Rob Davies
It’s been a miserable start to the season for Swansea City and today’s loss to Bristol City was quite easily the worst of the lot.
The manner of the defeat isn’t reflected by the scoreline and indeed had it been a much heavier loss Michael Duff couldn’t have complained.
It’s early days of course and five games in is certainly not enough to pass sufficient enough judgement on a manager who’s succeeded in both of his previous jobs at Cheltenham and Barnsley.
But there are early warning signs particularly when he makes such bizarre comments about the upcoming derby game against Cardiff City – something which everyone knows is important to the fans of our club.
“There’s no getting away from it. It’s an important game. But it’s not the be all and end all. I’d rather win promotion and get beat by Cardiff twice. People might not like that.
“But we need to go and give a better account of ourselves. We need to show more fight, more spirit, more doggedness.
“That will give us a chance of getting a result.”
Perhaps it’s a tactic to take the pressure off the fixture? The fact Duff even recognises that people won’t like that comment says everything…
We’ve seen so far that he isn’t a people pleaser and that can be refreshing but when you’re talking about a game that means a lot in South West Wales and it has shown by the results we have enjoyed in recent years.
In reality the essence of what he says is correct – I think most people would gladly take promotion over beating Cardiff City – but when we are as bad as we are at present it seems tone deaf at best.
Meanwhile the Swans boss bemoaned the performance of his players after today’s match in a game where there was little positive to take away going into the international break.
Duff said: “You can talk about formations and players and managers all this sort of stuff. But if your opponent runs harder than you it’s going to be a difficult afternoon.
“It’s why you end up retiring from football. I can still kick a ball. I can still head it. But I can’t run anymore, because I’m fat and old
“It’s disappointing (the result and performance). But there’s new players in the building now. We’ve got a couple of weeks. The season almost starts now.
“It’s about integrating new players. We’ve got four new players who will give us a better balance and there’s good competition for places now, so people need to put their hands up.
Not knocking the man .Heโs dtill left with some of Martinโs team who insist on standing still and the passing sideways or backwards.
But his substitution at half time was crazy .Did he really think Kyle Naughton could play right back.Thi added to Wood who seemed to want to be somewhere else and a left back who should have been on the right simply opened the pitch up for Bristol .But then this happens every game .It did against Bournemouth in the week andvit did frequently last season .As soon as we lose the ball up the pitch weโre in trouble .There slways seems to be a gap between centre half and full back.
Letโs hope these four new signings can sort it out or it might be a long season for fans if not for Duff.
Sadly he is just reinforcing my low opinion of him. Arrogant and dismissive.
No excuses. The way we played today is how he has had the team playing since he arrived.
Players look tired and unhappy from the kick off.
Yanks have got to go
It,s the Yanks’ fault the manager is direspectful?
Give it a rest.
Disrespectful
Not a man of his word. Told Barnsley fans he was in it for the long run. Empty promises.
Very disappointing result again. And not a helpful comment from Duff. The current x1 are out of sink.There are No leaders on the pitch. Wood had a poor game. The 4 new players need to play straight away at cdff. The Captaincy should be given to a leader. The Ukranian should start, together with Ginnelly and Lowe. Joe should play from the start, for an hour, then be replaced. The rest of the players can come from Ollie, Key, Tjai A on, Azeem and Grimes, Yates and Cullen. Sort it Duff !
Yes not up to the job not got a clue blaming the players again he is the manager and the buck stops with him on this form Cardiff City will beat us the board should have gone for some one with more experience in the championship and third from bottom does not make good reading .
Judge him.after the break . He has time to work with players . I am wondering if the players are buying into his philosophy. Time will tell. Hopefully a positive outcome .