TATEY

[ivoralljack]

Alan Tate has been promoted to the first team squad to act as a conduit between the youth and the first teams. As a player for us I didn't rate him as highly as others on here because he was, in my opinion, limited in terms of talent. One thing in particular that stays in my mind was when I was sat in the East stand and right in front of me late in the game, Tatey stood off the Newcastle winger, totally failing to close him down, and allowing him to place a pin point cross on the head of Andy Carroll who predictably out-jumped our defence to head the equaliser in a 1-1 draw. I was fcuking bouncing!! And I have many memories of him being out-paced in a chase for the ball.

HOWEVER, if you were to judge a player for pure effort, commitment and passion for the club then Tatey has to be the absolute epitome of that. He rarely left anything on the pitch and you always knew that he had given his all when he left the field. And I have the utmost respect and regard for him in that context. I've often read on Swansea forums that the ideal team would be entirely made up of Alan Tates. Well, I don't subscribe to that view but sure as hell his character and attitude is something I wish that every player in our team possessed. He's a tremendous club man and I wish him well in his new position.

Swansea City legend Alan Tate joins Steve Cooper's coaching staff

 

[CroJack]

I don't want to spoil the party, I'm just curious. Was Tatey one of the senior players who tried to undermine Laudrup already in October 2012?

 

[ivoralljack]

I don't want to spoil the party, I'm just curious. Was Tatey one of the senior players who tried to undermine Laudrup already in October 2012?

Unfortunately I have it on good authority that he was. I wasn't intending to have a 'party' with my post, just commenting on how I saw him as a player. I steered clear of his role in the Laudrup affair mainly because I had no personal knowledge of the role he played. However, my sources of what went on have always been well informed and I had/have no reason to doubt their accuracy.

Have I forgiven him? Well the answer is no and I doubt I ever will but that isn't to say that he had no good points because he did. The feedback I received at the time was that Monk, Tate and Britton railed against Laudrup, the first two because Laudrup had made it clear that both were no longer part of his first team plans. That didn't apply so much to Leon whom I was told was a reluctant participant to begin with and who began to distance himself from the situation as it unfolded.

In my opinion that episode, more than any other, led to the eventual demise of our football club, which eventually resulted in our relegation and to the cesspit of a mess that we now find ourselves in. Of course, the players were aided and abetted by a Board, who for reasons best known to themselves, wanted rid of one of (if not the best) managers we have ever had. Their motives have often been discussed on various forums (fora if you prefer) and I'm sure that we all have our opinions about it. I certainly have mine and it's not at all flattering but I guess we'll never learn the truth.

 

[Jackflash]

I don't want to spoil the party, I'm just curious. Was Tatey one of the senior players who tried to undermine Laudrup already in October 2012?

It's most peoples belief he was. A very big friend of Monks, so much so that they bought houses next door to each other. Monk obviously the perpetrator of the coup against Laudrup,with the assistance of Tate and Williams.it was also rumoured that Britton was involved.

 

[ivoralljack]

It's most peoples belief he was. A very big friend of Monks, so much so that they bought houses next door to each other. Monk obviously the perpetrator of the coup against Laudrup,with the assistance of Tate and Williams.it was also rumoured that Britton was involved.

Yes, Williams was certainly involved as well, yet is on record as saying that he really respected Laudrup as a coach. He certainly admired him as a footballer often saying that, in training, he was the best player at the club even at the age he was. And not said in jest!!

The whole unsavoury episode is now history and, apart from Leon, it would be my preference to cut all ties with those back-stabbing schemers who ousted Laudrup. But Tate is still with us and now part of the first team coaching staff. Therefore I wish him well and hope he succeeds because I put the future of my club before any personal feelings. But I have to tell you it takes one hell of an effort to do that.

 

[Jackflash]

As you say Ivor, it was the begining of the end our reign in the Premiership, a reign that had the respect of just about every Prem club. Our football was the talk of the division, and by Premiership standards, achieved on a shoe string budget.

 

[CroJack]

Curt was Laudrup's assistant at that time and what I don't understand is that the players didn't knock on the Curt and Laudrup's doors to discuss the training methods.

 

[ivoralljack]

When we were in the old First Division and on our way there, John Tosh used his connections to bring in ex Liverpool players. These included people such as Tommy Smith, Ian Callaghan, Phil Boersma, Ray Kennedy, Alan Waddle, Colin Irwin (then record transfer fee for us) and Emlyn Hughes who made 7 appearances. Then there were the 'local' Welsh lads such as Curt, Robbie, Wyndham, Leighton, Charlo, Speedy, Dai the Drop, Chris Marustik and Dudley Lewis - and, undoubtedly, there was friction between the two groups although it never led to anything drastic.

There was certainly friction during Laudrup's tenure between the old guard such as Monk, Tate, Williams and the Spanish contingent, which culminated in some fairly serious stuff. Pozuelo, for instance, was reported as saying to a fan he had met in the street, that he would never play for the Swans again so long as Monk & Co were there. Then, of course, there was 'Brickgate' which since has been played down.

So throw into this the behind-the-scenes politics that were going on with the directors and the Idiot's connivance with his puppet-in-waiting Monk and you had a combustible recipe for our own version of 'Night of the Long Knives'. The assassins had no interest in discussing training methods; they just wanted Laudrup out and if they did speak to him it was in a very superficial manner. Just my opinion, of course , and I could say LOTS more but what's the point? It's now history and nothing can change what happened. But a word about Curt. He's a really smashing guy but seems to me to be a non-confrontational sort of person. Perhaps, and I don't know this, he had a good idea of which way the wind was blowing and just bent with it. Mind you, that's only a guess on my part.

 

[Ladygargar]

Alan Tate has stood behind my seat at every single game for the past four years; I don’t believe he was on the payroll....I have never seen such anguish when we were relegated he looked to be in real pain; I’m not sure about his credentials as a player, I’m not sure about his skill as a dressing room politician, but speaking as I see; he is clearly rooted in the club; he’s done his coaching badges and that’s a good place to start.

 

[CroJack]

He loves the club, there is no doubt about it, and we need club legends to be at the club. Wish him good luck .

 

[Jackflash]

Curt was Laudrup's assistant at that time and I what I don't understand is that the players didn't knock on the Curt and Laudrup's doors to discuss the training methods.

I don't think training was an issue, just an excuse.