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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/apr/11/swansea-city-v-everton-premier-league-live
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Swansea City v Everton: Premier League – live! | Swansea City v Everton: Premier League – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.09pm BST14:09 | |
| 65 mins: Sartorial/weather updates from Christopher Rendle: “You mention Martinez’s coat being too big for the weather. I’m emailing you from sunny North Devon and let me tell you, I wish I had his coat!” | |
| Told. | |
| 2.08pm BST14:08 | |
| 64 mins: “While there is a lull in the game,” writes Jamie Ayres, although the game isn’t that ‘lully’ at the moment, “I was wondering if you, or any of your readers actually like/rate Mr Owen’s commentary? This is not a personal attack on him, as I am sure he is a lovely guy, but I am yet to meet anyone who enjoys his output. | |
| “I should point out, I am aware that co-commentating is not exactly a rich source of insight and wit. Pat Nevin, aside.” | |
| 2.07pm BST14:07 | |
| 63 mins: Routledge and Ki exchange passes, and the latter breaks into the area, flicks the ball delightfully over the defender but shoots from a tightish angle when he had a couple of players in some space, waiting for the shot. Bit daft that, from the Swansea man. | |
| 2.05pm BST14:05 | |
| 62 mins: Kone is perhaps lucky to still be on the pitch, after going in a bit late on Cork. It looked worse than it was because the forward slipped a bit and the midfielder went over with some elan, but Kone is on a yellow card and one assumes that if his record had been clean, he might have seen yellow for a second time. | |
| Related: Football clockwatch: Premier League, Football League and more – live! | |
| Updated at 2.07pm BST | |
| 2.04pm BST14:04 | |
| 61 mins: Oh, there’s something. Emnes does well to win the ball then power forwards through the Everton defence. He takes a shot from about 25 yards out, but pulls is just wide. | |
| 2.03pm BST14:03 | |
| 59 mins: Nothing much has happened for a few minutes. This isn’t much of an update, but just wanted to reassure you that we’re sill alive back here. | |
| 1.59pm BST13:59 | |
| 56 mins: Emnes tracks Coleman back down the Everton right, but doesn’t do it very well. Or too well. Dunno. Either way, he’s been booked for a foul on the Irishman. | |
| 1.58pm BST13:58 | |
| 55 mins: Everton looking good in the second 45. Baines swings over a corner from the left that Barry gets to at the far post, but he can only direct his header just wide of goal. | |
| 1.56pm BST13:56 | |
| 52 mins: Taylor gets a booking for a bloody hard challenge on Lennon. That’s a two-match ban for the full-back, a game before the slates are wiped clean for the rest of the season. (I think. Happy to be corrected) | |
| 1.55pm BST13:55 | |
| 51 mins: Fabianski slices a clearance out of play, directly at his manager Monk, who turns his back and allows the ball to hit him on the shoulder blade. Disappointing to see, that. Would’ve liked him to ‘do a Dragan Stojkovic’, ideally. | |
| 1.53pm BST13:53 | |
| 50 mins: Martinez is wearing what looks like quite a big coat, which seems inappropriate for the conditions. Perhaps it’s not as warm as it looks. | |
| 1.53pm BST13:53 | |
| 49 mins: Lennon scampers forwards and feed a ball into the edge of the box for Kone, but the striker dozes, and allows Fernandez to hop in front of him and tackle. | |
| 1.50pm BST13:50 | |
| 47 mins: Tim Howard has just shushed a Swansea fan giving him the hurry-up while taking a free-kick. Are we classing that as ‘banter’? | |
| 1.49pm BST13:49 | |
| 46 mins: And here we go. 45 mins of the game remaining, in which we will all get a little closer to our inevitable demise. | |
| 1.48pm BST13:48 | |
| The players are back out in the sunshine, and we’ll be underway, post-haste. | |
| 1.47pm BST13:47 | |
| Incidentally, your humble MBMer is bloody glad not to have been live blogging the Red Sox v the Yankees last night... | |
| Time of Game: 6:49 (+ :16 minute power delay). Officially the longest game in #RedSox history. Previous was 6:35 (18 inn.), 8/25/01 @ TEX. | |
| In case you’re interested, good eventually defeated evil and the Red Sox won 6-5 in the 19th - nineteenth - inning. | |
| 1.38pm BST13:38 | |
