The Swans will be on their way to London later today to prepare for their EFL Championship clash with Charlton Athletic at the Valley tomorrow (3pm) Interestingly it’s a meeting that has numerous links between the two head coaches of both sides, Alan Sheehan and Nathan Jones. We can add another character to the mix as well.

Both men have Luton connections from their playing days, Jones from Blaenrhondda after transferring from Merthyr Town to the Hatters in 1995, and Sheehan signing from Bradford City for the 2017/18 season after a successful loan spell. Nathan Jones was the head coach at Luton Town at that time. The links don’t stop there, both players have progressed as professional footballers, Sheehan more so but their paths met again when Sheehan agreed to join Luton Town as a player when Jones was manager as mentioned. Jones had a seriously succesful time at Luton Town with two spells. The first with Sheehan as a player (below) and a fifty one percent win rate, the second when Sheehan joined Jones from Oldham Athletic in 2022 as a permanent coach. Again over forty percent was his win rate there. Sheehans playing days had come to an end at Oldham as player coach and for the man from Athlone it was a sensible choice.

At Charlton Jones has won nearly half of his eighty seven games on a near forty nine percent win rate. That’s what Sheehan is up against tomorrow.

There has been a friendship ever since and that was cemented when Nathan Jones was offered what looked like a dream job at Southampton in late 2022. Sheehan would follow him to St Mary’s as the shortest managerial role in Southampton's history would finish in February the following year. Both were out of work. Jones found solace at Charlton a year later and their success to date has been unexpected but nothing short of a delight to those fans of football who love stories like this. Irrespective of Jones lifelong support of Cardiff City he has been described to us as a very fair minded and Christian person. (Quote : The Guardian on appointment at Southampton, below) Prone to the elements of footballs ups and downs of course which has seen him rely upon his strong faith, his Cardiff supporting life put aside he is overall a successful head coach.

That cannot be denied.

His public persona may well be the devil incarnate to Swansea followers and that hasn’t been helped by his celebrations on two occasions in 2022 when the Hatters defeated the Swans at the then Liberty. It was over the top and very provocative, some Jacks won’t be convinced even if he turned up at their house as one of the ‘three wise men’ with gifts that would change their lives. That’s the deep held resentment bordering on football hatred Jones presents to the majority of Swans fans. That won’t make this fixture any more easier tomorrow for those fans, however Sheehan and Jones are friends not only through football but in their personal lives as well. Tomorrow we should also see Paul Watson in attendance at the Valley, we are informed the ex Swans Sporting Director who left the club under very cloudy circumstances last year has been offered a guest spot in the stands. He became the figure blamed for that poor season last time around regards some of his acquisitions. Quoted on his arrival at Swansea as stating, "There wasn't a single person in the building, so the recruitment over the past few years, prior to us coming in, was almost on a whim. That couldn't last."

Swansea fans would possibly argue that with Russell Martin then manager during that period bringing in Flynn Downes from Ipswich as a part of his contract at the Swans. He would later move on to West Ham in a very lucrative sale bringing in multi millions to the club. There are other examples of that ‘whim’. Overall these three figures have an off the field relationship which defies the animosity felt by Swansea fans towards two of this trio. If Watson does attend then that won’t enhance matters one bit, the fact Nathan Jones is on the sidelines will be enough for many. A shrewd move by Jones ?

On the field the Swans visit an arena which any result would be welcome, yes they will go for the three points but it’s a matter if how Sheehan perceives any lead that could be taken. If that is the scenario and Charlton are chasing the game we see the away side as reverting to a defensive approach not dissimilar to that witnessed this season both home and away. On Wednesday to see the Swans defending in their own area at times against Manchester City for the majority of the second half in their 1-3 defeat was frustrating and to some pointless. How a Swans side can go from dominating for a third of the game and leading to capitulation defensively within ninety minutes remains the focus of frustration.

It is widely accepted that this occurred and has been an issue all season.

With all that said this will be a wide open game. Both sides will go for it and therefore we will see an attacking strategy in the first forty five minutes. How Sheehan then sets up after the break will determine if Swansea City win this game or not. They have the ability to come back when goals are scored against them, especially in the final stages of a game, but it’s that cautious almost needless sense of preservation Swans fans are dead set against.

We will see the return of Ben Cabango tomorrow with the Kaelan Casey ‘conundrum’ very much in Sheehan’s mind. There is a loud call for him to be involved, the West Ham loanee is clearly a huge talent and his inclusion would solidify the Swans defence in a three with two full backs pressing forwards either side. Many are hoping Sheehan welcomes this as well. That may deplete his midfield options by one dependent on his desire for two wider players supporting Zān Vipotnik up front, but the possibility is there for flexibility.

Nathan Jones has already commented on the fixture, "Swansea have been around a long time at this level and higher, so they’re going to be tough opposition. Alan was an excellent captain for me, he was a coach for me and he was set play coach for me, so he’s someone I know very, very well. It’s a tough league to have your first job in management and I think he’s done excellently” Jones has had a very promising last three fixtures beating Sheffield Wednesday at home, Ipswich away and drawing with Hull City away last time out. After that game he said, “It would have been a real travesty if we had come away with nothing. We started really well in the first 10 minutes and had three big chances, but then it settled down. We’ve got a week to prepare for it (Swansea game) it’s a home game and it’s one that I’m really looking forward to”

We bet he is …

Marko Stamenic is looking unlikely to play tomorrow for the Swans after the death of his father and Malick Yalcouyé is definitely out serving the last game of his three match ban after his sending off against Queens Park Rangers. We send our condolences to Marko and his family, on current form he will be a big miss.

More on this game as it gets closer on the Indy.

Artwork by Swansea Independent : Photograph Luton Town