Alan Sheehan-Manager for Next Season

[Skippyjack]

I haven’t seen a kick of the game today.

Are we riding on the back of freeing Willy, or have we got the LOB bounce?

Until now I thought it was more of the latter. Take him away and what happens?

We dominated the 1st half.. 2nd half we defended resolutely and conceded on their first and only attack.. we did to teams what teams were doing to Willy ball.. letting them have the ball, but knowing we were in control with our shape and discipline

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Football is much more than a data set

And the thing is we've essentially proved that over the last 4 years.

On all the metrics that make the pro-data brigade cream themselves - possession, total passes per game, pass completion rates, progressive passes, etc - we scored very highly. They'd say we "should" have been doing much better and were underperforming on results, according to those metrics.

Unfortunately for them, there was this pesky thing called "reality" getting in the way. Namely the metrics that really matter - goals for and goals against.

I'm not against using data, but when it becomes the be all and end all, trying to control the variables in a sport that often makes no sense, I can't get on board with that.

 

[Swans Jack]

Our recent form would suggest we could possibly challenge for promotion, via the play offs.

Williams will do well to get another job at this level.

Maybe Williams can take the Cardiff role. He does live in Newport

 

[Swans Jack]

The Wycombe game in the league cup got me thinking he wasn't up for it.

I then wanted him to do well as he came across as decent bloke. I guess my heart ruled my head for a while.

Apologies if I was one giving you pelters for calling it early

Same here. Wycombe game was the turning point for me. Then when he started to go whacky with his comments he started to show how crazy his approach was. The final straw was not just the West Brom links but having Grimes do team talks. Jesus, just think about that for a second.

 

[bytholwyn]

Is it just me, or does anybody else wonder if the timing of Mowbray's departure from West Brom, given they still have a small chance of making the playoffs, could be to get their hands on Sheehan, before we offer him the full time job? I can see that happening before Wednesday, so it would make sense for potential competitors to jump the gun.

 

[Cooperman]

Is it just me, or does anybody else wonder if the timing of Mowbray's departure from West Brom, given they still have a small chance of making the playoffs, could be to get their hands on Sheehan, before we offer him the full time job? I can see that happening before Wednesday, so it would make sense for potential competitors to jump the gun.

Nope, I don’t see that.

 

[Swans Jack]

I think it's harsh to say we have no style of play under Sheehan as it implies the players don't really know what they're doing, that it's all just 'have a slice of orange lads and go out there and scrap, 'Ave it!!', which is, I think, an insult to what we've seen overall since Williams left.

A couple of players - and I think Sheehan as well - have talked about 'transitional football' as the key term for how we've been approaching games since Williams left. Now, transitional football is a term that's been around for ages and is normally thought of as just 'what you do when play breaks down', or it's what happens in between the 2 teams operating their 'styles' against each other, but we seem to be focusing on making that in-between phase be our main focus.

The high press is clearly evident as a way to create transitions and catch teams off guard. We're also countering faster than we used to (not the biggest of wins, I'll grant you...), with players being less constrained in how they approach attacks, as long as they (ideally) do it quickly and decisively. I think that in particular has helped Eom - he looked so inhibited playing under Williams, but now revels in attacking (and defending) now that he's not being micromanaged on every blade of grass.

It's reminiscent, dare I say it - only as a broad conceptual comparison - with the 'Heavy Metal football' that Klopp loved to play. It's high energy, high press, transition football. Just because it's less reliant on players cycling the ball to each other endlessly, doesn't make it less of a style.

Of course, not every game has been rich in style and substance, I'm sure we all remember the Derby game as an example, but I've seen enough to clearly see evidence of an approach to games forming under Sheehan, and the players have responded.

Grimes leaving and LOB arriving was also big, but I seem to recall at least 1-2 games under Williams with Grimes gone and LOB in that were pretty grim (Sheff Weds home, Stoke away?). Only when Williams left did the black cloud lift away (instantly...)

Get the man his own article to analyse each game or on the coaching staff . Joking aside, fab post. Honest, really insightful and different take one what many of us had looked at our play.

 

[Smurph]

Same here. Wycombe game was the turning point for me. Then when he started to go whacky with his comments he started to show how crazy his approach was. The final straw was not just the West Brom links but having Grimes do team talks. Jesus, just think about that for a second.

There were some bizarre moments during his time with us.

Playing Ronald as a right wing back was up there.

 

[Swans Jack]

Could it be they’ve already given him the job but holding off announcing it until the last game of the season as surprise as it is at home and he isn’t allowed to say anything.

That's my thinking. A few reports saying this week might be an announcement. If he has got it announce it on the last game also Modric making an appearance wouldn't be to shabby to finish season off

 

[Swans Jack]

There were some bizarre moments during his time with us.

Playing Ronald as a right wing back was up there.

I'll one up you on that one. Peart Harris as striker. Wasn't Cooper also up front as well, at some point?

 

[Smurph]

I'll one up you on that one. Peat Harris as striker. Wasn't Cooper also up front as well, at some point?

Josh Key is the new Gareth Bale.

No pressure, Josh.

 

[Swans Jack]

Is it just me, or does anybody else wonder if the timing of Mowbray's departure from West Brom, given they still have a small chance of making the playoffs, could be to get their hands on Sheehan, before we offer him the full time job? I can see that happening before Wednesday, so it would make sense for potential competitors to jump the gun.

Sheehan has opening said he would see this through and would not leave the players like that. Money talks and I get where you are coming from, but Sheehan would be nuts to take a job there. They average about 2 sacking a year for last 10 years plus. Basket Case Club.

 

[monmouth]

Is it just me, or does anybody else wonder if the timing of Mowbray's departure from West Brom, given they still have a small chance of making the playoffs, could be to get their hands on Sheehan, before we offer him the full time job? I can see that happening before Wednesday, so it would make sense for potential competitors to jump the gun.

No.

 

[bytholwyn]

Sheehan has opening said he would see this through and would not leave the players like that. Money talks and I get where you are coming from, but Sheehan would be nuts to take a job there. They average about 2 sacking a year for last 10 years plus. Basket Case Club.

Corberon was in post for 26 months, so not quite true. Sheehan's comments about being "aligned" with the club's plans are interesting, hinting at possible tension with Montague.

Alan Sheehan: Swansea City caretaker boss waits to see if plans align with club

Alan Sheehan says he must find out if his plans align with those of Swansea City's owners as he waits to discover whether he will become the club's permanent head coach.

www.bbc.co.uk

This is an important issue to nail down. We can't have the manager and DoF pulling in different directions. Some give and take may be required here.

 

[Swans Jack]

Corberon was in post for 26 months, so not quite true. Sheehan's comments about being "aligned" with the club's plans are interesting, hinting at possible tension with Montague.

Alan Sheehan: Swansea City caretaker boss waits to see if plans align with club

Alan Sheehan says he must find out if his plans align with those of Swansea City's owners as he waits to discover whether he will become the club's permanent head coach.

www.bbc.co.uk

This is an important issue to nail down. We can't have the manager and DoF pulling in different directions. Some give and take may be required here.

True, but other than Corberan it's been sacking after sacking. You have to go back to 2000 to 2004 as there longest spell with a manager.