I would have thought that the West Brom and Den Haag games will be just the games we need to be prepared for the championship.

All the criticism of OTJ is pointless. OTJ, Allen and MacDonald won't be regular starters, and i think Martinez knows that and he plans that to be the case.

He's said all along that the younger players need more time to develop and mature into the side. Why else would he bring Chad Bond back to the club? I can imagine that its all part of Martinez's grand developmental plan.

In Martinez we all trust.

Eames you are truly odious. Plenty of people who post on here have contentious views but none spew forth the kind of negative and poisonous bile that you do. What the hell is wrong with you?

Hi Haydn, nice to see you back.

I have to agree with you about Roberto's quote about OTJ I also thought it was strange, but could if have been a bit of camouflage.

Also everybody knows the real games that count start at Charlton, but you have to build up to that. That's what pre season friendlies are for. It's better being in a game situation rather than just training, and easing you're way in gently is always best. I feel we also have a bit of an obligation as the league team in the area to play these local teams.

Up here Stoke and Port Vale always play Newcastle Town pre season.

As I said previously things will intensify in Spain then we have Chester, WBA and Den Haag to hone ourselves prior to the real thing at Charlton.

As you say that's when it counts, but you can't just step up to that you have to build up gradually.

I read some time ago that Brazil often arrange games against very weak local opposition prior to major tournaments just to get their players used to winning easily, and the strikers used to putting the ball in the back of the net. They feel it builds confidence, and it hasn't done them much harm.

Look forward to having a chat with you next season at some time.

I see you've ignored my questions haydn. I wonder why?

Do you see Garry Monk playing this season or will he being going to Port Talbot on loan like you said he was last pre season?

So Matty Collins who you said was going to start in the midfield last season is going to play right back this season?

Welcome back Haydn,I woke up this morning feeling like crap but can cheer myself up with the thought with oh well at least im not Haydn.
I trust you have been away ,holiday ?or possibly a health centre being treated for depression.
Lighten up ,RM seems to know what he is doing.
24 yrs we have waited to return to a decent league I suspect we will hold up pretty well..
STID..

Mark Arnold

A quote from Martinez???????

"It was a fitness reason as I think the demands of centre midfield were a little too much against Neath".

If ever there was a poor joke then that takes the biscuit

If the demands of playing in the centre of mid field for forty five minutes against a very poor Neath side with their coach telling Colin Jones before the game that they were not expecting a good season. Then what chance has OTJ of performing against most teams in the Championship???????????

Most Championship sides will soon single out him out as the weakness in the team with one hard tackle putting him out of the game.

If OTJ is not fit know, then when will he be fit???????

T2C

How can anyone argue with someone that thinks that Dennis Lawrence is a good player and played well for us last season?

You and Guto Llewelyn should get together and start a “Dennis Lawrence Fan Club”

At least it will give Colin Jones and most on this guestbook something to laugh about

It’s games beginning with Charlton that counts and not games against poor Welsh League sides that looks as if most of their players have just come out of the Junior Leagues

Barry the Hatchet.
Indeed.
I feel so much better now.
Seeing as we have never met how the phuck what goes through my brain.
Its people like your goodself that get taken in under this medium.
Groo,Im surprised at you.
Hope the Canadian summer is rather better than here.
I had a e mail off Haydn once.
Once only mind

Good point RoW ...ooops that makes 19!

Lord Birkenhead.
Oh dear.
You are indeed entitled to your opinion, and here is mine- you really do not have a clue.
"Being a fan allows you to hammer our players". Absolute rubbish.
Firstly "fans" follow rock and pop stars. Football followers are called "supporters" which you may not know is a derivative from the word "support".
I would agree that being a supporter allows you an opinion, but certainly not the right to hammer an individual.
Neither you, me or our players go to work with the intention of being rubbish that day, but occassionaly we all have an off day. I would love to be on your shoulder day after day to "hammer" you with criticism when things were not going so well at your place of work.
You give me the impression that you are the type who would yell at the poor Saturday kid at Tesco because they ran out of your favourite beans because in your world, she represents the company and that gives you the right to let rip.
It doesn't.
If you think "hammering" a player will increase performance you are wholly misguided.
It is not your right.
Think about it, and try to be a supporter once in a while.

28 posts since Haydn returned. 10 of them about him. 18 about football and so worth reading.

Who is obsessed?

11897) Lord Birkenhead

On the other hand, we don't want to be bored shitless by someone 'constantly' going on and on and on, with what at times seem like personal vendetta's against certain players.

