Keith Haynes looks at the Swans squad and asks - who is the biggest Swansea asset?
Keith Haynes looks at the Swans squad and asks - who is the biggest Swansea asset?
Without falling in to the ' false journalism ' trap so commendably referenced in post match interviews by Brendan Rodgers I have the feeling that the greed of other clubs ( and indeed laziness ) to know what is exactly out there managerial wise, that it will be our successful manager who will be touted and approached for top Premier League jobs this summer.
I say laziness, as most Premier League clubs, and there stay at home, couch potato supporters see the quick fix for failure as spending thirty five million pounds on an Andy Carroll, when indeed there is out there far better, and more productive strikers in - lets see, a three million pound Danny Graham, or maybe a fifteen grand defender in Angel Rangel, or eighty five grand Neil Taylor. That's where the unprofessional, poorly trained and ineffective managers like Arsene Wenger seem to see the solution, or indeed in the case of Kenny Dalglish it clearly is the answer. A man who has far more issues and problems deep inside his psyche' than his failure to manage a self managing, self maintained football team like Liverpool FC. That story, and the mans incredible response to his own players open racist attitude is one for another day, suffice to say, no matter who you are, you get the sack in a routine job for supporting racism, and thus it should be so for Kenny Dalglish.
Brendan Rodgers continues to mystify the media and other managers ( Alex Mcleish must be in complete awe after our away win at Villa Park ) with his simple pass and play philosophy which has endeared Swansea City FC to most sensible and right thinking football fans. By football fans I mean those people outside highly paid journalists like Paul Hayward from the ' Telegraph on line ' who quoted Brendan Rodgers on lazy journalism , then fell straight in to the lazy journo trap by getting facts wrong in the very same piece on Swansea City FC. What an absolute jegger ............ This is the problem with the one eyed English hack, who sniffs out half a story, and then scribbles in earnest with little or no substance, and indeed this is more than likely reflected in all aspects of their lives. Quick fix philosophies, be they via someone else's private telephone messages or by invading the private lives of so called celebrities in retarded wine bars as the laughter and guffaw of the smoke filled hacks lifestyle references not only their life, but indeed their outlook - Simply appals me, and Hayward ( a decent writer, but in need of education do nothing to improve the ' professionalism ' of their trade )
Or am I being judgemental - based on a lack of knowledge on the subject ? How very lazy of me.
When you look across the Premier League and its collection of lazy managers, and 1970's attitudes on people and culture ( reflected in outdated football playing styles ( little man, big man eh ? Kenny ) it is clear the solution for say - Tottenham Hotspur when they lose Harry Redknapp ( the only manager this season to breath some honesty in to his post match interviews ) or Chelsea when Andre' Villas Boas gets the boot, or maybe even Arsenal when they finally let Arsene' out for a long walk, change the locks and get him some community home help to match his Victor Meldrew trainers could well be Brendan Rodgers. Many will say lets get him on a long contract, and tie him down to an agreement. But when these big clubs come thumping and demanding on a Chairman's door I know this is very difficult. It unsettles the manager ( or player ) and the huge sums quoted will turn heads, just as it did for Neil Taylor in the close season before he got his sensible head on.
The dishonesty of the media and the laziness of the clubs in high Premier positions may well deplete our staff and some players as time marches on. However, and I mean this. If Brendan takes a wider view, and brings with him those players who can continue the Swansea success story, and he may well do. We could have a manager who is settled in South Wales on an incredibly good income, in a well appointed Langland Bay home ( with many others scattered across the world ) happy with his football philosophy, group mentality and tight squad belief in his football pathway. A Premier League Dario Gradi if you like. Of course that mentality requires a board mentality that matches Brendan's football outlook, which is where the first hurdles present themselves. To ensure a progressive view in all Swansea football matters requires a development plan instigated by our caring and open board at the club. It is they, and believe me - nobody else who can ensure we maintain Brendan's interest and embrace his continuing football development. By close communication, and a big arm around his ideas and long term ideals, and yes, coupled with a decent wedge as a quality Premier League manager with vision, we can maintain Brendan at the club. Because when there is a bit of love in the room, it certainly goes a long way in keeping relationships together. Well, does it not ?
The Swansea board are the key here, and I am sure they realise this as well. They are the first hurdle in the race to keep Brendan Rodgers at Swansea for the long term. It is they who need to reward first, then develop second Brendan's football future, and that folks is not lazy journalism, or indeed lazy anything at all.
It is complete and utter football sense, its just a shame the highly paid and financially motivated writers at the big broad sheets cant do their research a bit better, and when they write about our club, or at least know their Scott Dobbie's from their Bruce Dyer's, or indeed their Barry Monk's from their Frank Sinclair's. Maybe asking a bit too much ?
Probably not as much as we stand to lose as fans of a progressive and exciting football club if Brendan gets the White Hart Lane approach in July, or indeed is left wide open for that approach because as one Roberto Martinez once said ' I feel I have taken the club as far as the board would let me ' Not saying that would happen folks, just pre-empting the possibility with a sensible solution for the club that ten years ago was bottom of the whole football league and the team we beat on Sunday - was top of the Premier League.
Dreams can come true, even Brendans' in his most darkest hour, because he would never have dreamed of this scenario eighteen months ago when he was unemployed and licking his Berkshire wounds. And Swansea City's dreams can be maintained as well, with all the enthusiasm that has gone before, that has got us where we are today, and can take us even further, higher and indeed to a different plain, it just needs us to knit what we have together now and maintain the fit that is Brendan Rodgers and Swansea City FC.
and follow Keith @_KeithHaynes