Last Saturday Swansea City gained a point against Wolverhampton Wanderers which ensured they are mathematically safe from relegation. However, the manner of achieving the point leaves a lot to be desired. Wolves were already relegated and therefore were playing for their professional pride.
The Swans were leading 3-0 after 16 minutes and 4-1 at halftime. By the final whistle they were clinging onto a 4-4 score line having inexplicably conceded three goals in the second half. It could be construed that Wolves have some kind of Indian sign on the Swans when one examines the two premiership games played between the two teams this season.
In the away fixture, the Swans were comfortably leading 2-0 with 10 minutes to go when Wolves managed to get a goal back against the run of play. The Swans decided to defend their lead handing the initiative to Wolves who equalized late in the game to earn a 2-2 draw.
Realistically, the Swans have needlessly dropped 4 points in the two games against Wolves which would have placed them in the top 10 of the premiership. Brendan Rodgers changed his usual line up and formation which gave them additional attacking options while leaving them vulnerable at the back.
Club captain Gary Monk confirmed once again he is totally out of his depth at this level and it is time that he and Alan Tate were awarded their gold watches for loyal service and put out to pasture. Signing Steven Caulker on another loan deal or even better a permanent transfer should be a number one priority. Unfortunately Spurs have defensive problems of their own with the continual deterioration of Ledley King suffering from increasingly debilitating knee injuries, and they may wise up and decide Caulker could solve their defensive frailties’.
I sincerely hope that the Swans learned an invaluable lesson from their meltdown against Wolves; the lesson according to Brian Clough and Bob Paisley is that you cannot afford to take your foot off the throttle against any premiership team. Manchester Utd will attest to the theory having recently blown a 4-2 lead to Everton which also concluded 4-4, and may even cost them the title.
Speaking of United, Swansea’s match at Old Trafford on Sunday has great significance on which Manchester team wins the title. The two Manchester teams are now level on points with City’s better goal difference placing them in top spot with two games remaining.
City travel to Newcastle who are revitalized this season despite last week’s 0-4 drubbing at lowly Wigan. Roberto Mancini, City’s erudite Italian manager claims that United have an “easy” game against Swansea compared to their monumental encounter in the North East. I appreciate Mancini is playing mind games with the past master Alex Ferguson, but I would dearly love the Swans to take Old Trafford by storm and show the greasy Italian and the world they can truly compete with the big boys.
