The month of December comes around with a few extra fixtures and the end of those six fixtures is a catalyst for some teams. The Swans have issues on the pitch and some are stating off it as well.
The main issue for a lot of the Jack Army is the lack of experience in negotiations for prime positions within the club, and now across the board. Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen have entrusted Chairman, Tom Gorringe to guide the club over the last few months after the departure of Richard Montague. His two recruitment staff who left with him are either here nor there. The Swans have supplemented one of those positions.
The test for Gorringe and senior recruiter, Adam Worth now is time.
The other test for these two who seem to be leading on managerial recruitment, coaches being appointed, sourcing new players (which will come in over the next window in January) day to day business and the position of several loan players at the Swans. Overall that seems a huge amount of work for two people. And they are involved in a lot more. Despite that they do have assistance in the football operations department.
Andrew Davies is a part of what is described as the ‘executive team’ explained as him overseeing key infrastructure and operational enhancements at the Swansea.com Stadium and beyond. Based on the club’s 2024 restructuring and public announcements, his portfolio emphasises sustainable growth, fan experience improvements, and facility upgrades to support the team’s EFL Championship ambitions. The grammar within that description we reviewed, and changed it to English from American. So not sure who wrote that.
The Swans are thin on the ground.
The fear and it should be are the loan players at Swansea. They can be recalled in January. Manuel Benson is a player on loan from Burnley who really hasn’t found his feet at the club since the last transfer window. He has had periods of non selection and it could be he returns to his parent club. For many that won’t be a huge loss. Ishé Samuels-Smith on loan from Chelsea has had very few opportunities, and along with Benson his parent club won’t be seeing him on the bench most weeks as an area for development. Both of these players are beyond the description of ‘learning from a non inclusionary match day squad each game’ Many clubs send their prospects out for a new training environment, new tactics, experiencing being away from home and everything that comes with it. Benson and Samuel are not in that bracket.
It isn’t a case of playing them to prevent a recall. That could be detrimental to the Swans.
The real concern surely is Kaelan Casey who has impressed since joining on loan from West Ham United. He has stood out when included, overall he is a player the Swans really should be selecting far more cleverly. That hasn’t happened and on that maybe Cameron Burgess needs a rest ? As stated Kaelan is a different proposition to Samuels-Smith and Benson. The other concern has to be Malick Yalcouyé, again a player who hasn’t seen a good run in the side. Someone who was getting plaudits in European competition last season.
Yalcouyé (below) is a dynamic central midfielder who excels in a box-to-box role. He has a very high work ethic and covers a lot of ground vertically and horizontally on the field. His excellent positional sense leads to many ball recoveries through tackles and interceptions. He is good at reading the game, allowing him to anticipate passes and position himself close to passing lanes. His timing in tackles is excellent, and he often wins the ball with his quick actions. His intense playing style enables him to cover the field tirelessly, making his defensive play very compelling. Playing for IFK Goteborg and SK Sturm Graz Malick excelled.
We are putting it out there now that his non inclusion, he has only played nine games, admittedly three missed for a red card and the last match at West Bromwich Albion through injury he really needs introducing back into the first eleven. Again, maybe Franco needs a rest ? If Malick and Casey dont see much or any involvement over these next six games before January they will most certainly be in the recall mix. We do have several contacts who tell us that these clubs will all have other clubs lined up for a recall in January - and then another loan out to a club which can look after them and give them more experience.
It’s happened many times before and happens every January. Recall clauses are not often agreed these days, it gives both clubs more flexibility come January. However, there are re-negotiation opportunities where both clubs can have dialogue. We covered how Premier League clubs continually monitor their players progression when out on loan when Ethan Laird joined the Swans. It didn’t turn out to be hugely succesful but the point is the way things are monitored and developed off the pitch. A report which had many thousands of views and was complimented by numerous Manchester United websites.
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This is the latest issue amongst many that a staff which is thin on the ground will have to manage, and you would hope it’s very much on the schedule now. What an important month for Swansea City and such a lot to prove. More later on the new coaches situation.