Swansea City Christmas Review 2025: A Season of Hope, Turmoil and Quiet Revival

[JA News]

Swansea City Christmas Review 2025: A Season of Hope, Turmoil and Quiet Revival

As Christmas arrives and Swansea City reach the halfway point of a chaotic but quietly improving season, it feels like the right moment to look back at the optimism of summer, the struggles of autumn and the renewed belief brought by Vitor Matos. The journey has been messy, frustrating and occasionally uplifting, yet the Swans enter 2026 with more hope than they had just a few weeks ago.

jackarmy.net

 

[Risc]

Recruitment hasn't been a weakness this summer, so the need to continually bang the "analyst" drum because people didn't like his debating methods on a forum a while back is becoming tiresome.

We were at the bare bones in the summer, our captain had jumped ship, i think we had one senior CB here, contracts had been let to run down.

We've signed:

Melker Widell - Good player now starting regularly
Ethan Galbraith - One of the best in league imo.
Marko Stamenic - Quality #6
Ishe Samuels Smith - Good immediate cover, what he's been brought in for.
Kaelan Casey - Good immediate cover, what he's been brought in for.

Manuel Benson (loan) - not worked out
Malick Yalcouye (loan) - good player clearly, had his moments but not done enough, shame as i thought he was a banker

Adam Idah - can’t say he’s worked out or not as Vipi has been on fire and he's played a bit part. Decent goals to minutes though.

Zeidane Inoussa - looks our most dangerous winger but still adapting to the league.

Farman - 3rd choice GK, what he's here for.
Santos - 4th choice CB, what he's here for.
Wales - signed for the future

How long has it been since we've had some actual assetts, now we have, in one summer, it's not perfect but it's a start of fixing years of neglect.

The sheehan saga was a mistake, which was funnily enough made under Montague's watch who everyone said was the saviour, we've replaced with a Swans type appt in Matos, where early signs are promising.

At the moment, I think people, especially on the forums unfortunately, are dreading a nightmare scenario of us being successful under people they have personal issues with over an internet forum, quite sad.

 

[Smurph]

Recruitment hasn't been a weakness this summer, so the need to continually bang the "analyst" drum because people didn't like his debating methods on a forum a while back is becoming tiresome.

We were at the bare bones in the summer, our captain had jumped ship, i think we had one senior CB here, contracts had been let to run down.

We've signed:

Melker Widell - Good player now starting regularly
Ethan Galbraith - One of the best in league imo.
Marko Stamenic - Quality #6
Ishe Samuels Smith - Good immediate cover, what he's been brought in for.
Kaelan Casey - Good immediate cover, what he's been brought in for.

Manuel Benson (loan) - not worked out
Malick Yalcouye (loan) - good player clearly, had his moments but not done enough, shame as i thought he was a banker

Adam Idah - can’t say he’s worked out or not as Vipi has been on fire and he's played a bit part. Decent goals to minutes though.

Zeidane Inoussa - looks our most dangerous winger but still adapting to the league.

Farman - 3rd choice GK, what he's here for.
Santos - 4th choice CB, what he's here for.
Wales - signed for the future

How long has it been since we've had some actual assetts, now we have, in one summer, it's not perfect but it's a start of fixing years of neglect.

The sheehan saga was a mistake, which was funnily enough made under Montague's watch who everyone said was the saviour, we've replaced with a Swans type appt in Matos, where early signs are promising.

At the moment, I think people, especially on the forums unfortunately, are dreading a nightmare scenario of us being successful under people they have personal issues with over an internet forum, quite sad.

Same people shout and stamp their feet the loudest when we have a dip and then nowhere to be seen when things start heading in the right direction. You only have to read the match day threads to see this in full effect.

It's also a coincidence that most of these "supporters" rarely attends games in the flesh.

 

[JackSomething]

If my posting history was available for every incarnation of PS/JA, you'd see I have historically been one of the 'happy clapper' style posters, fighting against the constant negativity of some.

