The fans forum co-ordinated by the Swansea City Supporters Trust last night once again failed to satisfy the burning questions from those concerned about the clubs future. We will break down the forum questions over the coming few days in a series of reports.
Swans Indy writer Harrison Evans recorded the whole event, and this will appear on YouTube today we hope. There are some interesting answers to questions. We can start this morning with Sporting Director Paul Watson. Much of what he has done for us has been on a scale of excellent to poor. He can’t roll sixes every time and people have to realise this. The season signings of Bashir Humphreys, Harrison Ashby and Charlie Patino can’t really be critiqued, they are players of the future who will have long successful careers. The non selection of Patino seems to be more down to attitude and application more than anything so we are told.
Carl Rushworth is a no brainer, an exceptional stopper, and Watson has negotiated another season for him at Swansea. Ronald is clearly going places and he has to be one of the best signings this time around, and the exceptional performances of Josh Tymon prove the long term view he will come good. Placheta is marmite already, it is clear why he won’t be signing on for Norwich City this season, and Williams has already admitted there is work to be done on this player. He is fighting for a contract at Swansea in the summer as a free agent. However, we do know his agent isn’t resting on his Laure,s and is sourcing other clubs if his Swans stint is unsuccessful.
Josh Key was a Swans target before Watson came to the club.
We have to look at Mykola Kukharevych, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Kristian Pedersen and Charles Sagoe Jr, All these players have been brought in, Mykola for two million, and all haven’t had a look in. That’s as much down to them as the manager though. But they seemed ill thought out as the season has moved along . That’s a fair few quid on salaries not working for the club. The so so signing of Jamal Lowe, who for me is far more than that has to be a decent signing. Before his injury he was flying and chipping in with goals. It’s going to take some time for him to get back to where he was, and then it will be the end of the season. Again he will be looking at options for sure. Josh Ginnelly had a dreadful start to his Swansea career with an injury which has kept him out all season.
All in all it’s been a pretty decent set of signings, at least those who have played, however some just don’t fit in to the ‘Swansea Way’ according to some. Whatever that is these days.
Watson was supported by Chairman Andrew Coleman last night, "January was a better example of where we learned and how we will get better. But what’s important to know is there is a lot of stuff that has to get better and I want everyone in this club to have everything they need to get the football club back where it needs to be. Paul has started to get the tools he needs, he is building a team and there is a ton of stuff going on behind the scenes. I need to give him the resources to do his job. Paul is here and I am confident he will get us to where we want to go."
Some will say the money brought in from sales, around twenty million doesn’t match that ambition. Plus players now out on loans or sold. However, if the club losses are to be believed, and we have no doubt there will be some wizardry come the first tax return since Coleman arrived. We will look at him and the investment fund in the USA later.
On the Nathan Jones relationship, Watson seemed happy to apologise for being his friend, for us he shouldn’t. The bloke will never be anything to do with theswans and Watson was at Bournemouth in January to talk about Jamal Lowe. The response it was a coincidence isn’t satisfactory though. It just prompts more questions.
More later.