McLeod from Western Mail

paul.d · May 26, 2006

Western Mail



 

We've got a better team, a better ground and better fans, claims Kevin McLeod



<placename w:st="on">SWANSEA</placename> <placetype w:st="on">CITY</placetype> star Kevin McLeod claims winning promotion at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow will enable the Swans to prove they are a "bigger and better" club than <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Cardiff</placename> <placetype w:st="on">City</placetype></place>.



In an interview with the Leeds-based national news agency The Press Association, the Swans winger spelt out what he believes a play-off triumph over <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> would mean to Kenny Jackett's team.



Three years ago, the former Everton trainee was part of the Queens Park Rangers side beaten by Lennie Lawrence's Bluebirds in the 2003 Division Two play-off final in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Cardiff</place></city>.



McLeod told The Press Association of how, the night before the game, he and his team-mates had their preparations ruined by convicted <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Cardiff</place></city> hooligan Neil MacNamara.



















The fire alarm on the 10th floor of the Celtic Manor Hotel was smashed by MacNamara in the early hours of the morning and woke the sleeping QPR players.





Three years on, McLeod is in line to return to the Millennium Stadium to help the Swans negotiate a route into the Championship in the League One play-off final.





The 25-year-old winger told PA Sport, "To do that you've got to be daft about your team, but, saying that, <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Swansea</place></city> have got daft people as well who can do it.





"People are already asking me 'Where is <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place>'s hotel?' so they will find out where they are.





"But I will give that bloke a round of applause for booking himself in, being a guest in the hotel and setting the fire alarm off. He is passionate about <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Cardiff</placename> <placetype w:st="on">City</placetype></place>, but it didn't really concern us.





"Myself and Tommy Williams were in our room and we just woke up and saw there was no smoke or fire, so went back to sleep."





However, while McLeod insists he bears no grudge towards MacNamara, he reserved some strong words for the Bluebirds.



The rivalry between the two clubs was underlined with the way Swans striker Lee Trundle and team-mate Alan Tate celebrated winning the Football League Trophy at the Millennium Stadium last month.





And McLeod stated, "My aim is to get into the Championship with <city w:st="on">Swansea</city> and become a bigger club than <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Cardiff</placename> <placetype w:st="on">City</placetype></place>.





"When I played at the Millennium Stadium for QPR against <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Cardiff</place></city>, they had 35,000 fans and that was on their doorstep.





"But I look at <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Swansea</place></city> and we've already sold 32,000 tickets and they're still selling, so in my eyes, I think we are bigger. Full stop.





"We've got a better ground and hopefully, touch wood, if we beat <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place>, then we'll be in the Championship and you will see who has the better team.





"And I think at the end of the day that we've got a better team and the better fans."





McLeod's comments are hardly likely to endear him to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Cardiff</place></city> supporters, who will point out their team is already established at the higher level.





Bluebirds bosses also yesterday reiterated their plan to take <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Cardiff</place></city> "to the top of the Premiership and beyond."





But in the Swans camp, there is a real buzz of optimism, not only about winning this weekend, but about Jackett's men making a mark in the Championship next term.





McLeod, who has recovered from a broken ankle, will have to make do with a place as a Swans substitute against <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> tomorrow.





"The play-off final was always my aim and the manager said I would be welcomed back if I made it. I'm over the moon," said McLeod.





Boss Jackett has no injury concerns ahead of the game and is once more set to pick Trundle as a substitute, preferring Leon Knight and Rory Fallon as his front pairing.

paul.d · May 26, 2006

Woorwy from Western Mail

Fallon promises to silence boo-boysMay 26 2006

 

Phil Blanche, Western Mail

 

<placename w:st="on">SWANSEA</placename> <placetype w:st="on">CITY</placetype> striker Rory Fallon has warned the <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> boo-boys that he plans to silence them once and for all.

Fallon was a fresh-faced teenager when a lonely round-the-world journey from his native <country-region w:st="on">New Zealand</country-region> ended in the cold northern football outpost of <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place>.

The Kiwi spent three years in <place w:st="on">South Yorkshire</place> - "wrapped up with the heating on" - but believes he never got the credit from the Oakwell faithful he deserved.

