The difference a manager can make.

[Smurph]

Ahh yes I remember now. So unlikely to be a case of panic buy because Vip was off.

There was surely a conversation beforehand between scouting, recruitment and coaching team, in which there was a full show of hands for approving the signing.

You'd like to think so when it comes to spending such a large amount of money on one player.

The manager makes it work. Also strengthens his case when it comes to spending the same amount of money on other players.

Look what I've done with our six millions pound striker, he's worth twice that amount now.

At the moment he's turned Idah from a striker to a stinker.

 

[Swansea93]

The amount of money spent on Idah they need to find a way to get him and VP on the pitch together.

 

[Smurph]

The amount of money spent on Idah they need to find a way to get him and VP on the pitch together.

Absolutely, it was scoring goals not letting them in which was the issue, until yesterday.

Instead of going even more defensive by playing five at the back, throw two up top.

He mentioned this after the Preston game and did nothing about it.

 

[Dillwyn the Dog]

I think it’s more a case of recruitment teams and coaching staff not being on the same page. We are frequently seeing square pegs in round holes, even when we have a better fit right in front of our eyes. This was evidently as recently as yesterday. Is this politics and power struggles behind the scene, if so Cravatt and co need to fix it?

It’s ironic if so because our DOF left because “all parties need to pull in the right direction”. More infighting?

 

[Dillwyn the Dog]

The amount of money spent on Idah they need to find a way to get him and VP on the pitch together.

Maybe he was viewed as an expensive misfit

 

[magicdaps10]

I think it’s more a case of recruitment teams and coaching staff not being on the same page. We are frequently seeing square pegs in round holes, even when we have a better fit right in front of our eyes. This was evidently as recently as yesterday. Is this politics and power struggles behind the scene, if so Cravatt and co need to fix it?

Whatever makes you think there would be politics and power struggles within the corridors!?


I think many on here could forsee this possibly happening IF it were the case.

 

[tardylum]

It’s ironic if so because our DOF left because “all parties need to pull in the right direction”. More infighting?

It seems like Sheehan had a big say on transfers in the summer. Idah, the big signing, has the O'Dea connection and all of the midfielders are workmanlike in the way he likes. Widell who came in before him has not been fancied. They doubled down on Sheehan in the summer but surely will not let him pick his transfers this January.

 

[Jackareme]

Whatever the relative merits of our squad - and we have widely differing opinions. There are some facts that are indisputable
1. Our squad is full of players selected at international level - for decently ranked international teams.
2. We have invested the most Money into the squad since relegation
3. We have players that have shown ability at certain times - but whose general levels are nowhere near their ceiling - Key Ronald Eom Franco Cullen - to name just a few

SO....on balance I think most would objectively agree we are less than the sum of the parts.

Next question is why?
Confidence can be an issue - particularly settling new and young players into the championship, BUT you have to accept that the buck stops with the head coach. Ultimately preparing and selecting the team, and the tactical approach is down to him.

With my coaching background I could write a whole dissertation on our failings - but the headline is that we are not impacting play in the attacking third. We are down on key passes, touches in the opposition area, XG and (of course) actual goals. You don't even need the stats - it is obvious that we are toothless to any casual observer.
What concerns me most about Sheehan is that he seems clueless as to how to fix this.
Instead of varying the point of attack to include central areas, instructing wide players to take defenders on, and playing with an attack minded number 10 - Sheehans solution has been to play with a back 5, stretch our midfield resources/dominance, and isolate our striker.
At the same time he seems to have totally neutered our set piece threat (although we did nearly get one yesterday).
I am not one for knee jerk reactions, but in my world he needs a fireside chat and to be tasked with producing a blueprint of how he is going to fix things - if that plan is lacking in any way - then I really think our recruitment team should be sounding out alternative leadership.

 

[FearOfAJackPlanet]

Whatever the relative merits of our squad - and we have widely differing opinions. There are some facts that are indisputable
1. Our squad is full of players selected at international level - for decently ranked international teams.
2. We have invested the most Money into the squad since relegation
3. We have players that have shown ability at certain times - but whose general levels are nowhere near their ceiling - Key Ronald Eom Franco Cullen - to name just a few

SO....on balance I think most would objectively agree we are less than the sum of the parts.

