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Dear John |
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Here's your chance to write to John Hollins about any Swans matter you like.
Periodically, I will print out the comments and snailmail them to him at the Vetch. Any replies that I receive from him will be posted here. As John Hollins has not responded to any of the messages I have sent from you, I will no longer waste the 26p on a stamp, but leave them on this site for him to read if he wishes. |
Dear John Thank you so much on winning promotion and winning the league. i think that it is a tremendous achievement for what you have done to the club and for the fans. I am writing to you, to say that my father knows you from Park Barn school in guildford, where he was good friends wit your brother Peter and that it will be a great birthday gift if you can get in touch with him, via mail. my home address is Michael Holt 48 pentrepoeth road Furnace llanelli Carms SA15 4HL Thank You again, Dominic Holt Llanelli 11 may 2000 Dear John We are so glad that you have given us faithful Jack fans what we have wanted. We have waited a while to see Swansea promoted and when we saw the games against Scunthorpe last year it broke our hearts but this year we came back with a vengance! And it was WELL worth waitng for! What a game in Rotherham but hearing the news on Mr Coles upset every Jack fan, our deepest sympathy goes to all of his family and his friends. Thank you for giving us the Championship and Good Luck for next season, and the season after that etc. I only hope that next season will be peaceful and successful! UP THE JACKS! James Carrieri & Carl Alfei Swansea College 10/5/00 Dear John What a great season!Promotion and we haven't even got a decent goalscorer. When we go up then I suggest 1 of 2 players Luke Beckett of Chester, who is in the top five goalscorers despite playing for one of the worst clubs, if not THE worst club in the division. The same applies to Martin Curruthers of Southend. Remember the game up there? A great player both in the air and on the ground. We also need a good centre midfielder who can both score goals and create them. Apart from that I don't believe we need too many other signings apart from maybe better backup for some positions, because we already have a tidy team we just need one or two players to make it a great team. Jack Morriston 25.04.00 Dear John I enjoy the controversy when you're in the middle. However, you seem unaware that the most popular game in the world is played in such a diverse fashion worldwide. A winning formula for your team might be a disaster for mine; depending on the players available, the playing conditions and of course the opponents. Consequently, i suggest that instead of knocking the players when they don't seem to perform at their best, i suggest you be more constructive and get with the facts. I am defending none other than Walter to a great extent and the other forwards to a lesser degree. Be constructive i besiege you and be guided by the facts. Walter was and in a sense still is OUR leading scorer in the league with seven goals. Need i remind you that the joint leaders just caught up(for the first time) this weekend and in more than twice as many minutes. Imagine that... Keep up the good work John, i feel it in my soul that you know you can do even better than you're doing presently. Support the guys and good luck in Division Two. Walter might move on but i'm certain i'll keep in touch. [Gee] Grayson Dowding Kingston, JAMAICA 2000-04-25 Dear John I write to you, on behalf of a group of concerned Swansea City Supporters who were alarmed at your post match comments on saturday, (PLYMOUTH ARGYLE). In your interview which can be found on www.yahoo.co.uk, you said "it was probably one of those days for us", but in our opinion we seem to have been having one of these days for the last seven games. We feel that with four games remaining, Swansea City cannot afford "another one of those days" and the complacency with single points as being another point towards our target must stop, and we must start winning, and I mean convincingly. I beg you to get things sorted on the pitch, as the fans of Swansea City Football Club will not put up with this for much longer, the frustration is beginning to show on the terraces of the Vetch Field, and everywhere else come to think of it. Come on John, we all know that the team is capable of winning the division, but on the current form, we will not even make the playoffs. On behalf of all concerned Swansea Fans, Adrian. Swansea Date: 18/04/2000 Dear John I went to Plymouth on Saturday with my cousins. I didn`t see the Swansea City team I love perform. We need to win the two home games remaining, so please get the boys focused on the remainig games. Richie Appleby hasn`t got his heart in the club. The team for Saturday should be: Freestone, S.Jones, Howard, Cusack, Smith, Bound, Thomas, Alsop, Watkin, Price, Boyd. This is an attacking formation, this what we want. To score goals Please take my advice. Tim Derrick Aberdare 17/4/2000 Dear John The jacks are going up!, automatic promotion is a certainty now as I can not see any major slip ups with the games we have left. If we can win them all, and annihilate Rotherham in the final game, we are certain to win the third division championship. It's been a bit disappointing in the last couple of games, but starting with Plymouth away on saturday, and a maximum 15 points from our games remaining then we can go into next seasons campaign, with every confidence of staying in division two, and possibly even promotion again next year, which would really please the cardiff boys, i think. Come