Review Of The Season

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There wasn't too much transfer activity by Kenny Jackett in pre season - We missed out on a number of players - namely Dean Leacock (who would have become our record signing), midfielder Jay Tabb, defender Roger Johnson & goalkeeper Jason Brown all turned us down to sign for clubs plying their trade at a higher level.

Andy Robinson put an end to transfer speculation by signing a new contract at the club and Sam Ricketts also decided to leave us for pastures new at Championship Hull City - we did have some success (if you can call it that) in the transfer market. Darren Pratley signed from Fulham, Kevin Amankwaah from Yeovil & Tom Butler from Hartlepool.

They were not the sort of signings that we were expecting and as it turned out the latter two were a little mediocre - though both did show signs of their ability. It was a disappointing pre season transfer wise as I think we would have signed those players had we been at a higher level.

The season didn't get off to the best of starts Trundle & Tate were banned for one game after the famous flag incident and we lost to newly promoted Cheltenham at home in the first game.

I'd say our season never really got going, we were inconsistent in the league - though we were in and around the play off zone for most of the season, we lost to League 2 team Wycombe at home in the League Cup and were knocked out by another League 2 team - Peterborough - in the newly named Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Then there was the much talked about Leon Knight saga where we still don't officially know what happened, but whatever it was I'm sure it was the right decision by Kenny. He was placed on the transfer list before the Chesterfield away game in November; he went on loan to Championship Barnsley before signing permanently for League 2 team MK Dons in January - where he scored just one goal in 16 appearances.

I wouldn't say we missed his goals that much from that period; we went on to win seven out of the next ten games - scoring 18 goals in that time.

There was some success in the cup, probably the better of the three, the FA Cup. After dispatching Newport & Darlington in rounds one & two, we provided one of the cup shocks of the season by beating Premiership Sheffield Utd 3-0 at Bramall Lane!! (That's right 3-0!), before unluckily losing to Championship side Ipswich Town in the 4^th round.

Rory Fallon left the Swans in January to sign for Plymouth for £300,000, it never really worked out for him at the Liberty, for whatever reason, but there was no need for the abuse that was thrown at him.

Kenny Jackett then 'left' the club in February, after 3 years in charge and ex player Roberto Martinez took over, after Kevin Nugent's temporary time in charge. In hindsight Roberto perhaps should have taken over a few games sooner, but in the short time he was in charge, we played much better, we also showed some fighting spirit that will hopefully stand us in good stead for next season.

I was wary at first when Martinez was appointed as manager and I will openly admit that I thought the club took the cheaper option, after many more experienced candidates were rumoured to want the job, but so far so good. He got the players to perform to their capabilities, as well as getting the results.

There are improvements to be made and he has a big task on his hands but I'll be happy to admit I was wrong if Roberto gets us promoted to the Championship.

I said that I'll judge him at Christmas, when he's had a chance to bring his own players in and from the start of the season; hopefully he'll prove me and a lot of others wrong.

So overall last season our main problems last season was our inability to beat teams in the top six, that became our downfall in the end, as I mentioned on the messageboard. After we lost to Scunthorpe and Oldham at home in the league was when I said we wouldn't make the Play Offs - It was only the last few games that gave us a slim chance - we just fell short at the end.

As well as that, I'd say we were very inconsistent - very Jekyll & Hyde. We failed to win 3 games in a row under Jackett and we lost a few games after going ahead while looking quite comfortable - Huddersfield away on New Years Eve was a fine example of this.

Bad tactics and team selections by Jackett were also to blame, as well as some dud signings (as they turned out to be) namely Abbott, Amankwaah & Craney, from the top of my head. Willy Gueret also seemed to play game after game, despite being dodgy in every one. Injuries also played its part, Garry Monk, Darren Way & OTJ only played a handful of games, while it seemed that most of our team at some point had spent some time on Ritchie Evans's treatment table.

Lastly our discipline turned out to be a problem again; we amassed 8 red cards - all of them away from home - though a lot of the sendings off were a little harsh and some were down to inept refereeing, that is something else that needs to be sorted in the summer.

I think that's everything about the season gone by that came to mind, there are a few more things that I could have mentioned, but I don't want to bore you anymore! If you haven't stopped reading yet then I would like to take you through some of the more positive things from last season.

I was fortunate enough to watch all 53 games (54 if you count Port Talbot in the FAW Cup) this season, you could say I'm glutton for punishment but I have enjoyed some of the games this season - more so the away games as they tend to generate the better atmosphere. I'd like to thank Ugo for his organisation of the away games and the hard work that must go into it.

Best Player

This season for me, it has to be Leon Britton - he has been our most consistent player, almost ever present and showed his usual determination, non stop running and commitment to the cause. If only he could shoot!

But disappointingly there haven't been that many consistent players this season - Lee Trundle was our top scorer (again!) but I'm sure even he will admit that he wasn't at his best. His better performances were away from home, but he did play better when Martinez took over, where he then seemed to enjoy his football more.

Dennis Lawrence, Marcos Painter, Darren Pratley and Darryl Duffy were welcomed additions to the squad and for me improved our team.

Best Home Game

This was a hard one to pick, as I there weren't many times I came away from the Liberty thinking that we played well and there weren't many home games that I enjoyed. So I'm struggling to think of one particular game, possibly the Port Vale game (but Port Vale didn't turn up that day!) strangely I enjoyed the Blackpool game, even though it wasn't the result we hoped for.

Whether the lack of poor home performances were to do with more pressure on us to perform at home or away teams doing their homework on us I don't know, but hopefully the goals will be flying in at the right end next season!

Best Away Game

This was also a difficult one to choose as there have been some very good away performances this season - namely Crewe, Brentford, Sheffield Utd & Tranmere to name a few. But Carlisle away just a few weeks ago had everything for me.

The sun was shining, a great goal early on from Trundle, the usual defensive mix ups, a good atmosphere and for once a last minute winning goal from us - In controversial circumstances. It was worth getting up at 5am for!

Best Goal

We scored 81 goals last season (in all competitions) so it was hard to pick one winner, but after thinking long and hard I have to go for Alan Tate's cracker against Bournemouth a few weeks back. I don't need to describe the goal as most of us have already seen it, but it was a terrific strike and it came at such a vital time of the game as well.

Best Atmosphere

It has to be Sheffield United away, 5000 Jacks singing their hearts out. I surely wasn't expecting to win - I don't think anyone else was either, especially with so many of our players injured & suspended, but 3-0 says it all! I was right in the front row behind the goal and went ecstatic when Butler scored the first & second goal - Britton's penalty just put the icing on the cake.

But that was the best atmosphere I've heard while travelling away with the Swans, every song got an airing and was louder than I've previously heard it. That's what every Swans match should be like.

Next Season

I'm feeling very positive for next season, if Martinez can show the same form that he ended with from the start of the season I can see us getting promoted this coming season! I don't know why , I just have this strange feeling at the back of my mind that this is our season to put the past two season's disappointments behind us - but I still feel as fans we need to patient at the same time.

I've seen us play every team twice last season and the only team that really impressed me were Blackpool (who at the time of writing this could still get promoted through the play offs). I can't see relegated Luton or Southend being a real threat and Leeds will probably lose their best players.

Most of this division is average, even though there are some very good players, previous seasons should tell us that it's not necessarily the best players that get you promoted, it's a team effort. Teams like Southend, Colchester & Scunthorpe have small budgets but a good team ethic - most of their team have come from free transfers - maybe a system Roberto should approach?

I'm sure he'll be very shrewd with his signings; he's certainly making all the right noises, let's give him our full support!

The future's bright, the future's black & white!