It was potentially the most dire and boring performance we have seen from the swans this season. Even at the end, and for the first time possibly boo’s greeted the final whistle. But we do have to look at the reasons for such a poor showing after a hard fought win in midweek.
Swans boss Russell Martin explained away yesterday’s draw at home to Birmingham City as the result of his players being tired, and we respect that. Twenty one hours on a coach for the Peterborough and Blackpool trips, getting back at 3am on Thursday morning will take it’s toll on his players. Talking after yesterday’s game Martin said. "We've had twenty one hours on the bus this week. We got back at 3am on Thursday. I'm pretty sure that explains today. We tried to guard against it. But it never got going. We didn't give the supporters enough to work off”
The pitch at Peterborough did take it’s toll on the players, then for some reason a fully fit squad, according to Martin on Friday became two down come kick off on Saturday. Jamie Paterson I can understand not being present, but once again we hear press information from Martin that is inaccurate come the match. Flynn Downes was left out. It’s been pointed out before.
Maybe it’s a tactic ?
Here’s another tactic, if you have players who are tired or who are not responding after travel and effort has taken it’s toll then pick different players. Tiring out your best players is pointless when you have three games in a week. Cameron Congreve and Kyle Jospeh were available, even Jay Fulton the reluctant to leave January window cleaner could have started. It’s no good choosing what you have and coming up with yesterday’s performance then complaining. There’s Joel Cotterill as well, it simply isn’t good enough bemoaning your players condition, then picking them when others are available.
I’m not having the excuses this time.
Flynn Downes, left out because he wasn’t fit
I realise these replacement players are not as good overall as those they will come in for. But if we are going to lose players minutes before games start or secretly behind the scenes then why not ? A half fit Jamie Paterson or a fully fit Cameron Congreve ? Just an observation on Russell’s latest response to a poor performance.
References to the summer are increasing and it’s evident Russell is looking forward to the end of the season more than most when he said. "We're not learning, it's reinforcing what we know. In terms of what we feel we need for the summer, it's been pretty set in stone for a while and we need to get working on it soon." I take it he knows what he wants, and he also knows what he has - to get what he wants. Congreve could have started yesterday, yes he is young but look at Jordan James at eighteen on the blues bench yesterday. Already on seventeen games for the season. You don’t get better in a first team seated on the bench watching players who are tired out.
Congreve, as with others wasn’t considered yesterday
Let’s hope these aren’t the type of players to tire after travelling the country on a bus after playing for the swans. I am taking a slight dig here, and i do realise it’s tiring, but I’m not having it as an excuse for the type of performance I saw yesterday.
And neither should you.