Reports emerging of a "six man brawl" in Swansea training in the buildup to the Chelsea match
Firstly, I thought we played quite well on Sunday. If that was the result of a bit of a bust-up... well, keep them coming. We definitely played better than at Hull, where, as far as we're aware, there was no Royal Rumble in the pre-match preparations, so maybe Monk has inadvertently stumbled on a winning formula?
In all seriousness nobody likes this kind of report, and it hardly bathes us in a positive light ahead of a stage of the season where togetherness and team spirit can often prove the difference. We need to be winning games and concentrating on the task at hand; not fighting between ourselves and creating non-football based headlines.
The Daily Mail broke the story last night (link), and it seems it centres around a bustup during a practice match in the aftermath of the Hull game. which Huw Jenkins witnessed. Personally I don't think it'll bother our chairman as much as it's being made out - he's hardly the type that was born with a silver spoon in their mouth, and to be honest I'm sure this kind of thing has gone on at lots of clubs up and down the country on numerous occasions - though the timing of this incident isn't particularly helpful, it has to be said.
The Mail report it as "the match became an opportunity for players who had an issue with the workrate of some of their teammates to start picking fights", and that raises an interesting question - was the absence of Michu, Pozuelo, Canas, Alvaraz and Tiendalli from the squad on the weekend something to do with this? The Mail don't name names, but they reference a disparity in wages between Swansea players who've been here a while, and new arrivals on bigger wages - who are viewed as not pulling their weight - as something which has contributed to the buildup of tension.
Something that's also mentioned is that Wilfried Bony is on £58,000 per week. If true that absolutely blows my mind - given how good he is I think he could well go on to justify it but it still seems an absolutely mental amount for the Swans to be paying someone. Who the hell persuaded Huw to sign that off?!
On a lighter note, another cause for concern is that someone was reportedly eating crisps at half time. I'm no nutritionist, but while that doesn't seem the most professional way to spend your half time I don't think it's the kind of thing which would lead to someone sticking the boot into you in training. Or would it? I don't know. I wonder what type of crisps they were...
With Newcastle away next, we've got another massive opportunity for three points, and it's imperative the squad stick together and get a positive result. We traditionally do quite well against Newcastle (as do most people these days it seems), and play like we did against Chelsea and we'll be fine. What's more, Jordi Amat will be at centre-back instead of Chico Flores, so we could well see an improved defensive showing. A huge opportunity for Jordi, as Monk has possibly tired of Chico costing his team with wild lunges - it could be viewed that between the Chelsea game and the red card/penalty against Crystal Palace he's directly cost the team five points, and that's before you consider his calamitous showing away at Everton.
Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, it's looking increasingly likely we'll see a clear out in the summer. There appears to be a growing portion of the squad who aren't anywhere near the first team, and it's just that they should be moved on if they're picking up big wages without contributing - who stays and who goes remains to be seen though.
As long as we hang on to Bony, we'll be absolutely fine...