And then there were 2.

The Euro 2012 Semis - an appreciation of the games that got both Italy and Spain to the Final.

The two Semi Finals of this remarkable Tournament have given us 2 fantastic contests, and the outcome of both hinged on the narrowest of margins.

In the first, between Spain and Portugal, here were two teams that were prepared to play. The number of passes seemed to have become the yardstick that debates on the efficacy of approach had been based , and there was an interesting variation here.

Prior to that, the major point at issue was Del Bosque's decision not to use a No 9, or even a "false 9" as he had done previously, and Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo, (an alternative 9 maybe) started, and led the line.

In truth, his performance turned out to be very quiet, which allowed the Pundits to concentrate on the performance of CR7. Whilst certainly lively, with dribbles, shots, and free kicks aplenty, this wasn't really the key to why Spain were more stretched than is usual.

More, it was about a side that for once took Spain on, toe to toe.

The Portugese pressed high, hard and fast, and, moreover, were prepared to test their skills against the putative leaders of the pack. 

The initial surprise for the World Champions was that here was a side not ready to be cowed immediately, and the impact was seen in the Spanish lack of that key element, the control.

The game settled into a rhythm, with the Potugeezers generally on top in the normal 90, whilst Spain, made better by the introduction of Fabregas and Jesus Navas for Negredo and Xavi (a brave decision), could well have won it in extra time.

Ultimately, it came down to the penalty shoot out, and Portugal and CR7's decision to place him fifth up came back to haunt them, as Cesc buried the Spanish fourth to put Portugal out and to further frustrate Christiano, who didn't even get to take his kick.

The fact that Ronaldo had indeed had a chance to win it in the very last minute of normal time was forgotten, but it's something that still intrigues me in appreciation of this great (but not the greatest) footballer. Hey, Messi would have scored.

There have been large tracts written about how the Spanish approach is "sterile" and "killing the game" even.
Do me a favour. Please ignore such nonsense. And switch talkSPORT off, now!!

In the second game there were at first team line up surprises.

Italy less so, with Chiellini again fit, but some shock at Germany, less with Gomez and Podolski for Schurlle and Klose, but for Toni Kroos's inclusion, and more in the way that he was asked to play.

My feeling was that he wouldn't play on the right,(as was being suggested pre match) but centrally, thus allowing the wandering Ozil (who has a free role anyway) to drift right as he so often enjoys, but is less effective when started there.

Jurgi Low is nothing if not original, and this choice surprised most, myself included.

Here's the deal.

When you start Ozil centrally, as RM do and as have Germany mostly, his influence on the game is augmented by his allowed freedom to go right (particularly) or where the space allows. Muller, Khedira, Schweinsteiger even will then become the pivot, allowing Ozil free reign to attack at will.

Yesterday, Kroos played the central pivotal role, and Ozil became just another wide attacker.

I'm being harsh here, since this wasn't always the case, and the German creation was better when Ozil slipped into playmaker duties centrally. Still, it wasn't enough, and Toni Kroos's drive going forward was seriously complicated by the Italian diamond passing around and through him.

The classic example was Montilivio's picking up of a Buffon punch on the left, and playing a dagger-like through ball that Balotelli took forward to crash home one of the goals of the Tournament to put the Azzuri 2-0 ahead.

He had already capitalised on a super Cassano cross to crash the game's opener past Neuer with a powerful header.

Despite, or because of the changes to the German line-up, Mario Balotelli, bad boy extraordinaire, was a constant menace, so that first header on 23m to give Italy the lead, was original, but no surprise.

Italy's midfield diamond, anchored by the sublime Andrea Pirlo, gave a classier example of Joe Royle's "Dogs of war" Everton from many years back.

Germany were genuinely stunned for 10m or so, and with Pirlo again playing the Trequartista, Marchisio and Montilivio alternated as the Fantasista (the No 10) leading to that wonderful second Balotelli goal.

Put clear of a high line by a cute pass, he advanced and struck a rocket that was still rising as it ripped into the German net. Goal of the Tournament, redux.

As Germany did their damndest to get back into the game, the quality of Italian substitutes (Motta for Montilivio for instance) left a limited time for Reus and Klose to effect the same on the German change.

More importantly, I still think the first choice XI was wrong.Toni Kroos, a quality player, nevertheless but changed the shape of the side.  This was a gross mistake.

In the previous games, Ozil had always started centrally and wandered at will to the right when it suited him. In this game, Kroos took the middle leaving Ozil less effective starting on the right where he doesn't get to pull every string.  Almost like Italy moving Pirlo wide - it's just not done.
Despite Germany's late penalty, the Azzuri advanced to meet the tiki-taka maestros (who have taken some very very foolish flak in the English media) in a final of two teams of quality in a Tournament of the same. Sunday night we get to see the outcome.

Bring it on.

## 
Much debate ensues about Spain's choice of a No 9 or not for this game. My feeling is that both Torres and Pedro will start, at the expense of David Silva and Fabregas. Still, what do I know? We'll see. It promises to be a cracking game.See Sid Lowe's classic debate above.

Four Strong Teams left.

The pleasing thing from this EURO 2012 has been the real reward reaped by strong teams prepared to prove that this is the case - and all 4 Quarter Finals passed this test.

In the first of them,Portugal squared up to the Czech Republic, and whilst the Eastern Europeans were tactically and technically cute in the Group stage, come the knockout they came up against the irresistible force that is CR7.

