Swansea City travel to the midlands today with one focus, do not lose the game and begin to rebuild the fans confidence in the team. By all accounts Vitor Matos has identified two glaring errors in the Swans training processes prior to his arrival, the more astute will have picked them up in this weeks public conversations.
There couldn’t be more of a difference between Vitor and current Baggies head coach, Ryan Mason. Vitor is heading out on his first journey as a Championship manager, the highest level he has ever managed at, whilst West Bromwich Albion fans are teetering on the brink with their support for Mason. ‘UnofficialWBA’ are in fifty fifty mode regards Mason, but the overall opinions are summed up here by VineBaggie.
Vine Baggie posting that above is a particularly good reference as the Vine pub near the ground is exceptional and very good value if you like BBQ food done excellently. And is always a decent stop off. It’s very near the ground, friendly with both sets of fans mixing, and the pub is a tardis. There’s free street parking and after your stop off it’s a ten minute walk to the away end.
Ryan Mason is under pressure without doubt, coming in from Spurs like many Championship managers making the drop a league down they haven’t got players with the skills base they are used to seeing and training in the Premier League. Recent results reflect this but losing by the odd goal is retrievable. Their last six games prior to this.
The Swans are on their worst run of form for a very long time, and when we last saw a non goalscoring run under Luke Williams there was a similar pattern to West Bromwich Albion this season. The odd goal decoding games. Now of course it’s far far worse. Shipping goals from every angle, little effort being seen on the pitch and a side very much in turmoil. You can’t get away from that.
Going further back before these last six fixtures and taking us up to the last ten fixtures.
One win in ten fixtures.
We can’t expect miracles under Vitor Matos in the short term but effort on the pitch should be a given by this Swansea squad. With the counter press - when you evaluate what Vitor is saying it is all very clear. Start putting effort in and you will reap rewards. Nobody can expect multiple differences tomorrow, feeding so much information into the squad will be lost on them as it would be in any occupation. But sometimes certain things have to be said.
Indy site owner : Keith Haynes : These players are in a privileged position, they are some of the top earners in the city. In fact the majority will reflect the top five percent. With child poverty rate at thirty percent in Swansea, and that situation is influenced by factors such as low family incomes, high housing costs, and reduced working-age benefits there’s more to the city of Swansea. Clothing and feeding kids, keeping them warm and safe is the highest priority, not some effortless attempts by a football team who are not working at one hundred percent. If any of these players want to see how bad things are then do what Angel Rangel did and does and get out there and experience real life.
Show your face.
That may sound like a bit of a rant but take a step back those coining in sixty thousand pounds a month (and more) even forty thousand. We will never steer away from the blatantly bloody obvious. Swansea is a high unemployment area, coupled with child poverty and Wales with the highest unemployment rate in the UK, so maybe certain players should ask themselves the question ? Why are there people struggling but some actually find time to support this club in good numbers ? The away supports at Charlton and Bristol City and again tomorrow comes from a loyal fan base so let’s see some respect given back ?
You are in one of the poorest regions. It surprises us how many thousands still travel and follow the Swans both home and away. The only way these players can give something back is by working far harder than we have seen in the last two months.
We will bring you the mornings match day news tomorrow.