West Brom plan talks with Swans boss Williams

[Dr. Winston]

All the ingredients are taken from the same Dutch-Spanish model, it's just different flavours of the same thing. I agree the Martin and Williams version of it can be more than tedious at times. Sousa's version was a bit shite as well. There are a few others like them about elsewhere right now.

As I say - some coaches are better than others at aping it. Roberto and Brendan were certainly the more attacking end of the scale.

I think we're broadly in agreement but coming from different directions.

Yes, the ultimate roots of the current style probably lie in Cruyff's work at Barca (based on Rinus Michels of course), but it's very much Guardiola's version which everyone is trying to copy these days because, as you say, he's been very successful with it.

I really don't think Martinez or Laudrup worked the way they did based on Pep. More likely the original, which they would both have seen first hand in Catalonia in the 80's & 90's. There was plenty of room for mavericks and flair players in that style. These days, not so much.

 

[AusinIsOurHero]

Yes, don't be Roberto

I love this cloob

 

[Smurph]

I love this cloob

Just not as much as Wigan

 

[Neath_Jack]

West Brom was at home and Laudrup was in charge. It is quite possibly the greatest 45 minutes of football I have ever witnessed live.

Easily the best 45 I’ve ever seen us play.

 

[AusinIsOurHero]

Just not as much as Wigan

Always holds a special place in the heart - just for Itay Schecter firing in his sh*t from a tight angle

 

[Smurph]

Easily the best 45 I’ve ever seen us play.

Doubt I'll ever witness football like that being played by a Swans team ever again.

 

[monmouth]

Bit harsh to say he’s had a year of non achievement - he’s taken us from a team dicing with relegation to on the edge of the play offs with an average squad - playing lovely football at the same time.

We'll have to disagree about the underlying presumptions in all of that. 6 points against two terrible teams in a few days have seriously helped him out. His win ratio, points per game, and football tactics and style were veering from ordinary to awful before that. The edge of the play offs...hmm, I'll believe that's not totally false when we beat anyone in the top 6....lovely football...may I suggest specsavers. For most of the time it makes your eyes bleed.

 

[Magic_Michu]

The reason coaches try to ape Pep is because let's face it he's the most successful manager of all time. His methods work. The emphasis is on controlling games by having the ball.

Some coaches are really good at aping it. Some not so much.

I quite like it, I like seeing a team have control of the ball and keeping it away from the opposition. I mean, our Roberto and Brendan teams were modelled on it, and they did alright.

But if you prefer a more end to end, up and down, fast paced game with loads of shots and crosses going in the box - like Klopp's teams for example - then it probably isn't for you.

It all depends what your taste is, I guess.

We were doing it successfully long before Pep

 

[Magic_Michu]

Easily the best 45 I’ve ever seen us play.

Aug 30th 2014 - my wedding day.

Bloody missed the game. But we were top of the premier league the day I got married!

 

[Magic_Michu]

Aug 30th 2014 - my wedding day.

Bloody missed the game. But we were top of the premier league the day I got married!

Actually looking back that was a different season, under Monk.

Same result which saw us top the league

 

[AusinIsOurHero]

Doubt I'll ever witness football like that being played by a Swans team ever again.

Is it on YouTube or somewhere similar? I need to watch it again.

 

[Bluenile]

West Brom was at home and Laudrup was in charge. It is quite possibly the greatest 45 minutes of football I have ever witnessed live.

Totally agree, I think West Brom had a 10 minute spell where they didn't even touch the ball, and we were scoring for fun. Think Laudrup said afterwards "there was nothing for me to do other than just sit and admire it!".

 

[Smurph]

Is it on YouTube or somewhere similar? I need to watch it again.

I'd like to think so, not looked if I'm honest.

Will pop something on here if I manage to find anything.

 

[Bluenile]

Williams, supposedly turning down West Brom "I love Swansea, so we'll see". Hardly saying no to the move lol

 

[Smurph]

Totally agree, I think West Brom had a 10 minute spell where they didn't even touch the ball, and we were scoring for fun. Think Laudrup said afterwards "there was nothing for me to do other than just sit and admire it!".

I think we all did. It was incredible.