Jack Butty is back in the midst of a storm, and he see’s the light at the end of the Swansea City tunnel.
At last, we’re getting some Spring weather, and while the lambs are gamboling we’ve had a feast of football from the Swans. If only the season lasted another month then we’d be savouring our play-off chances and commentators would be talking us up as the surging in-form team most likely to. Nineteen points from a possible twenty-one in the last seven games have been a great haul with some sparkling and gritty performances.
There have been no easy games — there rarely are in the Championship — made more difficult at this stage of the season where many clubs are fighting to avoid relegation and others to get into the play-offs. I love that our team is fighting as they are. We seem more aggressive, not gratuitously so but if it kicks off the whole team is looking out for their teammates. This was highlighted by the melee with Preston NE and shows the grit and mettle that any good team needs. This spirit was highlighted by Liam Cullen after Norwich, "He (Russell Martin) is a massive part of this club and the philosophy he has brought him is brilliant, and we all love playing the game this way.” The players have repeatedly given their backing to Martin and his playing style.
I was looking forward to Saturday’s game with Norwich with some nervousness. We haven’t done well at Carrow Road and I still get the heebie-jeebies thinking about the days when the rampaging Grant Holt played against us. (Holt was of course a Swans bogeyman who loved playing the bad guy.) As it turned out our win was almost too easy — something we are not accustomed to. Some may question how good the Norwich team is but they’ve only just been relegated and are fighting for a play-off spot. But we made them look very ordinary.
So, the season draws to an end and the good news is that not only are we playing great football, getting great results with strong team spirit but that this has to be the basis for next season’s push. There will be movements within the squad that must be managed and planned for. Unfortunately, Ryan Manning looks certain to leave. Joel Latibeaudiere could leave and the extent that the club tries to keep him could be a key test of whether it is seen as backing Russell Martin. Luke Cundle has done well and the Wolves must be delighted with his development. Keith made this point in his article and of the possibility that he might extend his loan into next season. Hopefully, our interest in incoming players will be developed at speed and allay any lingering concerns over the January transfer debacle.
After that, it is speculation on whether bids come in for: Joel Piroe, Morgan Whittaker, Liam Cullen, Oliver Ntcham, or any of our players. In addition to trying to extend Piroe’s contract, the club can only wait to see what interest there is in our squad while having a bundle of options ready up their sleeves to make replacements. In the meantime, we have some very interesting games in the Championship this week. If they play out well for us, along with next Saturday’s games, we might just have reason to be excited.