It was never going to be Millwall was it. Monday night’s draw produced the worst possible scenario for the Swans, but this time facing Manchester City feels like an opportunity where they have nothing to lose, in contrast to the hammerings they’ve drearily resigned themselves to over the past few seasons

The last match up against Man City in particular, a 5-0 defeat, where it was apparent not a single player had even contemplated the idea of getting something out of the game was a painful Sunday afternoon. Even if they suffer the same fate on the score-line in the quarters, you feel the energy and intensity of the team will never sink to that low.

Sunday’s second-half v Brentford was some of the most exciting football the Swans have played all season. Celina and Dan James caused untold problems for Brentford’s defenders on the flanks, with the latter in particular making a mockery of his proposed 2.5m transfer to Leeds. He shouldn’t be sold for anything less than 20m. James also became a social media sensation for the weekend after his exhilarating goal starting from his own half. It marked a nice change to see news about Swansea in the wider footballing world about something other than the disastrous and shambolic way the club is being run.

The Swans’ record against Manchester City is understandably one-sided. You have to go back to 2012 and Swansea’s first season in the Premier League for some inspiration. Routledge still survives from that team that won 1-0 under Rodgers, and perhaps he can spend the week in the build up to the quarter-final telling the team about his cross for Luke Moore’s header. Victory will undeniably be a near impossible task, but as long as Potter treats the game in the same manner as the rest of our FA cup games, which he surely will, then I don’t think there can be any complaints.

The fact that this is the Swan’s second consecutive quarter-final will most likely be news to most neutrals, considering the utterly non-existent and pathetic way they approached the last one. Carvahal put out a reserve side which meekly surrendered before half-time to a Spurs outfit there for the taking, which had previously been taken to a replay by Newport County. This encapsulated Carvahal’s entire approach to the FA Cup, making wholesale changes for every tie as we scraped through after replays until meeting Spurs. It was mostly by the luck of the draw that the Swans reached the quarters, and by then Carvahal had decided to focus his resources on relegation.

This time has been different, and it has been refreshing to see Potter name strong outfits for every round to give the Swans the best chance of progressing. A full-strength side took apart promotion chasing Aston Villa at Villa Park in the 3rd round, and Potter only made two changes to the line-up for the game against Brentford on Sunday. Even during the height of the Swansea’s ability in the Premier League, not much of an impact was ever made on the FA Cup, with exits to lower league sides all too common. Even if progression past the quarters is unlikely, this cup run has provided a welcome distraction from all the discontent and turmoil surrounding the club.

Photo: Action Images

geometry01 added 09:44 - Mar 1 Routledge still survives from that team that won 1-0 under Rodgers, and perhaps he can spend the week in the build up to the quarter-final telling the team about his cross for Luke Moore’s header. https://fireboyand-watergirl.com/
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