Dear John

Dear John

I am writing the day after our disappointing defeat against
Scunthorpe. Although over the two legs I felt we were unlucky (ie, hitting
the woodwork 4 times), I feel that are obvious lack of a true goalscorer
has let us down again. I am not going to directly criticise our strikers
as they are all very hard workers but they are not consistent enough in
front of goal. 

This is, however, not the only area of weakness in the Swansea team.
If you look at the Man. United squad they have 2 or 3 adequate covers
in nearly every position in their team. Now I am not going to pretend
that we can in anyway compete with Manchester United but if we intend
to move forward then we need to have a smaller but stronger squad.
Roger Freestone isn't getting any younger but with any luck he will
continue to play for another 3 or 4 years because he his a quality
goalkeeper. We have two excellent Centre Halves in Boundy and Jason
Smith but past these two there is very little within the club,
Kristian O'leary has been my surprise of the season, since he was
called in for the Derby game he has been magnificent and I feel was
unlucky not to be involved in either play-off game. Keith Walker must
now be discounted as his injury has plagued him for too long now and
he will probably never have the same impact in the centre of defence
as he has had in previous years. However, another bright point is the
upcoming youth team centre half Christopher Todd, I have played
against him and seen him on various other occasions and every time he
has been absolutely magnificent, he really is one who will be pushing
for a place in a couple of years. In the full-back positions I
believe that there is very little decent cover to the two regulars.

Michael Howard has been a revalation this season and is a player that
I believe could play a much higher standard of football, the same
could have been said of Steve Jones a couple of years ago, however
since his serious injury a couple of years ago he has never been the
same player, he won't go in to 50-50 challenges and his crossing of
the ball is poor. Jason Price is too much of an attackink full-back
and Mark Clode has proved this season that he is not good enough to
be considered for a first team place. Again, I will go back to the
Youth team. Richard Cleverley (a right-sided defender) has been
released because "there are too many right backs at the club",
although this may be true there are no right backs at the club who
are as proud to play for the club or who can cross the ball as well
as Richard. Twice this season Richard has ripped my team team
(Pontardawe Town) to pieces down the right hand side, supplying 
numerous great crosses for the goalscorers.

I know you were watching when he supplied the cross for
Swansea's first goal against Pontardawe in the Astoria Cup Final at the
Vetch, that cross was nothing short of magnificent and is something that
we have seen very little of at the Vetch this season. I cannot believe
that this player has been discarded and a player like Lee Devulgt been
taken on, Devulgt is a very average player at the best of times, his
distribution is poor and very rarely does anything decisive, his only
trait is that he is fit and can win the ball.

I feel that Richard Appleby has been under used this season, most
Swansea fans would agree that with the exception of Jonathan Coates
he is the only player we have with the ability to bamboozle defenders
with his skill and really open a game up. Stuart Roberts would be a
perfect replacement to Richie Appleby in the last 20 minutes of a
game when the defender would be tired and Robbo could do the defender
for sheer pace, a point perfectly illustrated versus Norwich City at
the Vetch early on in the season. In the centre of midfield Cusack
and Thomas have been excellent but when Thomas was out injured for a
couple of months he was badly missed, there is a distinct lack of
ball winning midfielders at the club, infact Thomas is the only one I
can think of other than Gareth Phillips who has been excellent when I
have seen him playing for the reserves this season. Lacey isn't good
enough as isn't Lee Jenkins who after a good end of season last year
has quite obviously gone backwards this season as he has been largely 
ineffective when he has played.

Ryan Casey, however, is a player I have been impressed with, and given an
extended run in the team I believe he could cause defences some serious
problems. 

So, I believe that another decent goalkeeper is needed, a right-back
who can cross the ball and isn't afraid to tackle, another centre
half, a ball winning midfielder for cover if Thomas gets injured
again, a left winger and a true goalscorer who can back over 20 a
season. I appreciate that this could could cost a lot of money and at
the moment is pretty much impossible but the squad is very large and
very average and obviously needs to be reduced in order to cutthe wage
bill and to be able to bring in new players.

I hope you don't feel that I am criticising you because I feel, as
does every other Swans fan, that you have done an absolutely
magnificent job with the players yuo have got. Your work in the
community must also be commended as I was there when you stayed behind
for a number of hours after your training had finished to hand out
trophies to some very happy children at a local 5-a-side tournament.

Best of luck for next season and keep up the good work !! 

