What type of manager do we want?

[Smurph]

I think for a relatively young manager coming into a relegated club that was shredding players like nobodies business, Potter did okay.

James hadn't played a game for us and took a while to get up and running.

I think you're being very kind to Mr Potter.

 

[Swans Jack]

Someone who can help us bring in good players at a decent price in markets that other teams are perhaps overlooking.

Ronald and Franco are examples of us getting decent value where other sides aren't looking. I know Ronald blows hot and cold but he's infinitely better than we'd have got from another championship club for that price.

Whether it's Europe or Scotland or League 2... It's irrelevant. As long as there's some joined up thinking, which is totally lacking at the moment, I don't care.

I second this. Also maybe someone who wants to play youth and not scared to shake things up. The question is do you go for a fruit ball character who wants blood and shouts and screams on touch line and get results or Mr nice guy. With Williams I always hate hearing his distant comments when he talks about players. He sounds very distant from what goes on and that fiasco with the team talk and letting Grimes do it says it all. Maybe not throw players under the bus bus also don't give them all a big hug and kiss . Balance in everything.

 

[TerryPHELAN]

We've been at the new stadium now for 20 seasons. In those 20 seasons, I reckon we've played exciting, attacking, passing football in the following:

2 under Martinez
2 under Rodgers
1 under Laudrup (with some notable performances in his second season)
1 under Potter

Can't think of many more

I think the first year at the Liberty under Jackett was ok, especially up until end of January.

 

[ARQS]

I think you're being very kind to Mr Potter.

To be fair, in one of my "where did it all go wrong?" considerations yesterday, I did wonder what would've happened if we'd kept a couple of those players that season. Even if it had been the Ayews.

 

[ARQS]

I think you're being very kind to Mr Potter.

Actually was it Potter that dropped Mulder for poppadom hands Nortdfelt? If so, then yes, you're right.

 

[Smurph]

To be fair, in one of my "where did it all go wrong?" considerations yesterday, I did wonder what would've happened if we'd kept a couple of those players that season. Even if it had been the Ayews.

We've lost some top talent over the last few years, that's for sure.

 

[Smurph]

Actually was it Potter that dropped Mulder for poppadom hands Nortdfelt? If so, then yes, you're right.

Possibly, all seems like a distant memory these days.

 

[Gors Buster]

Ronald's problem is that he's very inconsistent and when he's bad he's abysmal. Although I do wonder whether he'd be better with more threat around him.

All that said, he's been involved in 7 of our 30 goals this season so almost a quarter of them have been down to him.

Ronald - 1 goal, 6 assists in 27 games
Eom - 0 goals, 1 assist in 19
MPH - 2 goals, 3 assists in 23
Bianchini - 2 goals, 0 assists in 21
Vipotnik - 4 goals, 0 assists in 25
Cullen - 8 goals, 1 assist in 24

The much maligned Obafemi in 2021, 12 goals, 3 assists

 

[rockinj]

Well I’m very pleased to see this thread, there’s obviously still some braincells in the fan base.

On the Swansea way I’m actually in agreement with other posters I was arguing for passing football constantly before we eventually got it back in the day as I saw that as our route to success and also it’s much nicer on the eye which will create more of a “buzz”

I’m not delusional though, as some others have suggested:

No 1: the passing football element is an “element” it’s not one size fits all. It’s recruiting wisely with players and a system that works for it.

No 2: again as others have suggested it’s not innovative anymore. Direct football is a thing of the past and that’s why it would be a disaster to adopt it.

For me the “Swansea way” was a similar concept to the old Liverpool boot room with a philosophy that was meant to endure. It has been lost, it was lost when the Americans came in.

I would be very happy for it to be dropped and remembered as a glorious period in our history.

We need to identify someone and back them. What worries me is that we end up with a knee jerk panic appointment and we never move forward.

It’s not easy but it’s possible, but that means patience both before and after appointment. The latter is next to impossible with many of our fans.