Christiano Ronaldo is an entoxicating mix - a playground bully crossed with the kid who stands at the back and cries. His fantastic physique is testament to the work he does. He's one of those players of intense, advanced skill who follow one of two paths.

You can keep your skill and end up as a Luis Nani- fabulously talented but somewhat lightweight and slim - or, like the Portugeezer Supreme- you can add to it by becoming an almost "Hulk" - and I mean the Bruce Banner version. He IS an ABSOLUTE BEAST physically.

What this means, of course, is that allied to his intense talent he has a physical presence that is likely to see off even the best of defenders.

One of the criticisms of CR7 previously has been his failure to drag his team further into Tournaments by his disappointing performances - but that something that can't be levelled at him this time around.

Against Holland he was excellent, his two goals confirming the Portugese superiority. Against the Czechs, who set out to play negatively, he was better still, capping the performance with a superb late game goal that showed his aerial prowess. Coupled with the teams' settled and varied tactical sweep it was enough to show the door to the Czechs.

The middle 3 of Meireles, Moutinho and Veloso had been excellence throughout - couple that with the freedom of expression of Ronaldo and Nani, and Pepe's snarling resistance at the back and you have a team that will give the semi-final a real go.

In the second game up, the German team gave an exhibition of why they've been the most attractive side on view thus far. Their 4-2 besting of Greece could, and perhaps should, been a result that could have been greater if not for their profligacy in netting the end result.

This is a side that could replace their front 3 of Podolski, Gomez and Muller with a trio that is arguably better.

The fantastic Marco Reus played right, Miroslav Klose led the line and Andre Schurlle showed Ashley Young how to play wide left with a threat.

Shweinsteiger and Sami Khedira were excellence personified in setting the defensive/destructive tone, whilst the player of the tournament, the divine Mesut Ozil, ran riot in pulling the strings. There is something rewarding in seeing an attacking MF'ef go on to shape a game- god knows we Swans have been lucky enough to see 2 top class performers in Siggurdsson and Bodde over the last few years, but here is a player who makes even those top class performers seem ordinary in comparison. Ozil is, in my eyes, the MF equivalent of Messi - a sort of Xavi Hernadez or Andres Iniesta with greater goal threat.

 You will glean from this I 'm rather impressed by this boy. You are not wrong.

It was a question in this game of when, not if, the Germans would score, and having broken the ice with a terrific strike from Philip Lahm, it was then a question of how many, and when.

A gutsy Greece pulled one back in the second half, with a late penalty consolation, but by then the 4 German goals only begged the question of a settled outcome from a plentiful opportunuty. Through they went.

The third QF was the most disappointing of the games thus far- primarily because Laurent Blanc appeared to have a brainstorm, limiting his team by their starting line up alone, almost ceding to Spain the dominance and initiative.

It seems to me that this is possibly the WORST approach to advance against the Spanish, since they will pass you to death ANYWAY, so you might as well have something of a limited go. Whatever. Blanc's option of a 4-5-1, with the brilliant Mathieu Debuchy, Lille's rampaging RB deployed wide right in a defensive set-up (where he'd never played before!!) being the worst of a sad approach.

Perhaps the most surprising stat to come out of this game was France's overall possession stat of 44% against Spain's 56%. This was significantly BETTER than any other team had achieved against the Iberians- what was tragic was that they did NOTHING with it.

Del Bosque had once again chosen Fabregas as a "false 9", but France's ineptitude and stumbling advance created almost nothing. I felt at one stage that Blanc may have been aiming for a 1-0 or 2-0 defeat so that they weren't necessarily embarrassed. Well, they got what they asked for in a 2-0 shoeing, with Xabi Alonso for Spain answering his occasional critics by getting both.

Spain's 4-6-0, of course, is nothing of the sort since the front 4 constantly rotate to put a target up front - it's just that it can be tenous and extremely fluid, and France's 4-5-1 became a REAL 4-6-0 as they were pushed further and further into a corner. It was painful to watch. Debuchy's slip to let in the Jordi Alba cross for Alonso's first goal was perhaps the best illustration of where France were going wrong. Ah well, this may have been a lesson learned.

That the second goal came from a last minute penalty from Alonso (again - how apt) was immaterial.

It seems to me that the key issue here was one of CONTROL. Spain have evolved a system where we Swans are more familiar in it's regard than many British fans. The key is the ball. When Spain have it, the opposition can do little but defend. Given that they usually top the 65% mark in most games, it's not rocket science to predict that the 35% opportunity is likely to be less successful than the team that is dominating you. WOW. Who Knew??

Well, Vicente Del Bosque for one, and the eleven Spaniards on the pitch too, as their settled and patient probing was like watching a Boa-Constictor strangling, rather than swallowing whole, a goat.

A word here for those critics who find this style a little barren. have you ever considered the teams who line up AGAINST the Spaniards and their outlook?

Almost inevitably, they do so by "parking the bus", and it seems to me that this is one of the more futile approaches they could take. If it takes until the 89th minute or longer- take this approach and the Iberians WILL strangle you.

The last of the last-8 saw the incessantly hyped England take on the Azzuri, and a more one -sided contest you couldn't have wished for - even if it did take a penalty shoot-out to decide.