Steven
Sketty
20.5.1999

Dear John, 

I'm A Swansea City supporter from the John Toshack era. As a
Swansea fan in those days, Life was a roller coaster of excitement and
euphoria following a team who were dedicated and proud to wear the Swansea
City Shirt. Unfortunately what brought that wonderfull era to a close was
the issue of money or rather the lack of it. 

I've been waiting now for some eighteen years for them glory days to
return to the vetch field. We had a close call with frank Burrows, who
without any disrespect to you,was a fantastic manager. However once again
the issue of money surfaced, the Swansea silver ware was sold time and
time again and sadly Frank left. John I hate to say this, but I Personally
feel that you may take the same way out. I know you are a good manager
capable of taking Swansea City to great heights, you are also a fantastic
motivator and a tactician. So, I ask myself, why do I feel this way? The
simple answer is mirrored in the way that I conduct my working life. To
cut things short I dont perform very well at my job if the wrong
vibrations are filtering down from the directors. I think that is what is
wrong with swansea City! It is not just the players and manager that make
the team! The Directors are an intrinsic and very important part of the
team too. Unfortunately, and I have been watching things!
 closely! the Directors at Swansea City need to get more closely involved
 and motivate the players and yourself to achieve greater levels of
 success and consistency. 

I also believe that you need to sit down with the directors and talk hard
cash. We the public don't want a super stadium with a team that can't put
together a consistant string of results. Please recall that I am not just
talking football here, but also the way the directors are conducting the
affairs of Swansea City. I personally would like to pick up the Evening
post one night and read two things. The first being that contractors are
beginning work at the Morfa Complex! And the second, that The Directors
are giving you at least £700,000 spending money to improve the squad and
make it worthy of a grand city and stadium. What ever happens John good
luck!

PS: - I've got money on Swansea city beating Scunthorpe over two legs and
then meeting Lieghton Orient at Wembley, where unfortunately Swansea will
marginally lose. Prove me wrong guys!!! Good luck all the same and please
give your very best, because the people that come to watch you deserve the
very best that the team can give.                

Peter Morgans
Swansea
09/05/99

Dear John, 

When we make the play offs and hopefully i would like to know if there
money put into the club and how much i still think your lacking
experienced players in division two i dont think we would last long but
with a couple of summer signings i think we could make it. But i think that
there is going to be a twist in this situation and i think they will not
give us money but the loyal fans and i will have plent to say if we dont
get that money but there must be some left after the westham matches. SHOW
ME THE MONEY 

craig chriswick
pontlliw
6/5/99

Dear John, 

I just want to say that you're a really decent bloke. Today's
match (Rochdale) gave us a result we desperately needed and I've been in a
much happier mood than usual this afternoon!
Ta for the autographs as well! The Jacks are going up!

Nic.B
Swansea
1/5/99

Dear John, 

I have been watching your squad now for quite some time and have
noticed that the will to win is lacking. During that FA cup run the
players out played themselves and having watched the West Ham home game on
video over and over again, wonder why they can't play like that all of the
time. I am sure that you have watched it lately too, but if you haven't,
please, please do so as you may have an idea which will help carry us into
the second division. I was happily reminded of how Alsop launched himself
horizontaly at the ball in the West Ham area and thought to myself, would
he do that now? The answer to that is no because that will to win has
gone. So surely it can be revived and maybe a glimpse at the video will do
it. As a loyal fan, I plead with you to get the players to watch the game again
to show them what they are capable of and if they do start to play even
half as good as they did that night we will surely be a team to be reckoned
with in the final playoff push. Thanks John,

Greg Ace. 
Swansea
29th April

Dear John, 

Having read most of the pages relating to the Swans,and been at
the Vetch more times than I can afford this season,I think we, the boys
that work hard for our money should see the players put in the same
commitment. In the last few days some guys from Kent mentioned that they
thought you were playing the wrong system i.e 4-3-4,why not the system
where we were winning  4-4-2.Surely Birdy is worth a chance now,as Watkin
looks out of sorts,and some of those crosses from a winger i.e Roberts.
You cannot imagine how heartbreaking this scenario is looking for us that
have followed the Swans since the late 70's,the turmoil of recent years
and uncertainty created by  the move/or not so!!! Please if nothing else
for the remainder of the season get the commited players in the team,and
let them see the faces of those that have travelled hundreds of miles to
watch a home game.. Best wishes for the rest of the season,I hope you can
do it I need some ammunition to use against local boys.