Having established that, this season has so far followed a familiar pattern seen over recent seasons:

- Finish the season strongly (usually under a relatively recently appointed manager).
- Make a lot of signings, building anticipation and belief for the current season.
- Start the season with a mixed bag of results that leaves us in a decent position to challenge if form improves.
- Results and performances fall off a cliff, leaving us with relegation fears.
- The manager is sacked and a new guy appointed.
- Results and performances improve under the new manager, leading us to conclude the last guy was the problem all the time and that the promised land awaits now we have the right person in charge.
- ?

I genuinely hope that Matos and the latest batch of players are the ones to break the cycle and the current improvement in form is going to continue.

 

[Gors Buster]

The players had totally given up on Williams and that Portsmouth game on NY day was the absolute pits. Going down.
Sheehan saved us and won me over, then completely blew it this season.
Alan needs to have a good think about what went wrong as Matos was able to come in, without any of his back room staff and address it immediately.
Onwards and upwards and as always, need 2 quick wingers.

 

[PSumbler]

Recruitment hasn't been a weakness this summer, so the need to continually bang the "analyst" drum because people didn't like his debating methods on a forum a while back is becoming tiresome.

We were at the bare bones in the summer, our captain had jumped ship, i think we had one senior CB here, contracts had been let to run down.

We've signed:

Melker Widell - Good player now starting regularly
Ethan Galbraith - One of the best in league imo.
Marko Stamenic - Quality #6
Ishe Samuels Smith - Good immediate cover, what he's been brought in for.
Kaelan Casey - Good immediate cover, what he's been brought in for.

Manuel Benson (loan) - not worked out
Malick Yalcouye (loan) - good player clearly, had his moments but not done enough, shame as i thought he was a banker

Adam Idah - can’t say he’s worked out or not as Vipi has been on fire and he's played a bit part. Decent goals to minutes though.

Zeidane Inoussa - looks our most dangerous winger but still adapting to the league.

Farman - 3rd choice GK, what he's here for.
Santos - 4th choice CB, what he's here for.
Wales - signed for the future

How long has it been since we've had some actual assetts, now we have, in one summer, it's not perfect but it's a start of fixing years of neglect.

The sheehan saga was a mistake, which was funnily enough made under Montague's watch who everyone said was the saviour, we've replaced with a Swans type appt in Matos, where early signs are promising.

At the moment, I think people, especially on the forums unfortunately, are dreading a nightmare scenario of us being successful under people they have personal issues with over an internet forum, quite sad.

For the record it has f*** all to do from my view as to what he was like on a forum - putting an analyst in charge of recruitment is stupid. Plain stupid. Use the analysis to inform not make a decision

Now for the summer recruitment.

Widdell - January signing
Galbraith and Stamenic I agree

Samuels-Smith and Casey - if they are cover we can't put them down as Success.

So I would suggest that you just wind back a little and reflect as if we are successful its great for everyone and put away the belief that it is all down to his internet persona. Because it's not. That article doesn't even mention the forum stuff so how you drew that conclusion is beyond me. If that makes it sad then so be it.

The summer window was average at best. Nothing more.

 

[Risc]

For the record it has f*** all to do from my view as to what he was like on a forum - putting an analyst in charge of recruitment is stupid. Plain stupid. Use the analysis to inform not make a decision

Now for the summer recruitment.

Widdell - January signing
Galbraith and Stamenic I agree

Samuels-Smith and Casey - if they are cover we can't put them down as Success.

So I would suggest that you just wind back a little and reflect as if we are successful its great for everyone and put away the belief that it is all down to his internet persona. Because it's not. That article doesn't even mention the forum stuff so how you drew that conclusion is beyond me. If that makes it sad then so be it.

The summer window was average at best. Nothing more.

Ah I’m sure it hasn’t.

Why have you made up this analyst thing aswell? According to his LinkedIn he has never been an analyst and was high up in the sports betting world. Public domain.

Why can’t players who have been brought in to be capable cover, which is what they’ve shown they are, be classed as a success?

Why are you saying about the January signings? He was there for them too so signed them, along with O’Brien.

Average at best now is it? Maybe you need to wind it in as when you thought montague was in charge of it you was waxing lyrical if memory serves. It’s an agenda against someone trying to do a job for the club they support, simple as that, and it is sad.