I sat down to watch this match with a completely open visage- bring it on, and whomsoever played better would undoubtedly win - and, the first 15m were at least competitive, where for each Italian chance there was at least an English riposte. From then on, it can only be said that that Italy dominated, and but for England's persistent and lucky resistance, would surely have won by 2 or three goals. There will be some who praise the English defence, but, for me, the saddest thing was to see a Home Nation team so utterly and abjectively DOMINATED, with a huge propensity to be unable to keep the ball, and to see Andrea Pirlo, the elder statesman as it were, show England how to take over and run a game against International opposition. A truly stunning display, capped, and we'll come back (surely, in this Tournament) to it, by a sublime "Panenka" in the shoot-out phase.

Here's a salutary tale - make of it what you will.

Whilst Christiano Ronaldo was ripping his physique in the Gym, Wayne Rooney took his pasty body to Las Vegas just a month before the tournament. Tonight, Ronaldo faces Spain in the Semi-Final. Rooney, presumably, can go to Vegas again.

Coincidence????

You decide.

Anyway, a Spain v Germany final if there's any justice.

See you soon.

And then there were 8.

So the Group games are completed, and what has been a fascinating Tournament thus far promises to get more interesting still.

From the sublime (and inevitable) Spanish progression, to the hysterically hyped English performances, all 8 teams who have made it thus far have at least some sort of argument that whilst their performances to date may not have been totally convincing, their arrival in the knockout stage means all bets are off.

Within limitations, of course.

In Group A, Russia's initial tonking of the Czech Republic, and Poland's stuttering 1-1 against the sterile Greeks led to the CSSR then sharing the spoils with their Polish hosts, while the Czechs almost sent the Greeks home with a 2-1 win.

All outcomes were still, surprisingly, open, on the third Match round.

That led to an nervous last night , on Saturday last, where the fanatical Poles were obliged to beat their neighbours the Czechs (in Wroclaw, just a 100km from the Czech border) to secure a place in the last 8....., whilst over in Warsaw, Poland's capital, the Russians met the Greeks, again to determine who went where.

Methinks the Polish FA missed a trick here. Poland's draw in the second round of games against Russia had at least partly been secured by the fanaticism of the Home crowd, who almost sucked  the phenomenal Blaszczykowski equalizer into the net.

In a fantastically tense game, the Czechs kept their nerve and secured a 1-0 win to take them through, Jiracec scoring. More surprisingly perhaps, Greece did the same to Russia, and from looking down and out, Greece rallied to send the disappointing Russia home. Wow. A phenominally motivated Greece had proved that whatever the pundits decree, it's what you do on the pitch that counts. And count it did, as the Greeks resisted mightily, and snatched a 1-0 win that put many in mind of Portugal 2004.

Group B had followed an equally schismed course.

The relentless and talented German team had bested Portugal in their first game, and had triumphed over the disappointing Dutch in round 2. Given that Holland had equally surprisingly been turned over by Denmark at first, who then succumbed to the Portugese second up, it left a group where Die Mannschaft were supreme and through,  and meant last year's WC Runners up were clinging on by a fingernail, and having to beat the Portugese, whilst hoping the Danes were crushed by the Deutsch. Wow times two.

The supremely confident Portugal, inspired by a remarkable performance from CR7 sent the Dutch home with their tails between their legs, whilst Deutschland just rolled over Denmark and made sure they and Portugal would be the ones going forward.

Group C in it's early days , saw a more refined and predicted course. The World Champions, Spain, shared the points with Italy in a fascinating game, (the best of the Tournament thus far)  and then crushed the RoI 4-1. Croatia, that ever surprising newish-nation showed again their resilience, comfortably beating the Irish, and coming out even with Italy.

So for it's outcome, in Group C, the World Champion Spain needed a degree of stability in their game against the impressive Croats, whilst Trappatoni's RoI squad had nothing but an encounter against the nervous Italy, twitchy that a biscotti of Calciopoli proportions in the Spain/Croatia clash  might see them off.

How did it turn out?

Well, in a game when they were playing for pride and little else. the Irish put up a brave fight, but went down 2-0, whilst the atmosphere at the genuinely big game between Spain and Croatia at Gdansk made you glad you were a football fan. It was electric .

The game wasn't half bad either, with Croatia giving as good as they got for almost all the game, only to see the cute Spaniards find a way, again.

They replaced Torres with the" false 9 " Fabregas, and his delightful chip put Iniesta clear who was able to square for Jesus Navas to smash homethe winner in the 89th minute.

From this game I took the comfort of seeing how Espagna can be beaten - the opponent must have the confidence to cede the inevitable possession, but utilise their rare moments of superiority by attacking for the jugular, which,incidentally , Croatia did. Btw, it also helps to have Luka Modric in your team.        

Group D, of course, contained England, ever debatable, but who, from their 1-1 draw against the technically more proficient France, went on to lay the Swedish ghost of latter years and put themselves in a promising position prior to their meeting with the co-host Ukraine.

France meanwhile, were comfortable winners against the same, and on 4 pts each, these European rivals looked like the favourites to go through, particularly as Sweden were now cooked and booked onto the plane home.

The last night was a typically fraught evening, especially where England are concerned.

For a start, the game was shown on ITV, who seem to have of late a propensity for getting it wrong - from the interminable adverts to the Adrian Chiles/ Roy Keane duopoly of dullness, backed up by the spark that is Gareth Southgate (sic) and the Liverpool scally supreme Jamie Carragher.

What an effort, or should that be affront. The games were better than the presenters, not surprisingly.