Duncan Howells
Gosport, Hants
26/4/99

Dear John, 

I think you are doing a brillant job at Swansea City, keep up
the good work. I am coming to most of the home games this season in the
North Bank i would like to know how much the season tickets are. We are
lacking in a striker and wingers, the crosses half of the time and some
are terrible they should be getting to the buy line and we are not playing
football it is in the air most of the time. 

Kevin Evans
Margam Tech
26.4.99

Dear John, 

I am an avid Swansea City fan ,a permenant fixture in the North Bank
and always will be .I attend every home home and away game and I
rarely miss a reserve or youth team game.I would like to take this
oppurtunity to inform you that while the current squad is large [and with
it a large wage bill] there is a distinctive lack of quality in strength
and depth.While we have undoubted quality in players such as
Thomas,Cusack,Freestone,Coates Watkin and Jules and  the two centre halves
mixed with the abundance of potential ,enthusiam  and passion possesed by
Stuart Roberts beyond that there isn 't too much to shout about .Sure
players such as O'Leary,Lacey and Jenkins may be ones for the future but I
feel they should make way along with Aiden Newhouse to bring in quality
players to allow us to hang on to the real Swans of the future - this
seasons YTS  second years.As I mentioned earlier I am also a keen attender
of youth team games and while I am all for bringing up as many YT'S into a
proffesional contract as possible I was somewhat shocked by who was kept
on by the club.For starters it is a nonsense to bring up a 'keeper,with
Jason Jones not alot older than Carl Thomas and 1st year Carl  Mounty
better than both, employing Carl seems a little pointless. Also Barry
Morgan, while he is a talented little player we already have more than 
enough dogging style midfeilders namely Gazza Phillips who last year was
in a similar position and while being impressive enough on loan and for
the reserves has  not yet discovered his true potential  with  the first
team,again a posiition filled where I beleive another youngster
should have been. That player for me was Richard Cleverley, I do not know
the boy  but I know enough that  along with Micheal Keegan, Richard was
the most consistent player whether at right or left back, he didn't get a
fair whack with the reserves but I watched three absoulutely faultless
performances that he did  and in the F.A youth cup both home and away
against cambridge he was man of the match I hope both Carl and Barry
prove me wrong I KNOW that Cleverley will.I send my congratulations to
Danni Barwood and Keegan they will go on and do the buisness for the club
and hopefully in the next four or five years we can develop a squad of
quality and depth in all areas.

 Good luck for the rest of the season lets turn those points into three
 and Join the Swansea Rejects Club [Cardiff City] in Division two COME ON
 YOU JACKS!!!!!!!

Steven  Tyler
Olchfa  School
22.4.99

Dear John, 

It's been a good season so far, I hope the crowd get behind the
lads in the forthcoming games. 
    
 I applaud your decision to "rest" Nick Cusack against Hartlepool, as
 he is out of form at the moment. The Swans always seem to perform
 better when the ball is kept on the ground, which is what occurred
 against Hartlepool when you played the underated Damien Lacey in
 midfield. Also do you think that it is about time Tony Bird should
 start upfront instead of Steve Watkin. Bird is always hard working
 and more willing to shoot at goal, he is enthusiastic and makes good
 runs using his pace. While Watkin now looks tired and always plays
 with his back to goal.
                         
 Keep it up everyone.

 P.S.  Can't Coatsie afford a babysitter.

Griff
Morriston
21.4.99

Dear John, 

I think you are doing a superb job! Keep it up! There are just a
few points I would like to raise.

1. I don't understand why no offer was put forward for Eifion Williams. He
is starting to prove that he can score goals at the higher level, not only
in this division but for Wales B also.

2. I don't understand how 5 Y.T.S lads can have contracts where the
exclusion of Richard Cleverly (a very versatile defender/midfielder) has
been made. Surely he is not the 6th or 7th best player for the youth team
this year. I know Richard and I am sure he would have given 110% for the
Swans.

Good luck in the future, hopefully in Div 2 next year.

Danny Merchant
Olchfa School
21.4.99

Dear John

I would just like to say hi!!!

My name is Adam Palmer and I play for Swansea Cygnets.

I'am not one of the best and most respected players but I 
quite enjoy it, but being substituted does my head in. 
I would just like to say that you are doing a
great job. I think that you're the best manager that we 
have ever had. I wish you all the best luck in the future.
        
BYE!!!!!

From one of the north bank faithfulls
Adam Palmer
Morriston
26th March

Dear John

I would just like to thankyou for the great job you are doing at
the club, Also good luck for the rest of the season!

