HomeZ OLD CATEGORIESBolton WanderersSwansea City Come Of Age At The Reebok

Swansea City Come Of Age At The Reebok

Finally, I must make mention of Scott Sinclair. There were two moments in the match that summed up his season and also perhaps where he is right now as a player. First, the goal. It was simply a magnificent strike that, years ago, would have won Match of the Day’s Goal of the Season hands down. He used Taylor’s intelligent run to cut inside, run in-field parallel to the 18 yard box, and unleashed a shot of such precision and power, that Bogdan in the Bolton goal would have been better served just standing still and applauding. It was a goal that only a handful of Premier League players have the ability to produce, such was it’s genuine World Class. But then, in the second half, with Swansea enjoying wave after wave of attacks but not scoring the goal that would surely have opened the floodgates that would have swept Bolton aside, Sinclair tried to back heel a goal through a crowd of players, when a simple three yard lay off to Sigurdsson would have delivered a straightforward goal for the Icelander. Sigurdsson’s annoyance was clear, but the option that Sinclair took probably reflects where he is currently as a player. The reason that the critics tend to jump on him is that he’s blessed with the type of ability that only the lucky few in the Premier League posses, as his goal suitably demonstrated, so they get frustrated when he either spurns an opportunity or appears to selects the wrong option. Yet, being a winger and a young player – both historically unpredictable characteristics in a footballer – Sinclair doesn’t always deliver to the level he is undoubtedly capable off, hence the frustration of some.

But I am certain of one thing, he is still only 23 years old and the level of consistent brilliance will soon come. Yesterday, he could do worse than take a look at the performance of the veteran Bolton winger Martin Petrov. If I were a manager and both Petrov and Sinclair were for sale today and I could buy only one, then I would buy Sinclair every single time. No surprise there. But in a game Swansea performed extremely well in yesterday, Sinclair provided two offensive passes to Petrov’s eight, delivered just two crosses to Petrov’s 13 and attempted 17 passes (82% success) to Petrov’s 28 (79%). If Scott had walked off the Reebok with Petrov’s stats yesterday, then I think the Swans would have won by four or five. These stats are not highlighted to criticise Scott, it’s just to emphasise that when he improves and matures (Petrov don’t forget is 10 years his senior) as he undoubtedly will, then he has every tool in his armoury to become one of the most complete and potent forward players in the Premier League today, and players like that are priceless, just as his stunning goal showed.

So with three games left to play, Swansea City have mathematically confirmed something that most of us have known for the past few months, that in 2012/13, they will be a Barclays Premier League team once again. And on yesterday’s performance alone, they have proved that they will enter next season as an experienced, committed and accomplished Premier League team, just like Bolton Wanderers have been this last eleven years. Is that possibly the future for Swansea in terms of residence in the top division? Now that’s a nice thought for every Swansea City fan to have entering the last three weeks of the season.

Davebrayley
Davebrayley
David Brayley is a freelance sports writer from Swansea who specialises in comment based columns across the whole spectrum of professional sport. He is also a published author having written "There's Only Two Tony Cotteys" with former Swansea City footballer and Glamorgan and Sussex cricketer Tony Cottey. David also visits schools to inspire and engage young children into literacy, and his book published in 2010, "Believing is Achieving", was hailed in educational circles for the impact it had in raising literacy standards with Year 6 children.
More News

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here