You also stand up for sherriff on the planet swans board I note, another that goes on and on and on...


Its not the criticism that people get annoyed at, its the way in which it is done that annoys, especially with the childish names that eventually come out.

And in particular with someone like Haydn, you dare to contradict and you get both barrels.


Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but once you have said your piece, there is no need to go on and on about it, we all know from last year that Haydn did not like Tate nor Lawrence, I imagine the post he made is just a starter for 10..

As we spent so much time last season talking about trundle after he left... here is a quote about Duffy taken from the bbc:

"Bristol Rovers first-team coach Paul Trollope praised striker Darryl Duffy after the summer signing scored on his debut for the club at Weymouth.

Duffy scored the equaliser in a 2-1 win before Joe Jacobson sealed the victory.

"Darryl scored what I'd describe as a perfect goal," Trollope told the club's website. "Hopefully we'll be seeing more of that this season.

"He showed a great bit of movement to get in behind the defence and finish well. That's why we brought him here."

The 23-year-old former Swansea striker showed signs of striking up a good partnership with last season's top scorer Rickie Lambert"

One thing that is becoming evident under the martinez regime is that he looks to improve every position in the squad, and normally with at least equal if not better a player.

Looking at the squad now, players that avoided criticism last season could even find themselves not even on the bench given the numbers of players we have at our disposal. Only Lawrence hasn't gone from the expected chop list unless i missed an announcement on him (KOL could still go after his testimonal - only a comment, not a suggestion).

Its up to the players like tate to step up and show they can cope - otherwise they won't get a look in.

STEVE LLOYD. Youre almost right but wrong.
Haydn`s "slagging off" of players is mild indeed and Id suggest yiu re following the wrong team/sport if yout think that he`s harsh or offensive to players.
Never forget,the Players work for OUR club,and as such they have to perform or if not they should be out,Jesus,just like in real life.
If they cannot take internet criticism from an older guy with time on their hands,then they too should take up alternative employment.
It pissses me off no end to see some fans thinking that any questioning of players or their ability is seen as Negative (note the spelling).What we do not want is bellends who havent the wit or wherewithal to see what is apparent in the team.
To me,this is for starters.If De Fries is still our only or best number 1 fore the whole season,we could well be fecked,Big Time.
Now that is my opinion.Non Racist,non abusive,non threatening.Im entitled to it as is Haydn.
What we are not entitiled to is to be bored shitless by everyone agreeing on everything.It will kill our club.
Ive spoken to Haydn once and one word only.
I find him truly keen,almost obsessively so.He loves football.He loves our team and goes back a long way.
Funnily enough,Swans fans have always hammered their players as do most fans.
Its what being a fan is about.

Rangel looks to still have the 22 shirt.. i guess Williams is #2 or has he swapped with Tateo?

DEAR HAYDN it amazes me that you believe your a swansea city fan,and we get out of you on here is constant negitivity honestly if we do the amazing job of getting promotion to the prem this season you still would nt have the ability of showing praise even then are you sure your not a closet bluebird

Paints is 3, at least i'm sure he was playing at 3 in Neath.

And Jordi has the number 14 shirt.

Paints is 3, at least i'm sure he was playing at 3 in Neath.

And Jordi has the number 14 shirt.

I'm surprised we haven't reshuffled the squad numbers to be fair...

De Vries should be #1, Rangel should be #2 and Painter #3 at least to get some normality in the side. I'd move Orlandi to #11 and give the #10 to either Bauza or Pintado.

But thats just my thoughts on the numbers...

When are the new squad numbers announced? The away kit photo shows several keeping the same numbers, but I think that's Pintado wearing the now-vacant 18.

I must confess I'm having some difficulty remembering what each the new arrivals looks like.

First it was the french influx into british football, now it seems its the spanish..

[news.bbc.co.uk]

another Spanish B team player into british football.. clearly these lower league players are attracting interest all of a sudden!

Interviews with:

Bussy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0oCF02CmqI

Kris O'Leary - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUTq9Ros0JI

Kris O'Leary talks about his testimonial...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUTq9Ros0JI

Bussy talks about his hopes for the forthcoming season
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0oCF02CmqI

Welcome back Haydn, please feel free to email my private Address like you did the last time i had a go at you !!! but if all you want to do is slate people's opinions then i suggest you crawl back under the stone youv'e been hiding under for the past few weeks - this guest book has been a much 'nicer and friendlier' place when you dont post your bullsh1t...have you noticed the number of new posters - all those people used to post years ago, before you put them off.