  Also I am trying to get get in contact with Duncan Howel from 
  gosport hants who sent a email on the 22/2/99 get in touch
  davide@netdirect.net.uk

Dave Evans 
London
date: 19/3/99

Dear John

It's me again. I was just wondering if you are gonna 'dive' into
the transfer market soon. The only signing you have made is Matt Gregg on
loan. The board must have loads of money after the FA cup. I think we need
to get strength in depth if we are going to be contenders for the
playoffs. Maybe you would thinking about getting some experienced players
in as that was Molby's downfall and we don't want that happening again.
Also, is it true that the Vetch could be shut down after the FA
hearings??????? Disappointing against Scarborough, but I heard you gave
the lads a 'dressing-down' according to teletext. Oh well! I'll be there
against Mansfield. Let's get to the playoffs and beat Scum in the
FAW!!!!!!!! Bye

Big Al (Alex Day)
Swansea
22/2/99

Dear John

I'm sure I represent every loyal Jack,when I wish everyone
associated with the club and tomorrow's fixture the very best,
i'll be making my way down tomorrow morning, the excitement 
of what should be an epic game is almost unbearable, my boss 
letting me go home early today gives me  plenty of time to 
prepare for pre match rituals!!!!    I heard there would be as many 
people coming across the (rip off ) severn bridge tomorrow to 
watch "the boys" than were home based, £4.20......£42 
wouldn't stop me!!! 

Please let us do it and then thanks to your brilliant
leadership (me a closet Chelsea fan) we won't only make the 
"Times" once a season,but be the talk of the country. 
 
Good luck
Very loyal Jack

Duncan Howells
Gosport,Hants
22/1/99

Dear John

Hi, Just a quick note to say a big cheers for the game up at
West Ham, we both went up and had a cracking day. We were a bit
dissapointed with the Gillingham game but even Man U have off days, right?
We were also a bit dissapointed with the handling of the tickets for West
Ham replay - we both have season tickets and were not affected by it, but
some of our mates were very gutted that they didn't recieve a ticket -
maybe you might think about issuing tickets to people who actually went to
the away game and give them priority with the season ticket holders. GOOD
LUCK FOR WEDNESDAY and the rest of the season. Oh Yeah, don't sell -
Bound, Smith, Alsop, Roberts, Freestone, Appleby, Thomas, Cusack, Watkin,
Price as we've heard there's been interest in them. Maybe you'd like to
give the interested team Aidan Newhouse as compensation. OK, Cheers John -
You're the man and every Jack respects you like you were their own father
- better than Molby.
                   Big Al & Tred

Alex Day & David Treseder
Swansea
8/1/99

Dear John

Dyfrig and I are writing to congratulate you on the performance
at West Ham. We were both there and I am hoping for a repeat 
performance. Good luck at Exeter. 

Unfortunatly Dyfrig couldnt get a ticket I got one however as i am 
a season ticket holder in the centre stand. If there any tickets you 
can get hold of could you send it to:

                       42 princess street
                        gorseinon
                          sa4 4us

dyfrig and gareth
gorseinon
08.01.99
 

Dear John
 
I hope you get time to read this note. 

I would like to thank you and the boys for a marvellous game at West Ham. 
All the Jacks were gutted but that must have been nothing to how
shattering it was for you and your players. Thanks for making it a great
day out!  Also it was good to see you waving the WElsh Flag it was great
even if I am a Scotsman!

You have given us London Supporters something to brag about in the local
boozers here so thanks for that too.

Regards and Best Wishes

Shane Sinclair
South East and London Swans (SEALS)

8/1/99

Dear John

Thanks for everything you've done so far. I thought after
Northampton we were never going up but now I 'm more than certain 'the
only way is up'. I think the side we are playing is brilliant and the
money coming from the F.A Cup should be saved. Also keep up with the youth
team because the players coming through are ace. My good friend Robert
Cunnah and Ben Daives are very good players from my year and Rob is very
talented. Thank you for what your doing Rhys Jones 

Rhys Jones
Garden Village, Gorseinon
6/1/99

Dear John
 
just like to say keep up the good work and keep the lads fit, as we will
need fitness this month with there being so amny games to play over the
festive period.

Aiming for no less than 9 points out of 12.

I will be at Hull as i was when we lost 7-4.

See ya there.

Swansea til i die.

Daniel James
Stoke-on-Trent
18/12/98

Dear John
 
How about giving Newhouse a chance to show his true potential by playing a
side and formation that'll give him some decent service? After all, he did
manage to score at Fulham and before so he must be capable of it if you
let him.

Regards
Mike Cooper
Nottingham
08.12.98