Monk's men run rampant as 100% start continues
The world is a nicer place when you're winning. For Swansea fans across South Wales (and now, in a sign of the times, across the world) the last few weeks have definitely been rosier than usual, and remarkably things just keep getting better.
This weekend's opponents were West Bromwich Albion, and in truth they may as well have not turned up - such was the disparity in, well, everything. From the first whistle the Swans were by far the better team, and it's a good thing ticketing issues seemed more or less resolved at the Liberty as any latecomers would have missed our opener, which came just eighty-seven seconds after the match got underway. Some neat play saw The Gylf backheel a through ball which evaded Jonas Olsson - who handily fell over - and Dyer was in on goal. He got to the ball before the scrambling Ben Foster, took a touch around him and coolly finished from a tight angle to the right of goal.
Matt Le Tissier rightly commented yesterday that it was impressive for two reasons. Firstly, the finish was excellent. What was more impressive though was that Dyer obviously didn't even consider hitting the deck when he took his touch past Foster. Le Tissier highlighted this and he was right to - there are lots of players who, if put in that same situation, would be looking to go down which would perhaps have resulted in a red card for the goalkeeper. Given we were less than two minutes into the match at that point that could have made a big difference.
In truth if we'd have been more clinical we could, and perhaps should, have scored more goals. Bony headed and shot over, Shelvey went close and we generally looked the team more likely to score, so it was no real surprise when we went 2-0 up after about twenty-five minutes. What was a surprise though was how the ball found it's way into the back of the net! Following a half-clearance from Craig Dawson the ball sat up to Wayne Routledge on the edge of the area, and he hit what can only be described as a jaunty scissor volley, complete with Dick Van Dyke heel click, which curled past Ben Foster and into the corner of the WBA net.
As with Jonjo's spectacular strike against Aston Villa, when it left Wayne's foot no-one around me dared to believe it was going in. Stunned silence was quickly replaced by rapturous applause though when the ball hit the back of the net - it really was a fabulous finish and it's already being billed as the goal of the month. It's hard to see anything topping it.
The first half finished with the score still two-nil, but the game was all but over as a contest. WBA didn't show anything in the first half to give us reason for concern, while the Swans were playing to a standard I haven't seen us achieve in quite some time. I honestly think that's the best overall fourty-five minutes of football I've seen us play since, perhaps, Brendan Rodgers was in charge. Under Laudrup we had plenty of good performances but the level of teamwork and balance on display was really, really encouraging, and if we can maintain that level of play we'll be nailed on for a top half finish this year.
The second half was something of a sparring contest. We were still the better side, but the intensity dropped off - understandable given how comprehensive our control of the game had been until that point. That didn't stop us creating chances though. Ki hit one straight at the keeper, Bony had an effort saved, before the introduction of Jefferson Montero helped us kick on and get the third goal. He was instantly impressive, running at players with pace and commitment, and he almost got himself an assist within minutes when he got past his man, delayed, and rolled the ball across to the advancing Bony, who uncharacteristically shot over.
We didn't have to wait long though. The Gylf once again split the opposition defence and Dyer was clean through, and - as is becoming the norm for him - he finished coolly into the corner of the net. It is massively impressive how Dyer's finishing has improved year on year, and it brings a smile to my face every time I think of him smashing shots everywhere other than the goal when he first came here. Our most improved player over the last few years? Difficult to say but he's definitely up there.
Beyond our third goal West Brom did have some chances. On another day, as against Burnley, we could well have conceded a goal but the fact remains that in our last three games we've only afforded our opponents a solitary one shot on target each. If you can do that every game you are, very obviously, going to find it a lot easier to stop your opponents scoring.
And so we go into the international break undefeated, having only conceded one goal in three league games and scored six. A great way to cap off a brilliant few weeks, and if Garry Monk doesn't get manager of the month I'll eat my hat. We're next in action away at Chelsea before home games against Southampton (league) and Everton (League Cup), and if we keep this up who knows how many points we'll have on the board in a month time. Realistically though Chelsea are going to be by far the best team we've come up against so far this season, so we need to perhaps not get too far ahead of ourselves. With the way Chelsea have been playing expecting anything from that game is at the very least extremely optimistic.
That's not to say we can't get a result there though. It'll be tough - a damn sight tougher than any match so far this season - but we've got players who can beat any team in the world now. Play as a team and to our strengths, and anything is possible.