We all welcome positive criticism in our jobs - it's probably the best way to improve ourselves, but your constant slating of players from our team gets on everyones nerves (lump of lard, dithering etc - call yourself a fan, my @rse) - we are all aware that Tate wont get 30 games this season, but dont tell me he doesnt give 100% everytime he plays - so please just stop your nonsense....Dai, I wonder if there's any chance you could look at the amount of different posters over the past 3 weeks, whilst the afore mentioned has not been posting in comparison to how many different posters there were in the 3 weeks when he was posting - it might tell a story as to why they are making their feelings known. I know there are many people on this fantastic site who say HE is quite often correct with his opinions, but lets face it - if we all went about our business with the same rudeness/disrespect that HE shows to us and most of our players we would probably get the sack from our employers !!

Anyway.......rant over, but what a pleasant guestbook this has been for some time now

As Nick R (and God) would say

In Roberto we trust

Just heard a report on our local radio station(radio Cornwall ),of the game last night between Truro City and Neath athletic.
Truro won 3-1 and it appears Neath did not really turn up in a footballing sense,
Truro will play in the Southern league next season and are certainly on the up- with ambitions to rise all the way into the football league eventually.
However , I feel we must not read too much into how Swans got on in their 5-0 win against Neath the other night. It was clearly little more than a well attended training exercise for them.

By the way- when Truro played Exeter City a few days ago they lost 1-4.

I went to the last 2 night of football and have been greatly impressed by Pintado - very unselfish in his pass to Orlandi and gave the penalty to Bodde. El Torro - he has already erned this name - wins everything in the air , works his socks off. Mac Donald played the best I have seen him.

I really cannot wait until the season starts and think our style of football will 'Bodde' us well.

It was good to see Coatesey have a run out for Port Talbot - looked fit as a fiddle - a good servant to the club in the past.

Adios my amigos.
In Martinez and Jonesey I really do trust.

on a bit of a negative- O"Leary was blowing before kick off- will get cup games at best

Charlton away allocation sold out just read on the other board. Another truly awesome away following. Should be a hell of a lot of noise created up there, take some ear plugs for that one.

Charlton tickets are now sold out.

Re: new kit, didn't we have a blue away kit when we got promoted to Div 1?.

Time to get down the bookies

Welcome back Haydn...

From today's E.Post.

Martinez played down suggestions that Owain Tudur Jones will feature regularly in the back four this season.

Owain missed a lot of last season and only played 30 minutes against Ostersund in our first friendly, so I wanted him to get some game-time under his belt," explained the Spaniard.

"It was a fitness reason as I think the demands of centre midfield were a little too much against Neath.

"Owain has been strong and is doing a lot of personal work - he is stronger now than what he was before he got injured.

"He has learned from the situation and he has taken it in the right way. But he needs to get used to the demands of centre midfield and that will happen in our preparations for the season."

interesting new away kit.. described as "flint grey and navy"... its an adaption on the blue kit we had, just a dark grey. Looks ok to me, but the home shirt is the best, especially when you look up close at it.

I wonder what people will make of it..

Oh, just when I was starting to enjoy it. Yawn.

Peter (11870),

Hammill has gone to Blackpool on a 6 month loan after signing a new 3 year deal with liverpool. Check out blackpool's bbc sport news.

Nice to see you back Haydn, tell me how did Ferrie Bodde play? When is he leaving now Haydn? Is Darren Moore not part of our new look defence then? your words of wisdom have been missed

well said T2C

How nice it was without the negative crap of haydn eames

nothing positive to say, just moans and whining

If Gorka performs like he has done then he will set the championship alight.

your comments will then come back to haunt you haydn but no doubt you will care only to slate and attack Alan Tate because that's all you want to do

sad, really sad

And finally,

If anyone wants to know who'll be Fergies no. 2 then look no further than Gary Neville. The way he took his side in that interview tonight, the boy's been groomed for the job.

Haydn wrote

>>It amazes me how some supporters can make comments about Matt Collins with the probability of having never seen him play<<

2 things -

No-one's seen Collins play in a real game.

and

It didn't stop you making comments about Gorka.

Are you quite sure about the starting line up Hayd, i mean do you know that as fact.

Like the way you KNEW Bodde was going??!

No mention also of the geriatric non league Spaniard... hmmmm.

