To the fan on the street it’s easy to think ‘what’s the difference?’
It’s the same ball, same surface, same 22 players on the pitch – and the small matter of 30,000 people against you in the stands.
Or 52,000 when it comes to Swansea heading up to Newcastle this weekend.
Harry Redknapp used to have a big thing when we were at West Ham about how the club had always been a soft touch away from home, even back in the days of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters under Ron Greenwood.
Yet at home we felt invincible, especially under the lights in midweek at Upton Park.
It was Harry’s big mission to make us tough to beat away from home, to dig in and grind out the points.
The problem with Swansea is that I’m not sure it’s in their interest to change all that much.
What you can gain on one hand you can lose on the other.
How can you tell Brendan Rodgers to go more defensive and tighten up on the road? Playing the way they have has got them here in the first place. And you wonder if they’ll be better off sticking to their guns and carrying on away from home hoping to get the odd win.
Besides, you’re going to be better off winning one at home rather then losing away than chopping and changing to the point where you draw both.
That said, Swansea do need to get that first away win just to get out of the mindset before it affects them too much over the season.
They’ve got two tough games coming up, first at Newcastle before going to Everton which is a great place to play.
It’s a real test of character for Swansea, but they have the mental strength to do it.
THE speculation about what might happen in the transfer window next month has started.
Never underestimate the boost bringing in a new signing does to a dressing room.
Regardless of what they bring on the pitch, just having a new face in the squad can lift you.
Everyone wants to make an impression, remind the manager what you’re about if you’re place is under threat and there’s a new zest about things.
Training goes up a notch as does the excitement with the fans.
It’s good to see Swansea looking to get some bodies in because it will allow Brendan Rodgers to have a few more options, especially at the back where they seem to be a bit light.
And Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay deserves the chance to spend some of that money from the Carling Cup run to bring in a central midfielder and a striker to take the pressure off Kenny Miller.
He’s been on fire lately, but you can’t be totally reliant on him.
I NOTED Raymond Verheijen’s comments on Twitter about wanting to “lead” Wales.
I think the whole thing’s untimely at the very least.
I mean, it all came out just two days after Gary Speed was put to rest. People are still in shock, still reflecting.
And I really don’t think the FAW need any pressure from people coming out and making such public statements about the job.
Welsh football as a whole has been through enough without feeling like we’ve got to rush the new appointment.
So they certainly don’t need anyone from their own camp adding to the issue.
Plus, making his feelings on the job so known how does that affect whoever does come in? They might not want to work with him and yet he’s made it quite clear that he should be an integral part.
The FAW have plenty of time to go away, speak to people, get their targets and make sure they get the right man.
A few people have asked whether I think that may be me but I’ve not given it a second’s thought it to be honest.
Gary was my friend don’t forget, that’s been on my mind rather than anything else.
It’s all very difficult circumstances which everyone would do well to take their time over before commenting on something so important.
No comments:
Post a Comment