Grimes

[Dr. Winston]

Listening to Monk was his first mistake. It went drastically downhill after that.

I am reliably informed that he appointed him in the full belief that he would be pliable. Basically the Orville to Jenkins' Keith Harris. Didn't really work out that way. Ultimately they got on worse than Jenkins did with Sousa, which is saying something.

It's a shame because Monk's achievements on the pitch should have seen him held in high regard. Unfortunately being such a snidey shitbag off it has tarnished that beyond repair.

 

[Smurph]

I am reliably informed that he appointed him in the full belief that he would be pliable. Basically the Orville to Jenkins' Keith Harris. Didn't really work out that way. Ultimately they got on worse than Jenkins did with Sousa, which is saying something.

It's a shame because Monk's achievements on the pitch should have seen him held in high regard. Unfortunately being such a snidey shitbag off it has tarnished that beyond repair.

The way he went about getting the gig tells us all we need to know about the fella which is a shame. As you said as player he should be one of the greats.

That leg stretch in the play off final to stop a certain goal possibly won us the game.

 

[NEATH JACK 8]

FFS. The Swansea Way is extinct. It died about 2015 after being alive for a meagre 5 years. The other teams worked it out and just let us get on with it. Tippy tapping the ball around our own half getting fucking nowhere. I've followed for 46 years and only witnessed it work for approximately a tenth of those years. Success under Tosh and Martinez and Jackett and Hollins and Yorath, none involved this "way".
As for Joey as manager. Wow. Sentimental nonsense. Let's go the whole hog and get Trundle or Robinson. Shaun Macdonald ? Absolute

 

[monmouth]

FFS. The Swansea Way is extinct. It died about 2015 after being alive for a meagre 5 years. The other teams worked it out and just let us get on with it. Tippy tapping the ball around our own half getting fucking nowhere. I've followed for 46 years and only witnessed it work for approximately a tenth of those years. Success under Tosh and Martinez and Jackett and Hollins and Yorath, none involved this "way".
As for Joey as manager. Wow. Sentimental nonsense. Let's go the whole hog and get Trundle or Robinson. Shaun Macdonald ? Absolute

For my money, 'the Swansea way' has nothing to do with a specific style of football. Laudrup was different to Rodgers was different to Martinez and was planets from Sousa. Plus forgotten Jackett's football of our play off year was just as exciting as any of that but totally different...7-1 vs Brizzle anyone?

No, the real Swansea way that has existed at various times but notably 2007 -2013 is when everyone is absolutely together on and off the pitch, the club feels different and special with no one in it for themselves (even though the lying snakes probably were just pretending, it didn't feel like it), we leverage a point of difference on the pitch - it's not the style, it's the competitive advantage of a different style; we use resources cleverly with superior team building, not just buying players, "splashing the cash" or wasting money on players we don't use. So it was a whole model, not a specific playing style.

Long gone, probably never to return.

Oh and as NJ8 says, it felt the same under Tosh and Struel and the swansea mafia for a few years too. the point of difference on the pitch then was our superb local young players mixed with judicious acquisition of experience.

 

[SwanseaJack]

For my money, 'the Swansea way' has nothing to do with a specific style of football. Laudrup was different to Rodgers was different to Martinez and was planets from Sousa. Plus forgotten Jackett's football of our play off year was just as exciting as any of that but totally different...7-1 vs Brizzle anyone?

No, the real Swansea way that has existed at various times but notably 2007 -2013 is when everyone is absolutely together on and off the pitch, the club feels different and special with no one in it for themselves (even though the lying snakes probably were just pretending, it didn't feel like it), we leverage a point of difference on the pitch - it's not the style, it's the competitive advantage of a different style; we use resources cleverly with superior team building, not just buying players, "splashing the cash" or wasting money on players we don't use. So it was a whole model, not a specific playing style.

Long gone, probably never to return.

For me, this has pretty much hit the nail on the head. Its more of a togetherness and 'family feel', players not being signed looking for a pay packet but instead excited to be part of a system. Important payers not being left to the last year of their contract and a half decent atmosphere on match day. Essentially, punching above

Optimistic/confident it will return, may just not be as soon as some people would like.

All we can really do is stop moaning and get behind what we have got, because showering more shit on them isn't a great motivator. We have what we have, lets see how well we can polish some of the dross. I am still quietly confident we can over achieve this year when some players are bedded in, upper middle and maybe a sniff at play offs.

 

[Smurph]

For my money, 'the Swansea way' has nothing to do with a specific style of football. Laudrup was different to Rodgers was different to Martinez and was planets from Sousa. Plus forgotten Jackett's football of our play off year was just as exciting as any of that but totally different...7-1 vs Brizzle anyone?