France performed like an "England-lite"- going down to a hugely depressing 2-0 loss to Sweden, already condemned to the exit themselves, and will now reap the reward of a Quarter Final against Spain.

England, meanwhile, almost stumbled to a 1-0 win against Ukraine, and their reward as group winners is to meet Italy in Kiev on Sunday. My personal feeling is that they both got what they deserved. From the group of death to the group of dearth, as it were. Boom-boom.

So with a line-up of Portugal v Czech, Germany v Greece, Spain v France and England v Italy, now we are 8.

The biggest reward of the Tournament thus far has been the quality of the football. It has generally been of a high standard, and without any 0-0 draws, exciting too.Quality players have been allowed to shine, and what is hard to argue against that it's a Tournament of genuinely decent teams.

Which is why, of course, that UEFA will seek to expand it, for money, whatever the arguments otherwise.

Predictions?

Here's mine.........

Portugal, Germany, Spain and Italy.

## Warning ##   The value of Internet Punditry can go down as well as up.

Incidentally, here's link to 10 of the best goals from the Group Stage. 

Back in a couple of days with a Swansea City piece, talking about tele-visual treats and the recently released fixture list. See you then,

Onward, Swansea City 

Sense and Sensibility.

On Friday 15th June 2012, Michael Laudrup, on his 48th birthday no less, signed on the dotted line and agreed to become the new Manager of Swansea City FC.

To say that I was delighted by the news is something of an understatement. I was, and still am, really very very excited.

Michael Laudrup's appointment confirms that Huw Jenkins and our Board have shown both Sense and Sensibility. That this is the case, of course, will play out over the coming season, but undoubtedly they've shown both bravery and originality, and, we will get to decide.

Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen's great novel, is a diagram of modern mores, and more. The outcome, ultimately, will indeed leave us all to decide, but we couldn't argue against the fact that this is a progressive and ambitious appointment, which, if ultimately successful, will just add to the remarkable journey of Swansea City FC.

The past few weeks have been overly nervous for us Swans, since BR's decision to take up the Liverpool challenge saw us condemned (almost), once again, to seek out a Manager capable of continuing the successful story of the last 10 years.

Once again, our estimable Chairman and Board were tasked with finding yet another uncut gem, as it were, since this is patently what's required at Swansea City. And, once again,  it would seem that they've delivered, with the appointment of Michael Laudrup drawing a huge proportion of regard and positive approbation. not least for its willingness to think "outside the box".

The immediately preceding weeks had seen the supporters nervous, to say the least, with a wish that HJ and Team could come up yet again with an ace from the hole, and to continue with our fabulous progression. There was, however, no guarantee of this, and whilst it would be foolish to assume that all from now on will be smooth, ML's tenure does tick the requisite boxes.

With regard to ML's playing career, its hard to say anything other than that it was stellar..........just check out this fabulous array of achievement, or this.

Enough said there then. 

Plus, when pundits such as Sid Lowe, the Guardian and Sky TV's Spanish Football expert post such articles as this........you do tend to take notice. Btw, if you doubt the regard this man is held in in football circles, take some time to read the comments below as well as the article.

These are all fabulous achievements, and genuine reason to think that his tenure at Swansea City will be successful, but they're not the real reason why I feel so delighted at this fitting placement. Let me explain.

This, I believe, to put it crudely, is doing things in the "right way".

The story starts, surprisingly, a long time (in modern terms) ago, almost 10 yrs to the day. Astonishingly, looking back, I was there.

On that fateful day, I made the bizarre decision that the least I could do was to watch my Club slip out of the Football League, but, thanks to James Thomas and a whole host of others, that was the day both I, and the Club, were "born again" - almost.

Brian Flynn's team (and the Swansea City massive) did more that day to re-kindle my faith in Humanity, leading to a love affair with no end.

I don't need to tell you but the outcome of all those years led us into the modern era, and with a Club that's 20% owned by us fans, a realistic outlook on Football that seems, as is proven, to work.

It's hard to argue where the modern Swansea City was created precisely (it was probably connected with several outlooks), but there's no argument that subsequent to the Board's appointment of Roberto Martinez, Swansea began to play in a style that was noticeably different, with a pass and move and ball-retention philosophy that we Swans hadn't seen for years. What's more - it worked- and we fans bloody loved it.

Given Wigan's snaffling of Martinez and his Management crew, for the first time recently, we saw the Swans Board go "off the wall" with the appointment of Paulo Sousa, a European Cup winner as a player. Whilst Sousa's tenure did at least make us defensively resilient, most of us fans (and the Board as well) were probably glad to see him snatched by Leicester City. Ah well, it's easy to look back.

What me mustn't ever forget is that over this period, the Club had risen from the Third, to the Second, to the Championship level, which put us within striking distance of dreamland. The Premier League.

There is a point to be made here, of which, most of us Swans are well aware, but of which seems to be something that the greater football diaspora has only recently been made aware. It is this.

We play in a particular way - one, moreover, that's more familiar in Spain and other regions where retention of the ball is all. When we have it, our opponents don't, so if we can dominate possession we can dominate the result.

It's worked, thus far, for us - but, given that it also is boosted by the pedigree of Barcelona FC, I'd find it hard pressed to argue against it. Plus, it's aesthetically pleasing. I, and I guess you, enjoy it.

