Time to be positive? A forgettable season ends with some good signs

Monday, 5 May 2025, 8:13
7
4 mins read

As the 2024/25 season drew to a close in the last minutes on Saturday afternoon maybe it was apt that a defensive error cost us the win that we so desired on the last day of the season as it probably summed up most of the season as far as Swans fans were concerned.

Of course in the grand scheme of things it turned out it didn’t matter at all as the Swans secured a more than respectable league position thanks to an excellent run of form at the end of the season under the newly confirmed Head Coach in Alan Sheehan.

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Sheehan had been confirmed just days earlier as taking on the permanent position after yet another successful stint as caretaker and he will now be tasked with working with the new recruitment team over the summer to ensure that the squad is strengthened to the depth that we need to sustain a Championship campaign that can see us looking upwards to challenge rather than looking nervously over our shoulders behind us.

The departures of both Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton on Saturday were emotional moments, two excellent servants of the club with hundreds of appearances between them and both got the receptions that they deserved having both served the Swans with distinction over their time with the club.

For many the memories of the 2024/25 season will completely disappear from the banks on the basis that for most of it, it was completely forgettable.   Endearing months of dreadful football under the stewardship of Luke Williams had turned many away from the club and there were games where it was questionable that there were even over 10,000 people in the stadium.   Season ticket sales will always dictate that the number is reported higher but with banks of empty seats particularly around the turn of the year it was a clear message that eventually had to be heeded when the club parted company with Luke Williams a few short months ago.

Williams – and the Chairman of the time – Andy Coleman, were the catalysts for many to take the easy route on a Saturday and watch the game from the comfort of armchairs or, in the case of many, just not watch the game at all.   I have covered on these pages before my own apathy given that football is an entertainment sport and watching Swansea City under the leadership of these two made it as entertaining as not just watching paint dry but to come back and see if you can watch it dry a second time.

Thankfully neither of them are here any more.   There was no outpouring of emotion at the final departure of Coleman this weekend except for the Trust organisation who he so often walked all over (the editing of their own programme notes has gone pretty much without any level of discussion) and the sheer fact that his fellow investors were relatively quick to remove him from position tells you much about the success he made of what was once a very respected role in football circles.

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The early moves into the transfer market this summer appear to have the right noises behind them.   I still cannot get fully excited about transfers made off the back of data analysts but if they perform on the pitch for us next season then the moves deserve all the credit that they will get.  After several years of completely dreadful transfer windows it is nice to see us making the early moves this time around and picking up players who are certainly coming with the right noises being made about them by people who have watched them in the past.

On paper though the move for Bobby Wales seems to get a lot of praise from those who have watched him a lot and we are also expecting to hear that Zeidane Inoussa has completed his move to SA1 in the next 48 hours after that broke last week in Sweden.

There is of course much work to be done here this summer.   We still have some of the loans that are coming to an end who will need to be replaced (not all of them but certainly some of them will be missed) and of course there is still the uncertainty over Harry Darling who is yet to put pen to paper on a new contract to stay in SA1.

The Championship will line up to be an interesting league next season with Leeds and Burnley – both too good for this league but yet to be seen if good enough for the Premier League – having already departed and it is difficult to see that the three sides coming down will necessarily dominate the way that they did last season when they went up.   Birmingham’s promotion will surely see them arrive stronger than they departed last season but I can see a more open Championship next season and maybe we have the chance to be part of those who are seen as having an ability to push on if we choose to take that route.

When I look back over the course of this season I have seen less games in the flesh then I have in any of the last 30 years supporting the club.   Frankly it was just not enjoyable to watch some games and then, as the season drew to a close and the football improved, a series of personal circumstances means I think I have only seen two games since the turn of the year.   I won’t therefore have any memories that remain of the season that just past but with some luck, a good summer and the right decisions being made over the next few months then maybe next season will be one that is more memorable.

For now, we have to say that there have been many correct decisions that have been taken over the past few weeks and these give us a firmer footing going into the close season then we have seen before.   We have a new manager, we have some signings in the bank and we have a positive run of results at the end of the season that saw us take 16 points from the last 21.   That’s no mean run of form at all.

