Keith Haynes gives us his October column by asking "Who wants to take this personally?"
Keith Haynes gives us his October column by asking "Who wants to take this personally?"
Its been one hell of a good month or so for Welsh international football, and recent results in the qualifiers for Gary Speed have been very encouraging. It doesn't mean we will actually qualify for anything, god forbid, but it does take the pressure of Speed and his staff, and gives us as a nation something more to shout about. For that I am very grateful to him. From my viewpoint as a Swansea City supporter I am really happy he is Wales manager, basically because that means he isn't Swansea City manager, which like many Swans fans I feared would happen last summer. I was never encouraged by his record at Sheffield United, nor I have to say was I encouraged when he spoke about his methods, tactics, mindset and philosophy on the game of football. Unlike Brendan Rodgers, Speed looks uncomfortable when talking about management and his matchday strategies. All I got was a somewhat glazed look in to the camera. I think Gary needs to grasp how he is being perceived on camera and in the media, and practice more ( be that through education and training or media awareness ) how he speaks and conveys what it is he wants to say. Something else that doesn't sit well with me and Gary Speed is his distinct lack of support for Swansea City in the media, like Robbie Savage ( as another example ) I wonder why this is ? Is it that they are North Walians, and still carry this resentment that a north / south divide brings when a country is indeed .... divided ? Lets be honest the country couldn't be more different when examined north to south in dialect, culture and perception. Or is it that they still deem Cardiff the central and most pivotal thing in Welsh football still, and find themselves swayed by a desire to support the capital city ? The example I will give is Gary Speed on SKY TV's Goals on Sunday after The Swans magnificent performance at Wolves, he didn't seem to be at all interested or proud that Swansea City, Wales premier Welsh club side by a very long way - were in the Premier league and carrying forwards that fire breathing dragon that has had us all so excited in the past 14 months or so. I didn't hear his football philosophy at any time, nor how he rationalises and thinks the game should be played. He referred to Swansea City as ' them ' and I am not sure if its just me and my ' siege mentality ' when it comes to Swansea, but he wasn't quick to credit the club or the team for the remarkable performance at Wolves, regardless of how the game ended. I wonder why this would be ?
A good friend of mine reckons its because all the Welsh international football foundations were put in place by John Toshack and Bryan Flynn at youth and under 21 level, and Speed is just moving round the players like pawns in a chess game, easing them in gently to roles that Toshack has already defined and managed them in to. Now there's a thought ..............
I think at times people, no matter who they are, or where they see themselves in the bigger and more creative picture should cast aside that layer of skin that brings with it personal issues and personal pride and see their appointment or place in life as a positive thing . Their football roles can be developed and made even better by education, with personal prejudice, no matter what form it takes then recognised and managed by the individual. Not carried about with them like a dark cloud ready to rain and wash away any progress they as an individual can make for themselves and indeed ...... others. In the media managers, radio hosts, TV pundits, players and fans are able to put forward their opinions and views every day. As an example - Talk Sport where we do hear somewhat male dominated viewpoints with a severe English bias, I think it would be refreshing for fans of the game, no matter who they are to confront and cast aside these prejudices we hear booming out of the radio on a daily basis - Have you ever heard Darren Gough talk, or Jason Cundy ? What about Mickey Quinn and Ray Houghton ? These people, who have had little experience ofReal life outside of sport, and by that I mean the pampered and looked after aspect of a players life ( or ex player ) can have no idea what really makes the terrace fan and football supporter in general tick. What really sparks the real fan to travel great distances ( and pay ) to see their team play, using at times all their income to see their chosen club side generally disappoint or let them down week in and week out. How can these pundits and so called experts really know what that feels like from their padded seats, blinkered viewpoints and freebie tickets with hospitality .................... How can anyone take any of them seriously ? And all at 50p a text plus your providers standard rate thrown in as well.
Football has gone full circle and the greed of those who once played or still play the game astounds me.
Carlos Tevez ? Who needs a player like that at any football club, the pompous attitude, the arrogance and ignorance of a person so lacking in moral fibre, inter personal skills and ability would surely not be welcome at any football club, or should I say our football club ? There is more to a squad than good players, they have to bond and play as a unit, the reason why we as a football club are so successful. They need to nurture each others talent and recognise ability which in itself is a crucial factor in Brendan's coaching style, not that I am saying all is rosy in the Swansea garden. But I am far more happier seeing my club playing like we are with spirit and desire, than the current set up at Manchester City, a great team to watch but look closer at those players, the attitudes of some is disgusting.
As I have said so many times before, run em out of town. Football doesn't need them, and the real fans of real clubs like ours doesn't need them or their entourage either.
Forward Swansea .
Keith haynes
Keith's new book ' Walking on Sunshine ' Swansea City 2010 / 2011 is available via The History Press and at all good bookshops
or via this amazon link -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Swansea-City-2010-2011-Sunshine/dp/0752464442
Reprinted in October 2011, this book charts the rise and rise of Swansea City.
Book signing at The Liberty Stadium club shop
11am - 1pm Sunday November 27th 2011 ( Aston Villa home )