The first round of Premier League matches produced comfortable wins for three of the main title challengers,viz,Man.City.,Utd.,and Chelsea,whilst the three promoted Clubs' were all easily disposed of,failing to score a single goal between them. I know it's early,very early,days,but I already get the feeling that it's "business as usual" in this most extravagant of Leagues,with "the usual suspects" competing for the top prize,and the majority of the other Clubs' merely making up the numbers,and acting almost as cannon fodder. I find this scenario to be so boringly predictable,and one of the reasons why I prefer the more competitive,unpredictable nature of The Championship. But the money is the sop,the anaesthetic so to speak,that keeps the lesser Clubs' in their place, and sets them up very nicely to be used almost as bait. I find it hard to really respect this League with it's overblown sense of importance. Most games are of sub standard quality,as teams are gripped by the fear of losing,thereby putting their seat at the top table in jeopardy. "Shock results" will take place periodically,that's to be expected,but in the main, the "whipping boys" will continue to be whipped,using the vast sums of money that they receive,as a kind of salve to ease the pain in their wounds,and quite often their humiliation.
Yes, I know what you mean Vetch. The Championship had its good points. The Premier League is, by and large, fairly predictable, but at least we're in Europe which adds a different slant on the season and I doubt that would have come about if we were still a division lower.
Libertarian-It all depends what we as fans expect now, to be top end of the 'little leagues' or pushing some really well established 'big boys' all the way in a lot of the games in the 'top league' Oh as well as p*ssing all over some of the dross who've somehow managed to survive for years in this league
Vetch, you make some good points but I wouldn't swap where we are for the Championship. The top clubs dominate, of course, but the craic for me is when we get them sweating in a game or even beat them on occasion: and it was sheer delight to rip the League Cup out of their greedy grasp. We, and other similar clubs are always likely to be the bit part players in this league but you never know what the future holds. It could change. It won't happen overnight but little by little the gap will close and one or two teams will make the breakthrough. We could be one of those teams. Yes, I know we have just been thumped on our own patch but does anyone here really believe that 1-4 was a fair reflection of the game? I know it wasn't. As a team we had more possession, more passes (many in the RIGHT areas), more shots at goal and more corners. We were undone by three superb finishes aided by some rank schoolboy defending. Never at any stage were we outplayed and this bodes well for the future. I know we will never win the league. I know it will be tough even to crack the top six but there is always that hope. For now, I will settle for the odd cup, because I really believe that is a realistic ambition, and giving one of the big boys an occasional bloody nose. Add in the admiration and respect our football has earned worldwide and, of course, the regular TV coverage and exposure we are enjoying right now, I don't think we are in a bad place at all.
Vetch - think of us overseas Jacks - we now get to see pretty much every game without trolling the internet and as Ivor said to hear the commentary about our style just gives me shivers
I'm not advocating a return to The Championship,far from it. The atmosphere surrounding the Club,and the City generally, is electric,and we are much admired around the globe. Many see "the Swansea way" as being "the way",and we can all be justifiably proud of that. It's a long way from a rainy evening at The Vetch,along with 1800 fellow sufferers,and I wouldn't want that again. Hopefully,we will become a permanent fixture at the top table. I just wish the field was a teeny bit level,and that the "big club" monopoly can be broken,if only occasionally. I often think about "overseas Jacks",lumber,since I was one until a few years ago. Saturday afternoons would find me under a tree in West Africa,clutching my small World radio,listening for any news of the latest Swans' encounter,drinking the local poison with some Africans whom I had enrolled in the overseas section of The Swansea City Fan Club. Happy days. Now,of course,they can watch us live on T.V.,and they are delirious about it.
Excellent post. Having taken a hammering ( pun ) I want to go back to the Championship ( not really) The writing was only the wall for most clubs when the champions league was introduced for those old enough to remember the European cup only had the league winners and was just home and away legs. With 4 clubs from the prem entering it is giving them a huge financial advantage and prestige when it comes to signing players. Can any of the so called also rans break into that elite group ?
