x

Ash - Monk Has Taken Us To Another Level

Ashley Williams knows Garry Monk pretty well having been his defensive partner for so long and now his captain as Monk continues on his first management journey and one that has been a big success to date.

It is quite a partnership that the two of them forged when they were players together as they linked up to take the Swans out of both League One and the Championship and it was together that they lifted the Capital One Cup as Swansea's only major trophy in 2013.

Ash was the natural choice to replace Monk as captain when Garry realised that his playing days were coming to an end and he has retained the armband over a period of time where he has been pretty much ever present during our time in the Premier League.

And the captain believes that the appointment of the manager is another in a long run of appointments that have been inspired by the Swans.


"First and foremost the club have done well to appoint the right managers; ones who didn’t want to differ too much from what we’ve been doing,” Williams asserts. "The main thing is that they don’t try to change too much, which they’ve all managed while adding their own little bit each time.

"I think most of them were similar, though they all have their differences obviously. Roberto was quite attacking, Paulo was more defensive. Brendan came in and tried to find a blend of the two, which I think he achieved. Then Laudrup came in and things were a bit more free-flowing; he left us to decide how we were going to play.

"The [current] gaffer has actually added quite a lot and taken us to another level we haven’t seen before. He tried to tighten things up and find a balance. Now defensively we look sound and we’re scoring goals too. Generally, I just think Swansea is a good place to play your football; a good city to live in to concentrate on your game. I know most players who come here are happy.”

What to read next:

Watch me rise up and leave, all the ashes you made out of me – Report
On Friday night, under the lights at Loftus Road, Queens Park Rangers landed on their wheels, pulled over and asked what you were worried about.
Queens Park Rangers 4 - 0 Leeds United - Photo Gallery
Pictures from Ian Randall on an extraordinary night at Loftus Road as QPR put their season to bed with a 4-0 thumping of promotion chasing Leeds.
Queens Park Rangers 4 - 0 Leeds United - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
End game – Preview
QPR need one result, in any one of a multitude of the remaining games, to secure their Championship safety - they get first swing at getting it for themselves tonight at home to Massive Leeds United.
So near and yet so far - History
Ahead of the visit of Leeds to Loftus Road on Friday we look back at the final day of the 1975/76 season when QPR got the 2-0 win they needed to take their title bid down to Liverpool's final match at Wolves - 48 years ago this week.
Three into two won't go, will Leeds last the pace? Oppo profile
Having started the year with nine straight wins Leeds looked all set to overpower the Championship even in this extreme year at the top, but they’ve dropped points in five of their last ten to put the whole thing back in the balance. Nico Franks and Gruev Armada (@timmsy_ks) gave us the latest.
Bond in charge of Leeds clash - Referee
Premier League referee Darren Bond is the man entrusted with Friday night’s televised clash between QPR and Leeds.
Dykes' long awaited goal secures crucial QPR win - Report
QPR moved themselves to within touching distance of Championship survival with a scrappy, hard fought, tense 1-0 home win against Preston on Saturday.
Queens Park Rangers 1 - 0 Preston North End - Photo Gallery
Pictures from Ian Randall at Loftus Road where Lyndon Dykes scored the only goal and QPR secured a priceless 1-0 win against Preston to all but assure their Championship status for next season.
Queens Park Rangers 1 - 0 Preston North End - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.