New learnings under a new manager for Swansea City

Michael Duff watched his side play out a 0-0 draw with top Danish side Brondby at Fairwood yesterday and then praised the attitude of his players and their willingness to adapt to new things in anothe clear indication that we will see a difference in style in the coming season.

Duff indicated that very thing in his first interview as Swans manager and it is clear as the pre-season period moves on that he is slowly adapting and evolving the style of play of his predecessor Russell Martin.

In a typical pre-season encounter which saw the Swans change their entire side at half time the key factors for the Swans was the first appearance of Josh Key in a Swansea shirt, the continued presence of Joel Piroe despite the constant speculation on his future and a clean sheet against very good opposition.

It was no real surprise then that Duff was in good spirits after the game as he looked back on the match with the new season just a little more than three weeks away.

“It was a tough game. The step up in opposition was quite significant from Saturday,” Duff said in his post match interview.

“We were a little bit sloppy in the second half with the ball, which is unlike us, but I don’t worry too much about that because we have good technical footballers, so we can improve on that.

“We could have had a penalty in the first minute and that has come from some of the things that we’ve been working on, and then some of the things we’re asking them to do are slightly different so there’s a lack of understanding, but that will come. That’s why you have pre-season to work on these things.

“The last couple of days has been about working out of possession and knowing when to press and not to press, so it’s bit by bit at this stage of pre-season.

“I’ve been pleased with the attitude of the players and their willingness to take on new information.

“The attitude and the physicality they’ve shown and the willingness to run hard for each other is really pleasing from my point of view.”

Duff will have plenty to think about ahead of his first league match in charge – Birmingham visit SA1 on August 5 – and the first appearance of Key was a (pardon the pun) a key element from the match with Duff adding “Josh did what we thought he can do, he ran in behind, he got into good crossing positions and put two or three good balls in the box, but that’s his first 30 minutes.”

In the background and away from the pitch the summer of change continues with the Swans looking at several Premier League loans including both a striker and goalkeeper whilst Duff is also keen to strengthen his defence ahead of the campaign as well.   Paul Watson and Josh Marsh are certainly being kept busy on this front.

For now though the pre-season work continues on the pitch and the training ground and, as Duff concluded “These games are about getting information and minutes into the players.”