And, with fate reuniting Fallon and <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> in tomorrow's League One play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, the 24-year-old has revealed,

- How he suffered the taunts of cruel <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> fans who "battered" him at every opportunity

- Why he was so pleased to eventually leave the Tykes and head south

- Why his relationship with Swans strike partner Leon Knight has blossomed

- How text messages from his World Cup coach father inspire him to make a living out of football 12,000 miles from home

"I was always surrounded by football as a kid," said Fallon, whose dad Kevin steered the New Zealand 'All Whites' to their solitary World Cup finals appearance, in Spain in 1982, and elder brother Shaun spent three years at Liverpool in the early 1990s.



"So it was a dream to come to <country-region w:st="on">England</country-region> and I went to <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> because a guy called Colin Walker - who played for my dad for the All Whites - was youth team coach there.

"<place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> had just dropped from the Premiership and were in the first division, so it was a great platform for me to start."

But Fallon's dream soon turned into a nightmare with wise old heads like Neil Shipperley, Mike Sheron and John Hendrie around and in front of him.

<place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> fans were reluctant to give youngsters time to flourish and Fallon was a target even though he managed 11 goals in 33 league starts.

"I didn't feel I was treated well enough by the fans," he said. "I was a young kid and they probably expected too much of me.

"As a targetman, I feel I'm getting better with age. But I was only a kid there and I got battered.

"They usually do it to the hometown boys, but they didn't give me a chance.

"It's a hard place to play and I still remember the times I was taken apart. It was really difficult to take as a young kid.

"If I'm honest, I think they took it too far when I was trying to make my way in the game.

"So after a few years I thought it was time for me to leave - and I'm glad I did.



"I had two good years at <place w:st="on">Swindon</place> and that's where I really established myself.

"I kicked on from there, especially this season, and I believe the move to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Swansea</place></city> is starting to pay off."

By his own admission, Fallon was slow to settle at the Liberty Stadium after his £300,000 move from Wiltshire in January.

The 6ft 2ins forward ended his goal drought in the FAW Premier Cup final defeat of Wrexham at the end of March, but had to wait 11 games for his first league strike.

He was also cup-tied for the triumphant march to the Football League Trophy final and had to take a back seat as <city w:st="on">Swansea</city> celebrated their 2-1 success over <place w:st="on">Carlisle</place> in April.

But two goals in the penultimate league game with Southend revived his self-belief and he followed that with another at <city w:st="on">Chesterfield</city>, his crucial header helping book <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Swansea</place></city>'s place in the play-offs.



"When I scored that goal in the Welsh Cup (from a yard) I nearly missed it," he said. "That how bad it got.

"But I have gained so much confidence from those goals against Southend.

"When I came to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Swansea</place></city> there was a lot of pressure on me to perform and it was difficult.

"But I've settled in and <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Swansea</place></city> feels like my home now. The gaffer and the lads just told me my time would come and, once I got going, I knew I would score goals.

"It was the same at <place w:st="on">Swindon</place>. It took me a little while to settle, but once I did the goals came."

Fallon enjoyed some happy times at Swindon, reaching the League One play-offs before being beaten in the semi-finals on penalties by Knight's <place w:st="on">Brighton</place>.

Now the two men are on the same side again, seeking to inflict more damage after linking up for <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">England</place></country-region> youth sides, which Fallon qualified for through his family background.

"I've known Knighty since I was 17," he said. "So we've known each other for a long time and we just gel.

"We're good mates off the field and I think that helps as well. We're just pleased that we've hit form together at this stage of the season."

Having missed out on gracing the Millennium Stadium twice, Fallon is delighted to be fulfilling that ambition.

But though the campaign could end on a glorious note, Fallon regrets that his father - who persuaded him to join <city w:st="on">Swansea</city> when he was in the <country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region> in January - will be on the other side of the world and unable to watch him in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Cardiff</place></city>.

"My dad can't make the game as he coaches a college team and a club team back in Gisborne," said Fallon.

"He's just so passionate about the game, he loves it so much and he'll probably do it until he dies.

"But he'll be watching the game on the internet at two in the morning.

"It's hard for him doing that, but I know he'll be there in spirit with me.



"We've been busy texting each other this week and he's given me all the inspiration I need, as he's always done.

"Hopefully it won't be the last time I'm at the Millennium Stadium and he'll get to see me play there one day."

Hicksy · May 26, 2006

Shut your face Rory...

You lovely person. You weren't good enough- get over it. 

Moan moan feckin moan.

Farnham_Red · May 26, 2006

I think he has a point

I thought the way he was treated by some of our fans was very poor indeed

open season tomorrow mind

Spartacus · May 26, 2006

Fallon was very poor indeed.

