment, and with Britton often dropping into the central slot as both CB's spread right and left, to collect Vorm's rolled ball, the 4 Swans were simply passing around the Fulham pair, taking them out of the game completely.
01 Vorm,03 Taylor (Tate - 90' ),04 Caulker,16 Monk,22 Rangel,07 Britton,11 Sinclair,15 Routledge,24 Allen,42 Sigurdsson (Gower - 90' ),10 Graham (Moore - 90' )
Substitutes
25 Tremmel,05 Tate,17 McEachran,27 Gower,29 Richards,18 Lita,19 Moore
Ref: Halsey
Att: 25,690
For Fulham, Jol had indeed gone for a more attacking set up by including Bryan Ruiz, the Costa Rican forward and set up in a 4-1-3-2 with Diarra holding in front of the back 4, Ruiz on the right, Dempsey the left, and Dembele central of the 3, with Pogrebnyak and Johnson the advanced 2.
For the Swans, the only change from last week saw Ash Williams unable to carry on his unbroken run of 169 competitive games having succumbed to a virus, so Club skipper Gary Monk stepped in, rather well as it turned out.
The early part of the game saw some opportunities for both sides, with Jol's initial tactic being to compete for possession in advanced areas as he later confirmed, a tactic that was gradually bettered by City, and which led to a later change. Swansea were content to trade blows by gaining and maintaining possession meanwhile, and building from there.
For Fulham, Dempsey got off a shot which Michel Vorm palmed over, and that other good footballer Dembele hit a low drive to Vorm's left which the keeper comfortably gathered from a controlled dive.
Meanwhile the Swans first chance came from a decent inside right channel ball from Rangel which matched Danny Graham's run, and he hit it nicely only to see Schwarzer well positioned at the near post.
What was becoming evident after about 20-25 m of this to-ing and fro-ing was that both Leon Britton and Joe Allen particularly were having an increasing influence on the outcome, with Britton doing what we've seen so often - sitting deeper- and Allen in a more advanced pocket, linking with Sigurdsson on the Barcelona-press type aggression bearing better and better result in re-gaining the ball.
At the back, both Monk and Caulker, with Vorm's assistance, had worked out how to negate Johnson and Pogrebnyak's attempts at harassment, and with Britton often dropping into the central slot as both CB's spread right and left, to collect Vorm's rolled ball, the 4 Swans were simply passing around the Fulham pair, taking them out of the game completely.
The other key at this point is to note something that Sigurdsson has brought to the side over and above his goals.
As the most advanced of the MF'ers, he is able to receive the ball in that space of the pitch 20yds each side of the half way line, and, as is commensurate in one with his skill set, turn either to attack or ball retention as needs be.
As the most advanced of the MF'ers, he is able to receive the ball in that space of the pitch 20yds each side of the half way line, and, as is commensurate in one with his skill set, turn either to attack or ball retention as needs be.
What this has led to is an increase in the side's ability to play more balls forward rather than sideways, and it can often lead to a quick increase in tempo in transfer from defence to attack. Meanwhile, the team magnificently retains the patience to go across, around, back - even to Vorm if needs be- and this was increasing Fulham's frustrations at their inability to get the ball.
The tactical supremacy led to several chances for the Swans.
A press on Hangeland led to a loose pass letting in Sinclair, and he cut inside but just shot over closely. Again, from comfortable right side construction, Sigurdsson did collect with his back to goal, turned, made ground and put a fierce shot just wide of Schwarzer's right hand post with the keeper beaten.
Moreover, when Danny Graham's closing down of Schwarzer led to a hurried clearance that Scott Sinclair collected and took toward goal, the keeper was more than fortunate when the winger beat the retreating Hangeland on the outside and shot goal ward with the outside of his foot, and it was only the keeper's last gasp left arm block that got the net bound effort out for a corner.
No matter, with the South Wales Xavi bolstered by the South Wales Iniesta now reigning supreme centrally, the breakthrough deservedly came, and it was once more built on the right.
Swansea worked it from the back through Rangel to Sigurdsson who put Routledge in possession out right from where he'd already tested Fulham with some dangerous runs and crosses.
