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Only 7 Weeks To Go
Only 7 Weeks To Go
Sunday, 22nd Jun 2003 00:00

Seven Weeks Can Yield A Lot?

Seven Weeks Can Be A Long Time?

And so, here we are less than seven weeks away from the start of the season. A quick look at the current Squad listing will show that we have at the moment just 14 players on our books ahead of next season. And that is, of course, assuming that Andrew Mumford will be here next season which, according to today's Wales on Sunday is not looking likely at all.

Should we be at all worried that our squad is down around 33% on what we want it to be come August 9th? We know that Brian Flynn has had talks with players that would make the squad more healthy - Martinez, Trundle, Llewellyn and Connolly for example - but none of these have put pen to paper at the time of writing. Do we also have to assume that these players are just the tip of the iceberg in the ones that Flynn has been looking at? Maybe, the names of these have been released as these are the long shots and there are more lined up that we are keeping under wraps until we sign them. Or is it naivety that is making me say these things?

The team will report back for pre-season training at the beginning of July (just over a week away) and we have to assume at the moment that there will be empty seats in the dressing room where some of the new faces will be sitting. Well, we certainly have to hope that this is the case or you can lay money now that the Swans will struggle next season due to a lack of depth in the squad. We know that Brian Flynn is looking for some loan players to make up the numbers for next season and in fairness we won't make a move in this market I would imagine until the end of July but is that too close to allow time to gel?

Pre-season is generally used to allow players that time that they don't get at any other stage. It's the time when managers think that they can get the new players to work with the existing ones to form success in the coming season. We know that the club are heading to Holland at the end of next month and this is something that is also designed as a bonding session so you would assume that by that point in time we will have a full squad?

I can safely say that I am starting to worry about next season. I read all the arguments at the end of May that we wouldn't sign anyone then because it was too early but they would be in place by July. I really hope they are but you can understand by thoughts that they may not be? I cling to a vain hope that at least we aren't signing any Tom, Dick, Harry or Michael Jackson at the moment but that wears thin as the counter at the top of the Message Board ticks down under 50 days to the opening of the season.

Brian Flynn, I am told, has extensive contacts in the game, so I also assume that he is using these and we have plan B's in case the plan A's fail miserably. I would hate to think that we are pinning all our hopes on a few players and praying that we get them as we wouldn't want to start searching again.

Off the field though, things are moving well. The capacity at the Vetch is at the highest it has been for a number of years - wouldn't it be nice to think we needed those extra spots week on week. And also finally we have a chairman in place which is something that people have asked for since the current board assumed control at the start of last year. With another Supporter's representative soon to be appointed to the board then at least we can relax and know that the club seems to be in safe hands behind the scenes.

The new chairman's first task was to declare that we can make the play-offs this season but with a proviso from his vice chair that the fans will dictate whether we can bring in the players to ensure that happens. I can honestly see Leigh's point on this one but at the same time the signing of a Martinez or a Trundle now is more likely to get fans into the shop to buy their season tickets? Bit of a Catch 22 I appreciate but fans that buy seasons will buy them anyway and I believe we have already captured more season ticket sales than we managed last summer with many new purchasers. Maybe one purchase this week will persuade a few of the 'shall I or shan't I' brigade to fall into the former rather than the latter?

But it's on the pitch that is worrying me. I have tried to believe the comments that I have read of "we are close to agreeing this deal" and "talks went positively" but I honestly cannot remember talks for some players going on so long at this level. Maybe some of that is down to the fact that we very rarely used to get new players under John Hollins that I have forgotten what it is like. We shall see what happens but you can already see some people who were quietly optimistic a month or so back wondering whether the optimisim was misplaced.

I agree with Huw Jenkins in that we can make the play offs. We have a high support for Division 3, we have a great catchment area to bring people in and we quite possibly have the most passionate board in the division. Sadly, all those three things don't win us points - can we have some players to match the optimism (and generosity?) of the board please Brian?

What are your thoughts? Share them on the Message Board

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