on you jacks, lets go all the way to the championship. Ade Swansea 10/4/00 Dear John Firstly, thank you for our current league position promotion looks a strong possibility! If we go up this season I will kiss the holy ground you work on. But its how we are playing that worries me a little if we are to progress. I have been to see the Swans as often as I can this season, but I haven't seen us string more than 4 passes together. We seem to hoof the ball up field as early as possible in the vein hope of getting a knock on from big Jules. This tactic is also employed even when the big man isn't playing. Walther Boyd is obviously a talent but I don't think we play in a manner that suits a striker of his caliber, simply we don't play the ball on the deck enough. If we go up this season then I think you must review our playing style, 2nd Division teams are far more likely to keep ball, and play it on the floor. Also I feel we would need to add a center midfield player to your short list in the closed season, Nicky C is an experienced player with good stamina, but I don’t think he’s a good enough ball player and he doesn’t make enough runs into attacking areas. Sam Lee Haverfordwest 3/4/00 Dear John Why are you content with taking single points from games? Surely you must agree that if we are aiming for the automatic promotion places in division three then single points will become insufficient, if the teams placed 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7th win whilst we are sitting back and seem to be pleased with boring 0-0 or 1-1 draws. At this stage of the season, if we are truly aiming for the championship then wins are essential. Adrian Renfree Swansea 1/4/2000 Dear John Why is it we always seem to struggle against the poorer teams of division three. Surely you will agree that this side, if and when they are on form are capable of beating anyone in this division, even teams from higher divisions on some occasions. We may have gone 24 games unbeaten up until the Carlisle disaster, but we haven't won since the Northampton game, three points from a possible 12 is unacceptable. I fear that unless the current squad buck up their ideas, and i mean NOW, we may be destined for another playoff disaster, like last year. I'd lovce to seeus going up as in the automatic promotion places, but on the current form, I just cant see it. Best Wishes, and good luck, Adrian. (Loyal NORTH BANK Jack) date: 30/3/2000 Dear John Tremendous result on Saturday - a real team performance. It was obvious to all involved in the game, (including both sets of fans), how important it was for us to get at least a point. Alan Curtis' reactions at the end spoke volumes for how all the Swans supporters were feeling, though the noise being generated might have also given this away. Darlington supporters we spoke to after the game admitted dejectedly that we deserved at least a point and felt that they had lost out on any chance of catching us (hopefully they were right). On the way to the game we stopped at a pub in Wetherby (George and Dragon). Landlord there was a Jim McCalliog who played with you a number of years back. He had nothing but praise for you as a person and footballer though he did ask us to remind you of ... Ena Sharples .... if we got the chance to speak to you!!!!! The locals were very keen to point out to non-english people (ie us) that in some long distant international Jim had scored the winning goal for Scotland v England. A good pub to stop at if we end up playing Darlington again next year. Once again well done for Saturday. Barry Roberts Swansea 20 March 2000 Dear John Well Done recently. A bit dissapointing about Caernarfon but never mind. I dont agree with all the people cussing you about it. Give the 1st team players a rest. Whats happening to Boundy? I've heard many a rumour. Something should be done about it but with no influences from the board or the media. We need Boundy to stay if we are to survive in the 2nd division. Cheers and keep up the good work. Alex Day Swansea 16/03/00 Dear John I was very very happy and satisfied with the game against Northampton. I saw it live on Sky Sport2 here in Stockholm( in an irish pub O'leary). It was an experience and great day for me! And which play by the Swans! I was so happy... I'm sure the lovely team will promote! But now I'm disappointed. The FAW Quarter Final in tuesday against Carnaforn(?) ... Catastrophic! Why, yes, why do you use reserves in the team???? And not the same team as beat Northampton? FAW is an important competition, there Swansea have chance to play in Europe. Why??? Please answer soon to me. Regards, Patrik Revelius. Stockholm, Sweden 16/3-2000 Dear John what a pathetic performance last night - 3rd year running out at the quarter final stage When will you learn ????? Wynne Howells swansea 15/3/2000 Dear John I am a season ticket holder on the North bank and go to as many away games as possible (20 In the last two season).I would like to congratulat the whole team on their exelant preformance against Northampton on friday night, It was about time we beat them after our wembley tragidy. I will be at Darlington on saturday and would like to wish the swans the best of luck. Division two here we come. Mark Davies Llandeilo 13/3/2000
Dear John
I wish to congratulate you, your staff and players for your
success this season. Its been brilliant so far, but we will end up
having the same problem as Cardiff if we don't get a striker who is
capable of scoring even when the team isn't playing well. Steve Watkin
gives 100% every game but can't create something out of nothing. I am
concerned we will struggle unless we get a 20 a season man. Good luck
for the rest of the season.