The tactical supremacy led to several chances for the Swans.
A press on Hangeland led to a loose pass letting in Sinclair, and he cut inside but just shot over closely. Again, from comfortable right side construction, Sigurdsson did collect with his back to goal, turned, made ground and put a fierce shot just wide of Schwarzer's right hand post with the keeper beaten.
Moreover, when Danny Graham's closing down of Schwarzer led to a hurried clearance that Scott Sinclair collected and took toward goal, the keeper was more than fortunate when the winger beat the retreating Hangeland on the outside and shot goal ward with the outside of his foot, and it was only the keeper's last gasp left arm block that got the net bound effort out for a corner.
No matter, with the South Wales Xavi bolstered by the South Wales Iniesta now reigning supreme centrally, the breakthrough deservedly came, and it was once more built on the right.
Swansea worked it from the back through Rangel to Sigurdsson who put Routledge in possession out right from where he'd already tested Fulham with some dangerous runs and crosses.
This one was even better because the ball went at pace curving away from the keeper and beyond the far post where it was met skillfully by Scott Sinclair, who volleyed it neatly back into the six yard box. Sigurdsson had brilliantly continued his drifting run and he met Sinclair's knock back perfectly with a comfortable diving forward header to place it comfortably beyond Schwarzer. 1-0, and cue delighted bedlam at our end from the joyfully riotous JackArmy, who had already been in fine voice.
It simply went up a notch, as we reminded the Home fans that "We'd sing on our own", and I was immensely proud to watch both my sons take great glee in joining in. Now they could really see what I've been on about when I talk incessantly on the phone and net about the quality of our football.
With half time approaching, both Swansea full backs, Taylor and Rangel were able to get forward in linking with Routledge and Sinclair.
It simply went up a notch, as we reminded the Home fans that "We'd sing on our own", and I was immensely proud to watch both my sons take great glee in joining in. Now they could really see what I've been on about when I talk incessantly on the phone and net about the quality of our football.
With half time approaching, both Swansea full backs, Taylor and Rangel were able to get forward in linking with Routledge and Sinclair.
With Britton and Allen mopping up the deeper middle, and Sigurdsson a persistent creator for Graham's very clever off the ball running, Fulham were over-matched.
Ruiz, Dembele and Dempsey are all good footballers going forward, but have defensive frailties. None of them was giving any defensive protection to either Riise or Kelly at FB, and Swansea consequently were able to overload on either flank. This led to attack on the flanks and pressure in the middle , with both the usually unperturbable Hangeland, and especially the flaky Senderos to increasingly panic and rush, as was later proved the case.
The half comfortably played out, and the teams went off to a rousing chorus of Hymns 'n Arias drowning out the increasingly noticeable mumbling and grumbling from the Home fans.
The later Managers interviews made for fascinating contrast and can be found here.
Jol admits that Fulham effectively ceded possession since the press from the front had failed. What he doesn't say, but we all got to notice (but then we know already) is that this is one of the worst things you can do against the Swans, since you are unlikely to get the ball back easily, and the possession stats of 60/40 overall was more like 72/28 in this half. Woopee.
The Thomas family were of the opinion that 20m of decent possession play, as we'd showed in the first half, would see this game out, since we reckoned that Fulham's frustrations were such that they would grow more cavalier, of necessity, and would throw caution to the winds in seeking a way back into the game and would thus leave themselves more open to danger.
As it turned out, I'm as pleased as punch to say we were only a minute or so out.
Fulham were certainly more animated and lively, but by switching to an acceptance of defensive resilience as being their main way to get the ball back, the Home crowd were treated to a pass and move masterclass, orchestrated by Leon Britton and Joe Allen, with the lead violin part played by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Ruiz, Dembele and Dempsey are all good footballers going forward, but have defensive frailties. None of them was giving any defensive protection to either Riise or Kelly at FB, and Swansea consequently were able to overload on either flank. This led to attack on the flanks and pressure in the middle , with both the usually unperturbable Hangeland, and especially the flaky Senderos to increasingly panic and rush, as was later proved the case.