| “At the risk of incurring the wrath of some readers,” writes a wrath-incurring Michael Cosgrove, “this male footie fan is very pleased that the Guardian is set to give some decent coverage to this summer’s Women’s World Cup. Come on England!” | |
| 1.35pm BST13:35 | |
| Weird half. For the opening 30 minutes Swansea were very much the better team, but didn’t especially create anything of note and it was, frankly, a powerfully tedious affair. However, the latter 15 were much livelier, and coincided with Everton being the dominant side. Indeed, they could have been a couple up at the break, rather than just the one. | |
| 1.33pm BST13:33 | 1.33pm BST13:33 |
| Half-time: Swansea 0-1 Everton | Half-time: Swansea 0-1 Everton |
| Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. | Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. |
| 1.33pm BST13:33 | 1.33pm BST13:33 |
| 45 mins +3: Lovely play by Everton on the edge of the Swansea box, but they should perhaps have scored. A couple of flicks find their way to Kone, who had the chance to shoot but instead flicked it on himself for Pienaar, whose effort is low and on target but not especially powerful, and Fabianski saves with some ease. | 45 mins +3: Lovely play by Everton on the edge of the Swansea box, but they should perhaps have scored. A couple of flicks find their way to Kone, who had the chance to shoot but instead flicked it on himself for Pienaar, whose effort is low and on target but not especially powerful, and Fabianski saves with some ease. |
| 1.31pm BST13:31 | 1.31pm BST13:31 |
| 45 mins + 1: Routledge tries to jimmy Swansea’s way back into this one, but his cross from the right is cleared at the near post. They can’t catch a break at the moment. | 45 mins + 1: Routledge tries to jimmy Swansea’s way back into this one, but his cross from the right is cleared at the near post. They can’t catch a break at the moment. |
| 1.29pm BST13:29 | 1.29pm BST13:29 |
| 44 mins: Nearly two there, as Pienaar feeds Kone in the box and he swivels, around ten yards from goal, and shoots left-footed but Fabianski’s near post is secure and the keeper saves. | 44 mins: Nearly two there, as Pienaar feeds Kone in the box and he swivels, around ten yards from goal, and shoots left-footed but Fabianski’s near post is secure and the keeper saves. |
| 1.28pm BST13:28 | 1.28pm BST13:28 |
| 41 mins: Well, it would be a stretch to say that was coming, but Everton have certainly been coming back into the game in the last 15 or so. Some neat work down the left creates an opening, McCarthy crosses low and while Kone misses it at the near post, Lennon is there at the back stick, unattended, to force the ball home. | 41 mins: Well, it would be a stretch to say that was coming, but Everton have certainly been coming back into the game in the last 15 or so. Some neat work down the left creates an opening, McCarthy crosses low and while Kone misses it at the near post, Lennon is there at the back stick, unattended, to force the ball home. |
| 1.26pm BST13:26 | 1.26pm BST13:26 |
| GOAL! Swansea 0-1 Everton (Lennon 41) | GOAL! Swansea 0-1 Everton (Lennon 41) |
| Well, there you go. | Well, there you go. |
| Updated at 1.47pm BST | |
| 1.25pm BST13:25 | 1.25pm BST13:25 |
| 40 mins: Baines has been having some issues with the officials and where the ball is placed when taking a corner. That this is deemed worthy of noting tells you all you need to know about the quality of this game. | 40 mins: Baines has been having some issues with the officials and where the ball is placed when taking a corner. That this is deemed worthy of noting tells you all you need to know about the quality of this game. |
| 1.23pm BST13:23 | 1.23pm BST13:23 |
| 39 mins: My kingdom for this... | 39 mins: My kingdom for this... |
| Tokyo Verdy trailed 3-0 at home to FC Gifu after 84 minutes today. Won 4-3 http://t.co/AhNvz22bND pic.twitter.com/dU2vc9DO0U | Tokyo Verdy trailed 3-0 at home to FC Gifu after 84 minutes today. Won 4-3 http://t.co/AhNvz22bND pic.twitter.com/dU2vc9DO0U |
| 1.23pm BST13:23 | 1.23pm BST13:23 |
| 38 mins: One thing of note has been Fabianski’s confidence in the air. Granted, he hasn’t exactly got Mick Harford bearing down on him, but he claims another cross from the Everton right with some assurance. | 38 mins: One thing of note has been Fabianski’s confidence in the air. Granted, he hasn’t exactly got Mick Harford bearing down on him, but he claims another cross from the Everton right with some assurance. |