luke aaron
bridgend
10/03/00
Dear John Well Done Hollins, you've done us proud these last few months! I just hope that we keep it going till the end of the season! Come Hollins, do it for the Jack Fans!!!!!!!!!!! Number 1 Jack! James Carrieri Swansea College 10/03/00 Dear John Today on SKYSPORTS NEWS David Hodgson was going on about how Darlington will go up as Champions at the end of the season. Can we please stuff them 1 nil up at Darlo,this will spoil their unbeaten home record.Also please take us up (GOING UP AS CHAMPIONS WILL BE NICE). And finally,all the very best u and the boyz certainly deserve it. P.S Good luck on Friday night!!!!! Elton Borge Bridgend 09/03/00 Dear John If you think that the team that we've got now will stay up in division 2 you must be joking. The team that you have now arn't that clevor they just grind teams down and defend a lucky goal you know it as well as i do. Are you going to get some new players in?. I know it is'nt as easy as that because you have to have the money from the chairman. After watching the Hull city game i was apalled by your managment, for the condision's you were playing in you were playing the wong kind of football, you took the best player of for those condision's (big jules). You must get your act together!!!. Stuart Bishop Swansea 5 march 2000 Dear John Against Hull, even before the pitch teared up it seemed we were short in many departments and seemed to be unable to pass the ball with any purpose - I believe we require a quality passer in midfield who can link with the forwards as well as a goal scorer who will gamble on half chances - something that none of our forwards seem to do ! Jason Hughes Derwydd, South Wales 29-02-00 Dear John Spot on with your comments regarding the 'scum' element in the North Bank, Idon't like using the word but I strongly believe that there is no other word for them and I bleieve that the administration at the club should see to it that these 'fans' are chucked out and that their kind are never seen at the Vetch again. Good luck for the future, let's hope You can please the die-hard true fans Jason Hughes Derwydd, South Wales 29-02-00 Dear John I agree with you blaming your fans on Saturday. I was in the North Bank being silent when the referee`s whistle went for the minutes silence. When the hooligan element in the North Bank were screaming and whistling abuse at the Hull City fans. It would be nice to go to a match where all fans (home an away) mix and talk football together. I have been to Merthyr Tydfil FC when Swans are away or not playing and chatted football to the away supporters for about 1/2 hour and then went to see the game. The hooligan and racism element must be kicked out and football fans welcome all fans toether. May be impossible but for football`s survival it must be. A loyal Swan (Aberdare Supporters of Swansea City Football Club) Tim Derrick Cwmbach, Aberdare 28/02/2000 Dear John You must have heard that john cornforth is having problems at Scunthorpe. He is dying to be a Swans player again why dont you sign him to help with the injury and banned player crisis he can play in a lot of positions and he is a good motivator especially with the younger players,he can also help with the coaching duties I dont think he would cost mutch. PLEASE CONTACT HIM!!!!!!!!!!!! ian wishart swansea 13/02/2000 Dear John could u send me the latest info on th swans i have a season ticket is bound still up for sale and could u send send me the latest info on the tranfer list as well yours faitfully zane thorne zane swansea 12/02/00 Dear John Keep up the good work Hollins, and dont let us down! Get us up to the Second Division where we can show Cardiff how to play football! GOOD LUCK! From Number 1 NORTH BANKER James Carrieri Swansea College 10/02/00 Dear John Congrats on your great league form of present. Being a Swans fan for many years has sure been a stressful experience but now you have brought some tranquility to us Jacks! This is OUR YEAR! 2000 Will mark the rising of the Jacks! I work for a Teen Newspaper in Neath & Port Talbot called Teen Voice (www.teenvoice.co.uk) I was wondering if i could