Phil Sumbler
The pressure at Swansea City is definitely mounting on Michael Duff after the dreadful performance that was the South Wales derby on Saturday evening. The question that everyone asks at the moment is whether he can survive it.
It wasn’t so much the fact that the Swans domination of the fixture came to an end with a 2-0 defeat but it was the pathetic way that we surrendered that domination with nothing more than a whimper at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The defeat meant that Duff has secured a return of just two points from his first six league games in charge and faces now a massive week with a trip to Loftus Road tomorrow night being followed by a home clash with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Two games that it is not unfeasible that could make or break his Swansea City career.
It sounds crazy to think that we are talking about a managerial change just so early into the campaign but it is so easy to see why so many are calling for it. All of Duff’s promises upon his appointment seem nothing more than a distant memory as the side meanders now with seemingly no direction, no style and no substance. And of course the all important statistic of no wins. It’s a conundrum that is why many are saying that Duff’s tenure at the Swans is already in jeopardy.
There are other stories at the moment of unrest in the camp and even suggestions that Nathan Jones’ presence in the directors box on Saturday evening could mean the former Luton and Southampton manager is being lined up as a replacement already. Each of those stories do not help our position but if there is any truth in them then it would certainly be playing a part in our dreadful form.
Duff’s comments in the depths of the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday night give rise to even more worry as it was clear that he was very much watching a different game to the Swans fans watching in the stadium, at home and in the pubs around the city.
“I thought a lack of quality let us down, the application and the attitude was there,” he said.
“The frustration is the players fought and ran, and the profiles of the players in the building are that they are good footballers, but ultimately a lack of quality cost us the game.
“The energy and intensity was there, it was a lack of quality that let us down.”
It is difficult to see any position where any aspect of Saturday’s performance could be described as having energy and intensity such was the way that the Swans surrendered. We should not lose sight of the fact that even captain Matt Grimes admitted that the Swans did not create anything of note. That in itself is very alarming that Duff thinks it was energetic and intense and tells you very much how far his standards are from our ideals.
Duff was backed with thirteen new signings in the summer window, seven of them started on Saturday so this was very much a Michael Duff team coached to play the Michael Duff way. The Michael Duff way that may just be one step too far backwards for it to be a long term plan for the Swans.
There is little doubt that Duff will this morning wake up and know that he faces a massive week. Two wins could change history some time as far as his time here at Swansea is concerned but a winless week and it is really difficult to see him surviving. Six games without a win is not the end of the world when you say the statistic in isolation but tie it up with pathetic performances and it could well be something that forces a change way earlier than any of us would have envisaged back in July.
The pressure is on Michael, let’s see how it pans out from here.
knives out already. doesn’t take long for the masses to get itchy. they demand like children and make threats like them, when we all know a win Tuesday will silence them. Patience is not in the lexicon ever. Russell Martin had it last season, Cooper…it’s the usual clamour then dies away. togetherness is what is needed to turn things around. seems most didn’t get the memo
I don,t think its the lack of points that have got the knives out . It is the style of play that is worrying. We have centre backs trying to hit 50yrd passes and handing possession back to teams. This takes me back to the Kenny Jackett era when he wouldn’t have Roberto in the team because he wasn’t prepared to play the long ball game .Sorry but to say there’s no quality in the side is plain wrong. It is the style we are asking these players to play doesn’t suit them and is plain wrong.
Duff is certainly responsible for the preparation of the pitch but questions also should be asked of the players and particularly the captain on the pitch who has yet to show any particular commitment to the duff cause with lacklustre and rather inept performances and non existent leadership! Sideways, safe, boring and predicable summarise his performances this season! He’s in good company!
We in big trouble and only 6 games in, we do it every season, getting players in last minute 4 or 5 games in, that 15 points , all new players should be at the club 4 weeks before the season kicks off
They’ll come good keep the faith !… a new manager takes time especially after that dog martin jumped ship, a couple of wins the glass is half full ?
Martin’s style was futile for me . Duff promised progression and more quicker dynamic play .we have yet to.see this . I believe the players are not playing for him. I hope he’s given a chance . After all.Martin got away with murder at this club.