| 1.22pm BST13:22 | 1.22pm BST13:22 |
| 37 mins: Slo-mo of Martinez clapping on the telly there. Yeah. Been that sort of game. | 37 mins: Slo-mo of Martinez clapping on the telly there. Yeah. Been that sort of game. |
| 1.21pm BST13:21 | 1.21pm BST13:21 |
| 36 mins: Pienaar is eased to the ground by Rangel, who’s walking something of a tightrope at the moment. If he falls off he’ll go straight into the yellow card pool below. Oh, I dunno. Doesn’t really work, but what the heck. | 36 mins: Pienaar is eased to the ground by Rangel, who’s walking something of a tightrope at the moment. If he falls off he’ll go straight into the yellow card pool below. Oh, I dunno. Doesn’t really work, but what the heck. |
| 1.19pm BST13:19 | 1.19pm BST13:19 |
| 34 mins: Jagielka shows excellent technique to get his foot over a high bouncing ball and direct it forwards from just inside the Swansea half. The problem being that ‘forwards’ is quite a vague direction, and it didn’t go anywhere near anyone useful - specifically, one of his own players. Goal-kick. | 34 mins: Jagielka shows excellent technique to get his foot over a high bouncing ball and direct it forwards from just inside the Swansea half. The problem being that ‘forwards’ is quite a vague direction, and it didn’t go anywhere near anyone useful - specifically, one of his own players. Goal-kick. |
| 1.18pm BST13:18 | 1.18pm BST13:18 |
| 32 mins: First proper effort of the day from Everton comes, as Coleman advances forwards and spanks a low diagonal shot towards the bottom corner, but Fabianski gets down well and palms the ball wide. | 32 mins: First proper effort of the day from Everton comes, as Coleman advances forwards and spanks a low diagonal shot towards the bottom corner, but Fabianski gets down well and palms the ball wide. |
| 1.17pm BST13:17 | 1.17pm BST13:17 |
| 31 mins: Shelvey flicks the ball up for himself and whistles an absolutely belting shot right into the top corner, but alas for him just as he was shaping to shoot the referee’s whistle had gone. Routledge was adjudged to have clipped Baines, but that looked very soft, and Swansea are a touch unlucky not to be in the lead. | 31 mins: Shelvey flicks the ball up for himself and whistles an absolutely belting shot right into the top corner, but alas for him just as he was shaping to shoot the referee’s whistle had gone. Routledge was adjudged to have clipped Baines, but that looked very soft, and Swansea are a touch unlucky not to be in the lead. |
| Updated at 1.31pm BST | Updated at 1.31pm BST |
| 1.15pm BST13:15 | 1.15pm BST13:15 |
| 29 mins: Routledge looks like he might get some sort of joy down the right, shaping to cross for Emnes in the middle, but Baines does very well to usher the winger away from goal and the ball out of play. | 29 mins: Routledge looks like he might get some sort of joy down the right, shaping to cross for Emnes in the middle, but Baines does very well to usher the winger away from goal and the ball out of play. |
| 1.14pm BST13:14 | 1.14pm BST13:14 |
| 28 mins: Groin issue for Osman, apparently. Pienaar is on and Everton should retain the same shape. | 28 mins: Groin issue for Osman, apparently. Pienaar is on and Everton should retain the same shape. |
| 1.12pm BST13:12 | 1.12pm BST13:12 |
| 27 mins: Change ahoy for Everton too. Leon Osman looks like he’s struggling, so Steven Pienaar is imminent. | 27 mins: Change ahoy for Everton too. Leon Osman looks like he’s struggling, so Steven Pienaar is imminent. |
| 1.10pm BST13:10 | 1.10pm BST13:10 |
| 25 mins: Kone makes his biggest impression on the game, the drawback being it’s also a fairly healthy impression on Ferndandez’s face, his arm catching the Swansea defender on the bridge of his nose, and a yellow card is thus dished out. | 25 mins: Kone makes his biggest impression on the game, the drawback being it’s also a fairly healthy impression on Ferndandez’s face, his arm catching the Swansea defender on the bridge of his nose, and a yellow card is thus dished out. |
| 1.09pm BST13:09 | 1.09pm BST13:09 |