Interview you? The next issue in March and I would love to have interviewed you in time for the next issue? I know your tied up but it would be a great honour for me (all the letters I send to the Vetch for Autographs are Never Replied!!!!) Just E-mail me to contact me! Craig Williams (15) Port Talbot 7.2.2000 Dear John I am writing this letter to let you now that the team has been playing brilliantly. I would also like to congratulate you on your `Manager of the month award. This year I feel that Swansea are going up to division 2. The Jacks are going up, The Jacks are going up, And now you gotta believe us, And now you gotta believe us, And now you gotta believe us, The Jacks are going up!!!!!!! From your No1 fan AMY PROSSER. Neath 30.1.00 Dear John i would like to take this chance to congratulate you and your players on a fine season so far, but what does dissapoint me is the violent conduct of some, not all of your fans. i don't know ifyou are aware but in my local paper yesturday evening the front page was covered by a storey about how your fans have been making threats on the cheltenhams web site, because of the behavoir of these fans part of our web site has been closed. i think that this is unfair, because we have to suffer because of your hooligan yobs. cheltenham town has done nothing to upset any member of your following, and so now people are going to think twice about coming to watch the game in case they end up getting hurt when they haven't done anything wrong. and what about the younger followers that we have at the club, will they still turn up and follow there favorite team or will they stay away because of the yobs that follow your club. if i had any say in this as a club official then i would cancel every single ticket allocation that you have in our ground. now this may be unfair on the majority of your fans who just want to come for a day out and watch a game of football but i would hold the yobs responsible. i wish you and your players every sucess for the rest of the season. Mr M. Smith cheltenham 25/01/00 Dear John I would like to congratulate you and your team on the recent run of results. I would also like to congratulate you on the MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARD that you received in the month of December. As a swans supporter that travelled up to Peterbrough I would like to say how well they played to come back from 2-0 down against a good team. Next season I would like to see the swans in division 2. Please write back to me at the E-Mail address - clarkey@leigh75.freeserve.co.uk Leigh Clarke Swansea 11-1-2000 Dear John Congratulations on a fine double. Manager of the month and the 'SWANS'top of the league. Happy NEWYEAR. GEOFF EVANS BRISTOL 09/01/2000 Dear John I love you - you are the best. matthew stephens hull 9 1 00 Dear John i think the way that you have left richard appelby on the sidelines is outrageous and playing keegan is stupid even though he is on the transfer list he is still the best and creative player down the vetch and leaving thomas out in favour of lacey is stupid JACK SWANSEA 060100 Dear John I write to you with a sad tale. I was born in Swansea, and lived there for about two years before moving away. Due to this i havn't gone to see a game since i was about two years old, and therefore have NEVER had an oppertunity to read any fanzines. Can you help? Adam Clement Bridgwater 06.01.00 Dear John Congratulations on the award. I must admit I was among the people who were in favour of sacking you. No reason to deny it. However, I am (and will continue to be) thrilled for every game that will prove those words wrong! On these pages, many are now slagging off us who asked for a new manager. We're not real supporters they say, we'll never be satisfied. Well, maybe some of us are grumpy, fair enough. But we have concern for the club we've followed for years. And the cries for a change of manager was not a personal pop at you John. If you go back and read the articulate messages (because obviously there are always people who just shout sentences with two or three words in them), you'll find that most also mentions "John's a