The owners were there and talking to people openly if what MuteSwan is saying is correct and they are open with their vision for the club and how it will be run and explain their decision making, but yet again the people who are loudest in criticism on here and at twitter are no shows.

I’m confident that the profit we make from this summer will trump others we have had since Watson got here combined. The lack of respect Gorringe and Worth get is poor imo, but it’s for other reasons and I’ll stand by that.

 

[Risc]

Just to add aswell. We saw where the saviour Montague ended up. If I was to believe everything I read on here it was premier league interest and he was headhunted.

Notts County

 

[PSumbler]

Ah I’m sure it hasn’t.

Why have you made up this analyst thing aswell? According to his LinkedIn he has never been an analyst and was high up in the sports betting world. Public domain.

Why can’t players who have been brought in to be capable cover, which is what they’ve shown they are, be classed as a success?

Why are you saying about the January signings? He was there for them too so signed them, along with O’Brien.

Average at best now is it? Maybe you need to wind it in as when you thought montague was in charge of it you was waxing lyrical if memory serves. It’s an agenda against someone trying to do a job for the club they support, simple as that, and it is sad.

The owners were there and talking to people openly if what MuteSwan is saying is correct and they are open with their vision for the club and how it will be run and explain their decision making, but yet again the people who are loudest in criticism on here and at twitter are no shows.

I’m confident that the profit we make from this summer will trump others we have had since Watson got here combined. The lack of respect Gorringe and Worth get is poor imo, but it’s for other reasons and I’ll stand by that.

What analyst thing is being made up? We are taking a data led approach to recruitment which by definition is data analysts. I have no idea about "high up in the sports betting world" but that's not relevant to football recruitment any more than it was when you said it in your post?

I said about January as you referenced Widdell talking about the summer. The summer was average at best but you are spot on. Like many in the summer I thought it was good (**** all to do with who was running it and if you want to take a look back credit was given to everyone at the time) but as time as proven it was nowhere near as good as most people thought at the time. Fact no agendas involved and deeply disappointed you took that approach by believing anything different. You've visited here long enough I would have thought to believe better than that.

Stand by it all you want but sadly you are wrong. I hope they are all a roaring success but I stand by my opinions at the moment which was we had an average summer window, we need further football people involved if we are to progress at the level the owners want us to do so.

Shame really, you and I have had some decent discussions in the past around this and you know my stance on it so not sure why you chose to jump on me in the way you did and accused of agendas etc when it couldnt be further from the truth

The owners were there and talking to people openly if what MuteSwan is saying is correct and they are open with their vision for the club and how it will be run and explain their decision making, but yet again the people who are loudest in criticism on here and at twitter are no shows.

And if I am classed as a no show then so be it. The only time anyone ever tried to get me to speak to the owners was when Justin John was desperately trying to arrange something with coleman but the dates never combined with me being at home in Swansea. And then it turned out he wanted it to be a group discussion rather than 1 on 1. To which I declined. If that makes me a no show then no show it is.

And, anyway, even if the summer recruitment is hailed as more than average it doesn't take away the fact that having it solely run by data analysis is madness and the need for a DOF is still large!

 

[Mamaswan]

With the amount of incoming players signed in the summer, the law of averages means they arent all going to be as successful as was hoped. Although there's still time and there are already signs of something happening.

Some will work out and some wont. Galbraith for £1.5m ffs. That was an absolute cracker which none of us saw coming.

Many fans were whooping and cheering after they did their own research and there were ridiculous cries of "Swans are going up" with every new signing. So if the recruitment team were wrong, so were the fans. Admit it. Every one apart from Idah was met with some air punching.

Let's not forget - cos I had until I was chatting to the club reps after the match, the current head of recruitment was also responsible for O'brien and Widdell in Jan prior to his promotion later on.

 

[Darran]

Anyway it’s good to see Risc posting on the best Swans forum in the world.

 

[Mamaswan]

And, anyway, even if the summer recruitment is hailed as more than average it doesn't take away the fact that having it solely run by data analysis is madness and the need for a DOF is still large!

But it isn't run solely by data analysis?
The club explained the process publicly both in the Owners announcements and at the forum.

Not sure where the idea of pure data led recruitment at the Swans has come from. Not seen it mentioned anywhere - thanks Google.