...would be to write about the derby game
There are folk far more intelligent than I who would say 'Oi Keith, leave it alone mate, not now' - and by that I mean writing anything deconstructive or otherwise about a 1-0 derby defeat to the team in red up the road. However, I am going to do it, and there are several reasons why. In recent times I have suffered within my own mind, contemplating the game and revisiting the issues. On this occasion I feel I have to share them openly on The Swansea Way. You will love me more for it. Honestly.
So what are these 'several reasons'? Well, one of those reasons is that I think it is about time our highly rated footballing side get some long awaited personal feedback. Laudrup and all. Falling back on the Europa League excuse for poor performances isn't good enough either. I wont go there. We all know that our Swansea side are very well paid, in some cases £30,000 a week, thats £120,000 a month, and for me in any job thats absolutely obscene, but not my point.
It seems that no Swans fan is able to criticise at any level the performance or endeavours of the side without a barrage of abuse and at least over the top criticism. Ive seen many social network sites demolish some decent viewpoints in recent weeks. Accusing some folk of not even being true Swansea supporters. Apparently we have to ' Get behind the boys ' at all costs. Well, I think we all do. Personally for me, I get involved to the tune of a few grand a year, and others I travel with to games commit far more. So it gives me (and others) the right to voice some concerns.
A second thought. Overall, the team tactic of possession of the ball is welcome, and it is what we do very well, but to retain that sharp methodology we need to be able to switch the tempo when in the top third of the field quickly. To do that we need a proportionate intensity from the likes of Bony, and a little bit more fluidity and thought from a more enthusiastic midfield, especially De Guzman, Shelvey and yes - Leon Britton. This season, and as was highlighted in the derby game, we rely upon the same downbeat approach to the top third that we apply to the first third of the pitch - and it really isn't good enough.
Cardiff were clever, their tactic at the start of the game of allowing us to move through our slow and sluggish passing gears played in to their hands. As the game moved onwards they slowly pressurised our key players, moving in on us rather cleverly, and at the start of the second half they went for the throat. It was what I expected at the start of the game, a Cardiff side rushing us in to mistakes, but that wasn't the case. They carefully managed us and struck after wearing us down from the start of the half. Fair dues to Malky for that, and it resulted in the desired response we all wanted to going one down just not happening - in fact the response was nothing more than pathetic.
Thirdly, I am not happy that we have players who are cruising through these pre-Christmas weeks picking up thousands in a white shirt, and giving little or in some cases - nothing in return. I want to see our side harness some of the passion we all want to see as paying customers, and deliver it as best they can. We are asking top dollar for games that shouldn't be so highly charged for, so delivery on the pitch is crucial, and we are not seeing it. The team didn't hit it hard in Cardiff, and they didn't do it in Southampton either, nor at home to West Ham, no excuses needed. And okay - lets be honest, we completely embarrassed ourselves in Birmingham.
There is a mundane, treacly approach to our build up play at the moment, and players are going missing. I am not seeing solid marshalling of opposition players, firm and positive reactions to situations...and to see Vorm on a mental mission to throw away any hope we had in Cardiff was cumbersome - ill thought out and not ..... The Swansea Way. Players like Chico, Williams, and Taylor need to have a good look in the mirror, they are the supply line to a thoughtful and adventurous midfield, but they are not at the moment. We miss Ben Davies here.
Routledge I am afraid has lost all course, as has a once delightful Nathan Dyer. Both suffer regularly as does Pablo who it seems has found the Beattie bug and turns out hardly ever, and when he does he is so unfit he fails to deliver. We cant rely on a battling Michu all the time, recent games has seen two impactive injuries, and he appears to need a rest, but how can he be rested with a sluggish Bony and a clearly out of tune Vazquez the only goal scoring options up front - and no, Donnelly is not an option as much as Vazquez isn't either.
So. We round on my final area of concern. The man who steers the ship, Michael Laudrup. He stated once that we will have many bad days, weeks, even months - but this was before he assembled a squad of well paid, highly motivated players. Sadly, the squads form since winning the league cup has been relegation form, and that is a fact. If we don't recover quickly, this side will be fighting it out to stay in the league come April. Now its not all doom and gloom here, we know what we can do as a club, and we know what can be delivered. Don't get me wrong, I do see a side more than capable of getting out of the state we are in, but I want to see it sooner rather than later, we all do.
Laudrup, however, is also the key. Whatever he is doing it isn't working at the moment. and he needs us to at least look like a successful side, as he has made it clear he will move on in May. He needs if nothing else a successful conclusion to his time with us. If we reflect back on his recent managerial tenures, they haven't always ended positively. He needs this one to do so.
What needs correcting isn't a win, draw or whatever in Russia on Thursday. The correction fluid needs pouring all over the team that is picked for Stoke at home on Sunday. This is the pick me up game, before once again we have two weeks off. We do need to win this game...we have to win this game. Its imperative, totally imperative.
If you are a Swansea player and you value what you have achieved at our club, be that financially, personally, developmentally or whatever then there is a message for you. We all have mirrors at home, and please, go and have a look in yours, and do the usual Q&A with yourself. Your nicely manicured lives need to be placed aside, and you have work to do. In particular Mr Laudrup, you are about to embark on some definitive times at Swansea City. We all know you have the ability, but knowing and showing couldn't be as far apart as they are today.
This day is the day Swansea City went to Cardiff and let us all down. Yes they did - they failed to show, they failed to perform or even come close to being able to hold their heads up high. No effort or endeavour means the public of Swansea and the thousands of fans in and outside the city have been let down today, and not one player or member of staff deserve anything other than a stern warning. We don't accept that attitude at Swansea - the club isn't built on millionaires, its built on sweat, and that sweat I can assure you came from a few fine souls who never once waned from the cause.
That is The Swansea Way, but you let us down badly today, and you did it of all places in Cardiff, and it wasn't good enough.
There is one word, and one word only - unacceptable.
Now, I can move on.
Keith is a published author and you can buy any of his books by clicking the link at the top-left of the page, or you can follow him on Twitter: @_KeithHaynes