The half comfortably played out, and the teams went off to a rousing chorus of Hymns 'n Arias drowning out the increasingly noticeable mumbling and grumbling from the Home fans.
The later Managers interviews made for fascinating contrast and can be found here.
Jol admits that Fulham effectively ceded possession since the press from the front had failed. What he doesn't say, but we all got to notice (but then we know already) is that this is one of the worst things you can do against the Swans, since you are unlikely to get the ball back easily, and the possession stats of 60/40 overall was more like 72/28 in this half. Woopee.
The Thomas family were of the opinion that 20m of decent possession play, as we'd showed in the first half, would see this game out, since we reckoned that Fulham's frustrations were such that they would grow more cavalier, of necessity, and would throw caution to the winds in seeking a way back into the game and would thus leave themselves more open to danger.
As it turned out, I'm as pleased as punch to say we were only a minute or so out.
Fulham were certainly more animated and lively, but by switching to an acceptance of defensive resilience as being their main way to get the ball back, the Home crowd were treated to a pass and move masterclass, orchestrated by Leon Britton and Joe Allen, with the lead violin part played by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
There were engaging solos too from the flautist Scott Sinclair, with matching clarinet by Wayne Routledge, who were both leading FB's Kelly and Riise a merry dance.The rousing crescendo came when the whole Swansea Orchestra combined to lead to a stunning second goal.
Sigurdsson, once more, collected in MF and turned toward goal, and in moving forward Routledge kept pace to his right. Approaching the edge of the box, he put Routledge free, and the winger skillfully advanced toward the byline before giving the killer return ball pulled back to some 8 yds out to the still advancing Icelander.
Siggi did what Siggi does 8 yds from goal and free - he side footed hard a low and rasping drive inside the keeper's left hand post with the custodian well beaten. As it hit the net, all we Swans just feet from the action behind the goal erupted in a version of "let's all do the disco" in pure, unfettered joy.
Siggi did what Siggi does 8 yds from goal and free - he side footed hard a low and rasping drive inside the keeper's left hand post with the custodian well beaten. As it hit the net, all we Swans just feet from the action behind the goal erupted in a version of "let's all do the disco" in pure, unfettered joy.
2-0, and a quality goal from a team playing quality football in front of their own quality fans. What more can a football fan ask?
Well, a sustained, imaginative, attractive passing performance, allied with a sense of joy associated with the people's game, doesn't half liven up the bits where it's not quite so good.
Well, a sustained, imaginative, attractive passing performance, allied with a sense of joy associated with the people's game, doesn't half liven up the bits where it's not quite so good.
Our Club, at this stage, were playing undoubtedly the best football I've ever seen from a Swansea side - I was almost bursting with pride- but, unbelievably, it got even better.
There was a spell in this period, highlighted later on MoTD, where the Swans kept the ball for almost 1m45s, and all football fans know, in this game of ours, that that's a long time. The passes were almost countless, encompassing every team member at least twice, and around, back, forward , back again, across and forward. It was genuinely dazzling.
For Fulham, it may well also have been dizzying, because remember those harrassed CB's from earlier?
There was a spell in this period, highlighted later on MoTD, where the Swans kept the ball for almost 1m45s, and all football fans know, in this game of ours, that that's a long time. The passes were almost countless, encompassing every team member at least twice, and around, back, forward , back again, across and forward. It was genuinely dazzling.
For Fulham, it may well also have been dizzying, because remember those harrassed CB's from earlier?
Well here, one of them, Senderos, tried to play out from the back, and found his pass intercepted by Joe Allen, who made rapid strides forward with the ball in the inside left channel.
As he reached the edge of the box, he cut inside right, and as Scott Sinclair made a cracking dummy run across him dragging a marker away, he shot low and hard beyond the left hand of Schwarzer and inside the post to sit snugly some 5 yds in front of us, in the back of the Fulham net.
As he reached the edge of the box, he cut inside right, and as Scott Sinclair made a cracking dummy run across him dragging a marker away, he shot low and hard beyond the left hand of Schwarzer and inside the post to sit snugly some 5 yds in front of us, in the back of the Fulham net.
