Swans in a daze at Theatre of Dreams

Roberto Mancini, manager of premiership contenders Man City, predicted that his fierce rivals Man United would have an easy game with opponents Swansea City. Okay he was playing mind games with Alex Ferguson, but he was absolutely right. I was hoping that the Swans would stuff his words down his throat and achieve at least a draw with United, but it was not to be.  It was the biggest capitulation since the Germans walked around France’s supposedly impenetrable Maginot Line at the beginning of World War 2.

I have been a Swans supporter since 1961 when I accompanied my dad to watch my first game on the North Bank at the Vetch Field.  I have witnessed some great games and incomparable players over the years, and also suffered through some heart breaking losses; none more so than the 1-6 drubbing at home to Workington Town and a 0-5 home defeat to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. Nevertheless the 0-2 loss to Man Utd was embarrassing.  The Swans weren’t looking for a result, but were hell bent on damage limitation.

Man City had beaten Newcastle earlier in the day, and a United win against the Swans would leave them level on points, but with a vastly inferior goal difference compared to City’s.  The talking heads suggested that United needed a hatful of goals against the Swans and were quite capable of getting them. From the kick off, the Swans’ mindset was to keep the score down to reasonable proportions. I don’t believe they had a decent shot on goal until well into the second half.

Swans manager Brendan Rodgers has had a great season keeping his team in the premiership with limited resources, but his tactics were completely wrong for this match. Gower in a pivotal central midfield was playing his first game in 2012, and was unsurprisingly way off the pace which led to his merciful substitution at half time. Two or three others could have followed him because they were chasing shadows; making a mediocre United team look like world beaters.

Fullbacks Rangel and Taylor were continually exposed by the guile and pace of Valencia and Young, and some of their challenges were naïve. Only central defenders Williams, Caulker, goalkeeper Michael Vorm and to a lesser extent Nathan Dyer are absolved from any criticism.

The team and manager deserve plaudits for retaining their premiership status, but they were clearly intimidated by United and Old Trafford when there was really no need to be. United had lost 1-6 at home to City earlier in the season and more recently 0-1 to their arch rivals. The Swans recorded an unforgettable victory as recently as last month against champions elect Manchester City which should have sufficiently lifted the team to greater heights against their illustrious opponents.

Okay, let’s regroup for next season, and end on a positive note with a decisive win over visitors Liverpool in the final game of the season. In 1961, the Swans also played Liverpool in the final match of the season. Liverpool had just gained promotion to the top flight as champions of the division but were soundly beaten 4-2 by a rampaging Swans. A similar result on Saturday would not go amiss.

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