Swansea City Have Parted Ways with Head Coach Luke Williams

[bakajack]

I really liked Williams when he joined. A really positive, open personality, impossible not to warm to. Then he clearly struggled to get buy in to his ideas, probably mainly because he had the wrong players to implement his game plan. At that point he lost the plot, starting with the home game against Portsmouth where he had a meltdown at pitch side. I hope he reflects on that and works on the mental side of things. He could do no worse than talk to Bellamy about changing his mindset. He showed at Notts County that he has some good capabilities, but he needs to learn from his time with us.

A huge part of Williams's problem at the club was his persistence in playing players outside of their designated positions (see 1) and the catastrophically suicidal tactics he tried to implement (see 2)

1. A not exhaustive list:
Bianchini as a striker when he was signed to play on the wing
Abdulai as a winger when he is a defensive midfielder by trade
Peart-Harris as a winger when he is a number ten
Fulton as a footballer

2. Some of his insane tactics:
The Grimes-Fulton axis of inadequacy. The slowest and most defensive midfield pairing in the league
The fullbacks coming into central midfield experiment. Leaving our flanks exposed giving up goal after goal
The demand of possession above all else, even preventing the wingers from attacking their full backs

 

[magicdaps10]

He may be doing it in a voluntary capacity?

Rumoured to be.

In this modern world of football.....I think it's absolutely fantastic that he is doing this.

 

[bytholwyn]

A huge part of Williams's problem at the club was his persistence in playing players outside of their designated positions (see 1) and the catastrophically suicidal tactics he tried to implement (see 2)

1. A not exhaustive list:
Bianchini as a striker when he was signed to play on the wing
Abdulai as a winger when he is a defensive midfielder by trade
Peart-Harris as a winger when he is a number ten
Fulton as a footballer

2. Some of his insane tactics:
The Grimes-Fulton axis of inadequacy. The slowest and most defensive midfield pairing in the league
The fullbacks coming into central midfield experiment. Leaving our flanks exposed giving up goal after goal
The demand of possession above all else, even preventing the wingers from attacking their full backs

I agree with most of this, although some of these issues can be attributes to having few options, especially in the middle of the park with Allen perpetually injured and Franco blowing up after 60 minutes. The point about possession is a common misunderstanding of Williams' approach. If that was true he wouldn't have given Vigouroux license to hit long ball after long ball (we were second only to Burnley on that front) even though he was successful only around 42 per cent of the time. When we weren't banging it long we would develop play really slowly, hence this strange mishmash of approaches.

Ronald and Eom weren't being held back at all, it's just that Ronald's effectiveness was limited, Eom was better, but the chances he was creating were being squandered. Williams failed because in his mind he thought we could recreate the phenomenal partnership between Jodi Jones (a ridiculous 24 assists in league two) and Langstaff, and we simply didn't have the personnel to deliver his game plan. He should have recognised this a lot sooner. He might still be in the job had he done so.

 

[Ringwood]

Its been 15 years since I got on a plane, like I said in another thread, we have it all on our doorstep where we live, Aberavon beach looked amazing on the news last night

The world ends at Neath

 

[Longlostjack]

Rumoured to be.

In this modern world of football.....I think it's absolutely fantastic that he is doing this.

Apparently not according to an interview in the advertising rag WOL. Never mind criticism of his performance as a manager - he sounds like an absolutely top bloke. Credit where credit is due.

 

[Dillwyn the Dog]

I really liked Williams when he joined. A really positive, open personality, impossible not to warm to. Then he clearly struggled to get buy in to his ideas, probably mainly because he had the wrong players to implement his game plan. At that point he lost the plot, starting with the home game against Portsmouth where he had a meltdown at pitch side. I hope he reflects on that and works on the mental side of things. He could do no worse than talk to Bellamy about changing his mindset. He showed at Notts County that he has some good capabilities, but he needs to learn from his time with us.

Or - the players were good enough but thought his tactics were awful and clueless. The end of season upturn tellingly backs that up. A good manager makes the most of every player they’ve got - and a club with our limited resources simply cannot afford to pander to those kinds of whims. The best thing for him is to work full time at the airport then play football manager when he gets home.

 

[Dr. Winston]

I agree with most of this, although some of these issues can be attributes to having few options, especially in the middle of the park with Allen perpetually injured and Franco blowing up after 60 minutes. The point about possession is a common misunderstanding of Williams' approach. If that was true he wouldn't have given Vigouroux license to hit long ball after long ball (we were second only to Burnley on that front) even though he was successful only around 42 per cent of the time. When we weren't banging it long we would develop play really slowly, hence this strange mishmash of approaches.

Ronald and Eom weren't being held back at all, it's just that Ronald's effectiveness was limited, Eom was better, but the chances he was creating were being squandered. Williams failed because in his mind he thought we could recreate the phenomenal partnership between Jodi Jones (a ridiculous 24 assists in league two) and Langstaff, and we simply didn't have the personnel to deliver his game plan. He should have recognised this a lot sooner. He might still be in the job had he done so.

Franco never "blew up" after 60 minutes. It was a deliberate tactical choice on Williams' part akin to Martin consistently hauling Ntcham off around the same time. Both players were accused of being unfit, which is nonsense.

And if you still think the way we went out to play wasn't a massive reason for the ineffectiveness of much of our wide play at this point despite the wealth of evidence and indeed direct statements from the players involved then there's not much else that can be said that will pursuade you otherwise.

 

[Dillwyn the Dog]

Franco never "blew up" after 60 minutes. It was a deliberate tactical choice on Williams' part akin to Martin consistently hauling Ntcham off around the same time. Both players were accused of being unfit, which is nonsense.

And if you still think the way we went out to play wasn't a massive reason for the ineffectiveness of much of our wide play at this point despite the wealth of evidence and indeed direct statements from the players involved then there's not much else that can be said that will pursuade you otherwise.

Makes you wonder what game some people are watching