And his last visit to Oakwell underpinned that.

Chef Tyke · May 26, 2006

agreed he is / was dreadful

Guest · May 26, 2006

RE: I think he has a point

I didnt think it was as bad as he's making out. He just never looked up to it here but dont remember him getting any really bad abuse. And no doubt he was more than keen to come to Barnsley this, "northern football outpost where seemingly its freezing all the time" to try and establish himself as a player. If you cant think of owt sensible to say Rory,keep yer effing gob shut. Woops,more abuse.

Journo Tyke · May 26, 2006

I'd LOVE IT if we beat them

To shut pricks up like Fallon, McLeod and Trundle.

Guest · May 26, 2006

I'm not getting caught up in it all

I've read what the Swansea lot have had to say, our players seem focussed. Lets just go and take our game to them and hopefully surprise them. I must admit, smugness in football is something that irritates me but I'm not going to retaliate. Let us do our talking on the pitch and let the best team win.

Paolo

Guest · May 26, 2006

Step forward Mr Keegan

"I'd LOVE IT if we beat them, LOVE IT! And I'll tell you summat, they're going to Middlesbrough and they're gunna get something"

Yeh, the premiership title you bitter Geordie Barsteward* ff

*Don't repeat that bit to Kathryn

Guest · May 26, 2006

RE: I think he has a point

Hey, I've been to Swansea. It's right on the Equator.

Journo Tyke · May 26, 2006

RE: Step forward Mr Keegan

The Keegan thing WAS deliberate John ff

Guest · May 26, 2006

RE: Step forward Mr Keegan

That brought back so many memories, I just had to repeat it ff

LOVE IT!

Berserker · May 26, 2006

Too many at Oakwell were lambasting Fallon while applauding Dyer for making the same mistakes!!

Zukkster · May 26, 2006

He's got a point

He did get loads of abuse. Young lad, lone striker, the England tag around his neck. Everyone expected him to perform miracles.

The season he left we were top of the league, until we sold him and dropped like a stone. He did a difficult job and allowed us to play a particular way. There was nobody else in the squad that could do that and when he'd gone Gudjon had to change his style of play to one which was less successful. That style was

- 10 men behind the ball,
- kick it to Rory up front on his own
- if he controls it, break from defence at pace
- Rory give it to the arriving cavalry
- someone else scores and takes the credit

We scored goals on the break, 10 men behind the ball kept it safe at the back, we won games. It's a really difficult job to be a target man, run around and chase stuff, hold the ball up on your own for long enough for someone else to take it on. Crouch does the same job and gets loads of stick - Liverpool play in the same style. It's a dirty job, hardly any players can actually do it, it's not a pretty style of football (so the fans hate it), but it IS effective.

Rory did it and got stick in a team that was top of the league. Having said that Crouch is never an England international - because in International football you shouldn't play kick and rush ... should you ? or should you ? Seems to have won Liverpool the Champions League - a goalie, 8 defenders, Gerrard and the giraffe.

I think he got short shrift from Barnsley fans. I can't see anyone paying £300,000 for any other player from Barnsley's recent past. I think he'll be out to give two fingers to Barnsley on Saturday, and fair play to the lad ...

Gaz · May 26, 2006

Bingo.

Somebody else gets it.

EastStander · May 26, 2006

RE: He's got a point

"Seems to have won Liverpool the Champions League - a goalie, 8 defenders, Gerrard and the giraffe."

Crouch joined Liverpool AFTER they'd won the Champions League.

Hicksy · May 26, 2006

RE: Too many at Oakwell were lambasting Fallon while applauding Dyer for making the same mistakes!!

He's still a moaning so and so tho mate. Some of the p*ss take was unjustified, but if he was good enough he would have maintained place in the side, scored tons of goals, and he would be at Oakwell still. He wasn't good enough, yet he seems to be saying its Barnsley fan's fault.

Zukkster · May 26, 2006

Never let the facts get in the way...

of a theory

OK, yeah, erm, I was wrong. But that IS the tactics they play to and they are doing quite well in the league and FA cup and stuff, so maybe kick and rush isn't relevant at International level.

Personally I don't think Crouch is good enough to play for England, but I do think the tactics are effective - even though they make for woeful watching

Zukkster · May 26, 2006

I think it is a small and exclusive club though

Which either makes us pair of

1) Misunderstood geniuses

2) Lonesome idiots

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