Duff: There’s more than one way to play football – we have to evolve

Thursday, 21 September 2023, 10:34
3
1 min read

Michael Duff has hit back at critics of his style of play after a winless first seven games in charge at Swansea City.

Fans have recognised the big change in terms of football style with the Swans moving towards a mote direct style in comparison to what we’ve seen in the past.

But Duff, who admits that there is heat after this dreadful run of form, says that the original Swansea style was founded twenty years ago and times have changed.

He pointed to Manchester City under Guardiola as an example where football has changed in recent times with more emphasis on strength and height.

Duff told Football League World:

“It needs to be back to back, it needs to be a good performance. If we get beat because the referee has had a poor performance or something then I can handle that but what we can’t do is have another Bristol City.

“Every game is a must win. You work in this industry, it’s a tough industry. No one feels sorry for you, the heat comes on really quick these days. That’s just where we’re at.

There have been a lot of changes to the football club, it’s not just me. You look at bigger clubs than us, better managers than me. The change at Chelsea, you go back to Arsenal when Arteta first went in. It happens all the time.

“The supporters don’t understand that, I get that. If I don’t get the time, I don’t get the time but I can put my head on the pillow knowing that I’ve done…and the staff have work unbelievably hard. The players are understanding it now.

“Like I’ve said, we’re coming from different parts. I understand there is ‘The Swansea Way’ but there is more than one way to do it. Football changes. The Swansea way was created 20 years ago.”

Duff faces more pressure again as his team take on one of the only two teams below them in the table on Saturday. Win and whilst it won’t be all smiles it’ll certainly be a reprieve.

Lose and the owners will have a decision to make…

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

3 Comments

  1. I think heโ€™s right on that score although heโ€™s still to develop a style and win! a game .People in this area have an obsession about possession football .
    It isnโ€™t the be all and end all of the game .
    Last year we saw an extreme form of it and for the most psrt it was dreadful .Listening to Southampton fans it still is .
    With all the changes and losing our best two attacking players who have hardly been replaced Duff deserves a bit of time.

  2. Is he telling Grimes to pass the ball forward and run a bit more, thats optimistic. Everything we do with him in midfield is so painfully slow and predictable. Not sure heโ€™s capable of evolution?
    chris

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Rob Davies

East Stand season ticket holder since 2007 and a small part of Planet Swans since 2021.

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