Mutterings for the Minority An insight into the world of DDWT

Newcastle United v Swansea City – Championship 2009/2010

Until I get a chance to give my full spiel on my trip to the real St. James' Park, here's some pictures to drool over

Swansea City v Sheffield United – Championship 2009/2010

Even the most imaginative scriptwriter would have had difficulty dreaming this game up such was the number of twists and turns during the 97 minutes.

Before the game I had high expectations and a Swans victory - based on what I don't know given our rather cumbersome start to the season. And so here I am merrily typing away having seen 2 Swans goals and 3 points in the bag, all against a Sheffield United team whom were in 5th place - hoorah!

I'm still baffled by Paulo Sousa's team selections though as each week we see a different starting eleven with (to me) a distinct lack of rhyme or reason to the selection. A good example today was no central midfielder on the bench and no Leon Britton or Joe Allen on the park! We then saw Ashley Williams playing in front of the back four - in Jordi Lopez's usual spot - and him playing in central midfield.

Ferrie Bodde did make a welcome return though which was a positive - but even that went pear shaped as he hobbled off with a knee injury. He was replaced by Lee Trundle - whom I felt did very little apart from make and take his penalty - but I suppose you could say that was enough!

I do wish he stop that bloody badge kissing routine though it really makes me sick, it's so cringeworthy.

Just a couple of other points really.... we still the ball away too often with sloppy passes, Mark Gower was frustrating last year - he's flipping well annoyingly useless this year and Nathan Dyer was deservedly man of the match!

Well enough of my team analysis, onto the game! Let's see, a Lee Trundle penalty, a disallowed goal for the Blades, 2 sendings off for the Swans (for 2nd bookable offences), 7 minutes of injury time and some rather dire football in-between really.

Little wonder then that only 540 odd Blades fans made the long trip south - watching that lot play that way each week it's hardly surprising. Mind you at least it gets them results I suppose....well usually it does!

So on the whole not bad value for money really I guess? Personally I was just glad we scored and got 3 points as boy did we need them.

Swansea v Blackpool

The Swans first season back at Championship level (Division Two to us oldies) in 24 years came to a close this afternoon with a 1 nil defeat against Blackpool.

With neither side having anything to play for - apart from pride and the odd contract perhaps - the whole atmosphere and approach to the game was more akin to a pre-season friendly than a league game.

It was little wonder then perhaps that the rather sleepy Swans defence leaked the only goal of the game inside the first half hour. Despite dominating possession - as per most of our home games this season - the Swans failed to capitalise on a host of chances.

I guess the fact that one of the biggest cheers of the afternoon was the news of Cardiff's play-off capitulation at Sheffield Wednesday said it all really.

The final whistle blew and no-one was seemingly bothered by the result. Why, well quite simply it was put into context by the Swans having exceeded my (if not everyone's) expectations. What a season it's been!

Who'd have predicted an 8th place finish in our first season back at this level or the 2 nil humiliation of FA Cup holders Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Other highlights include being undefeated in 3 games against our arch-rivals Cardiff and the emergence of Joe Allen in midfield. But the biggest highlight for me has been the way we've played football and in doing so outclassed a number of the teams in the top 6 - including Wolves and Birmingham.

The most bizarre game would have to be QPR at home which saw Iain Dowie was sacked a few days after. It was little wonder really as his side camped in their own half for the entire 2nd half, quite surprising really as we had Alan Tate in goals (due to a Dorus DeVries injury).

The games against Reading and Preston stick in my mind the most though. Simply because of the way we dominated, outclassed and quite frankly annihilated the opposition - both of which were the 'form' teams at the time and riding high in the division.

So what better way to sum it all up than with a video of the Swans players doing a lap of honour at the end of the game today. Well done lads you did the Jack Army proud!