3-0, and I swear all Swansea heads and hearts felt fit to burst, with pleasure, with pride.
Immediately, with some 12m to go only, a whole tranche of long suffering Homesters could be seen streaming for the exits in the Riverside stand to our left, to be serenaded with a raucous chorus of "Cheerio, Cheerio", and , even better "Is This a Fire Drill". Terrace humour at it's best.
By this time, Martin Jol had played all his cards, introducing Duff for Ruiz on 54m, Frei for Johnson on 68m, and Murphy for Diarra on 72m, but none had been able to make a noticeable difference.
The only worry for Swansea had been a good drive from Dempsey, but Vorm had feathered it onto the bar and behind for a corner, and their only other chance saw Pogrebnyak, the big Russian, scream a drive across and over the keeper's goal.
Swansea even got close to a fourth, when Scott Sinclair played a divine one two inside the box from another fabulous move only to side foot his finish slightly over the bar, an unlucky break we've seen him fighting hard to rectify.
It only remained for Brendan Rodgers to make a triple substitution right on 90m, with Tate for Taylor, Gower for Sigurdsson, and Moore for Graham, only because, I've heard suggested, that those 3 players would then get to share in the win bonus.
Immediately, with some 12m to go only, a whole tranche of long suffering Homesters could be seen streaming for the exits in the Riverside stand to our left, to be serenaded with a raucous chorus of "Cheerio, Cheerio", and , even better "Is This a Fire Drill". Terrace humour at it's best.
By this time, Martin Jol had played all his cards, introducing Duff for Ruiz on 54m, Frei for Johnson on 68m, and Murphy for Diarra on 72m, but none had been able to make a noticeable difference.
The only worry for Swansea had been a good drive from Dempsey, but Vorm had feathered it onto the bar and behind for a corner, and their only other chance saw Pogrebnyak, the big Russian, scream a drive across and over the keeper's goal.
Swansea even got close to a fourth, when Scott Sinclair played a divine one two inside the box from another fabulous move only to side foot his finish slightly over the bar, an unlucky break we've seen him fighting hard to rectify.
It only remained for Brendan Rodgers to make a triple substitution right on 90m, with Tate for Taylor, Gower for Sigurdsson, and Moore for Graham, only because, I've heard suggested, that those 3 players would then get to share in the win bonus.
I don't know the truth of that, but from our respected, trusted and admirable Manager, let me say that it wouldn't surprise me. As I said earlier, I got to meet him up close on Friday night, and it was both an honour and a pleasure that'll stay with me a long time.
Both the team, and he especially, left the field to walk to Craven Cottage's quirky dressing room set up (if you've been, you'll know the walk I mean) to a rousing and passionate reception, and all were grinning broadly and deservedly .
Both the team, and he especially, left the field to walk to Craven Cottage's quirky dressing room set up (if you've been, you'll know the walk I mean) to a rousing and passionate reception, and all were grinning broadly and deservedly .
Let's be honest, both they, and we, deserve to bask a little in the quality of that performance.
You often hear people within football say that all the team played well, all the team was a star - but this was one occasion when this was genuinely true.
From the incomparable Michel Vorm in goal (surely the buy of the season), to the marauding full backs Angel Rangel and Neil Taylor, to the rock that is Steven Caulker (#STAYstevenSTAY), to the legend Gary Monk, who lets nobody down, ever.
You know what I think about the South Wales Xavi and the South Wales Iniesta, linked with the classiest loan signing in the PL, Gylfi Sigurdsson, topped off this week with the flyers Scott Sinclair and Wayne Routledge, all led by the clever, England place-deserving Danny Graham.
But, but, as our incomparable Manager says - " We have a squad" - so for all of those not name checked in this report, all have my equal respect and admiration. What a wonderful group.
It's very rare that I get the chance to attend a game with both of my sons as company, and that's the case because like many modern families we're nowadays a fractured unit, all living and making their way in different and differing places, but to have a game such as this served up as entertainment on one of the few weekends we've been able to get together, was both a privilege and a pleasure. So my thanks go out not only to my both boys, Ben and Joe, but to Swansea City Football Club - my passion, my pleasure - for serving up such a remarkable bill of fare.