I remember when Martinez was interviewed he had a blueprint. We need someone with that passion again, not someone ready for another payday

 

[ThurrockJack]

Someone who coaches possession with purpose, who encourages taking a chance every now and again to break the lines. I still do not want your classic hoofball manager, as far as i'm concerned, that is as boring to watch as possession for possession's sake.

 

[bakajack]

Ultimately possession based passing football is only entertaining football when you do something with it and especially only if you win games.

We have seen under Martin and Williams what a slavish dedication to the former but not the latter is like over these three and half years.

I agree that the youth production line has been criminally neglected the past decade or so with a few outstanding youth products either being sold for peanuts or leaving to go elsewhere because of no pathway into the first team. That’s a huge problem for a club like ours especially with sales of such players usually a big part of profit margins and transfer budgets

So what we are looking for at the end of the day is a manager who wants possession and wants to attack as well as a manager who is happy to develop youth products and integrate them into the squad?

 

[ARQS]

Where we are at present, we could probably do with an older manager who isn't particularly looking to immediately take the next step.

The problem with these young ambitious managers is that they're mainly only concerned with enhancing their own reputation and so only want to play the way that is in fashion and have no interest in developing youth players. Why have a relatively tough season with a load of kids, perhaps playing how you have to not how you want to but that'll ultimately benefit the club when you can play loanees from the PL or more experienced crap players and finish a few places higher? Particularly if you can do it with loads of possession and lots of passes.

A steady hand who'll give youngsters a chance, play a bit more pragmatically when needed, won't have an eye on impressing sides above us, may be great for a couple of years whilst we rebuild a bit.

 

[rockinj]

Where we are at present, we could probably do with an older manager who isn't particularly looking to immediately take the next step.

The problem with these young ambitious managers is that they're mainly only concerned with enhancing their own reputation and so only want to play the way that is in fashion and have no interest in developing youth players. Why have a relatively tough season with a load of kids, perhaps playing how you have to not how you want to but that'll ultimately benefit the club when you can play loanees from the PL or more experienced crap players and finish a few places higher? Particularly if you can do it with loads of possession and lots of passes.

A steady hand who'll give youngsters a chance, play a bit more pragmatically when needed, won't have an eye on impressing sides above us, may be great for a couple of years whilst we rebuild a bit.

I couldn’t disagree more.

There’s nothing wrong with ambition, it’s a driving force. Someone who wants to progress will be dedicated to demonstrating results.

Having an old head is precisely the thinking that will see us going nowhere.

We just have to identify the right candidate. I fear the populist old head. I think that’s the end of us.

 

[ARQS]

I couldn’t disagree more.

There’s nothing wrong with ambition, it’s a driving force. Someone who wants to progress will be dedicated to demonstrating results.

Having an old head is precisely the thinking that will see us going nowhere.

We just have to identify the right candidate. I fear the populist old head. I think that’s the end of us.

We've not made a single step forward in any regard since before COVID. The only place we are currently going is downwards.

Apart from Cullen (and he's spent a lot of time shoved out wide) and to a lesser extent, Ollie Cooper, we haven't developed a single player who has provided any benefit to the first team, let alone one we can make money off.

We've had a procession of shit loanees or youngish permanent signings who have been written off before they've been given anything approaching a chance. Some of whom have gone elsewhere and done well.

In that time we've stuck with more senior players who are nowhere near good enough.

Since we've been relegated, Duff aside, all our managers have been pretty much the same. Selfish, egotistical and only interested in furthering their own careers, preferably at another club. Throwing their toys out of the pram every time they don't get what they want and flirting with other sides.

Something has to change, surely?

 

[TheLoneRanger]

Someone like Harry Griffiths - who understood the club, loved working with the players, especially the youngsters.

He had tremendous faith in them, and wasn't afraid to use them when they deserved their place in the first team.

Without all his hard work with these young players, I doubt very much that Tosh would have turned up.

Is there another Harry Griffiths out there in this sh1te age of PowerPoint managers?? Nah!!