So whilst we did not sign off with the result that we wanted on Saturday we should not dwell on that and look forward, with a nervous feel of excitement, that there just could be a good summer ahead.

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Images courtesy of Getty Images, Athena Picture Agency and Swansea City Football Club.

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Avatar of Andrew - North Hill
Andrew - North Hill

Lee Trundle

1,711 messages 1,420 likes

We should be positive, because we ended the season top 6 in the form table, it looks like the nonsense of Williams and Martin has been consigned to the dustbin of history (for now at least) and we already know we start with at least two new attacking midfielders coming in next season. We also know that this division is, well, a bit crap really. Anyone outside the top three down as far as 21st is much of a muchness.

That said, we have to send O'Brien back, Joe has retired, we might have to replace Darling without getting a fee, and our options at #9 still look pitiful. There is a lot to do.

Get our summer business right, and we might have a squeak at the play offs. If it's a bit hit and miss, we'll probably remain a mid-table side. But make a pig's ear of it, and we could easily end up circling the drain again.

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Avatar of Swans Jack
Swans Jack

Tommy Hutchison

1,116 messages 504 likes

I feel really optimistic for next season. Mainly due to the way we have approached the upcoming transfer window. I can't remember the last time we agreed deals with players before transfer window open. With Zeidane Inoussa, and possibly Wales next week. And then the hunt I imagine already on for Darling replacement. I think we have a good shot of at least top 6. If we can get the striker problem and strengthen midfield even more and get defense sorted. 👍👍

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Avatar of Colin-swansea
Colin-swansea

Youth Team Apprentice

31 messages 12 likes

Found the Eom interview interesting when he stated how he struggled with the physicality of the Championship and also a lack of confidence at times. No doubt he will be a better player next season but also will be more closely marked by the opposition.

As for Wales and Inoussa, both early signings and Widdell to arrive from Swedish football a new experience for all three but the replacements for O'Brien and Darling(assuming both leave) I hope will hit the road running and not need the 'bedding' in afforded to some of our signings over the years.

We started this season without a main striker and one hopes that Wales will not be burdened with that responsibility when the new season begins, and as important as it is going to be to replace Darling and O'Brien, so it will be for that important striker role. I see Wales as one for the future and as such can be eased into action rather than starting games. Can it be said that if he is that good, bigger clubs would have signed him?

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b
bakajack

Roger Freestone

5,938 messages 1,281 likes

A good insight into his mentality and what a lot of people don't think about when a foreign player comes into the Championship or the Premier League.

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R
Ringwood

Mel Nurse

2,188 messages 703 likes

There is a risk both the swedes and Wales will take time to adapt to the unforgiving Championship. Franco, Eom and to an extent Vip and Bianchini all struggled with the tempo and physicality. Wales having experience of the SPL will help him settle.

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Avatar of Rhydian
Rhydian

Youth Team Apprentice

36 messages 54 likes

Joel Kim is a fantastic reporter, covering all South Korean talent in the EFL and Prem. He watches a lot of our games and supports us as a team supporting South Korean talent.

Eom hits all the right notes in that interview, that's the kind of elite mentality we need at the club.

Anyone with eyes can see that Eom is special, naturally talented, but he's struggled at times. Listening to him speak I'd say he has everything he needs to continue developing, improving himself and learn from his environment. One to watch next season without a doubt.

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Avatar of Pegojack
Pegojack

Ivor Allchurch

4,441 messages 703 likes

There's no doubt Eom was too lightweight earlier in the season. Very easily brushed off the ball and losing out on 50/50 challenges. It has been very impressive to see how he's gradually bulked up and become more able to meet the physical challenge. He's now even winning aerial duels against much bigger guys. How much is down to Sheezy and his team I don't know, but the player and the coaches deserve a lot of praise.

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Phil Sumbler

Been watching the Swans since the very late 1970s and running the Planet Swans website (in all its current and previous guises since the summer of 2001 As it stood JackArmy.net was right at the forefront of some of the activity against Tony Petty back in 2001, breaking many of the stories of the day as fans stood against the actions where the local media failed. Was involved with the Swans Supporters Trust from 2005, for the large part as Chairman before standing down in the summer of 2020.

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