It’s been an interesting end of season for the neutral, in fact a neutral is where anyone should look or talk to if they want to see and hear how Swansea City are perceived. Add to that the living proof of what has gone before and yes, you can ask the question … ‘Why would anyone come to Swansea City’ ?
My Swansea supporting life started some thirteen years ago, I was in a privileged position then to see a side on the up and then a premier league team playing some of the best football in the top flight. I thank my grandfather for that, but he was always somewhat cautious. Taking our football for granted, and of course then we had a steady club with a manager at the time in Roberto Martinez and then Brendan Rodgers I just assumed it would always be that way.
Bampy as we called him would regale me with stories of a few thousand watching Swansea, the football was appalling in a run down Vetch Field and it wasn’t that much fun. Only a few he states would look back fondly on those times before John Toshack took over. He even remarks on the eighties and how it all went wrong again. All this whilst I had the pleasure of watching Swansea City in a fairly new stadium, amd beating the very best Europe could offer us, even in the Europa League.
It wasn’t so much about will we beat Arsenal or Manchester City for me, it was really about by how much. I remember a game where the Swans beat West Bromwich Albion handsomely and thinking ‘That should have been more’ My Grandfather used to smile when I talked through those games with him. I would relay my thoughts on to paper and kept a diary of games I had been to, I rarely felt we were getting worse, just annoyed that the Swans weren’t pushing for the champions league.
I know.
I’ve studied the Swans in history and looking back over even the most recent of times I’ve seen managers come and go, all of whom bar a few have been a success. In the championship even with Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez as managers, and let’s not forget Paulo Sousa, they all achieved and went on to better themselves. They continue to do so in their careers today. People could argue that Russell Martin hasn’t been a success, but really ? He came to Swansea from MK Dons, a club far smaller than the Swans. And now he is on the verge of joining Southampton, arguably trophy success aside this century a bigger club than Swansea City.
Before him we had Steve Cooper, a manager plucked from absolute obscurity, and I’ll be honest I didn’t know who he was before his appointment. I got my info from here and what he had achieved prior to coming to the Liberty. Two seasons of play off involvement followed, including a final. A success ? Absolutely he was. Now having taken Nottingham Forest from near relegation to league one they are in the premier league.
Before him we saw Graham Potter at the helm, okay at Swansea for just one season but that was his launch pad to be snapped up from the Swans - and success at Brighton through his playing style. He took a multi million pay off from Chelsea recently moving from a few thousand pounds a week at Östersunds FK to Swansea, and them financial security for life. Again a success ?
Of course he has been.
I’m concentrating solely on the championship but we shouldn’t forget Roberto Martinez (below) who left Swansea City to eventually manage Belgium in the World Cup in 2018. During the group stage, his team won all their group games and in the round of sixteen came from two goals down to beat Japan 3—2. In the quarter-finals, Belgium defeated Brazil 2—1 to set up a semi-final against neighbours France, which they subsequently lost 1—0. In 2021 he guided Belgium to the top of the FIFA rankings for the third year in a row.
A success ? Of course he was. His launch pad was Swansea City.
Brendan Rodgers (below) was literally plucked from nowhere by Huw Jenkins, out of work at the time he guided the Swans to promotion to the premier league, and we all remember how that play off final went. When I say ‘nowhere’ Rodgers wasn’t anywhere near first choice for the Swans job after Martinez left. Paul Tisdale, Gary Speed, Billy Reid, and a whole host of others turned the job down before Rodgers moved to Swansea. Since then he has managed Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester and as of this morning he is in discussions to rejoin Celtic. Hey, I’m decent at this evaluating our sites sources (Russell Martin contract aside) even when the boss is away on his holidays ! Is this my first exclusive !
Was Brendan a success ? Yes, yes, and yes.
If any manager or coach has any second thoughts about managing Swansea City they must be daft. If they apply themselves in the right way, utilise their years of football experience, and work solidly at their craft the results I’m sure will follow. Compare that to those down the road, actually there is no comparison. Swansea City have a DNA as it is now referred to that shines as bright as any club you care to mention when it comes to style of play, and the fact it is revered by many fans of other clubs should make us proud.
If the likes of Chris Davies are thinking this morning about a Swansea City position then they would be seriously mad not to take the chance. This club has produced some of the very best coaches and managers in recent times. Not one championship club comes anywhere close. And for that reason, they should stay well away, I mean who would be mad enough to come to Swansea ? Only the person asking that question. What a ridiculous statement, and I’ve read it many times in the last few weeks. Bonkers, absolutely bonkers. The majority ownership need to choose carefully of course, but for anyone who thinks anything other than positively regards our new manager search really should hang up their supporting boots and try something else.
Crazy.