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BEHIND ENEMY LINES |
Thursday, November 20, 2003BEHIND ENEMY LINESHi everyone. Well, the champagne football returned to the Vetch a week last Saturday when Rushden & Diamonds were put to the sword by the free-scoring Swans. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to paternal duties so pushing a pram around a freezing Roath Park replaced jumping around on the North Bank for the first ever time on a Saturday afternoon. Very surreal. The return of another of last season's heroes has to be another masterstroke by Brian Flynn. Alan Tate is the heir apparent to Jason Smith's shirt, and surely his partnership with Izzy Iriekpen is the best in the lower leagues? Between them there is pace, power and quality and moves must be made to secure both players, on a long-term contract and season-long loan respectively. Not since Smith and the money-grabbing Matthew Bound have we looked as solid at the back. With respect to Kris O'Leary, I feel so much safer when he's on the bench. As for Danny Nardiello, he appears reluctant to spoil those film star looks and gives the impression he's a big Premiership star who's doing the Swans a favour. Send him back to Old Trafford, Brian. Flynn's problems will soon change from a having full treatment room to having difficulty deciding on his starting line up. As the old cliché goes, it's a problem every manager loves but surely there are a couple of easy decisions for Flynn to make. Struggling Frankie Howard's place should go straight back to Leon Hylton, flying machine Brad Maylett offers much more than manager's favourite Kieran Durkan (sorry Kieran, Goal of the Season doesn't guarantee a place in the side) and the mercurial Roberto Martinez must be accommodated, but not at the expense of Andy Robinson. James Thomas has now recovered from gout (no more port and stilton please, Thommo) but still appears to be out of favour. I'd like to see him given an extended run alongside Trundle at the expense. I watched our match at Northampton on Monday night and thought we were absolutely awful. The only worse performance I've seen this season was at Yeovil and it's worrying that we can perform so well one week then so abysmally the next. No-one emerged from the match with any credit. Flynn is usually pretty good with his team selection but how could he drop poor Lenny Johnrose after the big-hearted midfielder stole the show (so I'm told) against Rushden? I know it was Mark Wilson's last match before being sent back to Middlesbrough (and not a moment too soon in my opinion) but come on Brian. I drove past the White Rock Stadium site last week and was amazed at the size of the development. I know much has been said about the so-called 'working' name of White Rock' but I must say that the name could have been much worse. The name has historical links and is co-incidentally our club colour. If someone like HSBC Bank comes in with a big sponsorship and we find ourselves cheering the Swans on at the HSBC Bowl then fair enough. If we really think about it, how awful is the name 'Vetch Field'? Ianto You can comment on this article by visiting the guestbook Read Ianto's previous columns
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