swansvalleyjack
First Team Player
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2020
- Messages
- 213
- Reaction score
- 126
To balance out the top sticky, here’s an alternative view 
We have a nuanced situation regarding Sheehan’s Plan that many fans are picking up on, and why they are, for now, sticking with him based on his apparent pragmatic approach.
The Pragmatic Foundation
1. Results over Performance: There have been games where the performance hasn't been the free-flowing "Swansea Way" of old, but they've grinded out a point or a narrow win. In the Championship, these points are gold dust for building confidence and a points tally.
2. Managing the Squad: He's working with what he has, with new players of average ability and not necessarily his own pick over the summer - resulting also in not the most aesthetically pleasing football. He also has to work out his best X1 and this is a developing process
Why Fans Are Sticking With Him (For Now)
This is the crucial part. Swans fans are passionate about their style of play, but they are also realists. Here’s why they're patient:
1 They See the Context: Fans understand Sheehan wasn't given a super war chest in the Summer. He's a caretaker-turned-manager trying to fix a broken car with the tools in the boot. The context of the squad is not lost on them.
2 Trust in the "Plan": The communicated (or inferred) plan is logical: Secure safety first, then attack. Fans can buy into a long-term vision, especially if the short-term pain leads to long-term gain. They are essentially tolerating the current pragmatism because they believe it's Phase 1 of a larger strategy.
3 "Letting the Brakes Off" is an exciting prospect: The idea that once say 50 points (or a similar safety mark) is secured, the team will be unleashed, is a powerful narrative. It gives fans something to look forward to and frames the current cautious football as a temporary measure, not a permanent philosophy
The Upcoming Challenge: Shifting Gears
The real test for Sheehan and the club's hierarchy will come when that "safety net" is achieved.
1. The Transition: Can the team seamlessly switch from a pragmatic safety first approach into a pro-active attacking side pushing for a play off place? It's not an easy tactical shift. But he did well last season .
2. Long-Term Identity: While fans are patient now, the club's long-term identity should be possession-based football but with pace, passion and positive purpose. The board and fans will want to see a gradual return to those principles once the squad is capable of executing it effectively.
Conclusion:
Alan Sheehan is playing the long game with a short-term hand. Fans are sticking with him because they recognise the difficult circumstances and are trusting in the logical, two-phase plan: survive and stabilise now, thrive later. The patience will remain as long as Phase 1 is successful and there is genuine belief that the exciting "Phase 2" is on the horizon.
We have a nuanced situation regarding Sheehan’s Plan that many fans are picking up on, and why they are, for now, sticking with him based on his apparent pragmatic approach.
The Pragmatic Foundation
1. Results over Performance: There have been games where the performance hasn't been the free-flowing "Swansea Way" of old, but they've grinded out a point or a narrow win. In the Championship, these points are gold dust for building confidence and a points tally.
2. Managing the Squad: He's working with what he has, with new players of average ability and not necessarily his own pick over the summer - resulting also in not the most aesthetically pleasing football. He also has to work out his best X1 and this is a developing process
Why Fans Are Sticking With Him (For Now)
This is the crucial part. Swans fans are passionate about their style of play, but they are also realists. Here’s why they're patient:
1 They See the Context: Fans understand Sheehan wasn't given a super war chest in the Summer. He's a caretaker-turned-manager trying to fix a broken car with the tools in the boot. The context of the squad is not lost on them.
2 Trust in the "Plan": The communicated (or inferred) plan is logical: Secure safety first, then attack. Fans can buy into a long-term vision, especially if the short-term pain leads to long-term gain. They are essentially tolerating the current pragmatism because they believe it's Phase 1 of a larger strategy.
3 "Letting the Brakes Off" is an exciting prospect: The idea that once say 50 points (or a similar safety mark) is secured, the team will be unleashed, is a powerful narrative. It gives fans something to look forward to and frames the current cautious football as a temporary measure, not a permanent philosophy
The Upcoming Challenge: Shifting Gears
The real test for Sheehan and the club's hierarchy will come when that "safety net" is achieved.
1. The Transition: Can the team seamlessly switch from a pragmatic safety first approach into a pro-active attacking side pushing for a play off place? It's not an easy tactical shift. But he did well last season .
2. Long-Term Identity: While fans are patient now, the club's long-term identity should be possession-based football but with pace, passion and positive purpose. The board and fans will want to see a gradual return to those principles once the squad is capable of executing it effectively.
Conclusion:
Alan Sheehan is playing the long game with a short-term hand. Fans are sticking with him because they recognise the difficult circumstances and are trusting in the logical, two-phase plan: survive and stabilise now, thrive later. The patience will remain as long as Phase 1 is successful and there is genuine belief that the exciting "Phase 2" is on the horizon.
East Stand regular