It's all very well to have a pattern of play that satisfies us, the fans, but what our Club has done is to have both that and an approach that is successful in meaningful terms. In other words, not only have we pleased the eye, we've climbed upwards and stayed there too.

This, it seems to me, has been a collective endeavor. I've hinted at RM's setting us on the path, and Sousa's undoubted defensive advancement in making us hard to beat, but it all came together with Brendan Rodgers' freeing up of the parts, and making us both a successful Championship side that got up through the play-offs, and a resilient and buzzing first year PL survivor, playing it must be said some of the most pleasing on the eye football in the division.

We've learned, from our last 3 Managers, that success breeds covetousness, and each has been snatched by a bigger rival. We've come to understand, moreover, that in the modern fishbowl of PL supremacy, it was ever thus.

However, the Club has shown that it too has grown upon these lines, with both Martinez and Sousa attracting compensatory payments from Wigan and Leicester. Some of us thought that Wigan, particularly, had got off lightly with their £2.5 m reported compensation being short shrift for all of our workaday staff.

Still, we survived, as is our wont, and it meant that when Liverpool came calling for Brendan and his first team coach Colin Pascoe, Liverpool's compensation was £7m +. Evidently fair, it seems to me.

Couple that, of course, with our ultimate employment of Michael Laudrup and you'll begin to see that I suspect we're on the right track.

Listen, there's no guarantee that a player with a stellar playing career and a promising but unfulfilled Managerial advance should have anything other than a tough time ahead in this League. I'll comfort you with this - who would you rather have managing us - Ian Holloway, Gus Poyet or any other of the bookies shouts, or somebody from left field who has at least an equal if not better pedigree? Yes, me too.

So, we set up for the new season with a new Manager and a further challenge to see if we can continue in this fantastic division whilst retaining the style we've all come to love and admire. Plus, we are not alone.

Many people have hitched a ride on our success last year, and it's just lovely to see and hear respected football pundits take notice of our style as well as our results.

And that's the key, don't forget. This is a journey that should we wish to make long term then it has some caveats along the way. Think on this.

The employment of Michael Laudrup is a really progressive move by our Board and Chairman. HJ had stipulated, all along, that the Club would seek out a Coach who was reflective of and prepared to work with the ethos on which the Club's play is based. Ie, we're a club that plays possession based pass and move football, and seeks to develop players from within - be that first-teamers or up and coming youngsters.

The corollary, of course, as I've banged on about before, is that we develop and implement a Club facility for Training and other purposes that is specific to Swansea City. Progress on the RTB Landore site seems to be encouraging. I'm hopeful of learning more re the Fairwood/Swansea Uni developments mentioned in the past year too.

Secondly, if we're good enough to stay in the division for a second year, then we can be confident that there will be the first stage of Stadium development, and that in itself will ultimately be self financing.

Talking of which I was delighted to see this week the PL's latest Sky TV deal which encompasses a massive increase to £3.18 billion (yes,billion) for domestic rights alone. Current estimates suggest that the bottom PL Club is likely to clear more than Man City made from last year in winning the Title, but that's from season 2013-14 forward.

That's how key it is to stay in this division. And that's before the Worldwide deal comes in, which is likely to dwarf the domestic set up as it does currently.

That's the level that we deal at nowadays, so the appointment of ML was key in that respect alone.

What is delightfully pleasing is the quality of candidates that were linked with this vacancy. Other than ML, both Marcel Desailly and Dennis Bergkamp were two of the names in the frame, along with more usual suspects Ian Holloway, Gus Poyet and ex coach Graeme Jones.

How refreshing that our current stature allows us to shop in slightly more exalted circles, and to appoint from this superior level. Excuse me for saying so.

What Huw Jenkins and the Board have achieved by securing the service of a member of this fabulous footballing dynasty is to demonstrate once again that they value the Swansea City system and ethos above all else.

Even Michael Laudrup, a genuinely exciting appointment, knows that the value of Systems, and how they can be used, is key to our development as a Club.

It'll be no surprise to anyone who's read me previously that I'm endlessly fascinated by the way we, Swansea City, play. And, by extension, how most teams reflect their Manager's avowed philosophy. Each game I attend nowadays sets an endless puzzle to try to analyze the general set up of each of the teams, and how that has influenced, or, occasionally, settled the outcome. It's perhaps not surprising to some, because, you'll either see or get to know,as I said previously, and I'll repeat it, I'm a Swansea City fan.

Incidentally, if you're intensively fascinated too by this kind of thing, or even if you're just vaguely interested, can I recommend Jonathan Wilson's "Inverting the Pyramid", a football book that like the game itself, leaves you wanting more. I've very recently been privileged to see Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Javier Hernandez and Nemanja Vidic confirm what Leon Britton, Michel Vorm, Joey Allen and Scott Sinclair show me week upon week - a propensity to make the extraordinary seem just everyday and normal. That's how lucky I am.

When I started watching live football, in 1964, it would be fair to say that formations never crossed my mind. Ipswich Town's 2-1 victory at the Vetch may not have been wholly attributable to Jimmy Leadbetter's mastery down the left wing (an early left sided Midfielder/Winger in a 4-4-2) - but it seemed so to me.

Coincidentally, or not, Alf Ramsey, their Iconic manager of that era went on to create the "wingless wonders " of 1966, and we all know what happened there, since parts of the Press have reminded us ever since.

