One Day 'Til Wembley...

Huw Jenkins looks back on how far the Swans have come since ousting Tony Petty.

Huw Jenkins greets Alan Tate & Garry Monk

‘It wasn’t like this when we played at the Vetch. At first [when Jenkins & Co took over] none of us were really directors, just a few people trying to stabilise the club. Don Keefe was an accountant, we had a solicitor, Steve Penny [still a director]. We just used whatever knowledge we had to keep the club going.’ 

‘I think the warmth created at the club when we were fighting for survival, plus the fact we are all fans, has helped us do what we have done since. The style worked for us - we choose managers who fit that mould, which in turn means we don’t have to go to huge expense by signing a different type of player every time we change manager.’  

‘We have learned from our experiences, we know you can’t always hold on to your manager or players — that’s a price of success. We are always looking at players and you assess other managers as well. We will always have a couple of ideas of what we might have to do. Looking at Michael, I personally think he will sign a new contract. I’m aware of what he is like as a person and if he is not comfortable  he will try something else.’ Huw Jenkins

Reasons to be cheerful indeed. Huw Jenkins has been quoted as saying he only took the post of chairman because "He was the only one dull enough to do it", but it can't possibly have worked out any better. The unassuming lifelong Swans fan from Skewen has steered the club right from day one - and what's more whenever there have been teething issues the club has always looked to address these immediately - despite protestations from some supporters who don't seem to understand that given the nature of the Swans' rise through the leagues, there will inevitably be problems while the behind-the-scenes aspects of the club catch up with our on-field exploits.

Fabrice Muamba.

A heart-warming story now, in that Fabrice Muamba will be presenting the Capital One Cup to the winning captain. Now I'm sure there's plenty that disagree, but I much prefer that than some royal family member who has no idea about either of the teams until they're fed titbits in the buildup to the ceremony. Muamba's story truly is amazing. He moved from then Zaire (now the DRC) at age 11 with his family to London, and ended up signing as an Arsenal scholar. He made his debut and played a handful of games before moving to Birmingham, on loan at first, but then it was made permanent for around £4.5million, before, two seasons later, moving on to Bolton in a deal worth around £5million.

The League Cup

On the 17th March 2012 Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during a televised game for Bolton against Tottenham, and his heart stopped for, unbelievably, 78 minutes. He received countless shocks from a  defibrillator both on the pitch and in the ambulance, and, incredibly, by the 19th of March his heart was beating of it's own accord again, without medication. That is one strong guy. Sadly, after seeking medical advice, Muamba retired from professional football. He's featured in ITV's ACON coverage, and on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, but seems undecided on what to do next as of yet. One thing is for sure, he will undoubtedly get a fantastic reception from both Swansea and Bradford fans tomorrow at Wembley.

Lastly, another word on the centre-back debate that will rage until the team-sheet becomes public knowledge shortly before kick-off tomorrow. Both Kyle Bartley and Ashley Williams have been in the press talking about Bradford's aerial threat. Williams seems nonplussed:

"I have been hearing about set-pieces for about five years. From Roberto Martinez's time people said we couldn't defend them, then under Paulo Sousa and Brendan Rodgers people carried on saying it and it's the same now. 

"I think it probably stems from the fact that we haven't got the biggest of teams, and I think this season we have conceded more goals from set-pieces. That's a fact, but it's nothing we're going to worry about." 

"Even Barcelona can concede against anyone at a set-pieces, but whoever plays, we will be confident. We have got a good squad and I don't think it's going to be a problem."

Kyle Bartley's comments, however, have slightly more of a "Pick me!" ring to them (only natural given the circumstances):

Garry Monk: Will he miss out?

"Being 6ft 5ins, my physique and stature would help a lot at the centre of defence with Ash. They will be a long ball team who focus on corners and free-kicks and hopefully my style of play will help a lot there. I went to Sheffield United and spent a lot of time there playing week-in, week-out in the Championship. 

"A lot of the teams there play that style of football, and even playing at Arsenal a lot of the opposition would go long because they didn't want to play us at a passing game. It is a style of play that I'm used to."

The more I think about it the more sense it makes to play Bartley, but Monk must surely still have enough in his tank to see Bradford off? All the noises coming out of the Liberty now seem to indicate it will be Bartley who gets the nod, and if that is the case I only hope Laudrup sees fit to give Garry Monk a few minutes, irrespective of the result, to enjoy playing in a major cup final. 

I stumbled across the BBC article from 2004, when we announced the signings of Monk, Kevin Austin and Adrian Forbes. Monk had previously struggled for appearances at Southampton before making his move to South Wales in search of first team football - and the honesty of his comments from almost a decade ago resonate deeply:

"I like to play football on the floor and so I had no qualms about coming here. I've not had a settled season yet in my career. I'm 25 now and need to be playing regular football. That's the only way you can improve." Garry Monk

Monk's story truly is one to show any aspiring young footballer. If you work hard enough, it seems almost anything is still possible in this topsy-turvy world of football. From League Two to League Cup Final...and beyond?