| 23 mins: Ki shimmies and shakes down the right, going past his man, and cuts one back to Rangel on the edge of the box but he gets a pitching wedge to the shot like one of those horses in the boat race this weekend. Might have got things a bit mixed up there. Some sports that are Not Football are happening this weekend, you know? Weird, isn’t it? | 23 mins: Ki shimmies and shakes down the right, going past his man, and cuts one back to Rangel on the edge of the box but he gets a pitching wedge to the shot like one of those horses in the boat race this weekend. Might have got things a bit mixed up there. Some sports that are Not Football are happening this weekend, you know? Weird, isn’t it? |
| 1.06pm BST13:06 | 1.06pm BST13:06 |
| 20 mins: Emnes tries to chest the ball down in his own half but the control is a bit off, and he fouls Barry while he tries to retrieve things. Baines curls the free-kick in, that if someone had got a head to would’ve been pretty dangerous, but as it goes nobody does, and Fabianski gathers gratefully to his bosom. | 20 mins: Emnes tries to chest the ball down in his own half but the control is a bit off, and he fouls Barry while he tries to retrieve things. Baines curls the free-kick in, that if someone had got a head to would’ve been pretty dangerous, but as it goes nobody does, and Fabianski gathers gratefully to his bosom. |
| Updated at 1.38pm BST | |
| 1.03pm BST13:03 | 1.03pm BST13:03 |
| 18 mins: Everton haven’t really got going, here. Coleman tries a slipped ball down the right looking for Lennon, but Taylor is there to easily swoop in and intercept. | 18 mins: Everton haven’t really got going, here. Coleman tries a slipped ball down the right looking for Lennon, but Taylor is there to easily swoop in and intercept. |
| 1.01pm BST13:01 | 1.01pm BST13:01 |
| 16 mins: “Muscle injuries are just so bad,” says Michael Owen on the commentary, presumably with his eyes glazing over like a grizzled old American serviceman recalling his days in Saigon. Indeed, this one won’t allow Gomis to continue, and Marvin Emnes comes on to replace him. | 16 mins: “Muscle injuries are just so bad,” says Michael Owen on the commentary, presumably with his eyes glazing over like a grizzled old American serviceman recalling his days in Saigon. Indeed, this one won’t allow Gomis to continue, and Marvin Emnes comes on to replace him. |
| 1.00pm BST13:00 | 1.00pm BST13:00 |
| 14 mins: From said corner, Williams gets up in the middle and heads towards goal, but it’s deflected behind. More worryingly for Swansea is Gomis, who seems to have twanged his hamstring taking that shot. Doesn’t look good for the Frenchman. | 14 mins: From said corner, Williams gets up in the middle and heads towards goal, but it’s deflected behind. More worryingly for Swansea is Gomis, who seems to have twanged his hamstring taking that shot. Doesn’t look good for the Frenchman. |
| Updated at 1.17pm BST | Updated at 1.17pm BST |
| 12.59pm BST12:59 | 12.59pm BST12:59 |
| 13 mins: Routledge is back on the pitch and manages to win a free-kick. From it the ball is fed to Gomis with his back to goal, about 25 yards out, and he rolls Jagielka like a carpet before firing towards the top corner. However, Tim Howard is there to produce a save every bit as good as the turn and shot, pushing it wide for a corner. | 13 mins: Routledge is back on the pitch and manages to win a free-kick. From it the ball is fed to Gomis with his back to goal, about 25 yards out, and he rolls Jagielka like a carpet before firing towards the top corner. However, Tim Howard is there to produce a save every bit as good as the turn and shot, pushing it wide for a corner. |
| Updated at 1.27pm BST | Updated at 1.27pm BST |
| 12.56pm BST12:56 | 12.56pm BST12:56 |
| 10 mins: Ooof, that looks nasty. The ball drifts forwards towards Routledge, who gets up to flick the header on but a split second after he got there Jagielka arrives and smacks into the back of his bonce. Completely unintentional, but that will sting. Routledge comes off worse, receives some treatment and looks a little bit fuzzy, but he looks like he’s going to be OK. | 10 mins: Ooof, that looks nasty. The ball drifts forwards towards Routledge, who gets up to flick the header on but a split second after he got there Jagielka arrives and smacks into the back of his bonce. Completely unintentional, but that will sting. Routledge comes off worse, receives some treatment and looks a little bit fuzzy, but he looks like he’s going to be OK. |
| 12.55pm BST12:55 | 12.55pm BST12:55 |
