Yankee_Jack
Key Player
RIP Martin's Madness
Martin on the way out
- Thread starter The Blobster
- Start date
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
With all the changes that have happened recently - Martin out, Winter out, Coleman in, Duff in, Watson in - it seems to me that the Club had decided that the course the Club was on was not working and that a reorganization was required back to front at the leadership level. This has been completed, at least all the main seats have been filled.
Now did this stem from the Winter Transfer Window fiasco, or had ownership already determined that the season was shot and they were going to pull triggers at the end of season and therefore not willing to invest money based on the decisions and thinking of people destined to be gone? If you remember Martin was somewhat shell shocked and humbled at the close of the transfer window ... look back at his video pressers immediately after the close of the window.
Either way, we have a new leadership team in place, new money into the kitty, new financial resources sitting on the board ... the rest is down to recruitment and having Duff implement his vision of Swanselona. It's shaping up rather well.
Now did this stem from the Winter Transfer Window fiasco, or had ownership already determined that the season was shot and they were going to pull triggers at the end of season and therefore not willing to invest money based on the decisions and thinking of people destined to be gone? If you remember Martin was somewhat shell shocked and humbled at the close of the transfer window ... look back at his video pressers immediately after the close of the window.
Either way, we have a new leadership team in place, new money into the kitty, new financial resources sitting on the board ... the rest is down to recruitment and having Duff implement his vision of Swanselona. It's shaping up rather well.
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I have to admit to a cautious optimism about the way things are going. Of course our results will determine how effective the changes have been. But I DO like Duff's philosophy about fitness. Posters will know that I have long argued about our fitness levels evident by our lack of movement in all aspects of the game. We played walking football, almost like chess, and teams had all day to get organised against us.
Posters who have played the game at a decent level will know, for an absolute fact, that facing teams who are quick with high intensity is a fcuking nightmare. Even more so if they keep it up for the entire game. You know that you're not going to get any respite and that you're going to have to work your balls off just to stay in the game. And it's even worse if that team can play good football as well.
Ivor insisted that it was impossible to give of your best if you were unfit, which is why he set such great store on fitness levels. It was the reason I finally packed it in. I'd been hanging on for a couple of years, a liability to the team truth be told, and it was becoming more and more evident by the game. My head knew exactly what to do in a given situation but my legs were incapable of carrying it out. And, far too often, I looked like a complete twat.
Ex Swan Norman Lawson knew I could play, which is why he took me with him when he went to manage the club. But I was already on a downward spiral by then. My best years were in the London and Home Counties leagues when I was young and enjoyed explosive pace and strength - and that by ANY standards. But those attributes are the first things to go when your fitness levels dip.
So, I applaud Mr Duff's initiative because I've experienced it first hand. I KNOW how important it is, which is why I go on about it. My excuse is that I was a semi-pro fitting in training (and games) between business commitments all over the country. Now, had I been a fulltime pro.......
So many footballers don't appreciate how lucky they are, what a privileged existence they lead. I hope Coach Duff drums that into them and ensures that they have every respect for the job they do. If that happens we might get somewhere this season. Here's hoping.
Posters who have played the game at a decent level will know, for an absolute fact, that facing teams who are quick with high intensity is a fcuking nightmare. Even more so if they keep it up for the entire game. You know that you're not going to get any respite and that you're going to have to work your balls off just to stay in the game. And it's even worse if that team can play good football as well.
Ivor insisted that it was impossible to give of your best if you were unfit, which is why he set such great store on fitness levels. It was the reason I finally packed it in. I'd been hanging on for a couple of years, a liability to the team truth be told, and it was becoming more and more evident by the game. My head knew exactly what to do in a given situation but my legs were incapable of carrying it out. And, far too often, I looked like a complete twat.
Ex Swan Norman Lawson knew I could play, which is why he took me with him when he went to manage the club. But I was already on a downward spiral by then. My best years were in the London and Home Counties leagues when I was young and enjoyed explosive pace and strength - and that by ANY standards. But those attributes are the first things to go when your fitness levels dip.
So, I applaud Mr Duff's initiative because I've experienced it first hand. I KNOW how important it is, which is why I go on about it. My excuse is that I was a semi-pro fitting in training (and games) between business commitments all over the country. Now, had I been a fulltime pro.......
So many footballers don't appreciate how lucky they are, what a privileged existence they lead. I hope Coach Duff drums that into them and ensures that they have every respect for the job they do. If that happens we might get somewhere this season. Here's hoping.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
We're two days or so into the fitness camp in Spain. No updates from down there; I guess players puking over their boots doesn't make for good video.
I still vividly remember when I knew my game was literally up. We were playing Cardiff Corries at home, always a tough fixture, and we were attacking the end away from the dressing room. Yankee will know. Anyway. Herbie, whom Ivor always said should have been playing league football, slid a peach of a pass inside the last defender near the halfway line and I was on it in a flash leaving defenders trailing behind.
At my best I would have taken the ball into the area for an easy one on one with the keeper. But, as I sprinted wth the ball, my legs just went on me and I felt like I was running on sand. Defenders got back and crowded me out. When you played Corries, you knew you had to take your chances, so my team mates weren't best pleased!!
BTW, the top leagues in London and Home Counties, were at the very least as good as the LOW - many reckon better in fact. There were literally dozens of leagues and the top London teams used to loan out promising players to various top clubs for them to get game time. You frequently faced young players from Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Fulham, Crystal Palace, West Ham and others. Did I hold my own? That's for others to say but I was well known for my pace - the result being my knackered legs today because if defenders couldn't catch me, they kicked me - often because of rival coaches bellowing instructions from the touchline. Thanks a lot, guys!
Behindthegoal
Key Player
I was thinking the same about Guidolin. He was even in the hotel packing up as Brad Bobbly his welcome party.
Any significance to which squad members were absent/present?
Any significance to which squad members were absent/present?
CroJack
Key Player
Some of the players have been on international duty and are still on holiday. Some others have been on loan with us and are at their respective clubs now.