Needless to say we not only enjoyed the Friday evening at the Trust gig, the game on the Saturday, but an equally excellent Saturday evening, the details of which I'll spare you, before traveling home on Sunday afternoon with a contended glow.
One of the most pleasant aspects of this season has been sitting down and thinking, reflecting, on what we've achieved as a Football Club in the immediately preceding week.
You often hear people within football say that all the team played well, all the team was a star - but this was one occasion when this was genuinely true.
From the incomparable Michel Vorm in goal (surely the buy of the season), to the marauding full backs Angel Rangel and Neil Taylor, to the rock that is Steven Caulker (#STAYstevenSTAY), to the legend Gary Monk, who lets nobody down, ever.
You know what I think about the South Wales Xavi and the South Wales Iniesta, linked with the classiest loan signing in the PL, Gylfi Sigurdsson, topped off this week with the flyers Scott Sinclair and Wayne Routledge, all led by the clever, England place-deserving Danny Graham.
But, but, as our incomparable Manager says - " We have a squad" - so for all of those not name checked in this report, all have my equal respect and admiration. What a wonderful group.
It's very rare that I get the chance to attend a game with both of my sons as company, and that's the case because like many modern families we're nowadays a fractured unit, all living and making their way in different and differing places, but to have a game such as this served up as entertainment on one of the few weekends we've been able to get together, was both a privilege and a pleasure. So my thanks go out not only to my both boys, Ben and Joe, but to Swansea City Football Club - my passion, my pleasure - for serving up such a remarkable bill of fare.
Needless to say we not only enjoyed the Friday evening at the Trust gig, the game on the Saturday, but an equally excellent Saturday evening, the details of which I'll spare you, before traveling home on Sunday afternoon with a contended glow.
One of the most pleasant aspects of this season has been sitting down and thinking, reflecting, on what we've achieved as a Football Club in the immediately preceding week.
You bet.
Onward, Swansea City
##
All of the Football Family, us Swans included, can only wish the best for the stricken Fabrice Muamba. Sympathies, respect and best wishes to him , his family and friends
4 comments:
Thank you Pierre, great read - worth waiting for ;),I love reading you it feels like I was there myself every time.
STID
Regards,
M
Pierre, good old Swansea name :-) (I'm joking) absolutely brilliant summary, I love reading your blogs, so thought I would leave a comment for this one. I couldn't make the game as was working,luckily I can make every home game. Like yourself most probably, I've watched the Swans through thick and thin, being a season ticket holder since 1969-70 (good season promoted) and like yourself am bursting with pride this is what a Fulham season ticket workmate emailed me who went to the game:
"
Martin
Perhaps I should have worked the weekend shift and you should have gone to the match.
I would have enjoyed the work more (or at least got paid for it) and you definitely would have enjoyed watching Swansea completely outplay Fulham.
Well done Swansea , they deserve to be 8th."
Keep up the good work "JACK ARMY"
I come in peace. Well played to Swansea at the weekend you derserved your win emphatically, however I would counsel against getting too far ahead of yourselves. That is exactly what Fulham did in beating Wolves 5-0 a couple of weeks ago. It was a game where everything that he tried came off and made us look like a top stylish passing team. Talk was of a top 7 finish, perhaps, given our run-in, Europe next year! The problem is, when you play against no opposition (which is exactly what Wolves offered)it is easy to score and win and that is exactly what happened for you against us. Fulham have spent the last two games believing their own press and it was obvious on Saturday they thought they just had to turn up to get all 3 points, and ran around thinking their shit don't stink. I have never been more disappointed in a Fulham performance they were a disgrace. We gifted you all three goals, there was no magical performance from Swansea they just did what all good teams do, tried harder, ran faster and wanted it more. Oh yes, and took the chances they were gifted brilliantly. If you are able to keep your heads out of the clouds and feet on the ground you will finish the season with a flourish, but if you start to believe the "Barcelona of Wales" bollocks you could come undone. Good luck to you, I look forward to meeting you again next year, hopefully under better circumstances for us of course! :)
I rest my case...
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