Next question is why?
Confidence can be an issue - particularly settling new and young players into the championship, BUT you have to accept that the buck stops with the head coach. Ultimately preparing and selecting the team, and the tactical approach is down to him.

With my coaching background I could write a whole dissertation on our failings - but the headline is that we are not impacting play in the attacking third. We are down on key passes, touches in the opposition area, XG and (of course) actual goals. You don't even need the stats - it is obvious that we are toothless to any casual observer.
What concerns me most about Sheehan is that he seems clueless as to how to fix this.
Instead of varying the point of attack to include central areas, instructing wide players to take defenders on, and playing with an attack minded number 10 - Sheehans solution has been to play with a back 5, stretch our midfield resources/dominance, and isolate our striker.
At the same time he seems to have totally neutered our set piece threat (although we did nearly get one yesterday).
I am not one for knee jerk reactions, but in my world he needs a fireside chat and to be tasked with producing a blueprint of how he is going to fix things - if that plan is lacking in any way - then I really think our recruitment team should be sounding out alternative leadership.

I'm itching to put some counter points to 1-3 (on the assumption they are aimed at bolstering a 'squad is really good' argument), but your summary underneath is well put and something with can all agree on, so I'm with you there. We have memory of teams being more than the sum of their parts, so we know what it looks like and what the opposite looks like.

I think 2 things can be right at the same time - 1) Our squad is not as good overall as the general consensus thinks, and 2) We can still play a whole lot better than we are doing. Questioning the quality of the squad does not get the head coach off the hook for how he's working with them.

I think the next tranche of games after the international break to January is likely last chance saloon for Sheehan, we can't go on being the most powderpuff attacking unit in the league with Vipotnik in the side and Idah being the major summer signing. I wouldn't be surprised if we see him try to field sides with both of them in it, If he's going to go down, at least go down with a bang.

That's assuming Sheehan gets that bunch of games. I think he will.

 

[Jackareme]

As a final note from my distressed Sunday, before I head to the NFL..
We have had a succession of appointments that seem to totally ignore our history and culture.
Do we expect to win every week - NO
However, we expect our Swans to attack with speed and skill and bust their nuts every week trying to get a result,
This was why Martin an Williams were run out of town, and (even though he is different) Sheehan could soon be following them. I was also glad to see the back of Cooper for these reasons
With the attacking talent in our squad we desperately need a positive, innovative and creative coach who goes in pursuit of goals and wins - even at the cost of defeat. Sheehan is pragmatic and cautious, and I really don't know what O'Dea brings to the party.
Laudrup, Rodgers, Potter were all forgiven their failings - they weren't scared to tilt at windmills and go for the throat with quick attacking tactics and selections.
If Sheehan continues on curremnt path the Swansea.com will be empty.

 

[Jackareme]

I'm itching to put some counter points to 1-3 (on the assumption they are aimed at bolstering a 'squad is really good' argument), but your summary underneath is well put and something with can all agree on, so I'm with you there. We have memory of teams being more than the sum of their parts, so we know what it looks like and what the opposite looks like.

I think 2 things can be right at the same time - 1) Our squad is not as good overall as the general consensus thinks, and 2) We can still play a whole lot better than we are doing. Questioning the quality of the squad does not get the head coach off the hook for how he's working with them.

I think the next tranche of games after the international break to January is likely last chance saloon for Sheehan, we can't go on being the most powderpuff attacking unit in the league with Vipotnik in the side and Idah being the major summer signing. I wouldn't be surprised if we see him try to field sides with both of them in it, If he's going to go down, at least go down with a bang.

That's assuming Sheehan gets that bunch of games. I think he will.

