Swansea City take on the black cats of Sunderland on Saturday, and it’s quite simply one of those winner takes all fixtures. This is a game which the winner will almost certainly see either the swans consolidate their recent good form in the play offs or Sunderland move in to the top six spots.

It is a fixture that at this point of the season which will consolidate either clubs ambitions, at least for now. Unless Burnley lose to Coventry away on the weekend then a home win would see the swans keep themselves in sixth spot, in fact it’s certain they could rise to fifth. If Swansea lose then it’s Sunderland who would leap frog the swans in to either sixth or fifth place. That’s how delicate this fixture is. And to enforce that no points for the swans could see them back in mid table. Many swans fans still see that as the best Swansea can hope for this season.

However, we disagree.

The system that Russell Martin wants to work has been extremely effective at West Bromwich Albion and Watford this week. Martin’s side have scored five goals in two games and eight in three. The 3-0 destruction of Hull City before the international break displaying a serious turn around in performance and belief. The defence have conceded three in three, but all those games have resulted in Swansea wins. The inclusion of Steven Benda in goal has been crucial and the defence and midfield moving the ball more sharply and incisively forwards is the other key factor. The turn around for us here at Swansea Independent came away at Stoke City, a game which saw the usual lapse in concentration that robbed the swans of all three points. Then the Sheffield United last ditch win made matters even worse.

In between all that a home win against an in form QPR albeit ‘scary’ (© Russell Martin 5/10/2022) at times displayed a real understanding of what Martin’s belief system in his charges can achieve. Yes,there is bravery required as we saw at Watford, but that’s bravery in the face of a side which has a squad that is far more accomplished as a club, and whose players can boast millions more a year in contracted salaries than Swansea City.

This isn’t a review of the first twelve games of the season, but what we have witnessed to date has been encouraging, pleasing and displays a side that learns from its mistakes, unlike last season. The key players then were Jamie Paterson and Connor Roberts, the former now almost lost since his rebellious few months of last season, the latter now a Burnley player. With the losses of Hannes Wolf who had a last minute hitch in France before signing for Swansea in January, and then Cyrus Christie on loan from Fulham left huge gap in Russell Martin’s plans. Wolf is currently in a race to play again this season whilst Christie chased the big bucks when he signed for Hull. Since then he has seen six games in a tigers shirt and was lost in his own room when the swans demolished Hull a few weeks ago.

We all know about Flynn Downes, his contributions last season left a huge gap in this seasons starting eleven. However, the emergence of Oli Cooper for many has been equally as positive. Plus the signing of Luke Cundle, a player who has much more to offer this season. He needs to used sparingly and at home with the crowd behind him he has a deft touch and a vision beyond his years.

On the Christie situation we have seen many unknowns come to Swansea over the years, then they get a far bigger take on what they are as a player. Fair play they gain self belief, but it’s often unqualified. Then we see them fall over when the green grass outside of Wales seems so much more lush and inviting. There’s a book in that in itself. The signing of Nathan Wood looked very suspect when he joined the club, but Russell Martin, like in his Matt Sorinola loan signing has once again proven he has an eye for a footballer. I really do like Sorinola, everyone loves a trier but he is more than that. Where he is playing is open to question, but then again where else could he play in this Swansea side ?

Personally I love everything about him, and reserve my own judgement to criticise him whenever I want. He is diminutive, careless and possesses everything we need in his position without half the ability of many others. I love his heart and commitment, and for any football fans out there not happy with a player who should give far more on a match day, this is a professional footballer I would want in the trenches with me.

Can you imagine how good a player he could be as he develops and progresses at our club ?

We have most certainly had a great chat this morning, this is the build up to a real catalyst of a game on Saturday. It’s exciting and my adrenaline is flowing at the thought of a nigh on sell out at the swansea.come on Saturday. This is what we have waited for over the last fifteen months. Swansea City in the play off places and the first of two key fixtures this week that require total commitment to stay there.

As the young folk say ‘ What’s not to like ‘ ?

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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