Swansea Face Ideological Struggle For Tactics
Swansea Face Ideological Struggle For Tactics
In football, truth and fact are often two very different things. While the ‘high ground’ of passing, flowing football is admirable to most fans, the bottom line is what really matters at the end of the day. Fighting the good fight, only to lose, is nothing but glorious failure, honorable defeat, and worthless in the sands of time. Thierry Henry handled the ball twice illegally against Ireland, and France didn’t deserve to win. Truth. However, William Gallas scored, and France progressed to the World Cup Finals in South Africa. Fact. Sergio Busquets acted in a deceitful and unsportsmanlike manner in the 2010 Champions League semi-final against Inter to get Thiago Motta sent off. Truth. Thiago Motta was sent off and Busquets had no repercussions, and hence greatly improved Barcelona’s chances of winning. Fact.
As a new Premier League season dawns, and last year’s relegated teams wear a different patch on their kits facing trips to Doncaster and Crystal Palace instead of Chelsea and Manchester United, it has never been more clear that in terms of staying up, truth must often be traded in for realistic alternatives. Swansea City have finally climbed to the summit, the first Welsh side to grace the top flight after gaining promotion via the play-offs.
Brendan Rodgers’s men started off the campaign with a 4-0 loss, but gave as good as an account of themselves as possible with that scoreline. The Jacks strung together some genuinely crafty moves and tried to play football, at times succeeding and threatening Joe Hart’s goal on a few occasions. Blackpool were a “breath of fresh air,” and their presence in the top flight will sorely be missed.
Ian Holloway and his lovable group of renegades not only fought against the odds, but they also stayed true to themselves and the style of play that won them promotion in the first place, even in the face of superior opposition, when it could’ve been easier to park the bus like Rangers playing an away match in Europe. And despite the more bland, and perhaps crude, methods employed by fellow competitors like Wigan and Blackburn, it is Holloway who was left to go through “the worst few months of my life” after a heartbreaking final day loss to Manchester United. Roberto Martinez and Steve Kean may be considered less brave and original, but the fact remains; this year, they are among the top 20 clubs in England, again. Even in defeat, there were positives for Swansea. Much like Wes Hoolahan at fellow promoted side Norwich, Swansea have playmakers like Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair, comfortable on the ball and able to control a match.
But while attractive football is indeed desirable, in truth, points are crucial. Rodgers has worked hard to instill a certain mentality and tactical strategy into his squad, and in many ways there are a lot of similarities between the Seasiders of last season and Blackpool of this season, perhaps bar the eccentricity of the respective managers. There will be days when it feels like betrayal of self, when setting up to clog the midfield and effectively kill the game in search of a goalless draw feels like death, or something worse. But at times like this, the big picture must be kept in sight. Twice in the final months Blackpool threw away three points to final minute equalizers, against both Tottenham (1-1) and Blackburn (2-2). There will be times when Rodgers can take off the shackles and have his side play the way he wants them to. But for now, his tactics should be focused on results, not aesthetics, and keeping his side 17th or better in perhaps the most competitive edition of the Premier League ever.