| 9 mins: McCarthy dinks a smashing ball over the top looking for the run of Arouna Kone, and the striker just gets there before the ball runs out of play, placing his studs atop the ball to keep it in, but eventually the ball rolls out. | 9 mins: McCarthy dinks a smashing ball over the top looking for the run of Arouna Kone, and the striker just gets there before the ball runs out of play, placing his studs atop the ball to keep it in, but eventually the ball rolls out. |
| Updated at 1.15pm BST | Updated at 1.15pm BST |
| 12.53pm BST12:53 | 12.53pm BST12:53 |
| 7 mins: Bafetimbi Gomis gets onto a pass from Rangel down the right of the penalty area, cuts inside Phil Jagielka leaving the centre-back sprawling on a well-watered deck, but Baines ghosts in to deny the big striker a shooting chance. Good job, too. | 7 mins: Bafetimbi Gomis gets onto a pass from Rangel down the right of the penalty area, cuts inside Phil Jagielka leaving the centre-back sprawling on a well-watered deck, but Baines ghosts in to deny the big striker a shooting chance. Good job, too. |
| 12.51pm BST12:51 | 12.51pm BST12:51 |
| 5 mins: Lennon flips the ball over Taylor looking for the run of Seamus Coleman, who is tracked by Jonjo Shelvey but the Swansea man barrels his quarry over with a shove to the back. Everyone glances towards the referee and half prepare to take their positions for the subsequent free-kick, but bafflingly the whistle is kept from Michael Oliver’s lips. Weird. | 5 mins: Lennon flips the ball over Taylor looking for the run of Seamus Coleman, who is tracked by Jonjo Shelvey but the Swansea man barrels his quarry over with a shove to the back. Everyone glances towards the referee and half prepare to take their positions for the subsequent free-kick, but bafflingly the whistle is kept from Michael Oliver’s lips. Weird. |
| Updated at 1.35pm BST | |
| 12.48pm BST12:48 | 12.48pm BST12:48 |
| 3 mins: Aaron Lennon skips down the right and tries to stick over a cross, but Neil Taylor is there to block and put it out for a corner. Leighton Baines swings said set-piece over, but Lukasz Fabianski claims with an assurance that has been pretty typical of the Pole this season. | 3 mins: Aaron Lennon skips down the right and tries to stick over a cross, but Neil Taylor is there to block and put it out for a corner. Leighton Baines swings said set-piece over, but Lukasz Fabianski claims with an assurance that has been pretty typical of the Pole this season. |
| 12.46pm BST12:46 | 12.46pm BST12:46 |
| 1 min: And we’re away, in the South Wales sunshine. Ashley Williams gets things started with a maverick and errant pass across his backline, taxing Angel Rangel on the right flank but the full-back manages to keep it in. Is this a sign that the players are trying to make things interesting for us? Hopefully. | 1 min: And we’re away, in the South Wales sunshine. Ashley Williams gets things started with a maverick and errant pass across his backline, taxing Angel Rangel on the right flank but the full-back manages to keep it in. Is this a sign that the players are trying to make things interesting for us? Hopefully. |
| 12.45pm BST12:45 | 12.45pm BST12:45 |
| Garry Monk and Roberto Martinez share a cool-guy handshake and a hug, and Swansea are about to kick-off. | Garry Monk and Roberto Martinez share a cool-guy handshake and a hug, and Swansea are about to kick-off. |
| 12.41pm BST12:41 | 12.41pm BST12:41 |
| There’s an air raid klaxon played over the PA as the players line-up in the tunnel, which can only mean one thing. Yes, that’s right - we all take football far too seriously. Anyway, we’ll be underway soon. | There’s an air raid klaxon played over the PA as the players line-up in the tunnel, which can only mean one thing. Yes, that’s right - we all take football far too seriously. Anyway, we’ll be underway soon. |
| 12.35pm BST12:35 | 12.35pm BST12:35 |
| Well, there you go... | Well, there you go... |
| 40 - Garry Monk has the best win rate of any Swansea manager in the Premier League (40%, Rodgers had 32%, Laudrup 27%). Dedicated. | 40 - Garry Monk has the best win rate of any Swansea manager in the Premier League (40%, Rodgers had 32%, Laudrup 27%). Dedicated. |
| 12.30pm BST12:30 | 12.30pm BST12:30 |
