The Swansea Way – Duff tells us its in the past

Michael Duff has delivered a blow to anyone hoping to return to the Swansea Way of the past and says that football has changed in the past twenty years and that the fans need to change with it.

Duff was speaking before his side got their first league win of the season with a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and amidst much criticism of his playing style, or as many would put it the lack of playing style.

The pressure may have eased on Saturday a little with that win but the league position remains far from ideal with the Swans just outside the bottom three ahead of the next fixture which is away at Millwall next Saturday.

The Swansea Way is a much discussed way of playing games which was hugely evident within several managers starting with Roberto Martinez as the Swans moved from League One to not just the Premier League but also a major trophy and a European campaign.

Duff though insists that football has changed in that time and he cites other managers as those who have had to adapt their way as the game evolves with one comparison made to the difference between Pep Guardiola at Barcelona and the current team he manages at Manchester City.

“There’s been a lot of change in this football club,” said Duff.

“Look at bigger clubs than us and better managers than me – the changes at Chelsea, look at Arsenal when [Mikel] Arteta first came in.

“It happens all the time and supporters don’t understand that. But I get it. If I don’t get the time, I don’t get the time. The players are understanding now that we’re coming from different places.

“I understand ‘the Swansea way’ but there’s more than one way to do it. Football changes. ‘The Swansea way’ was nearly 20 years ago.

“Pep Guardiola was the best manager in the world 10 years ago at Barcelona but every player was 5ft 5 and passed it three yards all the time. I’m pretty certain Pep Guardiola is still the best manager in the world but he has five players who are 6ft 4 because the game has changed. You have to evolve and roll with the times.

“It’s about sticking to the process. You build teams on foundations, on solid foundations, on non-negotiables, and then you can build on the other stuff.

“But if people have already made their mind up, they’ve already made their mind up. If I don’t win enough games, then I’ll get the sack anyway. That’s not just me. That’s anyone in football.”