good bloke", "a nice man" etc. It's like if your brother plays for your team and he hasn't got luck on his side, you will have to let someone else try. (Corny I know, but trying to prove a point.) I feared that we were about to experience a period like last season, and I couldn't see us pulling back like last season. Fortunately, my pessimism has been proven exaggerated. Hope it continues. Best of luck to you and the team. I predict 2-0 on Saturday. And hopefully I will be following the game on the Jackflash Chatroom. Jannik Hansen Nørrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark 5/1/00 Dear John Congratulations on the manager of the month award , may it be the first of many. Simon Roberts Neath 5-1-00 Dear John Unfortunately I don't get to to see the Swans too often and over the past 17 years have been been brassed off on more than one occasion following the Swans. However, for the first time in ages things are looking up. There's stock in the club shop and the Swans are winning games. However, there are still the pillocks who want to sack management as they see this as a quick fix to problems. I guess these are the same pratts who spend three quarters of a fixture chanting "We hate Cardiff" or "England is full of shite" (which is fair enough). Who gives a toss about chanting things about the poor unfortunates? Why don't these so called Swansea fans get behind their team! One day we'll get back to where the City of Swansea belongs. Only then will these morons be happy, maybe! Up the Swans. Jez Welch Lancashire 19/12/1999 Dear John i hope that we gain promotion this year as i feel we deserve to. i am 16 years old and i have been supporting the swans for years and i would like to start to see them win things and go places. last year we were very unfortunate not to gain promotion but i am sure we can gain it this year. i just hope that everything falls into place and we dont end up the wrong end of the table. your number 1 jack fan james carrieri swansea college 15/12/99 Dear John I would like to know why you havent signed a decent striker. Alright Steve Watkin is class but is not consistent enough at goalscoring. Julian Alsop is a agood target man but the long ball doesn't suit Swansea's style of play. Tommy Mutton lacks experience whilst Walter Boyd is just a trouble maker. So doesnt this tell you something. Sign someone quickly as tempers on the Northbank are running thin !!! Kevin Davies pembs coll 9 december 1999 Dear John I have supported the sawns for a while now and i think that you are trying your best. i think that the team could be better . you have brought in boyd which has pleased many people but if you dont give him a chance he want settle and we want see what he is cappable off. the formation that i think you should pay is 4-3-3. i thinkl that you should try and sort the team out as soon as possible or you will soon be loosing suporters. even though you have got the best deffence and a good keeper all you need to find now is someone who can put the balls in the back of the net and win for us. sort it out a concerned Jack swansea 30/11/99 Dear John I am sorry but I think your time is up. You have selected poor sides, left players out who should start and most of all ignored the talents of Walter Boyd. My opinions do not make me a disloyal fan like the comments from Mr Jenkins of Aberdare, just one with an opion. And its in the majority. Maybe you should employ the aforementioned season ticket holder in the club in some capacity or other, he seems to enjoy slating fans who don't agree with him. What a shame he is'nt man enough to discuss it with those he disagrees with, at least you did that. But I think you should think long and hard before such a misguided walk next time. Fans dont need to be separated by your lack of understanding. Stay off the terraces John, you dont belong there, and never will. Derek Coulter Loyal Jack Barry Swans 29.11.99 Dear John Oh John, Oh Johnny Johnny John what the hell is going on. Try shouting a bit at the players, they need a kick up the arse and they are letting you and the fans down. All the best for the rest of the campaign. The