Phil Sumbler
It’s only two days since Barnsley said goodbye to Michael Duff and he arrived in SA1 but during that time he has shown that he will – as he requested – have a heavy backing of the supporters as detailed by our recent Twitter poll.
More than 90% of the fans polled (over 700 at the time of writing) have said that they are happy with the appointment of Duff as replacement for Russell Martin who always seemed to split the support or certainly if similar polls were to be believed at points last season.
Are you happy with the appointment of Michael Duff?
— Planet Swans (@swansnews) June 23, 2023
Duff was at Fairwood yesterday morning to welcome the players back for the start of pre-season and will be head off to Spain on the training camp with them on Sunday as they head South for a week of further conditioning as they prepare for the new season.
The support of the fans is something that is clearly important to Duff who called for a united front from everyone concerned with the club following his appointment on Thursday evening.
“We need that one team mentality; the players, staff, fans, and board. Everyone needs to pull in the same direction because that’s the only way you’re going to achieve success,” said Duff.
“Hopefully the supporters are as excited as I am. Hopefully we’re going to see some really good football which is a little bit more on the front foot.
“We need the supporters as much as they need us and if we both turn up every week, then hopefully we’ll get more wins than losses.”
A 94%+ backing is a pretty comprehensive sign of support for a boss who is believed to have excited the Swansea City hierarchy which includes investors new and old and soon to be (official) arrival Paul Watson all of whom have placed their faith in Duff to deliver what he has clearly stated that he can.
Duff was handed a three year contract as Swansea boss and the recent investors have set their sights on a Premier League return for the club and believe that Duff, working closely with Watson will stand every chance of delivering that and it seems that the supporters are very much of that belief at this stage.
Duff’s first league match in charge will be at home to Birmingham when the season opens on the first weekend in August and between now and then he will be more than aware he has just over six weeks to take his squad through their paces and get them ready for the rigours of a Championship season.
But the good news is he does so with the total backing of the supporters – and long may that continue.
Let’s not go overboard but it seems like a sensible appointment .
Nice to hear him talk about getting us on the front foot a bit quicker .Also seems to have a winning mentality which maybe we’ve been a bit short of.
Performances can only take you do far.You can’t concede the numbet of goals we did last season and hope to win anything
I have reservations. Not 100% sold by this guy.
Worried that we are going back to the Potter to Cooper scenario, which was from progressive to more pragmatic football, again.
As usual – let’s wait and see.
Initial impressions are good: he’s probably more of a Steve Cooper character than a Russell Martin type, hopefully more action than words this time around.
In my opinion, his first task should be to say and do enough in Spain to persuade Matt Grimes to stay. If he can do that, then he’s really “on the front foot” in my book, with a confident 4 off the first ball !
Jeeez, sincerely hope we don’t regress to Cooperball!
Playoffs twice in a row must have been doing something right🤷♂️🤣
It’s not the manager that needs scrutiny, it’s the LOOSER Yanks and their total lack of spirit. See Wrexham as a club in unity. Get the Yanks out of our football club!!!
Let us hope the owners back this guy, both his previous teams played tidy football. Welcome buddy let’s hope you get the backing RM didn’t get and let’s move this Club forward. I have not seen any info on what backroom staff he has – has he brought his team? or is it work in progress, because K o’L doesn’t give me much confidence, he
can’t keep himself fit never mind a team.
It’s great to hear the new boss say playing on the front foot , but who is going to be our finisher,we need a striker that can create as well as score.