Yes - very well thought out post - my only uncomfortable thought is that SHOULD Sheehan go with both of Idah and Vipotnik, I can see 2 things happening.
1. We have to start to go long with our passing - and this will result in giving the ball away repeatedly
2. We will end up playing with two isolated strikers instead of one.
IF you put a gun to my head - I would probably go in this direction instead
A Back 4 with 4 proper strong defenders - Casey at RB Cabango and Burgess and Tymon or Samuels Smith at LB.
I would play Stamenic as a holding midfielder to screen the back 4.
Outside of that we have 5 players to select to impact the game in attack.
Two of Galbraith Franco/Yalcouye should be box to box
Two of: Eom Innoussa and Tymon Ronald should offer width and iwith clear instructions to take players on and create.)
We then need a genuine number 10 - (for me Widell, or possibly Eom or even Cullen or Idah) to play behind Vipotnik.
Other than that - we need to work on attacking through our number 10 and playing to the feet of Vipotnik as well as attacking wide.
Our wide players, box to box midfielders and number 10 need to flood the area with runs when we are attacking.
It is ridiculous how comfortable opposition teams are against us as we play with isolated attackers and decline opportunities to take defenders on.

 

[tardylum]

As a final note from my distressed Sunday, before I head to the NFL..
We have had a succession of appointments that seem to totally ignore our history and culture.
Do we expect to win every week - NO
However, we expect our Swans to attack with speed and skill and bust their nuts every week trying to get a result,
This was why Martin an Williams were run out of town, and (even though he is different) Sheehan could soon be following them. I was also glad to see the back of Cooper for these reasons
With the attacking talent in our squad we desperately need a positive, innovative and creative coach who goes in pursuit of goals and wins - even at the cost of defeat. Sheehan is pragmatic and cautious, and I really don't know what O'Dea brings to the party.
Laudrup, Rodgers, Potter were all forgiven their failings - they weren't scared to tilt at windmills and go for the throat with quick attacking tactics and selections.
If Sheehan continues on curremnt path the Swansea.com will be empty.

Outside of two number nines who should be good for this level, you can not tell me we have lots of attacking talent for in this squad. Especially as it is unknown if we can play those two together. Inoussa, Eom, Ronald and Benson are the only options and maybe Widell is he is creative and the rest of our squad is more defensive and out of possession based. Assume we start Inoussa, Widell, Ronald and one of the number nines, there are no guarantees that is an effective attack at this level as 2 of them are still unknowns in England.

P.S GO SAINTS

 

[tardylum]

Yes - very well thought out post - my only uncomfortable thought is that SHOULD Sheehan go with both of Idah and Vipotnik, I can see 2 things happening.
1. We have to start to go long with our passing - and this will result in giving the ball away repeatedly
2. We will end up playing with two isolated strikers instead of one.
IF you put a gun to my head - I would probably go in this direction instead
A Back 4 with 4 proper strong defenders - Casey at RB Cabango and Burgess and Tymon or Samuels Smith at LB.
I would play Stamenic as a holding midfielder to screen the back 4.
Outside of that we have 5 players to select to impact the game in attack.
Two of Galbraith Franco/Yalcouye should be box to box
Two of: Eom Innoussa and Tymon Ronald should offer width and iwith clear instructions to take players on and create.)
We then need a genuine number 10 - (for me Widell, or possibly Eom or even Cullen or Idah) to play behind Vipotnik.
Other than that - we need to work on attacking through our number 10 and playing to the feet of Vipotnik as well as attacking wide.
Our wide players, box to box midfielders and number 10 need to flood the area with runs when we are attacking.
It is ridiculous how comfortable opposition teams are against us as we play with isolated attackers and decline opportunities to take defenders on.

4-1-2-3-1 is 12 players.

 

[FearOfAJackPlanet]

Outside of two number nines who should be good for this level, you can not tell me we have lots of attacking talent for in this squad. Especially as it is unknown if we can play those two together. Inoussa, Eom, Ronald and Benson are the only options and maybe Widell is he is creative and the rest of our squad is more defensive and out of possession based. Assume we start Inoussa, Widell, Ronald and one of the number nines, there are no guarantees that is an effective attack at this level as 2 of them are still unknowns in England.

P.S GO SAINTS

I’m so glad the Titans are on their bye week. After the misery of the Swans yesterday, I’m not sure if I could handle watching the Titans find new ways to lose today on top of that.

 

[Jackareme]

Look for a huge Lions bounce back today - they are 12 in a row winning after a defeat - and haven't lost 2 in a row in 2 seasons (equivalent) Go Lions!