the last word
by nigel davies
So here we are at the end of the fourth issue of our new online version of A Touch Far Vetched and you have just one more rambling page from me to read – what a time to be alive, eh?
It’s customary for me to tell you when and where I am when I’m writing this piece – well I’m currently sat slumped at my desk exhausted after watching the Swans somehow salvaging a draw at Luton in what can only be described as a six goal thriller.
Creating an online magazine rather than the printed A5 booklet has its advantages in that you can constantly make changes, even after you’ve published content. But as The Editor that can easily work against me. Take yesterday for example.
With each goal that went in the net, either for the home or the away side, there was an itch at the back of my eyes and a feeling that I should rewrite huge chunks of the content before publishing today.
It takes a few weeks of extremely hard work to put one of these issues together as I’m sure you appreciate, so you’re never going to be absolutely current and reflective with every piece in here. Equally the whole picture doesn’t change on the strength of one match, even one as crazy as that Luton one!
However, that 90 minutes, or more accurately the second 45 minutes, might well change the course of our season.
The first 45 will probably be written off as the worst we’ve played for years – and that’s a pretty low bar when you consider some of the truly awful performances we’ve put in since our demotion to the Championship. The fact that we only went in three goals behind a totally dominant Luton flattered us.
Now whatever you say about the manager’s culpability for that first half performance, you have to admire him for making all three changes at the start of the second and totally transforming the contest.
Oh there’s no doubt that Luton found themselves in that age old position where they are miles ahead in performance and on the scoreboard and so complacency sets in and the performance level drops, and when that happens its hard to pick it back up again.
So once the Swans pulled one back there was always a slim chance that the unlikely comeback was on. And with our struggles in front of goal this season that chance was slimmer than Dennis’s Lawrence’s right leg!
But with the two defensive midfielders canned with the withdrawal of Downes, and an extra attacker on, there was a bit more shape about us. And you just sensed that the ‘pass it at all costs’ shackles were thrown off, caution was thrown to the wind and incoming players like Piroe and Ntcham were instructed to “go for it”.
A glorious and unlikely draw was salvaged and perhaps with another five minutes it would have become an even more glorious victory.
That has to be a source of confidence going forward BUT there is plenty of food for thought in there for Russell Martin – and I hope he feasts himself on it. Gorges himself until his eyes bulge!
I stand by what I have said numerous times now on the website and on social media – seeking to change our style to a dominant passing one is all well and good but there needs to be a dash of pragmatism to go with the purist objective.
It's no good taking a team that's not used to that style and turning it into prime 'Swansealona' if it gets you relegated before Christmas!
Yes, us fans need to exercise some patience but the players need to be big enough to take some responsibility for themselves on the pitch and “play what they see”. If that means hoofing it into row Z instead of trying a pass that’s never, ever on that’s going to get picked off for a chance at our goal then simply leather it, son!
The manager has to climb off the “I’m renowned for possession football” High Horse every now and again and realise that a long pass, a much needed pressure relieving clearance or a last minute free kick launched into the box are all perfectly acceptable.
It’s been a baptism of fire for Martin, no doubt about that. And the shambles of a summer is a big factor in that. All I’m asking though is that the manager keeps an open mind and tailors his style to suit what he has at his disposal to pick up the points needed to provide the breathing space for altering things more radically.
The manager needs to have a bit of patience too instead of repeating a “trust in the process” mantra whilst overseeing one win in eight games.
Anyway, rant over – I’m going to write off the lesson Luton gave us in the first half as a learning experience and revel in the thrilling comeback that once again hinted at the watchable talent we might have uncovered in Olivier Ntcham and Joel Piroe.
And with that I’m bringing this issue of A Touch Far Vetched Online to a close – thanks to everyone that contributed to this issue and made it happen.
And thanks to all of you that have read it – I hope you enjoyed, I hope you’ll share the link with your friends and I hope you all come back for issue 5.