That England's 4-4-2 may have been the modern game's precursor of Barca's "false 9" system seems hard to come to terms with. Until, that is, you see it for what it was - a stepping stone from from the WM formation that held sway until Hungary's 6-3 destroyed that particular myth, and a pointer to ongoing football evolution.

If we cast our minds back, there is plenty of evidence that football systems have always evolved and changed, generally for the betterment of the game.

After all, the World Cup, from its inception in the inaugural tournament of 1930 had produced Uruguay, Italy, West Germany and Brazil each winning it (3x2 and 1x1) in the seven tournaments possible prior to England getting their sticky hands on it for the first and only time, in 1966.Since then, incidentally, the 19 tournaments to date have produced 8 differing and different winners, England included.

The point of this enumeration and reminder is simply this.

Despite our understandable English-centric perspective, to compare the Uruguayans of 1930 to the Brazil of 1958 or 1962 is to compare chalk and cheese, in systemic terms.

And, astonishingly, the WM was done for long before Sir Alf Ramsey cast it into the bushes.People had, already, been doing it differently, for many years.

Think back to all the World Cup tournaments you've seen.Some are far more memorable than others : think Brazil  1970, Argentina 1992, and Italia 1996, and Spain 2010. Notice I've gone for the winners of the Tournaments, and not the venues. Before Blatter turned FIFA into his own personal fiefdom, the globe had already been trotted.

So, after that wander down History's lanes, we embark on our second season in the PL with a great deal more optimism than a couple of weeks ago when we first realized that Brendan Rodgers was indeed going to leave us for Liverpool FC.

A degree of trepidation remains, for ML's first season in England will indeed require difficult work, but I'm confident and excited to see him try.

Welcome to Swansea City Michael, you'll get every support from the fantastic JackArmy. A warm and friendly welcome awaits you at the Liberty Stadium.

Onward, Swansea City.

Summer Frustrations and the Consolation of Euro 2012.

If you're anything like me, and I guess you are, you will have been living on your nerves since Brendan Rodgers confirmed that he's off to Liverpool, and the regular summer search for our next gaffer began to take place.

Daily, the Boomakers fluctuate, mentioning the sublime (Bergkamp, Laudrup) to the ridiculous (Mick McCarthy, Lee Trundle). It just drives me further into the Fugue, and I look forward to the day when Huw Jenkins and the Board are able to announce an appointment that we can all get behind. Please, please, let it be soon.

Latest reports suggest that Huw Jenkins is in Cyprus on Holiday, but is remaining committed to filling the vacancy, with some courteous "no comments" from Michael Laudrup's agent at least leaning toward my preference.

Oh, that we could.

Whilst my daily concerns remain the Swansea City appointment, we've at least got the distraction of the Euro 2012 Championship start - and it promises to be a hum-dinger.

I don't know about you, but I confess to feeling at a loss for the availability of live football, so the start of Euro 2012 has come as a sort of Methadone relief from the rigours of my mainline Football addiction.

Incidentally, please don't think I'm making light of an often tragic and life changing set of circumstances, it's just that it seems to me to mirror, socially, our dependence (almost) on live football. Respect.

If we think we've got turmoil at our Club, spare a thought for the recently appointed England manager, the generally perceived second choice Roy Hodgson.

No sooner had he been appointed but that beacon of quality journalism, The Sun, took it upon themselves to criticise the choice in their own inimitable way.

They do have a way with words. More's the pity.

Much as I'd love to debate the demerits of this rag, for the purposes of this article, we need to move on.

The Euro Tournament kicked off last night with a pair of cracking games that saw the joint host nation Poland take an early lead against Greece's negativity, only to see the downtrodden Greeks roar back and secure a 1-1 final score, and one, moreover, where they could have won subsequent to Sczezesny's sending off and a saved penalty.

Later, Russia took the Czech Republic to the cleaners in a mightily impressive 4-1 spanking that included a sublime cameo from Andrei Arshavin, late of North London, but nowadays ensconced more comfortably in St Petersburgh. A genuine Home bird.

Whatever, it was a great start to a fantastic Tournament.

The second days' play saw another compelling duopoly of matches, when Holland took on near enemies Denmark, and Die Mannschaft Deutschland rocked up for a cracker against Portugal, CR7 included.

In technical terms, this pair of games was better still since we saw a cachet of payers who regularly attract slavish devotion from fans in some of the best Leagues in the world.

Btw, if, like me, you're a Twitter afficionado, check out the Guardian's interactive Tweet Map of the Euros.

Genuinely good fun.

Tweet of the day thus far, a group of Irish Fans who have a message for Europe's Nanny...

Germany's win over Portugal was ultimately a reward for persistence - but in this exalted company, that's sometimes what sides have to do.

In the other game, the sneakily efficient Danes were too good for the profligate Dutch and triumphed 1-0, but in this regularly branded "Group of Death", don't yet bet on the outcome.

Which led to the first truly cosmic meeting of the Tournament, and today's Italy v Spain clash, along with a rabid outburst of delight in tonight's RoI v Croatia clash. Wow.

The ESP V ITA clash was an absolute delight of tactical treats, which, if like me you delight in the process involved in out-thinking your opponent, gave us a feast of options.

Most readers will be aware of ITV's limitations in televising these Championships, where each little chunk between the constant ad-breaks is sure to contain a reference to how England will do, despite the fact that they're NOT PLAYING TODAY, along with the embarrassing Adrian Chiles, drowning in his morass of links to "coming after the break" before we get to see any football.

