Planet Swans ArchivesSpeaking to todays Western Mail/Walesonline Nathan Dyers second-half cameo against Southampton has left Michael Laudrup pondering how to fit three wingers into two positions at Swansea City.
Swans boss Laudrup has the sort of conundrum most Premier League managers would envy as he wrestles with which two of his three wingers should get the nod for the trip to Newcastle on Saturday.
Dyer’s goal and performance has put him in with a great chance of being recalled to the Swans starting XI with both Pablo Hernandez and Wayne Routledge off-colour against the Saints.
Laudrup was full of praise for his goalscorer after the game on Saturday but, tellingly, also showed he is aware that no player is happy being on the bench all the time.
“I’ve talked to Nathan and he is disappointed, but I would have been worried if he said he was happy,” said Laudrup.
“Players who do not play have to be disappointed but it’s important that doesn’t go to frustration.”
Dyer himself insisted he has no problem with his current substitutes’ role but hoped his well-taken goal against his old club had put him in contention for a place at Newcastle.
The 24-year-old was a regular during Brendan Rodgers’ two years in charge and out-performed Scott Sinclair in Swansea’s debut season in the Premier League – but he has started only six of Laudrup’s 11 top flight games.
One solution to the problem that was floated by Laudrup is playing Dyer, Hernandez and Routledge in the same side with one of the three being deployed directly behind the main forward.
“All three is a possibility, Pablo and definitely Wayne can play as a second striker,” said Laudrup.
Routledge played there at the start of last season, but with limited success, and has shown his best from for Swansea while out wide under Laudrup.
He was considered too lightweight to play more centrally but with Ki Sing-Yueng ruled out of the trip to St James’ Park, he could yet get a chance there.
Although not anywhere near his best at Southampton, Routledge has arguably been one of Swansea’s most consistent performers this season.
With two goals already in this campaign he has doubled his goal tally from last season and the much-travelled midfielder has provided more assists (three) than Dyer or Hernandez.
He’s also averaging more key passes and dribbles than any other player in the Swansea squad according to stats provider Opta.
Hernandez should be the obvious player to drop if Dyer is indeed to return, but Laudrup may be reluctant to relegate the Spaniard to the substitutes’ bench given that he’s shown signs of improvements in recent weeks.
The record £5.55m signing scored a late equaliser against Chelsea to follow on from the winner he scored against Wigan two weeks earlier.
Statistics back up the feeling that Hernandez has made a mixed start to his Swansea career, with two goals but fewer dribbles than Dyer or Routledge.
Hernandez also has the lowest pass completion rate of the trio (76.3%), compared to Dyer (86%) and Routledge (80.5%).
The main problem Laudrup faces is that all three of his wingers are players who benefit from getting a regular starting spot. Routledge struggled when only given 15 minutes here and there last season but has been much better when playing regularly under Laudrup.
Hernandez’s displays have certainly improved since a difficult first few weeks so pulling him out of the side might not do much for his confidence.
But when you change a game like Dyer did on Saturday then that player should be rewarded. Keeping all three happy might be one of Laudrup’s most difficult tasks all season.
Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2012/11/13/swansea-city-boss-michael-laudrup-considers-nathan-dyer-recall-91466-32219510/#ixzz2C5yRWy32
