Approaching the year end the Swans are at a key stage of the season. Jack Butty gives a seasonal look at the swans and asks the questions many want answering. And of course we need to see a change from what is becoming the norm, let’s start at Coventry City on Saturday.
There are three more games before the New Year. Russell Martin, the players and fans will want to see good performances and points. Especially after the kamikaze defending last Saturday that gifted Norwich a goal and all the points. And this despite the Swans otherwise dominating the game.This game highlights two big issues for the Swans.
First, it is admirable — in my view — that we try to play out from the back with a passing game that has long been a part of our playing style. However, many fans are frustrated with playing this style irrespective of the circumstances, especially when we keep dominating games but dropping points due to silly defensive errors playing out from Stephen Benda. It seems to me that there is a lot to be said for mixing our style up a bit more to suit the game that is being played at the time. Sometimes this may be passing out from the back but for others a long ball may be more suitable. Mixing it up would also keep the opposition guessing.
The second issue is that we dominate possession and, often, shots on target but fail to score. If we do score we tend to hang on with fans turned into nervous wrecks while they chew down their nails.
In just over two weeks the January transfer window will open. The Swans are just outside the playoffs so it is reasonable to expect that the management of the club will be busy planning how the squad could be improved to, hopefully, make a push for promotion. There are two areas that need strengthening — we need more pace in the team and we need to breakdown defences more effectively and score more goals.
Jason Levien and Jake Silverstein were in Swansea last week — there’s been reports on this - and transfer discussions must have taken place. The Swans will have set out their requirements and provided a list of possible players to match these. However, we know that club’s basis of sound financial planning will mean that much of what is needed won’t happen unless there are players leaving the club to free up wages and recoup a sale value.
Names that will come to mind will include Nathanael Ogbeta (bought a year ago from Shrewsbury Town for £400,000 but has played in one senior game only, and this as a sub). Also, will this be the end of the Matty Sorinola and Fin Stevens loans ? Over and above this will be the thoughts of Martin on our scoring capabilities. He may be open to either Joel Piroe or Michael Obafemi leave — or both — provided this brings suitable replacements. What will be the market value of Oliver Ntcham after a decent World Cup ?
The Swans need to finish off the year in style with good performances and points. My two wishes are that come January the club’s transfer/loans business is done early and the squad’s requirements met. Second that we add pace and become more tactically aware and play out from the back when appropriate, and only then when that can lead to more goals scored.