Their panel's discussion of Spain's tentative 4-6-0 set up beggared belief - and they were also, criminally, even to offer an opinion on the Italian formation. Was it 3-4-3? Was it 4-3 2 1? Who knew? Certainly not them.

Gordon Strachan has his faults (an awful temper), and Roberto Martinez his too (can be very Smarmy), but both are tactically astute. Couple them with the erudite and experienced (front line) Patrick Viera and you ought to have a group that can enhance your understanding of the game. Thanks to Chiles's inept leadership, all that was blown away in a farrago of local gossip and Rio Ferdinand-esque debate about nothing. I got so angry at one point I wanted to smash the screen. Instead, I poured another glass of wine - and it was not yet 6pm!!

In a cracking first half of sublime football, the World Champions strutted comfortably, but were matched by the industrious Italians, who also carved out the best chances, and Casillas made two at least World Class saves. Phew, I drew breath.

I looked closely at both formations.

Spain were really playing a 4-2-3-1, the complication being that the front 4 (Silva, Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas) were constantly switching. Whilst Xavi Hernandez never quite became the 1, the other 3 switched incessantly. and allowed Busquts and Xavi Alonso as the 2 to protect efficiently.

However, despite this exciting and innovative soundness, Cesare Prandelli had gone for broke, and Italy were a swirl of bodies competing ably. There were 3 at the back, but Daniele de Rossi patrolled both in front, and sometimes swept.

In front of that, Pirlo was the pivot, dovetailing with Marchisio, whilst 3 were ahead and Balotelli and Cassano roamed dangerously up front. Or so it seemed at first sight.

I've thought again, after the game,  about the Italian formation.

Was it a 4-2-3-1, or, as it seemed to me, a 3-1-4-2, where de Rossi played in the middle of the back 3 (but often brought the ball out), Pirlo  held ,pivoted and plotted, with the wing backs wide, leaving Montilivio/Giovinco and Thiago Motta  to support the front 2 of Balotelli and Cassano.

I'm convinced that's how it was. Whatever, in the first half it worked really well, in the Second, more was at stake.

Although Spain had been matched in the first period, with both teams occasionally on top,  in the 60th minute the game changed.

Pirlo won a pressing tackle, made an excellent run gaining ground on the left, and Antonio di Natale, who had just a minute previously replaced Mario Balotelli, was played in free on goal and beyond the high line. Di Natale is a class act - he's been around a long time, and he slotted home.

The game had truly come alive, for Spain stirred. Within 2 minutes, the World Champs were level.

Another close passing interchange on the edge of the box put Fabregas free, played in by Silva, and he took the chance gleefully past Buffon.

Spain substituted Jesus Navas (on) for David Villa (off) and I got the feeling with the introduction of the Sevilla winger they were going for gold.

On 73m Torres came on for Fabregas (that's the quality of this side), and within 2m he almost put Spain ahead but was driven wide by Buffon.      

At the other end, di Natale volleyed just wide. What a game!

Torres gave a cameo of his skills, and frustrations of late - he got into great positions, but put both  a chance and a chip wide. You feel he's 99% there. Oh for the hundredth percentile!.

As both sides played quality football, the game drifted toward an inevitable conclusion.

A fantastic game, the best of the Tournament, and it ended in a 1-1 draw.

Which left us with the RoI's game against the consistently underestimated Croats. What is it with people. Since their inception as a separate Nation they have always been good.

Two minutes in, they took the lead, with a cute header from an astute (if deflected) cut-back. Game well and truly on.

Ireland, to their credit, battled hard, and from that competition got a deserved equaliser on 18m when Sean St Ledger headed in from a free kick on the left. There's a lot to be said for spirit and self-belief.

2m before HT, Jelavic smelled a goal from an Irish failed clearance - and scored, 2-1. And, as it turns out, 3-1 eventually, when another header hit the post and bounced in off Given.


This is turning out to be an excellent tournament that showcases football at the highest level. No sympathy here.

Today's treat includes the ever hyped England's debut against Les Bleus, and Laurent Blanc's team promise to give a real test to the recently appointed Roy Hodgson. Followed,of course, to round off the first round of fixtures  Ukraine at Home in Kiev against the dangerous Sweden. A veritable smorgassbord, one might say. (Ouch).

With that I'll leave you, to return in a couple of days when the weeping and gnashing at England's defeat has calmed down.

And we, Swansea City, are hopefully nearer to announcing a Manager.

Bye for now, and let's hope I'm able to say then.......

Onward, Swansea City.

Le spectacle doit continuer.

The Show must go on.

Given the recent traumas at Swansea City, you could excuse all and sundry if they just wanted to slip away to a relaxing Summer beach for a well deserved holiday. Unfortunately, in the cut-throat world of the PL, it doesn't quite work like that.

One third of the triumvirate components of our Club are already on the beaches of Europe if they've any sense (and I think they have) - that's the Playing Staff - and you can't blame them.

However, 2/3rds of that collective have no option other than to seek out our next Leader, a quality Manager who can continue to steer us on this fabulous journey - and that's our admirable Board, led by the terrific Huw Jenkins.

Coupled, of course, with US, the Fans, who will always live on our nerves as we continue to ride the switchback.

Whilst we supporters are almost locked-in by our emotional attachment, our elegant Chairman, who's conducted himself with a degree of dignity and nous sadly absent in some others recently, has now, again, to turn his and the Board's focus onto selecting a suitable and crucial future Leader.


