It was another away day debacle for a very healthy swans support to endure. Not withstanding the usual logistics to manage, yesterday’s trip was also made that much arduous by very poor weather and the knock on effect of one of the worst storms in decades.
To see so many Swansea City supporters once again gathered in one place believing that the system this swans side play to will flourish is heart warming. The faith placed in Russell Martin by those fans in support of a process and vision has been unrivalled in recent years for any other manager. Unfortunately yet again the swans fell apart against another side who found it easy to pick them off and unravel their game plan.
Paul Heckingbottom remarked after the game that Swansea’s style of play gave teams chances, and of course we have seen evidence of this all season. Centre backs looking to gain ground leave massive holes in the defence, the lack of pace again noticeable in any attempt to recover. And still we are trying square pegs in to round holes at wing back.
Paul Heckingbottom and John Fleck won’t have an easier game this season
Sheffield United were better at every level, not dissimilar to Stoke City recently they were able to bully and dictate their game on a weak and baffled Swansea side. Finley Burns came up against John Fleck and to his credit battled with him, but looked out of his depth on this occasion. And it was the blades determination and experience that won this game. The very much missed Morgan Gibbs-White of last season hit a double. An almost faultless display from Norrington-Davies, part of which saw one of the goals of the season for George Baldock exposed the swans throughout the fixture.
Poor passing choices, and a weakness often seen this season, especially on the ball, were the main areas of concern. Even Olivier Ntcham looked lost in his attempts to get forwards and help out Joel Piroe. The Dutch striker was as isolated, and it has to be said as poor as he has been all season. Michael Obafemi coming off the bench only showed that the strength most certainly is not in depth at Swansea at this time. Hannes Wolf also now injured along with Kyle Naughton and Nathanael Ogbeta isn’t helping Martin’s cause.
To add to that Luke Williams, who Martin spoke fondly of yesterday has left the club at a time when togetherness is being spoken about. The long list of issues outside of the main focus continues to grow. The whole scenario around Jamie Paterson, now Luke Williams and of course the other widely reported player issues earlier on in the season haven’t helped. The departure of Andy Scott as well coincided with a seemingly uncoordinated transfer window that has done nothing really to increase squad depth.
Martin, minus his right hand man Luke Williams
These of course are not complaints, both sides yesterday had players involved who earn an incredibly decent wage for what they do, Swansea’s players yesterday did not a lot to earn their corn. And that wheel away from home continues to turn. The signing of Andy Fisher wasn’t really criticised in January. The fee seemed right, but his start in the swans goal has been almost calamitous at times. Yesterday again he involved himself in such risqué passes even Steven Benda would have looked away. Overall he looks reluctant to command his penalty area, his choices on the ball are definitely concerning, and he concedes a lot of goals.
When overall trust in each other in defence is gone, and it has, that’s a major issue to contend with. On Tuesday night Bournemouth are the visitors to Swansea, a game I’m certain will also throw up more issues for Russell Martin. He is of course trying to play a style of football without the proper tools to do so. He hasn’t got the players to carry out his wishes, especially at Championship level. The pace of the league is far ahead of what Swansea possess. The slow paced passing, enforced errors and general lack of ability are now the main issues for Russell Martin. He has very little flair within the side. The swans possess no flying wingers or midfield dynamos with engine rooms to boot. The very ethos of Martin’s style is ball retention and game by game, especially away from home that isn’t happening.
Out fought all game
His reliance on Matt Grimes and Flynn Downes, the former who seems content in any type of possession, the latter at times can be frustrating and his lunges in to tackles have already seen red this season. With Ntcham yesterday, and another out of focus performance from Jamie Paterson there was little hope for Piroe. Paterson ran in to areas with little plan as to what would happen next, his January spent on strike and now with performance levels far below that expected of a professional footballer are worrying. And yes, when you put in performances like yesterday any Swansea player is fair game for criticism.
Whatever the reasons for Luke Williams leaving Swansea City, Andy Scott departing, the variety of behind the scenes changes, Jamie Paterson going on strike and the plethora of unhappy players throughout this season there is one clear theme this morning. Regardless of the reasoning, and irrespective of the causation for these things to happen the buck stops at Russell Martin’s door. He is rapidly losing support for his desire to play football in a certain way, and he has most certainly totally lost the support of some, albeit a noisy minority.
More problems than solutions
His next two games are as tough as they come in the Championship and Russell Martin and Matt Gill are slowly finding themselves as isolated as a Swansea striker on a cold Yorkshire afternoon. It isn’t all over by a long way, however the more people see of this ‘revolutionary’ way of playing the more dissenters it gets. Especially when in two away games seven goals have been conceded, and your seasons total to date already exceeds that of the whole of the last campaign. Yes, questions are now being asked and the voices are getting louder. So where do we go from here ?
Anywhere ?
Sheffield United: Foderingham; Basham, Egan, Robinson, Baldock (Goode 70), Norwood, Fleck, Berge, Norrington-Davies, Gibbs-White (Jebbison 85), Sharp (C) (McBurnie 82).
Subs not used: A. Davies, B. Davies, Hourihane, Ndiaye.
Goals: Gibbs-White 14 & 78, Baldock 17, Sharp 38
Yellow cards: 🟨 Norwood 39, Baldock 41
Swansea City: Fisher; Burns, Cabango, Manning; Christie, Downes, Grimes (C), Latibeaudiere; Ntcham (Obafemi 60), Paterson; Piroe (Smith 81).
Subs not used: Hamer, Bennett, Fulton, Dhanda, Joseph.
Referee: David Webb 7/10 : Not a lot for him to deal with.
Attendance: 26,564