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Yeovil Preview
Yeovil Preview
Friday, 23rd Feb 2007 00:00

Welcome Home Roberto - Yeovil Preview

Welcome Home Roberto - Yeovil Preview

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This week's match preview was thrown into disarray earlier with the news that Roberto Martinez will be the new Swansea City manager. Kevin Nugent will more than likely be in charge of the 1st team tomorrow with Robbie watching from the stands as the Swans travel to Yeovil.

So a new era has begun. Roberto Martinez has been offered the manager's job, and the crossing of the i's and t's will be done this evening.

I will admit to being shocked when I first heard the news, but I'm certainly not going to be negative about it. For all the fans that moaned about our style of play under Kenny Jackett, surely now we will see proper football being played. I've heard various arguments for and against Martinez, so I'm not going to dwell on them or I'll be here all night, but I will take up this issue of 'experience'. Every football manager has to start somewhere. Arsene Wenger did, Fergie did, and everybody else did. Nobody can say whether Robbie will turn out to be a good manager, we simply don't know, so that argument against Martinez won't wash with me. I've also heard people say he is too soft and players will walk all over him, but from what I remember he was a pretty physical player for us and didn't mind letting his feelings known to the other players on the pitch.

Ultimately there is no point pretending this isn't a gamble, because it is. But a gamble is exactly that. He could flop or he could turn out to be the greatest appointment in our history, only time will tell. Personally I'm excited about the prospect of watching a football team play under the management of Roberto Martinez. Most of all though, as I'm sure the vast majority of fans feel as well, let's get behind Roberto and the team and give them our full support and backing, and let's not start whinging if we don't get instant success. I feel Martinez has got a bit of a mess to clear up left by Jackett. There are no doubt players that simply aren't good enough for this club, and it will take time for Robbie to clear out the dead wood.

So I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome back Roberto Martinez and obviously wish him every success in his new role. MART-IN-EZ BARMY ARMY!!!!

The Opposition - Yeovil Town

I'm assuming Kevin Nugent will be in charge tomorrow and what a tough task the Swans face, travelling to Yeovil Town for what will be a very difficult fixture. Yeovil are 3rd in League 1 and personally they are the best side I've seen down the Liberty this season. The Swans aren't helped by an injury crisis but there is some encouragement as Yeovil have lost their last 2 home games, 1-0 to Millwall, and 2-0 against Tranmere. The Swans meanwhile have only won 1 out of our last 7 league matches. We really could do with a result tomorrow as we have slipped down to 7th, 5 points off the play-off places, albeit with a game in hand. Yeovil started the season slowly but have gradually got better and are now one of the firm favourites for promotion.

One To Watch - Marcus Stewart

Marcus Stewart has played over 500 games and scored over 200 goals in his professional career. He started his career at Bristol Rovers, playing 171 times and scoring 57 goals, before signing for Huddersfield Town in 1996, where he made a name for himself by netting 58 times in 133 appearances. This terrific form led to him signing for Ipswich, where he helped them to promotion to the Premiership. Once there, Stewart finished 2nd top goal scorer with 19 goals. He then signed for Sunderland where he enjoyed 3 successful seasons, before signing for Bristol City, fulfilling his ambition to play for the team which he has supported since he was a boy. Things didn't quite work out for him there and he was soon on loan to Preston North End until the end of the 2005/06 season. In August 2006 he signed for Yeovil Town on a 3-month loan and scored a goal on his debut against us at the Liberty Stadium. The good form he showed at Yeovil led to them signing him permanently.

Team News

The Swans have only 2 fit strikers available after Bayo broke his leg against Scunthorpe. We wish him a speedy recovery. There was more bad news in that game as Darren Pratley dislocated his shoulder and will be out for about a month, as well as Izzy pulling his hamstring, so he will definitely be out as well. Duffy is also a major doubt.

Yeovil have Marcus Stewart back after a calf injury. Leon Best who was on loan to them has returned to Southampton, but they have signed Darryl Knights from Ipswich who goes straight into their squad.

The Ground - Huish Park

Information about Huish Park can be found at www.footballgroundguide.co.uk

Photo: Action Images



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