Michael Reeves
You could almost start a game of managerial bingo when you listen to post match interviews and yesterday was no different as Russell Martin scratched around for positives after a 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United saw the Swans plunge further down the league.
These are worrying times for the Swans boss as his side made it just two wins in sixteen games which is a run of form that has finished off the managerial reigns of better managers than Russ and his words and actions are now becoming the signs of a manager under increasing pressure.
He picked up a yellow card in yesterday’s game for protesting against a decision that went against his team and desperately tried to point to the Swans starting the game better before capitulating with some soft defending (again) poor pass choices (again) and a general inability to compete on the pitch (again)
The truth is the better start lasted minutes rather than any decent period of time and the Swans continue to make the same mistakes. In other words we are not able to learn from the mistakes that we make and whilst the manager talks about what “we spoke about at half time” it makes little difference to the outcome of games as the former manager presides over a defence that is the joint second weakest in the league.
“We make a good start and then we concede a poor goal. The ball is in the air on the touchline with their player facing away from our goal”, said Martin in his post match press conference.
“Somehow, we don’t deal with it, and they have a moment of quality with a player they spent a lot of money on. Up to that point we had started well, we had been brave with the ball and quietened the crowd. Maybe we could have had a bit more belief early on, but I felt we were playing our way into it nicely.
“It’s difficult, it was a tough day for us and it was always going to be a tough game because you have to respect where they are in the league, the run of form they have been on. They are going to get promoted.
“I felt confident with how we started, but we concede a rubbish goal and then a free-kick comes back off the bar, we have a load of bodies in there and they score.
“That probably sums up where both teams are at in terms of that reaction. They are on the front foot and aggressive. We slip, make a mistake, and the ball goes in.”
In some ways there is little to argue with when you consider the words of the manager but in other ways they are the same words and excuses that we hear too often. And, frankly, if we hear them again after Wednesday night then it would not be beyond the realms of possibility that we hear them for the last time.
Martin has one arm tied behind his back by the absentee landlords, and the other he ties behind himself, failing to adapt to his teams needs. Even the possession game (which I want to see succeed) fails as a means to keep the ball, in defending the goal or managing the game effectively. The side doesn’t currently have a spine.
I think hes prepared at this stage in his coaching career to be sacked for his principles.
How do you expect to win games when you concede 7 in 2 game. Our defence is a shambles and 3 MK Dons ex players are playing. Andy Fisher inspires no confidence whatso ever. The other 2 are adequate at the best. Since Roberto took over we have been a possession team so this team is nothing new. Our defending has never been so consistantly bad.
I agree Russel has had no support from the owners but some of his signings have be really bad. We should be able to set up a defence
Anyone aware of best Swansea passing sides know they were built on a solid back four that didn’t really change game by game and a holding midfielder. A strong centre forward was also employed to hold the ball long enough for the midfield to get up I support and we had width and pace in the wings. The Martin derivative is just a bunch of players passing the ball around for the sake of it. Little imagination, or specifically any understanding of why you pass the ball? It’s also incredibly slow. I admire Martins principles, I’m just not sure he knows what the next step is or how to execute? It’s possibly time for a rethink?