message is clear - lets go up or you and Skintshield will be gone. Good Luck! Rob Hurst Top of the Cross 29.11.99 Dear John Can you explain why you have made no attempt to sign any player this season? Do you really still think that our squad is good enough? What about the loan system, just look what a difference Richie Humphreys has made in such a short time at Cardiff.There must be players out there better than what we have got at present, just look at our front two, one goal all season and that was a penalty! It,s just not good enough, Simon Roberts Neath 29-11-99 Dear John It was great to see you on the North Bank last Tuesday (Darlington). Having spoken to you, it is quite clear to me that you have a great passion for this club, and want success as much as any supporter. You do not deserve the personalised and misguided attacks that are aired on this forum. This vendetta that some fans are persuing is a disgrace to the club. Keep working hard with the many talented youngsters we are fortunate enough to have at the Vetch, and success will come eventually. Best Regards, Matthew Jenkins Season Ticket Holder Aberdare 28/11/99 Dear John I feel compelled to write to you and for the first time in supporting Swansea in 15 years I need to say something. The team are the poorest Swansea side I have ever had the misfortune to watch. I carried out a six hour journey to Chester to watch a very poor team beat a side that will be in The Conference next season. Ive heard the cries for your dismissal and ignored them, after all I have to see what all the fuss is about. Hollins you are a poor manager, and thoughtless tactician. Your strike force is the weakest in the whole of the football league, and thats a fact. Your personality also is the weakest I have seen. Whats with all the standing still and folded arms. You make me very angry Mr Hollins, Swansea city do not deserve supporters from anywhere, and you are the reason. The calls for your head are justified, so take heed and listen. Your the worst manager we have ever had, and that includes John Bond and Ian Evans. I will not be making another trip south as long as your useless English bottom is on the Swansea bench. And finally, I spoke to you at Shrewsbury, I had with me my young lad of 7 yrs. You promised him a signed photo, where is it ? I suppose that just about sums up the club at the moment. Full of hot air. Next week I will be supporting my local side, not a team of ill willed, half witted fools trained by a plain, boring, useless, puppet like you. Goodbye Mr Hollins. ASAP. Frank Richards Falkirk 28/11/99 Dear John How stupid you were to go on to the terraces in a follow the leader, blind bid for support. Dont you realise that supporters will start having a go at each other thus producing violence on those same terraces if someone has a different opinion. Did the police know of your foolish venture ? You are indeed a 100 % Silver Shield sucker, you are dragging our club down, now please leave before it all turns nasty. I'm being honest, apparently you are too, so listen to the fans and leave. Jamie Dyson Walton, Liverpool 27.11.99 Dear John Come on Honest John, the squad, more importantly the forward line,is not good enough. One goal (a penalty)in four just isn't good enough. Our main strikers have scored ONE (a penalty) between them all season. PLEASE use the loan system. Track down John Hendrie (last seen at Motherwell?) and Paul Brayson (last seen at Reading?) and sign them up for 3 months with a view to a permanent signing. Martin White Swansea 26 November 1999
Dear John
I think I speak for all swansea supporters when I say that you should
resign before we end up in the conference.I was very pleased with the way
you got us to the play-offs last year,even though it could have been an
automatic place.
And another thing.Where the hell is Stuart Roberts he is possibly by far the
best atacking player we have got.
So please John sort it out or get the hell out of Swansea.
SWANSEA TILL WE DIE! Chris and Jamie -Carmarthen
Chris Phillips
26/11/99
p.s. We travel to every single game at the vetch and a lot away.We
do know what were talking about.
