This was the sort of game where it is actually very difficult to say something positive about. At least Thomas' apparent injury that forced him off and allowed Williams to play almost a full game, shock horror, didn't look too bad after the game so the cries of 'Thats our season over with then' might be a touch pessimistic. So at the risk of being too much of a doom and gloom merchant after only one pre season game.....

Pre season optimism abounded in the Woking Social Club bar prior to kick off as around 30 south east exiled Swans gathered to experience what was for many their first chance to see the brave new dawn inspired by Cusack. We were told that we now had a team so we thought that would battle, put themselves on the line for the cause, create and score goals and in the meantime perhaps even secure another contract for.

But apart from a well taken headed goal from the lively Thomas this was both a dreadful game and performance to match from a Swansea side that never really got out of second gear. Memories of our Hollins performances flooded back as we took an early lead and proceeded to sit back and wait for the opposition to come at us.

Yes it was a pre season warm up for the Rushden game saturday and only then can they be judged but I'm sorry to say that this was about as bad as last year. Many of the faces have changed but the style and tactics appear remarkably similar, in fact too similar. I am not all that convinced on this evidence that odds of anything between 28/1 and 40/1 quoted by some there last night are anything but very very genorous. 5/1 to go down anybody ?

Little to say about anybody really. Marsh was excellent throughout, with the chant of 'You're not Jason Jones' making an early bid for chant of the year as he tipped a looping header the bar.

Cusack started with what appeared to be the first XI given the injuries to Freestone and Smith J, and perhaps even Moss. Evans swept up behind OLeary and Theobald, who does appear to have a look of Todd about him. Strangest move of the night, Lee de-Vulgt sweeper second half....mmmm. Other than the goal, we did little creatively, a couple of half scuffed chances for Watkin, a couple more from the lively Williams (oh for Super J of a couple of years ago). The new boys did little to impress most of us with the only highlight being in the bar afterwards...you should have seen the speed to get the drinks in!!! David Smith is no different to what we already had, although Micky Howard does actually get forward to better effect. Wood runs around, Reid and Murphy played as did most others as if there was nothing at stake. Thomas looks like he'll score goals but he'll need the service, from where I don't know.

Wholesale changes in the second half meant the game petered out as any real contest. The two young lads who came on looked lively, but where have Duffy and Thompson disappeared to, their time will surely come on this brief evidence. The Usual Suspects played their usual games. Mumford is looking like he's beginning to believe the hype from last season and his call-up into the Wales U21. He's a touch overweight dare I suggest and looks a little disinterested. Swansea's past is littered with individuals who failed to make an impact after a promising start, I hope he isn't the next in line.

Overall talk in the bar was of it being early days and only time will tell if Cusack has acquired wisely. Come on you Swans !!!!

Woking 0 Swansea City 1 - Western Mail

Thomas trumps Cards with early winner

JAMES Thomas's early goal trumped the Cards as Swansea rattled up their third pre season win at Kingfield Stadium last night.

The tall Welshman pounced in the eighth minute of this entertaining clash but there was a scare before the half-hour as he limped off unable to put weight on his right ankle.

The 23-year-old had lunged into a tackle with Woking's Robert Kember and now concerned Vetch chief Nick Cusack will wait to see if his man is available for this Saturday's home Nationwide League curtain raiser with Rushden and Diamonds.

Swansea had included seven of their summer captures in their last warm-up. Of that septet, a trio patrolled midfield - Bury pair Paul Reid and Matt Murphy were included with ex-Grimsby man Dave Smith slopping in on the left side.

Former 21-times capped Welsh under-21 international Thomas, and ex-Manchetser United trainee Jamie Wood were leading the attack but it was the Cards who were showing their hand early in this encounter.

Woking, who finished four from bottom of the Conference last May, conjured a potent three-card trick in the opening six minutes as the Swans almost caved in.

In the fourth minute 'keeper Andy Marsh clutched Kember's swerving right-footer to his midriff. And 90 seconds later the former Liverpool Academy stopper was finger tipping over Chris Charpling's blast - via a deflection off team-mate Murphy.

But after seven minutes the Cards muffed a gilt-edged chance. Robert Hollingdale's right-sided free-kick totally mesmerised Swansea - Charlie Griffin's header drifting agonisingly across a gaping goal.

The Swans landed a sweet counter moments later as they stole the lead, however. Reid launched a perfect corner from the right, Dave Theobald knocked back and Thomas rose to power home from eight yards.

The goal was against the flow but there was that blow for the Swans as Thomas was helped off after 19 minutes, John Williams his replacement.

And the 34-year-old was etching a mark 15 minutes later. The Midlander helped on Smiths' delivery on the left side of the box for Murphy to unleash a right-footed shot inches wide.

Woking were reshuffling their pack at the break sending on a quintet of fresh men. But this encounter was beginning to degenerate until Swansea sent on their eight remaining substitutes after 62 minutes.

Woking almost had the last laugh as one of their five replacements Warren Patmore nodded wide but Swansea were almost wrapping things up - the flying Farrelly brilliantly finding sub Steve Watkin, Williams and Andy Munford.

Swansea: Marsh, Jenkins (Corbisero 62), Smith (Howard 62), O'Leary (Serman 62), Theobald (Sharp 62), Evans (Jones 62), Phillips (Jackson 62), Murphy (Munford 53), Thomas (Williams 19), Wood (Watkin 62), Reid (De-Vulgt 62) Substitute not used: Cole.

The Swans finished their pre-season friendlies with a lacklustre performance against a average but over physical Woking side.

Ater a scrappy opening the first opening fell to the home side when Terry Evans miscued a clearance towards the top corner only for Marsh to pull of a finger tip save to keep the scores level.

The Swans continued to spray the ball wide but lacked a creative through ball and struggled to carve up any openings.

The Swans finally broke the deadlock when on 8 mins a cross from the right was headed back from the far post by Theobold and Thomas was unmarked to head the ball home.

The home side rallied after that and a 50/50 challenge left James Thomas being carried off which didn't look to good.

The second half saw block substitutions with six coming on for both sides and game became a poor spectacle for it and this gave both managers a chance to view fringe players.

Opinion

After watching 4 games now this season it seems cusack's formation of 3-5-2 seems to be set in concrete. My only problem with this is the club as no natural wingbacks and in my view will be a problem.

Secondly we have no creative midfielders which leave our pattern of play very predictable.

On the positive side we have a organised defence which does appear to play to deep on occasions but I can't see us conceding to many.

Andy Donaghue

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