Swans 2017 Hope for the future

Its been a difficult season, suspicion of the new owners, getting rid of Franco was questionable and then Bob Bradley who was a disaster. Then there were the dismal displays absolute car crash results, spineless, disorganised drivel, enter Paul Clement, Tom Carroll and a few other signings. I think there are many reasons to be hopeful my main concern were the new owners, if you have the cash then you can asset strip a Premier League and make a fortune.


New signings in January were a sign (pun) that the new owners have no intention of going down this route, I always suspected they would not, the money they would gain would be eclipsed to the scale of the damage to their reputation, but its nice to get confirmation.

Tom Carroll and Swansea is arguably a perfect marriage, he will get playing time and a role where he can express his obvious ability in a team that likes to play football. Finally Paul Clement just seems to have it all, he has the experience as assistant and clearly very clever tactically from changes he has already made at various stages of games.

A new Manager ish, well Head Coach

Listened to 5 Live Football Daily Podcast  I quote:-

Guidolin 'isn't a long-term strategy' for Swansea

I must confess I don't get it, in an age where managers last on average just over a year I don't see how appointing a manager for six months with a view to extension is not a long term strategy. Guidolin has an amazing record! On the show the pundits were also citing how well Southampton have done to sign Charlie Austin even if he is on high wages, yet in the next segment they were talking about how Bolton are nearly £200m in debt and maybe going out of business. Premier League or bust is a stupid policy, I have confidence in Huw Jenkins and the board that they will ensure Swansea are at least a Championship club in the long term and not bet everything on the Premier League.

Swansea City Transfer Policy

Complacent About Results

This will seem odd coming from a Swansea City fan but over the last four seasons I haven't really cared about results. I recall following Swansea when we actually felt quite lucky to more than 2000 fans at the Vetch Field on a cold Wednesday night, so simply being in the Premier League felt like we had won every year for the last six seasons! That Premier League status felt safe until we recently drew with Bournemouth, it was then that I understood that we might be going back to the dark days of League Two football or even worse. How I ache to be complacent about results again!

So as a big fan over more than 20 years what do I think now.... Many small clubs have had extended runs in the top division Wimbledon, Stoke, Fulham are not exactly Man Utd, Chelsea so as a fan I feel extremely lucky to have witnessed the Swans in the Premier League.

I've heard rumours of trouble at the club and it does sound as if Monk wasn't able to control the situation so I think its the right time to look for a change.

The Swans Tactics

Tactically we've always had quite a simple yet elegant system, keep the ball, try and pull opposition players out of position and once that has happened then go for the jugular. Naturally teams will attempt to counter this by pressing high but by doing this leave themselves exposed to the long ball. I've seen Ashley Williams find Dyer with a long diagonal ball quite few times to know this can be counter productive for the opposition.

The Wrong Transfers

For many years now it was ball into the feet of a target-man with two fast wingers running off him, I think Ayew and Gomis don't quite fit into the system. Both were free transfers so were the Swans board being blinded by too good a deal when signing these players?

I think Ayew is good enough to adapt to play in another position but that is what he needs to do. I think Gomis is at the wrong club and we need to find another Bony!