Dear John Go now, you have had your chances, and we have heard enough of your excuses. If I had seen your frantic appearance on the North Bank I would have told you straight to your face. Go now, before the fans get really angry. Lee CHARLES Mangotsfield, Bristol 24.11.99 Dear John i think that you are not adventurous enough when things are not going right in games. substitutions are made too late to have any impact, and three up front should be an option in the last 20 - 25 minutes. jason price and jonathon coates are not playing well at all and even though i think richie appleby is brilliant he's not performing either. so, where's stuart roberts? he should replace richie, casey should be given a chance from the start and steve jones should always start at right back. maybe you should think of a loan player just to change things a bit. location: martyn flynn uplands 24/11/99 Dear John i think that you should do the onrable thing and resign.Yo've made some stupid desisions lately regarding the team sheet. Your playing a centerhalf in a center midfield position. O'leary is not a center midfilder you've cost us many games. All the fans i've talked to have told me that you should resign. Stuart Bishop Llansamlet 18/11/99 Dear John I think you are doing a great job at the Vetch and that people just dont understand you or your team selections. Carry on the good work and can you get a pint of milk on the way home. Mrs Hollins Home 18-11-99 Dear John This team is so crap, that I have started to look for Cardiffs results before ours!!! It's time we woke up to the fact that there should be no team in this very very poor division that we should not beat....Wake up Silver Shield, Players, Mr Hollins and all involved with the running of Swansea City FC Wayne Riseley Swansea 17/11/99 Dear John Firstly I think you are a very wise and competent manager, I would hate to see you leave. Surely you see this side is not good enough on their own to gain promotion,and that it might be shrewed to consider possibly buying or loaning a few Quality players. Maybe a left back to replace Micheal Howard who everyone knows, including opposition players/managers is a weakness. Maybe a left/right winger to replace the lack-luster performances of Ritchie Appleby (who is clearly capable of more)or the jaded legs of Stuart. Positively speaking though, we have the best three centre-halves in the league (Bound, Smith, Walker).Roger is having a good season this year.Cusack and O'Leary control the midfield well.I DEFINATELY THINK JONATHON COATES IS A CONFIDENCE PLAYER CAPABLE OF BETTER THINGS, and i hope you think this to! Kris Sullivan - Morriston Boy! Swansea uni 3/11/99 Dear John I reckon Walter Boyd is not a very good player like you seem to mention because he scared to header the ball when it's played up to him,he won't go in for tackles to win the ball and also he is not comited like the rest of the players. I went down to see Colchester and be honest he had a complete nightmere because he wouldn't get involved in the game. When Watkin or Alsop are playing together they are being comited and as a result they are scoring goals and the rest of the team are playing well. All this stuff about scoring 35 goals in one season is just a complete rubbish only to wine us up to to go down and see the swans. Richard Colwill swansea 2/11/99 Dear John Firstly, I have to say that alot of the criticism that Swansea have been receiving recently is unjustified. Yes, we haven't been performing aswell as we all know we can. The problem with this I feel though is the lack of confidence in the team. Surely a couple of days break together, to get everyone in a more relaxed state of mind would be far more useful than just putting the players through the same training techniques. We all know that our players have the ability to go up, the only problem is does our team have this ability? Hopefully, this will give the players a break from all the pressure that the fans and the board seem to have put on them,aswell as yourself and the other coaches, and we'll see the Swansea that we all know are capable of winning this division. Chris Gough Exeter 01/11/99 Dear John I am a season ticket holder and I'm backing what Alex Paget said. If funds are avialable - buy players. You said at the end of last season we didnt want to suffer play-off disappointment - the way we are playing at the moment we'll be lucky to reach the play-offs. I'm glad Walter Boyd has come in, I'm sure he will be a great sigining. However, one man can not deliver the goods. FACT1: Walter Boyd needs the service. FACT2: No-one apart from Roberts and Appleby can half decently cross the ball. FACT3: We need to strengthen with a quality left winger and a decent centre midfielder. Why doesnt Appleby play down the left - he is alot more consistent that Coates. Another thing - KEEP BOUND - I guarantee without him we will not go up - I heard a rumour that he wants £1300 and Newhouse was on £1400 - its clear that the board has no regard to Swansea's future and all they care about is poxy financial issues. I respect you Mr Hollins but you have to stand up to the board - if! it means arguments then let there be arguments. One thing I can tell you is that the whole of Swansea is on your side and if they sack you - there will be riots. Alex Day swansea 26/10/99 Dear John Are there sufficient funds availible to sign new players for the swans? Is it co-incidence that our biggest signing has