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| Dear John |
Each Monday morning, I will print out the week's comments and snailmail them to him at the Vetch. Any replies that I receive from him will be posted here.
John Hollins has contacted me to say that he will only reply to messages sent to him via the Swans Say message board on the official site. I will, however, continue to send him the messages you post here.
Dear John Firstly, may I say what an excellent job you are doing for us after the trials and tribulations of last season. I genuinely believe that this season can end with a promotion party (either at the Vetch or Wembley - I'm not fussy!) I do, however, have one or two concerns regarding the team. It was evident at Shrewsbury last week that we were far too slack in the first half which ultimately cost us the game. In the second half the side showed a lot of spirit and were very unlucky not to get one if not three points. There are two vital lessons we should learn from the game 1. Matches are played over 90 minutes and not the last 30, if we had played like we did at the end for the whole game I am certain we would have won (the keeper can only pull off so many world class saves) 2. We were also visibly lacking a playmaker in midfield. Although I do not agree with Tony Bird constantly on the bench, I feel that Alsop and Watkin could do the job if the balls were played in correctly to them. Perhaps a dip into the transfer market would be appropriate? I know you have said before that there are no funds and we need to deplete the squad so here I go: - Aidan Newhouse and Charlie Hartfield have been publicly heard 'slagging' the club off. We do not need people like these two at the club and I ould urge you to offload them ASAP. The supporters will not forgive them for what they said and if the supporters don't want them why keep them. Please John, say goodbye to them and replace them with people that would give their all for the club (Vinny Jones?) Finally, I have read that the Swans Interest in Gary Lloyd from Barry has died. This man is local(ish) talent. Surely this is someone we should be interested in? I have seen it time and time again that local talent is rejected by the club and then a few weeks later we read that they have signed for a high profile club. Please don't let this happen again. I appreciate that players want the best for themselves in this situation but at least let them go via Swansea City as opposed to missing us out. In the case of Jason Pice, I see it as inevitable that he will eventually leave our shores, but is it not true that we can agree to sell to a Premiership Club but retain him on loan until the end of the season - now that would be good business. Thanks again John for giving us hope again and here's to a very prosperous winter ahead. Phil Sumbler Weston Super Mare 26th October 1998
Dear John MY NAME IS GARETH AND I COME TO THE VETCH FOR EVERY HOME GAME AND I HAVEN'T MISSED A GAME FOR 3 SEASONS. OVER THE THREE MONTHS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE IT IS VISIBLE THAT THE SWANS HAVE BEEN PLAYING MUCH BETTER FOOTBALL SINCE SWITCHING BACK TO THE 4-4-2 FORMATION.I THINK THAT THEY ARE A LOT BETTER GOING FORWARD THIS SEASON WHICH WAS SUCH A PROBLEM LAST SEASON AND ITS NICE TO SEE STEVE WATKIN SCORING MORE CONSISTENTLY. I THOUGHT THAT THE SWANS PLAYED EXCELLENT AGAINST SOUTHEND, BUT WHEN I SAW THEM AGAINST BARRY TOWN, I THOUGHT THEY PLAYED PRETTY POOR. I CAN'T WAIT FOR RICHIE APPLEBY AND KEITH WALKER TO RETURN TO THE SQUAD AS THEIR SKILL AND EXPERIENCE ARE MUCH NEEDED. COULD YOU POSSIBLY SEND ME AN AUTOGRAPH IF ITS NOT TOO MUCH TROUBLE, MY ADDRESS IS BELOW,KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. Gareth Williams 11 Blaencoed road Llansamlet Swansea SA7 9TP date: 26.10.98
Dear John Its nice to see that Tony Bird is a good enough player to salvage a goal in that dismal display against Barry Town. If you say that you are taking the F.A.W.Premier cup seriously then you have a really funny way of showing it. The players looked if they had never played together before, as for Aidan Newhouse, he should give football up now and then perhaps our tidy strikers i.e Tony Bird will get a chance on the pitch for the first team. I know Newhouse hasn't had many matches this season but with his display last night I can see why. WELL DONE Tony Bird at least someone is trying to get anywhere in this competition. Cheryl Edwards Port Talbot 14-10-98
Dear John It's me Bryan, friend of Tony here in San Bernardino. I missed you at the last clinic but hope to see you in November as I plan to travel your way. My college team has been struggling and I would like to know if you have some talent to send for an education and a four year collegiate contract. We need players... Can you help? Thanks a lot and see you soon Bryan Kuderman California USA 13-10-98