No, the real Swansea way that has existed at various times but notably 2007 -2013 is when everyone is absolutely together on and off the pitch, the club feels different and special with no one in it for themselves (even though the lying snakes probably were just pretending, it didn't feel like it), we leverage a point of difference on the pitch - it's not the style, it's the competitive advantage of a different style; we use resources cleverly with superior team building, not just buying players, "splashing the cash" or wasting money on players we don't use. So it was a whole model, not a specific playing style.

Long gone, probably never to return.

Oh and as NJ8 says, it felt the same under Tosh and Struel and the swansea mafia for a few years too. the point of difference on the pitch then was our superb local young players mixed with judicious acquisition of experience.

Sums things up for perfectly, excellent post.

The Swansea way had, has absolutely nothing to do with how we play football.

 

[NEATH JACK 8]

I agree wholeheartedly with the last couple of posts on the "Swansea Way". The media bigged it up to be about the kind of football on the pitch and that has become what it means to people of a certain age, with no real idea of history, and living their lives by what the media says. That is why when I talk about it I mean the football on the pitch because that's what it evolved into. That's why idiots talk about the Swansea Way being with Grimes as Chief Executive.

 

[Swanjaxs]

We had a style of play that worked for us for a few of seasons in the Premier League. Pundits like Lineker and Shearer were blown away by how we dominated possession, even against the top four sides. However, our style was eventually "found out" and became less and less effective.

Failing to adapt accordingly eventually cost us, and to some extent, still does to this day.

 

[NEATH JACK 8]

We had a style of play that worked for us for a few of seasons in the Premier League. Pundits like Lineker and Shearer were blown away by how we dominated possession, even against the top four sides. However, our style was eventually "found out" and became less and less effective.

Failing to adapt accordingly eventually cost us, and to some extent, still does to this day.

It was also easy to do with players of the quality we had. Unfortunately, Martin and Williams are attempting to do it with players who are just not good enough. We have never had a Plan B since Cooper left. It's as if , don't matter if we lose the game, the possession and passing stats are more important

 

[bytholwyn]

We had a style of play that worked for us for a few of seasons in the Premier League. Pundits like Lineker and Shearer were blown away by how we dominated possession, even against the top four sides. However, our style was eventually "found out" and became less and less effective.

Failing to adapt accordingly eventually cost us, and to some extent, still does to this day.

That's revisionism. There's an article out there somewhere that documents our decline possession wise in the Premier League. We managed around 58% odd if my memory serves under Rodgers, and finished 11th, which was an astonishing achievement with the bargain basement squad we had. Then under Laudrup it went down slightly to 56% or so. It then declined to 50% or so under Monk, and continued to decrease year on year until relegation when we were averaging just over 40% under Carvahal. We weren't found out, we just went away from our possession-led ethos, and paid the price.

Whilst the tactical approach of our managers varied, it is delusional not to think that a possession-led approach didn't underpin our success under Martinez, Rodgers and Laudrup. If you don't like that style, or no longer do, that's fine, but let's not make stuff up.

 

[monmouth]

That's revisionism. There's an article out there somewhere that documents our decline possession wise in the Premier League. We managed around 58% odd if my memory serves under Rodgers, and finished 11th, which was an astonishing achievement with the bargain basement squad we had. Then under Laudrup it went down slightly to 56% or so. It then declined to 50% or so under Monk, and continued to decrease year on year until relegation when we were averaging just over 40% under Carvahal. We weren't found out, we just went away from our possession-led ethos, and paid the price.

Whilst the tactical approach of our managers varied, it is delusional not to think that a possession-led approach didn't underpin our success under Martinez, Rodgers and Laudrup. If you don't like that style, or no longer do, that's fine, but let's not make stuff up.

I think you've missed the point maybe? The possession underpinnings worked because it was different and quite novel and suited us. It's now old hat and even Spain and Barca have largely ditched it for higher tempo front foot approaches. Our challenge is to find the new competitive advantage, not regress to something that has been worked out by everyone and, currently, is a million miles away from the 'possession' style favoured by Martinez, Laudrup and Rodgers (which were all different anyway. Laudrup's style was much more penetrative than Rodgers, for example.

The possession game we are currently playing and that under Martin is a pile of old arse that will get us nowhere. Or rather, did get us nowhere and is getting us nowhere. There is not one 'style' of possession football. Now to claim there is and it's the 'swansea way' is making stuff up.