Btw, if you doubt HJ's restrained sensibility, compare him to Dave (TownCryer) Whelan, who I'm convinced made the FSG Group at Anfield, who chose Brendan Rodgers, realise what a narrow escape they had with his trumpeting of Roberto's this and Roberto that in the past week.

Christ, he's like your aged embarrassing Grandparent, guaranteed to offend in his unreconstructed blundering through the modern football milieu. If he hasn't wet himself he's clumsily gobbed on both someone else and himself.

You feel he and Sepp would be good mates - I think you'll know exactly what I mean. Perhaps they could discuss the cut of Ladies shorts (again).

Of course, in this off-season, both we and Norwich City, our fellow promotees from last year ( who had an excellent season too) have been the recipient of a raid - Norwich's admirable Manager Paul Lambert having been snaffled by another European Cup winning team fallen on harder times - Aston Villa. 

My commiserations to East Anglia - we know how you feel - in spades.

I often feel that when these occasions occur, there's a certain inevitable dynamic.

I've written previously about the inequity of a large shark-like predation on the smaller, successful Club's resources, and this encompasses both Players and Managers.

This media-accepted "inevitability" sticks in my craw, so I was delighted to hear HJ confirm via the talkSPORT platform that there was not only the compensatory payment for Boston's plunder of South Wales to the tune of £7m, but that there was also an exclusion zone placed around our players (to Liverpool at least) of 12mnths.

However, I have no doubt that Liverpool retained Lawyers are at this very moment perusing this agreement to discover its weaknesses, but you have to say it's at least some sort of pugnacious defence.

Good on you HJ, big up.

I suspect however that since the Gylfi deal is not yet signed and sealed, it might fall outside the terms of this so-called agreement, as indicated already by BR.



Whilst we Swans fans can only speculate whilst our Board deliberates, some of the suggestions hold out hope for me that we have a body of support that's a bit cueter than the frequently bestowed "Football Sheep" mentality regularly tagged to adoring fans of most Clubs by that self same serving national Media.

Bookmakers lists appeared that contained lots of "regular suspects". I don't have to list them - take a look for yourselves.

There are names on that list that I wouldn't give a guidance to about how to get to the Liberty Stadium, let alone allowing them to Manage. WTF? Shudder.

The strongest of the early rumours purported to suggest that Graeme Jones, previously a Coach at our Club and nowadays Martinez's No 2 at Wigan was the favourite - and he led the betting, short term. Fortunately, from my standpoint at least, latest reports suggest that it will not be him, for whatever reason I don't care.

My view point stands against him because I think the job is bigger than his current profile and he just would not cope.

And there's the rub.

We know, as Fans, and the Board know, as our guidance, that the philosophy of participation in our Club is precisely that - a Philosophy.

A mind-set, a style, a pattern, a Fashion - call it what you will. It is based upon Barcelona's maxim - Mes Que un Club - literally, More than a Club. This is not some grandiose attempt to grab the skirts of the of the World's best ever football teams - the key word is club.

It involves ceding personal advancement unless it betters the whole. It involves us , as fans, giving the Players the responsibility and patience to achieve. It means re-grouping when we're knocked back, and then setting out to continue on the same path. It means building - internally and externally.

It remains a must that the Training Academy and  Club facilities are developed, as promised, over the next few years due to our current PL largesse. It means retaining the humility, and personal worth that we and all involved feel as Swansea City fans. Mes Que un Club.

So here's Saturday, and I'm about to watch England v Belgium in a pre European championship warm up game which I'm looking forward to, particularly to see Eden Hazard , recently Chelsea signed for £35m. Wow. Let's have a look, and I'll be back later.

Well, having watched the England/Belgium game it seems clear that Hodgson is imposing his limited 4-4-2 mentality on the Team - but, to give him his due, that may be a necessity, coming as he is to such a late staged campaign.

Over the next few weeks we'll see.

To get back to our own situation, here's a brief outline of my thoughts.

I've indicated previously that I don't see value in the tried and trusted route, and our Chairman's quotes make it clear that neither does our Board - so we can gladly kiss goodbye to the Steve Bruce, Alan Curbishley et als of this world. Thank goodness for that- they would so obviously not suit.

That leaves, it seems to me, two other routes.

One - the up and comers. The best 2 I have to say seem to me to be Lee Clark, currently unattached, and Chris Hughton, currently at Birmingham.

Two - to go abroad. And somewhat left-field at that, since my preferred duopoly would be either Michael Laudrup or Antoine Kombouare. Either might suit, I think.

We are in for a highly nervous and crucial week.

The merits of those 4 individuals can be found here. Chris Hughton, Lee Clark, Michael Laudrup and Antoine Kombouare .

Interesting, to say the least.


What we need now is the confidence to accept that our Board, led by HJ, will again deliver us a Manager who they deem will suit Swansea City. There can be no guarantee of course that our new gaffer is going to succeed, but, what we can be sure of is that it won't be for a lack of effort from HJ and crew, or a lack of belief from us fans.

So that's our job. Let's get behind the Club and try to help in every which way to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Whomsoever the choice, he will have our absolute support, since that's the job of us fans.

We can continue to progress as well, if not better, than we have done in the past 8/9 years, of that I'm sure.

It won't be for lack of effort.

Onward, Swansea City.