You can’t blame Swansea City for their inquisitive mindset when it was learned on Friday Ethan Laird was to be recalled by Manchester United. But for one moment, let’s just reflect back on the facts as they are at this time of the year. Nothing, and we mean nothing seems certain.

Knowing that Ethan was being recalled, and there’s more on that later today the swans did exactly what you, me and even the less aware would do. They went straight out there and used every available avenue to canvass every single Premier League club as to their player availability on loan or indeed otherwise.

Not that many responded.

We know, well those of us who also have inquisitive minds, that you can have as many back up plans, alternatives and ideas as you like, but when cash is king then there’s little anyone can do to stem the tide. We saw that with Conor Gallagher when he came to the swans two years ago, and we felt the same pain as Charlton did when Manchester United recalled Ethan Laird on Friday.

And not for the first time.

You have to give Swansea City some credit, they took it on the chin, well, some have to when they shout too loud, and got out there. Jake Silverstein must be wondering what the hell is going on, and he isn’t even on the brain incubation ward that is Twitter. No matter your good intentions, or even your return ticket date sometimes its a right old do. In the USA I’m told that you can bid for a player and have solid agreements, nothing like that here nowadays. As Swansea found out with Morgan Gibbs-White last January, trying to find an honest hand in the January transfer market is like trying to find a spare brain cell, no matter how many miles you are in the air.

They remain elusive.

The swans have canvassed every premier league side, not because they didn’t know the availability of players, it was just a double check of what else may be available. Losing Ethan Laird did come as a shock. It was never in the plan, and January recalls no matter how difficult they are to take, are becoming increasingly more common. People have to realise that the original detail of the loan, is an agreement. So, a recall by the parent club is actually agreed by the loan club, because, and let’s pause for breath here. They agreed it when the loan commenced !

I know it’s hard, I’m struggling as well.

Even if the brain cell earlier referred to landed in Buckinghamshire someone would make use of it. Although don’t quote me too many times on that. The problem of course now is there’s a pandemic, people are panicking, players are at the darts, and nobody seems to care as long as their narrative isn’t in question. Can you imagine ? Russell Martin with his conundrums and issues as a result of the swans poor form being told Ethan Laird is no longer a selection problem ? Well, because he’s no longer at your club mate. All the best laid plans, laid bare.

Laird bare.

Have no doubt about it, like a Cwmbran pothole these things will always happen on a deteriorating dirt track, that’s football in 2022. Today most certainly will be a day of recovery, and reflection, but also clarity. Ethan Laird has gone, and no matter what there’s more loans to arrange, and a permanent transfer to finalise.

At least.

And in amongst all the noise there will be more noise, but it’s just a matter of if you choose to listen to it or not. Personally, and collectively we will continue to source what we can for you to converse with your mates about, and of course hope for, that’s what we all really have, hope.

Yesterday’s Twitter is today’s bitter. And tomorrow’s insta, is ...

Is there a word for that ? Ok, we will just call it other peoples noise.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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