 

[bytholwyn]

That's revisionism. There's an article out there somewhere that documents our decline possession wise in the Premier League. We managed around 58% odd if my memory serves under Rodgers, and finished 11th, which was an astonishing achievement with the bargain basement squad we had. Then under Laudrup it went down slightly to 56% or so. It then declined to 50% or so under Monk, and continued to decrease year on year until relegation when we were averaging just over 40% under Carvahal. We weren't found out, we just went away from our possession-led ethos, and paid the price.

Whilst the tactical approach of our managers varied, it is delusional not to think that a possession-led approach didn't underpin our success under Martinez, Rodgers and Laudrup. If you don't like that style, or no longer do, that's fine, but let's not make stuff up.

I think you've missed the point maybe? The possession underpinnings worked because it was different and quite novel and suited us. It's now old hat and even Spain and Barca have largely ditched it for higher tempo front foot approaches. Our challenge is to find the new competitive advantage, not regress to something that has been worked out by everyone and, currently, is a million miles away from the 'possession' style favoured by Martinez, Laudrup and Rodgers (which were all different anyway. Laudrup's style was much more penetrative than Rodgers, for example.

The possession game we are currently playing and that under Martin is a pile of old arse that will get us nowhere. Or rather, did get us nowhere and is getting us nowhere. There is not one 'style' of possession football. Now to claim there is and it's the 'swansea way' is making stuff up.

Teams at all levels of the game that dominate possession tend to outperform their competitors. Think Barrow when they won promotion from the National league (dubbed unimaginatively Barrowcelona). Or Williams' Notts County scoring a ridiculous number of goals in winning promotion from the National league. Or Bolton under Ian Evatt. I could go on...

The point is that teams that dominate possession get to set the agenda more than their opponents. Man City have evolved under Guardiola but they still dominate possession. Likewise Barcelona and Spain, just less so than in the past.

Another consistent thread between Martinez, Rodgers and Laudrup was the short sided triangles. If there is one thing that was largely absent from Martin's reign it was that, similarly with Williams. I hope the penny drops for Williams, because at the moment we're looking to hit the flanks too often, even though Ronald isn't a very good dribbler. We need more variety and tempo. But we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water, by neglecting taking care of the ball.

 

[monmouth]

When we beat QPR 5-0 in 2012 under Laudrup we had 50.1% possession, to QPRs 49.9%. Sometimes the memory plays tricks. We didn't try and keep the ball above creating chances then at all. In the next game against West Ham we had 62%. When we beat Arsenal at the Emirates 2-0 and outplayed them it was 53% Arsenal 47% Swans. Yet when we destroyed Liverpool in the Carabao it was 42% Liverpool 58% Swans. We mixed it up and did not just play 'possession'. Even Laudrup said referring to the previous season, possession for it's own sake is pointless if you do nothing with the ball.

Martin and Williams are just derivative fools. As for Man City; watch that every week and I'd be bored to tears, win or lose, never mind poundshop Man City which is all Williams has shown so far.

 

[Smurph]

When we beat QPR 5-0 in 2012 under Laudrup we had 50.1% possession, to QPRs 49.9%. Sometimes the memory plays tricks. We didn't try and keep the ball above creating chances then at all. In the next game against West Ham we had 62%. When we beat Arsenal at the Emirates 2-0 and outplayed them it was 53% Arsenal 47% Swans. Yet when we destroyed Liverpool in the Carabao it was 42% Liverpool 58% Swans. We mixed it up and did not just play 'possession'. Even Laudrup said referring to the previous season, possession for it's own sake is pointless if you do nothing with the ball.

Martin and Williams are just derivative fools. As for Man City; watch that every week and I'd be bored to tears, win or lose, never mind poundshop Man City which is all Williams has shown so far.

Man City also have the strongest squad in Europe bar Real Madrid.

With the players they have they will always dominate the ball.

Read a post that mentioned Barrow, Bolton. Can someone remind what leagues they're still in?

 

[Jackandcoke]

The non-football types are being shown up tragically on this thread.

Those of us lucky enough to be part of the Swanseaway system from a young age were taught to treasure possession, to pass and move in triangles up and down the pitch, with pace and precision, to always play heads-up, to think 3-4 moves ahead - and everyone from Centre Half through to Centre Forwards played that way, all of us rotating positions in training to appreciate proper perspective.

It’s in the Club’s dna.

Gavin Levey (and Paul Watson)are on it. They’re implementing an alignment programme (using the same consultants used by Man City) to reinforce the Swanseaway ethos - from the juniors right through.

Proper Jacks know.