| This is also a joy, by John Ashdown - The Joy of Six: songs about sportspeople, featuring the Super Furry Animals, Billy Bragg and a 13 minute Zimbabwean rhumba-pop tune documenting a 3-3 draw between the Tornados and the Dynamos. Another nomination - Mr Carbohydrate, by the Manic Street Preachers about former Glamorgan batsman Matthew Maynard. | This is also a joy, by John Ashdown - The Joy of Six: songs about sportspeople, featuring the Super Furry Animals, Billy Bragg and a 13 minute Zimbabwean rhumba-pop tune documenting a 3-3 draw between the Tornados and the Dynamos. Another nomination - Mr Carbohydrate, by the Manic Street Preachers about former Glamorgan batsman Matthew Maynard. |
| 12.10pm BST12:10 | 12.10pm BST12:10 |
| While we’re waiting for this one, how about a celebration of some happy couples? This gallery of sport stars’ weddings is a joy, particularly Donald Campbell and Tonia Bern shooting the breeze with Terry Thomas... | While we’re waiting for this one, how about a celebration of some happy couples? This gallery of sport stars’ weddings is a joy, particularly Donald Campbell and Tonia Bern shooting the breeze with Terry Thomas... |
| ...and Babe Ruth, full of the joy of his special day when marrying former stage star Claire Hodgson... | ...and Babe Ruth, full of the joy of his special day when marrying former stage star Claire Hodgson... |
| ...and Mark Hughes’s hair. | ...and Mark Hughes’s hair. |
| 11.48am BST11:48 | 11.48am BST11:48 |
| Team news | Team news |
| Swansea | Swansea |
| Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Ki; Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Gomis. Subs: Tremmel, Amat, Britton, Emnes, Dyer, Grimes, Fulton. | Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Ki; Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Gomis. Subs: Tremmel, Amat, Britton, Emnes, Dyer, Grimes, Fulton. |
| Everton | Everton |
| Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Baines; Barry, McCarthy; Lennon, Barkley, Osman; Kone. Subs: Robles, Alcaraz, Garbutt, Besic, Pienaar, Naismith, Mirallas | Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Baines; Barry, McCarthy; Lennon, Barkley, Osman; Kone. Subs: Robles, Alcaraz, Garbutt, Besic, Pienaar, Naismith, Mirallas |
| Referee: Michael Oliver (Ashington) | Referee: Michael Oliver (Ashington) |
| 11.40am BST11:40 | 11.40am BST11:40 |
| Preamble | Preamble |
| It’s that point in the season. The point where, if everyone’s really honest, they’d like to call it. Done. Everyone go home. We’ve all got a decent rest ahead of us in the summer so why not get it started now? Let’s stop kidding ourselves that a ‘strong end to the season’ or ‘finishing as high up the table as possible’ are real achievements. Neither Everton nor Swansea have anything to play for, so all of this - this playing out of the remaining games in the schedule, is essentially admin. It’s box-ticking, making sure that all is proper and taken care of, that the holy and established fixture list is respected and adhered to. | It’s that point in the season. The point where, if everyone’s really honest, they’d like to call it. Done. Everyone go home. We’ve all got a decent rest ahead of us in the summer so why not get it started now? Let’s stop kidding ourselves that a ‘strong end to the season’ or ‘finishing as high up the table as possible’ are real achievements. Neither Everton nor Swansea have anything to play for, so all of this - this playing out of the remaining games in the schedule, is essentially admin. It’s box-ticking, making sure that all is proper and taken care of, that the holy and established fixture list is respected and adhered to. |
| But still, there are appearance bonuses to be claimed, points to be won, goals and starts to be tallied up. And, of course, football to be played. For the other side of the long summer rest, aside from the Women’s World Cup, which we will actually be interested in, and some youth tournaments that we’ll pretend to be interested in, is no football. And that’s a disquieting thought. No football. Not that we really have much emotional investment in, anyway. And, on balance, Some Football is most clearly better than No Football. | But still, there are appearance bonuses to be claimed, points to be won, goals and starts to be tallied up. And, of course, football to be played. For the other side of the long summer rest, aside from the Women’s World Cup, which we will actually be interested in, and some youth tournaments that we’ll pretend to be interested in, is no football. And that’s a disquieting thought. No football. Not that we really have much emotional investment in, anyway. And, on balance, Some Football is most clearly better than No Football. |