With Rangel out for at least the first four games of the season and with such a poor performance from Tate on Wednesday and then again on Thursday night where he would be lucky to make the second eleven of a poor Neath side. Then Graham Jones must be wasting a hell of a lot of time and effort that he is spending with Matt Collins on the training pitch at Llandarcy

It amazes me how some supporters can make comments about Matt Collins with the probability of having never seen him play.

Supporters must have very short memories to suggest that Tate plays against a Championship side like Charlton at right back, when they seem to forget the dreadful game he had against Yeovil at the end of last season when he played in that position together with the other poor games when playing in the centre of defence

But there, the same supporters were the ones saying that OTJ had a future in mid field and we all saw were he played on Wednesday night. Then when the same player ventured up field and lost the ball to a Neath player that looked as if he had been picked from their under eleven’s side and then beat him for pace as well, it doesn’t say much if he will be any good in that position either.

You most probably saw the back four that played the first half against Neath starting against Charlton as Williams is one of the players that Martinez talked about of not being up to the fitness level that he expects

Williams is one that seems to be getting a lot of additional training from the Spanish fitness coach who is as fit if not fitter than any of the players

Thought it was an excellent performance last night by both sides. First game was played at a much higher tempo than the second, with orlandi, gomez, gower and Gorka outstanding. The second game wasn't played at the same intensity, but it was clear to see that individuals such as Mcdonald, and collins were busting a gut to impress with, Martinez, Jones & Reeves in the stand.
Couple of notes of concern, in both games we nearly conceded straight from the kick off?, it took them 30 secs to switch on.
Secondly dorus flapped at a couple of crosses and in one particular instance because he didn't win the ball, he shoved the forward (any other game and he would have gone!)anyone else agree???

I think in any other game they both would have gone - Dorus was cheesed off with the Carmarthen striker kicking out at him when he was on the floor - Dai

On Liverpool site Blackpool close to having Hammil on loan for a season, are we still interested? and if so are in the hunt? we seem not to be mentioned as looking to strenghen at this time

Great reports from the people that have seen the friendlies everything seems very positive. However it seems Roberto is going to have major selection problems this season.

Relating to a few posts I have always been a supporter of Tate (although not blind I do recognise his errors), and I believe he can do a job at right back as he did at Carlisle last season.

Have to agree that midfield will be a problem in as much as Bodde and Gomez will be first names on the team sheet which leaves how many to fight for the other 2,3 places. Was Gomez signed as a replacement for Bodde, but now will have to compete.

Up front will be a real headache. Pintado is getting rave reviews. Bauza is scoring. How is Scotland feeling at the moment I wonder.

At the end of last season I said to Stuart, my son that I felt 4-5-1 may not work as well in the Championship. He thought it would. With the strike force we have now I feel 4-4-2 may be a more potent weapon.

The games we have played so far we should have won convincingly, but it doesn't always work that way, and whatever the opposition you have to put the ball in the net.

I feel there will be a step up in class in Spain, and then an interesting challenge at Chester before the real action. Chester will provide a 'football league' challenge. Lower league team trying to pit their wits against the Championship 'big boys'. That may be one of our better tests pre season prior to Den Haag and WBA where Roberto should be more, or less settled on his starting line up.

Just checked Chanel 33 programme guide and while they do stream a number of programmes live, this isn;t one of them.

I'll keep an eye out and if they do highlights, I'll post the link.

Jeff... cheers for that.. i couldnt remember if i'd seen it before or not.

Jeff - Reading -

I think the light blue shirt is the home goalkeeper shirt - it's been on display in the club shop since the new home shirt was put on sale.

Regarding the hysteria over people like Ronaldo and Bodde recently, here's an interesting take on the theme from Roy Keane

[news.bbc.co.uk]

anyone seen the official site article about the new away kit???

Is it sky blue? or is that kit the girl is wearing a kids outfit or something? Becuase sky blue and silver is an interesting away kit colour choice if it is... but hey!

I heard the swans are on Canal 33 in Catalonia next Friday. I'm trying to find a link to a stream ready for Friday without much success, can anyone help? Or does anybody know someone in that area who can stream it for us.

Noel,

I think you're on about Douglas Rinaldi.

I don't think our interest is serious, to be honest. He didn't play a game for Watford last season even though he was superb for them in their one season in the Premier.

Quite strange how he can cut it in the Premier but not even get a game in the Championship.

I'd be surprised if we signed him.

Btw - looks like Hammil's going to Blackpool from Liverpool on loan. I wasn't that impressed with what I heard about him.

I just hope we're homing in on Sinclair from Chelsea.

In Roberto We Trust