The Swansea Way's Chief Football Correspondent returns with his take on recent international goings-on
In a week where the media tell us that footballers don't earn enough to survive after their retirement (barring the top 5%, apparently) and of course once again the Wales national side fell at every hurdle, optimism returns! It returns in the form and shape of Swansea City taking on Liverpool at The Liberty on Monday night (8.05pm KO) as the SKY cameras once again beam Swansea football to the world.
A number of Swans fans bemoan the international breaks we all endure, the most recent one a point in case, and don't think its over folks! No, no, because next month there is another one as the final World Cup qualifiers are played out, and in November we'll endure another blank weekend of non fixtures as well. I don't blame any supporter for wanting more and more of the success and glory the Swans have achieved over the past eleven years or so though, the momentum gathered has been relentless, and season after season of non-stop glory is one hell of a drug. Those players not involved in these international breaks and blank fixture weekends are at least, I would hope, getting some fiscal advice - so they at least know how to go to the bank and open up a savings account.
Now and again I have a listen to our friends at Talk Sport - a station which employs a certain type of person, with a certain type of viewpoint, about a certain international football team. We all know which team that is - they're called England. Regardless of the presenter's nationality the script is always the same - they spend hour after hour analysing, de-constructing and criticising an international team that I think would struggle to get a draw against our beloved Swans (or indeed the majority of Premier League clubs!). Mark Saggers is a decent enough sports journalist, only one of a few at the station though. I recall his very lucid reporting of the 1993 grand national failed start, a reporters dream no doubt, but professionally done. He got an award for it I understand, but what's more he had his own viewpoint on whatever he found himself reporting on.
Unlike some of the stations presenters he hasn't served a prison term or been arrested and charged with criminal offences, which I suppose gives him a professional head start. I do give more credibility to a reporter with a professional background that doesn't include drug supply, drink driving, assault, criminal damage or animal cruelty. Mind you the station employing Andy Gray and Richard Keys after their pathetic and bullying comments on SKY for me, endorses anything I think of them as a media outlet and its reputation - and I haven't mentioned their employees being sacked for on air verbal abuse yet! Do you recall ex-QPR player Simon Stainrod on Talk Sport? He was employed by the station to manage a football phone in, but sadly for Simon his ability to understand the words football and phone in meant he was relieved of his duties on air. Not the brightest or shiniest of stars.
Saggers recent moaning about England's 0-0 draw in the Ukraine reflected the stations very clear agenda. It's a national radio station reporting on one country (England) and wherever possible focusing on the south east - and I mean wherever possible. If this isn't possible then it has to be one of the top 6 clubs, and most certainly sod the rest. Even in a relatively successful period for England (who are top of their group) Saggers found time to criticise them in the midst of World Cup qualification. Mind you he did have Tony Cascarino as a guest, a man who played eighty odd times for the Republic of Ireland before admitting he didn't have any ancestry to do so - In his own words "Im a fake Irishman, I should never have played".
So, another chap who fits the Talksport profile perfectly, but we wont talk about his private life here. Overall the programme bemoaned how England didn't have the guile and skill of more competent countries like Spain, for example. One news hack stated 'Yeah, but tippy tappy football wouldn't be acceptable to England fans' - the arrogance that oozes from Talksport couldn't have been more obvious than in this comment. This foolish person genuinely felt winning world and european cups as an international side should be done the 'English way' (off the bar with a dodgy linesman?), but personally if I want to see a team win any competition or game I would rather they did it 'The Swansea Way'.
Many people say to me 'I don't listen to Talk Sport' ..... Well I do, as I do to many things I don't rate that highly. We all have opinions, but surely to have one we need a little bit of experience? It's on this final point that the word 'experience' becomes subjective. Many England commentators and so called pundits hate the way their international side play, and more competent players like Matt Le Tissier (when he's not trying to assist a spread bet on putting the ball out of play in a premier league game) asked recently 'Why cant England just pass it to each other and build play from there?' I had to laugh when I heard this; poor old Matt, always looking confused, and still trying to put the ball out of play. He made this comment after two seasons of Swansea football and three years of Premier League stats endorsing a club which do just that.
And so it passes, the pun continues - as the so called clever people look at their top six, their south east teams and news reports amid their own agenda they don't see the players who could maybe help their international side. I'm not endorsing they should pick a player with better passing stats than Messi, or a player scoring the most goals or with top ten assists over every game he plays. Or indeed a player now finding his feet now he's out of the sights of Steven Gerrard. All I'm saying is the world of football, is just that; a world of football...but not at the English FA, and many a Swans fan will be thankful for that as well.
This is why Spain are the dominant force in the world game when it matters. Like Germany in tournaments, they always produce due to personal style and ethics, but of course, if it's about ethics and indeed ethical practices, then England will never aspire or succeed. Their mindset is such that it isn't allowed to - ego defeats common sense every time. With prejudiced views surrounding their game from those that write about it to those that played it they haven't got a chance, and never will have.
The thing is they cant see it, and nor do they care, because if it means their own prejudices being exposed they will never learn or develop. At media level, at club level and at international level, like a repeat offender the national side of England is riddled with an arrogance that is difficult to explain, but very clear and visible in its practice...and I haven't even mentioned Greg Dyke yet - the new man in the frame, the new voice that must be listened to.
Go on pick a year, any year .....
See you under the bright lights of The Liberty on Monday folks!
Keith Haynes
Follow Keith on Twitter at @_KeithHaynes, and check out his latest books by clicking the link at the top left of the site.