| So, to Swansea and Everton. These are two clubs with managers whose reputations really don’t reflect their performances this season. Roberto Martinez is, despite a campaign that even his mother would struggle to call anything but ‘a colossal sigh of a season’, still enjoys plenty of kudos, brownie points and respect. He’s a good manager because he did a good job at Wigan under the circumstances, despite getting them relegated (although their subsequent travails after his departure might, oddly enough, be more of an indication of his quality than anything he did while there), and because people like some of the things he does, and people who have worked with him say he’s excellent. Which is all fair enough, but it doesn’t really explain why, the season after they bloody nearly doubled their transfer record, it’s all gone a bit wrong, and those concerns about Martinez being able to organise a defence have resurfaced, and so on and etc and so forth. | So, to Swansea and Everton. These are two clubs with managers whose reputations really don’t reflect their performances this season. Roberto Martinez is, despite a campaign that even his mother would struggle to call anything but ‘a colossal sigh of a season’, still enjoys plenty of kudos, brownie points and respect. He’s a good manager because he did a good job at Wigan under the circumstances, despite getting them relegated (although their subsequent travails after his departure might, oddly enough, be more of an indication of his quality than anything he did while there), and because people like some of the things he does, and people who have worked with him say he’s excellent. Which is all fair enough, but it doesn’t really explain why, the season after they bloody nearly doubled their transfer record, it’s all gone a bit wrong, and those concerns about Martinez being able to organise a defence have resurfaced, and so on and etc and so forth. |
| In the other dugout, Garry Monk. While he may slot firmly into the ‘Footballers Who Look Like Estate Agents XI’ (also Harry Kane, Alan Pardew - any and all nominations welcome), Monk has done a pretty splendid job at Swansea, despite losing his best striker to the great pit of transfer Sarlaac known as Manchester City. And, as an aside, last week’s win over Hull meant that Swansea’s record this season without the healthily-posteriored Ivory Coast striker is actually slightly better than with him. Huh. Imagine that. “I think it was a huge risk when you think about it,” said Monk this week, about his appointment, straight from the first team squad, to replace Michael Laudrup last year, and he’s right, but it’s paid off. Monk is in line to record a better finish than both Laudrup and Brendan Rodgers at the Liberty, which is quite the achievement. | In the other dugout, Garry Monk. While he may slot firmly into the ‘Footballers Who Look Like Estate Agents XI’ (also Harry Kane, Alan Pardew - any and all nominations welcome), Monk has done a pretty splendid job at Swansea, despite losing his best striker to the great pit of transfer Sarlaac known as Manchester City. And, as an aside, last week’s win over Hull meant that Swansea’s record this season without the healthily-posteriored Ivory Coast striker is actually slightly better than with him. Huh. Imagine that. “I think it was a huge risk when you think about it,” said Monk this week, about his appointment, straight from the first team squad, to replace Michael Laudrup last year, and he’s right, but it’s paid off. Monk is in line to record a better finish than both Laudrup and Brendan Rodgers at the Liberty, which is quite the achievement. |
| Which is not to say that all is rot at Everton while all is sunshine at Swansea. But the point stands. Two managers, not alike in reputation. One is better than t’other for sure, but which? Perhaps we shall find out today. | Which is not to say that all is rot at Everton while all is sunshine at Swansea. But the point stands. Two managers, not alike in reputation. One is better than t’other for sure, but which? Perhaps we shall find out today. |
| Kick-off: 12.45 BST | Kick-off: 12.45 BST |
| Updated at 11.44am BST | Updated at 11.44am BST |