been Walter Boyd who was on a free transfer? Do we have what it takes to go up / win the legue this season? Alex Paget college 25/10/99 Dear John I believe that a left sided midfielder is as important as a new striker, no dis-respect to our current left wingers but most of the action is coming from Price and Roberts down the right (JP & SR play brilliantly together down the right). And why does Howard always back off. Please sign BOYD. I have been trying to get the away kit for some time now and as soon as it does come out it is sold out in my size, it has really p****d me off. Andrew Rees Clydach 26th sept Dear John I'm extremely worried that although JH said, "we're going straight up this season" that we will all have to suffer play-off disappointment again. Plus, by the time we actually sign the Reggae Boy we'll be in the bottom half of the table. I know we're only 7 games in but as the saying goes...... start as you mean to go on. If that does happen we're in trouble. Anyway, I'll be looking forward to Tommy Muttons hat-trick against Rochdale today - £25,000......what a waste. P.S. Hollins, try standing like a man on the touchline for once! Michael Ystradgynlais 25/9/99 Dear John we reckon the swans rock and jason price is yummmy. get a decent striker though and what the hell was bird doing in the canarfen game? don't tell him thouhgh or all his confidence will go love swansea gals till we die 2 swansea gals swansea 24th sept Dear John I will tell you that I'm very proud of Swansea´s very good perfomance in the game against Derby, despite of Derby´s last signing striker Fuertes. David against Goliath! And I´m really grateful that the golie Freestone was never sold to Bristol City. But I would recommend you buying one or more good strikers to produce more scores. If you do it then I will promise you a great time for Swansea in the future! But I´m respecting your economic. Finally, I wish the Swans, a very strong and brave team, a good luck in their second leg in Derby. Yours sincerely, Patrik. Patrik Revelius Stockholm, Sweden 17/9-99 Dear John I've just read the teletext thing about Tommy Mutton being on trial at the club, is this true ? If it is then how in the world is he better than Eifion Williams was, or is it simply because he is free ? We need a strike partner for Steve Watkin, a natural goalscorer which Watkin isn't but has done a decent job because we've needed him too, Alsop although he puts in 100% isn't good enough on his current confidence level, and Tony Bird is just woeful, anyone who saw his misses against Caernarvon will agree he should stick to the non-league game. How can anyone miss the 2 five yard chances he had as well as the open goal from 20 yards ???? Get Jamie Thomas down here now and look seriously for a permenant signing soon, or we could miss out again to the play-offs, and if we do it again I can't see Bound, Smith, Appleby, Watkin and co hanging around for another season. Oh and finally, give someone else the captain's job full time, Cusack was consistent last season but he looks like someone playing out the final year of a career safely this year so far, put O'leary in centre midfield or even Phillips or Keegan and bench Cusack, maybe it will wake him up a bit. Laura Jones Nottingham 15/9/1999 Dear John why do you persist with julian alsop every week. he seems to have lost all confidence, interest and fitness.i know he has a height advantage over tony bird but he never wins anything in the air anyway. simon roberts neath 14-9-99 Dear John Despite the fact that the Swans aren't doing bad in terms of goals scored this year, Jason Price, a right back-winger by trade is our top scorer with 4 goals . We will not be able to rely on Price to score the majority of our goals and surely it is time we bought a striker with a lot of pace and natural finishing ability which Julian Alsop and Steve Watkin clearly lack. Failing that there are plenty of quality young strikers available for loan in premiership and 1st div clubs. Best wishes, Tom Tom James Swansea 14/9/99 Dear John I was reading the post and it said in there that if the players don't produce the goods we will stay in the same division john we can't produce the goods because we have only got one good winger in stuart roberts Kevin Evans baglan 13.8.99 Dear John Hello, I am just wondering if there is any work that you might have for me? I will really like a job there. I have watched the swans since I was 2 foot tall. My father used to be a steward down the vetch and I will like any kind of job as long as I am in with the vetch, and I, with my determination, will work hard to make the move to morfa a time not to forget the vetch field as it is today. Dear John Congratulations on Saturday's win. Dear John I would firstly like to congratulate you on your recent run of results, I am 14 years of age and go up to see your games quite often. I wish you all the luck in the league and cup this season. I watched your game today against Maccsfield and I was very impressed. thanks a lot Darren Williams South Wales 21/8/99 Read the messages that John Hollins received on 20/8/99. Read the messages that John Hollins received on 28/5/99. Read the messages that John Hollins received on 8/12/98. Read the messages that John Hollins received on 9/11/98. Read the messages that John Hollins received on 12/10/98. Read the messages that John Hollins received on 9/9/98. Read the messages that John Hollins received on 26/8/98. | |